ALCOHOL may be a big part of how many people socialise and celebrate, but it can have a negative impact on our lives in a range of ways.

However, while some of the dangers associated with excessive drinking are obvious, what about the quieter or more surprising ways alcohol could be affecting your health?

Here,to mark Alcohol Awareness Week which fell earlier this month, coordinated by Alcohol Change UK, we highlight some of the health issues that may arise.

Short and long-term eye symptoms

Not only is blurred vision one of the main side-effects, but drinking can also cause symptoms associated with dry eye, says Stephen Hannan, clinical services director at Optical Express.

These can include red eyes as a result of swollen blood vessels in the eyes, otherwise known as a bloodshot look, itchiness, irritation or discomfort, and fluctuation in vision.

Although these are only minor issues, long-term alcohol abuse can actually permanently damage the optic nerves within our eyes, which are the connections responsible for sending visual information from the eyes to the brain, Hannan adds.

Cutting out alcohol, or drinking less, will allow your body to over time reverse and put the brakes on many of the short and long-term effects of drinking.

For example, after just 24 hours of no alcohol, your blood sugar levels will normalise and blurred vision caused by alcohol intake will disappear.

Impaired immunity

Carolina Goncalves, superintendent pharmacist at Pharmica, says: Short-term alcohol consumption can hinder the activity of immune cells such as macrophages, T-cells, and B-cells, which are essential for identifying and combating pathogens.

This impairment increases the bodys susceptibility to infections and diseases.

Moreover, alcohol immediately affects the gastrointestinal system, the first point of contact before entering the bloodstream.

The gut microbiome, a community of microorganisms aiding in gut function and immune system maturation, is altered by alcohol.

Research shows that alcohol disrupts communication between gut microbes and the intestinal immune system, she explains.

It also damages epithelial cells, T-cells, and neutrophils in the GI tract, compromising the gut barrier and allowing microbes to leak into the bloodstream.

Finally, alcohol can impact cytokine production (proteins which control inflammation), leading to an imbalanced immune response.

Menstrual cycle changes

Goncalves adds: More research has found that the ethanol in alcohol can disrupt how the pituitary gland, which produces hormones, interacts with the hypothalamus, the region of the brain responsible for emotional regulation, and the ovaries.

These interactions are collectively referred to as the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.

She adds: Alcohol consumption can disrupt the secretion of luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), both of which are part of the HPG axis.

This can impact the maturation of ovarian follicles and how ovulation is triggered, resulting in hormonal and physiological changes that may cause irregularities in menstrual cycles.

Fertility problems

Dr David McLaughlan, consultant psychiatrist specialising in addiction treatment at Priory Hospital Roehampton, and co-founder of Curb, an addictive behaviour change app, says: Excess alcohol reduces testosterone production in men, as well as disrupting other hormones which in turn damages the number and quality of sperm produced by men.

In women, alcohol disrupts ovulation and implantation of the fertilised egg.

A recent study by The University of Louisville in Kentucky, USA, showed that even a moderate alcohol intake of just three to six alcoholic drinks per week reduced the chance of falling pregnant by 44%.

Cancer risk

While cancer can potentially affect anyone and isnt always preventable, McLaughlan also notes that alcohol is a known risk factor for the disease.

People might be surprised to learn that 10% of all breast cancers are attributable to consumption of alcohol, which is one of the primary risk factors for developing the cancer, even at low volumes of consumption, he says.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer declared alcohol a group 1 carcinogen, which puts it in the same class as tobacco, radiation and asbestos.

Absorption and blood issues

Long term alcohol use also impairs absorption of vitamin B and folate, which is necessary for healthy red blood cells.

Excess alcohol [can cause] macrocytic anaemia, where the red blood cells are enlarged but ineffective and break down quicker than healthy red blood cells, says McLaughlan.

Symptoms can include tiredness, loss of balance, pins and needles, mood disturbance and stomach upsets.

Low mood and anxiety

Alcohol is a depressant that can initially produce a calming effect. However, as Lisa Gunn, mental health prevention lead at Nuffield Health, explains: When this wears off, we typically see a rebound effect where anxiety levels spike.

This is partly because alcohol disrupts the balance of neurotransmitters and chemical messengers in the brain.

There is also a social aspect to this. When we drink, we become inebriated and carefree, which can cause us to say and do things we wouldnt do when were sober. If we go into blackout (periods of alcohol-induced memory loss) during a period of acute intoxication, we are even more likely to wake up with feelings of anxiety, fear, worry, and dread.

Raised blood pressure

Nathan Penman, clinical manager at Nuffield Health, explains drinking alcohol can affect blood vessels too.

This can cause them to become narrower. When your blood vessels are narrower, the heart has to work harder to push blood around your body, increasing your blood pressure, says Penman.

High blood pressure can increase the risk of developing heart disease, making it more likely that a person would experience a heart attack or stroke.

Sex drive changes

Alcohol may initially have a bolstering effect on hormones such as serotonin, dopamine and testosterone, which can seemingly boost our sex drive.

However, over time, these levels will reduce, which lowers the amount of sexual drive a person will experience and could potentially lead to incidences of depression or anxiety, adds Penman.
The West Cork TD who has been organising a bus service to bring cataract sufferers to Belfast for surgery since 2017 is planning multiple trips between now and the end of August. This is in advance of a HSE cut from September 1 in the reimbursement to patients.

Michael Collins told The Echo that he was in contact with the clinics in Belfast to get extra spots for Cork patients.

The lower reimbursement had been planned to come into effect on July 1, but after the matter was highlighted in The Echo and raised in the Dail by Mr Collins, it was deferred until September 1.

In response to queries from The Echo last week, a spokesperson for the HSE said: The HSE Health Pricing Office (HPO) costs the price for acute hospital procedures by reviewing activity data and using an international classification system.

The HSEs Overseas Treatment Schemes office uses this HPO price list for hospital procedures done overseas and in Northern Ireland.

The HSE had not updated the pricing of procedures for the last few years.

This was due to the interruption of covid, coupled with the reclassification of certain cataract procedures, following the international coding system, in which some prices have increased and some have decreased.

HPO prices for cataracts were due to change, effective from July 1, 2024. In order to ensure no one is disadvantaged and communicate fully with service users, treating consultants and providers, the HSE is deferring these cost changes until 1st September 2024. During this time, we will communicate with providers in Northern Ireland and patients to advise them of the amended prices for cataract procedures. While it was originally planned to cut the reimbursement from 1,950 to 863, it will now be 1,173.

Mr Collins said that he had been in touch with the Department of Health to say that the slighter reduction, to 1,173, was still unacceptable.

Drop it on the basis that you can offer cataract surgery in County Cork, otherwise leave it as it is, said Mr Collins.

The TD said that the service would continue to run each Saturday until the end of August and he was planning for daily services on August 24, August 25, and August 26 to beat the September 1 deadline.

People were happy to deal with a shortfall of 500-600, but this means they will have to come up with an extra 800 and thats too much. Some of these people dont have that kind of money and they will go blind as a result, said Mr Collins.

Further clarification has been sought from the HSE on the number of people in Cork awaiting cataract surgery and the grounds for the reduction of the proposed reimbursement.
A CORK charity is appealing for help to provide an apartment to a young woman who survived unimaginable abuse as a child, was part of a gang of street children in Kyiv despite having advanced scoliosis, and as an adult rescued a soldier from Russian sniper fire.

Masha Zakrevska was barely seven when she ran away from abuse in her family home, a tiny child with a severe curve in her spine, becoming part of a gang of children surviving on the streets, sleeping in cellars, and sniffing glue to numb themselves.

She was eight when a Christian aid-worker helped her and her friends, giving them shelter, and treating them with kindness, and putting her in touch with Fiona Corcoran, the founder of Cork charity The Greater Chernobyl Cause.

Life-altering surgery was arranged by Ms Corcoran when Ms Zakrevska was 14 to correct the curvature in her spine, and now, 20 years on, Ms Corcoran is raising funds to buy the Kyiv native an apartment.

My dream is to have a dog, Ms Zakrevska said. Having a place would allow me to do that. She was living

Masha Zakrevska (left) recovering after surgery for scoliosis.

on the streets of Kyiv, one of six children in a gang, when she met Roman Korniyko, founder of the Ukrainian charity Otchiy Dim (Fathers House).

I must have been about six or seven when I ran away and started my independent life on the streets, Ms Zakrevska said. We were just hanging around together and sniffing a lot of glue as a means to distract ourselves from the hunger. It was a very common thing for street children to do.

When Roman introduced himself one day, he said he wanted to offer us help. We were aggressive from being on the streets, so our instincts told us not to trust him, instantly. Each one of us had a self-defence mechanism toward every adult, she said.

We had to be very careful. Roman said he was a Christian. We did not take this well, at first, because so many people used to take advantage of children. We were tough, because we had to be.

To the childrens surprise, Mr Korniyko proved true to his word, and they found him not just a Christian of words [but] a Christian in his actions, too, and he bought the children new clothes and slowly earned their trust, treating them as anyone would their own children.

He invited us over to his apartment, where he lived with his family. We were able to have shower, drink some hot tea, and eat a meal that his wife cooked.

He rented an apartment for us, so we could have a place to stay overnight, instead of going back on the streets. When Mr Korniyko was attempting to raise funds for surgery for Ms Zakrevskas scoliosis, it was Ms Corcoran who stepped in to help.

Roman  had reached out to every country for help and Ireland was the one that came back. It was Fiona Corcoran, from The Greater Chernobyl Cause, who ended up funding the surgery. The curvature meant that the organs had no space to grow and that was the real danger. The surgery was so vital, Ms Zakrevska said.

Volunteering on the frontline

The surgery was successful, and a decade later, in 2014, Russia annexed Crimea. Ms Zakrevskas friends thought she was visiting the seaside, but, instead, she had volunteered on the frontline in Shchastia, in the Luhansk province.

That was what I told everyone, because I knew that no one would support me in that decision, she said. They would think that it was too dangerous for me.

And it was dangerous. A soldier had been shot and wounded, and the sniper who had shot him was still in the area. A medic who had gone to the soldiers aid had been killed, and Ms Zakrevska decided she would help.

Her foster mother and Mr Korniyko only realised where she was when they received what might well have been her last text message. They were the ones that I most cared about, so I wanted to make sure I said goodbye.

My text was something along the lines of, Im about to attempt to rescue a wounded soldier, if I make it, great. However, if I dont, I want to say goodbye. Her loved ones were horrified, and the commander of her military unit had reservations about the rescue too.

There was no way, as a woman, he said, that I would be able to carry such a big and wounded soldier.

He didnt want me risking my life until I pointed out that because I was so small, Id have less of a chance of being seen by the sniper and would probably get away with it.

When she got to the wounded soldier, even he laughed at the unlikely sight of his tiny rescuer, but, against all odds, she dragged him to safety.

Even though the medic who had attempted to save him was shot dead, I didnt feel scared. All I felt was adrenaline. I knew what I had to do. Whatever the outcome was, I had to try.

Fully 10 years later, she is still remembered for her heroism on the front line. The soldier has thanked me for saving his life many times. His family also reached out to me.

Finding joy again

However, the incident took its toll on Ms Zakrevska, who experiences back pain to this day.

I had a lot of complaints about my back after that, but there was no real medical treatment or proper recovery. I just kind of went along with the pain. It marked her in other ways, too. I can recall a lot of anger after that experience. When your whole life is on the line, and you have seen somebody else losing their life trying to save another person, its hard to watch people just getting on with everything.

I started to feel this rage inside of me. I wondered how it was possible to be happy when all these things are happening on the frontline and people are dying.

What has saved her and helped her find joy again has been working with children and other orphans at Otchiy Dim.

It was a means of rehabilitation for me. My work there was as effective as taking a pill. To share that love and have it returned to you is the purest thing, she said.

Currently residing in accommodation provided by the charity, she said she was hopeful she might one day have a place of her own.

For further information, please email info@greaterchernobylcause.ie.
A Cork INMO representative has said that he is sceptical about the end to the Health Service Executive recruitment freeze as unions claim over 2,000 posts are set to be guillotined nationally.

Earlier this month, it was widely reported that the HSE recruitment freeze introduced last October had been brought to a close.

However, the INMO has raised concern about the potential impacts of the HSEs new Pay and Numbers Strategy which it says includes an introduction of recruitment ceilings that cap staffing.

New strategy

Speaking to The Echo, the INMO assistant director of industrial relations, Corks Colm Porter told The Echo, the cap would be a concern to us.

It appears to us that the staffing levels are based on an arbitrary number, but there is a government-agreed framework that was to be rolled out which dictates what safe staffing looks like.

Theyre calling it the embargo being lifted, but we wouldnt be convinced - if they havent taken the staffing framework into consideration, thats a clear shift in government policy.

Healthcare unions have written to the HSE expressing concern over what they described as a lack of consultation over the proposed strategy, which they say fails to meet the HSEs obligations under the Employees (Provision of Information and consultation) Act 2006.

The Staff Panel of the ICTU Healthcare Unions met with the HSE in recent days regarding the strategy.

The unions have claimed that under the proposed plan all vacant posts as of the 31st of December 2023 have now been suppressed, saying that this is placing the HSE staff under considerable pressure and gives rise to significant concerns in relation to patient safety.

Maximum staff figure

Responding to a query on recruitment ceilings, a HSE spokesperson told The Echo that there is a new approved maximum staff figure for the HSE, adding that this excludes disability services, pre-registration nursing and midwifery students, and 76 special assignment temporary posts.

They said, Each of the six HSE Health Regions and each national service will be provided with its own specified number of WTEs and can within that approved number, replace, recruit and prioritise. This allocation process is underway.

The HSE South West, which is made up of Cork and Kerry, are currently working to understand the number of staff we are in a position to recruit.

The HSE spokesperson added, We will be working hard to reduce the number of staff unavailable due to sickness absence and to increasingly improve our efficiency.

Mr Porter said that the union is aware that the level of sickness absence is high adding wed be supportive of trying to rectify that and making sure people get back to work when fit to do so, but a lot of that is down to the environment people are working in.

We know our members are suffering from burnout, levels of stress are high - theyre working short-staffed in services that are increasingly under pressure, so its all very logical that this would lead to increased sickness absence.

The new system provides greater oversight when responding to the needs of the population said the HSE, but Mr Porter said, risk, patient safety, all these factors need to be incorporated into what youre allowed to recruit, if the dependency of patients on a ward changes, so should the allocation of staff.

"On the ground, until such time as staff start to see vacancies being filled, more staff on wards and in communities, our members are going to remain fairly sceptical, he concluded.
Northside communities in Cork city are losing out as people are forced to move to the suburbs due to a lack of available affordable and private housing, a local councillor has said.

Sinn Fein councilor for Cork City North West Kenneth Collins said housing supply is not meeting demand on the northside which is forcing people to move out of their communities.

His comments come following the publication of the Central Statistics Offices (CSO) New Dwelling Completions Q2 2024 report which has shown a decrease in the number of completed dwellings recorded in Cork in Q2 of this year compared to Q2, 2023.

According to the report, there were 839 completed dwellings across Cork in Q2 of this year, 307 of which were in the city centre and 532 of which were in the county.

In Q2, 2023 there were a total of 844 completed dwellings across Cork, including 316 in the city centre and 528 in the county.

Nationally, there were 6,884 new dwelling completions over Q2, 2024, a fall of 5.4% on the same three months of 2023.

More than half of completions (57.4%) were scheme dwellings, 22.7% were apartments, and 19.9% were single dwellings.

The South-West region, which includes Cork and Kerry, had the most single completions in Q2, 2024 (235), with Cork County (151) recording the most one-off dwelling completions.

In Cork, completed dwellings by LEA included 15 in Kanturk LEA, 37 in Mallow LEA, 45 in Fermoy LEA, 117 in Midleton LEA, 80 in Cobh LEA, 84 in Carrigaline LEA, 40 in Cork City South Central LEA, 58 in Cork City South East LEA, 133 in Cork City South West LEA, 34 in Cork City North West LEA, 42 in Cork City North East LEA, 39 in Bandon-Kinsale LEA, 37 in Skibbereen LEA, 23 in Bantry LEA and 55 in Macroom LEA.

Impact on community

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Collins, whose ward saw 111 dwellings completed in Q2, 2023 compared to 34 completed dwellings in Q2, 2024, said: Its a mix that we need, of affordable, social and private [housing] to get everybody right.

Sinn Feins opinion is that there is an imbalance of the northside versus southside and thats not just in relation to housing, its with everything.

34 [completed dwellings] in the North West and 42 in the North East is crazy. Unfortunately, people of the northside have to leave their communities because the private or affordable houses needed arent being built in the North West of the city, and across the whole city really, and people then have to move out to the suburbs and beyond such as Whitechurch, Castlemartyr, Ladysbridge.

Its a knock-on effect economically because the local economy in that area is losing out, GAA clubs, sporting organisations, youth clubs, theyre all losing people because they have to move out.

Independent councilor for Cork City North East Ken OFlynn described the comparison between the number of completed dwellings on the northside and the southside of the city as unacceptable.

This inequity in housing development is unacceptable and further exacerbates the already pressing issue of housing availability in our city, Mr OFlynn said.

We urge immediate action and commitment from relevant authorities to address this disparity and ensure fair and equitable access to housing for all residents across Cork city.

Green Party councillor for Cork North East Oliver Moran said that housing estates and apartments are 95% of new units in the Cork City Council area.

"About two-thirds of all new homes are in housing estates and more than a quarter are apartments. Because of that, there can be variation across the city from one quarter to another as different schemes are completed at different times in different places.

"This quarter, there was an unusual difference between northside and southside because of estates and apartments completed in the South West ward. This wasn't the case in previous quarters. In fact, the balance of development over the past 18 months is almost exactly the same between north and south of the city. There were 791 units of all kinds completed on the northside and 796 completed on the southside."

Highest number of completed dwellings

Meanwhile, Cork City South West recorded the highest number of completed dwellings across the city in Q2 - with a total of 133 dwellings completed in the ward.

Labour Party councilor for Cork City South West Laura Harmon, said: While I welcome the progress on new dwellings being built in Cork, the reality is that this is just a drop in the ocean of what is actually required to meet the demand for housing.

On these figures, we arent even running to stand still. Recent figures on homelessness show that 14,303 people are without a home in Ireland - a 14% increase on this time last year. We must do much better to solve the housing crisis and rapidly scale up building new homes and tackling dereliction.
A woman in her 60s feared for her life when she encountered an intruder in the early hours of the morning but in the long period since it occurred, the accused man has completely turned his life around.

Judge Mary Dorgan said, as she gave him the benefit of a suspended sentence at Cork District Court: I mean this in the best possible way  I hope I never see you again.

The burglary dated back almost six years to September 23 2018. Stephen ODonovan, aged 32, of 1 Peters St, Cork, pleaded guilty to that burglary and to some thefts and public order offences committed since then.

Judge Dorgan said it was always good to see when people managed to turn their life around.

Aoife Buttimer, solicitor, said the accused had a serious problem with alcohol in the past, so much so that it could have killed him, but she said he had been doing much better in his life recently and is now working full-time.

Ms Buttimer said: There has been a spectacular turn around in his life. He is fully engaged with the services. He says himself he will be in recovery for life. He has also brought 1,000 compensation to court.

Judge Dorgan said she would put him on an 18-month probation bond to continue to engage with addiction services.

A four-month suspended prison sentence was also imposed.

The victim who is now aged 70 addressed her victim impact statement directly to the accused man. The terror I felt when I entered the kitchen to see you crouching there at three oclock in the morning. I was in fear for my life, the victim said.

I have nightmares over this and why you did this. I just exist here now  its not my home.

Thanks to my family and friends  without them I would be lost.

Gardai and crime officers attended the scene and found an empty vodka bottle the intruder brought to the home with him.

It was not until much more recently that a forensic examination established a DNA match to the accused.

As well as the burglary charge, ODonovan pleaded guilty to other charges too.

On July 3 last year, he was threatening and abusive and was drunk and a danger at South Main St.

On dates in October 2022, he stole items from Tesco on Paul St and from 53 Degrees North, also on Paul St.

In May 21, 2022, he stole bottles of spirits at the Kino cinema on Washington St. Finally, he was racially abusive to staff on July 3, 2023, at Subway, South Main St, Cork.
An Innishannon man who died in a road traffic collision at the weekend has been remembered as a very knowledgeable and very friendly guy.

Finbarr Coleman (40) tragically lost his life in the single-vehicle collision en route home from a road bowling competition in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Speaking to The Echo, Independent councillor for the Bandon-Kinsale municipal district Alan Coleman said that the man was very well-known and very well-liked in the community and across the south east and south west region.

He was very well-liked in the community, known far and near.

"He had a huge interest in sport and in his work as well in construction. He worked in the agricultural building side of things.

He had a really big circle of friends and the four brothers are very close so theyre a very close-knit family. Theyre devastated.

He followed the road bowling a lot. He was also a member of Valley Rovers GAA and followed all the matches and was at the All Ireland last week and was planning to go to this weeks All Ireland as well.

He was very knowledgeable and a very friendly guy to meet and very good company.

"He will be very sadly missed by a wide circle beyond his family and theres no doubt that theres a sense of shock in the community.

Independent councillor John Collins described Mr Colemans death as a very sad occasion and said he will be sadly missed by the whole community.

This is a very sad occasion for all involved. Finbarr was a very well-liked young man from a lovely family. He will be sadly missed, he said.

"Everybody's sympathy goes to Finbarr's family and his friends that were with him on the night."

Fine Gael councillor Marie OSullivan said: I would like to pass on my deepest sympathies to his brothers, the extended Coleman family and his large circle of friends. Like any rural community when tragedy hits one of our own it has a ripple effect throughout.

Finbarr and his family are well-liked and respected in the area so I know that everyone will be with them in the tough and sad days ahead to help them deal with the tragic loss of their brother Finbarr and show their support to the family.

Investigating gardai are continuing to appeal for any witnesses to the collision to come forward.

They said that a man in his 30s, who was arrested following the collision, has been released without charge and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said: Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were traveling in the Ballynamona area between 1:15am and 1:45am are asked to make it available to gardai.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the incident room at Bandon Garda Station on 023 885 2200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station."

Investigations are ongoing.
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

A Co Louth community has rallied around a mother with a terminal cancer diagnosis who is vowing to fight the illness.

Beauty therapist Tracey Taaffe, 44, from Monasterboice, outside Drogheda, had got her life back on track following a breast cancer diagnosis in 2021.

But after experiencing back and shoulder pain earlier this year, scans confirmed her worst fears  the disease had spread to her liver, lungs and sternum.

Doctors have given her a life expectancy of three to five years.

Her daughter Lea said the nightmare has awoken a steely determination in her mother to fight on  a resolve matched by family, friends and anonymous donors who gave 30,000 to a GoFundMe page in the first 24 hours.

The total now stands at more than 52,000 after just one week, which will be used for her medical bills, further treatment options and to ease the financial burden on the family  Traceys husband Alan, Lea, 25, and 18-year-old son Rhys.

Lea said: She says we need to get over five years, well try to make the most of what is there.

Given the circumstances, I dont know how she puts a smile on her face every day.

After her initial cancer diagnosis three years ago, Tracey underwent 12 gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and 20 rounds of radiation treatment.

Lea said that when her mother began to feel unwell again in April, she booked a GP appointment, expecting to be back at work later that day.

Instead, she was told the disease had returned  stage four incurable metastatic breast cancer.

It completely stopped her in her tracks, it was so hard for the first month, said Lea.

Since then there has been a plan in place, we cant wake up every day and think weve got this many days left with her.

When shes having a bad day I remind her we cant wait to cheer her up and make her laugh.

Now under the treatment of oncologist Professor John Crown, Tracey faces an operation next month to remove her ovaries, a monthly bone infusion, a hormone-blocking injection and a new targeted therapy treatment.

She has also been forced to close Beauty by Tracey, the business she worked to build up over the last 18 years.

Dublin-based accountant Lea says the response to the fundraising appeal has been incredible.

I know how great she is, but for everyone else to see it too, its so lovely.

A benefit night, including a sponsored head shave, will be held in Dalys pub in Donore, Co Meath, on August 24th.
Apple and the unionized employees at its Towson, Maryland retail store have reached a tentative agreement that could secure them better pay, job protections, scheduling improvements to support a work-life balance and a more transparent disciplinary process. The Towson location in 2022 became the first Apple Store in the country to unionize, and back in May, it voted to authorize a strike against the company after unsatisfactory negotiation outcomes.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE) said its been negotiating with Apple since January 2023. Under the tentative three-year agreement theyve now reached, workers would be given average raises of 10 percent over the life of the contract, and starting pay rates for most positions would go up. The agreement would also establish a severance clause. The union represents about 85 employees, who will get to vote on the agreement on August 6.
Simply Elegant Glass has been selling hand-crafted sex toys on Etsy for nearly a decade. In that time, the shop has made over 7,000 sales and racked up more than 1,500 mostly five-star reviews. The Etsy shop  which offers glass dildos, anal plugs and other insertable items  drives the majority of the small business overall sales. But as of Monday July 29, the bulk of the shops catalog won't be allowed on the marketplace anymore under Etsys new restrictions around sex toys.

The Adult Nudity and Sexual Content policy, which was quietly published at the end of June to the platforms House Rules, states that Etsy prohibits the sale of adult toys that are: inserted into the body; applied to the genitalia; designed for genitals to be inserted into them. Among other things, it specifically forbids vendors from selling dildos, vibrators, anal plugs, sex dolls and fleshlights. The policy update, spotted first by Mashable, came in tandem with a community forum post by Etsys head of Trust & Safety, Alice Wu Paulus, who wrote that it was designed to reflect evolving industry standards and best practices so that we can continue to keep our users safe.

The note about the impending change said Etsy would, in the coming weeks, communicate directly with sellers who may need to update their listing images to be compliant. Enforcement would begin on July 29, it said, and non-compliant listings would be removed. But up to three weeks after the new policy was published online, sellers that spoke to Engadget said they were never contacted directly by Etsy. All of them found out about the ban through social media or other means.

ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement

Etsy did not answer specific questions about the reasons behind its decision when contacted by Engadget, but a spokesperson said the change will only affect a very small percentage of the platforms overall seller community. The only explanation stated in the policy change itself notes that the site wants to ensure content is appropriate for a wide audience.

Its been received as the final nail in the coffin for many adult-oriented businesses on Etsy. Multiple sellers described the preceding years to Engadget as a fight to exist and succeed on the platform. And with no alternative marketplace for handmade products currently operating at Etsys scale, it feels as though the only venue for finding such items has been essentially deleted off the internet, said Andy, a glassblower for Simply Elegant Glass who chose to share only their first name.

If I want to find products that are handmade  unless I knew of their existence beforehand through Etsy  finding them is incredibly difficult, Andy said. They said they found advertising on Google to be prohibitively expensive, and products from small businesses are often buried in search results. If a person were just searching by product type, I dont think you would be able to find [Simply Elegant Glass] on Google, Andy said.

Simply Elegant Glass launched its own website a few years ago and recently migrated to Shopify in an effort to shift away from its reliance on Etsy, but said in a recent post on X that even still, most of our traffic originates from Etsy searches.

As they see it, Andy said the platform has trended toward allowing more dubious sellers, people who do not actually make the toys, dropshippers and shops that would otherwise seem to fly in the face of [Etsys] policies. Dropshipping is an increasingly common practice in which businesses sell products they dont actually make or even keep in stock themselves  instead, they source these items from a third-party supplier once theyve received the orders, and the suppliers will ship them to the customers. Etsy has said that dropshipping is not allowed on the platform under most circumstances, but dropshippers have still found a way.

ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement

In addition to sex toys, Etsys new policy prohibits the sale of all pornography, including vintage Playboy magazines and any photographs or photo-realistic depictions of sex acts and genitalia. Non-realistic artworks featuring sex acts or genitalia may be permitted, but only under certain conditions: if sex acts are shown, there can be no visible genitalia; if genitalia are shown, there cant be any sexual context. Any materials that feature a combination of familial and sexual terms, e.g., slogans such as Daddys slut or Choke me Mommy, are out, too. Etsy will, however, continue to allow certain sexual accessories, like some BDSM gear and sex furniture.

Sellers that spoke to Engadget questioned why Etsy couldnt solve issues of safety with methods other than a ban, like creating a designated adult-only section to keep these materials from popping up in inappropriate places.

The marketplace is one that sellers and shoppers alike have come to rely on for bespoke sex products. Etsy is really the only place you can go that I know of to support small business/makers in the alternative product world, Alissa Milano, an Etsy patron who has purchased sex and kink products on the platform, told Engadget in a DM.

On top of discoverability, the intuitive user interface makes it easy for shops to create listings and offer customization options, and it gives potential buyers a way to get in touch with a seller if they have any questions before placing an order. I talk to most of the customers, said Daniel Tyler, who runs the UK-based adult site Secret Kink, and sells on Etsy under the name of SecretLatex. Often, he says, they want little changes here and there. If you're buying on Amazon, you won't get that. And because it costs so little to list products on Etsy  $.20 per listing  its probably the most accessible place to sell something, said Chelsea Downs, founder of New York Toy Collective. Emerging indie marketplaces like Spicerack that are trying to provide a better option for sellers in the adult space are a promising development, but they dont yet have the reach or name recognition of Etsy.

Even before the ban, though, adult product sellers say theyve grappled with account suspensions and seemingly arbitrary listings removals, despite their best efforts to comply with Etsys existing rules around mature items. Or, their shops would plummet in the search ranks and be unable to climb back up. It just gets worse and worse and worse, said Downs, who notes that her shops sales on the platform are not nearly what they once were.

ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement

Tyler says his Etsy shop was banned about six or seven years back for unknown reasons. I couldnt get the shop open, no one would respond, he said. He rebranded and returned to the platform a few years later, and has so far been safe, but says, I get various warnings about policy violations every other week. The current Etsy shop sells latex and rubber kinkwear as well as dildos, silicone penis sleeves and gender expression products such as packers  prosthetics meant to mimic the bulge of a penis and testicles that can be worn under clothing. Some of his listings wont be allowed under the new rules.

Etsy sales accounted for 50 percent of Secret Kinks turnover last year, and 30 percent the year before that, Tyler said. I always said to my partner that I'm worried that any day theyre just going to close my store down, he said. Amid the economic struggles small businesses are already dealing with, Tyler says the platforms latest move is just another kick in the teeth.

Both Tyler and Downs also expressed concerns about how the changes could affect shoppers access to gender affirming products. Downs shop, which has made over 12,000 sales in its seven years on Etsy, also sells a mix of pleasure and gender expression products. According to an Etsy spokesperson, items like packers that would be classified as prosthetics and not toys (i.e. not intended for sexual acts) are still permitted, along with some sexual wellness products.

The overhaul at Etsy comes on the heels of age verification laws that have begun to gain traction in the US, with the stated intent of shielding minors from adult content on the internet. In recent weeks, Pornhub has pulled out of several states that have enacted or are trying to push forward with such legislation, rather than comply with verification methods that could pose a privacy risk to the sites users. And sex was already a tough sell for online businesses prior to this movement. Payment processors, like PayPal and Stripe, have historically taken a harsh stance on the sale of sex-related products and sexual content (remember when OnlyFans tried to ban porn to appease the banks?).

Whatever Etsys reasoning, affected sellers say theyre bracing for industry-wide impacts. Matt Rowe, one of the owners of the fantasy sex toy shop Odyssey Toys said in an email that its going to be a devastating blow for so many artisan makers. There's some extremely talented people driving innovation and creating some incredible work through their designs, and for many of them their business may have the rug pulled out from underneath them almost overnight.

ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement

Rowe said he considers Odyssey one of the lucky ones because Etsy currently accounts for only about 20-25 percent of the business sales  but the potential impact on the team of owners and workers, plus their families, is still really worrying. Odyssey moved into a bigger office earlier this year, and brought on new staff members, Rowe said.

With no word from Etsy in the aftermath of its decision, many sellers said their future right now feels uncertain. We're left wondering if our account will be deactivated? Restricted? Or will they just remove our products? Who knows! Rowe said.

Selling sex toys may have put a target on their backs, but the affected sellers warned that there are broader issues plaguing Etsy that will continue to affect even the small businesses that don't carry mature products. Their gripes include being dinged in search rankings for not offering free shipping, and having to navigate a playing field thats changed immensely with an influx of dropshippers, mass-produced products and AI art. This idea of a handmade marketplace no longer exists, said Downs.

In July, Etsy updated its seller handbook with new categories to reflect what it says belongs on the platform, loosening its grip on the handmade, vintage or craft supply categories that listings were once required to fit into. Now, shops can choose to label their products as made by a seller, designed by a seller, sourced by a seller or handpicked by a seller.
Gary Owen is speaking out about the status of his relationship with his ex-wife Kenya Duke.

The "Think Like a Man Too" actor said he is "cordial" with Duke while performing at a comedy show. On Friday, Owen shared a snippet on Instagram of an audience member asking him "Do you and the ex get along?"

"That's a legitimate question," Owen answered. "We're cordial. But yeah, I wouldn't say we're best buds."

The Cincinnati native joked how he needs "someone to f*****g d**k her down. I think that'll do it. Like blow her f*****g back all the way out. She'll probably be like, 'How you doing, Gary?' " he said in a softer voice.

Owen, 50, continued: "Like, 'Oh s**t, somebody got some d**k!' I don't know. We OK... That was a good question ...We aight."

Owen appeared on Shannon Sharpe's 'Club Shay Shay' in May where he discussed the Drake versus Kendrick Lamar beef and his public divorce.

Shortly after the interview premiered, Duke took to Instagram where she wrote how her "growth is not feeling the need to address mistruths anymore."

In the post's caption, Duke tagged the comedian, saying she has always been "kind and cool with you" in the last "3 years."

"I purposely, never make it awkward. I never bother you. I have given you my suggestions on the situation but you don't respect their boundaries. Which is why you discussed this again on social media," she wrote.

She concluded in the caption: "I don't know what else to do to help you. Always wishing you well."

Owen was married to Kenya Duke from 2003 to 2021. They share two biological children; he is the stepfather of Duke's son, born in a previous relationship. Owen is now engaged to Bri Johnson. They welcomed twins together last July.
California's Park Fire has exploded in size, scorching an area about the size of Los Angeles and threatening thousands of homes as firefighters scramble to meet the danger. More than 130 structures have been destroyed so far.
An Israeli rescue official said 10 people were killed by a rocket strike on a town in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights on Saturday, in what would be the deadliest attack on an Israeli target since the fighting with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah began.
Winds and lightning strikes sparked and fanned wildfires across the Pacific Northwest this week, including the largest fire burning in the US, which was expanding near the Oregon-Idaho border.
Expressing concern over the United States unilaterally removing eligible members from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), trade ministers from the continent recently urged the US government to do away with the annual reviews of the trade agreement.

As the annual reviews reduce investor appetite, the ministers called for a three-year review instead.

They reiterated the need to expeditiously renew the AGOA by the end of this year, without any controversial enhancements and amendments for minimum 16 years to offer the required predictability and certainty to US-Africa trade ties and preserve existing regional value chains.

Expressing concern over the US unilaterally removing eligible members from the AGOA, African trade ministers recently urged the US government to do away with the annual reviews of the trade agreement. They reiterated the need to expeditiously renew the AGOA by 2024 end, without any controversial enhancements and amendments for minimum 16 years.

This was expressed in a read-out statement of African ministers under the African Union (AU) at the 21st AGOA Forum in Washington, DC.

AGOA offers eligible sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the US market for most products without having to reciprocate. Enacted in 2000, the piece of legislation is scheduled to expire in September 2025.

We urge the US Administration to refrain from using non-trade considerations in determining AGOA eligibility criteria and to ensure the developmental dimension of the AGOA programme, particularly in relation to infrastructure, industrial development and technology transfer. We stress the importance of addressing graduation in order not to jeopardise the achieved gains, the statement issued by the African ministers said.

Several experts believe AGOAs benefits have not been evenly distributed across the continent due to its rigorous eligibility requirements, African media outlets reported. Large economies oriented around extractive industries in Angola, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa have significantly benefited from AGOA, while smaller participant nations generally have not.

We call upon the US administration to simplify the current rules of origin and provide for additional improvements for manufactured products, to enhance market access, the statement added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Sanjana Sanghi is fresh off the success of her last release Dhak Dhak (2023) and loved being part of this all-women film. Describing the dynamics on the set of Dhak Dhak, she says, Well, women across generations working together in a film can go South as well.



But, I think credit must be given to Tarun Dudeja, our director, who just gave us such amazing parts that we all knew what to do. The core character sync was there and everyone believed in their characters. It was pure and I feel thats what the audience has connected to. And probably thats the reason why we are even making a sequel. It has the four of us again along with a few additions. Its in the final part of writing right now. Well be starting filming by the end of the year. Discussing her film choices in the post-COVID landscape, she notes that the theatrical business took a complete nosedive and OTT content started ruling. To build a career in such a volatile environment has been extremely challenging for a new-age actor like her.





She truly craves being a part of a film where she can reach the number of people that she did with Dil Bechara. Because that kind of pan-India consumption of ones work gives an actor the luxury of making more choices later. She wants to work with filmmakers she has long admired. She knows people like Imtiaz Ali and Vishal Bhardwaj would make one film in two-three years but she wants to be in projects like that. On her future collaborations with directors, she reveals, I have had the good fortune of being in touch with Zoya Akhtar and Farhan Akhtar, talking about different possibilities of working with them. That in itself is a huge thing for me. I want to work with Imtiaz Ali again, I respect his creative mind a lot. Alankrita Shrivastava and Neeraj Ghaywan too.



When asked about the declining power of stars in todays scenario and its impact on actors like her, she asserts, I think its a double-edged sword. When you want to be a mainstream Hindi film heroine, you want to do a little bit of everything. Earlier Hindi films used to have a template and now its all changed. So, we have to be very adept and agile in making choices. Maybe, if I would have made my debut in 2014, I am not sure if Kadak Singh (2023) and Dhak Dhak would have been my third and fourth film after making a commercial debut with Sushant Singh Rajput in Dil Bechara (2020).

"I dont think I only want to do purely content-driven cinema. I am also happy to be in a song and dance film. Her desire is to connect with the largest number of people in the country. And there is a certain kind of cinema that penetrates the market which comes from that canvas. The idea is to do both, commercial as well as content-driven films.



Addressing changes in the auditioning process, Sanjana recounts, Ive auditioned actively since the age of 17. It was really like taking a shot in the dark. All we used to be given was a scene, we were not even told the name of the project or the director. It all changed for me post Dil Bechara. Post that when calls used to come to me that people wanted to narrate a film to me, I used to be shocked. It was a very quick turnaround. But what breaks her heart is when after a reading or narration there is silence. She only feels like the makers should at least inform the actor. Because actors tend to pin their hopes on a project and its only fair to tell them that things didnt work out. She hates the fact that there are no callbacks for aspiring actors and the geek in her cribs that theres no way of emailing or sending CVs to directors she wants to work with. For the Delhi girl in me, it is very difficult to say no to any work. If I would have said yes to everything that had come my way, my trajectory would have been very different. So, I am still developing my filters. Sometimes its my gut feeling, sometimes its about how important doing that project is for me. It happened to me in OM. It was supposed to be this big-ticket commercial action film with Aditya Roy Kapur. Directed by Ahmed Khan who was right out of the success of Baaghi. But it didnt do too well. My process of picking a film is like a split-personality disorder. Every time

I pick a film, I question it a hundred times.

Speaking about her experience working with Pankaj Tripathi in Kadak Singh, she states, I treat him as acting royalty. When I got this film, no part of me believed it. I had to go shoulder to shoulder with him in every scene so I was like I dont know if I have it in me. But, the ease with which I could perform with him was all because of him. The advice he gives you, the space he gives you, the respect he gives you, it all adds up well. If every co-star would be like that then it would be a whole other story. She feels that Kadak Singh should have met with a better response and is disappointed that it didnt get the numbers the makers were hoping for. I loved what I did with my character in that film. Internal industry feedback was great but to get that kind of feedback from the audience was something I missed out on. I hope it could reach more people.

Coming back to the current reality, she reflects that today a big star can have two films coming out within two months, and one can do really well while the other might not. The star system is also being questioned. Reflecting on the industrys evolution post-COVID, Sanjana thinks that in these four years, from 2020 to 2024, there has been more of a conflict than ever before. She went into a phase where her debut film was one of the first ever to be released on OTT. She did not have a template of how it should feel like to make a debut on OTT. When I had signed Dil Bechara, it was supposed to be a big theatrical release. I didnt know what a hundred and seventy million people watching something in their homes meant. And I didnt know much about it till the pandemic started opening up and I couldnt take a step outside my house without someone recognising me. And I realised that these numbers are real and I think we went into this two-year-long journey during the pandemic where everything changed. The goal posts got realigned.

Discussing the pressures of social media she notes that 10 million views on a reel doesnt mean that one will get 10 million views on your trailer. You might look stunning in a reel and that might give you popularity or brand endorsements due to high engagement. But thats about it. No one is going to cast you to lead a film as an actor just because youre relevant on social media. They might take you for a song to attract those eyeballs, but not as a lead actor. She further adds that being active on social media can take up a lot of time and space in an actors life and can dim the aura of a film star. Being over-exposed to the audience might make an actor irrelevant. She believes that her fans are seeing her on social media every day for free, they might not be interested in coming to the theatres to watch her after paying good money.




Over half of Brits would bake more if they had more time

48% agree that returning to offices and commuting means they have less time to bake at home

46% admit they would bake more if it created less mess

LONDON, July 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Baking consistently sits in Brits' top hobbies with over a third (39%) citing it as their favourite past time[1]. But research by Anchor, the no.1 British butter brand, reveals that over a third of us are now missing out on solace in the kitchen due to a lack of time.

Nearly two thirds (62%) of us enjoy baking because we like the taste of baked goods, while 47% enjoy baking for friends and family. Over a third (34%) of respondents said baking improves their mood, while 21% said they have taken up baking to learn a new skill.

However, the same research reveals that Brits have lost the baking bug since the dawn of the 'new normal' since the pandemic with over half of Brits (57%) admitting they would bake more if they had the time. In fact, over a third baked something in the last week, down from over 50% during lockdown[2]. What's more, almost half of Brits are missing out on the joy of baking due to their commute and return to office mandates.

The findings reveal that nervousness and lack of confidence prevents people from baking, with almost half (46%) of respondents admitting they aren't good at baking. A further 18% said they don't have the right equipment, and 20% admitted mess is another major barrier to baking.

Well busy bakers can rejoice, as Anchor launches its newest innovation, Anchor Squeezy -the same great Anchor quality, now in bottle form to create delicious bakes with just a squeeze. Simply squeeze straight from the fridge, mix and you're done!

Sarah Corrigan, Brand Manager at Anchor says: "Anchor Squeezy provides a solution for all bakers - whether you're a pro who's strapped for time, or a baking novice looking for the tools to whip up amazing treats. Our data shows that taste is the most important factor of baking[3], which is why we've worked tirelessly to ensure Anchor Squeezy still delivers our signature buttery taste. Anchor Squeezy is a game changer for at-home bakers, and we can't wait to hear what our customers think".

To address the city's desire for fresh buttery bakes, busy commuters were treated to delicious bakes as they passed through London's Pudding Lane. Former Great British Bake Off star Howard Middleton served up delicious cupcakes for hungry commuters, as part of the launch for the iconic butter, in bottle form.

Anchor Squeezy is available to buy in Tesco and other major retailers by the end of September, RRP 3.35 for 500ml.

About Anchor Butter

We've been churning milk and salt since 1886 to create our signature and quality tasting butter. As a fully farmer-owned business, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you're helping to support our farmers and their families when you buy Anchor.

[1] https://www.statista.com/forecasts/997890/most-popular-hobbies-and-activities-in-the-uk#:~:text=%22Reading%22%20and%20%22Cooking%20%2F,in%20our%20Consumer%20Insights%20tool.

[2] Lumina Intelligence survey of 1,000 adults, source: https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/consumer-trends/pandemic-bake-offs-banana-bread-fever-and-social-recipes-10-charts-explaining-uk-attitudes-to-home-baking/655954.article

[3] 58% of respondents said taste is the most important aspect of baking, compared to appearance (7%).

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2470269/Anchor_British_Bake.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2470270/Anchor_Baking_Busker.jpg

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/butter-fingers-anchor-dairys-research-shows-brits-are-falling-out-of-love-with-baking-302208086.html
More than 400 Branches: Strategic Partnership in Azerbaijan Fuels Ambitious Growth Plan

DOHA, Qatar and BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Al Baladi Holding Group, a distinguished Qatari company, proudly announces a strategic partnership with Azerbaijan's Green Capital Management Investment Group, marking a significant milestone in its global expansion strategy. This collaboration aims to launch over 400 new branches of the renowned "Go Crispy" restaurant chain and the "Tea Time" cafe chain worldwide.

The announcement was made during a ceremonial signing in Baku, Azerbaijan attended by Mr. Hani Al Sayyadi, CEO of Al-Baladi Holding Group and Mr. Adnan Ahmed Zadeh, Chairman and Shareholder of Green Capital Management. This partnership aligns with Al Baladi Holding Group's strategic marketing plan, driving the "Go Crispy" chicken restaurants and "Tea Time" cafes towards international prominence. The expansion will cover 27 countries, starting with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and several European nations.

Mr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Chairman of Al-Baladi Holding Group, expressed his enthusiasm: "We are thrilled to expand our distinctive Qatari brands globally. 'Go Crispy' restaurants successfully blend delicious fast food with fresh, nutritious chicken, while 'Tea Time' cafes, with over 100 branches, have already established a global footprint. We are poised to compete in major international markets."

He further added, "Our investment partnerships are crucial to our long-term plans for expansion and excellence. Today's partnership is another step in bringing our successes to new markets, demonstrating our ability to surpass the largest international restaurant chains in quality and service."

Mr. Khayal Jibov, Shareholder of Green Capital Management, emphasized the partnership's potential: "Both 'Go Crispy' and 'Tea Time' have shown remarkable success in Qatar and beyond, showcasing their competitiveness and exceptional service quality. We are confident this partnership will lead to significant achievements in global markets, including Asia."

About Go Crispy and Tea Time:

Go Crispy restaurants are celebrated for their high-quality meals and outstanding customer service, offering fresh halal chicken dishes and various fast-food options while maintaining the highest international health standards. The first Go Crispy restaurant, opened in 2019 by Chef Hissa Al Sulaiti, quickly expanded in Doha and earned the Best Fast-Food Restaurant in Qatar award at the 2022 Arabian Best of Best Awards.

Tea Time cafes, the largest Qatari cafe chain, are renowned for their simple, competitive concept and unique products, including the signature saffron tea and the distinctive Karak drink.

This expansion by Al Baladi Holding Group not only accelerates the growth of its brands but also creates pioneering job opportunities in new markets.

For more information, visit Al Baladi Holding.

About Al Baladi Holding Group:

Founded in 1979 by Mr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Attiyah, Al Baladi Holding Group is a prominent Qatari conglomerate with over 7,500 employees and 53 companies spanning various sectors, including food and beverages, retail, agriculture, manufacturing, fashion, e-commerce, and hospitality.

About Green Capital Management Investment Group:

Based in Azerbaijan, Green Capital Management is a strategic investment firm focused on sustainable growth and economic development across multiple sectors.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2470329/Al_Baladi_Holding_Group_1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2470330/Al_Baladi_Holding_Group_2.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/al-baladi-holding-group-announces-global-expansion-of-go-crispy-and-tea-time-302208167.html
Saif is my lucky mascot. Because the first ever episode which I shot for Koffee With Karan was with Saif. I clearly remember, it was on his birthday August 16, 2004, said the filmmaker read more

The first season of Karan Johars Koffee With Karan began with a bang, The filmmaker says it was August 16, 2004, and the guests were Saif Ali Khan-Preity Zinta. It was Khans birthday and that was also the day when his former wife Amrita Singh threw him out of the house. This was revealed by Johar himself to Saifs daughter Sara Ali Khan on Koffee With Karan itself.

Saif is my lucky mascot. Because the first ever episode which I shot for Koffee With Karan was with Saif. I clearly remember, it was on his birthday August 16, 2004. It was a day after your mom threw him out of the house I think, revealed the filmmaker.

Advertisement

Happy Independence Day to them both, quipped Sara.

When Saif Ali Khan opened up about facing domestic abuse in marriage with Amrita Singh

Bollywood stars Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor are one of the most popular couples in Bollywood. They have been together for over 15 years, and the couple is often snapped spending quality time and enjoying their togetherness. But there was a time when Saif Ali Khan found himself trapped and needed to find himself in an impossible marriage with Amrita Singh.

The actor married Amrita Singh in 1991, and after 13 years of marriage, they parted ways in 2004, citing incompatibility as the reason. While many stories paved their way on the internet regarding their divorce, the two always remained tight-lipped over the issue.

In an old interview with The Telegraph, Saif spoke about his equation with Amrita Singh, the alimony he had to pay, his Swiss girlfriend Rosa, and his love for his children. He began by saying that he and his wife had gone their separate ways. But why am I being constantly reminded of how terrible a husband I was and how awful a father I am? I have my son Ibrahims photograph in my wallet. Each time I look at it, I feel like crying. I miss my daughter Sarah all the time, he said.
The co-star in question is actor-comedian-filmmaker Sunil Pal, who shared screen-space with Khan in the 2014 Kick read more

Actor-comedian-filmmaker Sunil Pal, who shared screen-space with Khan in the 2014 Kick and starred in many other Hindi films, slammed Karan Johar for his participation in the 2015 AIB Roast, his questions on Koffee With Karan, and supposedly mocking the LGBTQ community. He also questioned Akshay Kumar for endorsing pan masala and guthka.

Pal further criticised the star culture and said, I have done over over 17 films out of which many of them are yet to find a release. The actors are also selfish who refuse to promote them once they get their pay-cheque. The media also feels why we should interview them. All these revelations were made by Pal in an interview with India Asks.

Advertisement

I was offered a show by ALT Balaji where they asked me to play a Madrasi but there were expletives involved, I turned it down since I would not like to abuse on screen, Pal further stated, schooling actors like Manoj Bajpayee and Nawazuddin Siddiqui for their on-screen profanity.

Karan recently took to his Instagram stories and shared a hilarious lengthy note in Hindi talking about changing the external body.

The filmmaker wrote: Fillers laga lo fulfilment nahin miltiMake up laga lo umar hai ghat thi (Applying fillers doesnt bring fulfillment applying makeup doesnt make you younger).

Karan added: Karlo jitna bhi Botox, lagoge jaise madhumakkhi ne kaat liya Naak badalne se gand itar nahi banti (No matter how much Botox you do, youll end up looking like a fly stung you).

Going under the knife se exterior _badal bhi jaaye Lekin meri jaanFitrat nahi badalti (_Going under the knife will only change your exterior and not your nature).
Venezuela goes to polls on Sunday to elect its next president. The fight is between the incumbent Nicolas Maduro and his main challenger Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. Heres why these polls matter to the world read more

Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro attend at a campaign rally in the Catia neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, July 18, 2024. File Photo/AP

The future of Venezuela is on the line. Voters will decide Sunday whether to reelect President Nicolas Maduro, whose 11 years in office have been beset by crisis, or allow the opposition a chance to deliver on a promise to undo the ruling partys policies that caused economic collapse and forced millions to emigrate.

Historically fractured opposition parties have coalesced behind a single candidate, giving the United Socialist Party of Venezuela its most serious electoral challenge in a presidential election in decades.

Advertisement

Maduro is being challenged by former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who represents the resurgent opposition, and eight other candidates. Supporters of Maduro and Gonzalez marked the end of the official campaign season Thursday with massive demonstrations in the capital, Caracas.

Here are some reasons why the election matters to the world:

Impact on migration

The will impact migration flows regardless of the winner.

The instability in Venezuela for the past decade has pushed more than 7.7 million people to migrate, which the UNs refugee agency describes as the largest exodus in Latin Americas recent history. Most Venezuelan migrants have settled in Latin America and the Caribbean, but they are increasingly setting their sights on the US.

A nationwide poll conducted in April by the Venezuela-based research firm Delphos indicated that about a quarter of the people in Venezuela were thinking about emigrating if Maduro wins again. Of those, about 47 per cent said a win by the opposition would make them stay, but roughly the same amount indicated that an improved economy would keep them in their home country. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

The main opposition leader is off the ballot

The most talked-about name in the race is not on the ballot: Maria Corina Machado. The former lawmaker emerged as an opposition star in 2023, filling the void left when a previous generation of opposition leaders fled into exile. Her principled attacks on government corruption and mismanagement rallied millions of Venezuelans to vote for her in the oppositions October primary.

Advertisement

But Maduros government declared the primary illegal and opened criminal investigations against some of its organisers. Since then, it has issued warrants for several of Machados supporters and arrested some members of her staff, and the countrys top court affirmed a decision to keep her off the ballot.

Yet, she kept on campaigning, holding rallies nationwide and turning the ban on her candidacy into a symbol of the loss of rights and humiliations that many voters have felt for over a decade.

She has thrown her support behind Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, a former ambassador who has never held public office, helping a fractious opposition unify.

Advertisement

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado waves a Monagas state flag as she greets supporters during a campaign rally for presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, in Maturin, Venezuela, Saturday, July 20, 2024. File Photo/AP

They are campaigning together on the promise of economic reform that will lure back the millions of people who have migrated since Maduro became president in 2013.

Gonzalez began his diplomatic career as an aide to Venezuelas ambassador in the US in the late 1970s. He was posted to Belgium and El Salvador, and served as Caracas ambassador to Algeria. His last post was as ambassador to Argentina during Hugo Chavezs presidency, which began in 1999.

ALSO READ: Ballots and barrels: Why the July 28 Venezuelan elections are important for India

Why has Maduros popularity waned?

Maduros popularity has dwindled due to an economic crisis caused by a drop in oil prices, corruption and government mismanagement.

Advertisement

Maduro can still bank on a cadre of die-hard believers, known as Chavistas, including millions of public employees and others whose businesses or employment depend on the state. But the ability of his party to use access to social programmes to make people vote has diminished as the economy has frayed.

He is the heir to Hugo Chavez, a popular socialist who expanded Venezuelas welfare state while locking horns with the United States.

Sick with cancer, Chavez handpicked Maduro to act as interim president upon his death. He took on the role in March 2013, and the following month, he narrowly won the presidential election triggered by his mentors death.

Advertisement

Maduro was reelected in 2018, in a contest that was widely considered a sham. His government banned Venezuelas most popular opposition parties and politicians from participating and, lacking a level playing field, the opposition urged voters to boycott the election.

That authoritarian tilt was part of the rationale the US used to impose economic sanctions that crippled the countrys crucial oil industry.

Mishandled oil industry

Venezuela has the worlds largest proven crude reserves, but its production declined over several years, in part because of government mismanagement and widespread corruption in the state-owned oil company.

In April, Venezuelas government announced the arrest of Tareck El Aissami, the once-powerful oil minister and a Maduro ally, over an alleged scheme through which hundreds of millions of dollars in oil proceeds seemingly disappeared.

That same month, the US government reimposed sanctions on Venezuelas energy sector, after Maduro and his allies used the ruling partys total control over Venezuelas institutions to undermine an agreement to allow free elections. Among those actions, they blocked Machado from registering as a presidential candidate and arrested and persecuted members of her team.

The sanctions make it illegal for US companies to do business with state-run Petroleos de Venezuela SA, better known as PDVSA, without prior authorisation from the US Treasury Department. The outcome of the election could decide whether those sanctions remain in place.

An unfair match

A more free and fair presidential election seemed like a possibility last year, when Maduros government agreed to work with the US-backed Unitary Platform coalition to improve electoral conditions in October 2023. An accord on election conditions earned Maduros government broad relief from the US economic sanctions on its state-run oil, gas and mining sectors.

But days later, authorities branded the oppositions primary illegal and began issuing warrants and arresting human rights defenders, journalists and opposition members.

Supporters hold an electoral poster promoting opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez during the launch of his campaign for the upcoming election, in La Victoria, Venezuela, May 18, 2024. File Photo/AP

A UN-backed panel investigating human rights violations in Venezuela has reported that the government has increased repression of critics and opponents ahead of the election, subjecting targets to detention, surveillance, threats, defamatory campaigns and arbitrary criminal proceedings.

The government has also used its control of media outlets, the countrys fuel supply, electric network and other infrastructure to limit the reach of the Machado-Gonzalez campaign.

The mounting actions taken against the opposition prompted the Biden administration earlier this year to end the sanctions relief it granted in October.
Wild polio was eradicated from Gaza more than 25 years ago, recently the virus has been detected in wastewater, sending a concerning signal to the world. A combination of poor hygiene and sanitation might have contributed to its re-emergence in the war-torn Palestinian territory read more

A strain of vaccine-derived poliovirus has been detected in the wastewater in Gaza. File photo/AFP

As war continues to devastate Gaza and its people, we learnt recently that a variant of poliovirus has been detected in the region. The virus was isolated in six sewage samples collected in late June from Khan Younis and Deir al Balah.

Most infections with poliovirus dont cause symptoms, but a minority of those who contract the virus develop paralysis (paralytic polio).

No cases of paralytic polio have been reported in Gaza. But detecting the virus in wastewater is concerning nonetheless.

Advertisement

Types of polio

The cases of polio weve seen historically have generally been caused by wild poliovirus. For centuries, wild poliovirus affected both poor and wealthy countries, including Australia. The deployment of effective vaccines in the 1960s led to a dramatic decrease in cases in the following decades among those countries that could afford the vaccines.

The introduction of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988 enabled more equitable vaccination. There were only 12 cases of paralysis caused by wild poliovirus in 2023, in just two countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan.

However, as the number of wild poliovirus cases decreased there was an increase in cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus causing paralysis.

The oral polio vaccine is based on a weakened virus  so it doesnt cause disease, but can still reproduce. Reuters

There are two types of polio vaccines: one is given orally, and the other by injection. The oral polio vaccine is based on a weakened virus  so it doesnt cause disease, but can still reproduce. Vaccine-derived poliovirus emerges when people vaccinated with the oral polio vaccine excrete the vaccine virus in their stool and it spreads to other people.

Over time, it may mutate to become a virus that circulates and causes paralysis in populations with low levels of immunity. In 2023, there were 524 polio cases in 32 countries caused by vaccine-derived poliovirus.

Its a strain of vaccine-derived poliovirus that has been detected in the wastewater in Gaza  type 2.

Advertisement

High vaccine coverage isnt enough

The most important indicator of eradicating polio, both wild and vaccine-derived, is vaccine coverage. This is usually measured as the percentage of children under five who have received at least four vaccine doses, ideally 95 per cent.

High vaccination coverage has been achieved by a combination of routine immunisation in early childhood plus national or local catch-up vaccination campaigns, particularly in areas where the virus pops up.

However, high vaccination coverage is not always enough to eliminate the virus.

Early in the 21st century, India and Nigeria were reporting the highest number of polio cases in the world. After an accelerated immunisation campaign in India, vaccine coverage rates were high by 2007 and cases were decreasing. But many cases continued to be reported in impoverished districts of western Uttar Pradesh, where access to clean water and sanitation was poor.

Advertisement

Research shows a high level of pathogens in childrens intestines can make the absorption of the oral vaccine less effective, while unsanitary conditions make it easier for the virus to spread. After a sanitation and hygiene project began in 2007, the last case of polio in Uttar Pradesh occurred in 2010, and the entire country eradicated polio in 2014.

India was declared polio-free in 2014 after an aggressive campaign against the disease. Image courtesy: Unicef India

Wild polio was eradicated from Gaza more than 25 years ago. But its possible the re-emergence of vaccine-derived poliovirus is due to a combination of poor hygiene and sanitation, as we saw in Uttar Pradesh, and reduced vaccine coverage.

Polio vaccination coverage in the Palestinian territories was 99 per cent in 2022. By the end of 2023, coverage had dropped to 89 per cent. However, the data were not separated by each of the territories (the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza), so coverage may be lower in Gaza.

Advertisement

The recent outbreaks

We saw the detection of a similar strain of poliovirus in wastewater in Jerusalem, London and New York in early 2022.

Parts of these cities have high concentrations of ultra-Orthodox Jews, which may have lower rates of vaccination than the overall population. In Rockland County, 65 kilometres north of New York City, a young, unimmunised Orthodox Jewish man became the first case of polio transmitted locally in the United States in 30 years.

Theres no evidence of vaccination hesitancy among Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Australia. However, there are other communities where vaccination rates are low, including some shires in the Northern Rivers district of New South Wales.

Advertisement

Communities with low vaccination rates, whatever the reason, are vulnerable to infectious diseases such as polio.

The source of the virus

The oral vaccine used in Gaza has not contained type 2 since 2016, so it must have come from elsewhere.

In 2023, most outbreaks of type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus were in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Nigeria, Sudan and Somalia. There was also one case in Egypt, which borders Gaza. Egypt could be the source of this virus, but well need further investigation.

Its unlikely to have come from Israel as there have been no detections of poliovirus in wastewater there since 2022.

A danger to the world?

First, we must not forget that poliovirus can cross borders and maintaining high vaccination rates is the most effective protective strategy. Its also crucial to contain the virus inside Gaza. UNICEF and partners are preparing for a vaccination campaign focusing on young children.

Second, its important to maintain wastewater surveillance for polio, which is an early warning mechanism that can initiate public health action before symptomatic cases occur.

Palestinians gather to collect water in Gaza, amid shortages of drinking water, as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues. Reuters

In 2022, Victoria was the only Australian state conducting routine polio wastewater surveillance until NSW adopted the practice when the outbreaks in Jerusalem, New York and London occurred. Wastewater surveillance is worthwhile in all states and territories.

Third, but not least, this should be a wake-up call highlighting the need to cease hostilities and provide unrestricted access by aid agencies to improve the provision of clean water, sanitation and effective health services throughout Gaza. This is an urgent global health priority.

Michael Toole, Associate Principal Research Fellow, Burnet Institute

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
He was replying to a question at the end of a keynote address during the 11th Annual Conference of the Berkeley Centre on Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination. The question was on the arbitrary arrests. The questioner said we seem to live in a society where one acts first and seeks forgiveness later. This has become particularly true for public authorities acting in a politically motivated manner by detaining activists, academics, journalists and even politicians, including the chief ministers of opposition parties, he said read more

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Sunday said the trial judges prefer playing safe by not granting bail on important issues of crime when it is looked at with a degree of suspicion.

The Chief Justice underlined the need for a sense of robust common sense to look at the nitty-gritty of each case.

People who should be getting bail in the trial courts and not getting it there, as a result of which, they have to invariably move the high courts. People who should be getting bail in the high courts will not necessarily get it, as a result of which, they have to move to the Supreme Court. This delay compounds the problem of those who are facing arbitrary arrests, Justice Chandrachud said.

Advertisement

He was replying to a question at the end of a keynote address during the 11th Annual Conference of the Berkeley Centre on Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination. The question was on the arbitrary arrests.

The questioner said we seem to live in a society where one acts first and seeks forgiveness later. This has become particularly true for public authorities acting in a politically motivated manner by detaining activists, academics, journalists and even politicians, including the chief ministers of opposition parties, he said.

According to him, all of these actions are taken with deep trust in the face of justice coming very slowly.

In reply, Justice Chandrachud said the Supreme Court has been constantly trying to convey that part of the reason for it is that there is an inherent distrust in the institutions within the country.

I think its important that we learn to trust people who may be in a hierarchical legal system, like much below, which are the trial courts. We have to encourage trial courts to be more receptive to the need for accommodating concerns of people who are seeking liberty, the CJI said.

Advertisement

Unfortunately, the problem today is this, that we look at any grant of relief by trial judges with a degree of suspicion. That means that the trial judges increasingly are playing it safe, not granting bail on important issues of serious crimes, he explained.

According to the CJI, judges have to look at the nitty gritties and see the fine prints of each case.

You (judges) have to have a sense of robust common sense. Now, unless we, therefore, separate the grains from the chaff in criminal jurisprudence, its very unlikely that we will have just solutions and to allow for decision makers to separate the grain from the chaff, its important that we also place a great deal of trust, Justice Chandrachud noted.

Advertisement

I think thats my concern that you cant render courts as in the hierarchy as you go up dysfunctional, just by the number of very small cases that are placed before us.

According to him, most of the cases should not have come to the Supreme Court at all.

The reason why we are prioritising bail is to send this message across the nation that those at the most incipient levels of the decision-making process have to do their duties without this feeling that. Ive been disgusted that my career will be on the line, the CJI underlined.
Stating that the NDA-led government took initiative to declassify files related to the freedom fighter, Bose said after the release of all the 10 inquiries - national and international, it is evident that Netaji perished on August 18, 1945 in an air crash in Taiwan read more

Grand-niece & grand-nephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Madhuri Bose and Chandra Bose with the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on December 16, 2015. File Photo

Legendary freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Boses grandnephew Chandra Kumar Bose on Sunday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back the mortal remains of Netaji from Japans Renkoji by August 18.

He also said a final statement should come from the central government on the matter so that false narratives about Netaji are laid to rest.

Stating that the NDA-led government took initiative to declassify files related to the freedom fighter, Bose said after the release of all the 10 inquiries - national and international, it is evident that Netaji perished on August 18, 1945 in an air crash in Taiwan.

Advertisement

It is therefore imperative that a final statement is made from the Government of India so that false narratives about the liberator of India are laid to rest, Bose wrote in a letter to Modi on Sunday.

My humble appeal to you is to bring back the mortal remains of Netaji from Renkoji to India by August 18, 2024, he said.

In an interview to PTI Videos, Bose, who was a former vice president of the West Bengal BJP, said the declassification process has exposed secret files and documents, which conclusively establish that Netaji died in this air crash on August 18, 1945.

He said that Netaji wanted to return to India after Independence, but could not as he died in the air crash.

It is highly insulting that Netajis remains have been kept at the Renkoji temple, Bose said.

We have been writing to the prime minister for the last three-and-a-half years, that in order to honour the liberator of India, his remains must touch Indian soil, he said.

Bose maintained that Netajis daughter Anita Bose Pfaff wants to perform his last rites as per the Hindu tradition.

I think the Government of India must respond. If they feel that these remains are not of Netaji, then maintenance should not be provided to keep those at Renkoji. A statement is expected from the prime minister regarding this, he said in the interview.
It is ironic is that despite bringing unity between different militias who arm-twist Israel with violence, Beijing is claiming to be the next big peace-maker in the world read more

As per the West Asia experts, while China may be singing tunes of self-praise in bringing an end to factionalism in Palestine, there is no dearth of such agreements in the past, with none of them actually succeeding. Image: AP

Nothing speaks about a countrys power more than its growing ambition to shape new realities across the world. One such attempt was made by China this week when it brokered peace between different Palestinian factions, including the militant arm Hamas and the much more moderate, in comparison, Fatah.

In addition to these two rivals, representatives from twelve other factions were also present at a three-day conclave in Beijing, where all of them decided to work for unity by burying their differences for the larger cause of national unity. One of the most important outcomes of the peace dialogue was the Beijing Declaration, where the united Palestinian factions decided to form a national reconciliation government once war ends in Gaza.

Advertisement

Needless to say, China is elated with its latest diplomatic achievement. The state-controlled Chinese media cant stop gushing about it, which is nothing but literally a self-pat on the back. As per a headline in CGTN, the state-run English language TV channel in the country, the Beijing declaration has been welcomed overwhelmingly by the global community.

Scratch beyond the headline and you see just a couple of China-friendly countries and Hamas spokespersons themselves welcoming it. The piece further credits China for the Saudi-Iran detente and the reconciliation wave in the Middle East, but one can only wonder which other reconciliation are they referring to? Because the growing acceptance of Israel in the region, which culminated in the Abraham accords, was an American effort under Trump and had nothing to do with China in reality. But truth never stops China from gloating in self-importance. Its media has already declared the agreement a milestone in Hamas-Fatah relations, a big move towards Palestinian national unity.

An opinion piece published in the Global Times has even claimed that while the US foments chaos in the region, it is only China that brokers peace. China is using the opportunity to suggest that it can play the role of mediator in other theatres as well. For instance, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba met in South Chinas Guangdong province on Wednesday.

During the talks, Kuleba said that China can play a constructive role in bringing peace between Russia and Ukraine. This, no doubt, is a significant statement, provided that US President Joe Biden has decided to withdraw from the presidential race and the American commitment to Ukraines security is showing signs of distress. But China is using such suggestions to paint a picture of itself as the next big thing on the global peace scene.

Advertisement

As per Beijing, the Saudi-Iran rapprochement, the brokering of peace between Palestinian factions, and now this affirmation of its peace-making capability by the Ukrainian foreign minister are all ominous signs of its arrival on the international security scene. In the Chinese scheme of things, the world needs Chinas leadership to keep it more stable and secure, and now they are even openly asking for it. But is China really helping the world become more peaceful in reality?

In order to answer this, lets analyse the detente that was brokered between Saudi Arabia and Iran a year and a half ago by Beijing. No doubt that the agreement reached between the Saudis and Iranians to restore diplomatic ties did play a great role in normalising their relations. The re-opening of embassies and exchange of diplomats did provide the two sides an opportunity to communicate openly about certain common issues as well.

Advertisement

In November last year, Irans late President Ebrahim Raisi also paid a visit to Riyadh. However, ties have not defrosted to the extent that Beijing is claiming. The regional issues still dominate in their relations with Saudi Arabia, making sure that Irans efforts to mobilise support for Hamas do not succeed.

In another instance that shows things havent turned as warm as claimed to be, an entourage of 30,000 Iranians was denied permission to perform a pilgrimage to Mecca by the Saudis, citing a technical disagreement over flight protocols.

The fact remains that the two sides are still very suspicious of each other. Iran is wary of the US-Saudi partnership, and Saudi Arabia is cautious of the Iranian network of proxies. The continued support for Hamas as well as Hezbollah and the Yemeni Houthis by Iran to target Israel only complicates the matter further. It is seen in Saudi Arabia as an attempt to prevent normalisation of its ties with Israel. Riyadh is now back to fearing a Shia crescent propagated by Iran to encircle it in the region. All this makes any further progress after the peace agreement questionable, if not completely untenable.

Advertisement

Coming back to the Hamas-Fatah peace, first of all Chinas efforts have done nothing but even discredited Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbass credentials by bringing him to sign peace with an actor who is being viewed as a terrorist across the world.

Hamass October 7 attack on Israeli civilians has exposed its shady antecedents to even those who didnt care about its existence till a year ago. Israel itself didnt leave an opportunity to criticise this solidarity with terrorists, as foreign minister Israel Katz condemned Abbas for siding with murderers and rapists.

As per the West Asia experts, while China may be singing tunes of self-praise in bringing an end to factionalism in Palestine, there is no dearth of such agreements in the past, with none of them actually succeeding. Whats also tragic to note is that a section of the commentariat in India is also endorsing Beijing as a hero for negotiating peace between Palestinian factions. But they seem to have forgotten that out of those factions, many, such as the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, are designated terrorists.

Advertisement

China has never shied away from using terrorism as a strategic weapon. It continues to back Pakistan-based terrorists who target India. Whats ironic is that despite bringing unity between different militias who arm-twist Israel with violence, Beijing is claiming to be the next big peace-maker in the world. In India we must not only spot this irony but also call out Chinas hypocrisy vehemently.

The author is a New Delhi-based commentator on geopolitics and foreign policy. She holds a PhD from the Department of International Relations, South Asian University. You may follow her on X: @TrulyMonica. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Israel has sent armed agents from Shin Bet, the domestic intelligence agency, to protect Israeli athletes at the Paris Olympics read more

French police have opened an investigation into death threats against three Israeli athletes participating in Paris Olympics.

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas War and mounting antisemitism in France and elsewhere, Israeli athletes have increasingly come under threat. Messages sent to athletes by phone and email have threatened to repeat the 1972 Munich massacres.

In the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Palestinian terrorists had abducted and killed 11 Israeli athletes. They had also killed a German police officer.

Advertisement

In addition to death threats, the personal data of athletes has also been leaked online.

In the wake of such threats, elite tactical units are providing round-the-clock security to Israeli athletes, according to Reuters. Moreover, Israel has also sent armed agents who are coordinating security arrangements with French authorities.

France probes threats against Israeli athletes

The French prosecutors office said on Sunday that the police have opened an investigation into death threats against three Israeli athletes at the Paris Olympics, according to Reuters.

It further said that anti-cyber crime officers are also investigating the release of athletes personal data on social networks on Friday, as per the agency.

It further said that the cyber crime officers are also working to get the leaked data removed from the internet.

Israel Foreign Minister Israel Katz has warned his French counterpart Stephane Sejourne of a potential Iranian-backed plot to target Israeli athletes and tourists during the Paris Olympics. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Katz also said Israel had information that Iran was also behind the rail sabotage in France ahead of the opening ceremony of Olympics.

The sabotage of railway infrastructure across France ahead of the @Paris2024 Olympics was planned and executed under the influence of Iran's axis of evil and radical Islam. As I warned my French counterpart @steph_sejourne this week, based on information held by Israel, Iranians    Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) July 26, 2024

Advertisement

Israel sends armed agents for athletes protection

The Israeli government has sent armed agents from Shin Bet, domestic intelligence agency of Israel, to protect Israeli athletes taking part in Paris Olympics.

Ahead of the opening ceremony of Olympics, Israeli minister Miki Zohar told The Daily Telegraph that 88 athletes and staff part of the Israeli delegation will have Shin Bets protection. He added that the security arrangements for Paris Olympics had been in the making for over a year.

Advertisement

Zohar further said, We know there are threats (against the team) but we dont want to talk about itWe try our best to make sure the athletes feel free but also safe and not afraid. We dont want them to notice the security guards too much. We want them to feel confident so they can do their job.
As per the reports, the landslide occurred at approximately 8 am (local time) on Sunday and managed to wash away parts of a residential house in the village read more

Rescue workers looking for survivors in flash floods that rocked northern and southern China earlier this month. AP

11 people were found dead and six others were left injured after heavy rains triggered a major landslide in China. According to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, the incident jolted the Yuelin Village in the city of Hengyang. The region is located in Central Chinas Huan Province.

As per the reports, the landslide occurred at approximately 8 am (local time) on Sunday and managed to wash away parts of a residential house in the village.

Advertisement

While the authorities reached the area immediately after the news broke out, by 10:30 am (local time), the rescuers found 12 people. However, the latest reports suggested that at least 11 people died and at least one person is currently missing.

Among these people, the authorities noted that 6 were dead and the other six were injured. The injured victims were immediately rushed to the hospital. Rescue efforts are currently underway.

The landslide caused flooding

Heavy rain and landslides caused major flooding in the region. While notifying about the situation, the authorities noted that the incident caused a one-storey guesthouse to collapse. It was initially confirmed that around 18 people were buried in the area.

Over 240 emergency and rescue personnel have been dispatched to the area with the rescue work continuing urgently, the local authorities noted.

It is pertinent to more that China has suffered a summer of extreme conditions. There have been frequent flash floods in northern and southwest China which killed at least 20 people, earlier this month.

In May this year, a highway in Southern China collapsed due to heavy rains ultimately leading to the death of 48 people.

With inputs from agencies.
The Bangladeshi police have detained three coordinators of recent protests against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina read more

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has deployed the military to crush the protests against her rule (Photo: AFP)

After Bangladeshi police detained three leaders of the movement against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the protesters have threatened to resume their agitation.

Earlier this month, the protests that erupted against Bangladeshs erstwhile contentious quota system turned into a mass-movement against Hasinas rule. More than 200 people were killed and several hundreds were injured in clashes between the protesters and security service.

To crush the protests, Hasina deployed military on the streets, declared a nationwide curfew, and banned the internet for days. It was only after the Supreme Court of Bangladesh scrapped the quota system that the protesters called off their movement.

Advertisement

Regarding the violence during the protests, Hasinas government has been slammed widely in Bangladesh and abroad. The government forces have been accused of using excessive and disproportionate force and it has also been alleged they used vehicles with United Nations (UN) markings to target protesters.

Protesters seek release of leaders

The latest threat to resume protests is rooted in the detention of three student leaders from hospital.

Three leaders of the Members of Students Against Discrimination (MSAD), the group that triggered the protests, were detained on Friday, according to the groups leaders.

The group has alleged that MSAD chief Nahid Islam along with two others, Asif Mahmud and Abu Baker Majumder, were forcibly discharged from the hospital where they were undergoing treatment for their injuries. Then they said they were detained and taken away by plainclothes police personnel.

Abdul Hannan Masud, one of the coordinators for the protests, said Islam and others should be freed and the cases against them must be withdrawn, according to AFP.

Masud demanded visible actions be taken against government ministers and police officers responsible for the deaths of protesters, as per the agency.

If no action is taken, then the group will be forced to launch tough protests from Monday, said Masud.

More than 200 killed, 9,000 arrested in Bangladesh

In days of violence, at least 205 people, including several police personnel, were killed, according to AFPs tally based on police and hospital data.

Advertisement

However, the protesters have said 266 have been killed and Hasinas government has said that 147 were killed, as per the agency.

The Prothom Alo newspaper reported that more than 9,000 people were arrested for indulging in violence.

The nationwide curfew remains in place and the military continues to patrol the streets even as internet has been restored. The websites and social media accounts of media outlets have also started getting updated now that the internet has been restored. For days, newspapers like Dhaka Tribune and The Daily Star were not updating their websites and social media accounts. The internet was restored after 11 days on Tuesday.

Advertisement

Even though the immediate trigger of protests was the quota system that critics said favoured Hasinas Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) party, the protests had turned into a broader movement against Hasina, who has ruled for 15 years with an iron fist. Her critics have said that she has cracked down on opposition and has stifled liberties in the Bangladesh. In the elections this year, she won effectively unopposed as the main opposition party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), boycotted the elections.
The authorities eventually re-opened the area to pedestrian traffic and access to and from the media center returned to normal read more

As the 2024 Paris Olympics continued to go on in full swing, the French police temporarily closed the areas around the media centre after receiving a bomb threat. The media centre was serving journalists who were covering the international sporting event. The authorities insisted that they had to take the measure because of an explosion risk.

Journalists and others had to be evacuated and the French police did not disclose the cause of the risk, TRT World reported. The authorities eventually re-opened the area to pedestrian traffic and access to and from the media center returned to normal.

Advertisement

This is not the first time the French police have been rattled by a bomb threat. Earlier this week, EuroAirport, located on the French-German-Swiss border, was evacuated and multiple flights were suspended due to the same issue. The airport is located near Basel (Switzerland), Mulhouse (France), and Freiburg (Germany). It is pertinent to note that France is on high alert for security threats amid the Paris Olympics.

The train sabotage that rocked the country

The bomb threat came just days after Frances high-speed train lines were targeted by multiple malicious acts including arson. The incident has been described as an attack on France and coordinated sabotage to disrupt travel ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.

Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete told the LCI channel that after the arson attacks, the security and surveillance of the railway network had been significantly strengthened. The French transport minister also noted that more than 1,000 employees and 250 security personnel have been deployed to monitor the railway network. Not only this, gendarmerie helicopters and 50 drones have been mobilised.

He indicated that the officials are anticipating disruptions to train services on Sunday and investigation into the attack is currently ongoing.

Pollution becomes another problem

Amid all the chaos, Olympics organisers have cancelled the first triathlon training over Seine pollution, AFP reported. The practice had to be cancelled due to the River Seines poor water quality. While last-minute disruption is proving to be disastrous for the athletes participating in the event, the French authorities assured that the waters will be cleared soon.

The river was expected to be used for the swimming portion of the triathlon event. The mens and womens events are due to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the mixed relay event following on Monday, Aug 5, but heavy rainfall has a negative impact on pollution levels in the river.

Advertisement

Last summer was the wettest in Paris in the last 20 years, with the water quality falling below the level required by public health authorities and World Aquatics to protect the swimmers health.

With inputs from agencies.
The recent revisions by Israel in the proposal being discussed have complicated talks for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and release of hostages read more

The ceasefire proposal on the table seeks to end the war in Gaza in three stages (Photo: Reuters)

Israeli negotiators have held the latest round of talks with mediators for a deal for ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of all hostages.

While The New York Times reported that Qatari and US mediators were part of the talks, The Times of Israel reported that Egyptian mediators were also part of the meeting. Israel and Hamas are engaged in indirect talks facilitated by Egypt and Qatar and supported by the United States.

Advertisement

The Israeli delegation was led by David Barnea, the chief of Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. The talks were held in Italys capital Rome.

Israel has revised the proposal on the table that has complicated the talks. The Israeli governments belief is that the increasing military pressure on Hamas gives Israel the leverage to extract the maximum from the deal.

The core proposal on the table is the way that US President Joe Biden has outlined in a speech in May. It seeks to end the ongoing war in three stages starting with a six-week ceasefire in lieu of select hostages.

Israel has revised proposal

Mossad chief Barnea discussed the latest ceasefire proposal with US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) chief William Burns, Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, according to The Times of Israel.

Israel has mainly revised three points in the proposal. They are related to the return of displaced Palestinians, the Israeli control of the Gaza-Egypt border, and the list of Israeli hostages with Hamas.

Firstly, Israel has said it wants checkpoints to screen Palestinians returning to their homes in the north from southern Gaza where they have been sheltering, according to The New York Times. Israel has said it wants the mechanism to ensure that no terrorists make their way to the north.

Secondly, Israel has refused to vacate the Egypt-Gaza border in whats called the Philadelphi Corridor. It refers to the eight- or nine-mile-long (around 13-14 kms) strip of land along the Gaza-Egypt border. Israel has said the control of the strip is essential to check the cross-border flow of terrorists and arms and also to prevent the building of tunnels in the region.

Advertisement

Thirdly, while Israel wants the option to resume fighting, Hamas wants a permanent truce, according to The Times.

To figure out a middle-way path on the second point, Israeli negotiators have privately discussed leaving the border after installing sensors to detect efforts to build a tunnel and instal underground barriers to prevent any tunnel-building, but no agreement on this has yet been reached, as per the newspaper.

The talks will continue in the coming days, said the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) on Sunday evening.

Separately, Israels Channel 12 reported that one of the revisions also mandates the Hamas handing over the list of all surviving hostages to Israel.

Advertisement

Israels new demands complicate talks

An official part of the Israeli negotiating team told Haaretz newspaper of Israel that the demand to screen Palestinians returning to homes was a death blow to the negotiations.

The security establishment will be able to deal with the security challenges without the mechanism, said the official to the newspaper.

The official further said that Netanyahu was thoughtlessly risking hostages lives with new demands.

Previously, Reuters reported that Hamas has rejected the Israeli demand to screening returning Palestinians.

The agency further reported that Egypt has rejected the Israeli demand related to the continued control of the Gaza-Egypt border.
We had the paperback , when I was a child. I didn't even know the

original English title. I still remembered the name of Gaberiel Betteredge,

one of the narrators, as  , a transliteration that made no sense

in Chinese except for invoking a fascination toward a remote alien world. It

took me a few tries to finish reading.

A plover-egg-sized Indian diamond, dedicated to a Hindu deity, was looted by the

British and passed down with its curse to an innocent girl. It was then lost for

a second time for a new generation of human weaknesses and, after the dust

settled, dramatically returned to the forehead of the statue of the moon god. It

was a mystery as well as love story. Like Greek and Roman mythologies, to me,

the Moonstone was a call of the wild as well as an escape from the daily drudery

to survive and get ahead. It invoked a longing to go overseas and see.

30 years later, I chanced upon the word "moonstone" one day and memories flooded

back. This time, I learned the name of the author, Wilkie Collins, and the

significance of the story as an early detective novel, and I wondered, into the

21 century, where the yellow diamond resided and if three Brahmins were still

watching day and night. Next, I borrowed the Everyman's Library edition.

The 1868 novel showed some age but was nonetheless the same page-turner which it

must be back then and which I couldn't say of some of the modern books I read of

the same genre. (I heard Taleb whispering: "I told you. Read nothing from the

past 100 years!" and "No skill to understand it; mastery to write it.") The

settings were given enough attention with few rare words that I had to look up

in the dictionary. Through the accounts of several narrators, the story

proceeded at a good pace and suspenses were never drawn-out. Humor fills the

volume, especially in Betteredge's and Miss Clack's accounts. Here is a

paragraph on page 14 to give a taste of the language.

If I had had a hat in my hand, nothing but respect would have prevented me

from throwing that hat up to the ceiling. I had not seen Mr. Franklin since

he was a boy, living along with us in this house. He was, out of all sight

(as I remembered him), the nicest boy that ever spun a top or broke a

window. Miss Rachel, who was present, and to whom I made that remark,

observed, in return, that SHE remembered him as the most atrocious tyrant

that ever tortured a doll, and the hardest driver of an exhausted little

girl in string harness that England could produce. 'I burn with indignation,

and I ache with fatigue,' was the way Miss Rachel summed it up, 'when I

think of Franklin Blake.'

Upon finishing the Moonstone, I was impressed enough to borrow the author's

magna opus, the 1860 novel The Woman In White.
After an attack on Israel-controlled Golan Heights killed 12 children, Israel has vowed to punish Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah at an unprecedented scale read more

Hezbollah fighters take part in a military exercise. It is an Iran-backed, anti-Israel terrorist group based in Lebanon. (Photo: Reuters)

Hezbollah has evacuated positions in south and east Lebanon after Israeli threats of reprisals for a deadly strike on the annexed Golan Heights, a source close to the group said Sunday.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant vowed to hit the enemy hard a day after rocket fire from Lebanon killed 12 minors in Majdal Shams, again raisings fears that the war in Gaza will spread.

Israel blamed Lebanons Hezbollah movement for firing a Falaq-1 Iranian rocket but the Iran-backed group  which has regularly targeted Israeli military positions  said it had no connection to the incident.

Advertisement

Hezbollah has evacuated some positions in the south and in the Bekaa valley that it thinks could be a target for Israel, the source close to the group told AFP, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Hezbollah has a strong presence in east Lebanons Bekaa valley, which borders Syria, and in south Lebanon, where it has been launching near daily attacks on Israeli positions since October in support of ally Hamas.

The cross-border exchanges of fire have largely been limited to the border area, but Israel has repeatedly struck deep inside Lebanon, including overnight.

Hezbollah is also deployed in Syria, where for years it has been fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad in his countrys civil war.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said pro-Iran groups and Hezbollah-affiliated fighters have evacuated their positions south of the capital and in the Damascus countryside, as well as in parts of the Syrian-controlled Golan Heights, in anticipation of potential Israeli airstrikes.

Hezbollah had already abandoned positions in Syria in early June after Israeli raids, according to the Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a network of sources on the ground.

Flights rescheduled

Since Syrias civil war erupted in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in the country, mainly targeting army positions and Iran-backed fighters, including from Hezbollah.

Advertisement

The raids also seek to cut off Hezbollah supply routes to Lebanon.

Israeli authorities rarely comment on individual strikes in Syria, but have repeatedly said they will not allow arch-enemy Iran to expand its presence there.

Israels raids on Syria intensified after Palestinian militant group Hamass October 7 attack on Israel sparked war in the Gaza Strip, then eased after an April 1 strike blamed on Israel hit the Iranian consular building in Damascus.

That strike prompted Iran to launch a first-ever direct missile and drone attack against Israel on April 13-14, sending regional tensions skyrocketing.

Lebanons Middle East Airlines said in a statement that it had rescheduled a number of flights on Sunday and Monday, citing technical reasons related to the distribution of (aircraft) insurance risks.

Advertisement

In October, the carrier said it was relocating some planes abroad in light of regional developments.

During a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel struck Beirut airport, Lebanons only international facility.

The cross-border violence since October has killed at least 527 people in Lebanon according to an AFP tally, most of them fighters but also including 104 civilians.

On the Israeli side, 22 soldiers and 24 civilians have been killed, according to Israeli authorities.

Israeli strikes have killed at least 25 Hezbollah fighters in Syria since the Gaza war erupted, according to an AFP tally.
Last year, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pulled Italy out of Belt and Road Initiative (BLI) and announced a reset of trade and economic ties with China read more

Months after quitting Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Italy and China on Sunday signed a three-year economic agreement.

The signing of the agreement comes during Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis visit to China. She is visiting China in a bid to reset the Italy-China economic relationship in the post-BRI era.

The agreement signed comprised an action plan to implement past agreements and experiment with new forms of cooperation, said Meloni.

We certainly have a lot of work to do and I am convinced that this work can be useful in such a complex phase on a global level, and also important at a multilateral level, said Meloni at the start of a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, as per The Associated Press.

Advertisement

Melonis visit to China comes at a time when China is increasingly getting involved in a trade conflict with the United States and European Union (EU) over electric vehicles (EV), renewable energy goods, metals, etc.

Meloni seeks Chinese investments

Even though Meloni quit the BRI last year, she continues to seek Chinese investments. This is part of a strategy to foster a more partnership with China.

At the time Italys exit from BRI was announced, a report in Reuters said Meloni would aim to revitalise a strategic partnership agreement with China first signed in 20014. The agreement was aimed at fostering economic cooperation. The action plan signed by the two sides on Sunday appears to be part of this plan.

In May, Italian automobile major Stellantis entered into a joint venture with Chinese EV start-up Leapmotor to sell EVs in China. The move came at a time when the United States and the EU have slapped tariffs on Chinese EVs as they say China has artificially cheapened its EV and renewable energy exports with subsidies and overproduction coupled with weak domestic demand.

Italy-China business cooperation to rise, says Li

On his part, Chinese Premier Li said that Chinas push to upgrade its economy will increase demand for high-quality products and that would expand opportunities for cooperation between companies from Italy and China, according to AP.

Li further pledged to open Chinese markets further to foreign companies.

Advertisement

At the same time, we hope the Italian side will work with China to provide a more fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies doing business in Italy, said Li, as per the agency.

The closure of Chinese markets to foreign companies has long been an irritant in trade and economic engagement with China. While China has long been selling goods and services in other countries, China has blocked the domestic markets to most of the foreign companies. In doing so, China has developed a highly unequal relationship where it gains much more than it allows other countries to gain from the bilateral trade.

Advertisement

Speaking at the same event, a forum of Italy-China business leaders, Meloni said that the two sides had signed an industrial collaboration memorandum that includes EVs and renewable energy, as per the agency.

Meloni described the two sectors as sectors where China has already been operating on the technological frontier for some time  and is sharing the new frontiers of knowledge with partners, as per the agency.

Previously, Melonis government has slammed the Italy-China economic relationship as highly unequal. It went on to term the now-scrapped BRI deal as atrocious and wicked.

In July, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said that while Italy exported next to nothing to China, imports from China flooded Italy.

Advertisement

The choice to join the Silk Road [a term for BRI] was an improvised and wicked act, made by Giuseppe Contes government, which led to a double negative result. We exported a load of oranges to China, they tripled their exports to Italy in three years. The most ridiculous thing at the time was that Paris, without signing any treaty, sold planes to Beijing for tens of billions in those days, said Crosetto in the interview to Corriere della Sera newspaper, according to a translation.

At the time, Crosetto told the newspaper the focus was on withdrawing from China but also not damaging the relations.

Advertisement

The theme today is: retracing our steps without damaging relationships. Because it is true that China is a competitor, but it is also a partner, said Crosetto at the time.
Her five-day visit comes several months after Italy dropped out of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, a signature policy of Chinese leader Xi Jinping to build power and transportation infrastructure around the world to stimulate global trade while also deepening Chinas ties with other nations read more

Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is on an official visit to China this week to try to reset relations as fears of a trade war with the European Union are interwoven with continued interest in attracting Chinese investment in auto manufacturing and other sectors.

Meloni met Chinese Premier Li Qiang in the Chinese capital on Sunday ahead of a forum with Italian and Chinese business leaders.

Her five-day visit comes several months after Italy dropped out of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, a signature policy of Chinese leader Xi Jinping to build power and transportation infrastructure around the world to stimulate global trade while also deepening Chinas ties with other nations.

Advertisement

Italys decision to join in 2019 appeared to be a political coup for China, giving it an inroad into Western Europe and a symbolic boost in a then-raging trade war with the United States. But Italy says the promised economic benefits didnt materialize, and its membership created friction with other Western European governments and the United States.

Still, Italy remains keen to pursue an otherwise strong economic relationship with China. Stellantis, a major automaker that includes Italys Fiat, announced in May that it had formed a joint venture with Leapmotor, a Chinese electric car startup, to begin selling EVs in Europe.

Electric vehicles have become a symbol of growing China-EU trade tensions, with the European Union imposing provisional tariffs of up to 37.6% on China-made electric vehicles in early July. The two sides are holding talks to try to resolve the issue by an early November deadline.

China meanwhile has launched an anti-dumping investigation into European pork exports, just days after the EU announced it would impose the tariffs on Chinese EVs.

Meloni, who arrived in Beijing on Saturday, has held talks with Li before, meeting in New Delhi last September during the annual G-20 summit, which brings together the leaders of 20 major nations.
The summit begins Monday and is being held by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a group of hundreds of lawmakers from 35 countries concerned about how democracies approach Beijing. The Associated Press spoke to the organizers and three lawmakers, and reviewed texts and emails sent by Chinese diplomats to the lawmakers asking whether they were planning to participate in the summit read more

Chinese diplomats are pressuring lawmakers from at least six countries not to attend a China-focused summit in Taiwan, participants told The Associated Press.

Politicians in Bolivia, Colombia, Slovakia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one other Asian country that declined to be named, say they are getting texts, calls and urgent requests for meetings that would conflict with their plans to travel to Taiwan, in what they describe as efforts to isolate the self-governed island.

Advertisement

The summit begins Monday and is being held by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a group of hundreds of lawmakers from 35 countries concerned about how democracies approach Beijing. The Associated Press spoke to the organizers and three lawmakers, and reviewed texts and emails sent by Chinese diplomats to the lawmakers asking whether they were planning to participate in the summit.

Im Wu, from Chinese Embassy, read a message sent to Antonio Miloshoski, a member of parliament in North Macedonia. We heard that you got an invitation from IPAC, will you attend the Conference which will be held next week in Taiwan?

In some cases, lawmakers described vague inquiries about their plans to travel to Taiwan. In other cases, the contact was more menacing: One lawmaker told AP that Chinese diplomats messaged the head of her party with a demand to stop her from going.

They sent a direct message to the President of my party, to stop me from traveling to Taiwan, said Sanela Klaric, a member of parliament in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He showed me the message from them. He said, I will advise you not to go, but I cannot stop you, its something you have to make a decision.

China routinely threatens retaliation against politicians and countries that show support for Taiwan, which has only informal relations with most countries due to Chinese diplomatic pressure. Klaric said the pressure was unpleasant but only steeled her determination to go on the trip.

I really am fighting against countries or societies where the tool to manipulate and control peoples is fear, said Klaric, adding that it reminded her of threats and intimidation she faced while suffering through the Balkans war in the 1990s. I really hate the feeling when somebody is frightening you.

Advertisement

China vehemently defends its claim to Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing views as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary. Last week, Beijing criticized Taiwan for its annual Han Kuang military drills, saying that Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party was carrying out provocations to seek independence.

Any attempt to whip up tensions and use force to seek independence or reject reunification is doomed to failure, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, which aims to coordinate diplomacy in response to perceived threats from Beijing, has long faced pressure from the Chinese government. Some members have been sanctioned by Beijing, and in 2021 the group was targeted by Chinese state-sponsored hackers, according to a U.S. indictment unsealed earlier this year.

Advertisement

But Luke de Pulford, the alliances director, says the pressure from Chinese officials the past few days has been unprecedented.

During past meetings in other locations, lawmakers were approached by Chinese diplomats only after they concluded. This year, the pressure has sharply escalated and appears to be a coordinated attempt to stop participants from attending.

This is gross foreign interference. This is not normal diplomacy, de Pulford said. How would PRC officials would feel if we tried to tell them about their travel plans, where they could and could not go? Its absolutely outrageous that they think that they can interfere in the travel plans of foreign legislators," he added, using the acronym for Chinas official name, the Peoples Republic of China.

Advertisement

Lawmakers from 25 countries are expected to attend this years summit and will feature high-level meetings with Taiwanese officials, according to a press release. The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

China has been peeling off the islands diplomatic allies, often with promises of development aid, in a long-running competition between the two that has swung in Beijings favor in recent years. The Pacific Island nation of Nauru switched recognition to Beijing earlier this year, a move that reduced Taiwans dwindling number of diplomatic allies to 12.

But Chinas at-times heavy-handed approach has also triggered backlash.

In 2021, Beijing downgraded relations and blocked imports from Lithuania, a member of both the EU and NATO, after the Baltic nation broke with diplomatic custom by agreeing that a Taiwanese representative office in its capital of Vilnius would bear the name Taiwan instead of Chinese Taipei, which other countries use to avoid offending Beijing. The following year, the EU adopted a resolution criticizing Beijings behavior toward Taiwan and took action against China at the World Trade Organization over the import restrictions.

Advertisement

Most of the lawmakers targeted appear to be from smaller countries, which de Pulford said was likely because Beijing feels that they can get away with it. But he added that the coercive tactics has only made participants more determined to participate.

Miriam Lexmann, a Slovakian member of the European Parliament whose party head was approached by Chinese diplomats, said the pressure underscored her reason for coming to Taiwan.

We want to exchange information, ways how to deal with those challenges and threats which China represents to the democratic part of the world, and of course, to support Taiwan, she said.
The fire has now become the largest fire in the state this year. Not only this, the blaze has consumed the area more than 1.5 times the size of New York Citys five boroughs read more

The Park Fire in Northern California has exploded into a major crisis as it becomes the largest active blaze that has taken over the state. The matter became concerning after Federal officials notified that the active fires had managed to burn more than 2 million acres of land. With smoke darkening the skies across the state, authorities in both California and Oregon have notified people to be prepared to flee with little notice.

Advertisement

The deadly fire grew more than 350,000 acres on Saturday and the authorities continue to work on cooling the fire down. The Park Fire was started on Wednesday by a man who pushed a flaming vehicle into a gulley filled with dried brush at a park in Chico. The blaze erupted quickly and doubled in acreage, NBC News reported. It eventually doubled again amid hot temperatures, dry brush and gusty wind.

Around 2,500 firefighters are working day and night battling the blaze which has been fuelled by steep terrain and wind gusts. The 42-year-old man who was responsible for the whole ordeal was arrested on Thursday. It has now become the largest fire in the state this year. Not only this, the blaze has consumed the area more than 1.5 times the size of New York Citys five boroughs.

The fire destroyed 134 structures so far

Amid the chaos, California Fire Officials stated that the Park Fire has so far destroyed 134 structures as it spread from Butte to Tehama County. After three days of 0 per cent containment, the fire officials mentioned that only 10 per cent of the blaze has been contained so far.

Meanwhile, the California Fire incident commander Billy See said the fire has been spreading at a rate of 5,000 acres an hour. Thousands of people have already been evacuated this week from the region and the smoke also promoted air quality alerts across the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West.

The officials are now expecting that cooler temperatures and higher humidity forecast for the day will aid firefighters. This is the best day as far as weather conditions that were going to experience this week, said Scott Weese, a Cal Fire official, at a briefing with firefighters on Saturday. However, the officials are still not clear as to when theyll be fully able to contain the fire.

Advertisement

California is in complete shambles

Looking at the intensity of the fire, on Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for Butte and Tehama counties, as well as for Plumas County, home to the much smaller Gold Complex Fire, now at 3,007 acres with 50 per cent containment, NBC News reported.

His officials mentioned that the proclamation of a state of emergency would make it easier for fire victims to replace lost identification and file for unemployment benefits. On Saturday, Newsomes office also notified that it has secured a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help firefighters battle the Borel Fire in Kern County.

Advertisement

According to Cal Fire, currently, active fires in California have burned up to 626,600 acres so far. Around 21 wildfires across the United States have forced the authorities to call for evacuation this year. Fire weather watches and warnings were in effect Saturday for parts of Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Southern Idaho, Utah and California, the National Interagency Fire Center said in an update.

With inputs from agencies.
Details of the arrangement between China and the Philippines have not been publicly released, but both countries have said the deal was aimed at easing tensions in the waterway read more

A Chinese Coast Guard vessel blocks the Philippine resupply vessel Unaizah May 4, on its way to a resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. Reuters File

The Philippines foreign ministry accused China on Sunday of mischaracterising an arrangement between them that allowed the unimpeded resupply of Filipino troops stationed on a beached naval vessel in the South China Sea.

After repeated clashes in the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, the two countries reached a provisional arrangement earlier this month on resupply missions to soldiers stationed at the Sierra Madre, a naval vessel Manila deliberately grounded in 1999 to reinforce its maritime claims.

Advertisement

Philippine foreign ministry spokesperson Teresita Daza said on Saturday the resupply mission that day was completed without incident while Chinese coast guard vessels were at a reasonable distance.

However, her Chinese counterpart said that Chinas coast guard was notified ahead of the mission and had let the vessel through after an on-the-scene confirmation.

Daza said on Sunday it was unfortunate China mischaracterised the resupply mission.

Instead of acknowledging how two countries were able to manage differences in order to avoid miscalculation and misunderstanding, the spokesperson chose to misrepresent what has been agreed between the Philippines and China, Daza said in a statement.

The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside office hours.

Details of the arrangement between China and the Philippines have not been publicly released, but both countries have said the deal was aimed at easing tensions in the waterway.

The understanding between the Philippines and China was concluded in good faith, with the explicit agreement that it will not prejudice national positions, Daza said.

It is not helpful to keep giving false notions about what has been agreed on and how they were implemented, she added.

The Philippines South China Sea task force said in a separate statement on Sunday that Manila did not seek Chinese permission to resupply its soldiers.

Advertisement

There was also no boarding and inspection by the Chinese Coast Guard, the task force said.

Located within the Philippines exclusive economic zone, China claims sovereignty over the Second Thomas Shoal. Last month, a Filipino navy sailor lost a finger after a confrontation between the Chinese coast guard and the Philippine navy.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its territory based on historic maps, a claim an arbitral tribunal in 2016 ruled had no basis under international law.
The test took place on July 19 and showed that the US military could use one of its most survivable weapons platforms, the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, to sink a major surface ship with a low-cost guided bomb read more

Two GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions with QUICKSINK adaptions are laid out in preparation to load onto an F-15E Strike Eagle at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. File Image: US Air Force

Amid the brewing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, the United States and its allies successfully tested a low-cost bomb that has the capacity to make China nervous. Earlier this month, the US and its allies practised taking out a large surface ship with long-range weapons. The US Air Force for the first time used the B-2 bomber for the drill.

However, the reason why the drill gained so much attention from both sides of the aisle was because of an inexpensive bomb that could wreak havoc on a massive ship, making it sink quickly. In the drills which took place on the northern Hawaiian island of Kauai, the American Air Force conducted a test of the weapon, dubbed QUICKSINK.

Advertisement

The test took place on July 19 and showed that the US military could use one of its most survivable weapons platforms, the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, to sink a major surface ship with a low-cost guided bomb.

This capability is an answer to an urgent need to quickly neutralize maritime threats over massive expanses of ocean around the world at minimal costs, said a press release from the US Navys 3rd Fleet, which led Rim of the Pacific 2024 (RIMPAC), the exercise that included the sinking of the ex-Tarawa.

Heres a look at 7 crucial attributes that make the weapon so crucial in a time of maritime conflict.

QUICKSINK: The new bomb in town

According to the US Air Force, the bomb could provide a low-cost method of achieving torpedo-like seaworthy kills from the air at a much higher pace and over a much larger area than covered by a lumbering submarine."

The Air Force first tested QUICKSINK back in 2022 when an F-15 fighter jet released a GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) that destroyed a full-scale surface target stationed for testing at the Gulf of Mexico.

The experts believed that the bomb launched from B-2 would give Chinas Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) much to consider in the event of a possible conflict in the region.

The bombers can also help in protecting the regions of Taiwan, the Phillippines and the southern Island of Japan where China had been notoriously conducting suspicious and aggressive manoeuvres.

Other than the US and Australia, forces from South Korea, Malaysia and the Netherlands took part in the ship-sinking drill indicating that the weapon will come in handy for Washingtons allies.

US Navy Vice Adm. John Wade, RIMPAC 2024 Combined Task Force commander, said that sinking drills give a country a chance to sharpen its skills. Using advanced weapons and seeing the professionalism of our teams during these drills shows our commitment to keeping the Indo-Pacific region safe and open," he averred.

Interestingly, China was taking notes of the ship-sinking exercise even before it was conducted. The choice of the USS Tarawa as the sinking target reflects the concern of the US and its allies about the development and strength of Chinas maritime power, especially regarding the mainlands military deterrence on the Taiwan island, the Global Times said in a commentary. Such an outdated ship cannot be compared with modern military equipment, the news outlet furthered.

What makes B-2 bomber significant for the QUICKSINK

It is pertinent to note that the B-2 bomber is the US militarys most sophisticated aircraft.

The Air Force has maintained that its stealthy characteristics allow it to penetrate heavily defended areas and also fly with a small chance of being detected by radar at high altitudes.

The B-2s have the ability to give a view of the battlefield which is usually not possible in lower-flying planes.

Mating it with QUICKSINK would give the Air Force bombers the anti-ship lethality of a submarine-launched torpedo without the liabilities of a submarine.

Hence it is safe to say that China will be keeping a close eye on innovative weaponry US and its allies have in store.
The rail stations were damaged during the nationwide quota protest that rocked the country, forcing the Hasina administration to put the nation on curfew read more

Bangladeshs Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought cooperation from Japan to swiftly re-open the two damaged metro stations at Mirpur-10 and Kazipara. The rail stations were damaged during the nationwide quota protest that rocked the country, forcing the Hasina administration to put the nation on curfew.

According to the Bangladeshi news outlet the Dhaka Tribune, Hasina sought the assistance when Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori paid a courtesy call at her official residence Ganabhaban.

Advertisement

While Bangladesh sought help from Japan, foreign missions of 13 nations stationed in Dhaka wrote a letter to Bangladeshs Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, expressing concerns over the instability in the country. However, the content of the letter is not yet known to the general public

Hasina seeks help from Japan

PMs Press Secretary Md Nayeemul Islam Khan gave an update on the meeting which took place on Saturday. After Hasina put forward the proposal, The Japanese ambassador said they would first assess the damages to the metro rail stations and then decide how they could help Bangladesh reopen the stations. The envoy also expressed concerns over the casualties caused across the country due to the clashes between the protesters and authorities.

In response to this, Hasina stated that the miscreants damaged the government establishments built for public welfare, security and services, the Dhaka Tribune reported. They attacked those establishments which were useful for the people and those were the targets of the attackers. This is very much heartbreaking for me, she furthered.

PMs Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman and Ambassador at Large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Senior Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Masud Bin Momen were present, among others at the meeting.

14 nations write to Bangladesh

A day after the meeting, foreign missions of 14 countries stationed in Dhaka jointly wrote a letter to the Bangladeshi FM, seeking a sustainable solution to the issue to ensure lasting peace in the country. A diplomat familiar with the matter confirmed this to the media, Dhaka Tribune reported.

Advertisement

The letter was issued by missions of the European Union, United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Australia. The diplomat stated that the issues of loss of life, destruction of properties, protection of human rights, and the importance of following due legal process were raised in the letter.

After the meeting with Hasina, Japanese Ambassador Kiminori said that he was shocked to see the damaged areas in Dhaka and called the ordeal heartbreaking. I was shocked to observe the damaged areas in Dhaka on July 24. As Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, I am especially saddened by the severe damage to Dhaka MRT. I find this utterly heartbreaking, he said, sharing his personal observation after visiting the MRT Dhaka.

Advertisement

While the situation in the country is relatively peaceful and the curfew is being lifted in some areas, many said that the voices against the Hasina administration will still be raised across the country.
Frank Perez, Zambadas lawyer, said El Chapos son Joaquin Guzman Lopez and six men in military uniforms ambushed Zambada near Culiacan in Mexicos Sinaloa state, forced him onto a plane and brought him to the United States against his will. Zambada pleaded not guilty to drug charges on Friday in El Paso, Texas, federal court read more

A newspaper seller arranges newspapers reporting the El Paso, Texas, U.S., arrest of Mexican drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, "El Chapo" Guzman's son, in Mexico City, Mexico. Reuters File

Notorious Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Ismael El Mayo Zambada was forcibly kidnapped by a son of his former partner Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, who brought him to the United States where both men are detained, Zambadas defense lawyer said on Saturday.

Frank Perez, Zambadas lawyer, said El Chapos son Joaquin Guzman Lopez and six men in military uniforms ambushed Zambada near Culiacan in Mexicos Sinaloa state, forced him onto a plane and brought him to the United States against his will. Zambada pleaded not guilty to drug charges on Friday in El Paso, Texas, federal court.

Advertisement

Joaquin Guzman Lopez forcibly kidnapped my client, Perez said in a statement. Perez said the incident caused some back and leg issues for Zambada, who was in a wheelchair during his initial court appearance in El Paso on Friday.

Asked about Perezs assertion, Guzman Lopezs defense lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman said, Ive got no comment other than to note that Mr. Zambada is free to employ any defense hed like against the charges he faces.

Perez had said on Friday that Zambada did not come to the United States voluntarily but did not use the word kidnapped.

In conversations over two days, multiple U.S. officials briefed on the operation made no mention of any alleged use of force by Guzman Lopez.

Representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice and Mexicos presidency did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Earlier on Saturday, Reuters reported that Guzman Lopez  who planned to give himself up to authorities  duped Zambada into boarding a propeller plane by telling him they were flying to see real estate in northern Mexico, according to two current and one former U.S. officials.

Instead, the plane landed at a small municipal airport near El Paso, where federal agents took Zambada, who is in his late 70s, and Guzman Lopez, who is about 38 years old, into custody.

Advertisement

The operation was a coup for U.S. authorities that may reshape the Mexican criminal landscape. Zambada is one of the most consequential traffickers in Mexican history, but he and El Chapos sons have had a fractious relationship since their father was extradited to the United States in 2017.

El Chapo is serving a life sentence in a maximum security prison in Colorado.

Guzman Lopez is expected to make an initial court appearance in federal court in Chicago next week, where he faces drug trafficking and money laundering charges.

Zambada is due back in court on Thursday.
Blinken and Austins talks involving Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defence Minister Minoru Kihara were aimed at boosting military cooperation between Tokyo and Washington in response to concern about Chinas growing assertiveness in the region read more

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (2nd L) and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (L) pose with Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa (2nd R) and Japan's Defense Minister Minoru Kihara (R) at the start of the "Foreign and Defense Ministerial (2+2) Meeting" at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo. AFP

The United States and Japan hit out Sunday at Beijings destabilizing actions in the South China Sea while also condemning Russias growing military cooperation with China and North Korea, following high-level talks in Tokyo.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and their Japanese counterparts reiterated their strong objections to the PRCs unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea, a joint statement said.

Advertisement

Chinas destabilizing actions in this region include unsafe encounters at sea and in the air, efforts to disrupt other countries offshore resources exploitation, as well as the dangerous use of Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels, the communique added.

They accused China of intensifying attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea and that Chinese foreign policy seeks to reshape the international order for its own benefit at the expense of others.

In addition, they expressed concern about Chinas ongoing and rapid expansion of its nuclear weapons arsenal, which continues without any transparency regarding its intent and which the PRC (Peoples Republic of China) refuses to acknowledge, despite publicly available evidence.

The statement also highlighted with concern Russias growing and provocative strategic military cooperation with the PRC, including through joint operations and drills in the vicinity of Japan, and the PRCs support for Russias defence industrial base.

They also strongly condemned deepening Russia-North Korea cooperation, exemplified by Russias procurement of ballistic missiles and other materiel from North Korea in direct violation of UNSCRs (UN Security Council resolutions) for use against Ukraine.

Blinken and Austins talks involving Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defence Minister Minoru Kihara were aimed at boosting military cooperation between Tokyo and Washington in response to concern about Chinas growing assertiveness in the region.
Elements of immigration system 'out of control,' says federal minister as pressure to make changes increases

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/immigration-canada-challenges-international-students-alberta-calgary-1.7088195?

Estimates indicate 40 per cent of our workforce will be immigrants by 2040

Judy Aldous, Carla Turner, Boshika Gupta  CBC  Jan 19, 2024

This is Part 5 of Unsettling, a series on immigration by CBC Calgary.

About 150 people braved the cold to attend a CBC Calgary live town hall Thursday night to talk about international immigration to Calgary and if our city is ready for what's to come.

When it comes to immigration, the numbers are powerful.

Consider this: estimates indicate that by 2040, 40 per cent of our workforce will be immigrants.

There is growing acknowledgment that the country doesn't have the capacity to integrate the increasing number of immigrants.

Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller has said that the number of temporary workers and international students has grown too quickly in Canada.

"It's something we are going to look at in the first quarter, first half of this year," Miller said in an interview on CTV's Question Period earlier this week.

"That volume is really disconcerting. It's really a system that has gotten out of control."

Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller has said that the number of temporary workers and international students has grown too quickly in Canada. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

International students were a focus of Thursday night's conversation.

Immigration lawyer Raj Sharma was one of the panellists invited to speak.

"International students went from heroes to zeros," said Sharma, pointing out that in 2022, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada introduced a pilot allowing international students to work more than the usual 20-hour-per-week limit.

"All of a sudden the international students are responsible for some sort of housing affordability and access."

Immigration Minister Marc Miller has also tried to turn the turn spotlight away from Ottawa and shine the light on the role he says the provinces need to play.

This week Cross Country Checkup wants to know: Has the housing shortage changed your view on Canada's immigration strategy? Is Canada still a good place to immigrate to? Fill out the details on this form and send us your stories.

"It's a conversation we need to have with the provinces so that provinces not doing their jobs reign in those numbers on a pure volume basis."

The pressure to make changes is coming from all sides.

At an Economic Club of Canada discussion earlier in January, Beata Caranci, chief economist at TD Bank, offered a blunt assessment.

"Frankly, I'm surprised we have screwed it up because we are so privileged in Canada. We don't have two million people crashing our borders like they do in the United States, we don't have to fight that battle," she said.

"We're not dealing with this migrant flow across the border  we design our own policy, we put it in place, we implement it, and we still screwed it up."

Beata Caranci, chief economist at TD Bank, offered a blunt assessment of the country's immigration policy at an Economic Club of Canada discussion earlier this year. 'We design our own policy, we put it in place, we implement it and we still screwed it up,' she said. (Laura MacNaughton/CBC)

And Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been on the attack for months.

"Canada's immigration system is broken," he has said.

Poilievre has promised that, if elected, he would link the number of immigrants to the number of houses built, though he's not said if he would roll back Canada's permanent resident targets or reduce the number of non-permanent residents.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has promised that, if elected, he would link the number of immigrants to the number of houses built. (The Canadian Press/Paul Daly)

Change is coming

With all this pressure, change was bound to come and the first hints of it arrived earlier this week.

A senior government source has told Radio-Canada that Ottawa is planning to limit the number of international students in some provinces.

Ontario, British Columbia and Nova Scotia have all been raised as possibilities.

In an email to CBC, Alberta Advanced Education Minister Rajan Sawhney said Alberta is not one of the provinces being considered for the cap.

"The federal government has not discussed the concept of a hard cap on the number of international students with the province," she wrote.

Alberta Advanced Education Minister Rajan Sawhney says Alberta is not one of the provinces being considered for a federal cap on the total number of international students. (Trevor Wilson/CBC )

As far as international students are concerned, other changes have been made.

For instance, prospective international students now need to show proof of access to $20,635 in funds, up from $10,000, in addition to paying for travel, accommodation, and tuition.

It is a one-time requirement when applying for a student visa in Canada and it's meant to ensure students can afford the higher cost of living.

LISTEN | A recap of last night's public forum and a glimpse into what's about to come:

Calgary Eyeopener8:16Unsettling - Part 5 We wrap up our series on immigration with a look back at last night's public forum, and a look ahead to incoming changes.

International students are also being given the opportunity to make more money during the academic year to live on.

The previous cap of 20 hours per week was lifted during the pandemic and that policy has been extended until April this year.

Talks are on to reassess the policy and increase the limit to 30 hours per week in the future.

Caught in the crosshairs

International student and University of Calgary student union vice-president Mateusz Salmassi says students like him feel caught in the middle, an experience that he calls "jarring."

"Any time immigrants are caught in the middle of a debate around whether there are enough resources in a country, it tends to spell not so good news for the immigrants."

International student and University of Calgary student union vice-president Mateusz Salmassi says students like him feel caught in the middle, an experience he calls 'jarring.' (Submitted by Mateusz Salmassi)

Salmassi says what's been forgotten is that international students don't just pay higher tuition and help keep schools afloat, they contribute to the broader economy.

"We contribute $3.7 billion in tax revenue alone and we work in key industries that Canada really needs if we're going to get out of some of the affordability crisis that we're facing," he said.

According to Salmassi, implementing a cap on numbers is not the solution. Investing in on-campus housing is.

"We've been calling on the federal government [to] invest $3.25 billion into building 75,000 new on-campus residence beds that would give students the safety and the affordable housing that they need and that would be the actual solution to some of the pressures that we're seeing," Salmassi said.

For University of Alberta political scientist Reza Hasmath, it's hard to watch the issue of immigration being used as political fodder.

"If you look at other jurisdictions, this happens all the time," he said.

"It's always easier to point to the immigrants: 'They're the reasons we're not having affordability.' Especially during political election season. It's an easy group to target."

Hasmath says the federal Liberals have not dealt with the structural ideas around housing supply for a decade.

"I think that's a strategic mistake they made."

Hasmath says this oversight will continue to haunt the government.

"They didn't realize just how intricately linked housing and immigration is  this is a political issue they're going to have to deal with and they're going to do a terrible job because they don't have the time to deal with it in an effective way."
The campaign, which announced its latest fundraising total on Sunday, said the bulk of the donations  66%  comes from first-time contributors in the 2024 election cycle and were made after President Joe Biden announced his exit from the race and endorsed Harris read more

Vice President Kamala Harris campaign has raised $200 million since she emerged as the likely Democratic presidential nominee last week, an eyepopping haul in her race against the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.

The campaign, which announced its latest fundraising total on Sunday, said the bulk of the donations  66%  comes from first-time contributors in the 2024 election cycle and were made after President Joe Biden announced his exit from the race and endorsed Harris.

Advertisement

Over 170,000 volunteers have also signed up to help the Harris campaign with phone banking, canvassing and other get-out-the-vote efforts. Election Day is 100 days away.

The momentum and energy for Vice President Harris is real  and so are the fundamentals of this race: this election will be very close and decided by a small number of voters in just a few states, Michael Tyler, the campaigns communications director, wrote in a memo.

Harris campaigned in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday, drawing hundreds to a fundraiser that had been organized when Biden was still at the top of the Democratic ticket. The fundraiser had originally been expected to raise $400,000 but ended bringing in about $1.4 million, according to the campaign.

Harris quickly coalesced Democratic support after Biden, whose candidacy fizzled following his disastrous June 27 debate performance against Trump, exited the race. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former House Minority Whip Jim Clyburn, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were quick to announce their support.

Prodigious Democratic fundraisers former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama announced their endorsement on Friday.

Harris at her Saturday fundraiser said she remained the underdog in the race but that her campaign was picking up steam.

Future Forward, the largest super PAC in Democratic politics, announced last week it had secured $150 million in commitments over the first 24 hours from donors after Biden bowed out and endorsed Harris.

Advertisement

Democratic House and Senate candidates say they also have seen a surge in support since Harris emerged as the partys likely nominee.
CDOT photo

The U.S. Highway 50 bridge that crosses a portion of Blue Mesa Reservoir west of Gunnison was closed after an inspection on April 18. Temporary repairs since April allowed the bridge to open twice a day for lighter passenger traffic and long-term fixes were supposed to be finished by the end of October. That timeline has been pushed back to mid-November.
U.S. Special Operations Forces Africa conduct joint exchange with Botswana partners

By Courtesy July 26, 2024

Thebephatshwa Air Base, Botswana -- U.S. Special Operations Command Africa conducted a Joint Combined Exchange Training between 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) Green Berets and the Botswana Defence Force at Thebephatshwa Air Base, which concluded July 18, 2024.

During the seven-week duration of the training, U.S. forces and the BDF refined multiple ground and aerial tactical skills including military freefall training, close quarter contact and shooting drills. The culmination of these activities is designed to strengthen U.S.-Botswana bonds and defense cooperation.

"We came to do tactic exchange or technique exchanges based on experiences fighting counterterrorism in various theaters," said the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) Team Lead. "We basically come together, share our experiences and our different techniques we've used to counter these threats and learn from each other on what they've done to be successful and share what we've done to be successful and survive in the battlefield."

JCETs leverage existing relationships to provide partner nations with tailored special operations training to reinforce security training across Africa. JCETs are mutually beneficial for U.S. forces and African partners as they aim to enhance critical military-to-military connections and boost interoperability and mission readiness.

U.S. forces maintain a longstanding defense and diplomatic rapport with Botswana. This exchange marks the third collaboration with the BDF in the past three years. The U.S. previously engaged with their Botswanan partners through two previous JCETs in 2022 and intend for further security cooperation in the future.

About SETAF-AF

SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






EU-ASEAN: Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the 31th ASEAN Regional Forum

European External Action Service (EEAS)

27.07.2024

Vientiane, Laos

EEAS Press Team

Excellencies,

This room is very diverse, encompassing major geopolitical actors, smaller states, and regional organisations.

But only by acting together in partnership, can we tackle the challenges facing our world. That is why ASEAN Centrality is so important: you invite us - the ASEAN Chair - to engage. And here we are.

And in today's world of crises and confrontations, Europe and ASEAN must stand together.

We both champion a world order based on the UN Charter where the rights of all countries, large or small, are protected.

At a time when the economic ties between Europe and the Indo-Pacific are at their strongest, the security landscape around us is increasingly dangerous.

Conflicts threaten the stability of both regions: the war of aggression against Ukraine, turmoil in the Middle East, and tensions in the Red Sea and South China Sea.

On Ukraine, war has returned to Europe after Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

Because it is clear that there is an aggressed and an aggressor!

But the war in Ukraine affects us all.

Yes, peace is needed, but it must be just and it must respect international law.

It must respect the UN Charter and not reward aggression.

Today, North Korean missiles threaten not only the Indo-Pacific but also Europe. DPRK missiles are being used by Russia in Ukraine.

By aligning with Russia in the Ukraine war, the DPRK is jeopardising non-proliferation efforts and violating UN Security Council Resolutions.

Such illicit transfers of arms must stop, as should its persistent missile launches and advances in its nuclear programme.

It is vital not to aid Russia, either directly or through the provision of dual-use components. Doing so, further undermines the rules we are all committed to, prolonging this war of aggression.

If we do not stop this unjustified war, Russia will encourage other countries to threaten or use force for territorial gains. A world where might makes right puts global stability at risk.

When it comes to the Middle East, the region is on the verge of a wider spillover.

We have to prevent regional escalation in the Red Sea and the Lebanon border - many of you have said that.

The Houthis' activities in the Red Sea disrupt a critical trade artery between our regions. 40% of Europe-Asia trade passes through the Bab al-Mandab strait.

Many countries here in Asia are the first to suffer from the escalation in the Red Sea.

That is why the European Union launched a new maritime operation in the Red Sea, Operation Aspides, to protect commercial vessels.

The situation in the Red Sea is a direct result of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

I heard many countries expressing their concerns about the large number of civilian casualties in Gaza caused by the Israeli forces.

The Hamas terrorist attack was a horror, but one horror does not justify another horror.

What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating  the images of dead children and desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety, sometimes displaced for the second, third, or fourth time.

We talk about a humanitarian catastrophe. Yes, but this is a man-made humanitarian catastrophe, which means it is not in our destiny. And it must stop.

The unbearable suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza must end.

The violence against Palestinians in the West Bank must end.

A hostage deal should be reached now.

We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies.

We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to this human suffering.

Many world's leaders said too many innocent civilians have been killed. How many are too many? 10, 20, 30, 40.000? how may are too many?

Certainly, the number of casualties is fully disproportionate to the military end pursued.

As the International Court of Justice has said:

The occupation of the Palestinian Territory is unlawful and needs to be brought to an end.

Settlement activities must cease immediately.

We should all ask for the fulfilment of International law. Everywhere. This is equally true in the South China Sea, in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Dear Ministers,

The Palestinians deserve to exercise their right to self-determination.

There is a consensus that only a two-state solution will resolve this endless conflict. Let's engage everyone of us to this end. We need to redouble our efforts to implement it.

On Indo-Pacific, we must ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains "pacific".

Yes, Europe faces wars on its borders, but the epicenter of global competition is in the Indo-Pacific. It is right here.

Nothing is far away in a globalised world.

If Asia is the beating heart of the world economy, its trade routes to Europe and the Americas are vital arteries.

Reducing tension is essential and we support efforts to this end.

Our compass is UNCLOS, the law of the sea. There are no solutions in the use of force.

A conflict in the South China Sea would have far more serious ramifications than those seen in the Red Sea.

We have a direct interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and opposes any unilateral attempt to change the status quo through force or coercion.

Finally, we stand ready to support ASEAN leadership in addressing the escalating violence in Myanmar, which could irreversibly divide the country and the region.

Dear colleagues,

This is my last participation at the ASEAN Regional Forum.

I'd like to thank you for your conviction and friendship.

My conviction remains strong: the strength of the EU and ASEAN lies in uniting diverse nations under a shared vision for a better world - a world where the rule of law is not a selective process, and where peace and prosperity are shared by all.

Let's invest in connectivity in order to get close to each other. Let's invest in connectivity instead of conflicts.

Whether our countries are large or small, let us all live by our international commitments and make a rules-based international order based on the UN Charter the foundation of our relations.

Thank you.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Philippines completes resupply mission at Ren'ai Jiao under China Coast Guard's supervision following deal with Beijing

Global Times

By Xu Keyue and Hu Yuwei Published: Jul 27, 2024 05:44 PM

On Saturday, the Philippines sent a civilian ship to deliver daily necessities to its warship grounded at Ren'ai Jiao in accordance with a temporary arrangement reached with China. The China Coast Guard (CCG) supervised the operation throughout, said Gan Yu, a spokesperson for the CCG.

China had been notified of the resupply before it was carried out, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Saturday. After confirming on-the-scene that the Philippine vessel carried only humanitarian living necessities, the Chinese side let the Philippine vessel through, said the spokesperson.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, the arrangement was reached based on the three-point principled position of China on managing the situation at Ren'ai Jiao. China's position on the Ren'ai Jiao issue has not changed. China has sovereignty over Ren'ai Jiao, the rest of Nansha Qundao (Nansha Islands) and their adjacent waters. China will continue to properly deal with relevant territorial issues and disputes over maritime rights with the Philippines through dialogue and consultation.

It is hoped that the Philippines will keep their promise, work together with China, and jointly manage the situation at sea, Gan said, noting that the CCG will continue to carry out law enforcement activities to safeguard rights in the South China Sea, including Ren'ai Jiao, also known as Ren'ai Reef.

China and the Philippines reached an understanding on managing the situation at Ren'ai Jiao, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry on July 22.

This is mainly related to the principles and practices which the Philippines needs to abide by when providing essential supplies to the personnel on the warship illegally grounded at Ren'ai Jiao of China's Nansha Qundao for an extended period . It demonstrated that Beijing's comprehensive countermeasures against Manila's provocations in the region for more than a year are working in a sustained manner, resulting in the Philippines returning to direct negotiations and consultations, observers noted.

The signing of the new agreement can be seen as a litmus test, and so far it appears to be effective, Ding Duo, a deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at the China Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Saturday.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo in Vientiane, Laos on Friday and reaffirmed China's position over Ren'ai Jiao, which is being viewed as playing a positive role in ensuring the successful implementation of the bilateral deal on Ren'ai Jiao.

When meeting with Manalo, Wang called on the Philippines to fulfill its commitments and refrain from changing its position as China has recently reached a temporary arrangement with the Southeast Asian country on the transportation and replenishment of humanitarian supplies to Ren'ai Jiao.

Commenting on the Philippines' resupply mission to Ren'ai Jiao on Saturday, Ding said that moving forward, it will be important to see if the Philippines' willingness to manage differences can continue to translate into concrete actions.

Also, we should wait and see if external factors such as the US will influence the Philippines to deviate from their commitments, and if the Marcos administration can navigate domestic interference and distractions on this issue, according to Ding.

China's stance remains unchanged, and the country have a range of measures to address any negative actions by the Philippines, the expert noted.

Ding called on the Philippines to focus on managing differences, maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, and strengthening positive aspects of the China-Philippines relationship while minimizing negative factors.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Convicted Chautauqua County sex offender pleads guilty to new charges

A Chautauqua County man who previously served a prison sentence as a sex offender has pleaded guilty to new charges, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced.

Jeffrey Paden, 57, of Kennedy, entered his plea before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to possession of illegal child images following a prior conviction.

He now faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 20 years when he returns Nov. 13 for sentencing.

Prosecutors said that State Police, acting on information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, executed a search warrant at Padens home last Aug. 29 and seized several electronic devices.

According to prosecutors, approximately 83 objectionable images of children were found on a thumb drive and about 468 more were found on a laptop computer. Some of the images depicted violence against children.

Prosecutors said that Paden was convicted on a similar federal charge in June 2015 and was sentenced to 57 months in prison, with five years of supervised release.

- Dale Anderson
Chinese FM calls Philippines to fulfill commitments over Ren'ai Jiao issues, warning over US intermediate missile system deployment

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jul 27, 2024 12:31 PM

When meeting with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo in Vientiane, Laos on Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned the Philippine side over the deployment of a US intermediate missile system, and called on the Philippines to fulfill its commitments and refrain from changing its position as China has recently reached a temporary arrangement with the Southeast Asian country on the transportation and replenishment of humanitarian supplies to Ren'ai Jiao (Ren'ai Reef).

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China and the Philippines are close neighbors across the sea, and good neighborliness, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development are in the fundamental interests of the two countries, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

He noted that the positive and negative lessons of China-Philippines relations in recent years have proved time and again that it is not easy to build good relations, but it is easy to destroy them.

At present, Wang said, China-Philippines relations are facing serious difficulties and challenges, are rooted in the fact that the Philippine side has repeatedly violated the consensus of the two sides and its own commitments, continuously pushed the infringement of rights at sea and magnified negative aspects of public opinion.

China is gravely concerned about and firmly opposes recent developments, Wang said.

He added that if the Philippines introduces a US intermediate missile system, it will create regional tension and confrontation, triggering an arms race, which is totally not in line with the interests and aspirations of the Filipino people.

Wang said that China has recently reached a temporary arrangement with the Philippines on the transportation and replenishment of humanitarian supplies to Ren'ai Jiao in order to maintain the stability of the maritime situation. The key is for the Philippine side to fulfill its commitments and refrain from changing its position. Otherwise, he noted, China will respond resolutely.

Wang pointed out that bilateral relations are now at a crossroads and there is no way out of conflict and confrontation, except for dialogue and consultation.

He expressed the hope that the Philippine side will seriously think about the future of China-Philippines relations and work with China to push bilateral relations back on the right track at an early date.

Manalo, for his part, said the Philippines and China have a long history of traditional friendship and have established a comprehensive strategic cooperative relationship based on equal treatment and mutual benefit, Xinhua reported.

Despite the difficulties and challenges faced by the two sides due to maritime issues, the Philippines is committed to easing the situation through dialogue and consultation, and dealing with differences constructively, Manalo said.

He noted that the recent meeting of the bilateral consultative mechanism on the South China Sea, during which both sides agreed to manage the maritime situation, reflects the goodwill of both sides without compromising on their respective positions.

The Philippines is willing to implement this consensus, Manalo said, noting that next year is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China, and the Philippines is willing to strengthen communication with China in a sincere and pragmatic manner to enhance mutual trust and improve bilateral relations.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israeli attack on Gaza school part of 'genocide plan': Hamas

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jul 27, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Hamas has strongly condemned an Israeli attack on a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in central Gaza, which left at least 31 people dead.

"The occupation continues to commit massacres against civilians without any deterrence and with criminal cover provided by the American administration," the Palestinian resistance movement said in a statement on Saturday.

At least 31 people, including children, were killed and dozens wounded when an Israeli airstrike hit Khadija School in Deir el-Balah earlier in the day, health officials said.

"What happened in Deir al-Balah is a continuation of the genocide plan being carried out by the occupying regime of Israel," Hamas said.

Hamas said the new massacre further confirms the Israeli regime's estrangement from "all human values and its defiance of all laws of war".

It called on the international community and the United Nations to "break the policy of silence" and take concrete measures to stop the Israeli atrocities.

4353**2050



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran FM Spox: Israeli war on Gaza crossing all red lines

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jul 27, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has said that the war on Gaza and continuous killing of Palestinians in the besieged territory is a crime against humanity and crosses all red lines.

Kanaani made the comment on Saturday on X, formerly Twitter, a day after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrapped his visit to the US where he pledged to continue the Gaza war as he addressed Congress, receiving applause from its members.

'While the prime minister of the child-killing Zionist regime receives rounds of applause at the US Congress and demands more arms, the regime's warplanes hit schools and refugee camps sheltering displaced people in Gaza", the Iranian spokesman said.

Kanaani referred to the Israeli strike that hit Khadija School in Gaza's central city of Deir al-Balah and left at least 30 Palestinians dead earlier on Saturday. He said that the strike on the school, where thousands were sheltering, is the latest result of the US's unwavering support for the Zionist regime.

"The continuous war against Gaza and the daily killing and injuring of dozens and hundreds of Palestinians is a war and crime against all humanity, which cross all legal red lines. Supporting these crimes violates all international laws as well as moral and humane principles", Kanaani concluded.

4194

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Hamas enjoys tunnels like 'spider web', Zionist source says

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jul 27, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- A military source from the Zionist regime described the Hamas movement's tunnels in the Gaza Strip as "a spider's web," noting that the regime has not yet obtained a complete understanding of the Hamas tunnels network.

The Zionist regime's military source told Israel's Channel 12 on Saturday that Hamas tunnels are like "a spider web", noting that Hamas fighters "managed to disappear underground and launch surprise attacks simultaneously".

It added that Hamas' tunnel network is so extensive that severing one tunnel leaves others available for continued operation.

The source highlighted that the Israeli regime still lacks a comprehensive understanding of Hamas' tunnels and has not achieved full control over the project.

Hamas has the capability to move its forces and logistical equipment throughout the Gaza Strip via tunnels, the source said, highlighting that fully dismantling Hamas and restoring security would necessitate a prolonged and sustained conflict.

Furthermore, the source noted that despite nine months of warfare, the Israeli military still lacks complete knowledge about the tunnel network in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the Zionist newspaper Haaretz reported that the "Atlantis Project", a plan by the Israeli army to pump seawater into Gaza's tunnels to destroy them, has completely failed and been abandoned.

3266**2050

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Hezbollah launches fresh attacks on Zionist regime's bases to back Palestine: Report

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jul 27, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, has conducted new attacks against Israeli bases in a bid to voice its continued support of the Palestinian nation.

Hezbollah said in a statement on Saturday that its fighters carried out attacks on two Israeli military bases, media outlets have reported.

The attacks that were launched by Hezbollah aimed at expressing support of the Palestinians who are in war with the Zionist regime.

Hezbollah announced that its combatants destroyed the spy equipment of the Zionist regime during the strikes.

The movement informed that its fighters targeted a military site for occupation soldiers in Shtula, located in northern Palestine, Al Mayadeen reported on Thursday.

Hezbollah has said that it will continue its military operations in support of Gaza until the Israeli regime ends its war on the blockaded Palestinian territory.

The death toll from Israel's genocidal war on Gaza has reached nearly 39,200 since the regime invaded the Palestinian territory on October 7.

7129**9417

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ansarullah: Yemeni Army will respond to Israeli aggression

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jul 27, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- A member of the political bureau of Yemen's Ansarullah movement has said that the country's Army will definitely react to the recent Israeli regime's attack on the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah.

The due response will be surely given to Israel as the leader of Ansarullah Abdul-Malik al-Houthi already stressed, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi wrote on his X page on Saturday.

Ansarullah does not claim that it owns capacities like what the Arab states have, but the Yemeni Army does whatever it can to respond to the Israeli attack and to support our "brothers in Gaza," he noted.

He further censured the Arab regimes which have kept silent on crimes in Gaza.

About a week ago, Israel carried out air strikes against Hodeidah using 20 fighter jets with hundreds of explosive materials.

Two days ago, the leader of Ansarullah delivered a speech expressing satisfaction over the Yemeni forces' measures through which they have created serious problems for the Israeli regime.

1483**4354

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israel struck 8 UN schools in Gaza in 2 weeks: UNRWA

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jul 27, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has deplored the Israeli regime's continuous attacks on UN-run schools sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza, saying that eight such facilities have been targeted over the past two weeks.

"In the past two weeks alone, eight UNRWA schools  all serving as shelters for displaced people  have been struck," Deputy Commissioner-General for UNRWA Operational Support Antonia Marie De Meo told the UN Security Council on Friday, according to a UN press release.

UNRWA offices in Gaza are "destroyed beyond recognition," she said, adding that more than 560 displaced people have been killed while sheltering under the UN flag.

"Just recently, two UN convoys were shot at despite coordination, deconfliction and authorization from the Israeli military," the UN official said.

She added that blatant disregard for international humanitarian law is now commonplace in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli regime unleashed its war on Gaza in early October, killing at least 39,175 people and injuring 90,403 others in the enclave.

The regime has remained defiant to end the war despite growing international calls to a stop to atrocities against the civilian population in Gaza.

4194**4354

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Resistance groups target US military base in eastern Syria

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jul 27, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Resistance groups have reportedly targeted a US military base with missiles in Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria.

The resistance fighters targeted the US base in the Koniko gas field in Syria, Al Mayadeen reported.

The missile attack hit the military base and the sound of explosions were heard in the nearby villages, according to the report.

Coincident with the missile attacks on the base, the US fighter jets targeted the vicinity of the Syrian city, sources told Al Mayadeen.

The US attack took place while Pentagon had confirmed missile attack on Ain Al-Asad airbase in west of Iraq two days ago.

Regional resistance groups have repeatedly targeted US and Israeli interests in the region since the onset of the US-backed Israeli war on the Gaza Strip last October.

1483**4354

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US, UK launch air attacks on Yemen's Hodeidah airport

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jul 27, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- News sources reported that the US and UK launched air attacks on Hodeidah International Airport located in the west of Yemen.

According to al-Masirah, the US and the UK bombed Hodeidah international airport four times.

The attack was carried out while hours ago, the western coalition had targeted Yemen's Kamran Island with an air attack.

After the start of the Gaza war in support of the Palestinians, the Yemeni army has carried out dozens of military operations, including drones and missiles, against Israeli vessels in the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

Following the stupid operations by the American and British coalition in different regions of Yemen, the Yemeni armed forces have expanded their targets and are now targeting US and UK ships as well.

2050

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on China's Handling of Philippine Resupply to Ren'ai Jiao

People's Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2024-07-27 16:10

Q: According to the Philippine DFA's statement, the Philippines conducted a resupply mission this morning to its warship previously grounded in Ren'ai Jiao. What's China's comment?

A: This morning, based on the provisional arrangement China reached with the Philippines on managing the situation at Ren'ai Jiao, the Philippine side conducted a resupply mission of living necessities. The entire process was monitored by China Coast Guard. China had been informed of the resupply before it was carried out. After confirming on-the-scene that the Philippine vessel carried only humanitarian living necessities, the Chinese side let the vessel through.

Let me stress that the arrangement was reached by China with the Philippines based on the three-point principled position of China on managing the situation at Ren'ai Jiao. China's position on the Ren'ai Jiao issue has not changed. China has sovereignty over Ren'ai Jiao, the rest of Nansha Qundao and their adjacent waters. China will continue to properly deal with relevant territorial issues and disputes over maritime rights with the Philippines through dialogue and consultation.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Tonawanda Mayor John White doesnt want City Hall to turn into a doggy day care.

Thats why he sent a letter the other day to city department heads informing them employees are not allowed to take pets to work with them for the day.

White said his office recently received complaints about workers bringing their dogs to City Hall.

He said he sent out word about the no-dogs rule because hes concerned about the animals being disruptive, causing problems for employees who have pet hair allergies, leaving accidents in city offices and  in a potential worst case  biting someone.

Thats not an environment that I want to create here at City Hall, White said in an interview.

The policy applies to dogs staying for an extended period. Members of the public still may bring their dogs when they stop by the City Clerks Office to apply for a dog license, for example, or pay a bill. And trained and certified service dogs are allowed under federal law.

Also, the mayor continues to let workers from the Pit Chic shelter bring a dog into his office every couple of weeks for a brief visit, which spotlights an animal awaiting adoption.

Hes going, Well, these are the reasons why I dont want a dog in City Hall. But its contradictory, said Chris Fisher, who represents the Common Councils 2nd Ward. Hes doing the same thing, bringing a dog into City Hall.

A round of calls to other towns in Erie County found the fur isnt exactly flying over this question.

Timothy Koller, a deputy town clerk for Amherst, said hes not aware of any workers bringing in their pooches since former Town Clerk Marjory Jaeger did so on occasion. He said he also doesnt know whether the town has a formal rule on employee pets.

Amherst residents do sometimes bring in their canines while picking up a license for them but, Koller said, Its very rare.

Carol Driscoll, a deputy town clerk in Cheektowaga, said staff used to take pictures of residents with their newly licensed dogs and put the images on display.

We had a whole wall of photos, she said, but the towns new passport camera doesnt photograph animals well so this practice ended.

Driscoll said she isnt aware of any rule on town workers and pets and, further, No employee has ever asked.

In Hamburg Town Hall, theres also no formal policy on employee pets, said Deputy Town Clerk Brad Rybczynski. It hasnt been an issue, he said.

But the public is welcome to bring a dog into the Hamburg Town Clerks Office.

We have dog biscuits, Rybczynski said. Were pretty dog friendly.

Puppy love took root in Tonawanda City Hall in January. Thats when White began his Mayors Paws for a Cause effort. White said he got the idea to help after city Dog Control Officer Dan Maltbie raised concerns to him about how many dogs are awaiting adoption from the Pit Chic shelter on Grand Island, where the city takes its strays.

Twice a month, a Pit Chic worker brings a different dog to City Hall, where White or another city worker poses with the canine for a photo that is posted to the mayors Facebook page.

They come in, and theyre in here for 10 minutes, take a shot and they visit everybody and they leave, White said.

Additionally, city workers dont object if members of the public bring a dog into the Clerks Office while conducting a transaction there.

Apparently, however, one or more city employees decided to bring their own dogs into the office in recent weeks.

City Clerk J. Mario Pena said one worker in the Clerks Office has brought in a dog. This didnt cause any issues, he said, aside from some barking.

Pena and White wouldnt say who, specifically, let the dogs out at City Hall. But it was enough to prompt the mayors July 19 letter.

It has come to my attention that there have been a few instances where staff have taken it upon themselves to bring the family dog into work to spend the day, White wrote. While we all love our animals, the professional offices of City Hall are not the place.

He went on to describe the Pit Chic program and to reiterate that members of the public can stop by with their pets but emphasized that daylong dog visits arent allowed.

I was actually on a Zoom meeting with employees in various city offices, White recalled, And I heard barking. Im like, you gotta be kidding me. Where is that barking coming from? I said, We cant do this. 

Sharon Stuart, Whites administrative assistant, said its not part of janitors responsibilities to clean up after employees dogs.

They shouldnt even be in here. Thats not professional. And, on top of it, now our custodial staff has to clean up a mess, Stuart said in describing a hypothetical unwanted scenario. So he had to nip it in the bud.

To illustrate this point, the latest featured Paws for a Cause dog visited City Hall last Tuesday. Carolyn Russo, a kennel technician with Pit Chic, walked Daphne, a mountain cur mix, into the office of Judy Kurtzworth, Whites executive secretary. Soon enough, Daphne, whos somewhere between 6 and 9 months old, had left some happy piddles, as Russo put it, in several spots on the rug.

Im going to bring my carpet cleaner back at lunchtime, Stuart said.

Stuart moved the photo shoot with Daphne, a stray from Niagara Falls named after the Scooby-Doo character, to the lawn outside.

White and Stuart said they dont know whether the Pit Chic visits gave some employees the idea that every dog could have its day at City Hall.

I couldnt venture to guess why. I have a dog. I have no desire to bring her here, Stuart said. Im too busy.
Rocket strike kills 10 in Syria's Israeli-occupied Golan Heights

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 27 July 2024 8:37 PM

A rocket strike has killed at least 10 people in Syria's Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, prompting the Israeli regime to blame Hezbollah for the attack, despite the Lebanese resistance group's strong denial of any role in the incident.

At least a dozen others were also wounded in the Saturday strike that reportedly hit a playground in the village of Majdal Shams in the territory.

No person or group has claimed responsibility for the strike so far.

In a written statement, Hezbollah said, "The Islamic Resistance has absolutely nothing to do with the incident, and categorically denies all false allegations in this regard."

Some reports, meanwhile, said the explosion might have been caused by a stray projectile fired by the regime's Iron Dome missile system.

The regime, however, insisted on blaming the resistance movement for the incident.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah was to "pay heavy price" after the incident.

"The Hezbollah attack today crossed all red lines, and the response will be accordingly. We are approaching the moment of an all-out war against Hezbollah and Lebanon," said Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.

Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari also said the regime "will prepare a response" against Hezbollah.

This is not the first time, when the regime threatens to bring Lebanon under another wholesale military onslaught.

Earlier this month, Lebanon's caretaker Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib said, "We have heard dozens of statements issued by senior Israeli officials threatening to burn Lebanon, destroy it, and return it to the Stone Age."

The regime has also been staging regular attacks against the country's southern areas since October 7, when it began waging a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

The attacks have featured repeated deployment of white phosphorous bombs, which are known for their disastrous and long-lasting environmental effects, against civilian targets and densely-populated areas.

Hezbollah has been retaliating with rocket strikes against military targets lying across the northern part of the occupied Palestinian territories.

The movement has also pledged to defend the country with all its resources in the event of another Israeli war.

Hezbollah fought off two Israeli wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006, forcing a humiliating retreat upon the occupation's military on both occasions.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






ASEAN foreign ministers condemn Israeli attacks on civilians in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 27 July 2024 5:49 PM

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has condemned Israel's attacks against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, stressing the need for an immediate ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the besieged terrirtoy.

ASEAN foreign ministers made the remarks in a joint statement issued after the bloc's summit in the capital city of Vientiane, Laos, on Saturday.

"We condemn all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, which have resulted in the alarming number of casualties, particularly women and children, the restricted access to food, water, and other basic needs, leading to the further deterioration of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza," they said.

The foreign ministers further expressed "grave concern" about the humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave, calling for "rapid, safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to all those in need through increased capacity at border crossings including by sea."

They also reiterated their support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), calling on ASEAN member states to continue providing assistance to Gaza.

ASEAN foreign ministers also urged all relevant parties to accept the UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Israel launched the devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 39,258 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 90,500 others.

Israel has failed to abide by UN ceasefire resolutions. It has also not complied with the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to cease its genocidal actions in Gaza and "immediately halt" its operations in the southernmost city of Rafah.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Khan Yunis health catastrophe: Hospitals shutting down amid Israel's invasion

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 27 July 2024 3:02 PM

Gaza health authorities warn about a "certain health catastrophe" as the only hospital still operational in the southern city of Khan Yunis may also shut down amid Israel's invasion of the populated area  once designated a "safe zone" for the displaced, says the Gaza Health Ministry.

In a Saturday statement, the health ministry released an update on the status of several medical institutions around the city, where Israeli military forces launched an offensive on July 22.

Gaza's civil defense agency said Saturday that Israel's offensive around Khan Younis has killed about 170 people and wounded hundreds.

Residents in southern neighborhoods were told to leave after being warned that the regime's military would "forcefully operate" in the Khan Yunis. Virtually 150,000 people had to flee the populated area.

The Gaza Health Ministry said, "Due to the increasing number of areas forcibly evacuated in southern Gaza, several primary health care centers are now out of service."

Many primary healthcare centers, it said, are out of service, in addition to several field medical points in Khan Yunis.

The ministry also warned that the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, the only hospital still operational in the city, may shut down.

The hospital's shutdown, it said, would lead to a "definitive health disaster."

The ministry said that "the increasing number of displaced persons living without access to water and amidst sewage and piled-up waste, without personal hygiene supplies, makes conditions ripe for the spread of polio and other diseases."

"[This] makes things completely conducive to the spread of the polio virus and other diseases that have been spreading like wildfire among the displaced."

The polio virus was detected in wastewater samples in Gaza last week

On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that it is sending more than a million polio vaccines to Gaza.

It said that no cases of the infectious disease have been recorded yet but without immediate action, it was "just a matter of time before it reaches the thousands of children who have been left unprotected".

The director of Nasser Hospital said Wednesday that doctors working at that facility are overwhelmed by the large influx of wounded and sick people.

Medics said it had become impossible to walk through the hospital, with wounded people and patients spread out everywhere.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 39,258 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 90,500 others.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israeli airstrike on school in central Gaza leaves at least 30 dead

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 27 July 2024 2:05 PM

At least 30 Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central part of the Gaza Strip.

Gaza's Health Ministry and the Government Media Office in the besieged enclave said on Saturday that the attack on Khadija school west of Deir al-Balah also wounded more than 100 people.

Ambulances rushed the wounded to al-Aqsa Hospital in the city, while some of the injured arrived on foot, with their clothes stained with blood.

In a statement, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas condemned the attack on Khadija school.

The "massacre at Khadija School is a crime that confirms the Israeli enemy's estrangement from all human values and its defiance of all laws of war," Hamas said.

The resistance group also noted that the occupying regime continues "to commit massacres against civilians without any deterrence and with criminal cover" provided by the United States.

Hamas further called on the international community and the United Nations "to break the policy of silence" and take steps to force the occupying regime to stop its crimes.

Gaza schools have been turned into a center for sheltering the displaced across the Gaza Strip since Israel started its barbarous campaign in Gaza more than nine months ago.

Thousands of displaced Palestinians are sheltering in school buildings with no other place to flee amid the regime's relentless bombardment of their homeland.

Earlier in the day, at least 14 Palestinians were killed in Gaza's southern city of Khan Younis.

The Israeli military claimed it had told Palestinians to temporarily evacuate the southern neighborhoods of the city and relocate to the so-called "safe zone" of al-Mawasi.

Khan Younis has been under heavy bombardment recently. A fresh Israeli ground aggression earlier this week claimed the lives of dozens of Palestinians there.

Israel launched the devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 39,258 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 90,500 others.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israel issues new expulsion orders to Palestinians in Khan Yunis

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 27 July 2024 11:25 AM

The Israeli military has issued new expulsion orders for Palestinians residing in the besieged Gaza Strip's southern city of Khan Yunis, as the Israeli regime continues its devastating onslaught on the besieged territory.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Israeli military ordered residents of the southern city to evacuate and march toward al-Mawasi, a town in the southern Gaza Strip, a so-called safe zone but frequently bombarded by the occupying regime.

"Remaining in this area has become dangerous" due to rocket fire from the southern area of Khan Yunis, said the statement, after the regime claimed that it had retrieved the bodies of five Israelis and warned of new military aggression.

Khan Yunis has been under heavy bombardment recently. A fresh Israeli ground aggression earlier this week claimed the lives of dozens of Palestinians there.

On Monday, the Israeli military said that it would reduce its so-called "humanitarian zone" in the eastern part of the ill-fated city, claiming that fighters of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas had been detected in the area.

According to figures released by the United Nations, more than 180,000 Palestinians have already fled fierce fighting in Khan Yunis since the Israeli military began an offensive in the area last week.

The evacuation orders and "intensified hostilities" have "significantly destabilized aid operations", the UN said in a statement, reporting "dire water, hygiene and sanitation conditions" in the Palestinian territory.

On July 13, the Israeli military targeted camps of displaced Palestinians in al-Mawasi, killing more than 90 people and injuring nearly 300 others, according to official Palestinian sources.

Such evacuation orders generally signal imminent ground assaults by the barbarous Israeli war machine.

Israel launched its brutal war on Gaza on October 7 last year after Hamas carried out a historic operation against the usurping regime in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

Since the start of the aggression, the Israeli regime has been committing war crimes in Gaza, killing more than 39,100 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring over 90,000 others.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Hezbollah targets Israel's spying equipment in fresh retaliatory strikes

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 27 July 2024 11:09 AM

The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has launched another round of retaliatory strikes on Israeli military bases in support of Palestinians suffering the occupying regime's months-long war in Gaza.

Hezbollah said in separate statements that it carried out on Saturday two heavy attacks on Israel's strategic outposts in the north of the occupied territories, one of which accommodated the regime's spying equipment.

"In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their valiant and honorable resistance, at 07:58 on Saturday 27-07-2024, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance targeted the espionage equipment at the Misgav Am site with appropriate weapons, hitting it directly," the statement said.

Hezbollah also said its fighters had targeted the al-Jardah site with rockets.

The new strikes came a day after the resistance movement targeted with guided missiles a technical system at the Ramia site, which led to its destruction.

It also struck a gathering of Israeli occupation soldiers inside the Hadab Yaron site with "appropriate weapons".

Hezbollah on Thursday targeted with a swarm of attack drones the Israeli artillery battalion 411 of the Fire Brigade 288, striking the positions of the regime's officers and soldiers.

The aerial attack, which Hezbollah said was carried out in support of Palestinians in Gaza, achieved "accurate hits" and caused an unspecified number of injuries.

The group also targeted buildings used by the occupation forces in the Shtula and Manara settlements with appropriate weapons "in response to the enemy's attacks on steadfast southern villages."

Hezbollah said in one of its statements that the Ramtha site in the occupied Lebanese Kfar Shuba hills was also struck by rockets, which led to "achieving a direct hit."

The Lebanese resistance movement and Israel have been exchanging deadly fire since early October last year, shortly after the regime launched a genocidal war against the Gaza Strip following a surprise operation by its resistance groups.

Hezbollah has vowed to keep up its retaliatory attacks as long as the Israeli regime continues its Gaza war, which has so far killed more than 39,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in Gaza.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China warns Philippines of 'resolute' response to any violation of bilateral deal on South China Sea

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 27 July 2024 9:31 AM

China has warned that it will "respond resolutely" to the US ally Philippines if Manila commits any violation of a recently-signed bilateral deal on the South China Sea.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which overlaps with the waters of the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Taiwan. The disputed waters are believed to sit atop vast oil and gas reserves.

China has also constructed several artificial islands over the past few years in the Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. The move has drawn harsh criticism from the Philippines and the United States.

The longstanding territorial row between Beijing and Manila soared particularly under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, with the Philippines pivoting back to the US, which supports the country in its maritime dispute with China.

Although the US has no territorial claim over the waters or features, but regularly conducts patrols there, solely or jointly with the Philippines, irking China.

Last week, Beijing and Manila reached a provisional agreement on resupplying missions to the Sierra Madre, a grounded Filipino ship, in the South China Sea.

The Philippines deliberately grounded the ship, the Sierra Madre, on the reef of Ren'ai Jiao (aka Second Thomas Shoal) in 1999 to reinforce its claims over disputed waters surrounding it.

Since then, Manila has maintained a small contingent of troops aboard the vessel and at Second Thomas Shoal, which has been the focus of violent clashes in recent months.

China and the Philippines also agreed to jointly manage maritime differences and de-escalate the situation in the South China Sea, amid efforts to ease maritime tensions.

On Friday, China called on the Philippines to "honor its commitments" under the deal rather than "backtracking or creating complications."

"Otherwise, China will definitely respond resolutely," further warned Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting with his Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo at an ASEAN gathering in Laos.

Manalo, for his part, said he hoped that Beijing would keep its side of the bargain.

"If the parties implement, and we hope China implements the agreement, then we'll be able to resupply our military personnel on the ship without any obstruction," he said.

"I think that would be an important step forward in diffusing tensions and hopefully lead to other areas of cooperation on the South China Sea," Manalo added.

The clashes between China and the Philippines over territorial claims have fueled fears of a conflict that could drag in the US due to its mutual defense treaty with Manila.

China says the Philippines has been violating its sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), especially Article 5 which stipulates that the parties should refrain from action of inhabiting the uninhabited islands and reefs.

Back in February, China rebuked the Philippines for its unfriendly maneuvers in the South China Sea, stressing that Manila "stirs up trouble" by holding joint air patrols with "extraterritorial countries", in an apparent reference to the US.

In 2023, The Chinese military says it monitored and drove away a US warship that had illegally entered waters around the South China Sea. It added that the US guided-missile destroyer Milius had illegally intruded into China's territorial waters.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Yemen vows crushing response to Israel over strikes on Hudaydah port

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 27 July 2024 9:04 AM

The Yemeni Armed Forces will deliver a crushing response to Israel over its air strikes on several sites in and around the Red Sea port city of Hudaydah, says a senior member of the Yemeni Supreme Political Council.

"The response is coming as pledged by [the leader of the Ansarullah resistance movement] Abdul-Malik al-Houthi," Mohammed Ali al-Houthi wrote in a post published on the social media platform X on Friday.

"We do not claim to be in possession of the ammunition that some Arab regimes have in their inventory. Nevertheless, this would not stop us from supporting our brethren in Gaza."

Houthi stressed that the Yemeni armed forces' response to Israeli airstrikes on Hudaydah will be according to their military capabilities and resources.

The high-ranking Yemeni official also took a swipe at some Arab regimes for their inaction in the face of Israeli crimes in the Gaza Strip, saying, "Where is your reaction whilst your national security is being jeopardized and your brethren are getting killed in Gaza?"

Yemen's Al-Masirah television channel said the Israeli attack targeted oil storage facilities and a power plant in Hudaydah on July 20, igniting a fire.

At least nine people were killed and 87 others wounded in the Israeli air raids. The attack came a day after the Yemeni military conducted a drone attack against the coastal city of Tel Aviv in the 1948 Israeli-occupied territories.

Yemen's Supreme Political Council has pledged to respond to the attack on Hudaydah.

"This aggression will not pass without an effective response against the enemy," it said in a statement.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Missiles hit US-run base in eastern Syria amid rage over support for Gaza genocide

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 27 July 2024 6:12 AM

A military base in Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr, where US occupation troops and their allied militants are stationed, has come under a missile attack.

Loud explosions were heard early on Saturday as several projectiles slammed into an installation run by American occupation forces at the Conoco gas field, Lebanon's Al-Mayadeen television news channel reported.

There were no immediate reports about the extent of damage at the military facility, and possible casualties.

Sources said the blasts came at the same time that US military aircraft carried out a raid against the al-Joura district near the provincial capital city of Dayr al-Zawr.

The Arabic service of Russia's Sputnik news agency said American military helicopters flew overhead after the missile strike, and launched a number of flares in the sky over the Conoco gas field.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, has claimed responsibility for most of the retaliatory strikes on US military bases in Iraq and Syria.

The United States, Israel's biggest ally, has provided the occupying regime with arms and ammunition since the Gaza war began.

Washington has also vetoed UN Security Council resolutions that called on the regime to cease its aggression.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






July 26: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 27 July 2024 2:20 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 39,180 Palestinians so far, the majority of them children, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers.

The major operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Friday, July 26, are as follows:

Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on July 26

- Launched a SAM-7 missile at an Israeli military helicopter over the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood, south of Gaza City.

- Targeted a gathering of Israeli forces in the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood with mortar shells.

- Sniped an Israeli soldier atop a military vehicle in the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood.

- Targeted an Israeli military Merkava tank with an Al-Yassin 105 shell in the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood.

- Detonated a "Ra'adiya" anti-personnel explosive device on an Israeli infantry force in the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood.

- Targeted two Israeli military Merkava-4 tanks and several soldiers with two Shuath explosive devices in the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on July 26

- Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles in the town of Al-Qarara, northeast of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, with mortar shells.

- In a joint operation with the Ansar Brigades, targeted Israeli forces positioned on the Netzarim axis with a barrage of 107mm rockets.

- Launched an RPG rocket at an Israeli military tank in the axis of advance, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Al-Quds Brigades' operations on July 26

- Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles with a barrage of 60-caliber mortar shells in the vicinity of Sheikh Nasser cemetery, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

- Engaged in fierce clashes with a special unit of Israeli forces barricaded inside Nile School behind Al-Baraa Mosque in the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City.

- Targeted an Israeli military vehicle with a pre-planted explosive barrel device of the "Thaqib" type near Shams Club in the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood, southwest of Gaza City.

- Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and a convoy of military vehicles near Zalal Mosque and the cultural center east of Khan Younis with a barrage of 60-caliber mortar shells.

- Launched a rocket barrage targeting the city of Ashkelon and settlements around the Gaza envelope.

Mujahideen Brigades' operations on July 26

- In a joint operation with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, targeted the command and control headquarters of the Israeli military's Gaza Division, "Re'im," with a rocket barrage.

Al-Nasser Salah Al-Din Brigades' operations on July 26

- In a joint operation with the Al-Quds Brigades, targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles near Al-Qarara School with a barrage of heavy-caliber mortar shells.

Martyr Abdulqader Al-Husseini Brigades' O

operations on July 26

- Targeted a gathering of Israeli forces positioned on the Netzarim axis with a 107mm rocket barrage.

Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces' operations on July 26

- In a joint operation with the Al-Quds Brigades, targeted an Israeli military vehicle with two RPG shells in the Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood, west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

- Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles south of Al-Qarara with mortar shells.

Hezbollah's operations on July 26

- Targeted Israeli warplanes with anti-aircraft missiles, forcing them to retreat behind the Lebanese border.

- Targeted the Ramya site with a guided missile.

- Targeted Israeli soldiers inside the Hadab Yaron site with appropriate weapons.

- Targeted the Ramtha site in Lebanon's Kfar Shuba with missiles.

- Targeted the Zibdin site in Lebanon's Shebaa with missiles.

- Targeted military buildings in the settlement of Shtula with appropriate weapons.

- Targeted military buildings in the Avivim settlement with appropriate weapons.

- Targeted the Rahib site with drones.

- Targeted military buildings in the Miskvam settlement with appropriate weapons.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Palestinian resistance fighters hit Israeli Merkava 4 tanks

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 27 July 2024 1:41 AM

The military wing of the Hamas resistance movement, the Qassam Brigades, says it has targeted Israeli tanks and troops in Gaza City.

The resistance group said on Friday that its fighters have targeted two Israeli Merkava 4 tanks which were surrounded by Israeli soldiers in the Tal al-Hawa area.

Additionally, the Qassam battalions fired a rocket at an Israeli helicopter in the southern part of the city.

The Israeli Occupation Forces confirmed that 13 soldiers have recently been injured in Gaza and noted that three rockets were also launched from Gaza towards the city of Ashkelon located in the southern parts of the occupied Palestinian Lands.

The Israeli army said Thursday that one more soldier was killed and two others injured in clashes with Palestinian fighters in the southern Gaza Strip.

A statement identified the dead soldier as Staff Sgt. Noam Douek,19, from the 9th Battalion of the 401st Armored Corps Brigade.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

The Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 39,180 Palestinians and injured over 90,403 since the start of the offensive. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under rubble.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






At Viktor Orban's Romanian Summer Camp, He Praises Trump And Says The Ukraine War Is Our 'Red Pill'

By Andras Kosa, Sabina Sancu and Luke Allnutt July 27, 2024

TUSNAD, Romania -- For Hungary's controversial national-conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the annual jamboree in the Romanian region of Transylvania for supporters of his ruling Fidesz party is clearly a place where he feels at home.

Dressed casually in a blue-and white striped shirt, the cuffs rolled up to reveal an orange wristband, Orban had the appearance and tenor of a man holding forth at dinner in an all-inclusive hotel in Greece.

The five-day Balvanyosi Free Summer University and Student Camp in the spa town of Tusnad, which began on July 23 and is colloquially known as Tusvanyos, hosts concerts, cultural activities, and sporting events.

But the camp, which is held in a region with a large ethnic Hungarian population, is mostly famous for Orban's controversial speeches, which in previous years have been used to rally his base, communicate his political vision, and provoke and challenge his critics.

This year, surrounded by lush green forests in the shadows of the Eastern Carpathians, the Hungarian prime minister hit on many of his usual themes, criticizing the European Union and praising Donald Trump, the former U.S. president and Republican presidential nominee.

Trump, he said, was trying "to pull the American people back from a post-nationalist liberal state to a nation state" and said he was being penalized unfairly to prevent his electoral bid.

The warm words for the Republican nominee were unsurprising given that Orban had endorsed Trump at the Tusvanyos gathering eight years earlier, in the 2016 presidential race.

Orban, an icon for many conservative populists around the world, is one of Trump's strongest allies in Europe, with the two leaders seeing eye to eye on a variety of issues, including on immigration and the war in Ukraine.

Orban has criticized EU sanctions on Russia and opposed the bloc's military aid to Ukraine. According to the Hungarian prime minister, the EU's position could change if Trump won the U.S. presidential election in November.

"Trump is at the gates. If Europe hasn't switched to a policy of peace by then, it will have to do so after Trump's victory," Orban said.

In his July 27 speech, Orban also condemned the levels of immigration to Central and Eastern Europe and repeated his claims that the West was in decline. He advocated for what he said were Christian ideals and denounced laws in various Western nations that supported or protected the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.

Since coming into power in 2010, Orban's detractors have accused him of dismantling Hungary's democratic institutions, capturing the media, and manipulating the nation's electoral system. Due to claims of democratic backsliding, the misappropriation of EU funds, and a failure to protect the rights of minorities, the EU has withheld billions of euros in support from Budapest.

Ukraine 'Peace Mission'

Sitting at a table in front of a crowd, many of whom were wearing white and straw hats, Orban defended his recent self-described "peace mission" to end the war in Ukraine. The Hungarian leader suggested that the brutal losses on both sides of the conflict, which started after Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, highlighted the importance of external intervention for peace.

The Hungarian leader's trips to Beijing and Moscow have been widely criticized by EU leaders as well as the leaders of other member nations of the bloc.

Orban also compared the war in Ukraine to the "red pill" in The Matrix movie, a meme that has been popularized in recent years and embraced by alt-right and far-right groups.

In the 1999 film, the protagonist, Neo, is given the option of taking a red pill, which would enable him to see the world as it was, or a blue pill that would allow him to remain in blissful ignorance of a reality concealed by sinister forces.

Taking the "red pill" introduced "a vantage point and gives us a completely different perspective," Orban said, asserting that both Ukraine and Russia are driven by their own perceived truths and ambitions. "If it is up to the two parties, there will be no peace. It must be brought from outside," he emphasized.

'Illiberal State'

The gathering in Tusvanyos began after the anti-communist revolutions of 1989. At first, the camp was a venue for Romanian and Hungarian liberal elites to compare notes on the tricky business of democratic transition. But by 2010, the year Orban returned to power in Hungary, Romanians were no longer invited and the event turned into a "summer camp" for Fidesz.

"Tusnad is a place of memory for Orban: He has participated in every [camp] since...1990. For him, it is a place of symbolic importance, even on a personal level," historian Stefano Bottoni told RFE/RL's Romanian Service.

For Orban, Tusvanyos is not a place for diplomatic civility, but a place where he speaks more freely. In 2014, Orban proclaimed his intention to establish an "illiberal state" in Hungary, citing countries such as Russia and Turkey as examples. Then in 2022, Orban delivered a scathing diatribe against the acceptance of immigrants from other continents into Europe, in which he criticized the idea of "race mixing."

That speech was widely criticized across the EU with the late sociologist Zsuzsa Hegedus, Orban's own adviser, resigning after 20 years and accusing Orban of Nazism. The leaders of the seven main political groups in the European Parliament issued a joint condemnation of Orban's speech.

Right-wing forces have strengthened in Europe over the last decade. Populists have whipped up concerns about the economy, immigration, and widespread disillusion with political elites, leading far-right parties to gain ground in national assemblies and in the European Parliament.

France's far-right National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, won the first round of France's parliamentary elections, before being defeated by a left-wing alliance in the second round. Italy is currently run by a hard-right coalition government that has capitalized on widespread Euroskeptic and anti-migrant sentiments.

Orban is facing a challenge of a different sort, perhaps the most serious in his 15 years of power. Peter Magyar, a 43-year-old former Fidesz insider who turned against his own party and formed a rival party called Tisza, received around 30 percent of the vote in the June European Parliament elections.

Magyar has revived a lackluster political landscape, with many previously apathetic young Hungarians responding to his energetic message of change and flocking to support him and his party.

But in Tusnad, among the Fidesz faithful, Orban was king. In the imagination of Hungarian nationalists, historian Bottoni explained, Transylvania is a mythical place. "It's a green and wild territory with archaic touches, where romantic nationalism can be expressed far from the capitals," he said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/orban-romania-speech- red-pill-ukraine-war-trump-eu-hungary/33053181.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israel Claims Lebanon's Hezbollah Responsible for Golan Heights Attack

Sputnik News

20240727

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz threatened a response to the Golan Heights strike, saying the country is approaching the moment of a full-scale war with Hezbollah and Lebanon.

The death toll from the shelling of the Golan Heights has risen to 11 children and teenagers, The Times of Israel newspaper reported, citing Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari.

"We are approaching the moment of full-scale war with Hezbollah and Lebanon ... We will pay a price on both the front and the home front, but by the end of the war, [Hezbollah chief Hassan] Nasrallah and Hezbollah will be crushed, and Lebanon will suffer severely," Israeli news website Ynet quoted the minister as saying.

He vowed to "restore peace and security" to northern Israeli communities, adding that he had instructed his office to prepare a "comprehensive campaign worldwide" to gain legitimacy for the actions in Lebanon.

Israel holds Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah responsible for the recent attack on the Majdal Shams town in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, Dmitri Gendelman, an advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said earlier.

"A rocket fired by Hezbollah hit children playing in a playground in the Golan Heights town of Majdal Shams. So far, nine Israeli children and teenagers have been killed and more than 30 injured ... Lebanon and the terrorist organization Hezbollah, acting under the guidance of Iran, are responsible for the aggression and its consequences," Gendelman said on Telegram.

Israel intends to "take stern measures" in response, the politician added.

Hezbollah has already denied involvement in this shelling, a senior Hezbollah source told Sputnik.

"We deny involvement in any attack on the occupied Syria's Golan and have nothing to do with any bombing on the town of Majdal Shams," the source stated.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently on a state visit to the United States, has decided to return to Israel "as quickly as possible," his office said on Saturday.

"Immediately upon learning of the disaster in Majdal Shams, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed that his return to Israel be brought forward as quickly as possible," the office said on X.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US Base at Gas Field in Eastern Syria Target of Missile Attack

Sputnik News

20240727

The Syrian government considers the presence of the US military on its territory an act of occupation and state piracy.

DAMASCUS, (Sputnik) - A US base at a Conoco gas field in the province of Deir ez-Zur in eastern Syria has been hit by five missiles, a Syrian military field source told Sputnik Saturday.

"Three missiles landed in the territory of the base at Conoco, the other two in the vicinity of the base. US helicopters took to the air after the shelling," the source said.

US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria have been targeted with multiple attacks since October 2023 following Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel and the subsequent conflict in the Gaza Strip. The United States' backing of Israel has inflamed public opinion across the Muslim world as the official death toll of its operation in the Gaza Strip approaches 40,000.

The US military currently controls parts of the provinces of Raqqa, Deir ez-Zur and Al-Hasakah, where Syria's largest oil and gas fields are located. The Syrian government considers the presence of the US military on its territory an act of occupation and state piracy.

Former President Donald Trump, in an example of the type of braggadocio that earned him opposition within the US intelligence community, publicly boasted that the United States would remain in Syria to plunder its oil.

"They say 'he left troops in Syria.' You know what I did? I left troops to take the oil. I took the oil. The only troops I have are taking the oil. They're protecting the oil," Trump once said, speaking to Fox News.

US troops have remained stationed at Syria's largest oil and gas fields under Trump's successor, Democratic President Joe Biden.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Vietnamese President To Lam Before Their Meeting

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Hanoi, Vietnam

July 27, 2024

PRESIDENT LAM: (Via interpreter) Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary, on behalf of the (inaudible) party and people of Vietnam for coming, for offering incense, and for the condolences to the family of the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and to the people of Vietnam. I would kindly ask Mr. Secretary to convey our best regards and our gratitude to President Joe Biden for the message of condolences expressed to our people and to the family of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong right after he passed away. I also would like to express my gratitude to President Biden on the message of congratulations on my assumption of the new capacity.

You may know that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong highly valued and attached great importance to the development of the relationship with United States, and when in office he recalled fondly the memories and actions of the United States administration leaders, partners, and he always wanted to elevate the relationship with the United States.

At this difficult time for our country, my gratitude goes to you, Mr. Secretary, for coming over and offering on behalf of the President the condolences to the general secretary's family and to our people. Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary, and glad to hear from you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Mr. President, on behalf of President Biden and the United States, we do offer our deepest condolences on the passing of General Secretary Trong. He was truly a visionary leader, someone who built a lasting bridge between our two countries. And I think his vision sends a powerful message to the world, because in helping our countries overcome the past, he had a conviction that we can build a better future together.

Just a year ago, thanks to his leadership and that of President Biden, we elevated our relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The American people know that that would not have happened without the general secretary, without his leadership, and he will always be remembered for that.

I want to thank you for receiving us, especially at this late hour, and I know how much President Biden looks forward to working with you and continuing to build the legacy that the general secretary helped establish.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Vietnamese President To Lam

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

July 27, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

As head of the Presidential Delegation, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Vietnamese President To Lam today in Hanoi to mark the loss of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Befitting a partnership at the highest level, Secretary Blinken reaffirmed our commitment for a strong, secure, and independent Vietnam.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Lao PDR Foreign Minister Saleumxay

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

July 27, 2024

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Lao PDR Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith today during the ASEAN-related ministerial meetings in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Secretary Blinken emphasized the U.S. commitment to ASEAN centrality and our shared vision of an Indo-Pacific that is free, open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient. Secretary Blinken expressed gratitude to Foreign Minister Saleumxay for Lao PDR serving as this year's ASEAN chair and reaffirmed the United States' support for implementing its theme of "Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience."

The Secretary underscored the importance of strengthening the U.S.-Lao PDR Comprehensive Partnership. He further thanked the Foreign Minister for its leadership on issues impacting the region.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Antony J. Blinken At the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with the United States

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

National Convention Center

Vientiane, Laos

July 27, 2024

FOREIGN MINISTER MARSUDI: Colleagues, on behalf of the ASEAN colleagues, I would like to warmly welcome Secretary Blinken back to the ASEAN-U.S. meeting. In the last three years, we have accomplished so many things together to enhance the ASEAN-U.S. cooperation for the shared interests of our region and the world. We have successfully elevated our relation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at the ASEAN-U.S. Special Summit in May 2022, resulting in the Joint Vision Statement as the guiding compass for our partnership forward.

In the same year, we also established a commitment to advance EV ecosystem in the region, the first of its kind for ASEAN. Last year, the U.S. also cemented their support to the AOIP through ASEAN-U.S. Leaders' Statement on Cooperation on the AOIP, fostering our cooperation in the maritime, connected with the SDGs and economy. Finally, we have established the ASEAN-U.S. Center to propel our cooperation on - in public-private partnership in which new sectoral cooperation are created.

Colleagues, while we enjoy the ASEAN-U.S. good relation, our partnership should also contribute to global peace and stability. We should be the guardian of the international laws in a consistent manner. When we talk about respecting international law, it should be applied to all. It should be applied in Ukraine issue, South China Sea, and certainly for Palestine. In Palestine, for example, we cannot continue closing our eyes to see the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. As we speak now, almost 40,000 people have died. We need a ceasefire. We need a sustainable peace to stop this human suffering.

So let us continue working together for the people of ASEAN, U.S., as well as for justice and humanity for all. I thank you very much.

Now I would like to invite my co-chair to deliver his opening remark. Secretary Blinken, the floor is yours.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Retno, thank you so much. Thank you for your partnership as the U.S. country coordinator for these past three years. Thank you for your friendship. We're grateful for it; I'm personally grateful for it.

We have seen an unprecedented expansion of ASEAN-U.S. cooperation. It could not have happened without Indonesia's support. To Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sok, the U.S. is very eager to partner with Cambodia as our next country coordinator, and we thank you for that. And to our host, Saleumxay, thank you for your leadership as ASEAN chair this year. Let me also say to Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan that we're very much looking forward to working with Malaysia as the ASEAN chair in 2025.

Finally, to the secretary-general of ASEAN, we're grateful for the secretary's partnership. We were very pleased to welcome you to Washington last month. We had a chance to talk about that earlier today. And let me also say a special thanks to ASEAN's Committee of Permanent Representatives for all the hard work in support of our growing partnership.

Finally, I'd like to thank - if you'll allow me a moment of personal privilege - our own ambassador, Ambassador Abraham, for his efforts to elevate the U.S.-ASEAN partnership and relationship. As you know well, Yohannes is one of our best. When he picks up the phone, Washington listens, in no small part because he used to be on the other side of the line in Washington himself.

Over the last few years, the United States and ASEAN have embarked on a remarkable deepening and expansion of our ties. We've upgraded our relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and we've elevated our work together on digital issues, cyber security, health, the environment and climate, energy, transportation, women's empowerment - all while reinvigorating longstanding lines of effort in foreign affairs, in economics, and in defense. This strengthening of our partnership is built upon common values and a shared vision, a shared vision of an open Indo-Pacific, an Indo-Pacific that is free, that's prosperous, that's secure, that's connected, and resilient, as our friends from Laos have emphasized for their chairmanship.

As President Biden has said, ASEAN is at the heart of the United States Indo-Pacific Strategy. We're deeply committed to ASEAN's centrality. This means we'll keep working with and through ASEAN to tackle the biggest challenges, while seizing on what we see as almost limitless opportunities. And we strongly support ASEAN's Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, which shares fundamental principles with their own Indo-Pacific Strategy. Our commercial and economic ties are incredibly robust, with two-way trade and investment supporting jobs here in Southeast Asia and in the United States, enhancing the economic futures for U.S. and ASEAN businesses and workers. The United States is very proud to be the number-one source of foreign direct investment across ASEAN.

Through our partnership, training entrepreneurs and students to the region's workforce can succeed - excuse me, so that they can succeed in the digital economy. We're improving the region's access to secure and affordable energy, also critical to economic success. Enhancing ASEAN's defenses against infectious disease to protect the health of millions of Southeast Asians is another critical line of effort. We look forward to discussing all of the work that we're doing to improve the lives of our combined 1 billion people.

As we take stock of this affirmative agenda, we also have to work together to address challenges to this shared vision, whether it's Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, the DPRK's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, the ongoing and heartbreaking crisis in Burma, or the PRC's escalatory and unlawful actions taken against the Philippines in the South China Sea over the last few months. On that, we are pleased to take note of the successful resupply today to Second Thomas Shoal, which is the product of an agreement reached between the Philippines and China. We applaud that and hope and expect to see that it continues going forward.

Finally, while it is far afield, we recognize the impact that the crisis in Gaza is having on so many people around the world, but first and foremost on those who are suffering its consequences every single day. About six weeks ago, President Biden put forward a proposal for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the prospect of more enduring peace and security for all concerned.

And we were very gratified that the entire world came out in support of that proposal, including - something we rarely see these days - the United Nations Security Council. We are working intensely every single day to bring that proposal to a conclusion so that we get the ceasefire, we get the return of hostages, we get a path to more enduring peace and security. We're grateful for the support of so many countries around this table for that effort, and we're determined to see it over the finish line.

And with that, I look forward to our discussion today about how we can enhance what is already a strong, robust partnership between the United States and ASEAN, and address the most pressing issues of our time, particularly those that have a direct impact on the lives of all of our citizens. We are here responsible to them, and the purpose of this partnership is to do right by them. Thank you.

FOREIGN MINISTER MARSUDI: I thank you very much, Tony. Colleagues, before we continue our meeting, I kindly request the media to leave the room for the closed session. Thank you very much, colleagues from the media.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Lao People's Democratic Republic Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith Before Their Meeting

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

National Convention Center

Vientiane, Laos

July 27, 2024

FOREIGN MINISTER SALEUMXAY: I'm glad that you could make it, so (inaudible) on the schedule so that we can fit in (inaudible) as well as the Mekong-U.S. Partnership (inaudible), because that's really important to our bilateral relations (inaudible), and we are aware that next year we're going to (inaudible), we look forward to that. (Laughter.) Now, so I look forward to working very closely with you and to chair ASEAN this year (inaudible) U.S., our bilateral (inaudible) 70 years anniversary of our diplomatic relations tell us only how extensive our bilateral relations (inaudible). (Inaudible) welcome to you (inaudible.)

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you so much. It's - really, it's wonderful to be in Laos. We strongly support your chairmanship of ASEAN. We do want to make sure that we do everything we can to ensure a very successful leaders' meeting. I have to say for us, the United States, we're committed to ASEAN's centrality. We've been, I think, a good partner to ASEAN for 50 years now. We want to make sure that the comprehensive strategic partnership that we have with ASEAN really fully takes flight, and we're working very hard on that.

But also couldn't be more pleased to be here in Laos in terms of our own partnership and bilateral relationship. And as you said, we very much look forward to continuing to deepen it and to strengthen it and to work with you. And I also want to thank you for the work that Laos has done on the Mekong-U.S. (inaudible) partnership.

FOREIGN MINISTER SALEUMXAY: Yes.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: And I think we have a very significant, important day ahead of us here, and then of course, in the fall. So thank you so much.

FOREIGN MINISTER SALEUMXAY: Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






World closely watches Sunday's presidential election in Venezuela

By Celia Mendoza July 27, 2024

As Venezuelans prepare to cast their ballots Sunday in the presidential election, officials at the U.S. State Department said they will be closely following the activities of July 28  a day they described as "a historic moment for Venezuela as the nation has endured significant political and economic turmoil over the past two decades."

The ballot this year also serves as a referendum on "socialism for the 21st century," the ideological view that has ruled the country since Hugo Chavez came to power in 1999, and a vision that has been maintained by his successor, Nicolas Maduro, since 2013.

This has left a population struggling to access medicine, food and a sense of security, according to the most recent Gallup analysis.

According to data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Venezuela suffers from one of the highest rates of undernourishment in South America, and 68% of the people struggle to afford food  the highest percentage across Latin America  reports Gallup.

A senior U.S. administration official, who briefed reporters Friday on condition of anonymity according to normal practice, expressed hope for a free and democratic process in Venezuela, recognized the voters' enthusiasm across the country and denounced the obstacles the opposition has faced.

This includes the detention of opposition political candidates and their staffers  including powerhouse opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who was banned by the government from running for office. The official also highlighted how opposition groups have now unified behind a single candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia.

As Machado was sidelined on the official registry, she doubled down on her campaign efforts to promote Gonzalez Urrutia around the country and thousands of people have come to meet her.

"She is moving the political capital to support the registered candidate, for him to be able to obtain the percentage needed at the urns [ballot boxes] and therefore reach victory," Luis Salamanca, an associate professor in political science at Central University of Venezuela, told VOA.

A senior U.S. administration official described the unification of Venezuelan opposition groups as "unprecedented unity among opposition leaders" and added that it "is a testament to their resilience and their determination to [provide] Venezuelans with a genuine choice in Sunday's election."

The United States supported negotiations last year that ended with the Barbados Agreement in October 2023. In it, the opposition and representatives of Maduro's government outlined steps to "reopen the political process in Venezuela and to allow Venezuelans a real chance to have a say and a vote in their future," explained a senior U.S. administration official to reporters during the briefing call.

The official noted that the government "failed to implement several of their commitments" but added, "Maduro authorities did uphold their commitment to set an electoral timeline and to hold this election."

International leaders have made calls to Maduro's government in efforts to protect the rights of the voters to vote safely without intimidation or manipulation of the results.

"Their votes must be accurately and transparently counted in the presence of witnesses as underscored in Venezuelan law," a senior U.S. administration official said, adding that "the international community will be watching closely" and urged all parties to honor their commitments and respect the democratic process.

Amid questions about the transparency of the process, however, the senior U.S. administration official was clear that the "U.S. won't prejudge the outcome of the election and recognize[d] this is a crucial choice for Venezuelans to make."

According to the United Nations, Venezuela is facing a humanitarian crisis with nearly 8 million people taking refuge in other countries. The U.N. refugee agency says some 2,000 people flee Venezuela every day, displaced because of rising crime and violence and shortages of food, medicine and essential services. Many citizens see this election as a possibility for change.

In the campaign's final hours, as the country prepares to vote, each candidate made closing remarks. "You have given me the strength and courage to face what without a doubt has been the most unequal electoral campaign, in the history of the electoral process in Venezuela," said Gonzalez Urrutia.

Maduro, who called himself "Gallo Pinto," or the spotted rooster, while campaigning, said, "I'm the guaranty of peace and stability, as well as changes and transformations to move forward."

That was Maduro's message after he called the media "sicarios," or "hitmen of lies," accusing reputable international press agencies, such as The Associated Press, of censoring and manipulating information about his campaign.

As the election comes to its final stretch, the senior U.S. administration officials reiterated the challenges that Venezuela continues to face, saying, "There are a number of other issues and concerns that we have. There have been over 100 opposition and civil society figures arrested since the beginning of the year, and more than 30 of them are still being held at this moment.

"The broader issues of respect for human rights are also something that will continue as a key issue after Sunday."

The official avoided talk of sanctions or a planned response to possible fraud allegations and declined to comment on "hypothetical scenarios" but was clear the U.S. "hope[s] that we will be able to move toward a better relationship" with Venezuela and offered U.S. support in the transition process for the winner, who is scheduled to assume power in January 2025.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russo-Ukraine War - 27 July 2024 - Day 885

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that since the beginning of the day, there have been 96 combat clashes, the enemy launched one missile strike using one missile, 63 airstrikes using 88 CABs, more than 500 kamikaze drones strikes and over 3.5,000 shells of positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements using different types of weapons.



Six combat clashes occurred in the Kharkiv direction. Five attacks of Russian occupiers in the areas of Deep, Pacific and Vovchansk were repelled. Another fight is going on near Vovchansk. The situation is under control. Estimated losses of Russian troops so far have been 117 soldiers killed and wounded, five artillery systems, a combat armored vehicle, nine automobile units, one special equipment unit, and seven BPLAs have been destroyed. Eight artillery systems, eight units of automobile and one unit of special equipment were damaged.

In the Kupians komu direction, the Russian opponent once tried to push Ukrainian units out of occupied positions near synkivka.

14 times Russian forces attacked in the Lyman direction, tried to advance in the direction of settlements of Makiyivka, Nevske, Terni and Novosergiyivka. The Russian opponent did not succeed, the loss of Ukrainian positions is not allowed.

During the day, Ukrainian defenders repelled six Russian assault actions in the areas of Verkhnyokamiansky and Spirny.

Two combat clashes took place in the Kramatorsky direction. The activity of the Russian occupiers showed in the area of Ivanivsky and Andriyivka, but all Russian attempts to improve their position were unsuccessful.

The Russian aggressor tried to infiltrate Ukrainian defense 15 times in the Toretsky direction. Since the beginning of the day, the Russian occupiers in the settlements of Northern, Toretsk, New York and Zalizne have received a harsh cut off from Ukrainian defenders 13 times. Two attacks are still going on.

Intensely Russian attacks of Ukrainian defenders in the Pokrovsky direction. Here, during the day, the Russian aggressor committed 27 assault and offensive actions. The largest activity of Russian occupiers is kept in the area of Novooleksandrivka, Veselogo, Sergiyivka, Yasnobrodivka and Kalinovoye. In total, 17 attacks in the direction of Ukrainian defenders have already repelled, another 10 ammunition - continue. The situation is complicated, but controlled by the Defense Forces. Ukrainian soldiers are making efforts to prevent the advancement of the Russian opponent into the depths of Ukrainian territory. According to the information available at this time, today the loss of the Russian aggressor in this direction was 248 people killed and injured. Three tanks, two artillery systems, six vehicles and six armored vehicles, one special equipment unit were destroyed. In addition, five tanks, three cars, four BBM and one enemy cannon were damaged.

In the Kurakhiv direction at this time of the day, there are 14 combat clashes. Zagarbniks remain high activity, trying to advance in the areas of settlements of Krasnogorivka and Georgiyivka. Defense Forces units repelled 10 Russian attacks, four attacks are still ongoing.

In the vremivs komu direction, six boezitknen . Five Russian assaults swarmed in the districts of Konstantinivka and Rozdolny. Another battle is underway. The situation is controlled by the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

In the Orihiv direction, the situation has not changed significantly, three unsuccessful Russian attacks were repelled by Ukrainian defenders during the day.

In the pridniprovs komu direction, Ukrainian warriors twice gave a hard vidsickim Russian zagarbnikam.

Today, the soldiers of the 95 separate Polish Airborne Assault Brigade should be noted for their effective combat work. The true defenders of the country: strong, courageous and brave.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the units of the Sever Group of Forces have defeated manpower and hardware of 42nd mechanised, 92nd assault, 71st infantry brigades of the AFU, the 36th Marine Brigade and the 125th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Liptsy, Tikhoye, Petrovka, Bayrak, and Volchansk (Kharkov region).

Two counterattacks by formations of the 92nd Assault Brigade and the 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade of the AFU have been repelled.

The enemy losses were up to 165 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, two pickup trucks, one U.S.-made 155mm M777 howitzer, four 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and two ammunition depots.

The units of the Zapad Group of Forces have improved their position along the front line and also defeated formations of 30th, 44th, 67th, 116th mechanised brigades of the AFU, the 12th Azov Special Operations Brigade, the 110th Territorial Defence Brigade, and the 1st National Guard Brigade close to Sinkovka, Tabayevka (Kharkov region), Makeyevka, Nevskoye, Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic), and Krasny Liman (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian troops have repelled an attack by an assault detachment of the 241st Territorial Defence Brigade.

The AFU losses were up to 570 servicemen, one tank, one Kozak armoured fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, two 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system launchers, and one U.K.-made 105-mm L-119 howitzer.

In addition, one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare radar station has been destroyed.

The units of the Yug Group of Forces have occupied more favourable lines and positions and defeated AFU 28th, 54th mechanised, 79th, 80th air assault and 46th airmobile brigades near Stupochki, Katerinovka, Maximilyanovka, and Seversk (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 540 servicemen, four armoured fighting vehicles, and five motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, three 152-mm D-20 guns, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, two UK-made 105-mm L-119 guns, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun have been destroyed.

In addition, one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar station and Anklav-N electronic warfare station have been neutralised.

The units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have liberated Lozovatskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, formations of 32nd, 53rd, 151st mechanised, 1st air assault, 59th motorised Infantry, and 68th infantry brigades of the AFU have been defeated near Toretsk, Ivanovka, Ukrainsk, Novgorodskoye, Shcherbinovka, and Novosyolovka Pervaya (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian troops have repelled three counterattacks by assault detachments of 31st, 151st mechanised, and 95th air assault brigades of the AFU.

The enemy losses were up to 425 troops, one tank, two armoured personnel carriers, including one U.S.-made M113 APC, five motor vehicles, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and two 122-mm D-30 howitzers.

The units of the Vostok Group of Forces have improved their position along the front line and defeated manpower and hardware of 123rd, 128th, and 129th territorial defence brigades close to Neskuchnoye, Vremyevka, and Velikaya Novosyolka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 125 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 gun, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar.

The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have defeated formations of 65th mechanised, 128th mountain assault, 141st infantry brigades of the AFU and the 35th Marine Brigade near Nesteryanka, Rabotino (Zaporozhye region), Tyaginka and Poniatovka (Kherson region).

The enemy losses were up to 85 troops, four motor vehicles, one -N electronic warfare station, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have destroyed two electronic warfare stations, one aerial weapons depot, and one ammunition depot, as well as defeated AFU manpower and military hardware concentration areas in 124 areas.

Air defence facilities have shot down 10 U.S.-made HIMARS projectiles and 81 unmanned aerial vehicles, including 37 out of the special military operation zone.

In total, 630 airplanes, 278 helicopters, 28,545 unmanned aerial vehicles, 556 air defence missile systems, 16,698 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,390 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 12,446 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 24,115 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Wang Yi meets Blinken in Laos, urges stabilization and improvement of China-US relations

Global Times

By Xie Wenting Published: Jul 27, 2024 11:00 PM

The US persists in a mistaken perception of China, often viewing China through the lens of its own hegemonic logic. China is not the US and does not aspire to become the US, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Laos on Saturday.

"China does not seek hegemony or power politics and has the best record among major powers on peace and security issues," Wang said. He warned that the risks facing China-US relations are still accumulating, and challenges are on the rise.

"The bilateral relationship is at a critical juncture where it needs to be stabilized and improved, requiring continuous adjustment of direction, risk management, proper handling of differences, elimination of interference and promotion of cooperation," he said.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Blinken in Vientiane at the latter's request. The two sides exchanged views on China-US relations and agreed to maintain communication at all levels and further implement the important consensus reached during the heads of state meeting in San Francisco.

During the meeting, he emphasized the importance for the US to understand the CPC and China's present and future as well as the CPC's aspiration to seek happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation while adhering to the path of peaceful development.

Over the past three months, the two sides have maintained communication through diplomatic, financial, law enforcement, and climate change teams, as well as military channels, and people-to-people exchanges have also been increasing, Wang said. However, it must be pointed out that the US has not ceased its containment and suppression of China and has even intensified these actions in some cases.

Wang said that China's policy toward the US remains consistent, adhering to mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. He urged the US to return to a rational and pragmatic policy toward China. "Both sides should work together to promote stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-US relations," he said.

Blinken said that the US is actively committed to stabilizing US-China relations and adheres to the one-China policy. The US looks forward to maintaining regular communication with China and continuing cooperation on issues such as drug control and artificial intelligence. The US is willing to manage differences, avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments.

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Saturday that Wang's remarks "once again demonstrate to the US that China is responsibly managing China-US relations and hopes to develop them in a direction of cooperation and mutual benefit. The statements are highly responsible, forward-looking, and constructive."

Regarding the Taiwan question, Wang stated that Taiwan is part of China and will never be a country, neither in the past nor in the future. "Taiwan independence" and peace in the Taiwan Straits are incompatible. Every provocation by "Taiwan independence" forces will be met with countermeasures, he warned.

Wang elaborated on the rights and wrongs relating to the Ren'ai Jiao issue, pointing out that China has reached a temporary arrangement with the Philippines to manage the situation. The Philippines should keep its word and stop transporting construction materials, and the US should stop fanning the flames, disrupting, and undermining maritime stability, he said.

Li told the Global Times that the main risk in current China-US relations lies in the US' inability to tolerate China's rise in comprehensive strength and international influence.

"This does not conform to the US' tradition of maintaining its own advantage and certainly not to its hegemonic mindset and tradition. Another critical issue is the US' strong tendency to blame China for its internal problems, viewed as 'curing internal issues with external measures,'" he said.

"Additionally, the US attributes its declining global influence to China. This is extremely dangerous and deserves condemnation. Therefore, in Wang's exchange with Blinken, he frankly pointed out these issues. This candor could help the US reflect and possibly make adjustments. If the US fails to reflect and continues the wrong path, it won't solve its problems, and maintaining international order and security will also be problematic," Li said.

Wang pointed out that China's position on the Ukraine issue is open and honest, adding that China will continue to promote peace talks. The US should stop the excessive use of unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction.

"China opposes smearing and framing, does not accept coercion or blackmail, and will take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard its major interests and legitimate rights," Wang said.

Li noted that the US not only fails to reflect on, but also flaunts its power and insists on a zero-sum mindset of winning and losing in the war in the Ukraine issue.

"The US should have the courage to take responsibility and not shift the blame for its responsibilities and failures in the Ukraine crisis onto China."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Blinken's Meeting with People's Republic of China (PRC) Director of the CCP Central Foreign Affairs Office Wang Yi

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

July 27, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with PRC Director of the CCP Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Vientiane, Laos, on the margins of the ASEAN-related ministerial meetings on July 27.

The two sides had open and productive discussions on key bilateral, regional, and global issues. Secretary Blinken emphasized the importance of continuing to use diplomacy to responsibly manage competition, to candidly discuss areas of difference, and to make progress on areas of cooperation that matter to the American people and the world. He pressed for continued implementation of the leaders' Woodside Summit commitments, acknowledging recent steps taken by the PRC to advance counternarcotics cooperation to disrupt the flow of synthetic drugs into the United States and to enhance military-to-military communication to prevent miscalculation and conflict. The Secretary reiterated that the United States will continue to take necessary actions to safeguard our interests and values, and those of our allies and partners, including on human rights. He underscored that it remains a top priority to resolve the cases of American citizens who are wrongfully detained or subject to exit bans in China.

The Secretary made clear that the United States, together with our allies and partners, will advance our vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. He emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The Secretary raised concerns about the PRC's destabilizing actions in the South China Sea, including at Second Thomas Shoal, and affirmed the United States' support for freedom of navigation and overflight and the peaceful resolution of disputes, consistent with international law. The Secretary reiterated serious concern with PRC support for Russia's defense industrial base and made clear that if the PRC does not act to address this threat to European security, the United Stares will continue to take appropriate measures to do so. He also discussed the DPRK's provocative actions and underscored the need to work with the region to address the deteriorating situation in Burma. The Secretary updated the Foreign Minister on recent work to achieve a ceasefire to the war in Gaza and emphasized the importance of reaching an agreement without delay.

The two sides recognized the importance of maintaining open lines of communication in the weeks and months ahead.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Job losses, protests present difficulties for Chinese Communist Party

By Yue Ge July 27, 2024

Job losses and wage cuts from China's economic downturn are hitting key industries, according to the South China Morning Post, and analysts say the situation could lead to political difficulties for the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Rights groups say the situation has triggered a sharp increase in protests and strikes around the country - not enough to threaten the rule of the CCP or President Xi Jinping, but enough that an analyst sees a "hidden danger" for Chinese authorities unless they can rejuvenate the economy.

Mr. Wang, in his early 40s, lives in Bao'an District, Shenzhen, in southern China. He was formerly employed at a well-known business travel platform but was laid off earlier this year. He prefers not to disclose his full name or the company's name due to the matter's sensitivity.

Wang tells VOA, "In the area of business travel software, our company is at the forefront of China in terms of R&D and sales, and it is also one of the top 500 private enterprises in China. But now many companies have run out of money, our sales have plummeted, and the layoffs finally fell on our group of old employees."

He compares China's economic slowdown to a high-speed train suddenly hitting the brakes, and everyone on the train hitting the ground, even those better-off, like himself.

China's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate has been dropping since hitting 10.6% in 2010, well before the COVID pandemic, which cut growth to 2.2% in 2020, according to the World Bank.

The global lender says growth bounced back to 8.4% in 2021 but then fell to 3% in 2022 before a moderate recovery to 5.2% in 2023. The World Bank expects China's growth rate to drop back below 5% this year.

Several Chinese workers VOA talked with said they were unprepared for the economy to slow so quickly.

Two large IT companies laid off Mr. Liu in Guangzhou in the past two years, and his life has turned gloomy. He also prefers not to disclose his full name due to the matter's sensitivity. Still struggling to find a job, Liu has a second child, and his wife was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.

"When I was laid off for the first time, I got decent severance pay because I had worked there for a long time," says Liu. "Later, when I came to a large company, I was laid off again, and I felt that I was quite unlucky. Fortunately, we don't have too much debt."

According to South Morning China Post's (SCMP) July analysis of the annual reports of 23 top Chinese companies, 14 of them carried out large layoffs in 2023, with technology and real estate companies among the worst hit amid a glut of empty buildings.

The online newspaper reports that one company, Poly Real Estate, laid off 16.3% of its workforce in the past year, or 11,000 people; Greenland Holdings, a Shanghai-based real estate company, also saw a 14.5% drop in the number of its employees.

The SCMP reports online retail giant Alibaba cut 12.8% of its workforce, or about 20,000 jobs, in the 2023 fiscal year, while technology conglomerate Tencent's headcount fell 2.8% in 2023 to about 3,000, and in the first quarter of 2024, the company laid off another 630 people.

In addition, Chinese internet tech firms ByteDance, JD.com, Kuaishou, Didi Chuxing, Bilibili and Weibo have all conducted layoffs this year.

China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is painting a rosier picture this month, calling employment and the national economy "generally stable" and citing "steady progress." In June, it showed only a 0.2% drop in urban jobs compared with the same period last year.

The NBS also claimed China's lowest youth unemployment rate this year, 13.2%, after it removed students from the calculation. The new methodology was introduced after China hit a record high 21.3% youth unemployment in June 2023, prompting authorities to suspend publication of the statistic.

Chen Yingxuan, a policy analyst at the Taiwan Institute of National Defense and Security Studies who specializes in Chinese unemployment, tells VOA that Beijing's job worries have shifted from fresh graduates and the working class to middle class and senior managers.

She says many have faced salary cuts or layoffs to reduce costs and increase efficiency as China struggles with a weak housing market, sluggish consumption, high government debt, foreign investment withdrawals, and trade barriers.

Even people with relatively stable incomes, such as workers at state-owned enterprises, are feeling the pinch.

Ms. Zhang, who works for a state-owned commercial bank in Guangzhou and prefers not to disclose her full name due to the matter's sensitivity, says many bank employees are seeing paychecks shrink.

"State owned banks such as China Construction Bank and Agricultural Bank of China, or joint-stock banks, are now cutting salaries, let alone urban commercial banks in many places," she tells VOA. "Salary cuts already started last year, and it seems to be worse this year."

She projects the cuts will be 20% to 30% by the end of the year.

In July, China's 31 provincial-level administrative regions issued regulations calling for party and government organs to "live a tight life," focusing on budget cuts and reductions in public spending.

Analysts say further job and wage cuts could lead to intensified protests and strikes, leading to greater instability.

Rights group China Labor Bulletin (CLB) in 2023 counted 1,794 strike incidents in China, more than double the number in 2022.

In the past six months alone, the group documented about 1,200 incidents in protest of the wage cuts, unpaid wages, unforeseen layoffs, and unfair compensation, a more than 50% increase from the same period in 2023.

CLB estimates "only 5% to 10% of all collective actions of workers have been recorded," suggesting many more protests are taking place.

But Chen of the Taiwan Institute of National Defense and Security Studies says the wage cuts and unemployment have not yet been severe enough to spark large-scale protests that threaten the power of the ruling party or President Xi.

"Although there has been an increase in protests, they are still relatively sporadic. There are no large-scale incidents, and local governments can easily quell them," she says. "So, for the legitimacy of the CCP and Xi's third term, it is more of a hidden danger than an imminent crisis."

While protests in China are usually by working class people, Wang notes the economic pain is spreading to other, more influential groups.

"Whether for blue-collar, white-collar, or even gold-collar workers, the economic losses are now very large," says Wang. "The worse the economy and the more emergencies there are, the more the CCP will suppress it with high pressure. It's a vicious circle, where people suffer more, and stability is more costly."

Meanwhile, analysts say Chinese authorities are struggling to come up with a plan to reverse the unemployment and wage cutting trend.

The communiquA of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, released on July 18, mentioned employment only once, saying "it is necessary to improve the income distribution system and the employment priority policy."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Italy's prime minister heads to China to repair rift

By Li Beiping July 27, 2024

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will visit China from Friday to Tuesday for a trip that analysts say aims to repair the rift caused by Rome's withdrawal last year from China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global infrastructure and transportation plan sometimes called the New Silk Road.

China's foreign ministry said Thursday that during her trip, Meloni would hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee Zhao Leji.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella plans to visit China in October. Analysts say the trips show that Rome hopes to repair relations damaged when Italy became the first country to pull out of the BRI since it was launched in 2013.

Meloni has long been critical of the partnership, calling the decision to join the BRI a "serious mistake" that had not delivered promised economic benefits to Italy.

Italy is China's fourth-largest trading partner in the European Union, and China is Italy's largest trading partner in Asia, with bilateral trade at $80 billion, mostly Chinese exports to Italy.

Italian data show exports to China reached nearly $18 billion in 2022 from $14 billion in 2019, while Chinese exports to Italy nearly doubled during that same period from more than $34 billion to more than $62 billion.

Despite Meloni's criticism of the BRI, China's state media Global Times on Thursday suggested that the withdrawal from BRI did not reflect her own views.

It quoted Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of European Studies researcher Zhao Junjie saying: "This visit once again demonstrates that Italy's withdrawal from the BRI was not due to a reluctance to cooperate with China or Meloni's own political beliefs, but rather due to the huge pressure from the US and other major Western powers at the time."

Under some pressure from the European Union and the United States, Meloni's new government in December made a low-key exit from the BRI, which was seen as a major blow to Xi's global ambitions and the failure of the BRI in Europe. The Chinese side also kept a low profile and didn't publicly criticize Italy's withdrawal.

Francesco Galietti, adjunct professor of political risk analysis at Rome's Luiss University and co-founder and CEO of consulting agency Policy Sonar, told VOA, "It's unclear whether she's taken note of this and thought about her own 'hedging' strategy. She should have. For while Italy is world famous for geopolitical yo-yoing, she's the current G7 chair. Moreover, it's only been a few months since Italy opted out of China's BRI, so by all accounts, relations should be delicate right now. And yet, reading the tea leaves is all but simple."

Emanuele Scimia, an Italian foreign affairs journalist and analyst and contributing foreign policy writer for the South China Morning Post, says the visit is more an attempt to balance the Meloni administration's concerns about China's market distortions and support for Russia's war against Ukraine with Italy's need to attract Chinese investments, especially in new technologies such as electric vehicles.

"Italy is a trade-oriented country and does not want an economic and geopolitical confrontation with China," Scimia told VOA. "They see China as a key export market but at the same time are worried by the flow of Chinese-dumped and -subsidized goods.

"The majority of Italy's companies are small- and medium-sized, which are less equipped to resist Chinese unfair competition. And the signing of the BRI MoU [memorandum of understanding] in 2019 has not substantially improved Italy's trade deficit with China," Scimia said. "The reality is that the BRI agreement only benefited Beijing in political terms, creating friction between Rome and Washington."

The visit underscores the fact that China remains a key geopolitical actor, said Beatrice Nicolini, a history professor at the Catholic University of Sacred Heart in Milan.

"Despite exiting the BRI, Italy aims to keep an open dialogue with Beijing," she told VOA. "Meloni is navigating a delicate balance, seeking to avoid aligning too closely with either the United States or China. This strategy of 'equidistance' reflects Italy's geographical position at the heart of the Mediterranean."

But Beijing's increasingly close relations with Moscow after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine have made improving ties with China trickier for EU nations like Italy, which are supporting Kyiv and its defense, said Christopher Lamont, a professor of international relations at Tokyo International University.

"It is also important to keep in mind that Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues to complicate China's relationships with European capitals, and Meloni's visit could also be seen from Beijing as an opportunity to foster greater influence in this context," he told VOA.

Earlier this month, NATO, of which Italy is a founding member, accused China of being a "decisive enabler" of Russia's war in Ukraine.

China has consistently denied supplying weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine and says it has strict controls on dual-use technology that could be put to military purposes.

Some information for this report came from Reuters.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Acting FM: Iran, China determined to boost bilateral cooperation

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jul 27, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani has said that Iranian and Chinese governments are determined to develop bilateral cooperation, as he discussed ties between the two countries with Chinese Ambassador to Tehran Zong Peiwu.

The two met on Saturday, discussing key issues related to Tehran-Beijing regional and international cooperation, among others.

Bagheri Kani said that Iran and China are two key players in international arena, adding that the promotion of cooperation between the two sides through their membership in intergovernmental groups such as BRICS helps boost bilateral ties between the two countries.

The Chinese ambassador said that mutual political trust along with strong determination of officials of both countries is the firm foundation for Tehran-Beijing cooperation.

He also said that the Chinese government is determined to implement its comprehensive cooperation agreement plan with the Islamic Republic.

4194

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran to pursue dual-track policy of neutralizing, lifting sanctions: Top diplomat

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 27 July 2024 4:45 PM

Iran's Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani says Tehran should pursue the policy of neutralizing and lifting sanctions at the same time.

In an interview on Saturday, Bagheri Kani said Iranian authorities should use productive experience to improve the situation in the next steps.

"We have two ways in the face of sanctions. One is the neutralization of sanctions, which aims to reduce dependence on foreign sides," he added.

He noted that the other approach is based on the lifting of sanctions through negotiations and consensus with foreign parties.

"This means reaching agreements that are within the framework of our national interests," the top Iranian diplomat emphasized.

Bagheri Kani described the 2015 nuclear deal - formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - as a multilateral mechanism aimed at lifting sanctions.

The initiative was correct in principle and it seems to be unlikely that someone would oppose it, he said.

Bagheri Kani added that the main issue is whether the JCPOA has been successful in securing Iran's interests or not.

Despite the ongoing hiatus in the negotiations to revive the JCPOA and remove sanctions, Iran has continued its progress in various fields, he pointed out.

The JCPOA was a multilateral international agreement signed between Iran and five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany in 2015, which required Iran to scale back some of its nuclear activities in return for the lifting of cruel sanctions imposed on the country, especially by the United States.

However, former US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the UNSC-endorsed agreement in May 2018, imposing severe economic sanctions against Tehran while Iran was adhering to its commitments under the deal and even continued to do so for a year after the US withdrawal.

The negotiations to restore the JCPOA began in April 2021, three years after the US unilaterally withdrew from the agreement and began to target Iran's economy with tough economic sanctions.

Iran has criticized the lack of will on the side of the US and the E3 to revive the deal and has ramped up its nuclear activities in response to their non-compliance.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russia's Lavrov says US-South Korea nuclear plan adds concern in region

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 27 July 2024 11:12 AM

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that the US-South Korea nuclear cooperation guidelines add to security concerns in the region.

Lavrov, who was attending the 57th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, said on Saturday that the guidelines for nuclear cooperation between Washington and Seoul are a source of added concern for Moscow.

"Another element of concern is that the United States recently concluded an agreement with the Republic of Korea on joint nuclear planning," Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian state-run RIA news agency.

Lavrov added that Moscow was certainly concerned though he had not been fully briefed on the details of the US-South Korea nuclear cooperation plan. "So far, we can't even get an explanation of what this means, but there is no doubt that it causes additional anxiety."

The United States and South Korea have claimed that the guideline of the plan is aimed at responding to a nuclear attack from North Korea.

Last month, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a defense deal to join powers against US imperialism.

The "comprehensive strategic partnership", which was signed on June 19 during the Russian president's first visit to the country in 24 years, calls for mutual assistance in the event of an attack by a third country.

The new deal, which emphasizes mutual security guarantees in the event of a third country striking, aims to counter the perceptions of fresh nuclear threats in Northeast Asia in regard to the military cooperation among the United States, Japan, and South Korea. It is expected to take the two countries' military cooperation to the next level.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Warships of Russia's Baltic Fleet Arriving at Cuba's Havana Port

Sputnik News

20240727

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Warships from Russia's Baltic Fleet began to arrive at the Cuban port of Havana on Saturday, a Sputnik correspondent reported.

The Smolny vessel was the first to enter the port.

The Neustrashimy frigate and the Yelnya vessel are also expected to arrive later in the day.

The Yelnya vessel is also expected to arrive later in the day.

The fleet's servicemen will take part in multiple events during the visit, including a meeting with the head of the Cuban navy and Havana authorities.

Cuban citizens will be able to visit the Smolny warship from July 28-29.

Another group of Russian Northern Fleet naval ships made a port visit to Havana on an official visit from June 12-17. The group included the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the Kazan nuclear-powered submarine.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russia Adapted to Sanctions, Demonstrating Flexibility in Various Areas - Orban

Sputnik News

20240727

BUDAPEST (Sputnik) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Saturday refuted claims that Russia is an autocracy, saying that the country had adapted to Western sanctions and demonstrated economic and social flexibility.

"Russia has learned lessons since 2014 and not only learned them, but also turned them into actions. They carried out the necessary development of the IT and banking sector, so the Russian financial system did not break down. They have developed the ability to adapt," Orban said in the Romanian city of Baile Tusnad, as broadcast by 1.

Russia, having lost the opportunity to import agricultural products from the West due to sanctions, has become the largest exporter of food products in a few years, the official noted.

"When Russia is described as a rigid neo-Stalinist autocracy, it is a lie. In fact, we are talking about a country that demonstrated technical, economic and, as you can see, maybe social flexibility," Orban said.

The West has called on the whole world to take action against Russia, but, on the contrary, everyone has begun to support it little by little, the prime minister added.

Orban also said that he was not surprised by the support of Russia from China and North Korea, but the position of Iran, India, Turkiye and the Muslim world, which considers Russia a partner, came as a surprise.

Earlier in July, Orban went on a "peace mission" tour, during which he visited Russia, Ukraine and China and met with their presidents to outline his vision of a peace process. Later, he also met with US presidential candidate and ex-president Donald Trump. Some EU leaders criticized what they see as misuse of the bloc's rotating presidency by Hungary's prime minister.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukraine Said To Claim Attack On Murmansk Airfield, Notes Russian Helicopter Losses

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and RFE/RL's Russian Service July 27, 2024

Ukraine's military intelligence (GUR) on July 27 claimed its drones attacked the Olenya airfield in Russia's far northern Murmansk region, saying it struck a TU-22M3 strategic bomber, and said three Russian army helicopters had been destroyed in Russian territory over the previous week.

The claims appeared to be an apparent effort to demonstrate Russia's ongoing losses in the 30th month of Moscow's full-scale invasion without directly claiming responsibility in all cases.

The Ukrainians' assertions have not been confirmed by Russian officials or independent sources.

Ukraiskaya Pravda quoted an unnamed source claiming the alleged "hit" on the Olenya airfield where the bomber was located.

Separately, the GUR said in a statement that the three damaged helicopters were being used against Ukraine and Russian authorities were "trying to hide the causes and consequences of the noise and fire" that destroyed the aircraft from local residents.

They said one aircraft had burned in Samara and two others hit by fire in Tomilino near Moscow.

Ukraine's military said on July 27 that Russia had lost 326 helicopters since the start of its all-out attack.



Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-war- russia-aircraft/33053254.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russian Strikes Target Ukraine's Southern Kherson Region; Ambulance Hit By Drone

By RFE/RL's Russian Service and RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service July 27, 2024

Russian forces targeted more than a dozen settlements in Ukraine's southern Kherson region, an official said, and a Russian drone hit an ambulance, wounding its driver.

Russian forces also fired at least one cruise missile and 11 other drones in four other regions across the country. Ukraine's air force claimed the projectiles were all shot down.

Early on July 27, Ukraine launched nearly 20 drones at targets in Russian border regions, and Russian authorities claimed they had downed at least 14 of them.

At least two people were wounded, Russian officials said, when a Ukrainian helicopter drone dropped an explosive device on them in the Kursk region.

The exchange of drone attacks and air strikes came as Ukrainian forces struggle to hold back grinding advances by Russian troops in several locations along the 1,100-kilometer frontline.

Ukrainian commanders say the situation east of the Donetsk region city of Pokrovsk is critical, as well as in the city of Chasiv Yar, to the north, where Russian troops have advanced to a water canal separating its eastern district from the main city.

In an interview published in The Guardian, Ukraine's commander in chief, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskiy said the battlefield situation was "very difficult."

"The Russian aggressor attacks our positions in many directions," he said.

"The enemy has a significant advantage in force and resources," he was quoted as saying. "Therefore, for us, the issue of supply, the issue of quality, is really at the forefront."

Eight people were wounded in Russian strikes on 17 settlements in the Kherson region, the head of the military administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, said.

In the town of Beryslav, on the west bank of the Dnieper River, a Russian drone hit an ambulance, wounding its driver, he said. It was unclear if the ambulance was transporting anyone at the time.

Russian forces who withdrew from the western side of the Dnieper River in late 2022 have continued to bombard and harass Ukrainian settlements on the opposite banks.

In Russia's Ryazan region, local Telegram channels reported that an oil storage facility and an airfield may have been attacked. There was no official confirmation.

Ukraine's military intelligence agency, meanwhile, claimed that its drones hit a Russian strategic bomber housed at an air base near the Arctic City of Murmanskasome 1,800 kilometers away from the Ukrainian border. The newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda quoted an unnamed official from the agency, known as HUR, as saying the Tu-22M3 long-range bomber was hit early on July 27.

It was unclear if the plane was damaged or destroyed, though The Kyiv Independent newspaper cited a HUR official as saying the bomber was damaged.

There was no immediate confirmation of either report.

With the Russian invasion now in its 28th month, the casualty toll on both sides continues to climb.

Ukraine has not released data for its dead or wounded, although President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in February that at least 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed, a figure seen as a gross underestimate.

Western officials, meanwhile, estimate Russia's casualties - killed or wounded - to exceed 500,000. The latest tally compiled by the BBC's Russian Service and Mediazona, based on open sources such as published obituaries, found that at least 61,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since February 2022.

The last official figure released by the Russian Defense Department, in September 2022, said the death toll was 5,937 dead.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-strikes-kherson- ukraine-drone-attacks/33052877.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russian Troops Liberate Lozovatskoye Settlement in Donetsk Region - MoD

Sputnik News

20240727

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr liberated the settlement of Lozovatskoye in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Saturday.

"The units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, through active actions, liberated the settlement of Lozovatskoye in the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said in a statement.

The Ukrainian armed forces lost up to 570 soldiers in battles with Russia's Battlegroup Zapad in the past week, the ministry added.

Russia's Battlegroup Yug gained better ground, and Kiev lost up to 540 servicemen, while Battlegroup Sever repelled two counterattacks and Ukraine lost up to 165 soldiers, the MoD noted.

Additionally, Kiev lost up to 125 soldiers in battles with the Battlegroup Vostok and 85 troops in battles with the Battlegroup Dnepr, the ministry said.

At the same time, Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr repelled three counterattacks, during which Kiev lost up to 425 servicemen, according to the MoD.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Man Who Blew up Russian Railway at Ukraine's Behest Formally Charged

Sputnik News

20240727

Sidiki is charged with training for terrorist activities and with committing one terrorist act, attempting another, and preparing a third.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ruslan Sidiki, who blew up a railway near Russia's Ryazan in exchange for $15,000 promised by Ukrainian security services, is accused of committing nine serious crimes, court documents obtained by Sputnik revealed Saturday.

On November 11, 2023, 19 cars of a freight train derailed in the Ryazan Region as a result of the detonation of an improvised explosive device. Sidiki was arrested and during interrogation said he had been recruited by the main intelligence department of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.

"Sidiki is accused of committing nine particularly serious crimes against public security, which are punishable exclusively by imprisonment for more than three years," the document read.

Sidiki is charged with training for terrorist activities and with committing one terrorist act, attempting another, and preparing a third. He is also charged with three counts of unlawful manufacture of explosive devices.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Speech by the President at the First Annual International Congress on Military Medicine and Mental Health "Warrior: Life, Health, Combat Capability"

President of Ukraine

27 July 2024 - 16:15

Dear participants, dear guests, dear ladies and gentlemen!

First of all, I congratulate everyone on the Day of the Medical Worker of Ukraine! All our doctors, nurses and all those who have dedicated themselves to the very noble mission of helping, treating, saving Ukrainians, saving our warriors, saving our people.

Our medical workers are people of great distinction, our medical workers with big hearts, doing a tremendous job. Throughout the years of Independence, in times of various challenges and hardships, in times of countering Covid-19, and of course now, during the full-scale invasion.

Today, since the very morning, I have had the honor to see such people, to recognize them with state awards. We have been to the Institute of Traumatology, which as of today has the status of a National Institute. We have also been to our legendary Okhmatdyt, which we will certainly rebuild, and now I am here with you at this significant Congress, which is dedicated to a very important, significant topic.

Usually, in public discourse or in private conversations, the topic of the country's defense capability is associated primarily with weapons, machinery and equipment. And all this is indeed extremely important. But at the same time, there is something that plays a no less significant role in the context of war. Something that is also a weapon, but of a different nature. This is the physical and mental health of our warriors. That is why this event is especially important; that is why military medicine should always be the focus of the state's attention.

After all, this is about people. After all, this is for people. For our warriors, their families and loved ones, combat medics and all those involved in this field, our volunteers, our partners, in short: everyone who understands that each defender, their life and health are the highest priority for Ukraine.

On February 24, 2022, the state faced large-scale threats that were often out of balance with the resources and experience available at the time. Military medicine was no exception. But thanks to the will and coordinated work, we managed to withstand and overcome many challenges since then. I welcome all the real steps that have already been taken. At the same time, I would like to emphasize that there are still many tasks on this path. They are a priority. Building a medical system that meets the challenges of today, creating a single medical space where every specialist knows and fulfills their role is a priority.

In particular, we are talking about the efficient use of resources, the supply of first-aid kits and tourniquets of adequate quality, and the provision of mobile hospitals. Paying more attention to the wounded, paying more attention to those who have returned from the Russian hell - we are talking about the mechanisms of reintegration of fighters released from captivity, establishing a Reintegration Center and ensuring the rehabilitation of military personnel.

Everything that can be digitized should be digitized. The Ministry of Defense, together with the General Staff, should deploy a medical information system in military units by the end of the year to make the route of the wounded transparent, to make it clear. This is what every military medic and every warrior expect.

An effective rehabilitation system should be implemented, which should include the mental recovery of the military along with their families.

Separately, I want to commend our military surgeons and the absolutely unique surgeries they perform, some of which have no analogues in the world. Today, our doctors restore lost limbs, perform surgeries even when the heart is damaged, when it seems impossible, they bring a warrior back to life.

In my opinion, the class and dedication of our medical workers have brought the most important success of military medicine in this war. Despite all the challenges and hardships, we have maintained a high casualty survival rate and a significant return to duty rate.

This certainly deserves applause.

Dear audience, ladies and gentlemen! The military medicine system still faces many challenges to overcome. As the Head of State, I promise you comprehensive support in this field. I have signed the decree "Regulations on Military Service", which regulates the service of persons with medical education and the assignment of the primary officer rank to doctors who have not studied in the military department.

In addition, I have instructed the Government to fully fund the creation of a modern rehabilitation hospital with a reintegration module for military personnel released from captivity. And stabilization centers for continuous medical care in the combat zone.

Defending the state is definitely a two-way movement. And those who defend the state must know, must feel that the state defends them. This is the difference between us and the enemy. Russia neglects its people and does not fight for their survival. Instead, Ukraine must do everything to protect the lives, primarily the lives and health of its warriors.

Our army has proved its modernity and strength, which are capable of establishing the desired peace in Ukraine. When we rightly talk about our need for weapons, we must not forget that the support and protection of our warriors is also a weapon. Every commander must remember that people are not expendable. Their strength, their knowledge and their skills are of immense value to our state.

Today, as I honor many medical professionals, including military ones, with state awards, I can say once again that our Independence is firmly based on our people. And with this understanding, we must create a proper rehabilitation system with the highest level of necessary personnel training and rehabilitation centers.

This is our task, this is our goal, this is our way.

I thank you for the invitation, thank you for your attention! I wish you productive discussions, which is important, and effective decisions.

I congratulate everyone involved on the Day of the Medical Worker!

Glory to Ukraine!

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Even after the Russian Attacks, We Do Not Lose the Ability of Our Medicine to Save Lives - the President Congratulated Medical Workers on their Professional Day

President of Ukraine

27 July 2024 - 12:38

On the occasion of the Day of the Medical Worker of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine and informed that the institution has been granted national status.

"I have signed the corresponding decree. This is not only a legal status, not only recognition of your professionalism and contribution to the capacity of Ukrainian medicine, but also a real gratitude of all of us, our state, for your work. 300 surgeries every week, most of them of the highest complexity. This is your absolutely worthy work, which adds dignity to our entire state. Thank you for that!" the President emphasized.

He noted that there is no hospital in Ukraine that has not felt the consequences of the war. All medical institutions receive the wounded from the frontline or suffer from shelling by the Russian army.

"Even after such brutal Russian attacks as against Okhmatdyt and hundreds of other hospitals destroyed or damaged by Russian shelling, we do not lose the ability of our medicine to save lives. It is exclusively your professionalism, your strength, your character that work for the sake of the entire Ukraine. Thank you!" Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The participants honored the memory of all doctors and military medics whose lives were taken by the war with a minute of silence.

The Head of State congratulated the medical staff of the institution and military doctors on their professional day and presented them with state awards.

The President handed awards to medical personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, the Main Military Clinical Hospital, the National Specialized Children's Hospital "Okhmatdyt", the Center for Emergency Medical Care in the Kharkiv Region, the Hospital of Velyka Oleksandrivka in the Kherson Region and the Chernihiv City Hospital #2.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also spoke with the military personnel undergoing treatment at the facility, thanked them for defending Ukraine and honored them with state awards.

Iurii Poliachenko, Director of the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, spoke about his experience in treating war casualties, including work with combat injuries since 2014. During the full-scale war, the capacity in this field was increased, and now the conditions for treatment and rehabilitation are being improved.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Austin, July 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Electric Vehicle Connector Market S ize was recorded at USD 2.08 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 17.8 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 27% over the forecast period from 2024 to 2032.

Get a Sample Report of Electric Vehicle Connector Market @ https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/2118

Owing to the rising demand for electric vehicles and the infrastructure necessary for charging them, the EV industry has grown quickly. The important segment of the electric vehicle connector market, which offers the necessary connection between EVs and charging stations, is in charge of this expansion. This blog discusses the salient trends in the electric vehicle connector market and new developments that seem set to shape the future of electric mobility. For Instance, according to the sales revenue generated by EV, the net sales were recorded with more than 1.5 million in 2023. In Addition to that, the U.S. had over 168,300 charging outlets for plug-in electric vehicles (EVs), up to 2024.

Another new trend in the electric vehicle connector market is vehicle-to-grid integration. V2G technology enables EVs to feed in energy to the grid as well as to get energy from the grid, such that electric vehicles not only feed from the grid but also feed back to the grid any extra power when needed. Thus, they are moving devices of energy storage that give grid stability and flexibility. This requires bidirectional power flow with low-voltage, on-board advanced connectors. For Instance, The Energy Market Authority (EMA) and the Institute of Technology (SIT) are supporting Singapore's largest vehicle-to-grid (V2G), to ease grid congestion. To this end they have awarded a grant to Strides -Singapore Office of MIT-based Strives- which seeks some support for the development and test-bedding of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, applicable in providing grid services.

Electric Vehicle Connector Market Report Scope:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2023 USD 2.08 billion Market Size by 2032 USD 17.8 billion CAGR 27% by 2024-2032 Base Year 2023 Forecast Period 2024-2032 Historical Data 2020-2022 Key Growth Drivers Increased adoption of Electric vehicles and ongoing technological advancement, drives the electric vehicle connector market

Do you have any specific queries or need any customization research on Electric Vehicle Connector Market, Enquire Now @ https://www.snsinsider.com/enquiry/2118

KEY PLAYERS

The major key players are Molex LLC, Tesla, Bosch, Aptiv PLC, TE Connectivity, ABB, Yazaki, Fujikura, Amphenol, Schneider Electric, Huber+Suhner, Sumitomo, and other key players.

Key Segments:

By Propulsion:

BEV

PHEV

FCEV

HEV

By Application:

ADAS and Safety System

Body Control and Interiors

Engine Management and Powertrain

Infotainment System

Battery Management System

Vehicle Lighting (Interior and Exterior)

Other Applications

By Voltage:

Low Voltage

Medium Voltage

High Voltage

By Component:

Terminal

Housing

Lock

Other Components

By System Type:

Sealed Connector System

Unsealed Connector System

By Connection Type:

Wire-to-Wire Connection

Wire-to-Board Connection

Board-to-Board Connection

Other Connection Types

Recent Developments

In March 2024 , for usage on the automaker's upcoming line of fully electric vehicles, Volvo has teamed up with Breathe Battery Technologies (Breathe) to become the first automotive manufacturer to have access to the most recent iteration of its proprietary, algorithm-enabled charging software. Volvo stated in a news release that Breathe's software has been integrated into the company's battery management platform, which optimizes and improves performance to enable faster charging times.

, for usage on the automaker's upcoming line of fully electric vehicles, Volvo has teamed up with Breathe Battery Technologies (Breathe) to become the first automotive manufacturer to have access to the most recent iteration of its proprietary, algorithm-enabled charging software. Volvo stated in a news release that Breathe's software has been integrated into the company's battery management platform, which optimizes and improves performance to enable faster charging times. In January 2024, Samsung Electronics announced a service Integration with Tesla, for the expansion of Teslas smartThings energy such as Powerwall Home battery, solar inverter, etc.

Segment Analysis

Based on Propulsion Type, The BEV segment accounted for a significant value share of the electric vehicle connector market, and this position is likely to continue throughout the forecast period. BEVs have complex electrical systems with high-voltage batteries, electric motors, and many kinds of actuators. Accordingly, the chain of power and data transfer in BEVs relies heavily on connectors for its reliable and efficient operation. As BEVs are rapidly becoming more prevalent due to huge improvements in battery management systems and overall vehicle performance, specialized connectors will be needed more than ever before.

Based on the Application, Battery Management Systems dominated the market in this sector in 2023 with a revenue share of more than 35%. Then, these are crucial in preserving the optimal battery performance and safeguarding a crucial extension of its useful life. They keep an eye on crucial operational parameters including internal temperature, current, and voltage levels, and make sure that each unit only supplies the precise amount required to run the electric car motor with the least amount of strain on the battery cells.

Regional Analysis:

The Asia Pacific holds the dominant position with more than 45 % of the market share in 2023. As more electric vehicles hit the roads, the demand for charging infrastructure also increases and consequently boosts the EV connectors. Government measures that encourage EV purchases through tax cuts and subsidies are helping to drive market growth in this area.

Because of its explosive expansion in the EV market, North America is the region with the greatest rate of growth in this market. Government initiatives including tax breaks and investments in infrastructure for charging EVs are making ownership of these vehicles feasible.

Buy a Single-User PDF of Electric Vehicle Connector Market Analysis & Outlook Report 2024-2032 @ https://www.snsinsider.com/checkout/2118

Key Takeaways

The Electric Vehicle Connector market is all set to grow radically with the rapidly growing demand for EVs and increasing charging infrastructure.

BEVs are the major growth drivers for the EV connector market since their electrical systems are complicated and need more connectors.

Another major driver of the market is the integration of EV connectors in battery management systems.

The Asia Pacific region is likely to lead the market due to robust EV adoption in countries like China.

The future of the EV connector market will evolve in tandem with technological progress, supplemented by supportive government policies.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Table of Contents  Major Key Points

1. Introduction

2. Industry Flowchart

3. Research Methodology

4. Market Dynamics

5. Porters 5 Forces Model

6. Pest Analysis

7. Electric Vehicle Connector Market Segmentation, By Propulsion

8. Electric Vehicle Connector Market Segmentation, By Voltage

10. Electric Vehicle Connector Market Segmentation, By Application

11. Electric Vehicle Connector Market Segmentation, By Component

12. Electric Vehicle Connector Market Segmentation, By System Type

13. Electric Vehicle Connector Market Segmentation, By Connection Type

14. Regional Analysis

15. Company Profiles

16. Competitive Landscape

17. Use Case and Best Practices

18. Conclusion

Access Complete Report Details of Electric Vehicle Connector Market Report 2024-2032 @ https://www.snsinsider.com/reports/electric-vehicle-connector-market-2118

[For more information or need any customization research mail us at info@snsinsider.com ]

About Us:

SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominates the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world.
NEW YORK, July 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attorney Advertising -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is investigating potential claims on behalf of purchasers of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CenterPoint or the Company) (NYSE: CNP). Investors who purchased CenterPoint securities are encouraged to obtain additional information and assist the investigation by visiting the firms site: bgandg.com/CNP.



Investigation Details

On July 8, 2024, Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Texas as a Category 1 storm. The impact of the storm left roughly 2.2 million CenterPoint customers without power. Six days after the storm, some 270,000 homes and businesses in the Houston area were still without power. At a press conference on July 14, 2024, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that he was demanding an investigation into CenterPoints response to Hurricane Beryl. Among other comments, Governor Abbott said that CenterPoint did not have an adequate number of workers pre-staged before the storm hit. On this news, CenterPoints stock price fell $2.02 per share, or 6.67%, to close at $28.28 per share on July 15, 2024.

What's Next?

If you are aware of any facts relating to this investigation or purchased CenterPoint securities, you can assist this investigation by visiting the firms site: bgandg.com/CNP. You can also contact Peretz Bronstein or his client relations manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC: 332-239-2660.

There is No Cost to You

We represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.

Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contact

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC

Peretz Bronstein or Nathan Miller

332-239-2660 | info@bgandg.com
NEW YORK, July 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Dril-Quip, Inc. (NYSE: DRQ) resulting from allegations that Dril-Quip, Inc. may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.



So What: If you purchased Dril-Quip securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

What to do next: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=27144 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

What is this about: On July 8, 2024, after the market closed, Dril-Quip filed a current report on Form 8-K with the SEC. In this current report, Dril-Quip disclosed that it had become became aware of an error in the classification of certain inventory write-downs from 2021. [. . .] The Company classified these charges as Restructuring and other charges; however, these charges should have been classified in Cost of sales in the Consolidated Statement of Income (Loss) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, in accordance with ASC 420-10-S99-3. As a result, Cost of sales was understated and Restructuring and other charges was overstated by $67 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the Affected Period).

Further, Dril-Quip disclosed that after considering the recommendations of management and discussion with the Companys independent registered public accounting firm[,] the Audit Committee of our board of directors (Audit Committee) concluded that the consolidated financial statements for the Affected Period should no longer be relied upon due to the error described above. Any previously issued or filed reports, press releases, earnings releases and investor presentations or other communications describing the Companys consolidated financial statements and other related financial information covering the Affected Period also should no longer be relied upon.

Finally, Dril-Quip disclosed that the Management has also concluded that, in light of the findings described above, the Companys disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2023 were not effective, and that it intended to complete and file restated consolidated financial statements for the Affected Period[.]

On this news, the price of Dril-Quip stock fell by 9.9% on July 9, 2024.

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

case@rosenlegal.com

www.rosenlegal.com
RADNOR, Pa., July 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP ( www.ktmc.com ) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas against American Airlines Group Inc. (American Airlines) ( NASDAQ: AAL ). The action charges American Airlines with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the companys business, operations, and prospects. As a result of American Airliness materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, American Airliness investors have suffered significant losses. The lead plaintiff deadline is September 16, 2024.



If you suffered American Airlines losses, you may CLICK HERE or go to: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/american-airlines-group-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=aal&mktm=r

You can also contact attorney Jonathan Naji, Esq. of Kessler Topaz by calling (484) 270-1453 or by email at info@ktmc.com .

DEFENDANTS ALLEGED MISCONDUCT

The Class Period begins on January 25, 2024, when Defendants held an earnings call during which CEO, President, and Director Robert D. Isom provided the following outlook for fiscal year 2024: Over the past year, we have made changes to our distribution strategy to give customers direct improved access to our best products and enable American to provide better customer service to the individual traveler. We're very encouraged by the results.

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and misleading statements regarding American Airliness new sales and distribution strategy to reduce internal expenses while simultaneously driving a significant demand increase for American Airliness services. The complaint further alleges that these statements misrepresented the true state of American Airlines, and that American Airlines was simultaneously concealing material adverse facts including, notably, that American Airlines s sales and distribution strategy was not driving projected revenue.

On May 28, 2024, after the market closed, American Airlines announced that its CCO was departing, and disclosed that the company was lowering its guidance. In an industry conference the following day, May 29, 2024, American Airliness CEO stated that the companys expectation for domestic performance has worsened materially since [it] provided guidance in April, and that the revision is largely due to a softer domestic environment than [the Company was] expecting and [its] performance within that environment.

On this news, American Airliness stock price fell $1.82, or 13.5%, to close at $11.62 per share on May 29, 2024.

WHAT CAN I DO?

American Airlines investors may, no later than September 16, 2024, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages American Airlines investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. The class action complaint, Qawasmi v. American Airlines Group Inc., et al., Case No. 24-cv-00673, is filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas and assigned to the Honorable Terry R. Means.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE OR GO TO: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/american-airlines-group-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=aal&mktm=r

WHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?

A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com .

CONTACT:

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP

Jonathan Naji, Esq.

(484) 270-1453

280 King of Prussia Road

Radnor, PA 19087

info@ktmc.com

May be considered attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Twelve years ago, Bill Clinton and the U.S. Congress ended "welfare as we know it." Gone was the idea of an open-ended entitlement for those mired in poverty. In its place came Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the notion that families could -- and should -- work their way out of their impoverished straits.More than a decade into the change -- including major revisions that were part of a 2005 reauthorization of TANF -- the question today is not so much whether TANF works but whether welfare as we now know it still matters. As with any program that profoundly changes its ground rules, the original TANF and its subsequent 2005 revisions have unleashed a series of fallouts -- some surprising, others not so. While they have relieved pressure on the program itself -- welfare caseloads have fallen dramatically -- there has been a notable and increasingly sharp uptick in the demand for services in other parts of the safety net."We really don't do much cash assistance to families anymore," says Sharon Hirsch, an assistant director in the Durham County (North Carolina) Department of Social Services. That money, she reports, is now going mostly to child-only cases where no parent and no work requirement is involved and to child care for the few families on the rolls. Meanwhile, welfare spending is dwarfed by what the county is now spending on other supplemental assistance programs, such as food stamps and Medicaid.That trend has led many to wonder whether TANF has essentially run its course and whether welfare as we've come to know it is now a thing of the past, supplanted by a network of different safety net programs supporting the working poor.THE BIG NUMBERSThe single most stunning effect of the 1996 TANF law has been the winnowing of welfare caseloads. Even in cities such as New York that had long hosted large numbers of people in need of assistance, caseloads tumbled and remain at historic lows. Since TANF went into effect, they are down nationally between 50 and 90 percent, depending on the city or state.The reductions have been impressive, but have people been better off under the new regime? There is considerable evidence that many have. Through the late 1990s, poverty among single-parent families fell by 30 percent. Black-child poverty reached its lowest level in history.A strong economy played a key role in driving down poverty rates during that period, says Isabel Sawhill, senior fellow and director of economic studies with the Brookings Institution. But, she notes, so did welfare reform, which, besides emphasizing work gave states the flexibility to help clients with things such as child care, transportation, clothing and whatever else a family needed in order to get on its feet.Another factor behind improved financial circumstances was the federal earned income tax credit, which could add thousands of dollars to a low-wage worker's income. With a good package of work supports, including a state as well as a federal EITC, Medicaid, food stamps and child care, a state could, says David Hansell, commissioner of New York State's Department of Temporary and Disability Services, "double someone's actual income up to 200 percent of the poverty level."That's the good news. In the past few years, things have not been going quite as well. Caseloads aren't escalating back up but, says Robert Doar, commissioner of New York City's Human Resources Administration, "we've stalled." There's also evidence that the welfare program has become a more punitive system -- one geared to pushing people off the rolls rather than helping them become employed and self-sufficient. And the cost of that approach is showing up in increased use of food stamps, Medicaid and other safety net programs.THE SECOND STAGEThe word "stalled" is now being applied in more and more places. In most states, caseloads have either stabilized or are trending slightly upward.One reason is that the easy cases have been washed out of the system. Those who were essentially work-ready -- they just needed a little push and a little extra help -- are off the rolls. Now the caseload is made up of those who have more serious and numerous barriers to employment. In New York, for instance, only about one-third of the state's caseload has as much as a high school education. Many are immigrants who don't speak English.According to a recent Urban Institute report, more than half of all post-2005 TANF recipients have at least two significant barriers to work. "The people coming for assistance now," says Kevin McGuire, who oversees TANF in Maryland, "are people with physical, mental and emotional problems."This more challenging cohort has distilled out at a particularly bad time: The economy has softened considerably since the late 1990s and is showing signs of getting worse. On top of that, Congress and the Bush administration imposed new rules in 2005 that reset the odometer on work participation rates and narrowed the definition of what states could count as work activity.In other words, a dozen years into the boldest experiment in social policy in generations, states are finding that new federal policies and the national economy are lining up against a harder-to-serve group of clients. In the face of the twin challenges, states have -- to varying degrees -- been looking at two kinds of responses. One is to find ways to accommodate those with multiple barriers to work. The other is to toughen up the use of sanctions when individuals either fail or refuse to live up to the new work requirements.Two years ago, for example, New York City launched a program, WeCare, to help clients with multiple barriers to work. Those who need extra help are steered to one-stop service providers who have contracted with the city to perform a full assessment that takes into consideration everything from an individual's physical and mental health to his or her social circumstances. The same contractor is then responsible for coming up with a plan to get the client work-ready, implementing that plan and doing a job placement. If a client is clearly incapable of getting and holding a job, that person is diverted out of the welfare program and into more permanent assistance, including the federally funded Supplemental Security Income program.In Pennsylvania, programs aimed at working with harder-to-place welfare clients started as early as 2001, with the state's Maximizing Participation Program. The program targeted TANF recipients who had been exempted from work requirements because of some mental or physical disability. As a matter of policy, MPP favors continued education over work where appropriate and tries to engage those with multiple barriers in alternative work activities. As in New York City, if clients are simply incapable of further progress, MPP tries to divert them out of TANF altogether and into state or federal assistance.TOUGH LOVEThere has always been the threat and use of sanctions. Those clients who don't live up to work requirements could be hit with penalties, which include everything from a gradual ratcheting down of benefits to an immediate and complete cutoff of benefits. But the use of sanctions has become an even more prominent feature of the program in the wake of the 2005 reauthorization, which changed the welfare-to-work landscape in two fundamental ways.As part of the original 1996 bargain, states were granted more flexibility in how they handled welfare but had to achieve a 50 percent work participation rate for single-parent cases and 90 percent for households with two parents. States hit those percentages with ease early on, and then were allowed to continue using those gains to calculate participation rates for the life of TANF I. Under the 2005 reauthorization rules, Congress reset the clock -- states would have to meet participation rates anew and, as it turns out, among a tougher-to-place clientele. At the same time, the new rules tightened up the definition of "work," disallowing activities -- such as work-readiness classes -- that in the past could be counted as having a job.Critics of the new body of rules say that the most pernicious effect is that it has nudged state and local welfare workers back toward a focus on compliance as an outcome, rather than actually helping people work toward permanent independence, making TANF a meaner program that discourages people from signing up for it in the first place. "The system has become totally punitive," argues Evelyn Ganzglass with the left-leaning Center on Law and Social Policy. "We were moving in the right direction for nine years and then everything changed."The trend -- for states to be more aggressive about diverting or sanctioning people -- is particularly troubling, critics say, because studies suggest that those enrolled in TANF are better off than otherwise-eligible families that either have been sanctioned off TANF or never signed up in the first place.Those who argue that welfare today has reverted to more of a sanction-driven numbers game hold up Georgia as Exhibit A. TANF caseloads have declined "consistently and substantially" since 2004, according to a study by Mathematica Policy Research. Meanwhile, during the same time period, the state's work-participation rates for TANF recipients have skyrocketed from around 11 percent to nearly 70 percent.That sounds impressive, except the gains in the percentage of those participating in work have been won not by placing more TANF recipients in work but by pushing down total caseloads. According to the Mathematica report, staff in Georgia "may be dissuading families from ever applying for TANF." In the wake of the state's aggressive push on work participation, the number of adults on TANF in Georgia has collapsed from a high of more than 50,000 at any one time to around 3,000 today.Critics of the approach, such as Alan Essig, executive director of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, argue that the result is more Georgians living in poverty, not fewer. He notes that as participation in TANF has tumbled in Georgia -- by 83 percent between 2002 and 2006 -- poverty rates have increased from 12 percent to just over 14 percent. At the same time, participation in other public assistance programs has gone up, increasing 160 percent in the case of food stamps and 15 percent for Medicaid.The two trends taken together suggest that what Georgia has achieved through its aggressive stance on TANF is not a class of citizens working to become financially independent but rather the creation of a group of working poor, who seem to be slipping further behind and who require increasing amounts of other types of public assistance to survive.If that's the case, it's still better than being on TANF, argues Donna Gunter, TANF unit manager for Georgia. "We operate on the assumption that welfare is not good enough for any family," she says. "If you're on welfare, we're maintaining you below the poverty level, so caseworkers are trying very hard to get families to see employment and other options that are available to them."The overall trend in welfare that is on display in Georgia -- a small but still-poor cadre of citizens stuck in poverty -- appears to be one that is taking place in quite a few states and localities. Even states that aren't being accused of force-them-off-TANF tactics are seeing TANF participation among adults stay low, while food stamp and Medicaid participation and costs swing upward.For Wade Horn, who helped craft the 2005 reauthorization legislation when he was assistant secretary for children and families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, having people leave the cash-welfare program and become high users of other programs isn't a bad thing. "The framers of reform," he says, "didn't say people were going to leave welfare and their first job would put them into the middle class."But the change in safety-net dymanics has been so pronounced in some places that TANF as a family welfare program has almost become irrelevant. In Durham County, Sharon Hirsch reports, the number of cases that are subject to work requirements has dwindled to around 100 in any given month.Hirsch has seen welfare reform play out since before 1996. Under Governor Jim Hunt, North Carolina was granted a waiver to become an early adopter of the "work-first" approach to welfare. Counties were on the front line of that reform -- North Carolina is one of about a dozen states where welfare is county-administered -- and Hirsch at the time was executive director of the North Carolina Association of County Directors of Social Services.The uncertainty around what welfare reform would mean, says Hirsch, was quickly replaced by something close to shock at the huge number of cases that simply dropped off the rolls as soon as the work requirements kicked in. And the drop not only proved to be permanent but continued to ratchet down.The transformation has been profound, and that is why Hirsch says the county and state have substantially moved out of the cash-assistance game. "Welfare isn't a cash-assistance check anymore," she says, "But that doesn't mean we're not giving people help." What has shifted, she says, is the nature of the county's social services caseload: from those on traditional welfare to working poor who "struggle with food, health care, child care."Other jurisdictions report a similar shift. "No one really even talks about welfare anymore because the caseload numbers have gone down so much," says Suzanne Wagner, a research assistant with Project Match, a welfare-to-work organization. "TANF is no longer seen as an avenue for intervention."Which may be the shape of the new welfare reality, say seasoned veterans, such as New York's David Hansell: Even as TANF replaced the old welfare system, TANF itself is being supplanted by a network of other types of assistance programs aimed at helping the working poor stay employed or simply survive once they are off the TANF rolls. "Most of the people who leave TANF leave for low-wage jobs that don't bring them close to the poverty level," Hansell says. "So now we're thinking about what is our responsibility after people leave public assistance and how can we support them economically."
Sainz finally makes F1 team decision for 2025?

Carlos Sainz has finally made his decision about where to race in 2025 - Williams.

Carlos Sainz, Belgian GP 2024

 Ferrari

That's the claim of two authoritative Formula 1 media sources, after the departing Ferrari driver's father and co-manager Carlos Sainz senior was seen leaving Williams' motorhome at Spa-Francorchamps.

Sainz jr, 29, has been a 'cork in the bottle' of the driver market for some time, as he held out for a seat at Red Bull or Mercedes whilst fielding enthusiastic offers from midfielders Sauber-Audi, Alpine and Williams.

Sainz's manager and cousin Carlos Onoro Sainz was also at the meeting with rally legend Sainz senior and Williams boss James Vowles, the Spanish newspaper Diario Sport reports from the Belgian GP.

The 3-time grand prix winner said on Friday that he would rather go to a midfield team for his near future than take a sabbatical, although he wouldn't say whether he wanted to put pen to paper before the summer break.

I cannot honestly give you the answer, and I cannot answer that question, said Sainz. It's as simple as that. I don't know if it's going to be before or after the summer break.

That timeline may now have changed, with the German broadcaster Sport1 believing Sainz has now signed a one-year contract with options to extend.

Williams boss James Vowles has reportedly even been able to offer the Spaniard a handsome 10 million euros a year, and a special clause allowing Sainz to jump out of the deal immediately if a top team opportunity arises at any point.

There is even speculation that Vowles and his old boss at Mercedes, Toto Wolff, have agreed that if Sainz does get an opportunity in silver, Williams will instead be loaned the impressive 17-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli.

The Sainz news is expected to be announced shortly.

It would be bad news for Valtteri Bottas, who had hoped to secure the seat alongside Alex Albon. However, with his current team Sauber-Audi ousting Andreas Seidl, Bottas does now have the opportunity to kick off talks with his new boss, Mattia Binotto.

It is going to reset the talks a bit, because we have previously been in communication with Andreas and Oliver (Hoffmann), and now it's Mattia, who will officially start next week, I believe, said Bottas.

For sure that will change some things, so we need to speak.

Also hoping to secure the Audi seat, however, is Mick Schumacher, who would complete an attractive all-German driver lineup for the marque's new works project.

For me it is very important to be back in Formula 1, Schumacher told RTL at Spa. And now every team in F1 is competitive - maybe not enough to win, but you can still position yourself really well, no matter which team you are with at the moment.

When asked specifically about Audi, the 25-year-old described it as a very exciting project that would be a very good choice .

(GMM)
These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales.
Realme's latest flagship wireless earbuds offer just about every high-end feature you'd want from a pair of TWS buds in 2024. Buds Air6 Pro pack dual drivers, active noise cancelation (ANC) rated at up to 50dB, and LDAC support for high-bitrate streaming.

Add in dual device pairing, 360 spatial audio, and an IP55 rating and you've got the makings of a great pair of earbuds. That's all wrapped in a sleek case which combined with the buds should last you up to 40 hours of playtime.

But how do the Buds Air6 Pro stack up to their key competitors, and are they worth the 89/$100 price tag?

Design

You'll be hard-pressed to find any major differences in design between the Buds Air6 Pro and the Buds Air5 Pro. The case and the buds feature the same dimensions and size as before but you get two new color options.

Our review unit features a liquid metal color that Realme calls Titanium Twilight. It has a mirrorlike finish that gets smudged up in a hurry, but it's also a neat little pocket mirror that you can carry around anywhere you go.

The case is compact enough to fit in my jean's coin pocket, and its oval shape is suitable for other small pockets inside your bag, jacket, or other clothing items.

The stems on the Buds Air6 Pro also feature the shiny titanium look while the actual bit that goes into your ears is a sleek dark grey color similar to the "Nardo Grey" color option you'd see on Audi cars.

Both the buds and their case feel light which is always a good thing when dealing with wireless earbuds, especially if you plan on wearing them for longer periods. Realme says the buds and case come out to 47 grams in total with each earbud weighing a mere 4.5 grams.

The lightweight profile of the buds is also paired with a great in-ear fit. I've been using the Buds Air6 Pro with the default size M silicone tips, and I did not experience any discomfort or accidental falls, even during runs and gym sessions. The top halves of the buds combined with their curvature make for a very comfortable fit in my case but you should always try to test them out beforehand if you have the chance.

Each earbud also features 3 microphones and touch controls. The buds are also IP55-rated against water splashes and dust. The retail package includes a USB-C cable and replacement silicone ear tips in sizes small and large.

Features and companion app

Realme Buds Air6 Pro take a dual-driver approach with 11mm dynamic bass drivers and 6mm planar tweeters. The advantage of having dual drivers is that the 11mm woofers are tasked with the low and mid frequencies while the tweeters focus on higher range frequencies which should result in more detailed sound output.

You get support for the legacy SBC and AAC codecs as well as the high-bitrate LDAC version on supported streaming platforms like Tidal HiFi, Amazon Music Unlimited, and Deezer Premium.

Buds Air6 Pro pair over Bluetooth 5.3 with support for dual device pairing, Google Fast Pair, and a 55ms low latency mode.

You also get active noise cancelation (ANC) rated at up to 50dB and 4,000Hz frequency and a dedicated noise-canceling chip. The ANC is balanced with call noise cancellation, which claims to reduce ambient noise during calls and deliver optimal voice pickup. Realme also added its de-wind technology to help with calls in windy environments.

The Realme Link app offers a personalized audio algorithm with a tailor-made sound profile based on your hearing after a short five-minute hearing test. The app also brings controls for the ANC intensity with four noise cancelation profiles, a six-band EQ to tweak sound output and the option to save your custom presets. You also get a bass booster slider and MindFlow mode with eleven modes for white noise.

Realme's 360 Spatial Audio imitates surround sound experience on supported content and rounds out the impressive feature set on the Buds Air6 Pro. As far as the touch controls, you can remap the double and triple taps as well as touch-to-hold gestures on each earbud but there's no way to incorporate volume controls, which is unfortunate.

Buds Air6 Pro support in-ear detection, which pauses media as soon as you remove either of the two earbuds from your ears and resumes playback when reinserted.

Performance and Sound quality

Buds Air6 Pro offer lively sound with a bright treble and strong bass out of the box. Depending on your preferences, you can tune the frequency response via the Realme LInk app's EQ tool.

If you like the extra oomph in your tunes then, Realme's Dynamic Bass Boost feature should be right up your alley as it automatically boosts bass with its dedicated algorithm.

Once calibrated to our liking, Buds Air6 Pro delivered spacious sound with enough detail and great separation between the different sound frequencies. The mids came in balanced with vocals and instruments sounding just right, while the high treble was also well-tuned. These buds get plenty loud too.

The dual device pairing feature works nearly flawlessly. The connection was solid and the paring was nearly instantaneous. There was a noticeable delay when switching between audio sources from my laptop and phone, and I also had to pause media on one device and then manually start it on the other, but that limitation is not connected to the buds themselves.

Incoming calls would effortlessly transfer to my phone while listening to music on my laptop, which is a great comfort feature and not always a given even on more expensive earbuds. We tested the Buds Air6 Pro paired with an iPhone 15 Pro and MacBook Pro 14. Connectivity remained great throughout the review period, and I did not experience any disconnections even when I was further away from my audio source.

ANC on the Buds Air6 Pro is great and drowns out a significant portion of background noise. That is likely attributed to the great fit for my specific ear shape and the six microphones spread across both earbuds.

As it often happens, Transparency mode did not impress as it was accompanied by a hissing sound that also made voices sound unnatural.

The touch controls worked well, but I did miss volume controls on the buds themselves. I'd also prefer if the stems were touch-sensitive instead of having to touch the top halves of the buds.

Call quality with the Buds Air6 Pro is great. People reported clear reception of my voice in all scenarios, even in busier streets with car traffic passing by. The in-ear detection worked as expected by pausing and resuming media as soon as I removed or put the buds back in my ear.

Battery life

Realme Buds Air6 Pro are rated for 10 hours of battery life from the buds with ANC off, while the case extends the total battery life to 40 hours. In our usage, we got up to 7 hours from the buds with ANC on and an additional four 0-100% charges from the case. A full recharge for the buds and the USB-C charging case takes around two hours.

Verdict

Realme Buds Air6 Pro brings high-end features like dual-drivers, LDAC support, and top-notch ANC. Those are combined with rich sound and a price tag just shy of 90/$100. That price point is a bit steep considering Realme's Buds Air5 Pro matches the Buds Air6 Pro in all categories while competitors like the CMF Buds 2 Pro come with nearly identical specs at a 30% lower starting price.

Buds Air6 Pro ticks a lot of boxes by offering great in-ear fit, dual device pairing, and customizable EQ that lets you fine-tune them to your liking. They may not be the greatest value at the moment, but we already see rebates here and there so we can definitely recommend the Buds Air6 Pro for those looking for a pair of earbuds with a premium design, rich feature set, and decent battery endurance.

We may get a commission from qualifying sales by retailers you visit from our website.
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

Postal Code




Haiti - Insecurity : Every minute, armed violence displaces a child





As violence by armed groups continues in Haiti, the number of internally displaced children has increased by 60% since March 2024, or an average of one minor displaced every minute, UNICEF said



According to the latest estimates, nearly 600,000 people, half of whom are children or adolescents, are now internally displaced in Haiti and in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.



"Children in Haiti continue to face a multitude of dangers, including horrific violence and critical levels of displacement," said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director. "Displaced children and adolescents in Haiti are at increased risk of violence, including sexual assault, exploitation and abuse, and are more likely to be separated from their families. Their access to services such as safe spaces, health care, clean water and sanitation is also frequently interrupted."



The poor hygiene conditions in camps and makeshift settlements are likely to further aggravate outbreaks of waterborne diseases in a context where more than 84,000 suspected cases of cholera have already been reported.



At the same time, the catastrophic economic conditions contribute to the proliferation of armed groups. In the absence of other means of survival or protection, more and more children are being forced to join these groups, which constitutes a clear violation of their rights and international law.



"The needs continue to grow in Haiti, as do the dangers weighing on children. Everyone has a role to play in ending this situation and allowing children to return to school, to be safe and to have access to basic services. Children must not pay with their lives and their futures for a crisis created by adults," said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















After almost two years of legal proceedings, a group of international privacy activists has reached a settlement in a class action lawsuit with Oracle. The plaintiffs accused Oracle and its AdTech subsidiaries, which focus on targeted programmatic advertising, of collecting detailed dossiers on around five billion people without their consent. The plaintiffs were Johnny Ryan from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), Michael Katz-Lacabe, Director of Research at the Center for Human Rights and Privacy (CeHRP), and computer science professor Jennifer Golbeck from the University of Maryland.

Anzeige

According to the agreement reached before a US federal court in San Francisco, the plaintiffs will pay 115 million US dollars to avoid a judgment in the case. The sum will go into a non-refundable cash fund "to be distributed equally among the Settlement Class Members," according to excerpts from the agreement posted by Ryan. The agreement, which was negotiated over eight months, also provides for significant non-monetary compensation for the alleged data breaches: Oracle has given firm assurances that it will not record certain offending electronic communications for any further use of the products and services described in the lawsuit. In addition, the database giant intends to implement an audit program "to monitor compliance with its contractual obligations to protect the privacy of its customers".

Oracle wants to stop the "spy advertising" business

The lawsuit mainly concerned the allegation that Oracle had used the data collected from internet users to create individual profiles and further enrich and sell them via its own data marketplace. A massive data breach in 2020 provided detailed insights into the Silicon Valley company's activities in this regard. Oracle collected the extensive user traces primarily via its subsidiary BlueKai. With the help of cookies and other tracking tools such as snooping pixels on websites, including porn portals and in HTML emails, the company is said to have built up a large advertising network.

As part of the settlement, Oracle has announced that it intends to give up the AdTech business completely. Products such as its own "Cloud Data Management" platform, the BlueKai business and Digital Audiences including OnRamp with the ID Graph identifier and cross-device tracking are to be discontinued by September 30. At the same time, the Group intends to automatically delete controversial user and customer data as soon as its other obligations under the agreement have been fulfilled. Relationships with relevant data providers will also be terminated. Ryan spoke of a "major change for one of the largest data traders in the world".

(mid)


Sunday July 28, 2024



The move comes as part of a long-standing partnership between the two countries. Photo: Reuters



The Turkish parliament approved a Presidential motion to deploy the military in Somalia for two years to support security against terrorism and other threats under the Turkiye-Somalia defence cooperation agreement.



The motion, signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said Turkiye has been providing training, assistance and advisory support in Somalia for more than 10 years to ensure security and stability and to help restructure that countrys defence and security forces to combat terrorism.





The support is based on the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and the UN Security Council resolution of Dec.16, 2008.The mandate was most recently extended by the Turkish parliament on Jan. 17 for another year.The motion notes that Turkiye will command Combined Task Force-151 for the seventh time starting in July.It stressed that despite having adequate personnel and resources, Somali defence and security forces have not reached the desired level due to economic challenges.The Somali government wants to control maritime areas and integrate resources into the economy to enhance the capacity of its security forces and other state institutions.The goal aligns with the Somali Security Sector Development Plan, which was adopted at the Somalia Security Conference co-hosted by Turkiye in New York on Dec. 12, 2023, and aims for Somalia to take full responsibility for its security in the near future.
Japan's Mitsubishi Motors is set to join an alliance between Honda Motor and Nissan Motor, creating a tie-up between automakers with combined sales of more than 8 million vehicles, the Nikkei newspaper said on Sunday. The emblem of Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motor is seen at a showroom in Tokyo on May 9, 2024. (Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP)(AFP)

Also Read: EV two and three-wheeler EMPS subsidy extended to September 30 and outlay upped

Mitsubishi Motors, which is 34% owned by Nissan, will work with Honda and Nissan to finalise the details of their strategic partnership, Nikkei said, adding the three firms intend to standardise in-vehicle software that controls cars.

Mitsubishi Motors declined to comment on the report, while a Nissan spokesperson would only say the report was not based on something either of the companies had announced. Spokespeople for Honda did not respond to a request for comment.

Also Read: Govt scraps auction of three critical mineral blocks, including J&K lithium mine

The push comes as Nissan, Japan's third biggest automaker, has been steadily losing market share in its two largest markets, the United States and China, which together accounted for half of its global sales in the year to March.

On Thursday, the company slashed its annual outlook after heavy discounting in the U.S. almost completely wiped out its first-quarter profit.

Also Read: Abbott fined $500m in US for allegedly hiding infant formula fatal disease risk

Nissan and Honda said in March they were considering a strategic partnership to collaborate on producing electric vehicle components and artificial intelligence in automotive software platforms.

Mitsubishi Motors is already part of a long-standing alliance with Nissan and France's Renault that the three automakers last year agreed to restructure, aiming for a downsized but more pragmatic and agile partnership.

Separate collaboration between Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi Motors could help Japan's automakers cut costs and beef up to battle tough competition in EVs, dominated by companies like China's BYD and Tesla.

In China, the world's largest auto market, Japanese brands previously were strong but are now up against domestic automakers that have rapidly increased production and won over consumers with low-priced vehicles loaded with software.
The Sarabha Nagar police booked at least six accused for allegedly duping an immigration firm of 1.87 crore on the pretext of arranging Canadian visas and certificates of sponsorship for 15 of their clients, officials said on Sunday. The Sarabha Nagar police booked at least six accused for allegedly duping an immigration firm of  1.87 crore on the pretext of arranging Canadian visas and certificates of sponsorship for 15 of their clients, officials said on Sunday. (HT File)

The accused, identified as Babu Jeniver, Manika Priya Sabiha of Chennai, Vanoj Venkatasan of Tamil Madu, Diyyala Jinith of Andhra Pradesh, Sarfaraz and Sudhir, had handed over the fake visas to the firm.

A first-information report (FIR) was registered following the statement of Madhvi Malhotra of Pakhowal Road, who runs an immigration firm.

Sarabha Nagar station-house officer (SHO) inspector Pawan Kumar said the woman said in her complaint that she had applied for visas for 15 clients through the accused, who promised they would arrange visas on the basis of a certificate of sponsorship. The accused also promised to arrange the requisite certificate of sponsorship.

The woman said that the accused charged 1.87 crore and handed over fake visas. The victim found out that the visas were fake on scanning them. She alleged that the accused stopped responding to her calls.

The inspector added that the FIR was registered following an investigation. A case under sections 420, 120-B. 467, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered against the accused.
Delhi chief minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwals wife Sunita Kejriwal on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi over her husbands arrest by the CBI and said the PM sent her husband behind bars in a fake case. In an emotional appeal to Haryana voters, Sunita said that the PM has a problem with Haryana residents as he sent the Haryana lad to jail. (HT File)

Addressing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers at Sampla in Rohtak, Sunita said Arvind Kejriwal is an honest politician but the PM has sent him to jail in a fake case, which does not exist anywhere.

Arvind had improved the conditions of schools and hospitals in Delhi and Punjab after the AAP came to power. The Prime Minister was scared of AAPs development model and he sent Arvind behind bars so that the people cant get free electricity, better mohalla clinics and good quality of schools for poor children. He cant suppress the Oppositions voice. The way we improved Delhi and Punjab, we will ensure development of Haryana after coming to power, she added.

In an emotional appeal to Haryana voters, Sunita said that the PM has a problem with Haryana residents as he sent the Haryana lad to jail.

Arvind was born in a village in Haryana and later became chief minister of Delhi because of his honesty and dedication. He brought laurels to Haryana as the world leaders applauded his work. The way Gujarat residents supported BJPs PM candidate Narendra Modi ji in the 2014 general polls, I urge you to support Arvind Kejriwal in the upcoming assembly polls by ensuring victory of AAP candidates and defeating BJP nominees, she added.

Sunita said the AAP will ensure five guarantees, including free electricity for domestic units, free education and medical treatment, employment for every youth and 1,000 per month to every woman, if the party voted to power in Haryana.

 The people of Sampla either have to visit Delhi or Rohtak for medical treatment because there is no hospital. We will build mohalla clinics in every village, better schools will be built and youths will get employment, she added.
The traffic police in Delhi-NCR have implemented measures to ensure the safe passage of Kanwar Yatra pilgrims, leading to changes in traffic routes. Pilgrims returning from Haridwar pass through Meerut, Ghaziabad, Noida, Delhi, and Faridabad, resulting in increased traffic on these routes. Kanwariyas carrying holy water collected from River Ganga in Haridwar going back to their hometown in Rajasthan state during the Kanwar Yatra at National Highway-48 near Signature Tower Chowk in Gurugram on Friday. (HT Photo)

ALSO READ- Supreme Court continues stay on directives to eateries along kanwar route

What traffic restrictions are in place in Delhi NCR due to the Kanwar Yatra?

 The Noida traffic police have restricted two of the four lanes between Okhla Barrage and Okhla Bird Sanctuary from July 28 to August 4 to ensure safe passage for Kanwar Yatra pilgrims.

 Approximately four kilometres of the pilgrimage route, from Mayur Vihar through Shani temple and Okhla Bird Sanctuary to Kalindi Kunj, fall within Noida's jurisdiction.

 Barriers were set up near Sector 126 police station at Kalindi Kunj, diverting traffic onto the two right lanes from the Delhi to Noida side, causing bottlenecks and congestion.

 Additional traffic police personnel have been deployed near Okhla Barrage to manage the flow and prevent congestion, especially during peak hours when the route narrows.

 The Uttar Pradesh police have announced the closure of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway for heavy vehicles. Vehicles will be diverted until 8 pm on August 5, with restrictions extending to all vehicles between Delhi and Meerut, including private cars, from July 29.

Delhi govt sets up large camps for Kanwar Yatra pilgrims

Delhi minister Atishi announced that large camps have been set up at Kashmiri Gate in Delhi to accommodate at least 2,000 Kanwariyas. She said that waterproof tents have been provided, along with beds and tables, due to the high chance of rain.

The camps also have arrangements for food and medical assistance, with a doctor and medical team on standby to help in case of injuries. The medical staff will be available 24 hours a day, working in three shifts. An ambulance is stationed outside the camp to transport anyone with serious health issues to the nearest LNGP hospital.

Also Read: Jayant Chaudhary breaks silence on UP's Kanwar Yatra order, says govt's decision not well thought out

Devotees flock to Shiv temples

The month of Sawan is significant for Hindus, dedicated to Lord Shiva. This sacred month, usually from July to August, is a time of worship, fasting, and pilgrimages for the deity of destruction and transformation.

Devotees carrying gangajal are visiting temples like Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain, Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, Kali Paltan in Meerut, and Jharkhandi Mahadev in Gorakhpur to offer their prayers.

According to Drik Panchang, Sawan that began on July 22 and will end on August 19 this year.
Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Sunday received a death threat from a prisoner lodged in Dausa central jail, said officials familiar with the matter, adding that it is the second such incident in the last six months. Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. (File)

Earlier, on January 17, a POCSO convict identified as Mukesh from the Jaipur central jail also called the Jaipur police control room and threatened to shoot Sharma.

A similar incident took place on Sunday as well wherein another POCSO convict from Dausa Central Jail called the Jaipur police control room at around 3am and threatened to shoot the CM, said Jaipur ACP Kailash Bishnoi.

Following the incident, the Jaipur police immediately alerted the Dausa jail authority.

The caller was identified as Nimo, a resident of West Bengals Darjeeling. He was a convict of a POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) case and was shifted to Dausa jail from the Jaipur prison only three months ago. We are questioning him and also a few other inmates about his motive and any relation with the previous threat call. Further investigation is underway, said Dausa superintendent of police (SP) Ranjeeta Sharma.

Sharma also added that an immediate search operation was also conducted at the jail on Sunday morning from which the police recovered 10 mobile phones from the inmates.
Mumbai: Concerned over the deepening discontent between Maratha and OBC communities over reservation issue, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday said theres an urgent need for a dialogue with the stakeholders to pacify the situation. Rift between Marathas and OBCs over quota worrying: Sharad Pawar

The 83-year-old politician suggested that the Eknath Shinde government should hold talks with Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil and Other Backward Class (OBC) leaders to resolve the issue.

It is disturbing that a few districts in Marathwada have posed against each other over the reservation issue which has led to the unprecedented rift between Maratha and OBS communities. I learnt that members from both communities are boycotting hotels and other establishments run by the other. This is disturbing, said Pawar, who was on a tour of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, formerly Aurangabad.

As part of his outreach, Pawar said he will tour the affected areas such as Beed and Jalna and talk to the people. There is bitterness and misunderstanding between the two communities. This is dangerous. After the current session of Parliament, I will tour the area.

Jarange has been demanding the implementation of the draft notification that recognises Kunbis as sage soyare (blood relatives) of Marathas and reservation to the latter under the OBC category. Kunbis get quota benefits as OBCs.

However, OBC members, including Chhagan Bhujbal, have stressed that their quota should not be diluted. Jarange said that reservations should also be given to Lingayats, Muslims and the Dhangar (shepherd) community. The process for talks over quota in the right direction seems to have begun. If this is done, there will be no bitterness in society, he said.

The dialogue with stakeholders over quota should have been done by now. The chief minister talks with one set of people, while others in the government hold talks with different groups. This creates misunderstanding, he said.

Pawar said he recently shared his feedback with Eknath Shinde who appeared favourable to a dialogue. The government should call Maratha activist Manoj Jarange, (minister) Chhagan Bhujbal, Laxman Hake and others committed to OBC reservation for talks, he said.

Reacting to Pawars statement, Shinde, whom the NCP chief recently met over the issue of the Maratha quota, said everyone should unite to resolve this issue. However, his ally- the BJP has criticised Pawar. Senior leader and revenue minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil alleged Pawar is politicising the issue. What did Pawar do about the Maratha reservation when he was the chief minister of Maharashtra, Patil said.

Jarange-Patil too reacted over the development, alleging that both ruling and opposition parties are fooling the Maratha community by resorting to talks instead of taking decisions sought by him.

About seat-sharing among the Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising his party, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, ahead of the assembly polls, Pawar said the alliance partners have suggested a few names for the discussion. It has been agreed that the decision over seat-sharing will be taken unanimously, he said. I have also said that the Left parties that did not demand a single seat in the last Lok Sabha elections should also be given a seat share in the upcoming assembly polls. The seat-sharing talks will take place after the current session of Parliament, said Pawar.

He also shared his views on the recently announced schemes of the state government. People say that Ladki Bahin and Ladka Bhau schemes were announced just because the assembly polls are around the corner. These schemes may end up with one or two instalments, he said.

Durrani quits Ajits party, returns to Pawar

Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Partys MLC Babajani Durrani joined the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the party. Against this backdrop, Pawar said that the leader who took the extreme stand (during the split in NCP last year) would not be taken back to his fold. Some of them (who had gone with Ajit Pawar) have been getting in touch with us. The ones who are with us by ideology will be considered for their re-induction in the party. We are not in favour of taking all of them back to the fold, he said.
A 10-year-old boy was killed in the explosion of a pressure IED planted by Maoists in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur district on Saturday, police said. The boys mother, who was accompanying him, was a few metres away from him during the blast and escaped unhurt, it said. (Representational image)

Police in a statement said that the boy, Hidma Kawasi, a resident of Mutvendi village, was grazing goats near Pidiya Murumpara village at around 2.30pm when he accidentally came in contact with a pressure IED connection, triggering a blast and causing serious injuries to his leg.

His mother, who was accompanying him, was a few metres away from him during the blast and escaped unhurt, it said.

The woman alerted villagers about the incident following which the boy was taken to Mutvendi camp of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) by villagers on foot.

The boy was shifted to the camp at around 4pm as it took time to cross flooding rivulets and difficult terrain during monsoon, it said.

The boy was administered preliminary treatment at the camp and then CRPF personnel shifted him to Bijapur district hospital. As water was flowing above the bridge on Cherpal river between Gangoor and Bijapur, it took time to cross it and the boy was admitted to the district hospital at around 6pm, the statement added.

With this incident, six persons have been killed in IED explosions at separate places in Bijapur district in the last three-and-a-half months, according to police.

(With PTI inputs)
The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has secured the second position and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) third for healthcare and medical services, as per a survey conducted by the Director of Health Services, Maharashtra. The survey evaluated various health initiatives such as child health, family planning, dengue, HIV, and other diseases. It also considered the financial allocation for medical services by the municipal corporations and the quality of treatment provided in hospitals and clinics. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

The public health department evaluated the overall performance of all 27 municipal corporations for its medical services and programmes and in the state Sangli Municipal Corporation stood first.

PCMC scored 38.93% and PMC 35.11% and Sangli municipal corporation topped with 41.26%.

Dr Vaishali Jadhav, assistant health officer of PMC, said the ranking of PMC a couple of years back was 25 and with lots of efforts it was brought to rank three last year.

PMC currently stands in third place but in the coming days, the performance will be improved. We are working on the same, she said.

Last year, Sangli Municipal Corporation stood first, Kolhapur Municipal Corporation second and PMC secured third place, while PCMC ranked fifth.

PCMCs medical department has been delivering high-quality treatment services to its citizens. The successful implementation of various health programmes by the central and state governments has significantly contributed to its high ranking, said Shekhar Singh, municipal commissioner, PCMC.

The survey evaluated various health initiatives such as child health, family planning, dengue, HIV, and other diseases. It also considered the financial allocation for medical services by the municipal corporations and the quality of treatment provided in hospitals and clinics.

Dr Laxman Gophane, health officer of PCMC, said, To ensure that the citys residents have access to high-quality medical facilities and that poor patients receive free treatment, the municipal corporation has opened several hospitals. Municipal doctors and staff provide excellent services at free and affordable rates, and these facilities are being expanded as needed. The services provided by municipal hospitals have resulted in high levels of satisfaction among patients and citizens.
TN NEET UG Counselling 2024: The online counselling process for admission to 85 per cent undergraduate medical seats in Tamil Nadu is expected to begin soon. The National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the final result of NEET UG and next, state and central counselling agencies will begin the application process on their respective websites. Tamil Nadu NEET UG counselling is expected to begin soon on tnmedicalselection.net (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

In Tamil Nadu, NEET UG counselling is carried out by the Selection Committee of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER). Candidates have to apply online with their details on tnmedicalselection.net.

In a recent notification, the DMER said that in order to expedite the counselling process, the applicants should be ready with their documents-

NEET UG admit card

NEET UG scorecard

Class 10 marks sheet

Class 11 marks sheet

Class 12 marks sheet

Transfer certificate (after Class 12)

Certificate proof of studying Class 6-12 in Tamil Nadu, if applicable

Community certificate

Nativity certificate, if applicable

Documents of parents in the case of candidates claiming Tamil Nadu nativity for communal reservation.

Community certificate of one parent obtained from revenue authority in Tamil Nadu

Bonafide certificate from Chief Educational Officer for those who have studied Classes 6-12 in Tamil Nadu government schools (for 7.5 per cent special reservation (those who passed HSC in 2022-23 and 23-24 do not need this certificate).

Income certificate of the parent for claiming fee exemption.

Eligibility certificate issued by Dr MGR University, Guindy, Chennai for candidates of boards other than the Tamil Nadu state board, CBSE and CISCE.

Court orders, if any.

Additional supporting documents, if any.

If a candidate is claiming a Management quota minority seat, the following documents will be required:

Linguistic minority certificate (Telugu and Malayalam)

Christian minority certificate.

For candidates claiming management quota NRI status:

NRI status of the financial supporter issued by the Indian Embassy of the respective country under their seal or OCI card

Certificate of relationship between the NRI financial supporter and the candidate issued by the competent revenue authority

Indian Passport of the NRI financial supporter.

NRE (Non-Resident External) bank account passbook of the financial supporter.

TN NEET UG Counselling 2024: Top medical colleges

Eight medical colleges of Tamil Nadu are among the top 100 in the country as per the NIRF 2023 rankings. These are:

Christian Medical College, Vellore (NIRF rank 3)

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore (6)

Madras Medical College & Government General Hospital, Chennai (11)

Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai (18)

S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai (20)

Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai (21)

PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Coimbatore (40)

Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam (48).
Virginias two biggest state hospitals, centerpieces of a network deemed by a 2014 law as last resorts for people in a mental health crisis, have instead become arms of the state court system.

More than 90% of the patients at Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg and Central State Hospital just outside Petersburg are there because of court proceedings, data from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services show.

More than half are there under competency restoration orders  that is, because judges believed their mental state meant they would be unable to understand the charges they faced and what could happen to them during a trial and so could not defend themselves.

Nearly a third of those in competency restoration cases are there on misdemeanor charges such as trespassing, disorderly conduct, vandalism or public drunkenness  the kind of charges that most often land people with mental illness in court. Such cases are often disposed of with a suspended sentence or one that says the month or so they spent in jail between arrest and conviction was sufficient time behind bars.

The rest of the court-ordered cases are there because a judge found the individuals not guilty by reason of insanity. This is a finding that their mental illness was so severe that they did not understand what they did or that it was wrong. If people in such cases need inpatient treatment or if the judge thinks they could be violent or at risk of not staying with the medications and therapy that allows them to live more or less independently in the community, theres no other place for them but a state hospital.

Forensic patients  those in a hospital for competency restoration or because of an insanity acquittal  stay a lot longer on average than patients who arrive at a state bed of last resort on a civil commitment after an incident that did not involve a criminal arrest.

So, someone, say, has schizophrenia ... and goes the civil side, they might remain there for six days because they've been stabilized enough to continue that treatment," Angela Torres, senior director of forensic services at the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

"You might come to Eastern State Hospital and stay for 90 days for the same mental illness ... maybe same kind of similar symptoms, but because the focus is on [competency] restoration, it might end up being longer because there's other things for them to learn, she said.

The average length of stay for competency restoration has grown over the past decade from about 65 days to more than 106.

People in a state mental hospital because of a ruling of not guilty by reason of insanity stay on average for four years, but much longer stays  of 12 to 15 years  are not unknown.

Sharp recent increases in court-ordered restoration cases and the longer stays for those patients and individuals acquitted on grounds of insanity are crowding out the people who the "bed of last resort" law aimed to treat. At Eastern and Central State, admissions have plunged for people in a mental health crisis so severe that they are basically at imminent risk of harming themselves or others.

Prioritized admission

"Forensic patients cannot go to a private hospital, so they must be prioritized for admission to state hospitals," Nelson Smith, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, told the Times-Dispatch.

He said "a skyrocketing forensic census" exacerbates the already-pressing challenge of finding safe space for people in mental health crisis "because beds for civil patients arent available."

In 2020, we admitted about 530 civil patients  last fiscal year, fiscal year 2023, we admitted 42," Daniel Herr, Eastern State Hospital CEO, told the Times-Dispatch. "And most of those were geriatric.

Eastern now has about 30 beds out of 302 available for civil patients to serve a region stretching from James City County north to the Northern Neck, east to the Atlantic and south to the state line, including the cities of Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach.

Responding to a person in crisis  someone, perhaps, who is threatening suicide or whose delusions are so extreme that they think a parent is the devil  but who is not arrested for his or her actions, sets off a scramble.

Weve got 80 hours; eight for an ECO [emergency custody order], 72 for the TDO[temporary detention order], Ryan Dudley director of crisis services at the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board, told the Times-Dispatch. He referred to the magistrate orders that are intended to help quickly move people who are at imminent risk of causing serious harm to themselves or others to a safe place for treatment and to be assessed if they need a longer hospitalization.

- "Forensic patients cannot go to a private hospital, so they must be prioritized for admission to state hospitals."  Nelson Smith, commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

There may not be a bed at Eastern or Central. Ninety-four percent of Eastern's beds are occupied. By stretching resources, 101% of Central's official capacity is in use. As more than 90% of beds are taken by forensic patients, a person in crisis somewhere across an enormous swath of Virginia can be in an emergency room for all that time, instead of in a psychiatric unit, getting treatment.

They try, but its not the same, Dudley said.

At the end of that 80 days, the idea is for a special magistrate to hold a hearing to consider whether a hopefully more stable person needs more time in hospital. But weve had bedside hearings, where a special judge will decide whether they need involuntary commitment, he said.

An involuntary commitment, or even a patients voluntary agreement that he or she needs inpatient care, can trigger still more scrambling. The crisis team at a community service board then has to find space in a hospital  any hospital, public or private. That can mean heading across the state; in some instances patients go as far as the state hospitals in Marion, in far Southwest Virginia, or to the one in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia.

I think weve sent maybe only three or four to Eastern, basically geriatrics, Dudley said. There are times people just end up back on the street.

Changes at state hospitals

Things have changed inside the two big state hospitals, too.

One of Eastern's two main buildings used to be reserved for geriatric patients. The other was designed for what two decades ago was a major shift in state hospitals mission: to focus on treatment of acute episodes of illness instead of long-term custodial care.

Warehousing patients in state hospitals had been the norm for mental hospitals across the United States pretty much since Virginia became the first place in America to set up Eastern's forebear in 1773, the first such public hospital in what would become the United States.

But this entire building is now called pretrial forensics," Melissa Bennett, director of psychology at Eastern, told the Times-Dispatch. "So that's morphed just even in the decade I've been here from having two units of pretrial to now having seven."

Eastern State's other building has four different housing units. The building was meant for frail, geriatric patients, but three of its pods now house forensic patients found not guilty by reason of insanity.

That leaves just a single 40-bed geriatric unit, Bennett said.

Even in that geriatric unit, roughly 60% of patients were admitted for competency restoration or because of an insanity acquittal. Some are there because a court ruled they were unrestorably incompetent, typically because of dementia or intellectual disability, Bennett said.

There are other signs of change.

There's a new fence around Eastern, said Herr.

"This building was really built as much like a residential treatment program as a psychiatric hospital  and it was really focused on psychosocial rehabilitation," he said, referring to the combination of counseling and education to develop emotional, cognitive and social skills that is a primary path to recovering from a crisis.

"But if you think of a weight room or a sewing room or an arts and crafts room for civil individuals who are stable  they're very, very different risks than folks who come from jail, many of them with significant charges," he said.

The hospital just isn't designed for people who act out violently, as recently arrested individuals sent there for competency restoration can do.

"It's not sturdy enough for the population we serve. It has risks built into the environment," Herr said. "Our treatment space was really not designed for individuals whose focus is restoration to competency."

Staggered schedule

Keeping everyone safe, especially the frailest, elderly patients in that one 40-bed housing pod, isn't easy.

To kind of address that, what we have done is utilized a staggered timing schedule so that the various populations do not overlap," Bennett said.

"In the morning time in our other building, our geriatric patients receive their time on the psychosocial model within that building, and they are kept separate from the other three units," which house patients sent to Eastern after a judge found them not guilty of a crime by reason of insanity, she said.

The geriatric unit patients have programming in their pod. The not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity patients in the other units have to travel to the building where the competency restoration patients live for their programs, Bennett said.

Tracking the news THE BACKGROUND: A 2014 state law deemed state hospitals the last resort for Virginians in a mental health crisis. WHAT'S NEW: Referrals from court cases are taking up 90% of the beds at state mental hospitals in Williamsburg and in Dinwiddie County. WHAT'S NEXT: Trying to increase alternatives and avoid criminalizing mental illness is a target of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's campaign to transform the state's overwhelmed mental health system.

"Our restoration patients, by and large, are being programmed on a secure hallway where it has secure doors on either end," she said.

Because they don't all come at once  there are 125 restoration patients at the moment  managing the traffic is a new challenge. Each group of about 22 comes out to that secured hallway at different times during the day.

"It is very limited space to try to address more treatment options there, Bennet said.

Those competency restoration patients have a lot of work to do in the hospital.

They're working on acute psychiatric stabilization "getting the psychiatric treatment they need and then shifting over to really focusing on that restoration component," said Andrew Osborn, who as pretrial forensic coordinator at Eastern oversees this part of the hospital's work.

For patients and staff that means "really focusing on, one, let's treat the mental health. Two, let's get them ready for court for the evaluation," he said.

Doing the competency restoration work for some defendants is fairly straightforward. It can still take many weeks getting them ready to talk to their attorney and to be in shape for what in many cases is a simple bench trial or a judge's approval of a plea bargain.

"Other defendants may have murder charges," Osborn said. "They may have to navigate an adversarial trial process that could be lengthy, that could take months. They may have to see unpleasant evidence presented in court, and they have to be able to sort of maintain their composure."

He added: "Their treatment stuff has to be addressed too  and then they're doing all that extra work on top of it."

But spending months in a hospital doing that can mean more time incarcerated than a criminal charge entails.

Torres said: "People who otherwise would have gotten time served, or bonded out immediately, are staying within the criminal justice system and the behavioral health system for months on end."

"We treat them, we do a great job of treating them, they return back to jail," she said. "They often get time served, and they are discharged back to a situation that they were in before, and we see this cycle again occurring."

Competency cases soar

Admissions for competency restoration have ballooned, even as the "bed of last resort" law took hold. The statewide total has climbed from 523 the year the law took effect, to 971 in fiscal year 2022 and 1,240 in fiscal year 2023.

"Everyone is kind of in agreement: We don't feel comfortable letting this person with mental illness out on the streets," Torres said. "We're hearing this from judges. We're hearing this from defense attorneys. We're hearing this from the prosecution, all these players and stakeholders that have a concern."

There are alternatives, though.

"Some localities have more money, more funds than others. Some localities have pretrial services, others do not," Torres said. She referred to agencies that advise judges on whether a newly arrested person needs to be jailed or can post a bond or can be released on their own recognizance. The pretrial agencies are responsible for monitoring defendants between arrest and trial if they are not in jail.

"Some localities have commonwealth's attorneys who don't prosecute all misdemeanor crimes," she said. "Some localities don't have the local CSB [community service board] in the jail, watching for persons with severe mental illness coming into the jail and immediately starting to address diversion needs."

Newport News' pretrial service agency works with the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board, the courts, prosecutors and Sheriff Gabe Morgan to divert people whose mental health crisis led to a charge on a minor offense  trespassing or vandalism, for instance.

The aim is to find safe places to stay and treatment in the community instead of a stay in jail  where community services board regularly posts staff as well to treat inmates  or a trip for a lengthy state hospital stay.

Youngkin's goal

But while that approach is helping in Newport News, others find it isn't easy. Trying to find a way to increase alternatives and avoid criminalizing mental illness is the next big target of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's "Right Help Right Now" campaign to transform the state's overwhelmed mental health system.

When "there's no place for them to divert to, the courts have said, 'Well, we're not doing that because we're going to just release someone in the street, they're going to get a new charge, or they're going to be homeless,'" said Osborn.

"Courts have started pulling back and they're saying they're getting a little more nervous about diverting," he said. That's one reason the number of competency restoration admissions is rising.

The challenge is that it takes a lot of work to divert some, even when they are only charged with a misdemeanor, he said.

"And then when it's not successful within 24 to 48 hours, the courts say, 'Well, why are we doing this? We're spinning our wheels,' and ... they're back in jail," he said.

Staffing shortages

Another challenge is plaguing the whole mental health system: not enough staff.

"It's not just restoring someone so they can legally participate. It's then the wait time for an evaluator to come and see them," said Bennett. "So when the treatment team says, 'We think this person is ready,' ... it may be some time before a licensed clinical psychologist can get to them."

The same applies for patients in a hospital after a judge found them not guilty by reason of insanity.

Eastern has three licensed psychologists on staff, and "I've had a psychologist position open for 19 months at this point, and I'm just not able to recruit for that position," Bennett said.

They need to sign off on the hospital counselors' competency restoration work and are responsible for the 112 patients who are there because of an acquittal on grounds of insanity.

"There's three dedicated psychologists  that's it  for 112 people, where it requires multiple forensic reports, multiple reports to the court," Bennett said. "Lots of oversight. They're having to write the reports and do the treatment. ... That's what takes so long."

An ideal caseload for a psychologist is 12 to 15 patients acquitted on grounds of insanity, but at Eastern, the three psychologists have 20 to 30 apiece  plus handling the reviews of the counselors handling restoration cases.

A higher bar

The aim of a not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity case is to get an individual in shape to leave the hospital, but the bar is much higher for them than for civil patients.

People who go to a state hospital bed of last resort under a temporary detention order or involuntary commitment order can leave when they no longer are a threat to themselves or others. In some cases, it is up to the hospital and a community mental health services board to make sure they have a place to go and the support they need to stay that way.

For any patient not guilty by reason of insanity, release means a formal finding that they are psychiatrically stable, that there are services in the community for them, that everyone  hospital staff, community services board and judge  are reasonably sure that they're going to comply with specific recommendations for where and how to live in a community. Those are like being on probation, but can be far more sweeping, Hali Griswold, Eastern's coordinator for patients not guilty by reason of insanity, told the Times-Dispatch.

But above all, the biggest challenge is to show a patient poses no undue risk to public safety, she said.

"As an NGRI [not guilty by reason of insanity patient] you have to get through multiple vetting processes to actually go in front of the judge and even have that heard," she said.

The basic process involves moving through a program of gradually expanded privileges, from moving around the hospital with an escort to making short, escorted day trips out of the hospital to overnight stays and then longer periods in the community.

A patient's treatment team writes plans for each step that can run for dozens of pages. The team then watches carefully to see how a patient does. "This isn't something where you were at a stage for 10 days, you're ready, let's go to the next one. ... You're talking a months-long process," said Bennett.

There's a hospital committee that reviews those plans. A state committee also reviews plans for discharge before those plans get to a judge.

In the end, for the state employees trying to help their struggling fellow Virginians, the issue is clear:

"What we're seeing," said Torres, "is that the criminal justice system is being used as a way of connecting people with treatment more than ever before."
CAT 2024 Notification: Common Admission Test (CAT) 2024 will be conducted on November 24, in three shifts, and registrations for the exam will commence on August 1, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta has announced. CAT 2024 notification: IIM Calcutta will begin registration on August 1 (Getty Images/iStockphoto/ Representational image)

IIM Calcutta will administer the 2024 session of the B-school admission test.

The detailed notification for CAT 2024 will be issued soon on iimcat.ac.in, it added.

IIM CAT 2024: Check important dates

As per the schedule, the registration window will be opened from August 1 (10 am) to September 13 (5 pm).

The admit cards will be issued on November 5 and the test will be conducted on November 24.

The result of CAT 2024 will be declared in the second week of January.

CAT 2024 eligibility criteria

The detailed notification of CAT 2024 will mention the eligibility criteria for the test. As per last year's information, candidates need a bachelor's degree with at least 50 per cent marks or equivalent CGPA (45 per cent for SC, ST and PwD) to apply for the test.

Candidates who are appearing for the final year of the qualifying examination and those who have completed the degree requirements and are awaiting results can also apply for the exam provisionally

CAT 2024 application fee

The application fee of CAT 2024 is 1,250 for SC, ST and PwD category candidates. For all others, the application fee is 2,500.

IIM Calcutta informed that this year, the admission test will be held in 170 cities and the candidates will be allowed to choose five cities as per their preference in the application from.

CAT is held at national-level for admission to postgraduate and fellow/doctorate level Business courses offered by IIMs. The exam is also used by several non-IIM institutions in their admission processes.

The detailed notification, eligibility criteria, exam pattern and other details will be uploaded on the CAT 2024 website soon.
Mumbai, Actor Sumona Chakravarti says she wants to explore characters ranging from an antagonist to an intelligence officer in her new creative journey. I want to play a hardcore villain: actor Sumona Chakravarti

The actor, known for TV serial "Bade Acche Lagte Hain" and sketch comedy and celebrity chat shows like "Comedy Nights with Kapil" and "The Kapil Sharma Show", said she is craving to do fiction.

I want to do hardcore action, a thriller or psychological thriller because I love watching crime and gore on digital . I would love to explore that. I would love to play a hardcore villain or an intelligence officer, the 36-year-old actor told PTI in an interview here.

Actors are never satisfied fully because we always want to do more and different work. Ive decided that I want to satiate my craving for fiction and different kinds of work. Theres a lot of good work happening on OTT. I hope people are open to exploring it with me, she said.

Going forward, Chakravarti said she would like to be part of projects in the same vein as acclaimed international shows such as Homeland, Fauda, and Killing Eve.

I like the role of the antagonist named Villanelle in Killing Eve, and the role played by Claire Danes in Homeland. These are really good shows. I also loved Kiran Raos film Laapataa Ladies and Konkona Sen Sharmas in Lust Stories 2. Its the kind of work that I would love to do.

The actor is currently a participant in the reality stunt show Khatron Ke Khiladi season 14.

Filming the Rohit Shetty-hosted series in Romania was a difficult and painful experience, she said.

It has been a rollercoaster ride. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience because of the kind of stunts that one gets to perform and experience that youll not get to do even in Bollywood or Hollywood films. Every stunt was difficult. I dont think one can pay money and have this experience, Chakravarti added.

Khatron Ke Khiladi season 14, which started airing on Colors TV from Saturday, also features 11 other celebrity contestants who face their worst fears and perform a series of death-defying stunts under the supervision of the host to win the coveted title.

Shilpa Shinde, Asim Riaz, Krishna Shroff, Shalin Bhanot, Abhishek Kumar, Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia, Karan Veer Mehra, Kedar Aashish Mehrotraa, Aditi Sharma, Gashmeer Mahajani, and Niyati Fatnani are also part of the show.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Lazy Sunday

He shared a sneak peek by posting a candid click of himself lounging on a sofa, accompanied by a soft toy. And the picture was clicked by Katrina herself.

The photo, captured by Katrina, showcases Vicky flashing a warm smile, dressed in a comfortable grey attire.

Sharing the picture, he wrote, Lazy Sunday and wife ke andaar ka photographer jaag gaya (photography skills of my wife are emerging). He shared the picture with the song, Tain Tain To To.

Katrina shares pics

On Thursday, Katrina took to Instagram to share a glimpse of her 'calm' and peaceful stay at an 'award-winning medical health resort' in Austria. The actor shared a few solo photos from Mayrlife Altaussee, as well as some shots of the scenic lake-side property. She also gave a peek at the healthy food she had during her stay. As per the resort's website, they provide anti-inflammation and anti-ageing treatments, among others.

More about their travel

Katrina was recently in Europe with Vicky Kaushal, but it is not clear when she visited the health resort in Austria. The actor wrote alongside the undated pictures, "Had the most incredible stay here, it allows everything to pause for a moment and enter into the most peaceful space, the daily walk in the forest surrounding the lake is indescribable, moments of incredible peace and calm. The genuine care of warmth and holistic knowledge of the entire team and all the staff and so many incredible therapists who were astounding in there knowledge will definitely come again. A truly incredible time!

After dating for some time, Katrina and Vicky tied the knot on December 9, 2021, at Six Senses Resort, Fort Barwara, in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan.

On the work front

Vicky was last seen in Bad Newz. The quirky film takes a hilarious detour from the usual rom-com tropes, diving into the chaotic world of heteropaternal superfecundation. The film also stars Ammy Virk, Triptii Dimri, and Neha Dhupia. Directed by Anand Tiwari, the film is co-produced by Anand, Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta and Amritpal Singh Bindra. The film will hit theatres on July 19. He will next be seen in Chhava.

Meanwhile, Katrina was last seen in Sriram Raghavan's film Merry Christmas opposite Vijay Sethupathi. She has Farhan Akhtar's upcoming film Jee Le Zara along with Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra in the pipeline.
Were you aware about Angelina Jolie's hitman saga? The Hollywood actress had once made a shocking revelation that she hired a hitman to plan her own murder while she was struggling with suicidal thoughts. Angelina Jolie said she thought that her loved ones would have had an easier time dealing with her demise if she had been killed rather than taking her own life.(Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

The 49-year-old Oscar winner, who is currently in the midst of a contentious divorce with 60-year-old Brad Pitt, initially disclosed in 2001 that she had a conversation with the hitman at the age of 22.

This is going to sound insane, but there was a time I was going to hire somebody to kill me, she confessed to IMDB.

According to her, she thought that her loved ones would have had an easier time dealing with her demise if she had been killed rather than taking her own life.

In another interview with The Face in 2003, she claimed that finding a hitman in New York is not that difficult. As crazy as it may sound, Jolie said she believes that many younger individuals contemplate suicide.

I was very aware that so many people around me, like my mother, would feel as though they didnt give enough or do enough, if Id taken my own life. So my solution to that was if someone else had taken my life  like in a robbery  then it would be murder and it wouldnt be that anyone would feel theyd let me down, she stated.

Hitman gave ultimate response to Jolie

The hitman, however, gave an unexpected response to the actress, asking if he could think about it and call her back in two months. Following this, she said: Something changed in my life and I figured Id stick it out.

Reflecting on her darker times, Jolie told 60 Minutes in 2011, I didn't die young, so Im very lucky. There are other artists and people who didnt survive certain things.

I think people can imagine that I did the most dangerous and I did the worst, she remarked.

Also Read: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's daughter Shiloh stays dedicated to dancing, choreographer says

Pitt and Jolie's marriage fell apart

Pitt and his ex-wife Jennifer Aniston announced their divorce in 2005. Following this, Pitt and Jolie started dating each other.

The duo did not exchanged vows for years and remained single, despite having several adopted and biological children together. They finally got engaged in 2012 and married in 2014.

The Mr. And Mrs. Smith costars didn't file for divorce for two years. Jolie took the legal step ahead in 2016. They both officially proclaimed themselves single in 2019. Pitt is now seeing 35-year-old Ines de Ramon.
SAN DIEGO  The Dexter universe is expanding, with everyone's favorite serial killer coming back from the dead. New 'Dexter' sequel starring Michael C. Hall announced at Comic-Con

At San Diego Comic-Con, the Dexter team, led by showrunner Clyde Phillips, announced that audiences would see more of the character in Dexter: Resurrection, a new sequel series. It will pick up where fellow franchise sequel Dexter: New Blood left off with its main character dead, prompting many fans to believe any future sequels would be impossible.

Michael C. Hall, who started playing the titular character in 2006, will reprise his role. He made a surprise appearance at the Comic-Con panel, shocking fans even before they heard the news of the new series. Phillips didn't disclose too many details, but somehow, the Resurrection will revive its lead.

The announcement came during the promotion of Dexter: Original Sin, a prequel series that explores the character as a younger man, played by Patrick Gibson.

This weekend there were a lot of surprises," Gibson said in an interview with The Associated Press. They set up the characters in season one to have such rich inner life and so much complexity that even with eight seasons, theres so much more to explore.

At the panel, the creatives behind the franchise also announced that Hall is the narrator of the Original Sin series, where he will divulge the inner thoughts of young Dexter. The prequel series is set to release in December 2024 and Dexter: Resurrection will start filming in January for a summer 2025 release.

Fans at the packed venue Friday exploded with cheers when the panel made the surprise announcement.

Original Sin also stars Christian Slater, who said he was obsessed with the original series and was looking forward to exploring more of the story that the previous series didn't get to examine.

To see Dexter becoming Dexter  it's really cool to see how Clyde Phillips has handled that and the writing is just so good and so rich, it's fun to do, Slater told to The Associated Press.

Dexter premiered in 2006 and ran for eight seasons, earning Hall five drama actor Emmy nominations. It quickly became one of Showtime's most successful series and gained a cult-like following.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Marvel Studios returned to San Diego Comic-Con with dancing Deadpool variants and a choir for a panel that included news about the next two Avengers films and surprise guests, including Harrison Ford and Robert Downey Jr. Robert is returning to Marvel's films, but not as Iron Man. (Also Read: Chris Hemsworth gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; Robert Downey Jr roasts him with Avengers cast's help) Robert Downey Jr will play Dr Doom in the next two Avengers movies

Downey is Dr Doom

Robert will play the villain Victor Von Doom, or Doctor Doom, in at least one of the upcoming Avengers movies. Downey kicked off Marvel's movie successes with Iron Man and played the popular character in nine films, but on Saturday appeared wearing Dr Doom's mask and a green cloak. New mask, same task," Downey said to frenzied cheers.

The session included no mention of Jonathan Majors, who played the villain Kang the Conqueror and was previously a major part of Marvels Avengers plans. The actor was fired by the studio after he was convicted in December of assaulting a former girlfriend. He was sentenced to a yearlong counselling program in April and avoided jail time.

Russo Brothers return

Not only Robert Downey Jr, but his Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame directors Anthony and Joe Russo aka Russo Brothers will also return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They will direct the next two Avengers movies  Doomsday and Secret Wars. The brothers guided the Avengers franchise through its sprawling storyline capped by Avengers: Endgame in 2019 that included the death of Downey's Tony Stark/Iron Man character.

When we directed Avengers: Endgame, Joe and I truly believed that it was the end of the road for us in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because we had put all of our passion, our love, our imagination into The Winter Soldier, into Civil War, into Infinity War, climaxing all of it with Avengers: Endgame, Anthony Russo said. That four movie run was incredible and it left us creatively spent with all of our emotions on the film. In the time since, through a very special story, Joe and I have come to potentially see a road forward with you.

They called Secret Wars the biggest story that Marvel Comics ever told, and Joe said it was the first comic book run he read as a child that made him fall in love with comics.

Captain America's villain reveal

The cast of Captain America: Brave New World  Giancarlo Esposito, Tim Blake Nelson, Danny Ramirez and Anthony Mackie  joined the stage first and teased details about the upcoming film. Giancarlo revealed that he will be playing the villain, Seth Voelker, also known as Sidewinder.

The cast then stepped aside to share a scene from the movie on the big screen, which revealed that President Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross, played by Harrison Ford, is hoping to rebuild the Avengers with Mackies Sam Wilson. It also showed Fords character transform into the Red Hulk. Ford joined the panel after fans were treated to clips from the movie and flexed his muscles to the roaring crowd.

Thunderbolts reveal

The cast and director of Thunderbolts also surprised fans with a short clip from the movie. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan and David Harbour (in full costume and speaking in character as the Red Guardian at first) stormed the stage and shared some more details about their characters. The film is slated to be released in May 2025.

Fantastic Four title reveal

The final film teased at the panel was The Fantastic Four, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. The movie will begin filming on Tuesday in London, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige said.

He said the film will hit theatres in almost exactly one year in July 2025. Following a video director Matt Shakman created specifically for Comic-Con that featured the cast in full 60s glory, he and Kevin revealed the official title of the film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Actor Akanksha Pandey, known for her roles in the OTT series Aashram (2020) and Choona (2023), says shifting from her hometown Mirzapur to Lucknow helped her break into the industry, but eventually moving to Mumbai has led to her landing central characters and lead roles she has been seeking. Akanksha Pandey

After completing mechanical engineering in Varanasi, I entered a beauty pageant to get into acting. I left my teaching job, moved to Lucknow, and my first project was as a crowd artist in superstar Rajinikanths film Petta (2019). Luckily, I got a scene (Bajrang Dal V-day party) that went viral, leading to many memes. I even worked as a background dancer for Jabariya Jodi (2019), says the actor during her visit to the city for the shoot of the film Gulaabi Reveri with actor Santosh Shukla.

She got a role in Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020), but the OTT series Aashram changed things for her. I shot several good projects here, but the problem was production teams in Mumbai rarely offer primary characters to local artists. So, last year I moved, and things started working for me. I got filmmaker Neeraj Pandeys OTT show Hack: Crimes Online, which gave me a good role. Luckily, work brought me back to Uttar Pradesh, but now the roles were bigger, says Pandey.

This year, she worked on several noted projects. I shot for the feature Raid-2, which has a small role, but the project is very big! I did Waham, which stars actors Vijay Raaz and Adhyayan Suman, an independent film with Marathi actor Subhodh Bhave where I play his wife, I play the lead in the feature film Banaras Ban, and a cop in the film Bhagwat starring Arshad Warsi that we shot in Prayagraj. Besides, I have also shot Pushpendra Nath Misras series Mr Saxena, which was shot in Bhopal, she adds.

On a concluding note, she says, I have not attended any acting school, nor have I done plays. I have learned in front of the camera itself, and from crowd artist to playing lead in two films, it has been work that has fetched me better work. I believe my acting, command of language due to hailing from the Hindi heartland, and being in the right place at the right time worked for me. I am just focusing on working and working as you dont know which one will click!
"New mask, same task". Prior to Robert Downey Jr's supervillain era, a look at his best grey roles(Photos: X)

Robert Downey Jr unveiled his 2.0 tenure with Marvel at the San Diego Comic-con 2024. The Iron Man veteran will be returning to MCU, however, not as Tony Stark. RDJ will be taking on the brand new identity of supervillain Doctor Doom. The news was evidently kept well under-wraps considering the gobsmacked, raucous response that erupted at Hall H as soon as Robert uncloaked himself.

Marvel is currently working on a fifth Avengers installment, previously titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, now rebranded to Avengers: Doomsday, set for a May 2026 release. This will be followed by a sixth Avengers film, titled Avengers: Secret War, set for a May 2027 release.

With some time to kill before Marvel fans are treated to RDJ's supervillain era, here's revisiting the actor's best grey roles  some acclaimed, some underrated.

Oppenheimer

Easily among his best, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer swept the awards circuit clean, fair and square. As titular lead Cillian Murphy and Nolan dominated the Best Actor and Best Director categories, Robert followed suit with his clean-sweep of the Best Supporting Actor category. He essayed the role of Lewis Strauss, the former Acting United States Secretary of Commerce, a key decision-maker in the development of nuclear weapons and overall nuclear energy policy. Robert skillfully took on the role, going head to head with Murphy's equally committed and conflicted J Robert Oppenheimer.

A BAFTA, a Golden Globe, a SAG and, his first-ever Oscar  Robert's commitment to playing Strauss won him almost every major accolade up for grabs and is now easily counted among his career-best performances.

The Judge

Robert has a penchant for playing a jerk on screen and he does it rather well. What differentiates the veteran actor and his legacy however, is the commendable degrees of complexity his characters tend to dabble with even as they endlessly straddle the line between black and white. David Dobkin's The Judge (2014), makes for a splendid specimen of this. Robert plays Hank, a successful Chicago lawyer whose return to his hometown prompts a series of domino effects, finally impacting his equation with his estranged father, 'the judge'.

Zodiac

David Fincher helming a serial killer flick? Say less. If having Robert Downey Jr on board was not enough, Zodiac (2007) also stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Mark Ruffalo. Robert effectively gets into the skin of the annoyingly overconfident and dismissive newspaper reporter Paul Avery. Grappling with alcoholism as well as direct threats from the Zodiac killer, Robert's Paul hasn't gotten nearly enough credit as it should from mainstream cinephiles.

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

Shane Black's Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005) was among the first few films Robert picked up post his much publicised rehab stint. He plays Harry Lockhart, a crook whose confession mistaken as stellar method acting, lands him a Hollywood screen test. To be clear, the film isn't all that much. But Robert's skillful dialogue delivery against the grim yet witty plot, makes it among his more nuanced performances. If you're a true and blue RDJ fan, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang will prove to be a hidden gem.

In Dreams

Robert straight up plays a serial killer, Vivian Thompson, in Neil Jordan's 1999 psychological thriller In Dreams. Seriously underrated and not even that well known, In Dreams may be a little too melodramatic for some. However, it thoroughly showcases Robert's range almost leaving one wondering why he has seemingly kept his distance from all out negative characters right up until Marvel's latest plot twist.

Are you excited for Robert's supervillain era?
In another instance of political murder in Tamil Nadu, a ward secretary from the opposition party AIADMK was hacked to death on Sunday in Irulanchanthai village in Puducherry union territory, news agency ANI reported. AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswamy has been blaming the ruling DMK for failing law and order in the state. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The victim named Padmanabhan (47) was returning home with his friend in a two-wheeler after attending a wedding in his town. A car intercepted him and allegedly knocked him down. Immediately, a five-member gang hacked Padmanabhan using sharp-edged weapons on the spot. The gang fled the scene immediately and the victim died on spot. Police say his friend fled the scene immediately.

PK Sajith, inspector at Bahour Police Station told ANI that two persons named Murali and Sridhar from Navaneetha Nagar area have been detained for questioning. Suspects from the Cuddalore district may have committed this murder due to enmity, said the inspector.

The body of Padmanaban was sent to the government general hospital in Puducherry for post-mortem. Police have registered a case, and two persons were taken into custody for interrogation.

Earlier in the day, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswamy lambasted the ruling DMK for failing law and order situation in the state. He alleged that there is no security for anyone in the state."Not a day goes by without murders taking place in Tamil Nadu. In Tamil Nadu, there is no security for anyone--from political party leaders to common women. The DMK is in power," said Palaniswamy while addressing the media at Thoothukudi airport.

He also alleged that the DMK is using Tamil Nadu police as its campaign department. Giving numbers that 595 murders have been committed since January this year he said, "Law and order in Tamil Nadu is completely broken. Murders and robberies are taking place every day."

The opposition parties in the state have been blaming the ruling DMK for deteriorating law and order and its failure to protect political leaders from threats.

Recently, Tirunelveli district president of the Congress party Jayakumar and state president of Bahujan Samaj party K Armstrong were brutally murdered. A senior functionary of Tamil nationalist Naam Tamilar Katchi was hacked to death on July 16 by an unidentified gang in Madurai due to alleged personal rivalry.

The Tamil Nadu government transferred the Chennai police commissioner and appointed IPS officer Arun as the new head of city police. The new city commissioner had promised to deal with history sheeters in a way that they can understand.

State police have arrested 20 persons so far about Armstrong's murder on July 5. A key accused in the case, history-sheeter named Thiruvengadam, was shot dead by the police in an encounter on July 14.

The police claimed that he was taken to the spot to recover weapons related to the case, but the accused tried to flee and allegedly opened fire at police personnel. Opposition parties and Dalit outfits have been alleging that the real culprits behind the murder have not been arrested so far.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
New Delhi BSF personnel sent to Jammu

The government has ordered to two battalions of the Border Security Force, comprising more than 2,000 personnel to move to the terror-hit Jammu region, a decision that comes in the aftermath of a spate of attacks in the sensitive area with dense forest and mountainous terrain making it vulnerable to attacks by terrorists.

Officials aware of the matter on Saturday said that the movement of the 2000 personnel, who are currently stationed in Odisha, is one of the largest deployments in J&K in the recent months.

Though officials did not share the date when the additional reinforcements would be moved, a senior officer, aware of the matter, said, The order has been issued. This will be a large convoy and will be taken under strict security protocol as per procedure. The additional personnel are likely to be extracted and posted to Jammu later this week, the officials added.

The BSF guards more than 2,289km of the international boundary that runs along Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The two battalions are currently deployed in Odishas Malkangiri and Koraput regions along with other battalions as part of the anti-Naxal operations. While the two battalions were set to be transferred to Kanker and Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh for anti-Naxal operations, the decision to move them instead to Jammu has been taken in the backdrop of recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and the meeting of chiefs of all forces involved in J&K security operations such as CRPF, BSF, Army, J&K police, and top officers of the Intelligence Bureau last Saturday, the officials said.

At least 25 people including 15 security force personnel have been killed in terror attacks in a series of terror attacks in Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Udhampur, Kathua and Doda districts this year. At least 6 terrorists have also been killed in gunfights. The Pakistan-backed terrorists have also attacked village volunteer guards.

In the latest terror attack reported from Kashmirs Kupwara district on Saturday, a soldier and a Pakistani intruder were killed in a gunfight close to the Line of Control (LoC), with some reports suggesting the role of Pakistans Border Action Team (BAT) in the infiltration attempt.

On July 18, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in view of the spate of attacks in the Jammur region. According to officials, the Prime Minister received a comprehensive overview of the ongoing anti-terror operations and emphasised on deploying the full range of anti-terror capabilities. Officials said the Prime Minister had directed for a robust and coordinated response to potential threats.

The spate of terror attacks in Jammu has led the security forces to step up vigil along the Indo-Pakistan border in Jammu and identify the possible infiltration points, including possible use of cross border tunnels.

In the backdrop of such attacks in J&K, especially Jammu region, security forces in Jammu have stepped up vigil to search for possible tunnels that terrorists from across the border could be using to enter the region -- an exercise that is being followed strictly after the joint meeting of chiefs of security agencies last week.

On July 12, the J&K police, BSF and Punjab police had also held a similar meeting, during which it was decided to conduct checks along the Punjab border districts in areas such as Gurdaspur, which is close to Jammu. Officials had confirmed to HT last week that the possibility of foreign terrorists entering India from international border in Punjab was also discussed.

The possibility of foreign terrorists using tunnels along the Indo-Pakistan border in Punjab sector as Gurdaspur was also discussed. Sectors like Gurdaspur in Punjab are close to the Jammu region. BSF personnel keep watch for infiltration along the fence or even by tunnels. There is high alert at the border and vigil has been stepped up, a second official told HT last week.

On Friday night, BSF personnel along the Punjab border caught a Pakistan national who had crossed the border and entered India at the area adjacent to Ratankhurd village in Amritsar. The man, who was not armed, has been handed to the Punjab police and is being questioned jointly by different agencies.
LOS ANGELES  Before Merrily We Roll Along became one of the biggest hits on Broadway, Hotel Portofino star Mark Umbers was part of a previous cast that reexamined the show that flopped in 1981.

Convinced there was a hit inside a jumbled story, director Maria Friedman worked with composer Stephen Sondheim to iron things out.

The result  which premiered in London in 2012  starred Umbers as Franklin Shepard, a writer who abandons his composing career (and friends) to become a Hollywood movie producer. Told in reverse, the musical found its footing, Umbers says, when it cast older actors in the roles. In the original (which lasted 16 performances on Broadway), actors in their teens and 20s played the parts. That meant they didnt have the experience to understand what the older years were all about.

While working on the show, Umbers got to ask Sondheim questions about his characters motivation.

He was incredibly gracious and very kind to me about it, Umbers says. The role was loosely based on Sondheims life and I was kind of playing him in a weird sort of way.

At one point, Umbers played the piano as the character and I could see him in the background. I was so nervousand I messed up.

Sondheim didnt care. It was one of the great thrills of my career to meet him and talk with him. There were lots of emails.

The show was a hit in London, transferred to a larger theater and was eventually filmed for posterity.

When Friedman decided to do the show in New York (with Jonathan Groff in Umbers role), she introduced her British and American casts. Groff kept in touch throughout the experience. He was greatand amazing, Umbers says.

Never mind New York writers pretended the British production didnt exist. Some of us in London felt like we were being written out of America, which I understand, because it was a commercial hit.

Still, Umbers was in the room when where Merrilys revision happened.

The first sequence is set in Hollywood where hes the producer of rubbish, Umbers recalls. I couldnt get it; I was so uncomfortable in rehearsals. But once I knew what it was like to be that person, I realized he was part of a different culture.

Tapping into Hollywood types he had met throughout his career (including an agent who said, It must be amazing to be in a London theater where you get to meet the authors, even though he had been doing the classics, including Shakespeare), Umbers latched on to Franklin Shephard and his ilk.

Now thriving in Hotel Portofino (as the caddish Cecil), Umbers says hes longing for another play just to flex those muscles.

I remember doing a Nativity play when I was about 5 or something playing a shepherd with a towel around my head. There was a room full of people staring at me and I was so horrified I walked off the stage.

More theater, thankfully, followed. After roles in school plays, Umbers decided it was his career and looked to doing small-to-medium-sized filmsand they vanished. Now, hes writing the kind of films hed like to see.

Television  like Portofino  affords him the time to write.

The series, he says, is a great way to indulge his interest in character. You have tons of options. He can be a completely different character from one scene to the next.

Cecil, he figures, will stick around even though actor and character have nothing in common.

But I do understand where his sense of powerless comes from and what informs a lot of decisions he makes, the 51-year-old Umbers says. The world he was brought up to inherit has vanished and his wife is the one who owns the business. That leaves him very much at sea. Thats why hes constantly trying to reach for things that will give him some kind of relevance.

Not unlike a composer hoping to turn a flop into a hit.

Movies in a minute with film critic Bruce Miller Movies in a Minute: "Megalopolis" Movies in a Minute: "Transformers One" Movies in a Minute: "Speak No Evil" Movies in a Minute: "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" Movies in a Minute: "Reagan" Movies in a Minute: "Blink Twice" Movies in a Minute "Alien: Romulus" Movies in a Minute: "It Ends With Us" Movies in a Minute: "Trap" Movies in a Minute: "Deadpool & Wolverine" Movies in a Minute: "Twisters" Movies in a Minute "Maxxxine" Movies in a Minute "Despicable Me 4" Movies in a Minute "A Quiet Place: Day One" Movies in a Minute: "Thelma" Movies in a Minute: "Inside Out 2" Movies in a Minute "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" Movies in a Minute: "Jim Henson Idea Man Movies in a Minute: "Summer Camp" Movies in a Minute: "The Blue Angels" Movies in a Minute: "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" Movies in a Minute: "The Fall Guy" Movies in a Minute: "Challengers" Movies in a Minute: "Abigail" Movies in a Minute: "Civil War" Movies in a Minute: "Monkey Man" Movies in a Minute: "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" Movies in a Minute: "Late Night With the Devil" Movies in a Minute: "Snack Shack" Movies in a Minute: "Cabrini" Movies in a Minute "Dune: Part Two" Movies in a Minute: "Drive-Away Dolls" Movies in a Minute "Bob Marley: One Love" Movies in a Minute: "Lisa Frankenstein Movies in a Minute: The Greatest Night in Pop Movies in a Minute: "Poor Things" Movies in a Minute: Best Actress nominee Sandra Huller Movies in a Minute: "Mean Girls" Movies in a Minute: "Anyone But You" Movies in a Minute: "The Color Purple" Movies in a Minute: "The Iron Claw" Movies in a Minute: "Wonka" Movies in a Minute: "May December" Movies in a Minute: "Wish" Movies in a Minute: "Next Goal Wins" Movies in a Minute: "The Marvels" Movies in a Minute: "The Holdovers" Movies in a Minute: "Five Nights at Freddy's" Movies in a Minute "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" Movies in a Minute: "Killers of the Flower Moon" Movies in a Minute: "The Exorcist: Believer" Movies in a Minute: "Fair Play"
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday clarified that the central transfers to Karnataka have increased substantially. She added that there is a lot of misinformation regarding this in the state. Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman(Sansad TV)

Hitting out at the Siddaramaiah-led state government, Sitharaman said that they falsely keep saying that the Centre does not give Karnataka its due.

The government of today keeps telling people that, oh, the central government doesn't give Karnataka its due. Completely falseI am willing to answer, but it is the wrong advertisement that the current government in Karnataka keeps doing, which I am sorry is not helping anybody, let alone the central government. Even the people of Karnataka are not getting the factual information, Sitharaman said during a press conference.

Sitharaman drew a parallel between the previous UPA government's funds to Karnataka and the current NDA's dues.

Between 2004 and 2014, when the UPA government was in power in Delhi, Karnataka received only 81,791 crores over ten years. Between 2014 and 24, ten years under PM Modi, Karnataka received 2,95,818 crores. Grants in aid 60,779 crores under UPA, and in ten years under PM Modi 2,39,955 crores, she said.

Sitharaman's comment comes days after the Congress government in Karnataka expressed dissatisfaction with her budget presentation and said that the southern state had been ignored totally. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah also boycotted the NITI Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27, as a mark of protest against the "neglect" of the states demands in the Union Budget.

Meanwhile, Congress leader DK Shivakumar said that he was massively disappointed with the ignorance of the union government towards the state.

We have high respect for the finance minister and expect funds to finish the pending projects in the state. We expected her to protect the interests of the people of Karnataka. We are massively disappointed with the ignorance of the union government towards our state, he said.

(With inputs from ANI)
New Delhi, With only four states complying despite repeated reminders, the Centre is contemplating making it mandatory for states to enact floodplain zoning legislation if they want to access central flood management funds, officials have said. Centre pushes for mandatory floodplain zoning law as only 4 states comply

The four states that have enacted such legislations are: Manipur, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir.

A senior official said the Ministry of Jal Shakti has been in continuous communication with state governments, urging them to notify the Flood Plain Zoning Act and demarcate flood zones,

Recently, the Central Water Commission updated the Model Act, and the ministry plans to initiate another round of consultations with states, the official said.

The official said the ministry has proposed making the enactment of the Flood Plain Zoning Act a prerequisite for states to access funds under the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme .

"We are going for a Cabinet approval for the next phase of the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme. For that, now the condition for any State to access resources under the FMB will be that the state must have enacted the Flood Plain Zoning Act. So, you will not get money if you have not enacted the Flood Plain Zoning Act," the official said.

The official said the ministry has made several other efforts to address these issues.

"In May 2022, the Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation wrote to state Chief Secretaries, urging them to enact appropriate legislation. In a meeting in January 2023, the Secretary emphasized the importance of flood plain zoning for comprehensive flood management and minimizing flood damage," the official added.

"The Ministry of Jal Shakti has been persistently urging states to take action. However, the progress remains limited to a few states. Water management, including flood management, is a state subject under the Constitution. States need to take proactive measures in this regard," another official said.

The legislation provided guidelines for flood zoning authorities, surveys, delineation of flood plain areas, notification of flood plain limits, restrictions on flood plain use, and provisions for compensation and removal of obstructions.

Despite these comprehensive guidelines, many states are yet to take significant steps towards legislation and enforcement, the official said.

The official said even the states that have enforced the law are yet to fully implement it.

"Manipur enacted flood plain zoning legislation in 1978, but the demarcation of flood zones is yet to be done. Rajasthan also enacted legislation in the state; however, enforcement thereof is yet to be done," the official said.

Uttarakhand is one state which has enacted the law as well as undertaken some groundwork by demarcating different segments where development will take place only in regulated matter or will not take place at all.

"So, this way they have done. Uttarakhand is the only state. Then, based on some an NGT order, even Uttar Pradesh has done some demarcation on the flood plains," the official said.

Some states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have informed about difficulties in implementation of such a law due to large-flood affected areas and other states have yet not taken any action for enactment of a legislation, the official said.

Common constraints given by the states are issue of evacuation of people who are already occupying the floodplains, lack of alternative settlement due to constraints of flood, non-availability of high-resolution Digital Elevation Model for flood prone assessment studies and a lack of clarity on proper definition of flood plain.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Taking an aim at prime minister Narendra Modi over his proposed Ukraine visit, expected to coincide with the war-torn country's National Day (August 24), Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh on Sunday sought to know whether the prime minister would go to the ethnic conflict-hit Manipur state before or after his trip to the European nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (File Photo)

The Chief Minister of Manipur attends the NITI Aayog meeting in New Delhi presided over by the self-anointed non-biological PM. Then the Manipur CM attends a meeting of BJP CMs and Deputy CMs presided over by the same deity, Ramesh posted on X (formerly Twitter), sarcastically calling the prime minister a deity.

The simple question that the people of Manipur are asking is this: Did Shri N. Biren Singh meet with Shri Narendra Modi separately one-on-one and discuss the situation in Manipur, which started burning on the night of May 3rd 2023? Did Shri N Biren Singh invite Shri Narendra Modi to visit Manipur, either before or after His trip to Ukraine, he added.

The Congress has repeatedly criticised the PM for not visiting the state even as its continues to burn due to the conflict involving the Meitei and Kuki communities. PM Modi's BJP governs Manipur.

The Ukraine visit, if it takes place, would be the prime minister's first to the Volodymyr Zelensky-led country, which was attacked by Russia in February 2022. President Zelensky was among world leaders who congratulated PM Modi after the latter won a third consecutive term in office in June.

The maiden bilateral visit of the PM's third term was to Russia, which Zelensky described as a devastating blow to peace efforts.

The West has criticised India for continuing to purchase oil from Russia despite the Ukraine war. Also, India has repeatedly abstained from voting on resolutions against Russia in the United Nations.
Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee president, Ajendra Ajay, accused the Congress of spreading false information that 230 kg of gold was used in the Kedarnath Temple. He said that only 23 kg of gold was used, along with a 1,000 kg copper plate, and promised to release the jeweller's tax invoice to prove it. Swami Avimukteshwaranand, Shankaracharya of the Jyotish Peeth, claimed that 228 kg of gold was missing from Kedarnath, alleging a gold scam. (HT Photo)

The temple management has come under fire after allegations of gold scam in the Shiva temple. Earlier, on July 15, Swami Avimukteshwaranand, Shankaracharya of the Jyotish Peeth, claimed that 228 kg of gold was missing from Kedarnath, alleging a gold scam.

ALSO READ- Kedarnath Temple trust head hits back at Shankaracharya over 'gold scam' claim

Only 23 kg gold used, not 230 kg: Temple trust head

"We have been saying from the beginning that there was 23 kg of gold in the sanctum sanctorum of Kedarnath and a 1000 kg copper plate was installed in it, but some Congress leaders are spreading propaganda under the conspiracy that 230 kg gold was used in Kedarnath," Ajendra Ajay, the trust head, said.

ALSO READ- Kedarnath temple in Delhi? Furious Shankaracharya says This can't happen

Ajay accused Congress of spreading these rumors ahead of the upcoming by-elections in Kedarnath, calling the allegations baseless and politically motivated.

As the Assembly by-elections are to be held in Kedarnath, the Congress people are spreading such propaganda without any facts and evidence. Such unfortunate and condemnable allegations are being made by the Congress and its supporters only to create a sensation, he added.

ALSO READ- Bypoll results: INDIA bloc secures landslide win with 10 of 13 seats, BJP bags 2; independent 1

Kedarnath is one of the four sacred Hindu shrines of the Char Dham, along with Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.

In response to allegations of a 1.25 billion scam related to the gold plating of the sanctum sanctorum at Kedarnath temple, the Uttarakhand government last month formed a panel to investigate the matter.

The state's tourism, religion, and culture minister, Satpal Maharaj, has directed Harichandra Semwal, the secretary of culture and religious affairs, to form a high-level inquiry committee.

This committee, chaired by the Garhwal commissioner, will include technical experts and goldsmiths to thoroughly investigate the matter.
New Delhi, A court here has directed the Delhi Police to take legal action against a woman for registering a false rape case, saying the special privileges given to women should not be used as "sword" to settle personal scores. Delhi court directs police to take action against woman for false rape complaint

Additional Sessions Judge Shefali Barnala Tandon also said that such false allegations destroy the life, reputation and social standing of the accused.

The court was hearing a bail application of the accused.

Noting the facts of the case, the court said an FIR was registered against the man on July 14, but the next day the prosecutrix gave a statement to the magistrate stating she voluntarily went to a hotel with the accused, where they had consensual sexual relations.

After a fight with the accused, however, she became irritated, called the police, and made allegations of rape in a fit of rage, the court noted.

The prosecutrix stated the same facts before the court, it said in an order dated July 25 while granting bail to the man.

"The men of our country have equal rights and protection under the law as enshrined in the Constitution, however, special privilege is given to the women. But this special privilege and woman protecting laws should not be made a sword to settle scores or to satisfy ulterior motives, which is going rampant in the society," the court said.

"Allegations of rape are made on drop of a hat nowadays for many other reasons as observed by the Courts, day in and day out. This is one such case in hand. False rape allegations not only destroy life of the man named but also reputation and social standing of his family members at large," it added.

The court said rape is the most heinous and painful offence because it destroys the very soul of the victim as well as her body but the law against rape is being misused in some cases.

"The law has given the remedy of lodging a criminal complaint if a crime is committed against them but such a remedy should not be used as a tool to gratify the complainant's ulterior motive or to teach a lesson to the accused," it said.

"Both man and woman are two pillars of the society and are equal in every aspect, therefore, one should not overpower the other only on the basis of gender misuse," the court added.

It directed the city police to initiate appropriate legal action against the complainant for making a false complaint to the police out of anger and in the state of intoxication, because of which the man was incarcerated for around 10 days.

"The police is also advised not to act in haste in arresting the accused person in the cases where circumstances warrant some initial enquiry or investigation after writing due reasons as per law, since there cannot be any compensation sufficient to indemnify the innocent person for incarceration on the basis of false complaint," the court said.

It directed that a copy of the order be sent to the deputy commissioner of police concerned and said that a compliance report be filed within 10 days.

Releasing the man on bail, it directed him to furnish a bail bond and surety bond of 20,000 each.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
A bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled in Tokyos Edogawa ward on Sunday by external affairs minister S Jaishankar, who described the father of the nation as a global icon whose achievements have far outlived his own times. External affairs minister S Jaishankar speaks during the unveiling of Mahatma Gandhis bust in Tokyo on Sunday. (PTI)

Edogawa ward includes the Nishi-Kasai district, which is home to some 3,000 Indians. The area is also known as Little India. Jaishankar arrived in Japan on Sunday to attend a Quad foreign ministers meeting on Monday.

Edogawa ward and its mayor Takeshi Saito decided to build a relationship with India by having a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at a park that will be named after him.

In India, we think ofMahatma Gandhi as the father of our nation, understandably. But for the world, he is actually a global icon, Jaishankar said at the event held to unveil the bust.

It is important to have the statue in Tokyo because Gandhis achievements have far outlived his own times and become more important with the passage of time, and also because Gandhis message, through his life and work, is timeless, Jaishankar said.

What he taught us was important then, it is important even now, he added.

Noting that Edogawa ward is called Little India, Jaishankar said: I hope it becomes bigger, but this is a place where the Indian community in Tokyo lives and gathers in large numbers. And I cannot think of a more appropriate occasion and a better way of strengthening bonds between India and Japan than by this event.

Jaishankar added: We all know that without Mahatma Gandhi, our independence struggle would perhaps have taken much longer, gone a different direction, who knows.

But the independence of India actually decolonised the entire world, it was the starting point of a very momentous event. That when India became free, other parts of Asia became free, Africa became free, Latin America became free.

Indias progress towards becoming the fifth largest economy and the worlds shift towards multipolarity was all started as a result of what Gandhiji did in history, he said.

At a time when the world is seeing so much conflict, tension, polarisation and bloodshed, it is very important that Gandhijis message was that solutions do not come from a battlefield, that no era should be an era of war, Jaishankar said.

He also held up Gandhi as the original prophet of sustainable growth, saying the leader had conveyed an important message about sustainability, climate friendliness and green growth.

Jaishankar added in a post on X that Gandhis achievements continue to inspire us to this day and his message of peace and non-violence is timeless.

He thanked mayor Takeshi Saito, parliamentary vice minister of foreign affairs Masahiro Komura, member of Parliament Hideo Onishi, and members of the Indian community for joining the event.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP Amra Ram has defended his act of riding on a tractor to the Parliament on the first day of the 18th Lok Sabha session.



The government in 2020 introduced three black farm laws against the farmers of the country. More than 500 farmer unions on June 26 that year gave a Dilli Chalo call but the farmers were stopped at Delhi's borders. It couldn't be worse than this. More than 65 per cent of voters in the country are farmers. The food grown by the farmers can reach Delhi but they cannot, Ram told Hindustan Times' Kumkum Chadha in an exclusive interview.



The government apologised to the farmers and withdrew the three farm laws. The people elected me and sent me to Delhi. The farmers and tractors were not allowed to enter Delhi. I went on a tractor to see how they would stop me, he added. CPI(M) MP Amra Ram alleged there was an attempt to defame the farmers' protest.(Hindustan Times/YouTube)





When asked why he decided to take a tractor to Parliament, the Sikar MP said,"The farmers staged protests for 13 months braving all weather conditions. They were not terrorists. Those in the government called these farmers terrorists, Maoists, protesters on rent and all sorts of names."



They were not protesting at the behest of China and Pakistan. They were annadatas (provider of food). There was an attempt to defame the protest. The government could not break a single farmers' outfit, he added. "

Who funded farmers protest?

When asked how the 13-month-long farmers' protest at Delhi borders was sustained, Ram denied financial support to the protesters.



The annadatas made the British bow before them. The farmers played a key role in the freedom struggle and even sacrificed their lives. The farmers have paid from their own pockets. They came to the borders on their tractors. They didn't stay in hotels, Amra Ram added.

Amra Ram on raising farmers' issues in Parliament

Ram said that the farmers' protest put the Modi government three steps backwards. In the 2014 and 2019 elections, the opposition parties did not have numbers. But today, the INDIA bloc has 234 MPs in the Lok Sabha. The INDIA bloc has different parties but have a sole aim to protest against the anti-people policies of this government, the CPM leader said.
India and Saudi Arabia on Sunday discussed various opportunities for bilateral investments in diverse areas in the public and private sectors, including refining and petrochemical plants, new and renewable energy, and power. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia speaks to PM Narendra Modi (AP)

They reviewed measures aimed at promoting two-way investments in a mutually beneficial manner at the first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia High-Level Task Force on Investments, co-chaired by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Mishra and the Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in the virtual mode.

The two sides reviewed the discussions held between the technical teams of the task force, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office here said.

Constructive discussions were held on various opportunities for bilateral investments in diverse areas in the public and private sector, including refining and petrochemical plants, new and renewable energy, power, telecom, innovation, among others, the statement said.

The two sides had a detailed review of the measures aimed at promoting two-way investments in a mutually beneficial manner.

Mishra reiterated the firm intention of the government of India to provide active support to Saudi investments of the order of USD 100 billion that were committed during the visit of the crown prince and prime minister of Saudi Arabia.

The two sides agreed to regular consultations between technical teams on both sides to take forward the discussions and reach an agreement on specific investments, the statement said.

An empowered delegation led by Secretary Petroleum will visit Saudi Arabia for follow-up discussions on the mutually beneficial investment in the oil and gas sector, it said

The Saudi side was also invited to set up an office of the Sovereign Wealth Fund PIF in India, the statement said.

The principal secretary to the PM invited the minister of energy of Saudi Arabia to India for the next round of the meeting of the High-Level Task Force.

The High-Level Task Force is a special body to facilitate bilateral investments following the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince and Prime Minister His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud during the latter's state visit to India in September 2023.

It comprises senior officials from both sides, including CEO Niti Aayog, secretaries for Economic Affairs, Commerce, MEA, DPIIT, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Power from India.
New Delhi: External affairs minister S Jaishankar met US secretary of state Antony Blinken in Tokyo on Sunday and discussed bilateral relations ahead of a Quad foreign ministers meeting. External affairs minister S Jaishankar met US secretary of state Antony Blinken in Tokyo on Sunday (Twitter/@DrSJaishankar)

Our bilateral agenda progresses steadily. Also had a wide-ranging discussion on regional and global issues, Jaishankar said on X after the meeting.

Look forward to attending the Quad FMM tomorrow, he added.

Jaishankar started his visit to Japan by unveiling a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Edogawa ward. He arrived in Tokyo from the Laos capital of Vientiane, where he attended several Asean-related meetings.

On Monday, the Quad foreign ministers meeting is expected to assess work being done by working groups in a wide range of areas and discuss arrangements for holding the Quad Leaders Summit, which will be hosted by India this year.

The Quad foreign ministers are expected to take forward cooperation in key areas such as infrastructure, supply chains, connectivity, research, counterterrorism, maritime security, and humanitarian and disaster responses.

They are also expected to discuss cooperation with Indo-Pacific countries and institutions on a positive agenda that responds to the regions pressing challenges.

The dates for the Quad Leaders Summit are yet to be fixed, mainly because of the US administrations preoccupation with the presidential election in November and domestic political problems being faced by Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity.

The four members of QuadIndia, Australia, Japan, and the USare reportedly exploring the possibility of holding the summit on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York in September. However, Japans ruling Liberal Democratic Party is set to hold its internal presidential election in September.

The people cited above said there is also the possibility that the summit could be held after the US presidential election in November.
External Affairs minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday in Tokyo and discussed a wide range of regional and global issues and bilateral ties. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting. Jaishankar-Blinken meet in Tokyo ahead of Quad Foreign ministers meet(Twitter)

Sharing pictures of their meeting, Jaishankar said that it was great to catch up with Blinken. Our bilateral agenda progresses steadily. Also had a wide-ranging discussion on regional and global issues. Look forward to attending the Quad FMM tomorrow, he wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Notably, the QUADQuadrilateral Security Dialogueis a strategic security dialogue between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States maintained by talks between member countries. In November 2017, the countries gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence.

Jaishankar in Japan

Jaishankar arrived in Japan on Sunday for a two-day visit for the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting. He was received by India's Ambassador to Japan and the Republic of Marshall Islands, Sibi George.

Earlier in the day, the minister unveiled the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Freedom Plaza in Edogawa, Tokyo and attended the ceremony in the presence of Edogawa Mayor, Takeshi Saito, Sibi George, the Ambassador of India to Japan and other ministers. At the event, a group of schoolchildren sang Gandhi's favourite prayer, Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram.

Addressing the Indian diaspora at the event, Jaishankar called Mahatma Gandhi a global icon and said that his messages throughout his life are timeless.

We have to ask ourselves today, why is it important to have this statue here...the achievements of Gandhi have far outlived his times, with the passage of time, they have become more important. What he taught us, was important then as well as now. I was told that this place is called 'Little India'. I hope it becomes bigger! he said.

According to Jaishankar, without Gandhi, the Indian independence struggle would have taken "much longer" or could have gone in a different direction.

Indian independence was the beginning of a very momentous event as it began a cycle of decolonization of the world. When India became free, other parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America became free. Today, as we say, India is the fifth largest economy in the world. The world is heading towards multipolarity, and when the G7 becomes G20, in a way, all this started as a result of what Gandhi did in his life, he added.

(With inputs from PTI)
Reacting to Mamata Banerjee's allegation that her mic was turned off during the NITI Aayog's meeting, West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury claimed the chief minister was lying. West Bengal Congress President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury(PTI file photo)

"The things that Mamata Banerjee is saying regarding the NITI Aayog meeting, I feel like she is lying. It is very surprising if a state's CM wouldn't be allowed to speak. Mamata Banerjee knew what would be happening there. she had the script," he said.

His views on the matter were different than those of his party, the Congress, which said the treatment meted out to Banerjee was unacceptable.

Chowdhury, who lost the recent Lok Sabha polls to TMC's Yusuf Pathan, is one of the most vocal critics of Mamata Banerjee. Ahead of the polls, he launched several scathing attacks on Banerjee.

The Trinamool Congress later blamed Chowdhury for its decision to contest the general elections alone. The party won 29 seats in Bengal.

Also read: Mamata Banerjee vs Nirmala Sitharaman over 'mic turned off' charge | Who said what

Earlier on Saturday, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wrote to President Droupadi Murmu, alleging that West Bengal was in an "anarchic condition" and sought her intervention to "restore law and order" in the state.

"I wish to seek your kind intervention in restoring civility and law and order in public life in West Bengal. For me, at a personal level, it is not only disturbing but also deeply anguishing to see the anarchic condition in the state owing to the ruthless approach of the ruling party on the workers, sympathisers, and supporters of the opposition," Chowdhury wrote in the two-page letter.

"There are also several cases of people not affiliated to the ruling party and inclined favourably to the opposition parties in the state have lost their jobs or means of livelihood because of the strongarm tactics of ruling dispensation in the state," he added.

Mamata Banerjee on Saturday claimed the chief ministers of BJP-ruled states were given more time to speak but her mic was turned out after five minutes. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman refuted the allegations.

The Congress later targeted the NITI Aayog, saying it had functioned as a "drumbeater" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi since its inception.

"Since it was established ten years ago, NITI Aayog has been an attached office of the PMO and has functioned as a drumbeater for the non-biological PM. Its functioning has been blatantly partisan, and it is anything but professional and independent," said Jairam Ramesh.

With inputs from ANI, PTI
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee sparked a huge political row on Saturday, alleging that her mic was muted before she could finish her speech at the NITI Aayog's meeting. She claimed the chief ministers of the states ruled by the BJP and its allies were allowed to speak for a longer duration but she was stopped from speaking just after five minutes. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman refuted the allegations. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and others during the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting.(PTI)

What did Mamata Banerjee allege?

Mamata Banerjee accused the government of having a political bias. She claimed BJP ally Chandrababu Naidu was allowed to speak for 20 minutes.

"I have come out boycotting the meeting. (Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister) Chandrababu Naidu was given 20 minutes to speak. The chief ministers of Assam, Goa, and Chhattisgarh spoke for 10-12 minutes. I was stopped from speaking after just five minutes. This is unfair. From the Opposition side, I was the only one here. I attended the meeting because cooperative federalism should be strengthened," she said after coming out of the meeting.

At the meeting, she asked why the government discriminated against other states in the Union Budget.

Banerjee claimed she wanted to speak but her mic was muted, which was insulting.

What was Nirmala Sitharaman's response?

Nirmala Sitharaman said every chief minister was allotted due time to speak. She said Banerjee's claim that her mic was turned off was completely false.

CM Mamata Banerjee attended the Niti Aayog meeting. We all heard her. Every CM was given the allotted time, and that was displayed on the screen, which was present before every table. We could see that two tables had a screen before us. She said in the media that her mic was turned off. That is completely false. Every CM was given their due time to speak, she said.

Nirmala Sithraman said the Bengal CM didn't request for more time.

"If she's reminded that her time is over, even with the mic on, she could have requested that she continue speaking as some other chief ministers did. But she chose to use it as an excuse so that she can get out of the meeting," Sitharaman said.

"She should speak the truth behind this rather than again build a narrative based on falsehood," she added.

A PIB fact-check debunked Banerjee's allegations, saying that "only the clock showed that her speaking time was over."

"It is being claimed that the microphone of CM, West Bengal was switched off during the 9th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog. This claim is Misleading. The clock only showed that her speaking time was over. Even the bell was not rung to mark it," the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said in a post on X.

According to PIB, Mamata Banerjee's turn to speak would have been only after lunch, but she was "accommodated" as the seventh speaker after an official request from the chief minister.

"Alphabetically, CM, West Bengal turn would have come after lunch. She was accommodated as the 7th speaker on an official request of the West Bengal government as she had to return early," PIB Fact Check explained in a subsequent post on X.

Meanwhile, 10 states and union territories didn't attend the ninth Governing Council meeting of the NITI Aayog which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The absentees were Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Puducherry.

BJP takes swipe at Mamata Banerjee

The Bharatiya Janata Party alleged Mamata Banerjee's walkout was premeditated.

BJP general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh said, "It is very easy to grab headlines in our country. First, tell me I am the only 'Opposition CM' attending the Niti Aayog meeting. Come out and tell 'I boycotted since the mic was switched off'. Now the whole day TVs will display the same. No work. No discussion. That's Didi to you."

The BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya alleged that Banerjee's walkout from the meeting was premeditated and for the cameras.

In a post on 'X', he said: "It is sad to see a Chief Minister reduce serious issues of governance to theatrics. People of West Bengal are suffering as a consequence of her confrontational politics."

Meanwhile, the chief executive officer of NITI Aayog, B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, said her points were heard "respectfully".

"The Chief Minister of West Bengal requested to be given a turn before lunchtime. I'm just putting facts on the ground, no interpretations. It was a clear request from their side because normally we would have gone alphabetically, starting with Andhra Pradesh, then Arunachal Pradesh. We adjusted, and the Defence Minister called her in just before Gujarat. So, she made her statement," he said.

"Every Chief Minister is allotted seven minutes, and there's a clock on top of the screen that shows the remaining time. It goes from seven to six to five to four to three. At the end, it shows zero. Nothing else happened. Then she said she would have liked to speak for more time but chose not to. That was it. We all heard her points respectfully, and they will be reflected in the minutes. The Chief Secretary continued to attend the meeting even after she left to catch a flight to Calcutta," Subrahmanyam added.

How did the Congress react?

The Congress said the treatment meted out to Mamata Banerjee was "unacceptable" and alleged that the government think-tank had been "blatantly partisan" in its functioning.

"Since it was established ten years ago, NITI Aayog has been an attached office of the PMO and has functioned as a drumbeater for the non-biological PM. Its functioning has been blatantly partisan, and it is anything but professional and independent...It muzzles all divergent and dissenting viewpoints, which are the very essence of an open democracy. Its meetings are a farce to be reckoned with," Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with a team of six students who got the fourth position at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) held at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom earlier this month in the 112th episode of his monthly radio broadcast Mann ki Baat on Sunday Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (File)

The team won four gold medals, one silver medal and one honourable mention on July 21 and it was the countrys best performance since its debut at IMO in 1989.

Modi, who had congratulated the team last Sunday, spoke to the six students --- Aditya Venkat Ganesh (Pune), Siddharth Chopra (Pune), Arjun Gupta (Delhi), Kanav Talwar (Greater Noida), Rushil Mathur (Mumbai) and Anando Bhaduri (Guwahati). I wish you all the best. You have raised the glory and name of the country, he told them.

Modi asked them about how they got interested in mathematics and how they prepared for the Olympiad. He also asked them how students can shed their fear of the subject, something he hears often from students.

Mathur said, I believe that Maths is actually an art of thinking and problem solving. And that is why I feel that if we all add a new question to mathematics, then the question is why are we doing this? Why does this happen like this? So I think this can raise peoples interest in mathematics a lot! Because when we are unable to understand something, we start fearing it. Both Mathur and Bhaduri stressed on the need to understand the logic behind mathematical formulae rather than memorising them by rote.

At the beginning of the episode, Modi also wished Indian athletes at the Olympics the best.

First site from Northeast included in UNESCO World Heritage List

In the episode, Modi said that Charaideo Maidam of Assam is now being included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the 43rd from India but the first from the Northeast.

Charaideo means a shining city on the hills. This was the first Capital of the Ahom dynasty. The people of the Ahom dynasty traditionally kept the mortal remains of their ancestors and their valuables in the Maidam. A Maidam is a mound-like structure, covered with soil on top, and has one or more rooms underneath, he said. The Maidam is a symbol of reverence for the departed kings and dignitaries of the Ahom Empire, and is a site of community worshipping.

New government centre to deal with drug abuse

Modi said that to deal with drug abuse, the government has opened a new centre, called Manas, and how the government launched the helpline and portal for it a few days ago. The government has issued a toll-free number 1933. Anyone can call on this number to get necessary advice or information related to rehabilitation. If anyone has any other information related to drugs, they can also share it with the Narcotics Control Bureau by calling on this number. All information shared with MANAS is kept confidential, Modi said.

Public Art

Modi also talked about Project PARI --- Public Art of India, which is a medium to bring emerging artists on one platform to popularise public art. Art by artists associated with the project, he said, is visible in Bharat Mandapam and on underpasses and flyovers in Delhi.

Handlooms

The prime minister said that on August 7, the country would celebrate National Handloom Day. He spoke of 250 women from Rohtak (Haryana) who joined the UNNATI Self Help Group to get training in block printing and dyeing and are now earning lakhs of rupees as there is a great demand for the bed covers, sarees and dupattas made by them. He mentioned Sambalpuri saree of Odisha, the Maheshwari saree of Madhya Pradesh, the Paithani of Maharashtra, the hand block prints of Vidarbha, the Bhutiko shawls and woollen clothes of Himachal, and the Kani shawls of Jammu and Kashmir.

Modi said that the turnover of Khadi Village Industry has crossed 1.5 lakh crore for the first time, and that sale has increased by 400%. However, he did not specify the time period in which this increase occurred.

Nowadays, the way handloom products have made their place in the hearts of people is really very successful, tremendous. Now many private companies are also promoting handloom products and sustainable fashion through AI, Modi said. He mentioned start-ups and innovations such as Kosha AI, Handloom India, Novatex Electrical Cylinder, Brahmaputra Fables that are using technologies like digital loom, blockchain, and advanced logistics to increase output of handlooms, guarantee their authenticity, sustainably dispose waste that is generated, and make local products more popular. You too can upload your local products on social media with the name Hashtag My Product My Pride, Modi said.

Local communities are saving tigers habitats

Modi talked about how different local communities are preserving the habitat for tigers. For instance, in Ranthambore in Rajasthan, the local communities have vowed to not go into forests and to not cut trees (Kulhadi Band Panchayat). Due to this one decision, the forests here are becoming green once again, and a better environment is being created for the tigers, Modi said.

The tribes of Gond and Mana tribes in the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve of Maharashtra have also reduced their dependence on the forest so that tiger activity can increase there. The Chenchu tribe of the Nallamalai hills in Andhra Pradesh collect information about movement of wild animals in the forest and monitor illegal activities in the area. In Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh), locals are trained to work as Tiger Friends who ensure that there is no conflict between tigers and humans.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday slammed the Narendra Modi-led government and said it was an "insult" to the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that her mic was muted during her speech at the NITI Aayog meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said the practice of muting the microphones of chief minister doesn't suit democratic norms(PTI)

Raut said this practice of muting the microphones of the chief minister doesn't suit democratic norms, reported news agency PTI.

After leaving the NITI Aayog meeting held in New Delhi, the West Bengal CM and TMC supremo told reporters, This is insulting. I will not attend any further meetings.

ALSO READ | Nitish Kumar skips PM Narendra Modi-chaired NITI Aayog meeting

"I have come out boycotting the NITI Aayog meeting. Chandrababu Naidu was given 20 minutes to speak, and the Chief Ministers of Assam, Goa, and Chhattisgarh spoke for 10-12 minutes. I was stopped after just 5 minutes. This is unfair," Mamata told reporters.

The Shiv Sena UBT leader also took a dig at Maharashtra CM, Eknath Shinde over the tax distribution and funds allocated to Maharashtra in the Union Budget. He said, The money which is distributed by the Centre belongs to the people of India. It is collected as various taxes. What did Maharashtra get.. Our chief minister came back empty-handed.

Banerjee was the only opposition leader to attend the meeting and she alleged that her mic was switched off five minutes into her speech, while other chief ministers from Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Assam and Chhattisgarh were allowed to speak for a longer duration. She also said that the union government does not support cooperative federalism, alleging the centre of depriving Bengal of MGNREGA funds for the last three years.

On Friday, Finance Minister Nirmal Sitharaman said that Mamata's claims are false and asked her to speak the truth behind this rather than again build a narrative based on falsehood, reported ANI. FM Sitharaman added that everyone there heard her and the West Bengal CM was given the allotted time which was displayed on a screen which was present before every table.

(with inputs from news agencies)
Raipur: Chhattisgarh chief minster Vishnu Deo Sai presented the states development plan at the ninth meeting of the governing council of NITI Aayog on Saturday. Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai (File Photo)

Speaking at the NITI Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, Sai stressed the efforts being made for development, with emphasis on education, human resource development, health, and technological advancement.

The chief minister said that his government has targeted increasing the states GSDP to Rs.10 lakh crore from its current standing at Rs.5.05 lakh crore, adding that Chhattisgarh will play a pivotal role in Developed India by 2047.

Emphasising the role of youngsters in the development of the state, Sai said that his government is focused on skill-based education and developing human resources in the state.

He also emphasized the states focus on the production of superfoods and the processing and branding of local products.

In the meeting, Sai also mentioned One Nation, One Student ID Card (APAAR ID) for every student and said that the process to make this happen has started.

He added that along with the expansion of the artificial intelligence (AI) and IT sectors, emphasis will also be laid on the development of physical structures like roads, buildings, and digital facilities like the internet and mobile network.

The chief minister said that the process of installing solar power on rooftops has been simplified and a plan has been made to make 100 villages completely based on renewable energy.

Said sought the Centres help for the establishment of a Rainwater Conservation Research Center and said that drinking water will be made available to 96 percent of households in the state by March 2026.

The chief minister shared a plan for better availability of health services, sustainable development, and preservation of the culture and tradition of the state.

Mobile medical units have been deployed to improve health services in tribal areas, Sai said.

Sai thanked the PM and expressed hope that with the Centres help, Chhattisgarh will achieve its development goals and play an important role in realising the vision of Developed India by 2047.

(with PTI inputs)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday sent a shoe-stitching machine to the cobbler he met when he was returning to Lucknow after appearing before a court in a defamation case in Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur. Rahul Gandhi sends stitching machine to cobbler he met in UP

The Congress shared a picture of the stitching machine and called Gandhi a people's leader.

People's leader Rahul Gandhi ji met cobbler Ram Chait ji in Sultanpur (UP) yesterday and understood the intricacies of his work. Now a shoe stitching machine has been sent to him, which will make it easier for Ram Chait ji to stitch shoes, the grand-old party wrote in a post on X.

Aise hai aapke Rahul, Jan-Jan ke Rahul (Such is your Rahul, people's Rahul), the party added.

On Friday, Gandhi briefly stopped at the cobbler's shop in UP and also tried his hand at mending a chappal (footwear). The video of Gandhi interacting with the cobbler, Ram Chait, was shared on social media, with netizens praising the Congress MP's gesture.

Notably, the cobbler has been making footwear for the last 40 years in a makeshift shop.

Leader of Opposition Shri @RahulGandhi stopped the car on the way and met a family of cobbler. We are continuously fighting for the rights of these hardworking people, raising their voice from the streets to the Parliament. Our aim is to ensure their safety at present and their future prosperous, the Congress said in a post on X.

After the interaction, the cobbler said that Gandhi spoke to him about his business.

I have been working here for the last 40 years. Rahul Gandhi had a discussion with us about our business...Rahul Gandhi stitched a chappal and pasted a shoeI told him I was financially weak and asked him for some help. I also showed him how I mend shoes, he told ANI.

Gandhi has been interacting with small business owners time-to-time across the country.

Earlier this month, he met labourers at the Guru Tegh Bahadur (GTB) Nagar in the national capital and interacted with them. Before this on May 15, Gandhi visited a barber shop in Raebareli to get a haircut and his beard trimmed and was later seen asking about the recent fiery haircut trend to the barber. Meanwhile, last year, he visited the Anand Vihar Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT) in New Delhi and donned the coolie uniform and carried luggage on his head.

(With inputs from ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' broadcast on Sunday, cheered for the Indian team at the Paris Olympics, interacted with Mathematics Olympiad winners, and urged citizens to buy Khadi and handloom products. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (AFP)

Here are ten quotes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' radio address:

1. PM appeals to cheer for Paris Olympics contingent

"At this time, the entire world is in the news for the Paris Olympics. The Olympics give our players a chance to hoist the Indian flag on the world stage and to do something for their country. You too encourage your players, Cheer For Bharat," the PM said.

ALSO READ- PM Modi chairs NITI meet amid boycott by oppn leaders

2. PM talks with International Mathematics Olympiad winners

Congratulations to the Indian team for topping the International Mathematics Olympiad. PM Modi said. PM interacted with the students: Aditya Venkat Ganesh, Siddharth Chopra, Arjun Gupta, Kanav Talwar, Rushil Mathur, and Anando Bhaduri, who brought glory to the country.

3. PM appeals to people's participation into fight against the drug menace

"The government has opened a special centre named 'Manas'. This is a big step in the fight against drugs. The helpline and portal of 'Manas' were launched recently. Anyone can call the toll-free number '1933' for necessary advice or information related to rehabilitation," PM Narendra Modi said.

ALSO READ- Congress questions PM Narendra Modi over proposed Ukraine visit: Going to Manipur before or after?

4. PM on National Handloom Day

We will celebrate 'National Handloom Day' on August 7. Nowadays, the way handloom products have made their place in the hearts of people is truly remarkable. Many private companies are also promoting handloom products and sustainable fashion through AI, PM Modi said.

5. PM promotes Khadi

"If you have not bought Khadi clothes till now, start from this year. The turnover of Khadi Village Industries has crossed 1.5 lakh crore for the first time, and Khadi sales have increased by 400 per cent. This growth is creating numerous new employment opportunities, especially for women," he said.

6. PM lauds Project PARI:

"Project PARI is becoming a great medium to bring emerging artists on one platform to popularise public art. You must have seen beautiful paintings on roadsides, walls, and in underpasses. These are made by artists associated with PARI, enhancing the beauty of our public places and promoting our culture," PM Modi said.

7. PM on UNESCO adding Ahom dynasty's mound burial as aheritage site

"Charaideu Maidam of Assam is being included as India's 43rd site on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and the first site from the Northeast. Charaideo was the first capital of the Ahom dynasty and holds historical significance," the PM said.

8. PM lauds 'Axe Ban Panchayat':

"The 'Axe Band Panchayat' campaign, started in Ranthambore, Rajasthan, is a commendable initiative, PM Modi said in his monthly radio programme. "Local communities have pledged not to cut trees, which is helping to rejuvenate the forests and create a better environment for tigers," he added.

ALSO READ- Modi defends Agnipath scheme, says it aims to rejuvenate armed forces

9. PM Modi appeals 'Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan':

The enthusiasm for the 'Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan' has been immense across the country. Whether rich or poor, everyone proudly waves the tricolour, with many taking selfies and sharing them on social media, the PM said, while appealing for the same this year.

10. PM Modi on 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam':

"In the last 'Mann Ki Baat,' I discussed the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' programme. Recently, a remarkable event in Indore saw more than 2 lakh saplings planted in a single day as part of this initiative," PM Modi lauded.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Sunday, marking their first one-on-one encounter in the 18 months since the ethnic tensions in the northeastern state erupted, people aware of the matter said on Sunday. PM Narendra Modi with Union home minister Amit Shah and others during a meeting with CMs and deputy CMs of BJP-ruled states at party headquarters in New Delhi on Sunday. (Hindustan Times)

The meeting was on the sidelines of Modis second day of meetings with chief ministers from the party. The meeting took place at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in central Delhi.

A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Singh met privately with Modi for 15-20 minutes. Union home minister Amit Shah and defence minister Rajnath Singh were also present.

The current situation in Manipur was discussed, the official said. Details of the meeting may be shared in the coming days.

While neither the BJP nor the Manipur government provided official comment, the meetings significance is underscored by the ongoing ethnic clashes that have roiled Manipur since May 2023.

Read more: Congress takes aim at PM Narendra Modi over proposed Ukraine visit: Going to Manipur before or after?

At least 225 people have died and nearly 50,000 have been displaced in the violence between Kuki and Meitei communities. Although the intensity of clashes has diminished, tensions persist, with the two groups largely segregated in different districts, separated by security forces.

Biren Singhs visit to Delhi included meetings with other senior BJP leaders, including party president JP Nadda and several Union ministers. However, he did not share photos or details of his encounter with Modi.

A broader agenda was discussed during the two-day chief ministers conclave. Modi used the gathering to emphasise the governments Viksit Bharat (Developed India) agenda, calling for coordinated efforts between central and state governments to achieve development goals by 2047.

The Prime Minister has instructed the chief ministers to ensure the saturation of central schemes, but without changing the basic design, a second official familiar with the proceedings said. States have been asked to utilise funds allocated to them for central schemes for 100% implementation but without enhancing or diluting the scheme.

Modi stressed the importance of public participation in welfare measures and highlighted the governments aim to make India a $5 trillion economy. The conclave also focused on effectively communicating development projects to the public.

There was a discussion on the need to ensure that the political messaging about development projects is conveyed to the people, not just through the media, but social media as well, the official added.

Chief ministers Bhupendra Patel of Gujarat and Yogi Adityanath of Uttar Pradesh, along with the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, addressed strategies to achieve the economic target. Discussions included promoting tourism and employment opportunities through initiatives such as home-stays.

Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a special invitee to the meeting, outlined the role states will play in implementing the New Education Policy. However, the official noted there was no discussion of the recent controversy surrounding examination irregularities.

The conclave, attended by BJP president JP Nadda and senior cabinet members, is expected to be followed by further interactions between state and central leadership.
Wishes poured in from across the spectrum for Indian shooter Manu Bhaker for winning a bronze medal in the 10-metre air-pistol category at the Paris Olympics 2024. The 22-year-old shooter's tremendous feat becomes India's first medal at the mega event. India shooter Manu Bhaker (@CricCrazyJohns (X))

Bhaker has also become the first Indian woman to win a medal in the 10m air pistol category. The victory ends India's 13-year wait for a shooting medal in the Olympic games. Last time when India won a medal in this category was in 2012 when rapid-fire pistol shooter Vijay Kumar and 10m air rifle marksman Gagan Narang clinched bronze.

Heartiest congratulations to Manu Bhaker for opening Indias medal tally with her bronze medal in the 10-metre air pistol shooting event at the Paris Olympics. She is the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in a shooting competition. India is proud of Manu Bhaker. Her feat is going to inspire many sportspersons, especially women. I wish she scales greater heights of accomplishment in the future, President Draupadi Murmu posted on social media platform X.

Home minister Amit Shah said,"Kudos to @realmanubhaker on winning the first medal in the #ParisOlympics2024, by bringing home the bronze. You have sent a wave of euphoria across the nation with your stellar performance."

Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said that he is proud to see India clinch its first medal in the Paris Olympics. Congratulations to @realmanubhaker for the Bronze - first Indian female shooter to win an Olympic medal. Our daughters have given us a wonderful start. Many more to come," Gandhi posted on X.

Congratulating Bhaker for her tremendous feat, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said India has begun its Olympics run with a well-deserved medal. Your achievement is a testament to your exceptional skill and perseverance. We are extremely proud of you! May this momentous occasion inspire countless young athletes to strive for excellence, Kharge posted on X.

Also read | Manu Bhaker wins historic bronze in 10m air pistol shooting to get India off the mark at Paris Olympics

Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini also congratulated the shooter from Chandigarh. Today, 22-year-old Manu Bhaker has achieved something that the whole country and the state of Haryana are proud of. Every Haryanvi's chest has swelled with pride today. Many congratulations to the strong and courageous daughter of Haryana, Saini posted on X.

Celebrations have begun in Bhaker's home state of Haryana. Her uncle Baljeet Singh told ANI that "It is a matter of pride for the entire country that she secured the bronze medal in the Olympics. We were expecting a gold medal, but we were very happy. The entire village will welcome her. She has done a lot of hard work for this achievement."
New Delhi, Bhojpuri superstar and BJP MP Ravi Kishan has introduced a private member bill in Lok Sabha to include Bhojpuri in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution so that it can be accorded the status of an official language. Ravi Kishan introduces bill for official status to Bhojpuri, says language not about crass songs

Kishan, who introduced The Constitution Bill, 2024, on Friday, said he wants to underline that the Bhojpuri language is not about crass songs but has a rich cultural history and literature which needs to be promoted.

"So many people speak and understand this language. It is our mother tongue. I wanted to promote this language as a film industry is also being run in this language and lakhs are getting employment. The music industry is also very big," the BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur told PTI.

This Bill is about promoting Bhojpuri literature which is very rich, he said.

"People will take the language seriously. The language is not about crass songs. The language is so rich, it also has literature," Kishan said.

The literature of Bhojpuri needs to be popularised, the actor-cum-politician said. "I want to pay back to my community. This language is my identity."

In its statement of objects and reasons, the bill notes that the Bhojpuri language which originated in the Gangetic plains of India is a very old and rich language having its origin in the Sanskrit language.

Bhojpuri is the mother tongue of a large number of people residing in Uttar Pradesh, Western Bihar, Jharkhand and some parts of Madhya Pradesh as well as in several other countries, it further notes.

In Mauritius, this language is spoken by a large number of people and it is estimated that around 140 million people speak Bhojpuri, the bill's note on objective states.

The bill notes that Bhojpuri films are very popular in the country and abroad and have a deep impact on the Hindi film industry.

"Bhojpuri language has a rich literature and cultural heritage. The great scholar Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan wrote some of his work in Bhojpuri. There have been some other eminent writers of Bhojpuri like Viveki Rai and Bhikhari Thakur, who is popularly known as the 'Shakespeare of Bhojpuri'," the bill says in its statement of objects and reasons.

Some other eminent writers of Hindi such as Bhartendu Harishchandra, Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi and Munshi Premchand were deeply influenced by the Bhojpuri literature, it points out.

The Bhojpuri language and its literature are gaining new heights because of the efforts made by various scholars, it states.

Many personalities with Bhojpuri background have achieved the highest positions in the country and various International Conferences have been organised to promote Bhojpuri, it further states.

At present, the Indira Gandhi National Open University is planning to start a certificate course in Bhojpuri language, the statement points out.

Recently, the Bhojpuri study centre had been established in the Banaras Hindu University to propagate and develop the Bhojpuri language, it notes.

In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, movements have been initiated to give Bhojpuri language its due place but it is unfortunate that the "Bhojpuri" language is yet to find a place in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution, the statement says.

For the promotion of literacy and the development of this language, it is necessary that it be included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution, the statement asserts.

The inclusion of Bhojpuri in the Eighth Schedule has been an old demand of people who speak this language. The Eighth Schedule lists the official languages of the country.

Originally, there were 14 languages in the schedule, now there are 22.

A private member's bill is a legislative proposal that is initiated by an individual Member of Parliament, who is not a Minister.

The importance of private member's bills lies in the fact that they enable legislators to draw attention to issues which might not be represented in Government Bills, or to highlight the issues and gaps in the existing legal framework requiring legislative intervention.

While it is true that only a small number of private member's bills, 14 to be exact, have successfully been enacted into law, their impact cannot be understated.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
 Flash

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Vientiane, Laos, July 27, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met on Satuday to exchange views on bilateral relations, agreeing to maintain communication at all levels and further implement the important common understandings reached at the San Francisco meeting last November between the two heads of state.



During his meeting with Blinken, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that in the past three months, the diplomatic, financial, law enforcement and climate teams of the two sides as well as the two militaries have maintained communication, along with increased people-to-people exchanges. However, it must be pointed out that the U.S. side did not refrain from moving to contain and suppress China, but to went even further.

China-U.S. relations are still faced with accumulating risks and challenges and remain at a critical juncture of deescalation and stabilization, demanding efforts to recalibrate the direction, manage risks, properly address differences, remove disturbances and advance cooperation, Wang said.

He noted that China's policy towards the United States has been consistent, adhering to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. The U.S. side should earnestly implement President Joe Biden's commitments and return to a rational and pragmatic China policy, Wang said, while calling on the two sides to work together to promote a stable, healthy and sustainable bilateral relationship.

Wang pointed out that the United States holds a wrong perception of China and always mirrors China with its own hegemonic logic. China does not seek hegemony or practice power politics, and as a major country, it has the best record on peace and security in the world, Wang said.

The Chinese foreign minister expressed hope that the U.S. side can better understand China, which is a nation focused on pursuing happiness for its people and its rejuvenation, and committed to the path of peaceful development and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Taiwan is part of China and has not been and will never be a country, Wang noted. "Taiwan independence" runs counter to cross-Strait peace, he said, adding that every provocation made by the "Taiwan independence" forces will be met with countermeasures to reduce the space for "Taiwan independence", in favor of working toward the goal of complete unification.

Wang elaborated on the ins and outs of the Ren'ai Jiao issue, noting that China has reached a provisional arrangement with the Philippines on managing the situation. The Philippine side should keep its word and stop shipping any more construction materials, Wang said while urging the United States not to move to fan the flames and stir up trouble, undermining the stability in the South China Sea.

China's position on the Ukraine issue is fair and transparent, and it will continue to promote peace talks, said the Chinese minister, calling on the United States to stop abusing unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. China rejects false accusations and will not succumb to pressure or blackmail. It will take resolute measures to protect its major interests and legitimate rights, Wang noted.

During the meeting, Blinken said that the United States is strongly committed to stabilizing US-China relations, continues to follow the one-China policy.

The United States looks forward to maintaining regular communication with China and continuing cooperation in areas including counternarcotics and artificial intelligence, said Blinken.

The United States would like to manage differences between the two sides and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation, he said.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation concerning Gaza and the Korean Peninsula, and the question of Myanmar, among other matters.
A soldier and a Pakistani intruder were killed in a gunfight close to the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Kupwara district on Saturday, officials said, indicating the role of Pakistans Border Action Team (BAT) in the infiltration attempt, the latest in a series of terror strikes in the Union territory. Jammu and Kashmir Police and Border Security Force (BSF) arrested militants and recovered arms, ammunition and explosives at a joint checkpoint was established at Reddi Chowkibal market, in Kupwara in June. (ANI)

According to a defence official, two to three gunmen crossed the LoC in the Machhal Sector of the north Kashmir district by taking advantage of bad weather and poor visibility and opened fire on a forward army post in Kamakari area.

Alert troops responded vigorously and in the ensuing exchange of fire, one Pakistani intruder was killed and weapons, ammunition and warlike stores were recovered. The identity of the Pakistani national is being ascertained, the official said requesting anonymity.

The official added that two army personnel were also injured in the gunfight and one of them later succumbed to the injuries. The other soldier was undergoing treatment at the Base Hospital in Srinagar and was stable.

All Ranks of the Chinar Corps salute the supreme sacrifice of braveheart Rfn (Rifleman) Mohit Rathour who laid down his life in the line of duty, today in the Kupwara Sector, on the Line of Control. Chinar Warriors salute his immense valour and sacrifice, express deepest condolence and stand in solidarity with the bereaved family, the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps posted on X.

News agency PTI quoted an unnamed official as saying that BAT was behind the attack. Action by Border Action Team has been foiled by alert Indian Army troops in Kamakari sector, the agency quoted the official as saying. Another official confirmed this to HT.

BAT is a special Pakistani military unit, which includes commandos from the countrys Special Services Group (SSG) and members of terror groups trained in cross-border operations. It has been blamed for attacks on forces in the past also.

The Indian Army is firm in its resolve and commitment to maintain the sanctity of the Line of Control and defeat the nefarious and inimical designs of the Pakistan Army, the defence official quoted earlier.

The attack on the army post came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on delivered a strong warning to Pakistan, saying that the Indian Army will crush terror emanating from that country with full force while reminding it of its past defeats on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

I speak from where the patrons of terrorism (across the de-facto border) can hear me loud and clear, he said after paying homage to the soldiers killed in the Kargil war that was fought along a 170-km mountain frontier in the summer of 1999. And I want to tell them that their sinister plans will never succeed. Past attempts made by Pakistan have failed. But it has not learnt anything from history. It is trying to stay relevant through terrorism and proxy war.

This was the fourth gunfight between forces and extremists in Kupwara in a month. On Wednesday, a soldier and a terrorist were killed in an encounter near the armys Divar camp in the district. This year, 29 terrorists and four defence personnel have died in separate gunfights in Kashmir. In Jammu, 28 people, including 12 security personnel and five terrorists, have been killed in separate terror strikes and gunbattles this year.

The surge in terror attacks has put J&K on alert and prompted the countrys political and defence brass to review the security situation in the UT. On July 18, the increase in terrorist activities was discussed at a meeting of the crucial Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi held a meeting with top officers of paramilitary forces, intelligence agencies, and Jammu & Kashmir Police in Jammu on July 20 as he took stock of the situation on the ground.
Union minister HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday was hospitalised after his nose started to bleed during a press conference. Union minister HD Kumaraswamy.(ANI)

The incident took place as Kumaraswamy was talking to reporters in Bengaluru after a meeting with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders when he noticed blood coming out of his nose.

The Janata Dal (Secular) leader was seen trying to block his nostrils with a piece of cloth, but the blood began trickling down his chin and then fell on his white shirt.

Kumaraswamy, who holds the portfolio of steel and heavy industries, was quickly taken to a private hospital by his son, Nikhil Kumaraswamy.

Later, speaking to the media, Nikhil Kumaraswamy said there was nothing to worry about as the doctors were attending to his father, according to PTI.

According to him, his father did not take rest due to his hectic schedule, which could be the reason behind the incident.

BJP-JDS meeting

A meeting of BJP-JDS leaders under the leadership of state BJP President BY Vijayendra, Kumarswamy and state leader of opposition R Ashoka was held in Bengaluru today.

After the meeting, Vijayendra said that the leaders met to discuss the reason behind the corruption taking place in Karnataka including Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam, according to ANI.

Also Read | Gimmicks: Kumaraswamy slams Congress MPs for carrying Constitution copies

"All the senior leaders from BJP, as well as JD(S), met and discussed in detail about the way corruption is taking place in Karnataka under the leadership of Siddaramaiah. In the ST Development Corporation scam the money for the welfare of the scheduled tribe community has been looted by the Congress government, MUDA scam and many other scams which are taking place in Karnataka," he said.

He further added that a 'Padyatra' will be taken out by the BJP and JDS will take on August 3.

Also Read | Deve Gowdas remarks on Karnataka landslide trigger row in Rajya Sabha

"Both parties have decided to take out 'Padyatra' from August 3. BS Yediyurappa and HD Kumaraswamy will participate in the Yatra. It is a seven-day yatra which will start on August 3 and conclude on August 10. National leaders of the BJP will also be present on 10th August. If the government will try to stop our 'Padyatra' we will not stop," the BJP leader added.

Earlier, Karnataka's Deputy Minister DK Shivkumar had accused the BJP of tarnishing the image of chief minister Siddaramiah by planning a padayatra to protest against the MUDA irregularities.
Chandigarh, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said he will welcome Gulab Chand Kataria, the new governor of the state, and work in coordination with him. Will work together, says Punjab CM Mann after Kataria appointed as new guv

Kataria replaced Banwarilal Purohit as the Governor of Punjab as part of major gubernatorial appointments announced Saturday night.

President Droupadi Murmu has accepted the resignation of Purohit as the Governor of Punjab and the administrator of Chandigarh. Purohit had tendered his resignation in February this year,

Responding to a question on the new incumbent, Mann said that on Sunday morning, he spoke to Kataria, who told him that he would take oath on July 31.

"The president has appointed the new governor. We will welcome the new governor. We will work together," Mann told reporters here after flagging off 58 new ambulances.

The CM said he respected Purohit but was not happy with his visits to the border districts. Purohit tried to create an "atmosphere of conflict," he also said.

Referring to his recent two-day visit to Jalandhar, Mann said the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police could not go with him as they were accompanying the governor to his visits to the border districts.

"How could he run a parallel ," Mann said, adding, he had no role in Purohit's resignation.

On Friday, when Purohit was asked why he resigned, he had said, "Maybe I thought that the CM did not like me."

Mann had on Thursday hit out at Purohit over his visits to border areas, saying he should refrain from creating an "atmosphere of conflict" and instead inaugurate a seminar at a university.

Purohit during his visits to the border districts had held meetings with villagers and officials of police and central agencies.

He had on Tuesday visited Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts and Amritsar on Wednesday. It was his seventh such visit as governor.

Purohit and Mann earlier had been at loggerheads over various issues including the summing of Assembly Session and appointments of vice-chancellors of state-run universities.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
New Delhi: The Niti Aayog 9th Governing Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday under the theme Viksit Bharat at 2047 had few pivotal discussions, including the formulation of an investment-friendly charter index for states, setting of zero poverty goals, demographic management plans, and linking of river grids. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs the 9th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog in Delhi on Saturday (ANI Photo)

The PMs focus in the meeting was on states as key drivers of growth and road to Viksit Bharat and that the states are bursting with energy, confidence, and competence.

Leaders of 26 states/Union Territories took part in the meeting in Delhi, while 10 states, including INDIA bloc leaders, who boycotted the meet over alleged discrimination in the Union Budget against them, remained absent.

NITI Aayog CEO BV Subramanyam, addressing the media on Saturday, said, We had 10 absentees and 26 participants. We had absentees from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Puducherry.

Bihars Janata Dal-United, led by chief minister Nitish Kumar, is a part of the Bharatiya Jananta Party-led National Democratic Alliance.

Subramanyam said that Kumar did not attend the meeting as the Bihar Legislative Assembly session went on till late on Friday.

On Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Sorens sudden withdrawal, Subramanyam said that the chief secretary of the state was present but Soren did not show up.

Also Read: Mamata Banerjee vs Nirmala Sitharaman over mic turned off charge | Who said what

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, who was the lone opposition leader to participate in the meeting but left midway, alleging discrimination was refuted by Subramanyam, as he said the council was accommodative and respectful of Banerjee.

Banerjee walked out of the NITI Aayog meeting, alleging that her microphone was stopped after five minutes, while other chief ministers were allowed to speak for a longer duration.

Responding to the boycott by INDIA leaders, Subramanyam said, Its the loss of the states who choose to do so, but the Aayog will still think about each state equally.

Elaborating on the discussion in the meeting, Subramanyam said that an approach paper was distributed to the members in which several key agendas were discussed. PM said that the vision of Viksit Bharat can be realized through Viksit States and that each state and district should create a vision for 2047 to realise Viksit Bharat@2047.

Subramanyam added that the PM, in the meeting, directed NITI Aayog to prepare an Investment-friendly Charter for attracting investments in the states and create an index where the states could be ranked out of 100 points in terms of investment friendliness.

According to the Aayog members, the vision behind this idea was to make states more independent and reliable.

The PM also called for setting up a target of zero poverty starting from villages, said Subramanyam.

He added that the PM also encouraged the creation of river grids at state-level for effective utilisation of water resources and wherein surplus water could be provided to the states facing droughts.

The council also asked the states to initiate demographic management plans to address the issues of population aging in the future.

PM Modi further emphasized the need for skilling and training youth to make them employment ready, he said.

Subramanyam concluded, saying that the states participated enthusiastically and gave suggestions on agriculture, education and skill development, entrepreneurship, drinking water, reducing compliances, governance, digitalisation, women empowerment, and cyber security.

The think tank will also be coming up with final versions of the five-year and a 25-year Viksit Bharat plan as informed by the body members, said Subramanyam.
The morning after the opening of Destination India: Foreign Artists in India (1857-1947) at the Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) in Janpath saw a significant number of people politely jostling as they took their place around Giles Tillotson and Aditi Mazumdar, who were leading the first walkthrough of the exhibition. Some mopped the sweat off their brows and moustaches while others reached into their bags to put their phones on silent, and craned their necks to look around and greet fellow art lovers whod braved the deathly humidity that had Delhi in its grasp at this time of the year. One wonders what Marius Bauer, Carlton Alfred Smith, Erich Kips, Hugo Pedersen, Hiroshi Yoshida or even Maurice Levis, would have made of this particular scene  these Orientalist painters who travelled to India not only to capture the grand monuments, temples, mosques, forts and royal cities, but set their sights on the ordinary, people and rituals both, to tell a story of India that went beyond the obvious. These paintings indicate the presence of a distinct movement, based on what they have in common between them, and the difference between them and what came before, said Tillotson, senior vice president, exhibitions, DAG.

He is referring to the widely-known names of Orientalist art in the 19th century, such as Eugene Delacroix, Henri Matisse, David Roberts and Ludwig Deutsch, who travelled from Europe towards Palestine, Syria, Morocco and Egypt; and thanks to them, the popular understanding of Orientalist art is tethered to an audacious use of colour, frames filled with architectural details, landscapes featuring animals that were as foreign to the Western world as the people who lived alongside them. Before Edward Said hijacked the word, Orientalism referred to the art-historical term of the depiction of subjects in North Africa and the Near East by European painters; it grew out of a relationship between art and tourism of a kind. They painted views of everyday life in the countries they travelled through, which became very popular in the salons of Paris at the time, said Tillotson.

Benares am Goldenen Tor (Benares at the Golden Gate) by Erich Kips Oil on cardboard 19.7 x 13.7 in.(Delhi Art Gallery)

But Orientalism as a style seemed limited to the Islamic countries and the Eastern chapter from India went unnoticed because, for a long time, Damascus in Syria was considered the place where the East ended. Sitting here in Delhi, we can say that is where the East begins! At DAG, weve been looking at British and European artists who were working in India in slightly earlier periods, such as William Hodges, Thomas and William Daniell, and Balthazar Solvyns, who were visiting this part of the British empire during the end of the 18th century and their work survived into the 19th century. Now, as the popular narrative goes, the camera then took over as the primary medium to record India. But that didnt mean that there were no paintings anymore, said Tillotson. While unpacking works purchased by DAG abroad and brought to India, he and Mazumdar, a researcher at the gallery, were pointed in another direction  the works of Bauer, who came to India at the end of the 19th century  and he wasnt alone. There were more foreign artists, Danish, Italian, Japanese, Germans; it wasnt just the British any longer. The Orientalist story in India needed to be revised, he added.

The Golden Temple, Amritsar by Charles William Bartlett-Kokka woodblock print on paper, c. 1919(Delhi Art Gallery)

This is not to say that Saids rethinking of Orientalism is not at play at this exhibition. The exotic is very much alive, but the gaze has shifted a little. The difference between the earlier crop of artists and the ones exhibited at DAG is that the former were taking part in the Age of Discovery and Enlightenment  they had to explain India to the West. By the time, the foreign artists of Destination India arrived on these shores, the Taj Mahal had started to become something of a cliche. In these paintings, there are aspects that exoticise, mythologise and mysticise India. There is an awareness, though, especially with someone like Bauer who knows hes creating a fantasy based on what hes seeing. He called it post-dreaming, said Tillotson. Bauers work adorns the entrance, with etchings on paper, and watercolours on Whatman boards; his use of colour is economical, and unexpected considering that so many Orientalist artworks are awash with pigments. He rejects the need for total realism, this is an India that exists on multiple planes, making Bauer a delightfully unreliable narrator. His images show you how an indigenous culture is enduring colonialist interventions even though he is travelling through India in the mid-1920s, said Mazumdar during the walkthrough.

Most of the artists on display have devoted themselves to depicting scenes from everyday life, the mundane and the commonplace, such as the market in The Corner of a Fruit Market by Mortimer Menpes; but this is unlike the Orientalist souk or bazaar scenes one has seen emerge from Morocco or Egypt. These artists aim to show India along with its people who live in and around the now-famed monuments (The Taj Mahal by Pedersen), mosques (Jumma Masjid by William Simpson), temples (The Golden Temple by Charles William Bartlett), and ghats (Benaras at the Golden Gate by Kips), or simply a road scene (Native Gharry in Ahmedabad by Edwin Lord Weeks) and the various cultures that co-exist side by side. The exhibition also features works by two women: Mary Anne Blyth, who was likely to be the wife of a British civil or military officer, and Constance Frederica Gordon-Cumming, a globetrotter, a rare woman travel writer, and a self-taught landscape painter from Scotland.

The Corner of a Fruit Market, Delhi by Mortimer Menpes Oil and mixed media on cardboard, c. 1903(Delhi Art Gallery)

One of the highlights of Destination India is the section where the British artist Bartlett, whose depiction of Indian scenes and structures in a traditional Japanese woodblock print style, faces the works of Shin Hanga (New Prints) master, Hiroshi Yoshida. Bartlett had travelled to Japan in 1915, where he met the print publisher Shozaburo Watanabe, the driving force behind the Shin Hanga movement, and collaborated on publishing a series of drawings, including six Indian scenes from Bartletts earlier expedition to India in 1913. Five years later, Yoshida would collaborate with Watanabe as well, to produce topographical prints. In 1930, the famed Japanese artist would travel through the established tourist hubs of the subcontinent, Delhi, Agra, Benares, Rajasthan, and Srinagar, among others, and produced prints that were inscribed in Japanese and English; Yoshidas commercial ambitions went beyond Japan, he wanted the West to buy his work. He quickly realised that people were interested in different countries and what they looked like, so he began to tour all over the world and create these prints, said Mazumdar.

Did any of these artists ever settle down in India? Not exactly. Two works on display, Portrait of Elderly Indians, and Head of a Young Woman belong to the Italian painter Olinto Ghilardi, who is famous for being Abanindranath Tagores mentor and served as the vice principal of the Government School of Art in Calcutta from 1885 to 1886, and later from 1888 till 1905. Ghilardi encouraged Tagore to embrace pastels and gouache and was known for introducing ideas from Western art movements to what became the Bengal School of Art. However, he returned to Italy in 1905 and that was the end of his relationship with India.

Also living in India in a professional capacity as an art teacher was John Griffiths, who taught at the Sir J.J. School of Art in Bombay from 1865 onwards, and served as its principal from 1880 to 1895. In 1899, he was succeeded in that office by Cecil Burns, who held the position till 1918. The pupils who passed through the school during this period include the Parsi portrait painters Pestonji Bomanji and M.F. Pithawalla; the portraitist and landscape painter (and in his own time, drawing instructor) M.V. Dhurandhar; and a host of landscape watercolourists including N.R. Sardesai, L.N. Taskar and M.K. Parendekar. All imbibed the naturalistic methods advocated by Griffiths and Burns, writes Tillotson in the exhibition catalogue. As for the others, did they interact with the local artists while they gazed, fantasised, reimagined and reproduced scenes from India? That is very unlikely, said Tillotson, and entirely their loss.

Destination India is on at the DAG, New Delhi, till August 24
New Delhi, Curators, administrators of museums and domain experts will gather next week in Delhi for a three-day conclave to foster collaboration between the Centre and states in pursuance of the proposed 'Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum' project. HT Image

The State Museum Conclave, to be hosted by the Ministry of Culture, will be held from August 1-3 at the Bharat Mandapam where the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is currently underway.

The upcoming 'Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum', billed to be the largest museum in the world, will have eight thematic segments telling the story of India spanning over 5,000 years.

The new museum, to be housed in the North Block and South Block in the heart of the country's capital, will be spread over 1,54,000 sqm, making it the largest museum in the world.

"This three-day gathering aims to foster collaboration among state museums and the central government in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the 'Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum' that aims to exemplify global best practices," the ministry said in a statement.

"To foster a comprehensive understanding of India's artefact wealth for the 'Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum', the states have been invited to provide detailed insights into their respective state's collections at the forthcoming state conclave," it said.

Master classes will also be held with experts from India and abroad spanning various topics such as the architecture and materiality of the North and South Block, global best practices in conservation, fine arts handling, collections management, curation and museum management, officials said.

The conclave will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including resident commissioners, directors of museums, superintendents, curators and researchers from across the country.

Senior officials of the ministry, including joint secretary of the GLAM Division of the ministry as well as the Union Culture Secretary, will also be in attending the event, the officials said.

Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will address the gathering, the ministry said.

The State Museum Conclave marks the third phase in a series of capacity-building initiatives undertaken by the GLAM Division of the Ministry of Culture.

Building upon the success of the inter-ministerial consultation held in June and the subsequent collaborative workshop with museum professionals in partnership with France Museums last month which culminated in a session chaired by the Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, this conclave aims to "further strengthen the museum ecosystem in India", the officials said.

Through a series of capacity-building workshops led by renowned Indian and international museum professionals, the ministry "aims to equip state-level personnel with essential skills in collection management, archiving, and museum administration".

Beyond theoretical knowledge, the three-day forum will offer hands-on training and opportunities to network with potential collaborators for the 'Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum' project.

Additionally, the Ministry of Culture will present an overview of available funding schemes, including the recently updated Museum Grant Scheme and the Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science, to support state-level museum development initiatives.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Statistics are staggering. And frightening. Globally, more than 45,000 species are threatened with extinction, including 26% mammals, 41% amphibians, 12% birds, 37% sharks and rays, 21% reptiles, 34% conifers, 28% selected crustaceans, and 71% cycads, according to The International Union for Conservation of Natures (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species(2024-1), the worlds most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. And thats why there is so much buzz around wildlife conservation that aims to protect plant and animal species as the human population encroaches on their resources. (Also read: World Nature Conservation Day: What is the theme for 2024? From history to significance, check out all details inside ) Globally, more than 45,000 species are threatened with extinction. (Pixabay)

Worldwide, advanced technology - drones, camera traps, satellites, acoustic monitoring, remote sensing methods that use lasers to estimate the 3D structure of the target area, be it a forest canopy or cliff face - is being used now for wildlife conservation. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) have the potential to revolutionise the field of wildlife conservation. The importance of technology can be gauged from the fact that the environ- ment, conservation and wildlife organisations market size has grown strongly in recent years, it will grow from $26.22 billion in 2023 to $36.65 billion in 2028.

In India, wildlife conservation through technology is gaining ground. in September 2022, E-Gravity, an engineering company launched a GPS-based radio collar for tracking wild elephants; The Habitats Trust is leveraging geospatial data to understand India's grassland coverage, using subsea robotics to enhance and expedite coral reef monitoring efforts, and harnessing machine intelligence (ML, AI, DL) to optimise conservation efforts. The Wildlife Tech Incubator aims to foster India-specific innovations in wildlife conservation, the Indian Institute of Science has been working on improving technology that helps wildlife researchers and forest departments while the Tree Foundation has used satellite tags to monitor turtles - information about their feeding grounds and congregation paths are passed on to commercial fishermen so that the turtles are not ensnared and killed.

At the forefront of wildlife conservation technology in India is Leopard Tech Labs, a Kanjirappally (Kottayam, Kerala)-based company that was founded in 2017 by two faculty members and two alumni of the Amal Jyothi College of Engineering, Kanjirappally. Its Conservation Technology Division has created several applications (both for Android & iOS) designed to empower both conservationists and the general public in their efforts to protect wildlife. Here are a few apps/tools of Leopard Tech Labs that can be downloaded and used for wildlife conservation and awareness.

HAWK: HAWK is a wildlife crime intelligence gathering system to prevent illegal wildlife trade. With latest digital technology, the system consolidates all information to monitor criminal networks, criminal activities and provide actionable intelligence to the enforcement officials to undertake preventive measures against a wildlife trafficking crime. or a possible crime scenario. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), wildlife trafficking is the fourth largest form of transnational organised crime worth an estimated 15 billion per annum.

This app acquires greater importance because India is not only a major source, but also a transit, and destination country for trafficked wildlife and wildlife products - most common wildlife and wildlife prod-ucts that were seized from being smuggled out of India are ivory, turtles and tortoises (especially the Indian star tortoise), and red sandalwood. India is also fast becoming a major hub for pangolin trafficking and the trade in tiger parts continues unabated (Source: Smuggling in India report 2020-2021).

Jumbo Radar: Jumbo Radar is a comprehensive tool to monitor elephant movements outside Protected Areas and to enable seamless collection and data analysis which in turn can minimise negative Human-Elephant interactions. The app is based on three years of extensive monitoring and profiling of individual elephants in the Gudalur Forest Division by The Shola Trust and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, respectively.

Wildwatch: WildWatch is an integrated human wildlife conflict mitigation system that consists of multiple modules that work in tandem with each other to provide a streamlined and stable operating environment. When an Informer (a registered user of Wild Watch app) witnesses a wildlife conflict, he can use this app to report the incident. This alert is received by the nearest watcher with precise GPS location and other information.

Sarpa: Intended to streamline rescue of snakes from human habitations, Sarpa (Snake Awareness, Rescue & Protection App) helps minimise threats to snakes and humans, creates awareness among public regarding snakes and their important role in the ecosystem. So far, in Kerala alone, more than 40,000 snakes have been rescued through this app.

Anti-snare walk monitoring app: This is used to report and remove snare details from the forest area. Using this app, forest officers can report any snare they found while walking through the forest.

Save trees: This app aims to connect people around the world to save trees. If you see a tree being cut, you can post it on the app and notify like-minded people nearby.

Whale Shark rescue app: Reporting of whale sharks and other marine megafauna can be done. Users can take photo and video of whale shark or marine megafauna which are accidentally caught in the net or which are sighted during sailing. The app also works offline.
New Delhi, Celebrated designer J J Valaya says it's his duty to preserve the beauty of the bygone era and present it in a new avatar as an "excavator of the past". HT Image

Valaya showcased modernity, royalty and elegance in his latest collection "Muraqqa", which he presented on the fourth day of the Hyundai FDCI India Couture Week here.

The new clothing line by his label The House of Valaya drew inspiration from three cities of historical importance: Istanbul in Turkey, Iran's Isfahan and Delhi.

"I think it's my duty... As an excavator of the past. I go back in time to find all the beauty and bring it forward, make it relevant for today and then present it in an all new manner. Otherwise, it will be lost," Valaya told PTI on the sidelines of the ongoing fashion gala.

Through the festive collection of "Muraqqa", which was ruled by custom woven silks and lush velvets, the Delhi-based designer stayed true to his USP: luxury.

"Everything that is rich and luxurious. We are a luxury brand. This is the festive season, this is a festive couture. So, it's all about rich velvets, silk and everything that you can think of which is truly luxury," he said.

The colour palette ranged from green, beige, brown to maroon and even had shades of golden and black. The menswear featured evening jackets, sherwanis, Nehru jackets, and bandhgala jackets, whereas the women's range comprised lehengas, sarees, anarkalis, and suits.

Some of the male models wore turbans to complement their attire and nose rings completed the looks of the female models. Bold applique designs, polka dots, and geometrical figures with embroidery were also spotted in the ensembles.

For Valaya, one of the most popular Indian couturiers in the international fashion circuit known for maximalism, fashion is style.

"There is something I always say. Fads and gimmicks are not fashion. Something that is timeless and endures... which stands the test of time. I would identify that as fashion. Fashion equals style."

In his latest collection, the Istanbul theme draws from Ottoman intricacies and art deco lines, while Isfahan reinterprets Persian carpets and miniature paintings with a contemporary twist. Delhi celebrates Mughal inlays intertwined with flora and fauna motifs.

He picked "beautiful nuances" from the three cities and put them into the new modern collection.

Valaya summed up the collection as a blend of "royalty, spirit and art".

From the initial idea to its final form, the ace couturier detailed his process about bringing designs to life.

"You have that thought and then you research. I believe a lot in research. In fact, I spend weeks and weeks collecting the data. I even try to travel to those places and then put together mood boards.

"Then we have a brainstorming session then the first sketch is made followed by the first traces then the development of the print, weaving of textiles, etc. Everything comes together in one cohesive spirit to create those beautiful collections," he added.

Asked who he considers the most stylish personality, the designer said while it was tough to single out one, American fashion icon Iris Apfel, who died in March at the age of 102, was someone with a great sense of style.

"If we go back in time, not very far back, Iris Apfel . She was an American diva, she passed away after over 100 years of living... The way she put it all together was just fantastic."

Valaya is already working on his next collection.

"I have been thoroughly enjoying what I have done in all these 33 years... Let's just say I am blessed."

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
International Tiger Day is a global initiative focused on protecting the natural habitats of tigers and raising public awareness about their conservation. This day plays a crucial role in increasing online engagement and interest in tiger-related information. Tigers, some of the most majestic creatures in the animal kingdom, include species such as the white tiger, Royal Bengal tiger, and Siberian tiger, each ruling their respective habitats with pride and elegance. However, these magnificent animals face numerous threats, including climate change, illegal wildlife trade, and habitat loss, which have led to a rapid decline in their population. The day serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address these issues and take action to ensure the survival of these iconic big cats. (Also read: World Nature Conservation Day: What is the theme for 2024? From history to significance, check out all details inside ) International Tiger Day aims to promote tiger conservation, raise awareness about the threats faced by tigers and garner public support for conservation.(Freepik)

International Tiger Day 2024 Date and Theme

In 2024, International Tiger Day will be celebrated on Monday, July 29, with a focus on raising awareness about tiger conservation and the urgent threats these majestic animals face, such as habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. This year, stakeholders are intensifying their efforts to combat wildlife crime, expand protected areas, promote sustainable livelihoods for local communities, and increase awareness about the challenges tigers are up against.

History of International Tiger Day

Global Tiger Day, also known as International Tiger Day, was established in 2010 during the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit. This summit, held in St. Petersburg, Russia, was organised by the Global Tiger Initiative (GTI), which includes nations, international organisations, and conservation groups dedicated to tiger conservation. The Tiger Range Countries (TRCs), nations with wild tiger populations, gathered to address the alarming global decline in tiger numbers.

Recognising the urgent need for coordinated efforts to protect these magnificent big cats and their habitats, the TRCs decided to dedicate a day each year to raise awareness about tiger conservation and the challenges it faces. They chose July 29 for International Tiger Day, marking the midpoint between the summit's first and last days, symbolising the ongoing global effort to save tigers.

International Tiger Day 2024 Significance

Tigers, the world's largest and most iconic big cats, are facing serious threats, and International Tiger Day is dedicated to raising awareness about their plight. On this day, people from all walks of life come together to emphasise the urgent need for tiger conservation. These magnificent animals are threatened by habitat destruction, poaching, and illegal wildlife trafficking, pushing them toward extinction. International Tiger Day seeks to rally collective efforts, garner public support, and promote sustainable initiatives to ensure the future of tigers. By highlighting the opportunities and challenges in tiger protection, the day aims to preserve our planet's biodiversity for future generations.
Is the 19th century Champagne on the bottom of the Baltic Sea still fit for a toast? A team of Polish divers discovered the wreckage of an old sailing ship loaded to the brim with luxury goods including porcelain items and about 100 bottles of Champagne and mineral water about 58 meters (190 feet) deep off the Swedish coast. Snapshot of the sunken ship found in Baltic wreck.

They believe the precious goods could have been on the way to the royal table in Stockholm or the Russian tsar's residence in St. Petersburg when the ship sank sometime in the second half of the 19th century, according to the leader of the team, Tomasz Stachura.

The private Baltictech group of divers which searches for shipwrecks on the Baltic seabed made the discovery on July 11 while checking spots of interest about 37 kilometers (20 nautical miles) south of the isle of Oland. They were ready to call it a day, but two divers, Marek Cacaj and Pawel Truszynski, decided to make a quick dive and emerged two hours later with the news of the wreckage and its valuable cargo. (Also Read: Mediterranean Sea Horror: Killer whales sink $128,000 yacht in 2-hour coordinated attack)

I have been diving for 40 years, and it often happens that we find a bottle or two in a wreck, but to discover so much cargo, its a first for me, Stachura told The Associated Press this week.

The brand of mineral water, Selters, believed at the time to have medical properties, was imprinted on the stoneware bottles. The Champagne brand is still to be determined., but the letter R could be seen on one cork, Stachura said.

He said he believes the contents are still in good condition.

At this depth the wreckage is perfectly preserved, the temperature is constant, there are no currents and its dark," Stachura said. "That preserves the wreckage in a wonderful way.

He said Champagne and Selters experts have already contacted Baltictech and are interested in doing laboratory tests on the contents of the bottles. But it is Swedish authorities who will decide the next steps in exploring the wreck, Stachura said.

Divers from Baltictech previously discovered the wreck of the SS Karlsruhe, the last ship to leave Koenigsberg in 1945 as part of the evacuation of German civilians in World War II.
Kamiya Jani, founder of Curly Tales, is facing backlash on social media after a clip of her interview with actor Janhvi Kapoor from last month, went viral. In the interview held at Kapoor's home in Mumbai's Bandra, held over a meal, the interviewer expressed surprise at the combination of idli and chicken curry as well as at eating i Kamiya Jani interviewed Janhvi Kapoor at the actor's home in Mumbai.(File photos)

dli with hand.

At the dining table, Janhvi Kapoor's household staff laid out a spread of homely food, which included dosa, idli, chicken curry, paneer bhurji and moong dal chilla for the actor and Jani.

"Chicken curry which actually you should have with the idli," Kapoor tells Jani, urging her to try the beloved south Indian staple with the chicken curry.

"Wait. What? Chicken curry with idli?" a surprised Kamiya Jani asks Kapoor.

"You have to try that," the Bollywood actor says.

"What is this combination? Have you introduced it or is it legit (legitimate)?" Jani continues, still surprised.

"So this is Boney sir's (Boney Kapoor) special. Idli with chicken curry. I don't know how many of you have actually tried it. Chicken curry on idli. I'm very nervous to try this," she says as she prepares to taste the combination endorsed by her celebrity guest.

"Haath se khao na. Yeh kya ho raha hai (Eat with your hands. What's happening)," Kapoor tells the chat show host.

"Idli with hands? I don't know how to eat idli with hands," Jani responds, laughing.

Janhvi Kapoor says she can eat almost anything with her hand, including Maggi Noodles.

Though Jani finally approves the idli-chicken curry combination after tasting it and asks her viewers to comment if they have tried it, she brands it a weird combination.

Watch the viral clip here:

A large number of people who watched the clip slammed Kamiya Jani for being unaware of idli and chicken curry, a popular food combination in south India.

Born in India, introduces herself as a travel influencer and acts like a white person, X user Aditi said, sharing the clip.

Another user expressed similar sentiments, highlighting that it is a popular combination in Tamil Nadu.

How is idli and chicken curry a weird combination? Has she ever visited Tamil Nadu? Also, try idli or dosa with mutton, which is a blissful combination, Dr Ganesh said.

It is sometimes easy to be comfortable within your culinary bubble in India until you move out and live like a local in another city, another user, Rohit Malekar, said.

Another X user, Arijit Garg, came to Jani's defence saying she should be spared for not knowing about the idli and chicken curry combination.

I have been to all south states, eaten their cuisines extensively and never heard of idli with chicken curry. My wife lived in Bengaluru for five years, never heard same. It's totally fine if @CurlyTalesIndia is unaware. Spare her a moment and move on, he said.

(Also Read: Street vendor making idli ice cream upsets foodies on Instagram, they demand justice)

In March this year, Kamiya Jani was awarded the National Digital Creators Award in the Best Travel Creator category for Curly Tales by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She was among 23 content creators from various fields, who were given awards in various categories.
In the Mediterranean Sea, a group of killer whales attacked and capsized a yacht worth $128,000. The crew on board the yacht were startled by the well-coordinated attack by the orcas, which lasted for about two hours, as per reports. The attack by the killer whale went on for two hours. (unsplash)

The New York Post reported that only 22 hours into their 10-day journey from Vilamoura, Portugal, to Greece, Robert Powell, 59, and his crew noticed killer whales approaching them. The orcas, who are generally regarded as intelligent and inquisitive, started acting aggressively and violently crashed into the yacht. Around 8 pm the five orcas circled the 39-foot sailing boat and alternately attacked it.

Whilst I was looking around the boat to see if I could see anything  I was doing about 5 to 6 knots  it got hit again. On the second hit, I looked over the back of the boat, and I could see the dark shape of a killer whale in the water. They were circling. It was like watching wolves hunt. They were taking turns coming in  sometimes two would come in at the same time and hit it. So obviously pretty terrifying," Powell told The New York Post. (Also Read: Bloodthirsty orcas brutally attack a whale shark. Watch rare video)

After about 15 strikes, the sailboat was unable to steer as the pod of five initially attacked the rudder. The orcas then split off and began attacking different sections of the boat's exterior in a methodical manner; one focused on the keel, another on the stern, and the others on other exposed spots.

The crew tried in vain to guide the vessel away from the whales, taken off guard by the intensity of the assault. The orcas showed an exceptional degree of hostility as though they were determined to sink the yacht. Just before the sailboat sank 130 feet into the Mediterranean and vanished beneath the waves, a Spanish recovery craft stepped in and evacuated the crew.
The Mumbai Police Department has gained a reputation for delivering safety messages with a touch of humour on its social media platforms. These messages consistently captivate and impress their audience. Once again, the department has struck a chord with a special message promoting the importance of using strong passwords. Snapshot of the post made by the Mumbai Police.

In their post, the Mumbai Police made a reference to the American show The Simpsons, which is known for predicting events, and wrote, "Keep passwords so strong even The Simpsons can't predict."

While sharing the post, in the caption, they wrote, "D'oh! The scammers will try their best and fail miserably. The lesson is: Be Unpredictable." (Also Read: Mumbai police urges caution near Marine Drive with clever post amid heavy rainfall)

Take a look at the post here:

This post was shared on July 27. Since being posted, it has gained close to 5,000 likes and the numbers are only increasing. The share also has numerous comments. Numerous people praised the department for their witty message.

Here's how people reacted:

An individual wrote, "This post was already predicted by the Simpsons."

Another person added, "What a fantastic copy."

"Mumbai Police is too cool," commented a third.

Earlier, the Mumbai Police shared a Bridgerton inspired post on social media. They shared a series of the show's famous dialogues and talked about public safety. (Also Read: Mumbai police uses vein die gram to deliver powerful World Drug Day message. See post)

The Mumbai Police used the dialogue "You are the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires," from Bridgerton to drive home the importance of wearing a helmet, making the message both entertaining and relevant to public safety.

They then wrote, "Just keep looking at me; no one else matters," to show the importance of a red light.

In the third picture, the department added, "It's you that I cannot sacrifice," to show a person's license.
Mobile internet connection in Bangladesh was restored on Sunday, 10 days after being restricted by the Sheikh Hasina government to prevent the spread of fake news amid student protests against quota reforms. Internet was restored in Bangladesh ten days after the country went offline to prevent the spread of fake news amidst anti-quota protests. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain(REUTERS)

Also Read: Bangladesh protests Mamata Banerjee's shelter remark, calls it provocative: Reports

Bangladesh's minister of state for information and communication technology (ICT), Zunaid Ahmed Palak, said that 5GB internet would be provided for free to all users in the country for three days, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

Also Read: Dont teach me': Mamata Banerjee on MEA's criticism for statement on Bangladesh

Mobile internet connectivity was restored in the country at 3:00 pm local time on Sunday for users of Robi, Grameenphone, Banglalink and other operators in Dhaka.

Also Read: Bangladeshi YouTuber's guide to illegal entry into India goes viral, sparks outrage

Mobile internet was shut down by the Bangladesh government on July 18 due to rising violence across the country.

According to ICT minister Palak, the decision was made "in light of the current crisis in the country and to stop the spread of fake news on social media", The Daily Star reported.

The Department of Disaster Management building was set on fire during protests, which was adjacent to a data centre. The Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) said that the fire might cut 30-40 per cent of the bandwidth supply in the country.

Broadband internet connection was disrupted within an hour. The country remained disconnected from both broadband and mobile internet from July 18 to 23.

Broadband internet was restored in stages but mobile internet remained unavailable until Sunday.

Palak added that the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) had sent letters to officials from Facebook, Tiktok and YouTube.

"Their representatives have to come to Dhaka by July 31 to give explanations. Then, after discussing it with them, we will make a decision, he said.

Violent clashes began in Bangladesh between the police and students protesting against reforms to quotas for government jobs, which provided 30 per cent reservation to relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh's War of Independence in 1971.

The violence has reportedly led to a death toll of more than 150 people, according to local newspapers but no official figures are available.

On Monday, the Supreme Court court reduced the veterans' quota to 5 per cent. With 2 per cent reservations for ethnic minorities, transgender people and physically challenged people, 93 per cent of government jobs will remain merit based.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina backed her controversial orders to enforce a curfew and shoot-on-sight order. She said such tough measures were required to ensure the security of people and their property.

By Wednesday, traffic had returned to the streets of Dhaka and a few banks, garment factories, etc had also reopened, signaling a slow return to normalcy.
A Bangladeshi student group has vowed to resume protests that sparked a lethal police crackdown and nationwide unrest unless several of their leaders are released from custody on Sunday. Bangladesh students vow to resume protests unless leaders freed

Last week's violence killed at least 205 people, according to an AFP count of police and hospital data, in one of the biggest upheavals of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 15-year tenure.

Army patrols and a nationwide curfew remain in place more than a week after they were imposed, and a police dragnet has scooped up thousands of protesters including at least half a dozen student leaders.

Members of Students Against Discrimination, whose campaign against civil service hiring rules precipitated the unrest, said they would end their weeklong protest moratorium.

The group's chief Nahid Islam and others "should be freed and the cases against them must be withdrawn", Abdul Hannan Masud told reporters in an online briefing late Saturday.

Masud, who did not disclose his location because he was in hiding from authorities, also demanded "visible actions" be taken against government ministers and police officers responsible for the deaths of protesters.

"Otherwise, Students Against Discrimination will be forced to launch tough protests" from Monday, he said.

Islam and two other senior members of the protest group were on Friday forcibly discharged from hospital in the capital Dhaka and taken away by a group of plainclothes detectives.

Earlier in the week Islam told AFP he was being treated at the hospital for injuries police inflicted on him during an earlier round of detention and said he was in fear for his life.

Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters Friday that the trio were taken into custody for their own safety but did not confirm if they had been formally arrested.

Police told AFP on Sunday that detectives had taken two others into custody, while a Students Against Discrimination activist told AFP that a third had been taken on Sunday morning.

At least 9,000 people have been arrested nationwide since the unrest began according to Prothom Alo, Bangladesh's largest daily newspaper.

Protests began this month over the reintroduction of a quota scheme reserving more than half of all government jobs for certain candidates.

With around 18 million young Bangladeshis out of work, according to government figures, the move deeply upset graduates facing an acute employment crisis.

Critics say the quota is used to stack public jobs with loyalists to the ruling Awami League.

The Supreme Court cut the number of reserved jobs last week but fell short of protesters' demands to scrap the quotas entirely.

Prime Minister Hasina has ruled Bangladesh since 2009 and won her fourth consecutive election in January after a vote without genuine opposition.

sa/gle/mca

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
CARACAS, Venezuela  The past two months were unlike anything Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia had ever experienced: He gave political speeches, shook peoples hands and waved from the top of a truck moving through cheering crowds gathered across Venezuela. He also shed the title of ambassador for that of presidential candidate. Ex-diplomat, political newcomer, grandpa. That's Edmundo Gonzalez, Venezuela's Maduro rival

The dramatic life changes for the 74-year-old Gonzalez transformed him from a virtually unknown devout grandfather into a household name. Sunday he could make history if he defeats President Nicolas Maduro in a highly anticipated election. The vote is the first serious electoral challenge the ruling party has faced in decades.

A phrase that has been said to me repeatedly is You are my last hope, Gonzalez told reporters Thursday referring to supporters. I want to tell you that you are the hope. You have filled me with strength to face what has undoubtedly been the most unequal electoral campaign in the history of electoral processes in Venezuela.

Gonzalez is on the ballot representing the Unitary Platform, a coalition of Venezuelas main opposition parties, but until April, he had never imagined running for office, let alone for president.

The coalition selected him in April as a last-minute stand-in for opposition powerhouse Maria Corina Machado, who was blocked by the Maduro-controlled Supreme Tribunal of Justice from running for any office for 15 years. Machado, a former lawmaker, swept the oppositions October primary with more than 90% of the vote.

After Machado was blocked from joining the presidential race, she chose a college professor as her substitute on the ballot, but the ruling party-loyal National Electoral Council also barred her from registering. Thats when Gonzalez, a political newcomer, was chosen.

Sundays ballot also features eight other candidates challenging Maduro, but only Gonzalez threatens the president's aspirations for a third term.

Even among Venezuelas opposition, few knew of the former diplomat before he was announced as the coalitions candidate. Before Gonzalez joined Machado on the campaign trail, she became his surrogate, allocating a minute or so of her stump to him, describing him as an honest family man and urging her supporters to cast their votes for him.

Gonzalez began his professional career as an aide to Venezuelas ambassador in the U.S. He had postings in Belgium and El Salvador and served as Caracas ambassador to Algeria.

His last post was as Venezuelas ambassador to Argentina during the first years of the government of Hugo Chavez, Maduros predecessor and mentor. More recently, he worked as an international relations consultant, writing about recent political developments in Argentina as well as authoring a historical work on Venezuelas foreign minister during World War II.

His years in El Salvador and Algeria coincided with periods of armed conflicts in both countries. For a time, his whereabouts were tracked by locals in El Salvador, and he would get calls at home meant to intimidate him, with the callers saying they were aware that Gonzalez had just gotten home.

He had just returned to Venezuelas capital, Caracas, from a trip to Europe to visit a daughter and grandchildren when opposition leaders presented him with the idea of becoming a candidate. He conditioned his acceptance to a few matters, including that his wife be convinced of the decision. Not only did she agree, she also stood next to him on stages and trucks, and both waved to the crowds of young and old who gathered by the thousands to see them during the campaign.

His characteristic subdued tone and poker face, forged in his years as a diplomat, go against the image of boisterous politicians to which voters are accustomed. Maduro and his allies have taken his demeanor as a sign of weakness and chastised him on national TV and at campaign events. That kind of demeaning language is among the many changes Gonzalez wishes to see in Venezuela. In his short campaign, he has emphasized the decency that he wants Venezuelans to experience again, from that of a living wage to reliable public utilities.

Enough shouting, enough insults, its time to reunite, Gonzalez told supporters.

Should he win, Gonzalez will end Venezuelas 25 years under the policies that Chavez described as socialism for the 21st century and installed after becoming president in 1999. Gonzalez has not presented his government plan, but that does not seem to worry opposition supporters, many of whom think the only important plan ahead of the election is the one that gets Maduro defeated at the polls Sunday.

What is happening? People no longer buy the socialism story, Leonardo Guerrero, a layman church leader in the western state of Barinas, said after a recent service. Mass required the use of a battery-powered speaker because power had been out for hours.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Toronto: A 25-year-old Indo-Canadian, with alleged gangland links, has been identified as the victim of a shooting on Friday night in Vancouver which led to a traffic collision. Police officers stand at the scene of a deadly shooting at an office building in the Don Mills neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada on June 17, 2024. (REUTERS)

In a release issued on Saturday, Vancouver Police Department (VPD) identified the deceased a Hitkaran Johal, who died at the scene of the collision.

Police were called in at around 9pm (local time) on Friday over reports of two men shot in a vehicle, which then collided with two other vehicles.

One person was taken to hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

As police probe the overnight homicide, they said they believed the shooting was targeted and there is no ongoing public safety risk at this time. No arrests have been made as yet and the investigation is ongoing, the release said.

A vehicle was also set ablaze in the vicinity of shooting soon after that occurred, which is a tactic associated with gangland hits. However, investigators were working to ascertain whether the fire was connected to the shooting.

The outlet Vancouver Suns veteran crime correspondent Kim Bolan posted on X that the gangster injured in the shooting was in court on Tuesday after fleeing from police last summer while on parole.

Johal appeared to have a gang history. In May 2018, VPD and the Combined Force Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia announced it had arrested seven persons and sought 20 criminal charges as part of Project Temper, which was aimed at countering an increase in targeted violence in the Lower Mainland, the region which includes Vancouver and suburbs like Surrey.

Among those arrested was Johal, then 19, on charges related to conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit arson. Project Temper, a gang violence suppression operation, has resulted in the dismantling of the Gill Group. This violent crime group was comprised of several individuals including its leader, Taqdir Gill, says VPDs then Superintendent Mike Porteous said at the time.

In July 2021, VPD announced that Johal had been convicted, as 27 total convictions were announced under the multi-jurisdictional Task Force Tourniquet which included Project Temper. The men convicted as a result of Task Force Tourniquet were significant players in the gang conflict between March 2017 and August 2018, VPD spokesperson Const. Tania Visintin said at the time, in a statement.
Jennifer Aniston has come under fire from Senator turned Trumps VP pick JD Vance, who branded the actress "disgusting" for involving his 2-year-old daughter in a recent public feud. The controversy arose after Aniston made scathing remarks hitting back at Vance for his 'childless cat ladies' comments from a resurfaced video. In response, the clearly outraged Ohio senator reacted to her opinion. Jennifer Aniston criticised JD Vance for his Childless cat ladies comment.(@jenniferaniston/Instagram, @JDVance/X)

JD Vance claps back at Jennifer Anistons comments

Thats disgusting because my daughter is 2 years old, The Republican vice presidential nominee expressed his disgust at the star's comments during an appearance on the Megyn Kelly Show on Friday. The Murder Mystery actress previously took a shot at the politician for what he said about the country being "run by a bunch of childless cat ladies.

Also read: Kelly Clarkson and Peyton Manning blasted for 'disastrous' Olympics commentary: Why is she there

Aniston shared her own battle with infertility and expressed hope that Vance's family never experiences similar difficulties. Responding to the same the Hillbilly Elegy author said, And second of all, if she had fertility problems, as I said in that speech, I would try everything I could to try to help her because I believe families and babies are a good thing, he continued.

Jennifer Anistons comments on Vances controversial remark

The 55-year-old, who earlier attributed her failed marriage with Brad Pitt to her inability to provide him a child despite being Hollywoods high-profile couple, found Vances comments extremely appalling. She said, All I can say is Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day.

I hope she will not need to turn to IVF as a second option. Because you are trying to take that away from her, too, she added.

Now, defending his past opinion on Megyn Kelly show, Vance explained, I understand the media wants to challenge me and push me to retract my statements, Megyn, but the core point I was making is that becoming a parent-whether as a father or a mother-can profoundly shift your perspective.

JD Vance caught in childless cat ladies controversy

Donald Trump chose his running mate for the upcoming presidential election just before the Republican National Convention. Shortly after, numerous old videos of the Ohio senator began surfacing online. In some, he criticised Trump, while in others, he spoke about his opponents.

One particular video gained social media attention, where Vance had talked about Democratic politicians like Kamala Harris, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Pete Buttigieg before, calling them "people without kids" who wanted to run the "whole future" of the Democrats.

How does it make any sense that weve turned our country over to people who dont really have a direct stake in it? He said in 2021. "I'm saying that we are effectively run in this country via the Democrats by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and they choices they made so they want to make the rest of the country miserable too, he added.

The commentary clearly didnt sit well with many especially when Kamala Harris got Bidens endorsement to succeed him as the presidential nominee in the upcoming election. Major celebs like Aniston, Cardi B, Katy Perry and others slammed Vance for his out of the line remarks.
BENGHAZI - A Libyan court has jailed 12 officials in connection with the collapse of a series of dams in Derna last year that killed thousands of the city's residents, the Attorney General said on Sunday. Libyan court jails 12 officials over deadly floods

The officials, who were responsible for managing the country's dams, were sentenced to between 9 and 27 years in prison by the Court of Appeal in Derna. Four officials were acquitted.

Derna, a coastal city with a population of 125,000, was devastated last September by massive floods caused by Storm Daniel.

Thousands were killed and thousands more were missing as a result of the floods that burst dams, swept away buildings and destroyed entire neighbourhoods.

The Attorney General in Tripoli said three of the defendants were ordered to "return money obtained from illicit gains", according to a statement, which did not give the names or positions of those on trial.

"The convicted officials have been charged with negligence, premeditated murder and waste of public money," a judicial source in Derna told Reuters by phone, adding that they had the right to appeal against the verdicts.

A report in January by the World Bank, United Nations and European Union said deadly flash flooding in Derna constituted a climate and environmental catastrophe that required $1.8 billion to fund reconstruction and recovery.

The report said the dams' collapse was partly due to their design, based on outdated hydrological information, and partly a result of poor maintenance and governance problems during more than a decade of conflict in Libya.

Libya has been split since 2014 between rival power centres ruling in east and west following the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
BAMAKO, - Mali's northern Tuareg rebels said they had killed and injured dozens of soldiers and Wagner mercenaries in two days of fighting near the Algerian border, after the army said it had lost two soldiers but killed some 20 rebels. Mali rebels say they killed and injured dozens of soldiers, Wagner mercenaries in fighting

The rebel movement, the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development , said in a statement on Saturday that it had seized armoured vehicles, trucks and tankers in the fighting at the border town of Tinzaouaten on Thursday and Friday.

The rebel group also said it damaged a helicopter, which crashed in the town of Kidal, hundreds of kilometres away.

The Malian army said in statements that two soldiers had been killed and 10 injured. One of its helicopters had crashed in Kidal on Friday while on a routine mission but no one was killed, it said.

Several Russian military bloggers reported on Sunday that at least 20 from the Wagner group were killed in an ambush near the Algerian border.

"Employees of the Wagner PMC , who were moving in a convoy with government troops, were killed in Mali...Some were captured," said a prominent Russian military blogger Semyon Pegov, who uses the name War Gonzo.

The Baza Telegram news channel, which has links to Russia's security structures, reported that at least 20 Wagner fighters have been killed.

Reuters could not independently verify the bloggers' reports.

Wagner played a prominent role in some of the fiercest fighting of Russia's war in Ukraine, but its future was thrown into question when its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash in August, two months after leading a brief mutiny against the Russian defence establishment.

Mali, where military authorities seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, is battling a years-long Islamist insurgency. It has said Russian forces there are not Wagner mercenaries but trainers helping local troops with equipment bought from Russia.

Baza's report said on Sunday that Wagner fighters have been in Mali since at least 2021.

The Tuareg are an ethnic group who inhabit the Sahara region, including parts of northern Mali. Many of them feel marginalised by the Malian government.

The separatist group launched an insurgency against Mali's junta government in 2012 but the rebellion was later hijacked by Islamist groups.

It signed a peace agreement with Bamako in 2015, but CSP-PSD pulled out of the talks at the end of 2022.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
There are mountain ranges, and then there are exceptional mountain ranges such as the Sawtooths of Idaho, the Tetons of Wyoming and the Wallowas of northeastern Oregon.

Located about 100 miles south of Lewiston, the Wallowas lie at the heart of the Eagle Cap Wilderness, a 562-square-mile swath of supreme scenic beauty. Its big country, filled with deep valleys, cool forests, huge sweeps of glacially polished rock and peaks that rise to nearly 10,000 feet. Chief Joseph and his band of the Nez Perce people picked berries and hunted in these mountains long before while settlers arrived in 1860.

It is an ideal place for backpacking, so my wife and I headed there in early July for a three-day outing. Our plan was to hike five miles up the Hurricane Creek trail, camp near the creek, then day hike up to Echo Lake before returning to camp that night and hiking out on the third day.

It was a simple plan, and it worked perfectly.

Getting started

The Hurricane Creek trailhead is only six miles from Joseph, Ore., but its a long and winding road to get there from the north. The road starts off as Washington State Rout 129, which is crooked as a dying snake when it leaves the Snake River at Asotin. From there, it climbs up and over Rattlesnake Grade, then plunges into the Grand Ronde River canyon. A few miles after crossing the Grande Ronde, the road enters Oregon, where it is rechristened as State Route 3.

We rolled up to the Hurricane Creek trailhead shortly after 10 on a mid-week morning, one day before the Fourth of July, and we were dismayed to find the parking lot nearly full. Most visitors would be day hikers, we assumed, but the sheer number of vehicles suggested the trail would be busy.

One noticeable absentee was our dog, an 8-year-old bundle of joy who once possessed more energy than any human could dissipate. Though it was a heart-breaking decision to leave her behind, the rigorous climb to Echo Lake and equally rigorous descent validated our decision. Echo Lake, which still has a lot of snow at this time of year, is not a good place for aging dogs.

Easy going

The first few miles of the Hurricane Creek trail climb gradually through a cool, shady forest. Its pleasant hiking as the trail hems the creek, winding through moss-draped conifers that sway in the wind. Theres a handful of nice camps along the creek in those first few miles, and there are several side creeks which are crossable with little effort at this time of year.

Theres also evidence of avalanches, with thinly vegetated slide paths and hundreds of fallen trees all pointing in the same direction. Winter is hard in the Wallowas, and spring avalanches are a powerful force of nature.

As it climbs, the trail passes through spectacular fields of wildflowers. Warm-weather tree species, such as juniper and curl leaf mountain mahogany, also begin to appear.

After 3-1/2 miles, Hurricane Creek narrows down to a tight, steep gorge with a succession of lovely waterfalls. Squint your eyes and it could be a scene from the Austrian Alps as the water writhes and twists with savage intensity. Some nerveless kayaker probably has paddled it by now; if not, its only a matter of time before one does.
Russia may deploy new strike weapons in response to the planned U.S. stationing of longer-range and hypersonic missiles in Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday. Russia's Putin vows 'mirror measures' in response to U.S. missiles in Germany

Speaking at a naval parade in St Petersburg, Putin vowed mirror measures after the U.S. earlier this month announced that it will start deploying the weapons in 2026, to affirm its commitment to NATO and European defense following Moscow's all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

If the U.S. implements such plans, we will consider ourselves free from the previously imposed unilateral moratorium on the deployment of intermediate and shorter-range strike weapons, including increasing the capability of the coastal forces of our navy, Putin said. He added that Moscows development of suitable systems is in its final stage.

Both Washington and Moscow have in recent weeks signaled readiness to deploy intermediate-range ground-based weapons that were banned for decades under a 1987 U.S.-Soviet treaty. The U.S. pulled out of the agreement in 2019, accusing Moscow of conducting missile tests that violated it.

The allegations, which Russia denied, came as tensions mounted between Moscow and the West in the wake of the downing of a Malaysian airliner carrying 298 people over war-torn eastern Ukraine. Two Russians and a pro-Moscow Ukrainian were ultimately convicted over their role in the attack.

Washington and Berlin said in a joint statement this month that the U.S. weapons to be placed in Germany would ultimately include SM-6 missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and developmental hypersonic weapons, including those with a significantly longer range than the ones currently deployed across Europe.

Most of Russias missile systems are capable of carrying either conventional or nuclear warheads. Russias deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said last week that the Kremlin did not rule out new deployments of nuclear missiles in response to the U.S. move.

Ryabkov added that defending Kaliningrad, Russia's heavily militarized exclave wedged between NATO members Poland and Lithuania, was of particular concern.

Putin has for years cast U.S. deployment of missile infrastructure in Europe as an aggressive move aimed at hamstringing Moscows capabilities. The news about the planned stationing of new weapons in Germany came at a NATO summit in Washington earlier this month. At the same event, allies announced that a new U.S. base in Poland, Ukraines western neighbor, is ready to enter operation and will be capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Venezuelans are voting in a presidential election whose outcome will either lead to a seismic shift in politics or extend by six more years the policies that caused the worlds worst peacetime economic collapse. The Latest: Venezuela chooses between another presidential term for Maduro or a big change

Whether it is President Nicolas Maduro who is chosen or his main opponent, former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez, Sundays election will have ripple effects throughout the Americas. Thats because government opponents and supporters alike have signaled their interest in emigrating if Maduro wins the election.

More than 7.7 million people have already left the country. An estimated 17 million Venezuelans are eligible to vote.

Gonzalez is representing a coalition of opposition parties after being selected in April as a stand-in for opposition powerhouse Maria Corina Machado, who was blocked by the Maduro-controlled Supreme Tribunal of Justice. For once, the opposition factions have managed to unite behind a single candidate.

Polls opened at 6 a.m., but voters started lining up at some voting centers across the country much earlier, sharing water, coffee and snacks for several hours.

Here's the latest: Venezuelans vote in neighboring countries

CARACAS, Venezuela Venezuelans turned out to vote on Sunday at a school in the Colombian capital, Bogota, where some 4,300 citizens were registered to vote. In a nearby park attendees waved flags and shouted in unison for freedom.

In the northern port city of Barranquilla  where 387 Venezuelans were registered  the sentiment was similar. The president of a Venezuelan association in the city, Pilin Leon, told the press that voting went quite smoothly.

Several Venezuelans went to the embassy in Lima, Peru, to vote with flags in their hands and sang the Venezuelan anthem. 659 citizens were registered to vote there.

However, Venezuelan citizens cannot vote in countries like Ecuador. In April, Nicolas Maduro ordered the Venezuelan embassy to shut down in solidarity with Mexico after the police raid on its embassy.

Instead, dozens of Venezuelans chose to attend a religious ceremony in a church in the countrys capital, Quito. In the southern city of Cuenca, Venezuelans gathered in a park chanting for freedom and democracy in their home country.

 Gabriela Molina No violence or incidents at voting sites says the Minister of Defense

CARACAS, Venezuela Minister of Defense, Chief General Vladimir Padrino Lopez, said during the first six hours of voting, no incident worth mentioning has occurred. The day has passed in peace.

The military chief asked Venezuelans not to share comments about alleged acts of violence in the surroundings of voting centers, saying that, what appears on social media is not always true.

The unitary opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez says that he trusts that the Venezuelan Armed Forces will respect the will of the people". The military, in charge of logistics and security of the elections, is one of the main supporters of President Nicolas Maduro.

The presidents opponents have tried to unsuccessfully enlist the support of the military to force Maduro to step down from power, arguing that he was re-elected in 2018 in fraudulent elections.

Senior military commanders, including the Minister of Defense, publicly expressed their support and loyalty to Maduro. For many, the military would have much to lose if there was a political change in Venezuela after 25 years of self-proclaimed socialist governments. Gonzalez comments after casting his vote

CARACAS, Venezuela The opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez expressed his satisfaction with the massive presence of Venezuelans lined up since late Saturday night and Sunday morning at voting centers.

Today more than ever Venezuelans are demonstrating that we are one people. What we see are lines of joy and hope. Today begins a day of reconciliation for all Venezuelans, said Gonzalez, surrounded by journalists, shortly after casting his vote.

The democratic spirit of Venezuelans is more alive than ever, its time for change, added the ex-diplomat. If victorious, Gonzalez promised to create conditions for the almost 8 million Venezuelans to return to their home country after fleeing compounding crises.

We do not want more Venezuelans leaving the country, and for those who have left I tell them we will do everything possible for them to come back and welcome them with open arms, he said.To all the Venezuelans around the world, your strength and commitment encourages us. We are one people in search of freedom, he added.

 Jorge Rueda If Chavez were alive, hed vote for Maduro, says the late president's daughter

CARACAS, Venezuela  Maria Gabriela Chavez, one of the late presidents daughters, commented as she cast her ballot in a school classroom under the watchful gaze of Chavezs face painted on the wall.

Tenemos que ganar, she told of the advice her father would likely have given had he been alive today.

Sundays vote is being held on what wouldve been the 70th birthday of Chavez, who died in 2013 of cancer.

Chavez said she agreed with the decision, which seeks to stir admiration for her fathers legacy and give Maduro, his handpicked political heir, a possible boost in a tight race.

Siempre mezclamos la familia con politica, said Chavez, who nonetheless plans to lay a wreath at her fathers tomb in a hilltop army fort later Sunday Medicine shortages a factor in Venezuelans' vote preference

CARACAS, Venezuela Judy Oropeza says when her sister died in 2019 she vowed never again to vote for the government that long employed her as a school teacher.

It was the nadir of Venezuelas economic crisis and due to widespread shortages, Oropezas sister couldnt find the medicine she needed to treat hypertension.

Oropeza was in Colombia trying to find work because her miserly wages werent enough to feed her and her son. I came home to bury her practically, she said, holding back tears.

Today, sitting quietly on a bench in Caracas iconic Plaza Bolivar, she acknowledges things have improved.

But she abandoned the profession she loved to escape hunger and still has to watch every penny of her $160 month in salary in the private sector.Theres peace now, she says as a street sweeper collects the fallen leaves from the marble floor. But theres wounds that never heal. Thats why I vote for change.

 Joshua Goodman Our machine is "well-oiled", says Maduro campaign chief

CARACAS, Venezuela  Key to Maduros chances Sunday is the strength of the ruling partys ability to mobilize its base.

One strategy, known as 1 x 10, asks each Maduro supporter to recruit 10 of their friends and family members.

Asked Sunday about those efforts to boost turnout, Maduro campaign chief Jorge Rodriguez said our machine is well-oiled.

Joshua Goodman Happy Birthday Hugo Chavez!

CARACAS, Venezuela Authorities set Sundays election to coincide with what would have been the 70th birthday of the former presidentone last effort by the ruling socialist party to gain an edge in the hard-fought electoral battle.

The former president and revered leftist firebrand died of cancer in 2013, leaving Maduro as his political heir.

In the January 23 poor hillside neighborhood where a mausoleum holds Chavezs remains, supporters shared a cake celebrating the birthday.

Joshua Goodman Nearly all voting centers open across Venezuela

The President of Venezuelas National Electoral Council Elvis Amoroso says that 95% of of voting centers across the country are open.

The council set up 30,026 voting machines for the election.

Amoroso said Sunday he and other electoral authorities had a clear conscience about the work they were carrying out.

He said 100% of polling place workers were present at voting centers from the time they opened at 6 a.m.

Jorge Rueda Voters look for change

CARACAS, Venezuela  In the working-class Petare neighborhood on the east side of Caracas, people lined up to vote hours before polls opened.

Judith Cantilla, a 52-year-old domestic worker said, In the name of God, everything is going to turn out alright. Each person is going take their position and well, change for Venezuela.

She said the people were tired and that change for Venezuela is for more jobs, security, medicine in hospitals and better pay for teachers and doctors.

Elsewhere, Liana Ibarra, a manicurist in greater Caracas, got in line at 3 a.m. Sunday and found at least 150 people ahead of her.

The 35-year-old Ibarra said her aunt wrote to her from the U.S. at 2 a.m. to see if she was already in line.

With her backpack next to her loaded with water, coffee and cassava snacks, Ibarra said there used to be a lot of indifference toward elections, "but not anymore.

Her moms 11 siblings have all migrated. She has not followed them, she said, because her 5-year-old son has special needs. But if Gonzalez does not win, she will ask her relatives to sponsor her and her sons application to migrate to the U.S. legally.

We cant take it anymore, she said.

Fabiola Sanchez and Regina Garcia Cano Party representatives blocked from observing at voting center

CARACAS, Venezuela  At least eight party representatives authorized by the National Electoral Council to provide oversight at the countrys largest voting center in the capital Caracas were being denied access more than an hour after polls were supposed to open.

Police officers linked arms around the door as the representatives showed their printed certificates that should give them access.

Marisol Contreras, 58, chief party representative for the Unitary Platform, said she arrived at 4 a.m. and was told she couldnt go in to the elementary school.

People affiliated with the government stood at the door and indicated to them that all the necessary personnel were already inside.

Marlyn Hernandez, the voting center coordinator, said she didn't know why the authorized representatives were not being allowed in to the school where more than 11,000 people are registered to vote. The center opened 90 minutes late. Maduro says he will respect the announced results

CARACAS, Venezuela  Incumbent President Nicolas Maduro says he will recognize the result of the presidential election and urged other candidates to publicly declare the same.

Maduro said after voting Sunday that no one is going to create chaos in Venezuela. He said I recognize and will recognize the electoral referee, the official announcements" and that he would make sure the result is recognized.

He called on the other nine candidates to respect, to make respected and to declare publicly that they will respect the official announcement of the winner. Blinken calls for free and fair election in Venezuela

TOKYO, Japan  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Venezuelans deserve an election that genuinely reflects their will, free from manipulation.

Speaking at a news conference in Tokyo Sunday, Blinken said the U.S. will not prejudice the election's outcome and that the international community will be watching closely while urging all parties to honor their commitments and respect democratic process.

Blinken said despite facing severe repression, Venezuelans are showing enormous enthusiasm for the election.

He said the U.S. and the international community have championed the Barbados electoral roadmap agreement to restore political freedoms in Venezuela," even though Maduro and his representatives s have fallen short on many of those commitments. Opposition candidate taunted at voting center

CARACAS, Venezuela  Opposition supporters greeted presidential candidate Daniel Ceballos with shouts of Get out! Get out! Get out! Traitor! as he arrived to vote at a school in downtown Caracas.

Ceballos was a leader of anti-Maduro protests in 2014 calling for the presidents resignation less than a year after his election. He was imprisoned for his actions.

Ceballos lost some of his edge after he emerged from jail years later. Most recently, he surprised friend and foe alike by registering to run against Maduro with a rhetoric critical of the main opposition coalition which considers him a sell-out and a patsy for Maduros efforts to stay in power.

Joshua Goodman Some voters still sticking with Maduro

Clarisa Machado voted for Maduro in the working-class Caracas neighborhood of Petare.

The 74-year-old sociologist felt confident that the experience the government gained over years of crisis would make it better able to deal with difficult situations still to come, as well as improve Venezuelans' standard of living.

We Venezuelans, when they knock us down, we get back up and that serves as experience to not fall down again, she said.

Jorge Rueda

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
A New York mom has detailed a horrifying experience involving Burger King. Tiffany Floyd has claimed that she discovered that a kids meal she ordered for her daughter was splattered with blood. NY mom claims Burger King meal for daughter, 4, had blood all over it (Tiffany Lynn/Facebook)

Tiffany took to Facebook to share an image of the blood and talk about her ordeal. Burger King count your freaking days, she wrote.

Im out doing running around with the kids and Tay wanted a happy meal so i stop and i usually take her food out for her but today i just gave her the bag than i hear mommy theres ketchup and i didnt want ketchup so i take it back to see if they messed up our order and its BLOOD!!! a horrified Tiffany wrote.

Theres blood all over her food and inside the bag  i called Burger King because i knew if i went back there Id end up in jail and the manager calmly goes ya our one guy cut his hand , if you come back Ill refund you the money  WHAT!!! So now im waiting for tays doctor to call me back to see if i have to take her to the hospital to get blood work . I AM LIVID!!!! she added.

There was just blood all over her hamburger, all over the wrapper

Tiffany also spoke out about the incident in a conversation with New York Post. She recalled how she found the food covered in red liquid after she took her daughter, 4, to the fast food drive-through in Getzville, New York, on Friday, July 26, around 12 pm.

While New York Post named the mom as Tiffany Floyd, her Facebook name is Tiffany Lynn.

All I heard was, Mom, I dont want ketchup, so I grabbed her bag, thinking that they messed up our order again, and I looked and there was just blood all over her hamburger, all over the wrapper. I looked inside the bag, theres blood on her toys, everything, Tiffany, who lives in Sanborn, said.

So I instantly told her to spit out her food. She did have fries and a bit of her hamburger. And then I looked at my meal, and there was blood on mine too, she added.

Tiffany said that upon calling the restaurant, the manager, Dan, did inform me that a cook had cut his hand and he was bleeding. And that he was so sorry, and if I came back, he would refund me, Tiffany said.

Tiffany said that her daughters paediatrician said they would need to wait 30 days to get the childs blood tested and determine if she had contracted any disease. And then get her blood work done every so often for a year to see if something comes up, Tiffany said.

Tiffany said the manager refused to tell her who the wounded employee was. If they just make him go and get tested, my daughter would not have to get pricked, she said.

Tiffany contacted her local health inspector at the Niagara County Department of Health to file a report, and claimed that he spoke to the same manager, who said, I did have somebody cut their finger, but they didnt think they were bleeding that bad. Tiffany also posted about the incident on TikTok.

Tiffany said that she contacted Burger Kings corporate office via its website, following which a representative told her they would pay for the medical expenses of her daughter. We did tell Burger King that medical expenses was not enough, Tiffany said. And how my daughter has not eaten since this and my anxiety is through the roof and what if my daughter needs professional help from this.

In a statement, Burger King said it was deeply upset and concerned to learn of this incident. We were deeply upset and concerned to learn of this incident. We have been in contact with the Guest and are working with her to resolve this incident. This incident was the result of a team member in the restaurant who injured his finger, and upon noticing immediately stepped away. We closed the restaurant to retrain all the team members and hired an external company to complete a deep cleaning, the company said. We expect the restaurant to re-open Monday and are fully paying team members for any lost shifts during this temporary shut down.
Washington, Kamala Harris' campaign on Sunday announced that it has raised an unprecedented USD 200 million in less than a week after she entered the race for the White House, reflecting the groundswell of support in her favour. Harris campaign says it raised record USD 200 million in less than a week

The campaign also acknowledged that the November 5 election will be very close and decided by a small number of voters in just a few states.

Vice President Harris, 59, is now the presumptive presidential nominee of the Democratic party after incumbent President Joe Biden on July 20 announced that he was withdrawing from the race.

Team Harris has raised USD 200 million since President Biden's endorsement last Sunday a record-shattering haul. Of that amount, 66 per cent came from first-time donors, further proof of the tremendous grassroots support for the Vice President, said Harris for President Communications Director Michael Tyler.

Vice President Harris has been a candidate for less than a week, but shes already coalesced the entire Democratic Party around her campaign and the organic, grassroots enthusiasm is producing results.

From record-breaking fundraising to unprecedented crowds and volunteers pouring into field offices across the battlegrounds, Team Harris is fired up to elect the Vice President and defeat the extremist Donald Trump-J D Vance ticket, he said.

At the same time, Tyler warned of a closed race.

The momentum and energy for Vice President Harris is real  and so are the fundamentals of this race: this election will be very close and decided by a small number of voters in just a few states. Thats why our campaign is harnessing the energy across the country for a weekend of action to mark 100 days out from the election , Tyler said in a memorandum on Sunday morning.

Tyler said that the enthusiasm for Harris candidacy is uniting and growing the winning coalition with endorsements from young voters, voters of colour, labour, Barack and Michelle Obama, and countless more leaders and advocates.

The party is so united behind Vice President Harris candidacy that she earned enough delegates to become the presumptive nominee barely 24 hours after announcing her campaign. Just this weekend, dozens of surrogates are joining Team Harris on the campaign trail, he asserted.

Since last Sunday, weve seen unprecedented grassroots support for the campaign across the country, with over 170,000 new volunteers joining Team Harris. We are not taking that excitement for granted  just this weekend, the campaign will mobilise thousands of grassroots supporters with more than 2,300 events in battleground states. We are also engaging supporters online and through traditional media, with the VP herself joining TikTok and gaining millions of followers since, he said.

Harris will be formally announced presidential nominee in next month's Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Tyler said this week, hundreds of thousands of supporters came together via calls to support the Vice President, raising millions in the process including shows of support from coalitions of Black women and men, Latinas, white women, the LGBTQ community, and more.

Meanwhile, Trump, her Republican rival, is scrambling, Tyler said, adding that hes scared to debate Harris.

While the Harris coalition is unified and growing, Donald Trump is weighed down by his extensive vulnerabilities, for example, his Friday comments about ending elections in this country, he said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
JD Vance ripped Kamala Harris at a campaign rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on Saturday, July 27, for questioning his loyalty to America. In a short YouTube video, Harris said that Vance would be "loyal only to Trump, not to our country" and a "rubber stamp for [Trump's] extreme agenda." JD Vance blasts Kamala Harris for saying he wouldn't be loyal to America (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher, Stephanie Scarbrough/Pool via REUTERS)

Vance called out the vice president at the joint Donald Trump and Vance rally, speaking about his track record of Marine Corps service and small business ownership. He also criticised Harris' failures in dealing with the border crisis.

What has she done to question my loyalty to this country?

"Now, I saw the other day Kamala Harris questioned my loyalty to this country. That's the word she used; loyalty. And it's an interesting word. Semper Fi: loyalty, because there is no greater sign of disloyalty to this country than what Kamala Harris has done at our southern border," said Vance.

"And I'd like to ask the vice president, what has she done to question my loyalty to this country? I served in the United States Marine Corps. I went to Iraq for this country. I built a business for this country, the Ohio senator continued.

He added, And my running mate took a bullet for this country. So my question to Kamala Harris is, what the hell have you done to question our loyalty to the United States of America?"

Vance went on to answer his own question as the crowd applauded. "And the answer, my friends, is nothing. So let's send a message to the media. Let's send a message to Kamala Harris. Let's send a message to every hardworking patriot from Minnesota across the country. We are ready to have President Donald J. Trump back, and we're going to work our tails off to make sure it happens," he said.

A Fox News poll that was released on Friday, July 26, showed that Trump has 46% support in Minnesota, and Harris has 52%.
JD Vance, the newly announced running mate for GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, has received a Secret Service code name. This comes amid the criticism being faced by the federal law enforcement agency following an assassination attempt on the former president during his campaign rally at Butler, Pennsylvania. Reacting to JD Vance's code name, one X user wrote: MOGUL-BOBCAT 2024.(AP)

Presidents, vice presidents, first ladies, and other prominent individuals under the protection of the Secret Service receive code names. The names are mostly ceremonial and meant to facilitate communication in urgent, high-stress scenarios.

Citing a Secret Service spokesman, The Washington Post reported that code names are decided by sheer whim. However, the names are linked in some way to the person's background or personal history.

Speaking to Daily Mail, Vance's close friend revealed that Trump's VP candidate's code name is Bobcat. Ohio University and Breathitt County High School, located in Jackson, Kentucky, are referred to as Bobcats.

Reacting to Vance's code name, one X user wrote: MOGUL-BOBCAT 2024.

Why would they share a code name with the public? another commented.

How ironic that it's BobCAT, a third user reacted, while the fourth one said, Bobcat is a cool name.

So much insider Ohio to this, one more wrote.

Also Read: Usha Chilukuri Vance's friend reveals she was outraged by Donald Trumps

What are other well-known code names given by the Secret Service?

US President Joe Biden: He received the name while serving as Renegades vice president. The code name honours his Irish roots.

Jill Biden: The First Lady got the name Capri as she is married to Celtic.

Jimmy Carter: Former US president's code name Deacon reflected his deeply religious faith.

Rosalynn Carter: The former first lady and the spouse of Deacon was called Dancer and Lotus.

Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton: His code name Eagle was in reference to his connection with the Boy Scouts. His wife Hillary's code name is Evergreen.

Mike Pence and Karen Pence: His code name is Hoosier while his wife's is Hummingbird.

John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy: The Secret Service referred to the John F. Kennedy as Lancer and his wife as Lace, a tribute to her graceful style.

Mogul and Muse: Donald Trump got the code name Mogul, but he wanted to be called Humble. Melania's Trump code name Muse was apparently a homage to the inspirational beauty of the former model.

Kamala Harris: She chose the name pioneer in August 2020 after she was declared as a VP candidate.
US Vice President Kamala Harris is zeroing in on a group of potential running mates, as she faces a two-week dash to make the biggest decision of her nascent presidential bid. Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to make a selection by Aug. 7, in order to align with the partys plan to virtually nominate a ticket by that date.(PTI)

Harris is considering a wide range of vice presidential candidates from the Democratic Partys bench, though people familiar with the process say a short list has emerged including three elected officials with nationwide appeal: Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

Kevin Munoz, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, said she directed her team to begin the process of vetting potential running mates but declined to elaborate on the search.

Harris is expected to make a selection by Aug. 7, in order to align with the partys plan to virtually nominate a ticket by that date.

Picking a vice presidential candidate will cement the Democratic standard-bearers to take on Republican nominee Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance in the November election. Harris sidekick can serve as a force multiplier who can campaign and raise money on her behalf, while ideally complimenting her strengths and covering any vulnerabilities.

Most on Harris list are White, male politicians with centrist leanings who could help Harris appeal to swing-state voters, as well as business leaders and donors. They have a track record of attacking Trump and his firebrand style of politics. Walz has gained momentum with progressives, enough to vault himself into consideration, according to people familiar with the matter.

Allies of Harris say chemistry between the vice president and whoever she picks is just as important as their political attributes. Harris knows firsthand the pressures of being No. 2 on the Democratic ticket and is weighing her experience as she makes a selection, according to her supporters.

Harris ascension to become the likely Democratic nominee, after President Joe Bidens stunning exit from the race, has accelerated what is typically a months-long vetting process of potential running mates. The pick will take place amid a furious effort by Harris to shape the Biden campaign operation in her image, define herself to voters and expand her war chest  all with roughly 100 days until Election Day.

Democrats cautioned that the search must still be thorough in order to catch any red-flags. Those warnings took on new urgency as old clips emerged of Vance making disparaging comments about childless women, which have come under widespread criticism.

As the Trump team is finding out, its not just the legal vetting that the team has to do, but it also has to go through tweets, speeches and clips, said Democratic strategist Karen Finney. You want a thorough vet, and you want to go through a substantial volume of background info to give you a picture of the person.

Former Attorney General Eric Holder is leading the vetting process. Holders law firm, Covington & Burling LLP, has 12 to 15 files on candidates, according to one person familiar with the process, showing Harris initially cast a wide net.

Shapiro is a popular governor of arguably the most important swing state, and a skilled orator who has performed strongly in rural areas, a weakness for Democrats. Walz, a former teacher and Army National Guard member, could dash Trumps hopes of making Minnesota competitive and mirror Vances Midwestern appeal.

Kellys state doubles as a battleground and border area and he has broken with Biden on immigration issues. His wife, Gabrielle Giffords, is a former congresswoman who became a gun-control activist after surviving an assassination attempt in 2011.

Harris is also looking at the Biden Cabinet for options. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are being vetted, the people said.

A Harris campaign official said she is evaluating potential picks based on shared political values, including on the economy and democracy, and their ability to act as a governing partner and lead the country, if necessary.

The switch from Biden to Harris has energized Democrats, who have gathered tens of thousands on organizing calls and given millions of dollars in donations since the president dropped out. The challenge for Harris is to sustain that momentum for their pick.

Harris surrogates are fanning out to battlegrounds, including some possible running mates. This weekend, Shapiro and Walz are campaigning in their home states. Buttigieg is embarking on a tour of three ports that will take him to battlegrounds Michigan and Wisconsin.

Those said to be under consideration by Harris have publicly said little about the selection process  though few have denied having interest in the job.

Reporters at a Monday event on environmental grants peppered Shapiro with questions on about whether he would be picked, prompting him to respond, are we not talking about concrete anymore?

Kelly told reporters Thursday outside the US Capitol that the selection process is not about him, but Ive always, always when Ive had the chance to serve, I think thats very important to do.

Democrats in Washington are playing a parlor game about whom they think would be best at Harris side.

I know the conventional wisdom is that she needs to pick a White man. I dont disagree that having that kind of gender balance is good, but if you wanted to swing for the fences, you could do a Harris-Whitmer ticket that would excite a lot of people, said former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said, referring to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who has said she wouldnt accept if asked.

Daschle added that Kelly and Shapiro would also provide a fantastic contrast with Vance.

By late in the week, the halls of Congress were buzzing with excitement over who Harris would select. Senator Laphonza Butler, a close Harris ally, called Kelly smart and said he got into public service for all the right reasons.

Harris choice, she said, is going to come down to what is her relationship, what kind of familiarity and loyalty she feels with whoever she picks.
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales and the future Queen, has strongly demonstrated herself as an effective member of the Royal family and a loving mother to her three kids. Royal fans and experts praise her for playing a crucial role of mediator between Prince William and King Charles. With her tactful interventions, the father-son relationship has witnessed a significant growth. Kate Middleton exchanged vows with Prince William, the heir apparent to the British throne, at Westminster Abbey in London on 29 April, 2011.(Instagram)

Kate exchanged vows with Prince William, the heir apparent to the British throne, at Westminster Abbey in London on 29 April, 2011. She did not only follow convention after joining the Royal family, but rather established her own rules and terms. According to palace sources, Prince William conveyed Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles about Kate's terms in 2015.

While Catherine's accession to the Royal Family came with both a title and a long list of responsibilities, she ensured that she will not assume her position without establishing some boundaries.

Royal author reveals key details about Kate's terms

Robert Jobson, a royal author of Catherine, the Princess of Wales: The Biography, states that Kate made important agreements prior to embarking on her Royal adventure.

Kate wisely set up some fundamental rules prior to joining the Firm, Jobson writes in MailOnline. She wouldn't be pigeon-holed into carrying out particular duties and insisted on eventually having her full quota of maternity leave, away from the glare of the media and public.

Jobson claims Kate made it apparent to the more senior royals that balancing her royal responsibilities and maintaining an enjoyable life at home was her top concern.

Clarifying that Kate didn't intend to abdicate her royal responsibilities, the author said she desired to provide her patronage solely to nonprofits who shared her values.

Also Read: Prince William forced to sign waiver after heated disagreement with King Charles over sensitive issue

Prince William delivered Kate's message to Queen and Charles

Prince William brought Kate's terms to the Queen and Prince Charles when Kate was expecting Charlotte's birth in the beginning of 2015. He explained that his spouse needed some time to get used to the idiosyncrasies of Royal life and that she wanted more room to mature into her job.

In response to the question of whether she was anxious to fill the shoes of the late Diana, the former Princess of Wales, Kate said in an interview, Yes.

Despite her admission, the Princess of Wales has surely proved her potential and established her mark in the Royal family.
As Prince Harry's 40th birthday approaches, the chasm between him and the royal family appears wider than ever. Despite the growing rift and plans to avoid each other, insiders reveal that there remains one way to reconciliation. Reportedly King Charles is the only person who can Harry and Meghan Markle back home and mend their strained relationship. Insiders indicate that addressing the security concerns is the sole condition under which the Duke might contemplate reuniting. Report reveals rift between Prince Harry-Meghan Markle and King Charles over security and funding(AP)

The only path to reconciliation between Harry and Royals

King Charles can give Harry the security clearance he wants so desperately, an insider told New York Post. The Duke has not seen his ailing father since February, when he made a brief trip to London, returning the same day after learning of the Kings cancer diagnosis. Since then, Harry has been preoccupied with ongoing legal battles against security lapses and tabloid intrusions. As the monarch, he is the ultimate decision-maker. That would be how father and son can reconcile, the royal source added.

Also read: Ben Affleck spends millions to buy new LA mansion while Jennifer Lopez was away: Signals end of marriage

The estranged royal couple, have been completely cut off from the royal family since their move to California. They lost their royal titles, the royal residence gifted by Queen Elizabeth, and their taxpayer-funded security. As a result, Harry has insisted on not returning to London with his family unless he is given official police protection.

Clarifying the speculations about Meghan and their children, Archie and Lilibet, travelling to London, the Invictus Games founder talked about his point of view again in the ITV documentary Tabloids on Trial. Its still dangerous, and all it takes is one lone actor, one person who reads this stuff to act on what they have read. He continued, And whether its a knife or acid, whatever it is, these are things that are of genuine concern for me. Its one of the reasons why I wont bring my wife back to this country.

Also read: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to go their own ways this summer; expected to mend

Royal family unwilling to fight Harrys legal case against press

In their explosive Netflix documentary, Sussexes detailed the relentless media scrutiny they faced in the UK, claiming it made their lives unbearable. They accused the royal family of failing to protect Meghan from negative press, a key factor in the widening rift between them. Even though Harry has kept in touch with their dad, King Charles, he's cut off from his brother, Prince William, for more than two years.

A royal source as per NY Post earlier said, Harrys participation in this documentary isnt because he wants to blame his family or speak further about their rift. They continued, It is rather about his continued fight against the British tabloids. Harrys mission in [taking] legal action with the press is clearly unique  he acknowledges that his choices have caused strain.

Prince Harry just signed another deal with Netflix. Last December, he won a court case against the Mirror Group Newspapers, with a judge saying that his phone was illegally looked into by a tabloid, although to a limited degree. Harry is still fighting legal battles with the Royal publishers of The Mail and The Sun, both of whom deny any wrongdoing related to the gathering of private information.
A Rutgers University professor has come under fire for saying she hoped the assassination attempt on Donald Trump inspires others in social media posts that have been deleted now. Tracy Budd shared the posts on Facebook hours after Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, opened fire at the Pennsylvania rally. Rutgers University faces backlash after professor Tracy Budd says she hopes Trump's assassination attempt 'inspires others' (thereal_tbudd/X)

Lets hope todays events inspire others, Budd wrote. Her LinkedIn profile says she first started working for her alma mater in 2001.

A second post shared by Budd read, They shot his wig, followed by the word, Sad. Budd later deleted all the posts.

The New Jersey university's officials said that they are aware of the assistant English professors posts, according to New York Post. Budd is a former reporter for the Jersey Journal, and reportedly makes over $72,000 at Rutgers University.

Rutgers University-New Brunswick condemns calls for violence in the strongest possible terms and remains committed to upholding the principles of civil discourse, the school said. The university is reviewing this matter and assures that any appropriate actions will be taken based on our policies.

As students, faculty and staff return to campus next month, the university will be communicating the importance of civility in these challenging times, it added.

She should be terminated

Users on social media called out the university, urging officials to fire Budd. Screenshots of her posts were shared to X by the account Libs of TikTok, where users condemned the teacher.

One user commented on the post, Interesting that so many of these types are in education. Its safe to say that some of these people youve exposed wouldve committed horrible acts if you didnt expose them. Keep keeping America safe! one user wrote, while another said, Fire her!!!

Rutgers allows this trash to be teaching? Families need to call Rutgers and say "enough, she needs to go" Who wants this teaching your children? one user wrote. One said, Needs to be fired for these comments. Unacceptable and vile. She should be terminated, one user wrote.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 28. Kyrgyzstan significantly increased its import of oil products from Belarus in the first five months of 2024, Trend reports.

According to data from the country's Statistical Committee, Kyrgyzstan imported 1,592 tons of oil products from Belarus during this period, which is 52 percent more than the 1,044 tons imported from January through May 2023. The value of these imports rose by 1 percent year-on-year from $1.521 million to $1.550 million.

Belarus has been among the main suppliers of oil products to Kyrgyzstan since the beginning of this year. During the reporting period, Russia remained the top supplier of oil products to Kyrgyzstan with 270,948 tons, followed by Kazakhstan with 42,953 tons and Uzbekistan with 2,565 tons.

Overall, Kyrgyzstan imported 322,175 tons of oil products from January through May 2024, with a total value of $371.467 million. The volume rose by 84 percent compared to the same period in 2023 (174,760 tons), and there was an almost three-fold rise in value from $133.892 million in JanuaryMay 2023.

Kyrgyzstan foreign trade turnover reached $6.488 billion in the first five months of 2024, which is an 18.6 percent increase compared to JanuaryMay 2023.

Exports totaled $1.046 billion, a 4.8 percent rise from JanuaryMay 2023. Imports increased by 21.7 percent year-on-year, reaching $5.442 billion.
Donald Trump, who was recently struck by a bullet at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, hit back at backlash and trolling being faced by a brave and beautiful Secret Service agent who shielded him during the horrific attack. Donald Trump defended the Secret Service agent and asserted, There wasn't one that was slow, a woman that was on my right, a beautiful person."(AFP)

The GOP presidential candidate responded to the agent's misogynistic detractors online, saying she wanted to take a bullet for him, despite some people's comments that women weren't fit for such roles.

Speaking at a rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota on Saturday, Trump defended the agent and asserted, There wasn't one that was slow, a woman that was on my right, a beautiful person.

Hailing the Secret Service agent for shielding him with everything, the former President remarked: She got criticised by the fake news because she wasn't tall enough. She was so brave, she was shielding me with everything, she wanted to take a bullet.

Secret Service faces backlash after attack on Trump

Trump's remarks comes when prominent donors like Elon Musk, congressmen, and pundits have been leveling criticism at the Secret Service.

Taking to X, Tesla CEO Musk wrote: Having a small person as body cover for a large man is like an undersized Speedo at the beach  doesn't cover the subject. Could be a man or a woman, to be clear, just needs to be large enough to do the job.

Meanwhile, Daily Wire show host Matt Walsh wrote on X: 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.

Also Read: Rutgers University faces backlash after professor says she hopes Trump's assassination attempt 'inspires others'

Secret Service agents aver failure is not an option

The Secret Service agency employs around 8,000 people, with approximately 24% being women and approximately 75% being men, as per the most recent agency statistics.

Former agent Melanie Burkholder told NBC that every candidate undergoes the same intense examination.

Several female agents asserted that the road to becoming a presidential protection agent is arduous and involves physical testing. They, however, insisted, failure is not an option.

It goes back to: Can you do what is being asked of you? And if you can, there is no way they should be discriminating against women to say you cant, Burkholder stated.

The former agent further said she did better than some of her male peers during a training exercise where she had to climb a rope course swiftly and ring a bell.
Astrologer, Amy Tripp prophesied the exact date US President Joe Biden will turn cut his election campaign short and now has a new future to tell. The clairvoyant said she saw Donald Trump would be the next president of the USA because of his strong Sun sign. She also predicted that an assassination attempt on Trump was just the beginning and there might be more crazy things to come in the formers near future. Internet astrologer Amy Tripp predicts the next president of the USA.(@starheal/Instagram)

Also Read: JD Vance blasts Kamala Harris for saying he wouldn't be loyal to America: What has she done to question?

Astrologer prophesies Trump as the next US president

Amy Tripp went viral on the internet for prophesying the exact date Biden will drop out of the presidential run. Her new prophecy claimed Trump as the next president of the USA however his career will be unpredictable. In an exclusive with the New York Post, Tripp said, Uranus is on his [Trump] mid-heaven which shows  unpredictability with his career and goals.

The internets most notorious astrologer prophesied about Biden in a post on X where she wrote, If Biden is made to step down it will be at the Capricorn Full Moon at 29 Capricorn. Capricorn rules the government and old age. 29 is an ending, Tripp, 40, posted on X July 11. When a user asked her for an exact date when the president will leave the presidential run, she replied with July 21. She explained that she saw Bidens future of opting out due to the full moon.

Also Read: Rutgers University faces backlash after professor says she hopes Trump's assassination attempt 'inspires others'

Tripps other predictions about the US election

Bidens drop and Trumps prophesied victory are not the only predictions made by the 40-year-old stargazer about the US elections. On August 11, 2020, Tripp predicted in a post on the microblogging platform that Vice President Kamala Harris will run for the presidency in 2024. She analysed, A moon-Pluto connection signals a strong woman, as the reason for her prediction about Harris. She was also very determined that the 59-year-old would win the nomination because she is currently enjoying the return of the second Saturn. She said, Its a time when if youve been putting in the work since the first Saturn return at 30 youre rewarded  usually theres a [professional] advancement or you gain authority.

Tripp who has a master's in social work also predicted August as a rocky month for the US and like to witness more political unrest and violence. She said, The US is still in its Pluto return, which is about bringing things to light and exposing things. The last time the US had a Pluto return was the Revolutionary War.
Prince Harrys latest interview is part of a "national soap opera, a royal expert said after the Duke of Sussex appeared in an ITV documentary  Tabloids on Trial. In the show, Harry opened up about his battle with the British press. Why the royal family doesn't support Prince Harry's battle with the British press (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)(AP)

Harry said in the interview that the media played a part in the royal rift in his family. He also said that he viewed the battle as a service.

Royal commentator Richard Palmer said, while speaking about the family's "service, "They have an important constitutional role, but also it's a bit of a national soap opera.

"And so they've all had their times when they've been the person out of favour, the person who the public thinks is not the popular one, Palmer said. "So they were all sympathetic up to a point, but they didn't see the sense in picking a fight with national newspapers, with the media in general.

"The Royal Family needs the media as much as the media needs the Royal Family, the expert added.

Palmer said that as opposed to Harry, when it comes to Prince Williams approach to the media, he "controls the narrative. "There is a difference between William and Harry. But William I think is quite, controlling, Palmer said. "He wants to control the narrative when he deals with the media, he can be quite aggressive but he just does it in a would say a more sophisticated way than Harry has done."

It is certainly a central piece to it

Harry said in the interview that his decision to fight the tabloids is a "central piece" to his fight with his family. Journalist Becca Barry asked the Duke, To what extent do you think your determination to fight the tabloids destroyed your relationship with your family?"

"It is certainly a central piece to it, Harry replied. "It is a hard question to answer because anything I say about my family results in a torrent of abuse from the press.

He added, "I have made it very clear that this is something that needs to be done. It would be nice if we did it as a family, I believe from a service standpoint and when you are in a public role these are the things we should be doing for the greater good. I am doing this for my reasons."
Donald Trump's running mate J.D. Vance, who was roundly slammed for describing a number of Democrats as miserable "childless cat ladies" in a recently resurfaced interview, has doubled down on the controversial remarks.

"I have nothing against cats," he quipped dismissively in a comment unlikely to woo already-alienated voters in an interview on Megyn Kelly's Sirius XM program that aired Friday evening.

He added: "The substance of what I said, Megyn, I'm sorry, it's true."

Vance lumped Vice President Kamala Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez into the same childless category during a 2021 interview on Fox News. The comment fueled a groundswell of social media opposition to the candidate by "cat ladies" and their supporters.

"We are effectively run in this country, via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made, and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable too," Vance said in the interview revealed this week in a posting on X by Hillary Clinton.

"How does it make any sense that we've turned our country over to people who don't really have a direct stake in it?" he asked.

Harris is the stepmother to two children from husband Doug Emhoff's first marriage, and Buttigieg and his husband Chasten Buttigieg adopted twins in 2021.

Vance, a Republican senator from Ohio who has three children with his wife, Usha Vance, defended his remarks in his Kelly interview, claiming it was a "sarcastic comment," adding: "I've got nothing against cats."

He added: "I know the media wants to attack me and wants me to back down on this, Megyn, but the simple point I made is that having children, becoming a father, becoming a mother, I really do think it changes your perspective in a pretty profound way."

This is "something of course we've recognized for hundreds of years in this country and in human civilization," he continued.

Vance then accused the Democratic Party of being "anti-child."

"It's not a criticism of people who don't have children," he insisted.

"I explicitly said in my remarks, despite the fact that the media has lied about this, that this is not about criticizing people who for various reasons didn't have kids, this is about criticizing the Democratic Party for becoming anti-family and anti-child," said Vance, who ignored the fact that he had, in fact, targeted specific individuals.

Vance also failed to explain his contradiction opposing IVF treatments for women unable to conceive without medical aid. Nor did he enumerate any programs pushed by Republicans that likely Trump opponent Kamala Harris supports, such as affordable health care and child care that would aid families with children.

"Friends" star Jennifer Aniston was among those who criticized Vance when the 2021 interview resurfaced.

"I truly can't believe this is coming from a potential VP of the United States," she wrote, linking to a screenshot of the interview on Instagram.

"All I can say is ... Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day," Aniston, 55, who has chronicled her struggles with fertility, wrote in her post.

"I hope she will not need to turn to IVF as a second option. Because you are trying to take that away from her, too."
TikTok has the ability to compile data on its users' views of divisive social issues such as abortion, gun control and religion, making it a potential threat to order in the U.S via secretive content manipulation, the U.S. Justice Department alleged in court papers filed late Friday.

TikTok employees have used an internal messaging system called Lark to exchange sensitive information about American users that wound up stored on computer servers in China, according to gverment lawyers, NPR reported.

"The serious national-security threat posed by TikTok is real," the Justice Department filing said, according to Reuters. "TikTok provides the Chinese government the means to undermine U.S. national security in two principal ways: data collection and covert content manipulation."

The claims were made in a request to dismiss lawsuits filed by TikTok, Chinese parent company ByteDance and a group of TikTok creators seeking to block a law signed in April by President Joe Biden.

The measure requires ByteDance to sell TikTok's American assets by Jan. 19 or face a ban in the U.S.

TikTok is one of the world's most popular social media sites, especially among younger people, and is used by about 170 million Americans.

In a statement TikTok repeated its denials that it shared data on U.S. users with China, or manipulated what is seen on the website.

"The government has never put forth proof of its claims, including when Congress passed this unconstitutional law. Today, once again, the government is taking this unprecedented step while hiding behind secret information," the company said in a post on X.

In its filing, the Justice Department said China's "long-term geopolitical strategy involves developing and pre-positioning assets that it can deploy at opportune moments."

In a separate declaration, prosecutors acknowledged they had no evidence that the Chinese government had gained access to American user data, but said the risk was too great to ignore.

"The United States is not required to wait until its foreign adversary takes specific detrimental actions before responding to such a threat," they wrote.

Oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit are scheduled for Sept. 16, less than two months before the presidential election in November.

Both Republican nominee former President Donald Trump, and Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee, have TikTok accounts, with Harris launching hers on Thursday after posts about her there went viral.

Trump tried to ban TikTok on national security grounds while in office but reversed course this year, telling CNBC that banning it would "make Facebook bigger, and I consider Facebook to be an enemy of the people."

Various news outlets have suggested Trump's flip-flop was prompted by Republican megadonor Jeffrey Yass, whose investment company reportedly owns a 15% stake in ByteDance that was worth more than $30 billion last month.

A Harris campaign spokesperson told Fox Business on Friday that Harris didn't want to ban TikTok but would "like to see a change in ownership."
Donald Trump called for one year jail sentences for protesters who burned American flags and scrawled pro-Hamas graffiti  and then doubled down on the position a day later even as he sought the release of his supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6., 2021.

The 78-year-old Republican presidential nominee in call-in interview on Fox & Friends on Thursday condemned the pro-Palestinian activists that protested Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress the previous day..

He said those who "do anything to desecrate the American flag" should be put behind bars for a year.

"Now, people will say, 'Oh, it's unconstitutional.' Those are stupid people. Those are stupid people that say that. We have to work in Congress to get a one-year jail sentence," Trump said on Fox, ignoring the fact that the Supreme Court has ruled that flag burning in America is First Amendment protected speech.

He went on his Truth Social messaging platform on Friday to once again address the protesters, as part of a rant against FBI Director Christopher Wray who raised questions about whether Trump was struck by a bullet or shrapnel at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13.

"Not that anyone doubted it, but in order to rid our Country of the political statement put out by the Director of the FBI, in between fighting for the Safety and Security of those burning our American Flags, and right now spraying our beautiful Limestone Monuments in Washington, D.C., this is a picture of the bullet right after piercing my ear," Trump said, reposting a photo of what has been identified as a bullet in the air at the scene.

He then pressed: "When are the hunted down J6 Hostages going to be released, and when are yesterday's Vandals and Flag Burners going to be put in prison?"

About 750 people have been sentenced for their roles in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, with about two-thirds receiving some time in jail, the Associated Press reported. Several were convicted of assault of police officers, theft and destruction of government property, and obstructing the voting process.

David Aronberg, a legal analyst and attorney, told Newsweek that the "vandalism from the anti-Semitic protesters" at Netanyahu's speech was "clearly illegal and could be punished."

But "the Supreme Court has ruled that flag burning is protected speech under the First Amendment. That would have to change before someone can be arrested for it," he said.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the likely Democratic nominee, also decried the desecration of the American flag by "unpatriotic protesters."

"I condemn any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has vowed to annihilate the State of Israel and kill Jews," Harris posted on X Thursday. "Pro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric is abhorrent and we must not tolerate it in our nation."
At least 30 Palestinians were reportedly killed Saturday when Israeli airstrikes hit a Gaza school being used to house people displaced by the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

Israel's military said it targeted a Hamas command center in the compound that was directing attacks against its troops and storing "large quantities of weapons," which Hamas denied, according to the Associated Press.

The Hamas-run government media office said that 15 children and eight women were among those killed and that more than 100 others were wounded, according to Reuters.

Journalists saw a dead toddler in an ambulance and bodies covered with blankets, AP said. Reuters reported that some people in blood-stained clothes walked to a nearby hospital where victims were taken.

Civil defense workers said thousands of refugees were sheltering inside the girls' school in Deir al-Balah, which also housed a medical facility, according to AP.

The building's walls were blasted open, cars were damaged and debris was scattered in the schoolyard, Reuters reported.

The deadly bombing came a day after U.S. officials said Israel and Hamas had agreed on the basic framework of a three-phase, cease-fire deal that President Joe Biden detailed in late May.

But in a fiery speech to Congress on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue the war against Hamas, calling it a "clash between barbarism and civilization."

A spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas claimed in a statement after Saturday's airstrikes that Netanyahu's reception from supporters in the U.S. gave Israel a "green light."

On Friday, Netanyahu met in Florida with former President Donald Trump, who reportedly said that if he's not returned to the White House, "we're all going to end up with major wars in the Middle East and maybe a third world war."
Foreign involvement cannot be ruled out yet in the widespread sabotage of France's rail system that disrupted travel and caused chaos on the opening day of the Olympic Games Friday in Paris, according to reports.

"Who is responsible? Either it's from within, or it's been ordered from abroad; it's too early to say," Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told the French media, Reuters reported.

"We have uncovered a certain number of elements which lead us to believe that we will know fairly quickly who is responsible," he said.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said security forces are continuing to try to find the "saboteurs" responsible, the BBC reported.

Three of the 10 high-speed lines were canceled on Saturday along routes hit by the series of coordinated attacks.

Those that do run in and out of Paris will operate with delays of at least two hours, France's national rail company said.

Services should return to normal by Monday, accoding to Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete.

The arson attacks on Friday damaged infrastructure along lines connecting Paris from the north, east and west.

An attack on the line from the south was foiled, Reuters reported.

About 250,000 people were affected by the sabotage, Vergriete said, noting that as many as 800,000 could be affected over the weekend, the BBC reported.
A Catholic priest has outraged Indigenous parishioners in New Mexico by removing a revered religious icon that depicts Jesus as a Mescalero Apache medicine man.



The 8-foot "Apache Christ" painting hung behind the altar at the St. Joseph Apache Mission church in Mescalero for 35 years until June 26, when the Rev. Peter Chudy Sixtus Simeon-Aguinam took it down, the Associated Press reported Saturday.



Simeon-Aguinam also removed a smaller painting of a sacred Indigenous dancer, as well as ceramic chalices and baskets given by the Pueblo community for use during the Eucharist, AP said.



A member of the mission's parish council, Anne Marie Brilliante, said that the move came as the region was reeling from wildfires that killed two people and destroyed 1,000 homes, and that the revered statute had been authorized by Bishop Peter Baldacchino and overseen by an official from the local diocese.

Parishioners initially thought the items had been stolen and they've since beeen returned by the dicocese, AP said.

Baldacchino also replaced Simeon-Aguinam with another priest who's reportedly more familiar with the Apache community.

But some chuch members remain unsatisfied, with Brilliante accusing Simeon-Aguinam of claiming to wipe out their "pagan" culture and force them to choose between being Apache or Catholic, despite a reconciliation effort launched in 2022 by Pope Francis.



"Hearing we had to choose, that was a shock," she said tearfully.



Brilliante also said that during a two-hour parish council meeting with Baldacchino after the items were returned, the bishop seemed most concerned about "Apache Christ" being reinstalled too "hastily."



A spokesperson for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops declined to comment.



But last month, the conference overwhelmingly approved a pastoral framework that dismissed the "false choice" between adhering to "traditional Indigenous culture" or Catholicism.



"For Native Catholics who feel this tension, we assure you, as the Catholic bishops of the United States, that you do not have to be one or the other. You are both," according to the 56-page document.



Church elders Glenda and Larry Brusuelas told AP that Baldacchino would have to offer a public apology if he wanted to repair the rift caused by the removal of "Apache Christ," which was created in 1989 by Franciscan friar Robert Lentz with the approval of 15 Mescalero leaders.



"You don't call or send a letter," Larry Brusuelas said. "You face the people you have offended and offer some guarantee that this is not going to happen again. That's the Apache way."
Usha Vance, the wife of Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance, told friends that she found Donald Trump's role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol "deeply disturbing," the Washington Post reported.

A friend who talked to the newspaper said Usha Vance was repulsed by Trump's inciting the mob that descended on the Capitol, and was critical of the support that gave rise to the former president  sharply contrary views to her husband's. He has called the jailed Jan. 6 rioters as "political prisoners."

"Usha found the incursion on the Capitol and Trump's role in it to be deeply disturbing," said the friend, who was not identified. "She was generally appalled by Trump, from the moment of his first election," the friend added.

The friend said seeing Usha Vance, 38, sitting in the same VIP box as Trump during the Republican National Convention was "surreal."

A spokesperson for J.D. Vance declined to comment or to say whether Usha Vance, whose parents are Indian Hindu immigrants, voted for Trump in 2016 or 2020.

She was working as a lawyer and her husband was not yet elected to the Senate in Ohio at the time of the Jan. 6 riot.

The two met while students at Yale Law School.

A Republican strategist for J.D. Vance's 2022 Senate campaign said Usha Vance's opinions of Trump have changed as have her husband's.

"Usha has had a similar shift in views and fully supports Donald Trump and her husband and will do whatever she can to ensure their victory this November," Jai Chabria insisted in a statement provided by the Vance spokesperson.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, July 28. Tajikistan increased imports of oil products from Russia by 65,600 tons, or 14.3 percent, in the first half of 2024, Trend reports.

According to the country's Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, Tajikistan imported 524,200 tons of oil products and liquefied gas from Russia. This includes 236,600 tons of motor gasoline, 223,200 tons of diesel fuel, 22,700 tons of jet fuel, 62,000 tons of fuel oil, 27,900 tons of bitumen, 5,400 tons of lubricants, and 8,200 tons of liquefied gas.

Overall, Tajikistan imported 783,800 tons of oil products and liquefied gas in the first half of the year, an increase of 73,500 tons, or 10.3 percent, compared to the same period in 2023.

In 2023, Tajikistan imported 1.413 million tons of oil products, an increase of 164,200 tons from 2022. Of these imports, 63.3 percent were sourced from Russia, 25.9 percent from Kazakhstan, 7.4 percent from Uzbekistan, 2 percent from Turkmenistan, 0.7 percent from Belarus, and 0.7 percent from other countries.
Just as Donald Trump again played dumb about the Project 2025 plans for his administration, his own running mate is publishing a forward to a book penned by the key architect behind the scheme.

Trump has repeatedly tried to distance himself from the plan, and called into "Fox & Friends" on Thursday to slam some points pushed by Project 2025 "absolutely ridiculous."

He added: "I have nothing to do with the document. I've never seen the document."

But his running mate is clearly thisclose to the plan.

J.D.Vance has written a forward to a book coming out in September penned by Kevin Roberts, the mover and shaker behind Project 2025, developed by the conservative Heritage Foundation which Roberts heads.

"Never before has a figure with Roberts's depth and stature within the American Right tried to articulate a genuinely new future for conservatism," Vance gushes in a review on the book's Amazon page.

"We are now all realizing that it's time to circle the wagons and load the muskets," Vance adds ominously.

Roberts argues in the book that it's time to "burn down" institutions like Ivy League colleges, the federal Department of Education (whose elimination is a goal of Project 2025), the FBI, certain media and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, reports Vox, which has managed to obtain a copy of the book.

Roberts was the one who warned in a recent interview: "We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be."

The original title for his book was "Dawn's Early Light: Burning Down Washington to Save America" with an image showing a match over the word "Washington."

It has been changed to "Taking Back Washington to Save America" and the match has disappeared.

Dawn's Early Light by @KevinRobertsTX is available for pre-order now!



I was thrilled to write the foreword for this incredible book, which contains a bold new vision for the future of conservatism in America.



Get your copy here >> https://t.co/nVW14O7BcH  JD Vance (@JDVance) June 19, 2024

Among a range of controversial moves, the 922-page plan of Project 2025, which planners hope to launch next year, would create a historically powerful presidency, would eliminate Medicaid and many federal agencies, do away with regulations, totally support fossil fuel use and industries, ban abortions and porn (and imprison those who create and distribute porn). It also seeks to quickly put to death all prisoners currently on death row.

Under the plan, only "intact" heterosexual families would be officially sanctioned because all other relationships are unstable and create "bad behavior," it states.

Once the Project 2025 plot became more widely known in the public, Trump has tried to back away from it, and called some issues in the plan, which he hasn't detailed, too extreme.

But he has already pushed some of Project 2025's goals, including eliminating the Department of Education. More than 70 Trump White House staffers have helped develop Project 2025, including some of his top aides.

Yet he said at a Michigan rally earlier this week as a product of "some on the severe right" and said some proposals were "seriously extreme."

On Wednesday, he again insisited on Truth Social: "I have nothing to do with, and know nothing about, Project 25." Reports that he is linked to the right-wing tract is "disinformation put out by the Radical Left Democrat Thugs," he added.

Two years ago Trump spoke at a Heritage Foundation event as the organization began working of Project 2025. He praised Heritage as "a great group" that was going to "detail plans for exactly what our movement will do."
A member of the Netherlands' Olympic beach volleyball team served more than a year in prison for raping a 12-year-old girl in Britain  sparking outrage and demands to belatedly ban him from the Paris Games.

Steven van de Velde, 29, who qualified for the global competition last month, was allowed to represent his country "after an intensive professionally supervised process" of rehabilitation, according to the Dutch Olympic committee.

But his scheduled Sunday debut led the head of Australia's team, former champion cyclist Anna Meares, to say he would have been disqualified Down Under.

"If an athlete or a staff member had that conviction, they wouldn't be allowed to be a member of our team," Meares said this week, according to the Associated Press.

Meares also said that Australia has "a number of athletes under 18 and under 16" and that "policies are well in action for safeguarding of our team."

In a statement issued after he made the Dutch team, van de Velde  who isn't staying in the Olympic village  acknowledged that his criminal past would "attract the attention of the international media."

"I cannot reverse it, so I will have to bear the consequences. It has been the biggest mistake of my life," he said at the time.

The CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales, Ciara Bergman, has called on the International Olympic Committee to investigate the decision to allow van de Velde to compete.

"Most survivors spend longer on waiting lists for support than this man served in prison. It doesn't add up, and it sends the wrong message," Bergman wrote on social media Saturday.

As of late Saturday afternoon, more than 93,000 people had signed a petition posted on the change.org website to disqualify van de Velde from the Olympics.

In 2016, Van de Velde pleaded guilty to raping the girl in August 2014 following several months of near-daily correspondence on social media after she sent him a friend request, according to the New York Times.

The girl reportedly initially told him she was 16 but he didn't break off contact after finding out her real age.

Van de Velde was charged and extradited from the Netherlands after advising the girl to take a morning-after pill, leading staffers at a family planning clinic to contact her family and the police because of her age.

Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison and served a year in Britain before being sent back to the Netherlands under terms of a treaty.

He served another month in prison before being resentenced under a more-lenient Dutch law and released.

In a TV interview one year later, he blamed his crime on being a teenager and "still figuring things out."

"I made that choice in my life when I wasn't ready," he told public broadcaster NOS. "I was sort of lost and now I have so much more life experience."
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, July 28. The total amount of trade turnover between Turkmenistan and Georgia from January through June this year amounted to $40.9 million, Trend reports.

According to the National Statistics Office of Georgia, this is 7 percent higher than the same volume of trade turnover between the two countries in the first half of the previous year, which amounted to $38.2 million.

During this period, Turkmenistan exported goods totaling almost $34.7 million to Georgia, which is slightly higher than in the corresponding period of 2023, when exports were estimated at $33.6 million.

At the same time, in the first half of this year, Turkmenistan imported goods from Georgia in the amount of $6.1 million, which is 32 percent more than in the same period last year, when imports were estimated at $4.6 million.

Meanwhile, for the whole of last year, the total amount of trade turnover between Turkmenistan and Georgia amounted to $100.6 million, which is 46 percent lower than the trade activity of the same period last year, which amounted to $186.5 million.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Kate Weinbergs 2019 debut The Truants was a mystery novel. But it was also a homage to the genre, inspired by Agatha Christies twisting plots and the dark atmospheres of Donna Tartt. A year later, the author became trapped in her own mystery plot  one much less enjoyable. Feeling faint, dizzy and riddled with aches, she was baffled, as a then 45-year-old woman in good health, about what was happening to her. Eventually, she was diagnosed with long Covid, and she found herself marooned in the no-mans land of chronic illness, a plotless place with seemingly no way out, no cure, and no neat and tidy ending.

Now Weinberg has done what storytellers do: shes written a novel about it. Theres Nothing Wrong with Her, published by Bloomsbury next week, is the story of Vita, a successful podcast producer who is now stranded in her new boyfriends bed with only her brilliantly named goldfish, Whitney Houston, for company. Vita is a name that literally means life  and she has been completely sapped of her life force. And as someone who was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome when I was younger  similar to long Covid in its symptoms and mystifying lack of treatment or cure  I found Weinbergs novel perfectly captured the surreal, invisible state of being stuck between sickness and health.

I was in my last year of sixth form when I got ill, missing out on all the rite-of-passage rituals of saying goodbye to school as I spent endless days stuck in bed. And its all here, everything I remember from that time  when doctors werent sure what was wrong or how to make it go away. The work of it all: getting rest, trying to think positively, taking vitamins, falling down research wormholes on the internet. The anxiety that one hour of being normal might mean you cant get out of bed for three days. The panic that you took your health for granted when you had it. The paranoia that no one believes you. The loneliness when, as Vita documents, time collapses and everyone else around you moves on; the subsequent loss of social confidence. The confusion as your perspective shrinks  what did it feel like to be well? The ways you start rearranging your own future, if this is what life is going to be now. You want to be patient, but patience takes energy. So does impatience.

Vita never knows if she is a well person who is stalked by sickness, or a sick person who may never get well. Everything suddenly becomes very binary. Particularly as the boyfriend she moved in with before falling ill is a doctor. Though Max tries to maintain sympathy for Vita, he spends his days analysing test results  and hers all look fine. But there are days that make The Pit  as she terms her sick den  a brighter place. If her energy permits, she goes to the flat above, where a dying woman  and her handsome house guest  make Vita feel alive again, partly through their shared need to tell stories about the people they have lost.

Weinbergs novel perfectly captures the surreal, invisible state of being stuck between sickness and health ( James Rawlings )

When she is visited by the ghost of Italian poet Luigi da Porto, the originator of the Romeo and Juliet story, there is a sense that Vitas condition  all that time spent with her own thoughts  might be putting her back in touch with her creativity. In her past life, when she was well and travelled the world, she wrote a screenplay about Luigi, one shed desperately wanted to get made, but now she makes a podcast where celebrities come on to package up their pain. On the show, everyones narrative is reduced to a neat little story. (I smirked at the not-so-subtle critique of this subset of sycophantic inspo-podcasting.)

Vitas new reality is a brutal reminder that we often cant tell the stories of our lives in this way. Our days are messy, and our struggles can be cruel and ugly, often with no clear ending, no euphoric scene in which we rise like a phoenix from the flames. During her illness, she finds herself revisiting old relationships, attempting to process what happened to her sister Gracie, and wondering if her ending up in the wrong story wasnt just the bit where she was struck down with a soul-destroying mystery illness. But the novel also  rightly  questions our perception of illness itself.

When Weinberg first wrote about her ordeal, she described the torture. It feels like my whole system has been poisoned, she said in a piece for the Daily Mail in 2021. But she went on to explore her shock at how so many of the long Covid community whom she got to know had been doubted or disbelieved. Theres nothing wrong with her doesnt just mean the test results look fine. It means: shes probably faking it. I found it embarrassing enough to be ill in a way that felt so ill defined. The idea that I could be making it up only heightened the shame. Around the time I was unwell, I remember Ricky Gervais had a joke in one of his stand-up sets about people with ME. I found it mortifying.

Vitas new reality is a brutal reminder that we often cant tell the stories of our lives in this way

I was fortunate, at least in terms of narrative closure. About 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition  one of the major symptoms can be fatigue. It made me feel that I wasnt mad  there actually was something wrong with me!  but then even that thought felt unfair, a falling into the trap of the medical worlds language of being sick or well, of illnesses being real or not. And even now, its a frustrating place to be. Even with a diagnosis, I sometimes look back on that year of sickness and wonder if it was all just in my head.

My condition, fortunately, is mild and manageable, but Im still stuck with that internalised feeling of needing to play it down. People cant see it, so what if they dont believe me? How do I communicate it, without putting on a fussy performance of sickness  something that jars with me? Should I stop and rest sometimes, or is it better for me if I keep going  and, in doing so, keep my sense of my own capabilities free from any kind of limitations or labels?

As for Weinberg, last year she posted a joyful picture of herself on holiday, riding a horse on a sunny beach. She said that she was 90 per cent better  by which I mean that 90 per cent of the time Im 100 per cent better. This grim and bafflingly bespoke illness has left a shadow  but, as Weinberg described it, it has also brought transformation. Chronic illness changes you, she wrote. Ill never feel as carefree about my health again, but also never stop feeling as grateful.

One of the things that Vita notes in the novel is that most people, even the ones who love you, are weird around sickness. And chronic sickness makes people especially weird. Something about the fact that you are stuck, that you cant deliver the reassuring narrative of getting better feels unnatural, disturbing, Vita explains. We dont want to think about it, we dont know what to say. Maybe we dont want to read about it. But we should. From Virginia Woolf to Susan Sontag, illness has always been a topic worth of literary investigation  gnarly and uncomfortable, but also illuminating, full of hard-won wisdom from a difficult, topsy-turvy place.

One of the things that Vita notes in the novel is that most people, even the ones who love you, are weird around sickness

In a separate post about Theres Nothing Wrong with Her, Weinberg explained that she wrote the novel in part because I wanted to make damn sure that I hadnt gone to that dark, juicy, funny, frightening  so frightening  world and come back empty-handed. And she has. For me, writing about that time is not easy. Not just because of how conflicted Ive always felt in sharing it as something about me, but in how hard it is to describe. Thinking about it has sent me back into that strange maze of wondering if I sound mad. And thats what makes Weinbergs novel so remarkable.

At just 256 pages, it is deceptive in its slim size: despite its interest in the messiness of our lives, it manages to organise articulate, important thoughts about illness and the politics of being sick. As funny as it is moving, this story about love and family also manages to interrogate the ideas we might have about ourselves  and how disorienting it can be when theyre wrong-footed. All of this and its never depressing. It has been praised by Sarah Jessica Parker and compared to Charlotte Perkins Gilmans 1892 short story about illness and female artistic confinement The Yellow Wallpaper. Not many books can do that. It is many things: a book about Vita, a book about life.

Theres Nothing Wrong with Her is out on 1 August, published by Bloomsbury
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Beijing is pressuring lawmakers from at least six countries not to attend a summit focused on China in Taiwan, participants told the Associated Press.

Politicians in Bolivia, Colombia, Slovakia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and an Asian country that declined to be named, say they are getting texts, telephone calls and urgent requests for meetings that would conflict with their plans to travel to Taiwan, in what they describe as efforts to isolate the self-governed island.

The summit, which starts on Monday, is being organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a group of current and former lawmakers from 35 countries that describes itself as a platform for addressing threats to the rules-based and human rights systems posed by the rise of China.

AP spoke to the organisers and three politicians and reviewed texts and emails sent by Chinese diplomats asking whether they were planning to participate in the summit.

In some cases, politicians described vague enquiries about their plans to travel to Taiwan. In other cases the contact was more menacing: one lawmaker told AP that Chinese diplomats messaged the head of her party with a demand to stop her from going.

They sent a direct message to the president of my party to stop me from travelling to Taiwan, Sanela Klaric, a member of parliament in Bosnia and Herzegovina, claimed. He showed me the message from them. He said, Ill advise you not to go, but I cannot stop you, its something you have to make a decision.

Ms Klaric said the pressure was unpleasant but only steeled her determination to go on the trip.

I really am fighting against countries or societies where the tool to manipulate and control peoples is fear, said Ms Klaric, adding that it reminded her of threats and intimidation she faced during the Balkans war in the 1990s. I really hate the feeling when somebody is frightening you.

China is routinely accused of threatening retaliation against politicians and countries that show support for Taiwan, which has only informal relations with most countries.

China vehemently defends its claim to Taiwan, which it views as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary.

Last week, Beijing criticised Taiwan over its annual Han Kuang military drills, saying the ruling Democratic Progressive Party was carrying out provocations to seek independence.

Any attempt to whip up tensions and use force to seek independence or reject reunification is doomed to failure, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, which aims to coordinate a response to perceived threats from Beijing, has long faced pressure from the Asian giant.

Some of its members have been sanctioned by Beijing, and the group was targeted by Chinese hackers in 2021, according to a US indictment unsealed earlier this year.

But Luke de Pulford, the groups director, claims that the pressure from Chinese diplomats in the past few days has been unprecedented.

During past meetings in other places, the groups lawmakers were approached by Chinese diplomats only after they concluded. This year, the pressure has sharply escalated and appears to be a coordinated attempt to stop participants from attending.

This is gross foreign interference. This is not normal diplomacy, de Pulford said.

How would PRC officials feel if we tried to tell them about their travel plans, where they could and could not go? Its absolutely outrageous that they think that they can interfere in the travel plans of foreign legislators, he said, using the acronym for Chinas official name, the Peoples Republic of China.

The summit will see participation by politicians from 25 countries and feature meetings with top Taiwanese officials, according to a press release.

The Taiwanese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

China has been peeling off Taiwans diplomatic allies, often with promises of development aid, in a competition between the two that has swung in Beijings favour in recent years. The Pacific island nation of Nauru switched recognition to Beijing earlier this year, a move that reduced Taiwans dwindling number of diplomatic allies to 12.

But Chinas approach has also triggered a backlash.

In 2021, Beijing downgraded relations and blocked imports from Lithuania, a member of the EU and Nato, after the Baltic nation broke with diplomatic custom by agreeing that a Taiwanese representative office in its capital of Vilnius would bear the name Taiwan instead of Chinese Taipei, which other countries use to avoid offending Beijing.

The following year, the EU adopted a resolution criticising Beijings behaviour towards Taiwan and took action against China at the World Trade Organisation over the import restrictions.

Most of the politicians targeted appear to be from smaller countries, which de Pulford said was probably because Beijing feels that they can get away with it. But he said the coercive tactics have only made participants more determined to participate.

Miriam Lexmann, a Slovakian member of the European Parliament whose party head was approached by Chinese diplomats, said the pressure underscored her reason for coming to Taiwan.

We want to exchange information, ways how to deal with those challenges and threats which China represents to the democratic part of the world, and of course, to support Taiwan, she said.
Subscription to paid content

Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

At least 28 people have been killed and 145 injured in clashes sparked by a tribal land dispute in Pakistans Khurram, a volatile district near the border with Afghanistan.

The fighting between the tribes of Boshehra and Maleekhel erupted on Wednesday and was still ongoing on Sunday despite efforts by a jirga, a tribal assembly, to restore calm, The Tribune reported. The warring tribes have been using sophisticated weaponry, including mortar shells and rocket launchers, to target each others settlements, including in Parachinar and Sadda, the main cities in Kurram.

We have 28 dead and another 145 wounded that had been brought or are being treated at the districts hospitals, Dr Mir Hassan Jan, head of the District Headquarters Hospital in Parachinar, told Arab News.

The fighting has closed the road from Parachinar to Peshawar, causing losses to traders and farmers who are angry with the government for failing to contain the situation.

Sajid Hussain Turi, a former federal minister from the area, said the violence is causing a shortage of food and essential medicines.

The two sides are pounding each other and nearby villages with heavy and small weapons, he said.

Ali Amin Gandapur, chief minister of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, earlier warned that no one will be allowed to take the law into their hands or disturb the peace of the area. He urged the tribes to resolve the property issue through a jirga according to tribal traditions.

Kurram is no stranger to deadly tribal and sectarian conflicts. A conflict that erupted in 2007 continued for four years before it was resolved with the help of a jirga.
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Theres nothing worse than landing after a long flight, heading to baggage claim, waiting and watching as the last unclaimed battered bags loop endlessly, only to realize your luggage didnt make the trip. Not the hottest start to Euro Girl Summer, is it?

With Julys brash heatwave and mid-summer restlessness well underway, the promise of jetting off to Europe is the last shred of hope for many city dwellers. Eager travelers look ahead to their August vacation plans, counting down the days as they imagine themselves lounging on the beach along the French Riveria and sitting by the sea for dinner. Yet, the fantasies are often met with pre-travel jitters, thoughts that something could go wrong on the journey there  one of the biggest being lost luggage.

Whether youre vacationing on the Amalfi Coast or exploring cities in Spain, anywhere in Europe really, the threat of misplaced luggage is considerable. According to the European Travel Commissions European Tourism Trends & Prospect report, tourism in the region rose by 7.2 percent in the first three months of 2024 from 120 million travelers in 2019. In June, the ETC predicted the summer of 2024 to garner record-breaking numbers in terms of international arrivals to the region, especially with Paris being the host city for the Olympics from July 26 to August 11.

Increased international travel, overbooked flights, and packed airports raise concerns for passengers with checked baggage. The 2024 SITA Baggage IT Insights report recorded a 10 per cent rise in mishandled bags in 2023. That same year, 77 per cent of mishandled bags were delayed, and 18 per cent were either damaged or tampered with. The reasons for delayed bags range from tagging errors to weight restrictions, but failure to load is the biggest culprit  and a terror to all travelers.

So, if the airline cant promise your checked suitcase will touch down when you do, whats the solution? Hope it doesnt happen to you? No. Minimize the risk and pack only a carry-on bag. While theres no guarantee that your bag will be safely secured in the overhead compartment above your seat, bringing a carry-on is still a better bet.

Now, I know what youre thinking, Its Euro girl summer, how am I supposed to fit all my outfit options into one measly suitcase for a two-to-three-week trip? Compromise, patience, and my proposed packing plan.

For the styling aficionados and over-packing addicts, here is a guide to fitting all your fashion needs into a carry-on for your European getaway. (Dont worry, youll still have space to shop).

open image in gallery Italys Amalfi coast is too hilly to carry a huge suitcase so pack smart ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

Four Bottoms

Each clothing item in your bag should serve more than one purpose. This doesnt mean the garment cant be unique, it just means you must be able to wear it more than once  something I know is difficult for those who take pride in their collection of one-off items.

My rule is you can pack no more than four bottoms (skirts, pants, shorts included). You can pack less than that and save the spot to add to another category of clothing like your tops or dresses or vice versa, but you really shouldnt need more than four.

Of course, the selection will depend on your preference. However, you should pack a combination of casual and dressy, or pluck pieces that can be either. For example, white linen pants, the item on every Euro Summer coded wardrobe checklist, are actually worth bringing. Youre not basic if you wear them. Even in high temperatures, linen pants are the ideal beach bottoms  easy, breezy, and beautiful (cue the Covergirl ad). On the other hand, theyre full coverage. So, when the wind picks up at night as youre sitting on the edge of the water, youll be thankful you packed long, breathable pants. Flip flops, pointed-toe silver slingbacks, or cork wedges, any shoe works with them, too.

Four Tops

Tops can be tricky, especially when youre only packing four. The amount can seem a bit too bare between T-shirts, tank tops, blouses, vests, and button-ups to choose from. How do you narrow it down? Again, you find versatile options that can go from day to night, touching the piece up with accessory switches. However, the good thing is that tops are easy to pack and generally light. So, if youre the person who sleeps in oversized T-shirts, you can bring one or two and not include them in your formal four.

A classic white tank top may be mundane but mod. Ribbed or smooth cotton, a tank top can be worn with a skirt, heels, and a chain necklace (the perfect Brat summer girl club attire). It can also be worn under a light linen blazer set for dinner or over a bathing suit top and jean shorts for the beach.

Functional yet funky is the motto I keep in mind when making my top selection. Is the top functional? Can I make it funky? Or is the top funky? And can I make it functional? Sheer or mesh tops work great as a basic and chic top option. My favorite find of the summer ahead of my 10-day Europe escapade was the Belle the Label Paris Top. The cream-colored fabric is embellished with a multi-tier petal neckline, a delicate and mature silhouette that will easily pair with long denim shorts or satin pants.

Four Bathing Suits

Unless you plan on wearing a new bathing suit every day, you only need to cycle through four. Of course, bathing suits can be easily balled up and thrown into a bag but that space can also be used for other intimates that arent waterproof. For my fellow clean freaks, if you bring a few packs of on-the-go detergent, you can wash your suits in the sink and let them dry in the sun (and live the European way of life).

open image in gallery When youre in Paxos, Greece, you dont need more than just a few outfits to get by ( Getty Images )

Three Dresses

Say it with me, Morning, day, and night. The dresses you pick should be suitable for all. A long white sun dress with a V-cut neckline, an elegant halter-neck slip, and a short ballooned sleeve nylon or linen number you cant go wrong with. Anything neutral or achromatic with a juicy shape will work so long as its comfortable. If one dress only fits a single outing, and you cant see yourself wearing it again on the trip, toss it to the side.

Three Shoes

Depending on the type of trip, beach or city, youre shoe needs will be different. My plane shoe of choice has always been my vintage Stella McCartney slides, and for a beach trip, theyre perfect. On the plane, I can slip my foot in and out of them (with a sock on because no socks on the plane is a questionable decision). Then, the slides are also a practical pick for the sand. If youre going on a multi-city exploration, you wear your sneakers on the plane. Regardless, the sensible shoe should be worn and not packed.

The other shoe slots can be for slingback heels, trendy flats, wedges, or loafers. Though youre usually told to wear your heaviest shoes when traveling to save room in your suitcase, realistically, youre not going to wear a pair of wedges to hop on the train, plane, or automobile its going to take you to get to your destination. Following suit with the mesh phase, Ive loved the Mango ballet flats this summer as someone who cant stand in heels too long.

Two Bags

Aside from your suitcase and personal item for the plane, you should bring at most two playful bags. A small shoulder bag and a tote bag or fanny pack will not fail you. Pick the tote, fanny pack, or shoulder bag to be modishly unconventional, and the other austere. Bags can be dull in color but deliciously weird in form like the Belle the Label Mimi Maxi.

Extra Tips

Even if the packed wardrobe is less colorful than you had originally planned for, expression and dimension can always be added with chunky, costume-like jewelry. Normally, I pack my jewelry with my toiletries, books, and devices in my under-the-seat carry-on bag to leave room in my suitcase for any shopping I do. And if Im ever worried the flight will be too packed and Ill be forced to check my suitcase at the gate, Ill throw in an extra bathing suit, underwear, tank top, and shorts in that bag, too. I also recommend getting an Apple Airtag to keep in your suitcase in the event they make you last-minute check your carry-on.
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Saoirse Ronan has reportedly married her long-term partner Jack Lowden.

According to the Irish Independent, the pair wed in an intimate ceremony in Edinburgh, Scotland last weekend, with only a handful of their closest friends and family present.

According to the outlet, the register of Scottish civil marriages shows that Saoirse Una Ronan married Jack Andrew Lowden at the Edinburgh Central Registrars Office.

The Irish actor, 30, who had her breakthrough role playing Keira Knightleys younger sister in 2007s acclaimed drama Atonement, met Lowden in 2018 on set for Mary Queen of Scots, in which she played Mary Stuart and he played the monarchs husband, Lord Darnley.

Ronan, a four-time Oscar nominee, reportedly purchased a home with Lowden in west Cork in 2020. The pair live together in north London, with their terrier, Fran.

open image in gallery Ronan and Lowden at the Scottish premiere of Mary Queen of Scots in 2019  the film they met working on together ( Getty Images )

Rumours of a possible wedding began a year ago when fans thought that Lowden had proposed during a hiking holiday in Scotland in July 2023. He had posted a photo from the summit of Ben Vrackie in Perthshire, Scotland showing a hand, which fans thought might belong to Ronan, wearing a diamond ring.

At the time, although fans commented messages of congratulations on the post, the couple did not address them or confirm the speculation. The Independent has contacted representatives for Ronan for comment.

More recently, the pair shared a picture together at Glastonbury festival in June, with Lowden seen wrapping his arms around the Ladybird actor as they watched the stage from the crowd.

Ronan began her career aged 13 in Atonement, a role for which she received an Oscar nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category. Her subsequent nods were for Brooklyn (2015), Lady Bird (2017), and Little Women (2019).

Lowden previously reflected on being blown away by Ronan when working with her on Mary Queen of Scots. The woman is a force of nature, on- and off-screen, and utterly fearless and a brilliant leader as well, he told the i newspaper last year.

My first love is actors, and when youre given a Ferrari like her, its all about how you make everything good for the Ferrari to show off, he added. Dont make a Ferrari do what a Renault Clio does. Its a dreadful analogy but theyre like gold dust, good actors. When theres someone like that, you just have to facilitate them and you will get gold. And my God, did we.

Lowdens production company, Arcade Pictures, which he set up with Ronan and producer Dominic Norris, is behind their forthcoming film The Outrun, which stars Ronan as a recovering alcoholic returning to the Orkney Islands.

The film is slated for release in September this year.
Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

The Paris 2024 organisers have apologised to Catholics and other Christian groups after some people interpreted a sketch during the Olympics opening ceremony on Friday night as being a parody of Leonardo Da Vinci's famous The Last Supper painting.

A kitsch tableau is said by some to have parodied the iconic painting, recreating the biblical scene of Jesus Christ and his apostles sharing a last meal before crucifixion, although this was denied by the man behind the event.

The sketch featured drag queens, a transgender model, a naked singer made up as the Greek god of wine Dionysus, and a child.

FOLLOW LIVE: Tennis, swimming and athletics action across Team GB and 2024 Olympics

The scene drew dismay from the Catholic Church, with the organisers explaining that the decision was motivated by a desire to achieve community tolerance.

But Italy's deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini branded the scene insulting and sleazy, adding: "Opening the Olympics by insulting billions of Christians across the world was a really bad start.

We imagined a ceremony to show our values and our principles so we gave a very committed message, Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet said. The idea was to really trigger a reflection. We wanted to have a message as strong as possible.

Naturally, we had to take into account the international community. Having said that  it is a French ceremony for the French Games  so we trusted our artistic director. We have freedom of expression in France and we wanted to protect it.

Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps told a press conference: Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. (The opening ceremony) tried to celebrate community tolerance.

open image in gallery The Last Supper parody featured a naked singer made up as the Greek god of wine Dionysus ( BBC )

We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offence, we are really sorry.

Paris 2024 artistic director Thomas Jolly was left baffled by the negative reactions to the show and said the scene had not been inspired by The Last Supper and depicted a pagan feast linked to the gods of Olympus in order to celebrate diversity and pay tribute to feasting and French gastronomy.

Our idea was inclusion, Mr Jolly said. Naturally, when we want to include everyone and not exclude anyone questions are raised.

Our subject was not to be subversive. We never wanted to be subversive.

We wanted to talk about diversity. Diversity means being together. We wanted to include everybody.

In France, we have artistic freedom. We are lucky in France to live in a free country.

This article was amended on 29 July 2024 to include Mr Jollys denial that the scene had been based on The Last Supper, and to make it clear that this was some peoples interpretation of the tableau. The article had previously reported that it was a parody of the painting.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The past two months were unlike anything Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia had ever experienced: He gave political speeches, shook peoples hands and waved from the top of a truck moving through cheering crowds gathered across Venezuela. He also shed the title of ambassador for that of presidential candidate.

The dramatic life changes for the 74-year-old Gonzalez transformed him from a virtually unknown devout grandfather into a household name. Sunday he could make history if he defeats President Nicolas Maduro in a highly anticipated election. The vote is the first serious electoral challenge the ruling party has faced in decades.

A phrase that has been said to me repeatedly is You are my last hope, Gonzalez told reporters Thursday referring to supporters. I want to tell you that you are the hope. You have filled me with strength to face what has undoubtedly been the most unequal electoral campaign in the history of electoral processes in Venezuela.

Gonzalez is on the ballot representing the Unitary Platform, a coalition of Venezuelas main opposition parties, but until April, he had never imagined running for office, let alone for president.

The coalition selected him in April as a last-minute stand-in for opposition powerhouse Maria Corina Machado, who was blocked by the Maduro-controlled Supreme Tribunal of Justice from running for any office for 15 years. Machado, a former lawmaker, swept the oppositions October primary with more than 90% of the vote.

After Machado was blocked from joining the presidential race, she chose a college professor as her substitute on the ballot, but the ruling party-loyal National Electoral Council also barred her from registering. Thats when Gonzalez, a political newcomer, was chosen.

Sundays ballot also features eight other candidates challenging Maduro, but only Gonzalez threatens the president's aspirations for a third term.

Even among Venezuelas opposition, few knew of the former diplomat before he was announced as the coalitions candidate. Before Gonzalez joined Machado on the campaign trail, she became his surrogate, allocating a minute or so of her stump to him, describing him as an honest family man and urging her supporters to cast their votes for him.

Gonzalez began his professional career as an aide to Venezuelas ambassador in the U.S. He had postings in Belgium and El Salvador and served as Caracas ambassador to Algeria.

His last post was as Venezuelas ambassador to Argentina during the first years of the government of Hugo Chavez, Maduros predecessor and mentor. More recently, he worked as an international relations consultant, writing about recent political developments in Argentina as well as authoring a historical work on Venezuelas foreign minister during World War II.

His years in El Salvador and Algeria coincided with periods of armed conflicts in both countries. For a time, his whereabouts were tracked by locals in El Salvador, and he would get calls at home meant to intimidate him, with the callers saying they were aware that Gonzalez had just gotten home.

He had just returned to Venezuelas capital, Caracas, from a trip to Europe to visit a daughter and grandchildren when opposition leaders presented him with the idea of becoming a candidate. He conditioned his acceptance to a few matters, including that his wife be convinced of the decision. Not only did she agree, she also stood next to him on stages and trucks, and both waved to the crowds of young and old who gathered by the thousands to see them during the campaign.

His characteristic subdued tone and poker face, forged in his years as a diplomat, go against the image of boisterous politicians to which voters are accustomed. Maduro and his allies have taken his demeanor as a sign of weakness and chastised him on national TV and at campaign events. That kind of demeaning language is among the many changes Gonzalez wishes to see in Venezuela. In his short campaign, he has emphasized the decency that he wants Venezuelans to experience again, from that of a living wage to reliable public utilities.

Enough shouting, enough insults, its time to reunite, Gonzalez told supporters.

Should he win, Gonzalez will end Venezuelas 25 years under the policies that Chavez described as socialism for the 21st century and installed after becoming president in 1999. Gonzalez has not presented his government plan, but that does not seem to worry opposition supporters, many of whom think the only important plan ahead of the election is the one that gets Maduro defeated at the polls Sunday.

What is happening? People no longer buy the socialism story, Leonardo Guerrero, a layman church leader in the western state of Barinas, said after a recent service. Mass required the use of a battery-powered speaker because power had been out for hours.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has urged people not to rush to judgement after new video footage emerged showing the run-up to a now-viral scene in which a police officer appears to kick a man in the head.

The original video of part of the incident on 23 July at Manchester Airport sparked protests in the city centre and in Rochdale.

A new 30-second clip shows a group of people standing around a ticket machine in a car park at Terminal 2.

Three police officers  one male and two female  restrain a man wearing a matching light blue top and shorts.

A second man, wearing a black T-shirt, circles the male officer and appears to begin to attack him.

The pair then seem to begin punching one another while the first man hits the two female officers multiple times in the clip obtained by the Manchester Evening News.

New footage shows the moments before the now-viral video clip ( MEN Media )

The man in the black T-shirt is tased by the male officer, at which point the second man looks to have knocked the two other officers down and proceeds to punch the male officer in the back of the head.

After the male officer and the first man wrestle to the ground, he appears to be tased by the female officers. The male officer gets up and appears to kick the man in the head, which is where the video ends.

The original video appeared to show the officer then stamp on the head of the man.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said after the release of the new footage this is a complicated situation with two sides to it and urged people not to rush to judgement.

Mr Burnham said: Following incidents in the run-up to the footage people have seen, four individuals were arrested and are now on police bail. It is frustrating that we have not been able to put more video into the public domain but that is because this is a live investigation.

People now need to step back and allow the IOPCs [Independent Office for Police Conducts) criminal investigation into the officers conduct to move forward, alongside the parallel GMP investigation into other potential offences, so that a complete picture can be presented.

Given all these investigations are ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

Andy Burnham claims Manchester Airport footage 'doesn't show full event'

The mayor said there were three stages to the incident, with a prior dispute taking place on a plane before the footage seen by the public.

He told Sky News on Sunday: Its a complicated situation, a very violent situation, actually, and there were issues on both sides.

Thats why I asked other people not to rush to judgement because of the complexity of it and, simply, everyone whos having their say, nobody has got all of the facts. Nobody is in possession of the complete picture.

There were two nights of protests in Rochdale and Manchester city centre after the original clip was shared on social media.

The IOPC said on Friday the Greater Manchester Police officer had been advised he was under criminal investigation for assault.

Andy Burnham has spoken again after the release of the new footage ( PA Archive )

An officer was served with a disciplinary notice to inform him he was being investigated for potential gross misconduct for a number of alleged breaches of police professional standards, including his use of force, a spokesperson said.

IOPC regional director Catherine Bates said: We can confirm we are conducting a criminal investigation into the use of force during events which took place on 23 July at Manchester Airport. We are arranging to interview a police constable under criminal caution as soon as possible.

I have today met one of the men who was involved and his family members to outline our investigation and we will continue to update them and Greater Manchester Police as our inquiries progress. We will be speaking to the man involved in the second incident as soon as we can.

The family has asked me to reiterate their call for peace and wish to stress that they do not condone any acts of violence as a result of this incident.

We are meeting with a number of community leaders in Rochdale this afternoon to listen to their concerns and explain our role.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A woman has been charged with 25 counts relating to child abuse at a nursery in southwest London where parents pay up to 1,900 a month for childcare.

Detectives investigating concerns over the management and welfare of children at Twickenham Green Montessori have charged a staff member with a string of crimes.

Roksana Lecka, 21, from Hounslow, is accused of 12 counts of child cruelty, 12 counts of actual bodily harm and one count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

She was remanded in custody and appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on Thursday 25 July.

The Metropolitan Police said officers from the South West areas Child Abuse Investigation Team launched a fast-paced probe after concerns were reported on 2 July. Police have not said how many alleged victims are involved.

Lecka was arrested three days later and charged this week.

The Independent understands childcare sessions have been suspended at the nursery, where children aged four and under are cared for with monthly fees ranging from 589.15 to 1,893.

Part of a group of six nurseries in southwest London under the umbrella of Riverside Nursery Schools, Twickenham Green Montessori was rated good when it was inspected by Ofsted in March 2022.

Some children who attended the Twickenham Green branch are believed to have been found temporary places at other nurseries in the group.

Detective Superintendent Ian Cameron, from the South West areas Public Protection team, said: I understand the concern that this has caused in the community, especially for parents with young children in nursery.

These are very serious allegations, which is why we swiftly launched a thorough investigation.

We are continuing to work very closely with the nursery, Ofsted and the local authority and our enquiries continue.

Lecka is due to appear at Kingston Crown Court on 21 August.

A spokesperson for Twickenham Green Nursery said: We are unable to comment on the court case as legal proceedings are active. However, we can confirm that as soon as concerns were raised, the staff member was suspended. We followed the appropriate procedures and the relevant authorities were informed.

Ofsted have suspended the nurserys registration pending their investigation, which is standard procedure in these circumstances, and the children have been offered places in nearby nurseries.

We have been communicating with the parents of children at our nursery to keep them informed of developments. The safety and welfare of all our children remains our number one priority.
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A woman has died during a small boat crossing of the Channel  the 23rd such fatality this year as an unprecedented number of people make the treacherous journey from France to seek shelter in Britain.

One person was found dead after a boat trying to cross the busy shipping lane near Calais got into difficulties overnight, French authorities said.

A total of 34 other people were rescued and taken to emergency services, the local French department responsible for the Calais region said.

With a dearth of safe and legal routes available for people to seek asylum in the UK, more than 12,000 asylum seekers have arrived in Britain on small boats this year, making perilous crossings in overcrowded dinghies that risk capsizing.

Some 1,500 people have arrived in the most recent week for which data is available and, as of June, more people had made the crossing than at the same point in any previous year.

Such attempts to reach Britain first started to be detected in late 2018 after increasingly stringent security measures at ports and the Eurotunnel succeeded in preventing stowaways on lorries and trains bound for the UK.

A total of 23 people have now died making the journey this year, close to double the total number of fatalities in 2023, including seven people this month alone.

Citizens of five countries  Iran, Albania, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria  have made up two thirds of those crossing in small boats since 2018, according to the University of Oxfords Migration Observatory.

(PA Graphics) ( PA Graphics )

With neither the past nor current government proposing to offer safe routes, people have continued to make the journey in ever-larger numbers despite Tory ministers criminalising unsanctioned crossings and threatening to send people to Rwanda, in a 500m scheme now scrapped by Sir Keir Starmer.

The new Labour government has vowed to go after people-smuggling gangs and to increase cooperation with European nations after years of frayed relations, with home secretary Yvette Cooper moving to establish a new Border Security Command in her first days in office.

It is devastating that another person has died trying to cross the Channel this morning, said Gunes Kalkan, of the charity Safe Passage International. This tragedy was entirely preventable  we need urgent action to stop it happening again.

This government has the opportunity to take a radically different approach to welcome refugees. This must start by urgently opening safe routes so people fleeing war and persecution have safe ways to reach protection and family in the UK.

The small dinghies which cross the strait are frequently dangerously packed with far more people than is safe to carry, with a father describing to the BBC in May how his seven-year-old daughter was fatally crushed aboard a boat carrying 110 people.

Those who do reach Britain face often years-long waits for their asylum claims to be processed, with a backlog of more than 120,000 cases awaiting a verdict from the Home Office.

Ms Cooper told MPs this week that civil servants had effectively stopped making the majority of asylum decisions due to the impact of the Illegal Migration Act, a piece of legislation brought in under the Tory government.

The new home secretary said it was the most extraordinary policy that Ive ever seen, adding: Thousands of asylum caseworkers cannot do their proper jobs and, as a result, the backlog of asylum cases is now going up.

Housing these people in taxpayer-funded hotels would cost 30-40bn over the next four years, according to Home Office projections, she said.

Earlier this month, The Independent reported that United Nations human rights experts had written to the UK to warn that it was at risk of breaching international law over allegations of child asylum-seekers being placed in adult detention centre as a result of its age assessment policies.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Labour is fast-tracking plans to prove its socialist credentials by passing laws that will see Britains railways renationalised before the next general election.

The plans to bring broken private rail ownership back into the public sector would mean a programme of nationalisation on a scale not seen since before John Major aggressively privatised the railways in the 1990s.

Legislation going before MPs on Monday will see rail services brought back into public control when contracts with operators come to an end.

New transport secretary Louise Haigh has dubbed herself the passenger-in-chief as she leads the overhaul but rail companies have said the project is political rather than practical, and claim it will increase costs over time. Shadow transport secretary Helen Whately added that passengers will pay the price.

Allies of Ms Haigh have said the bill is part of a radical agenda which has not been picked up in the media and proves doubters of Labours socialist credentials wrong. Legislation enabling communities to take control of local buses will be introduced later in the parliament.

Louise Haigh, the new transport secretary ( Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publis )

The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill  the governments first major piece of legislation  will be the biggest nationalisation programme since the 1970s before Margaret Thatcher started mass privatisation of public services across the board.

Ms Haigh, who will lead on the bill as it passes through parliament, has made clear her intention to improve the experience and quality of service for passengers on the rail network.

She told The Independent: This bill demonstrates the sheer scale of our ambition to rebuild Britain, putting transport at the heart of our plans for change.

As passenger-in-chief, I said wed move fast and fix things and thats exactly what were doing with this radical legislative agenda.

Taking aim at the private sector companies running many services at the moment, she added: Our transport system is broken, but this bill is laying the tracks for a publicly owned railway that works for everyone and puts passengers first.

The transport secretary recently stated: Were hoping that [the Rail (Public Ownership) Bill] will be done and dusted by the end of the year and we can start early in the new year and then well deliver at pace.

The bill will be the first stage of bringing rail back into public ownership, effectively laying the legal foundation for it to happen.

The Department for Transport already owns LNER, which operates the east coast mainline ( Charlotte Hindle )

Labours drive for public ownership of the railways comes after repeated failures under private operators. The policy is backed by a majority of the public, with a recent Ipsos poll showing 54 per cent of those surveyed support public rail ownership. And a YouGov poll showed three-quarters of the public believe rail companies should be run in the public sector, with just 13 per cent believing they should remain privately run.

The poll also found six in 10 Conservative voters support rail nationalisation, compared with just over a quarter who said railways should be privately run.

One area of savings identified by Labour is management fees and dividends, in which it has estimated it can prevent 130m every year in payouts to shareholders.

The bill will be followed by the launch of the governments Great British Railways, which will bring together existing bodies such as Network Rail and rail companies to run the network.

The new public sector company will be based in Derby with a transition team already operating.

Shadow transport secretary Helen Whately claimed passengers will pay the price for railway renationalisation ( PA Media )

There will also be a process of taking services back into public ownership from companies as contracts come to an end.

The Department for Transport already owns LNER, which operates the east coast mainline, after the company was taken back into taxpayer ownership by the Tory government following financial difficulties.

It is hoped the renationalisation of rail will be completed before the next election.

Ms Whately said: The transport secretary herself has admitted that renationalising our railways will not guarantee cheaper rail fares. Labours plan is driven by ideology rather than what works and passengers will pay the price.

Everyone agrees rail needs reform and thats on the way, as Labour is continuing our plan to join up track and train in Great British Railways. Labour need to urgently confirm whether they back our infrastructure investments like Network North.

Andy Bagnall, chief executive at Rail Partners, an industry group of train operators and freight groups, has previously said train companies agree that change is needed for the railways, but nationalisation is a political rather than a practical solution which will increase costs over time.

Reform UK leader and MP for Clacton Nigel Farage said: They will mess this up. It is the 1970s all over again.

Tom Clougherty, executive director of the right-wing Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA) think tank  which inspired Liz Trusss disastrous mini-budget  said rail nationalisation is fraught with the risks of wasted taxpayer money, trade union dominance, and cronyism.

Ms Haigh must also find a way to end the waves of strikes which have hit the rail network and cost the country billions economically. She is due to have talks with the train drivers union Aslef over a pay deal in the coming weeks.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Robert Jenrick has told Tory members there will be no deal with Nigel Farage if he is elected leader of the party to replace Rishi Sunak.

The former home office minister, who resigned because he did not think Mr Sunak was strong enough on the Rwanda deportation flights, has emerged as the leading candidate of the right in the leadership race.

Speaking at an event in Upminster in Essex this week, Mr Jenrick told party members that he plans to win back Tory voters who defected to Farages Reform.

But unlike fellow right-winger Suella Braverman  who is leading in support among party members but struggling to get enough MPs to nominate her  Mr Jenrick said there would be no deal with Mr Farage.

In June, Ms Braverman suggested the Conservatives should welcome Mr Farage into the party as there was not much difference between the Tories and Reform.

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick ( Jonathan Brady/PA )

Mr Jenricks rebuff came after it emerged that Reform fears his nomination most of all and hopes his rival Tom Tugendhat, associated more with the centrist One Nation members of the party, wins instead.

A number of sources claimed that former Tory MP turned Reform UK MP Lee Anderson said Mr Jenrick would provide the biggest problem.

Mr Anderson denied this and told The Independent: None of them worry us. Just look at their majorities.

But allies of Mr Tugendhat believe he can follow in David Camerons footsteps in the leadership election, arguing that he could win the leadership race by establishing himself as the frontrunner at the party conference.

The former prime minister, now Lord Cameron, was the unexpected victor of the 2005 contest, despite starting behind the bookies favourite, David Davis.

But a star-making speech, delivered without notes at that years gathering of the partys rank-and-file, transformed his electoral fortunes.

As the standard bearer of One Nation Tory MPs, Mr Tugendhat could still struggle to win over more right-leaning Conservative members if he makes it to the final two.

An ally of Mr Tugendhat said: One thing people misunderstand about the membership is how much they want to win power. Yes, they are more to the right at the moment. But what they will be looking for is a candidate who can win and who can make sure they are back in No 10 sooner rather than later.

They also realise they made a mistake with Liz Truss and are determined not to do that again. They will be looking for a winner and for whoever establishes themselves as that person  like David Cameron did.

Conservative leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat ( PA Archive )

Ms Truss lasted less than two months as prime minister before she was ousted by her own MPs. She was replaced by Rishi Sunak, but he announced his intention to step down as leader after a disastrous general election result earlier this month.

He is staying on as interim leader while the party spends the next four months choosing his successor.

Mr Tugendhat and Mr Jenrick have both secured the backing needed to get through to the next stage, before nominations close on Monday afternoon. Former home secretary James Cleverly has also got the necessary nominations, as has former work and pensions secretary Mel Stride.

Ex-business secretary Kemi Badenoch, who has accused rivals of playing dirty tricks against her, and another former home secretary, Dame Priti Patel, are also expected to be on the ballot paper.

MPs will whittle down the list of contenders to a final two, before allowing the party membership to choose.

Before that stage, however, there will be a beauty parade at the partys annual conference, during which the applicants will try to establish themselves as the frontrunner for the job.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, July 28. The Minister of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan Sherzod Shermatov took part in the semi-annual regional meeting of Huawei for the Middle East and Central Asia in Tashkent, where executives and managing managers of more than 20 representative offices of the company gathered, Trend reports.

According to information, at the meeting the minister welcomed the decision to hold an annual event in Uzbekistan, taking into account the rapid digital development of the country, increasing its position as a regional leader in creating favorable business conditions for international IT companies and strengthening the brand of Uzbekistan as a host country for major international events in the field ICT.

The minister noted that Uzbekistan has created all the conditions for developing the business of international IT companies, locating offices for business process outsourcing (BPO), and holding regional and global events.

During the meeting, Huawei executives got acquainted with the current "Zero Risk" program for residents of IT Park Uzbekistan, the benefits that residents receive for conducting their activities in Uzbekistan, and plans to further attract international business to the country.

The possibilities of expanding the activities of one of Huaweis five global resource centers located in Uzbekistan were also discussed by transferring the development of projects in the Middle East and Central Asia region to employees of the office in Tashkent. This will increase the number of personnel, open up more opportunities for growth in the export of IT services in Uzbekistan and strengthen the republics position as a center for the development of the IT industry in the region.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Rachel Reeves is considering plans to raise capital gains tax in line with income tax to help plug a 20bn hole in the public finances, according to reports.

The chancellor will be presented with proposals by Treasury officials ahead of a speech in which she will declare Britain broke and broken and reveal the scale of Labours dire financial inheritance from the Conservatives.

Another option being considered by Ms Reeves is cutting pension tax relief for middle-class workers, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to make a speech on public finances on Monday. (Justin Tallis/PA) ( PA Wire )

Any tax changes will be announced in the budget this autumn. Ms Reeves will confirm the date of the autumn fiscal event on Monday.

The top rate of capital gains tax is 28 per cent, while the top rate of income tax is 45 per cent.

Labour ruled out raising income tax, VAT and national insurance during the general election but it did not take changes to capital gains off the table.

Equalising capital gains and income tax rates could raise 16.7bn, according to one study.

And pension contributions are currently tax deductible, with officials having made the case for introducing a 30 per cent tax on contributions. The independent Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has said the charge could raise 2.7bn a year.

Ms Reeves is preparing to deliver a major speech laying the ground for either tax hikes or spending cuts in her first budget.

She will tell parliament that Rishi Sunaks party left a 20bn black hole in the public finances, including making significant funding commitments this year with no idea how they would be paid for.

The government said Britain is broke and broken and will reveal the mess that populist politics has made of the economy and public services. It will set the stage for difficult decisions to be taken to start to rebuild the country.

But former chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the books have been wide open, accusing Labour of peddling fiction which is widely rejected by independent commentators.

He added: Their motive is clear: having promised not to raise taxes 50 times before the election, they now need a pretext  but trying to scam the British people so soon after being elected is a high-risk strategy doomed to fail.

Pat McFadden, Labours chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: After 14 years of Conservative failure, the Labour Party is calling time on the sticking-plaster politics of populism.

The electorate sent this changed Labour Party to government with a clear mandate to restore economic stability, grow the economy and build the homes we need.

We will not shy away from being honest with the public about the reality of what we have inherited. We are calling time on the false promises that British people have had to put up with and we will do what it takes to fix Britain.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Wildfires across the western United States and Canada put millions of people under air quality alerts Sunday as thousands of firefighters battled the flames, including the largest wildfire in California this year.

The so-called Park Fire had scorched more than 550 square miles (1,430 square kilometers) of land in inland Northern California as of Sunday morning, darkening the sky with smoke and haze and contributing to poor air quality in a large swath of the Northwestern U.S. and western Canada.

Although the sprawling blaze was only 12% contained as of Sunday, cooler temperatures and increased humidity could help crews battle the fire, which has drawn comparisons to the 2018 Camp Fire that tore through the nearby community of Paradise, killing 85 people and torching 11,000 homes. Paradise and several other Butte County communities were under an evacuation warning Sunday.

With the Park Fire, the initial effort by first responders was to save lives and property, but that has has shifted to confronting the fire head-on, Jay Tracy, a spokesperson at the Park Fire headquarters, told The Associated Press by phone Sunday. He said reinforcements would give much-needed rest to local firefighters, some of whom have been working nonstop since the fire started Wednesday.

This fire is surprising a lot of people with its explosive growth, he said. It is kind of unparalleled.

Although the area near the Park Fire is expecting cooler-than-average temperatures through the middle of this week, that doesn't mean "that fires that are existing will go away, said Marc Chenard, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.

The Park Fire, which started Wednesday when authorities say a man pushed a burning car into a gully in Chico and then fled, has destroyed at least 134 structures, fire officials said. About 3,400 firefighters, aided by numerous helicopters and air tankers, are battling the blaze.

A Chico man accused of setting the fire was arrested Thursday and is due in court Monday.

The Park Fire was one of more than 100 blazes burning in the U.S. on Sunday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Some were sparked by the weather, with climate change increasing the frequency of lightning strikes as the Western U.S. endures blistering heat and bone-dry conditions.

Despite the improved fire weather in Northern California, conditions remained ripe for even more blazes to ignite, with the National Weather Service warning of red flag conditions on Sunday across wide swaths of Utah, Colorado and Wyoming, in addition to parts of California.

In Southern California, a fire in the Sequoia National Forest swept through the community of Havilah after burning more than 48 square miles (124 square kilometers) in less than three days. The town of roughly 250 people had been under an evacuation order.

Fires were also burning across eastern Oregon and eastern Idaho, where officials were assessing damage from a group of blazes referred to as the Gwen Fire, which was estimated at 41 square miles (106 square kilometers) in size as of Sunday.

___

Rodriguez reported from San Francisco. The following AP reporters from around the U.S. contributed: David Sharp, Becky Bohrer, John Antczak, Rio Yamat, David Sharp, Holly Ramer, Sarah Brumfield, Claire Rush, Terry Chea, Scott Sonner, Martha Bellisle and Amy Hanson.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

In the summer of 1992, a young mother celebrated her sons first birthday at her home in a small West Virginia town and then mysteriously vanished without a trace.

The party for Brenda Lamberts one-year-old, nicknamed June bug, wrapped up around 9pm on July 26, 1992, according to the West Virginia State Police.

It was the last time the 22-year-old mother was seen. Her car was parked in the driveway at the Bluewell home and all her belongings had been left behind.

When Brendas estranged husband Raymond Lambert later filed a missing persons report, he stated that he left the house around 8pm that same evening and went to stay with his mother. Only when he returned the next afternoon did he allegedly discover that Brenda was missing.

Friday marked 32 years since anyone has seen or heard from Brenda.

Her sister, Christy Kennedy, was only 14 years old at the time. Shes been fighting to bring her home ever since.

For years, I was told to be quiet, Kennedy told The Independent. But Im done. Its time to tell her story. Its time to bring her home.

Kennedy believes her sister is no longer alive and that she died at the hands of a killer. But that hasnt stopped her fighting to get her sister back  even if its her remains.

Brenda was just 22 when she disappeared ( Supplied )

I know a lot of people out there who know what happened, she said. But they say nothing.

Brenda was a victim of domestic violence, according to Kennedy, who said her sister was preparing to divorce when she went missing.

Brenda was amazing. Knowing her was the best part of my life, Kennedy said tearfully. Nobody in this world deserved what happened to her.

To add to the mysteriousness of Brendas disappearance, nearly six months after she went missing, on January 14, 1993, her friend Mark Anthony Cook, 24, vanished after leaving a bar called Pedros at the Airport Square Shopping Center.

Darrell Bailey, the former chief deputy of the Mercer County Sheriffs Department, who has since passed, told the Bluefield Daily Telegraph in 2006 that he believed the two disappearances were connected and that foul play was suspected.

Their bodies have never been found and both cases remain under investigation, police said.

Its been life-changing and it doesnt get better  you dont get used to it, Kennedy said. But you cant give up, you have to advocate for your person

Kennedy believes her sisters remains are just within a few miles of where she was seen.

If someone would just give me her remains, just tell me where she is buried, Kennedy pleaded. We just want to bury her.

The trauma of losing Brenda led to their family grieving themselves to death.

Their mother died in 1996, just a few years after Brenda disappeared.

Christy Kennedy has never given up her search for her sister Brenda Lambert, who vanished in Bluewell, West Virginia in 1992 ( Supplied )

Her case was cold for so long. It did a lot of damage, Kennedy said. People were not interested, people didnt care. It was up to me to advocate for her.

Meanwhile, my family was just wasting away, she added. Dying from heartbreak.

Brenda was legally declared dead in September 2022.

Last year, a billboard was placed along Route 52 with the help of the AWARE Foundation, Inc.

It featured her photo and asked anyone with information to contact the Mercer County Sheriffs Department at 304-487-8364.

The person who did this can still spend the holidays with their family, she said. Brenda will never have that again.

They got 30 years carefree, We have 30 years of heartbreak.

Kennedy told The Independent that Private Investigations for the Missing has hired a Private Investigator to help with the case.

Im hoping that someone will come forward with information, she said.

Any information can be sent via email to PIFTMtips@gmail.com or toll free tip line 1-866-331-6660.

A candle vigil was held for Brenda on Friday.

Im not stopping, its been 32 years, Kennedy said. Im ready to bring Brenda home.

Im hoping, because Im not going to quit until I get my sister back.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

If youre a parent, finding good schools for your children can be an arduous task and knowing where to look - and live - can be a big help.

A recent WalletHub analysis ranked the best and worst public school systems across the 50 states and the District of Columbia, using 32 key metrics including performance, funding, safety, class size and instructor credentials.

Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maryland topped the list as the states with the best-performing public schools, while New Mexico, Oklahoma and Arizona fared the worst.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont praised his states high ranking -- at number two -- on X, formerly known as Twitter: Connecticut was again ranked as one of the top states with the best school systems in the U.S. There are so many exemplary teachers in our state we need to recognize for their dedication to our schools and our students.

Cale Bushman, an interim superintendent from Wisconsin, which ranked fifth, told WAOW: Weve been very beneficial; education [in Wisconsin] is excellent: theres great opportunities for kids, theres great learning, families are wonderful, theyre involved, they care about their kids experiences.

The report compared states across two dimensions  quality and safety  on a scale of 100 points. Quality, with the highest share of 80 points, included measures such as math and reading test scores, dropout rate, pupil-teacher ratio, share of licensed public K-12 teachers, share of high school class scoring at least a 3 on Advanced Placement exam and high school graduation rates among low-income students.

Safety, with a share of 20 points, included youth incarceration rate, share of threatened or injured high school students, number of school shootings, bullying incidence rate and existence of digital learning plan.

States in the northeast have for years sported the highest per-pupil spending , while those in the west and south have typically spent the least.

Money matters. Anyone who tells you otherwise is being dishonest or coy, wrote Gerard Robinson , Professor of Practice in Public Policy and Law at the University of Virginia, in the report.

But theres no simple economic formula that tells the whole picture.

A success sequence for Pre-K-12 school children isnt an either-or competition. Influences cross boundaries. This includes the quality of school culture, and neighborhood culture, and family culture, and peer culture, Robinson said.

Massachusetts, which was ranked first in the WalletHub analysis, had the best eighth grade math and fourth grade reading scores, and came in second place for forth grade math and eight grade reading. It also boasted the highest percentage of students who received a score of 3 or better on an AP exam. The test are part of classes that allow college-credits and are offred in roughly 70 percent of public high schools .

Connecticut, coming in second, had the best ACT scores across the 50 states and the fifth-highest percentage of students who scored at least a 3 on an AP exam. Its school safety also stood out: Connecticut had the lowest presence of illegal drugs on school campuses, the third-lowest rate of youth incarceration and the sixth-lowest percentage of students bringing weapons to school.

The third-ranking state, Maryland, ranked 11th on SAT scores and 13th on ACT scores. It had the 10th highest share of schools ranked in the top 700 schools nationwide.

Specific measures, such as test scores, did not always correlate to overall ranking, highlighting the comprehensive nature of the report. West Virginia, despite lagging behind the rest of the country at number 46, had the lowest dropout rate, while Tennessee, ranked 32, came in second.

The reverse was also true in some high-ranking states: Delaware, with an overall ranking of 14, had the 48th highest math test scores, and Florida, at number 11, had the 47th highest median SAT scores.

A new report has ranked the top states for education, with Massachusetts and Connecticut ranking at the top ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe told The Independent that the study may be useful for parents or prospective parents who are considering relocating or making major life changes.

But she noted that local contexts are best for assessing the quality of education: At the end of the day, its always best to speak with people who actually live there. These metrics [of the analysis] do a great job of painting a very broad picture but it doesnt necessarily capture the sentiments of the people who are in that particular area.

Other reports have released similar findings. U.S. News & World Report put Florida, Utah and Massachusetts at the top of the list for overall education, which includes K-12 and higher education metrics. On its K-12 list , Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut filled out the first three spots.

Insider Monkey placed the District of Columbia, Vermont and New Jersey at the top spots, relying on three metrics  per-pupil expenditure, pupil-to-teacher ratio and bachelors degree attainment  to calculate its rankings.

Happe added that for voters who will go to the polls in November, if [education] is something you are passionate about and want to see improved, you should be considering where the different candidates stand on policies that might help with improving that.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A progressive congresswoman mocked Donald Trump for losing his memory after he apparently confused her with another Muslim member of Congress during his visit to her home state on Saturday.

Trump and his new running mate JD Vance held their first joint campaign rally of the 2024 season in Minnesota on Saturday, a state the former president lost to Democrats in both 2020 and 2016. During Trumps speech in St Cloud, he attacked his new presumptive opponent Kamala Harris, endorsed by Joe Biden after the president announced his decision to step aside last Sunday, and also swiped at a local target: Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a progressive and member of the Squad who has been outspoken in her opposition to Maga Republicanism.

But in his remarks, Trump wrongly referred to Omar as the congresswoman who went to a speech when I was first running and started screaming.

This lunatic was in the audience, he said, after naming Omar. She started screamingIts the same crazy person I watch every night. Shes nuts.

Trump: Ilhan Omar. She went to a speech when I was first running. This lunatic was in the audience. She started screaming Its the same crazy person I watch every night. Shes nuts pic.twitter.com/qnB9qa8VyU  Acyn (@Acyn) July 28, 2024

Omar, however, was not the soon-to-be-congresswoman who disrupted one of Trumps speeches in 2016. That was Rashida Tlaib, Omars fellow Squad member and a representative for neighboring Michigans 12th district. Tlaib was revealed in 2019 to have been one of the protesters who interrupted Trumps speech to the Detroit Economic Club. At the time, she was working as a public interest attorney.

In video tweeted by an Australian columnist, Tlaib can be seen being led away by security as the president speaks with a triumphant look on her face. As she nears the person filming on a camera phone, Tlaib shouts, you guys are crazy! at the crowd, to which one person calls her an animal in response.

My god! Tlaib back in 2016. pic.twitter.com/7RNRpv32TO  Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) July 20, 2019

Omar responded to video of the former presidents remarks in a tweet on Sunday.

Trump telling dangerous anti-Muslim lies is nothing new. But I have never attended one of his speeches. He is lying again or losing his memory, wrote the Minnesota congresswoman. Trump should step aside as his criminal convictions and continued legal troubles have clearly taken a toll on the 78 year old conman.

If he doesnt, he is going to learn that MN is well versed in trifectas and well be glad to make him a 3 time loser here.



MN doesnt just welcome refugees, we send them to Congress. Please join me in making sure we defeat Donald Trump: https://t.co/B5Bzb43NcG  Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) July 28, 2024

A spokesperson for the Trump campaign confirmed that the ex-president had mistaken one congresswoman for the other.

"It's common to mistake the two deranged and radical individuals who both want open borders just like failed Border Czar Kamala Harris, are mentally unstable, and promote an anti-America agenda that seeks to shred the Constitution to pieces so they can burn it just like they do the American flag, said Steven Cheung.

Trump has been accused of confusing his various political rivals with one another in the past. Most famously, he did so with Nikki Haley and Nancy Pelosi in January, during the height of the GOP primary, when casting blame over the insufficient law enforcement response on January 6. Trump has maintained in public comments that he purposely interposed Haleys name for Pelosis in that instance, though without coherently explaining why hed do that.

His visit to Minnesota on Saturday comes as his campaign is attempting to steal back momentum from Harris, whose own bid for the presidency has taken off like a rocket since President Biden announced his decision to step aside last Sunday afternoon. In the short time period she has been at the top of the Democratic ticket, her campaign says it has raised more than $200m in direct donations and signed up thousands of volunteers.

Trump is coming off a largely successful four-day Republican convention in Milwaukee, where he unveiled Senator JD Vance as his running mate. In the days following, Vances past comments about unmarried women and childless Americans have forced the Trump campaign back on the defensive.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Prominent Democrats championed Vice President Kamala Harriss bid for the presidency on Sunday, one week after the official launch of her campaign, as she seeks to capitalize on a wave of support coalescing around her candidacy.

The Democratic Partys sudden unification was on full display across the broadcast and cable news networks on Sunday as the partys biggest stars lined up to deliver talking points on three issues: the strength of Harriss resume, the perceived weirdness of Trump and his vice presidential candidate JD Vance, and Joe Bidens lame-duck agenda item, Supreme Court reform. Today marked the first round of Sunday news talk shows (minus Meet the Press, pre-empted by the Olympics) since Bidens decision to drop out of the race was announced last Sunday afternoon.

Speaking on various shows Sunday were three of the partys younger, nationally-prominent members, Maryland Governor Wes More, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also made an appearance on CBSs Face the Nation. Gov Tim Walz, who like Buttigieg has been considered on the list of potential running mates for Harris this fall, appeared on CNN.

Moore, Pritzker, and Schumer all led with defenses of Harris and her long record as a prosecutor, senator and finally vice president, the former being a characteristic which many of Harriss allies have said will create a sharp contrast with convicted felon Donald Trump on the debate stage and at the ballot box.

Remember, this is a person who was a prosecutor, noted Pritzker on ABCs This Week. She's somebody who understands that making the case is how you win, that going out there, every day prosecuting the case, especially against a 34-time convicted felon and, frankly, a congenital liar [is how you win].

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Kamala Harris career as a prosecutor: She's somebody who understands that making the case is how you win...every day prosecuting the case, especially against a 34-time convicted felon and, frankly, a congenital liar. https://t.co/obOSUb353r pic.twitter.com/zCIkyx4gov  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) July 28, 2024

Moore fought back against the Trump campaigns attempts to paint Harris as a radical and supporter of efforts to defund or cut funding to law enforcement: "It's remarkably disingenuous to call someone who was a prosecutor for her entire career someone who is soft on crime or someone who believed in defund the police.

As the GOP tries to paint Vice Pres. Harris as "radical," Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says, "It's remarkably disingenuous to call someone who was a prosecutor for her entire career, someone who is soft on crime or someone who believed in defund the police. https://t.co/Cim2gMTFtQ pic.twitter.com/JXXzy0d8p3  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) July 28, 2024

The VP contenders, meanwhile, sharpened their images as the partys attack dogs  a traditional campaign role of the vice presidential nominee, and one Harris herself played into as she had taken to the trail in support of the Biden-Harris ticket up until this point.

Buttigieg returned to familiar stomping grounds: Fox News, where he jousted with anchor Shannon Bream on Fox News Sunday.

Donald Trump made a promise when he was a candidate  one of the few promises he actually kept, by the way  you know, he didnt keep his promise of six per cent economic growth, he didnt keep his promise to drain the swamp, said the Transportation secretary, veering off as he spoke about Trumps promise to pack the Supreme Court with conservatives who would overturn Roe vs Wade. He went on to go back and forth with Bream over whether Trump was responsible for throwing the US into a manufacturing recession before the Covid pandemic hit.

Favorite parts of this exchange:

1. Pete reminding the Fox audience that Trump promised to accompany the mob to the Capitol

2. Bream trying to alibi Trumps economic record w/ pandemic and Pete immediately replying w pre-pandemic manufacturing recession pic.twitter.com/ZGs8oXOBUX  Tim Miller (@Timodc) July 28, 2024

Walz, meanwhile, honed in on a message he and Democrats writ large delivered successfully in the past week; labelling Republicans weird, after he painted JD Vance with the insult over the Ohio senators remarks about unmarried women and Americans without children. Vance has said Americans who fit either label should not be presidents or political leaders, and should have less of a say at the ballot box.

The governor of Minnesota expanded that weird description to attack Trumps behavior on Sunday, quipping that in six years of political life, hed never seen the former president laugh normally.

Its true that Donald Trump is going to put women's lives at risk and wants to end constitutional liberties. But also just listen to the guy. He's talking about Hannibal Lecter and electrocuting sharks, Walz said on CNNs State of the Union. That is weird behavior.

.@GovTimWalz says he decided to call Trump "weird" because "it's simply what we're observing," telling @jaketapper, "I thought we just give him way too much credit" and suggesting Democrats should "ratchet down some of the scariness or whatever and just name it what it is." pic.twitter.com/IH1FMDSoGD  State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) July 28, 2024

Schumer, a key ally of Bidens and Harriss in the Senate who nevertheless was reported to be part of the effort to ask the president to back down from the 2024 race, also joined in on the pile-on against Vance in his own interview on CBS. But he also spoke about what is likely to be the last big policy fight of Joe Bidens one-term presidency: court reform, which has become a major issue of concern for both Democrats and many centrists as an increasingly right-leaning Supreme Court has been revealed to effectively allow its members to live lavish lifestyles funded by right-wing donors with political interests (if not specific cases) before the Court itself.

The involvement of the spouse of one justice in the effort to overturn the 2020 election based on false pretenses of fraud has also riled many who now argue that the Court is little more than a conservative policy engine.

The idea that wealthy individuals, many of them right-wing, can both pay for cases before the court and at the same time give justices gifts or trips is outrageous. And frankly, Chief Justice Roberts isnt doing enough to curb it, Schumer told Face the Nation guest host Robert Costa.

As President Biden prepares to push for Supreme court reform this week, @SenSchumer says the court is "an ethical morass" and calls it "a MAGA, right-wing court."



"The idea that wealthy individuals, many of them right-wing, can both pay for cases before the court and at the same pic.twitter.com/XWrkwwElB2  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) July 28, 2024

The unified Democratic firing line coming out on Sunday came in sharp contrast to the Republicans, who have yet to emerge with their own effective message to counter Harriss honeymoon period. Some allies of the former president have joined in the argument that Harris should not be treated as the presumptive nominee and complained that the Democrats should face legal challenges to force Biden to run  but those potential challenges are thought by legal experts to be far-fetched.

Lindsey Graham emerged on CBS as the lone defender of Vance this week as Republicans struggle to respond to a surging Harris campaign, launched just one week ago today. In that one-week span, Harris campaign officials say the vice president has raised more than $200m from donors while polling has seen Democrats bounce back in five major swing states.

Graham, in his defense of Vances assault on single women and other Americans who he smeared as not having stakes in the country seemingly that the Democratic Partys support for LGBTQ+ Americans was Vances intended target.

.@LindseyGrahamSC, who notes that he does not have children, defends JD Vance's comments about Americans without children: "You should never say anything to hurt anybody's feelings, but when you look at all these interviews by JD, he was talking about how the Democratic Party has pic.twitter.com/wz2toBdwpr  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) July 28, 2024

"You should never say anything to hurt anybody's feelings, but when you look at all these interviews by JD, he was talking about how the Democratic Party has abandoned the traditional family."
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz made their debut as the Democratic presidential ticket on Tuesday night, kicking off a campaign against Donald Trump and JD Vance in front of an electrified crowd in Philadelphia.

The governor strode on stage at Temple Universitys Licouras Center on Tuesday with Harris just hours after she announced him as her running mate, with 91 days to go until the November election.

Walzs appearance ended the closely-watched contest for the next potential vice president, landing on a seasoned Midwestern politician, military veteran and former school teacher with a progressive track record.

Harris told the estimated 12,000 people in attendance that she set out to find a partner who can build this brighter future during her weeks-old campaign for the presidency.

Her search for a running mate led her to a leader who can unite this nation and move us forward, someone who was a fighter for the middle class and a patriot who believes as I do the extraordinary promise of America, a promise of freedom, opportunity and justice not just for some but for all, she said.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his wife Gwen Walz greet supporters at a campaign rally in Philadelphia on August 6. ( Getty Images )

She told the crowd that she found such a leader in Walz, a 60-year-old former high school teacher who enlisted in the Army National Guard at 17 and served for 24 years, then spent more than two decades teaching and coaching football before entering politics.

The vice president recounted how during the 1990s, a time when the federal government enacted a law banning any recognition of same-sex relationships, Walz served as a faculty adviser for a high school gay-straight alliance group because he knew the signal it would send to have a football coach get involved.

Walz makes people feel they belong and inspires them to dream big, and thats the kind of vice president he will be, she added, and thats the kind of vice president America deserves.

He represented Minnesota in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017 and is now in the middle of his second term as the states governor. He has had a recent meteoric rise on to the national stage with his no-nonsense assessment of the GOPs platform and the weird agenda behind it.

Kamala Harris stifled a laugh as her running mate Tim Walz cracked a joke about his Republican counterpart JD Vance and his couch controversy ( Getty Images )

In the governors office, Walz ushered through a series of popular progressive policies, including protections for abortion rights and LGBT+ Minnesotans and a free breakfast and lunch program for public school children.

Minnesotas strength comes from our values, our commitment to working together, to seeing past our differences, to always be willing to lend a helping hand, Walz told the crowd.

Trump, however, doesnt know the first thing about service, because hes too busy serving himself, according to Walz.

The former president weakens our economy to strengthen his own hand, mocks our laws, and sows chaos and division, and thats to say nothing of his record as president, said Walz, who said Trump froze during the Covid-19 crisis, drove the economy into the ground, and make no mistake: violent crime was up under Donald Trump.

Thats not counting the crimes he committed, he added.

Walz said he cant wait to debate his GOP counterpart JD Vance.

Like most people who grew up in the heartland, JD studied at Yale, had his career funded by Silicon Valley billionaires, and then wrote a best seller trashing that community, he said, his voice carrying more than a hint of sarcasm.

Tim Walz told a crowd in Philadelphia on August 6 that rival Donald Trump doesnt know a thing about service ( AP )

He added that what Vance represents is not what Middle America is, and drew some of the loudest cheers of the night when he told rallygoers: I cant wait to debate the guy ... if hes willing to get off the couch and show up.

See what I did there? said Walz, making an apparent reference to an online joke that Vance wrote about having sex with a couch in his best-selling memor.

Harriss announcement arrived roughly three months before Election Day and two weeks before the Democratic National Convention, where the Harris-Walz ticket will formally receive the partys nomination.

After President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign and backed Harris as the partys nominee, she quickly collected endorsements and delegate pledges to clinch the nomination, with record-breaking fundraising numbers that have eclipsed Republicans multi-million dollar war chest.

A campaign spokesperson said the newly-christened Harris-Walz effort pulled in yet another $20m in the hours after the announcement.

Walz quipped I see those old white guys when he spotted a member of Old White Men for Harris on the front row at the Philadelphia rally on August 6 ( AP )

The electic atmosphere recalled the boisterous rallies of the Obama-Biden campaigns in 2008 and 2012. It attracted a racially diverse crowd that included a pair of gray-haired white men sporting shirts declaring themselves Old White Men for Harris and Freedom.

Its as clear as the T-shirt says, Bernie Strain told The Independent. Its about two old white men liking our Social Security, liking our Medicare, liking our freedom, liking our democracy  well lose it if Trump gets elected.

Strain said that his son, a Marine, had served a pair of tours at the base that was struck by Iran-backed militants in Iraq on Monday.

Hes no loser and hes no sucker for serving in the United Statess service, and Trumps not going to call my son a loser or a sucker, he said. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.

Harris even drew a pair of former Republican members of Congress, including former Pennsylvania congressman James Greenwood, who told The Independent that he understood Biden had to stand down after his June 27 debate against Trump.

Greenwood described the vibe after Biden stood down as like an electric charge.

The excitement, the volunteers, the fundraising,  everyones pretty excited, he said.

Another ex-Republican House member from Illinois, Joe Walsh, said Walz was a great bet for Harris because the Minnesotan is like an everyman.

I disagree with him on a lot of policy, but he's like a regular guy, and that's what Democrats have to have, he said.

Andrew Feinberg reported from Philadelphia
Days before the worlds IT infrastructure fell apart, one of the fathers of the internet had been forecasting exactly that. Vint Cerf  speaking in London to celebrate his creations 50th birthday  had been warning that our infrastructure was more fragile than we realised.

I think we need to improve people's intuition about how complex and fragile the worlds online systems are, Cerf told The Independent shortly before he was proven right. And we also need to improve their understanding what it means to use these technologies safely, we need some more critical thinking and willingness to think critically.

Cerf, a vice president and the Chief Internet Evangelist at Google, emphasised his point with reference to AI systems such as ChatGPT, which present questionable information with total certainty, and trick people into thinking they are more dependable than they are. These things are not ethereal magic experiences but real, contested systems that dont always work, he warned.

And then it happened. Computers across the world wouldnt turn on, and the things that relied them shut off. TV stations went down, hospitals were hit by problems and many of the worlds biggest airlines grounded their flights. The world didnt exactly stop, but it did slow down substantially.

A week later still not everything is recovered, and it might take some time yet for the world to be fully back up to speed. And experts warn that it might happen again, at any time  though the CrowdStrike software at the heart of the problem is now fixed, the dangers that it revealed are still present.

In the immediate aftermath, many people made the point that they often do in the wake of this kind of outage: how can one company, often largely unknown to most people, cause so many problems? Does it not show that we are too reliant on a small set of companies to keep our infrastructure going?

The same argument has been made repeatedly, such as when a problem at Cloudflare knocked websites offline in summer 2022. But its not clear exactly what it is asking for: we do indeed rely on a relatively small number of companies to power our internet infrastructure, but thats partly because of economies of scale, and besides the interconnected nature of these technologies mean that even smaller companies can affect the whole system in substantial ways.

The argument that we rely on too few companies to power the internet is maybe more compelling in the case of social media, and it has also been made in the wake of large outages at companies such as Facebook. But again those social networks are compelling precisely because of their scale and the network effect it provides. Once again, its not clear what were asking for: people spread out across a variety of social networks, or some backup ones that we can retreat to in times of need?

If we do need to spread ourselves out and have more backup plans, then its not necessarily the tech companies that need to do it, anyway. What were seeing now is a clear divide between organisations that have contingency budgets and plans for critical incidents, and those which lack those resources in some way, said Andrew Peck, a cyber resilience PhD researcher at Loughborough University.

Budget airlines have been hit harder than national carriers because their heavily pruned operating models lack flexibility for rapid adaptations needed for resilient operations, whereas national carriers have more human resources to draw on. For example, budget airline customer service teams with less human resources have struggled to answer the phone, and when people have contacted their online teams, they arent getting the answers they are looking for as these teams cannot get through to airports or ground staff. There simply isnt enough staff.

Many sensible people worry a lot about the fact that the once diverse internet is becoming increasingly consolidated in the hands of companies that dont always have our best interests at heart, but there is no obvious way that having a more independent internet would also mean having a more robust one. CrowdStrike is also a relatively minor player in the cyber security space, and the problem technology is on around 1 per cent of computers.

This time around it also felt like we were lingering on the wrong bit of the question. Its good to ask how one unknown company could cause this much chaos  but we should be focusing at least as much on the fact that CrowdStrike and others are unknown as we do on the fact that there are relatively few of them. Until last week, CrowdStrike were mostly known for sponsoring Formula One, with their name appearing on the halo that protects Lewis Hamilton in the event of a crash in his Mercedes.

From now on, it will be synonymous with one of the biggest outages in IT history. Consider this historic IT outage a warning for the fragility of third-party dependencies, said Mehdi Daoudi, the founder and CEO of Catchpoint Systems. We've seen major disruptions  surgeries postponed, flights grounded, 911 services inaccessible  because of such dependencies. A healthcare data scientist told me that he'd never heard of CrowdStrike before Friday. But now, this will be the one thing he remembers them by as multiple surgeons and patients alike couldn't confirm their appointments and his company was caught in the fray. Unless you paid close attention to Formula 1 cars or IT companies, CrowdStrike was obscure  and then, all of a sudden, it wasnt.

There are in fact hundreds of companies like this. Having fun on the internet is a little like having a hot bath  its relaxing and enjoyable and when you are indulging yourself a little at the end of the week you dont think about the vast array of grand systems that are required to make it happen. But the water must be collected and carried through complex piping systems to make it to your boiler where it is heated.

You shouldnt have to think about that when you have a bath  and you probably dont, until the hot water stops. At that point you will reasonably run around trying to find the cause of the failure, opening up the boiler and calling up the water company. Its only when everything stops working that we become aware of how much it works.

And this is much the same with the technology that surrounds us. Every time a computer switches on, it awakens a similarly byzantine system and  just like your plumbing  one weak link is enough to ruin everything. On Friday, that weak link broke, and so did much of the world.

If theres any silver lining in outages like the one on Friday, then one might be that it has helped to roughen up the internet, to make its processes a little easier to see, and harder to ignore. The web gives us simple and smooth experiences, which can lure us into believing that the process of doing so is the same; in truth, its a rough and complex infrastructure that requires constant upkeep and concern.

That was part of what Cerf had been warning about a few days before his warnings became at least partly true. He had said that people need to have a better intuition about how to use technology companies safely, and have more agency in protecting themselves. That means having a broader awareness of how those technologies actually work.

That doesnt mean letting those behind such outages off the hook. Marvelling at the complexity of the system shouldnt mean letting off those required to keep it up.

When your plumbers cowboy job floods your house, you dont shake his hand and congratulate him for being just one part of a noble lineage that stretches back to Joseph Bazalgette and beyond. But it will serve as a good reminder of the value of a reliable tradesman; and you might, after the leak is fixed and the floor is dried, enjoy that bath just a little bit more.
Nine people were arrested at a Tommy Robinson march in central London yesterday (27 July), after protesters clashed with members of two other groups also participating in demonstrations.

Marches from Trans Pride and Stand Up To Racism nearby saw one of Robinsons supporters arrested for assaulting a steward, while another allegedly snapped a Palestinian flag and made a racially abusive remark.

Over 1,000 police officers took to the streets to keep the peace between groups, however, footage from the incident shows a number of people wearing England flags shouting abuse at emergency workers.
It was heartening to see Olympic gymnast Simone Biles make her return to this years games after being thrown off at the Tokyo Olympics due to a case of the twisties. Despite its amusing name, the twisties refers to a psychological condition similar to the yips, or even writers block, where a person who usually is proficient in a particular skill (in this case gymnastics) is suddenly unable to perform under pressure.

Biles has described the condition as like being lost in the air, saying your mind and your body are at a disconnect. Your body is going to try to do something, and your mind is going to be like, No, youre not doing this.

Despite not possessing nearly the same level of skill as Biles, I have experienced my own version of the twisties many times  as, I imagine, have many people. Theres nothing worse than suddenly experiencing that sensation of vertigo when doing something youve done many times before. Luckily, must of us dont experience it on the world stage.

Returning to this years Olympics after such an episode is an inspiration, and a reminder that no matter how hard we fall, we can always pick ourselves back up again.

Stephen Bloom

Canterbury

Another Truss-like debacle?

I was interested to read in Sundays edition that Dame Priti Patel would hand back some control of policy to ordinary party members and allow them to elect key officials.

Those are presumably the same ordinary party members who elected Liz Truss as leader and prime minister. What can possibly go wrong?

John Coppendale

Cambridge

Transparent government is good

The new government is to be commended for its publicly stated objective to govern with openness and transparency. This is desperately needed following years of Tory deceits, obfuscation and corruption. It is crucial to restore trust in democracy and UK politics.

Everyone  the public, our institutions, business, the media, the trade unions, so-called think tanks and pressure groups  all have their own vested interests in promoting their own version of honesty. Most of us have an incomplete picture of, for example, the state of the economy, and few are in a position to give a balanced view. But that wont prevent many from expressing their own version of events. This will get personal, aggressive and feed the populist vultures.

It will be easy to ascribe ulterior motives to our new, open and transparent government.

We need to focus on the facts, and we need to cut the new government some slack. Openness and transparency are so much more difficult than the half-truths, partial pictures and ideological bias that weve become accustomed to, and take a heavy toll on the personal honesty and integrity of its champions. It is a risky management style, but it is the right one.

Is the country ready for it, or will bitterness and cynicism continue to prevail?

David Lowndes

Southampton

Long live boring politics

I, along with Im sure many people, am having trouble adjusting to a media cycle which doesnt confront us with some cringeworthy government embarrassment or outrage every 48 hours.

Labour are by no means perfect, but it cannot be denied that they are much better at keeping their heads down and getting on with the job  so far, at least.

Lets just hope that it lasts.

Molly Howe

Liverpool
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 28. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and the defense ministers of Japan and the Republic of Korea Minoru Kihara and Shin Won-sik have signed a memorandum in Tokyo as part of an agreement on trilateral security cooperation and announced its entry into force, statement released by the US military department said, Trend reports.

This document, as explained in the Pentagon, institutionalizes trilateral security cooperation between the defense departments of the countries, which includes political consultations, information exchange, trilateral exercises and cooperation in the field of defense exchanges with the aim of promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, India-Pacific region and beyond".

The memorandum was signed at a trilateral meeting of the heads of military departments. General security issues were also discussed, the Pentagon said.
Ireland under scrutiny in the US for being a Big Pharma tax haven

Ex-Biden adviser decries current set-up for pharmaceutical giantsBipartisan push in Washington DC for reformsEconomist Brad Setser says Donald Trump-era tax act is a particular boon to our Irish friends

US vice-president Kamala Harris. Photo: Reuters

Fearghal O'Connor Sun 28 Jul 2024 at 03:30

Irelands success in reaping a huge taxation windfall from US pharma giants has once again come under the spotlight in Washington DC with a new proposal to force big drug firms to pay more tax in America.
Acquisition of American firm Gemel Precision Tooling hailed as a significant value creation opportunity by Dublin-based firms CEO Lisa Ainsworth

Dublin-based precision engineering firm Prodieco Limited has acquired one of its main competitors in the US in a deal that is expected to further consolidate its global leadership position in a highly specialised part of the wider pharma sector.

The acquisition of US firm Gemel Precision Tooling by the Irish firm is seen as a big move as it looks to cement its leadership position in a niche but lucrative global market.

Prodieco has operated from Cookstown in Tallaght since it was established as a press tooling firm in 1962.

It was bought by the Rennicks family in the 1990s when it was mainly focused on supplying casings and frames to Dell and others for the then-booming PC manufacturing business in Ireland.

When that PC business shifted to China and Poland, Prodieco refocused to supplying specialised tooling for the pharma sector before it was acquired in 2021 in a deal backed by private equity giant Agilitas.

The west Dublin firm has grown to become the largest independent producer of blister tooling format change parts globally  with 280 employees and two high-tech manufacturing sites in west Dublin.

Prodieco, whose revenues are generated 98pc by exports to 80 different countries, provides highly specialised precision engineering tools to many of the biggest pharma firms globally that allow them to change the format of the blister packing they use for their drugs.

Pennsylvania-based Gemel is a leading provider of bespoke precision engineering solutions and parts to the life sciences sector in America that previously competed with the Irish firm in the blister tooling market.

Prodieco CEO Lisa Ainsworth told the Sunday Independent that the US firm had over 40 years industry experience and had a strong manufacturing infrastructure, which would extend the Irish firms manufacturing capabilities in the Americas.

She said that the strategically compelling combination was an important step in Prodiecos strategy to build a manufacturing and engineering centre of excellence in the US and would enable it to deliver market leading customer service and delivery times to the North American market.

It would also provide a strategic location to further support the Central and South American markets.

This transaction represents a significant value creation opportunity for Prodieco, said Ainsworth, who is an electrical engineer who previously worked for General Electric for 18 years before joining Prodieco last September.

The acquisition strengthens our presence in important markets across the Americas and will enhance our manufacturing and delivery capabilities in the region while providing an important platform for future development opportunities.

Ainsworth said that the Gemel deal would likely be just the first acquisition as it seeks to expand.

We also have significant opportunities for growing our core business through organic growth. This allows us to better serve our US customers and at the same time it frees up capacity in our Dublin facilities to grow in our strong European markets and elsewhere, she said.
Its expected 50 jobs could be created from expansion of bakery in Gorey

Cakes are made by Stafford Bakeries for the food-service industry. Stock image: Getty

Stafford Bakeries, a bread and cake producer based in Co Wexford, hopes to expand its bakery in Gorey, which could create around 50 new jobs.

The company, which directly employs almost 500 people, believes the proposed expansion will leave it well-positioned to extend distribution across the UK.

Sean Stafford (Bakeries) has operated on the site since the mid-1990s and in the town of Gorey since the 1950s.

Stafford Bakeries hopes to gain approval from Wexford County Council to develop three extensions, adding 3,585 sq m of floor space to the existing 10,425 sq m bakery at the site. According to the planning application, it is also hoping to carry out works that will facilitate a potential future development to the rear of the current bakery.

The planning document said Stafford Bakeries had reached capacity at its facilities and is currently landlocked, preventing future expansion.

The proposed expansion could add in the region of 50 jobs

As a result, Stafford Bakeries acquired a section of land to the rear of the bakery, which will allow it to expand the business in future.

The Sunday Independent understands the proposed expansion could add in the region of 50 jobs.

Commenting on the development, Una Stafford, a director of Stafford Bakeries, said the additional facilities would futureproof the companys needs and allow it to expand.

The company has needed to increase capacity for the last number of years and although it has continuously invested, specifically in the high-care fresh cream area and par-baked production facility, it had previously exhausted the available land to enable further development.

The initial phase will include staff car parking, additional raw material and finished goods storage, and an extension to the production areas. This will be followed by phase two of the development, which will further extend the production facility by 4,800 sq m.

Stafford Bakeries currently supplies bread, confectionery, and par-baked bread to several independent shops, as well as the food-service industry across Ireland.
Firms should embed IT resilience and a business continuity plan into their core strategies

The error in CrowdStrike's update caused a 'blue screen of death' on Windows computers. Photo: Getty

As organisations recover from the CrowdStrike IT outage, the incident is serving as a wake-up call for businesses to protect themselves against unforeseen IT failures that could potentially bring systems to a halt.

It is estimated that 8.5m Windows devices and 674,620 direct customers in 1,200 unique industries were affected, due to a flaw in a routine update issued for a piece of cyber software.

It was not a cyber attack or breach. But the outage triggered warnings from cyber security experts about a surge in hacking attempts exploiting the IT disruption.

The disruption on July 19 pales in comparison to the WannaCry virus in 2017 that infected 230,000 computers in 150 countries before a kill switch was identified.

A vast majority of the worlds IT systems run on a handful of providers

The widespread impact of the IT outage was alarming for those directly affected. People were unable to withdraw money from bank accounts, supermarkets were closed, airline fleets grounded, and congestion built up at ports across the world.

The outage brings major software vendors and IT infrastructure providers into the realm of critical infrastructure, underscoring their importance to our daily lives  as well as their socio-economic importance.

It also brings into focus the question of trust.

Just as people turn on the tap at home to get clean water and dont test it before drinking, they turn on their computers with the same level of trust.

No one expects to get a blue screen of death as a result of a routine update from a trusted provider.

There is a significant element of concentration risk at play.

A vast majority of the worlds IT systems run on a handful of providers. Should any one of them experience an outage, the results could be catastrophic, extending beyond mere inconvenience.

The outage brings the issue of quality control in software updates into the spotlight, drawing attention to the urgent need for more rigorous scrutiny during the testing phase before deployment.

Airline passengers stranded by the global outage caused by CrowdStrike. Photo: Getty

It raises the question of whether fundamental changes are necessary in the operations of essential service providers.

For instance, should new quality assurance protocols be implemented to govern the rollout of updates and new software releases?

CrowdStrike says it has since added a new check to its quality control process to prevent the issue from occurring again

One way to reduce concentration risk is to diversify. But the interconnectedness of the tech-provider ecosystem means that this may not be very practical.

The question of trust will also arise for many of the organisations affected by the outage. At least some may be considering switching provider.

There was great resilience displayed by many organisations globally

This is not necessarily a wise course of action. It would risk further disruption with no guarantee that the new solution will be as effective. The fact remains that the likely cause of the outage was human error  and this does happen, even in the very best organisations. 

It matters little to customers if an IT outage was caused by a cyber attack or by a flawed software update, all they care about is that they are not disrupted.

One of the more heartening aspects of the global IT outage was the resilience displayed by many organisations.

There were cases of airlines switching rapidly to manual check-in systems and reporting no flight delays despite the outage. Stories like that abounded, but there were also many instances of businesses and major facilities having to shut their doors.

By embedding IT resilience and a solid business continuity plan (BCP) into their core strategies, businesses can ensure that they remain operational and competitive, and continue to serve their customers amid growing complexities and vulnerabilities.

Organisations must foster a culture of resilience

The introduction of regulatory frameworks such as the NIS2 Directive (the EU-wide legislation on cyber security) and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) makes IT resilience even more important.

The NIS2 Directive mandates that essential and important entities implement risk management measures, including threat detection and continuous monitoring to ensure effectiveness.

DORA, on the other hand, emphasises operational resilience in the financial sector. It focuses on the need for thorough digital operational resilience testing, and mandates incident response and recovery plans.

Organisations must foster a culture of resilience through regular employee training and the maintenance of redundancies across critical systems, ensuring quick recovery from disruptions.

By adhering to NIS2 and DORA, businesses can enhance their resilience, ensuring they remain operational and competitive amidst evolving digital threats and not just those related to cybersecurity.

In this respect, your business should:

 Know and test your business continuity plan and disaster recovery scenarios

 Know your resilience gaps and have workarounds identified and prepared

 Know your third-and fourth-party tech ecosystem, with a clear view of technology concentration risk

 Know your recovery priorities and services tiering

 Know your stretch capability partners and test them ahead of time.

Armed with these five knows, organisations can recover quickly and keep operating, even during extreme disruption.

Puneet Kukreja is the cyber security leader at EY Ireland & UK
Kevin Feige, from left, Joe Russo, Robert Downey Jr., and Anthony Russo attend a panel for Marvel Studios during Comic-Con (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Robert Downey Jr has announced his shock return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), stunning fans when he was dramatically unmasked as the villainous Doctor Doom.

The longtime Iron Man actor was unveiled to huge applause at a MCU panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday night, where it was announced he would take up the role in at least one upcoming Avengers movie.

In footage of the event shared on X by the official Marvel Studios account, Downey Jr told a room full of excited fans: New mask, same task.

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

Downey Jr kickstarted the superhero craze with his Iron Man debut in 2008, going on to star as the character in eight further MCU films.

Avengers Endgame and Infinity War directors Joe and Anthony Russo confirmed they are on board to direct Downeys next MCU appearance, titled Avengers: Doomsday.

When we directed Avengers: Endgame, Joe and I truly believe d that it was the end of the road for us in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Anthony Russo told the Comic-Con crowd.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

In the time since, through a very special story, Joe and I have come to potentially see a road forward with you.

The panel also confirmed Harrison Fords involvement in the next Captain America film.

Captain America: Brave New World, starring Anthony Mackie in the role formerly held by Chris Evans, is scheduled for release next year.
Was it a ritual killing? From privileged upbringing in Malawi to the sex trade in Ireland  the life and horrific death of Paiche Onyemaechi

Gardai are still hunting for missing husband, who fled Ireland in the days after identifying her headless body

Paiche Onyemaechi was the daughter of the Malawi chief justice and the mother of two boys.

Ali Bracken Sun 28 Jul 2024 at 03:30

For three days, she was an unidentified body, decapitated and discarded. Two older women out walking in rural Kilkenny had come upon her remains, wrapped in bin bags in a field near the banks of Brenar Bridge in Piltown.
A woman in her 30s who was arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of Jordan Ronan (also known as Jordan Pakenham) in Tallaght has been released without charge.
Pioneering Irish author has died aged 93

There must have been sex in Ireland before Edna OBrien wrote about it, but unless it was sex sanctified by a wedding ceremony it didnt exist  at least not in the national discourse.

Women were required to lie back in bed and submit to their duty while men fathered children by them. Joyous expression of female desire inside or outside marriage was absent from the written word.

And then along came OBrien. Nothing was off limits to her unerring eye, and her candid prose captured not only what she saw but rendered it beautiful. She acted as a lighthouse in Irish literature, pointing the way for other writers. But a lighthouse occupies a lonely position, and there were times when she was isolated and misunderstood. In some quarters, she was cast as a Jezebel, she said.

The publication in 1960 of OBriens first book, The Country Girls, led to acclaim outside her homeland and condemnation as scandalous within it, but she had the last laugh on the narrowminded and the hypocrites who labelled her work filth. Several decades into a career spanning six decades, she was acclaimed as a national treasure, and Ireland began to mirror other, more perceptive countries in garlanding her with honours.

Edna O'Brien in 1968. Photo: Getty

Hers was a sensational literary debut, and she started as she continued, writing against the tide of received wisdom in Ireland. Her work was at once revolutionary and intimate, candid and universal: it expressed the physical longings of girls and their sexual awakening. In the process, it transgressed against official Ireland, a society which was sternly and institutionally misogynistic.

Her books had a tendency to wash her countrys dirty laundry in public, prompting a tidal wave of near-hysterical condemnation from church and State, both pillars united in moral outrage. From Archbishop John Charles McQuaid to Justice Minister Charlie Haughey, they denounced her work as unfit to be allowed into any decent home.

Instead of shrivelling beneath their fury  which swelled still further when The Country Girls and its sequels became widely read instant classics outside Ireland  OBrien surged ahead with a glittering international literary career.

The Country Girls became a landmark trilogy in both feminist and bildungsroman or coming-of-age literature. The first novel won the Kingsley Amis Award, its 1962 follow-up Girl with Green Eyes (retitled The Lonely Girl) was turned into a film, and the third novel in 1964 was Girls in their Married Bliss. In toto, these three books became a symbol of Irishwomens struggle for agency over their lives in a sexually repressive and structurally patriarchal society.

The explicit content made her notorious in Ireland and  tame though the material is by todays standards  the novels were banned by the censor. OBrien raised a rebel flag with these books. They entered a world of Catholic Church-engineered and state-endorsed overreach into almost every aspect of the populations lives, but restrictions were especially directed at women. That pioneering trilogy is rightly credited with breaking silence on sexual and social matters.

Edna O'Brien pictured in Italy. Photo: Leonardo Cendamo/Getty

Set in the late 1950s in the west of Ireland, Dublin and London, the trilogy is charming, hilarious and poignant. It explores female friendship, the protagonist Caits blossoming sexual desire, and the Lolita-esque relationship between her and the soigne Mr Gentleman, a married man pursuing a naive teenager.

With her best friend Baba, Cait is expelled from their convent boarding school, and the pair escape from Ireland, the Catholic Church, parental and societal control, and the monotony of a rigid world. But while life delivers the adventures they crave, the pair also experience disillusionment.

The author conjured into being female characters who dared to desire more from life, and in the process gave voice to the experiences of a previously silent and silenced generation of Irish girls and women. The Swinging Sixties passed Ireland by, and there was no formal womens movement, but OBriens valiant articulation of female sexual desire at a time when the Virgin Mary was the ideal creaked open the door to social change.

Naturally, the gatekeepers resisted, and Irelands ultra-conservative authorities attempted to clamp down on this wayward writer who was spearheading a sexual revolution. But others, who should have known better sneered at her. Another Irish writer, John Broderick, sneered at her in the magazine Hibernia that her talent lay in her knickers, according to her husband Ernest Gebler  just one instance of the misogyny to which she was routinely subjected, in an effort to deny her luminous talent.

Her books fell foul of the repressive 1929 Censorship of Publications Act, which prohibited the sale and distribution of unwholesome literature  defined as indecent or obscene. In the context of todays waning Catholic influence, it can be difficult for people to realise how tightly the bishops regulated Irish society, and how negative was the national critique of her work.

But by way of example, in her 2012 memoir, Country Girl, OBrien reported her mother writing to her about the local postmistress saying she should be kicked naked through the streets. Stoning would be next, the author observed. Elsewhere, she spoke about public book burnings in Ireland, and although it is questionable whether they happened, there is no doubt the novels were treated as lurid and beyond the pale.

Despite Irelands shock-horror reaction, the trilogy catapulted OBrien to international success and is widely acknowledged as a literary masterpiece. Over the course of a career spanning 60-odd years, the woman once dismissed as a bargain-basement Molly Bloom (her memoir records this sniggering putdown) became not just the grand dame of Irish letters but a literary giant on the world stage.

A stream of novels, non-fiction, short stories, plays, screenplays, childrens books, poetry and essays flowed from her pen (she wrote by hand or dictated to a typist). In mid-career, instead of resting on her laurels, she continued to write significant novels platforming marginalised womens voices  such as her 1997 novel Down by the River, inspired by the X case, which tells of an underage abuse victim who travels to England for an abortion. In choosing her stories. OBrien made the personal political.

In the earlier novels, her spotlight was trained on the interior lives of Irishwomen. Over time, however, she crossed continents and age groups to dwell on womens inner feelings elsewhere, and her work considered not only what it meant to be female or Irish, but reflected on the human condition.

Even if she had never written another word, the legacy of that iconic trilogy would have secured OBrien a place in the canon of Irish literature. But fasten your seatbelts should have been stamped on her book jackets  because Edna OBrien was only getting started.

Edna O'Brien and husband Ernest Gebler with their two children in 1961

Josephine Edna OBrien was born the youngest of four children in December 1930 in the east Clare village of Tuamgraney, a freckle of a place with 27 pubs but no library, she recalled later. The house, Drewsboro, had notions of grandeur that were on the wane.

Her parents were farmer Michael OBrien, who inherited wealth and land but drank and gambled to excess, and Lena nee Cleary, who hankered after the glamour of New York where she had worked as a maid before marriage. Early on, OBrien became accustomed to visits from the bailiff.

No childhood tribulations are ever wasted on a writer, and she said of her first book: The novel is autobiographical in so far as I was born and bred in the west of Ireland, educated at a convent, and was full of romantic yearnings, coupled with a sense of outrage. OBrien described her childhood as suffocating because of its religious strictness, where Hell was far more real to us than Heaven.

A clever, bookish girl, she made her getaway to Dublin, when she worked as a chemists assistant by day and studied for a pharmacy licence by night, which was duly awarded. Meanwhile, she immersed herself in literature by Tolstoy, Thackeray and Fitzgerald  reading was her nourishment. Literature is food for the soul and the heart, she said.

She began writing small pieces for a trade publication, and later for the Irish Press newspaper. When she read some criticism on Joyce, she realised autobiographical elements were threaded through his work, and knew she could fictionalise her own life. Joyce was the writer she admired more than any other, and later she would write a short biography of him, in addition to a study of Joyces marriage to Nora Barnacle.

In Dublin, OBrien met the writer Ernest Gebler, was dazzled by the cultural world he represented, and embarked on an affair with him. At that time, he had a bestseller about the voyage of the Pilgrim congregation to the US in the 17th century under his belt, The Plymouth Adventure, published in 1950 and turned into a hit film starring Spencer Tracy.

But he was a married man with a son  his wife, Leatrice, was an American, daughter to the silent screen star John Gilbert. OBriens family opposed the relationship and the couple fled to the Isle of Man, to stay with JP Donleavy and his wife. OBriens father, brother, several policemen and an abbot teamed up to snatch her back, but she resisted and stayed with Gebler. He was granted a divorce, the couple married in 1954 and had two sons, Carlo Gebler the writer and Sasha Gebler, an architect.

They settled in London, she became a reader for a publishing house doing reports on books offered for publication, and was commissioned to write a novel. When she showed Gebler the manuscript of The Country Girls, his reaction was highly competitive, not least because his own work wasnt progressing. You can write and I will never forgive you, he said.

Later he tried to assert exaggerated credit for helping her embark on a literary career, although the quality of her lifetimes work gave the lie to that claim. The marriage fell apart, she left Gebler in 1962, and fought him for custody of their children. It was granted after a three-year battle in which supposedly salacious extracts from her 1965 novel August is a Wicked Month were cited as evidence of her unsuitability to mother their boys.

At her Chelsea home, OBrien became part of a glamorous party set, hosting gatherings for the glitterati including Sean Connery, Jane Fonda, Richard Burton, Princess Margaret, the Oliviers and Ingrid Bergman. She had a fling with Robert Mitchum  we danced all the way up to the bedroom  but turned down Richard Burton. After one of those parties, her mother demanded of OBrien: Are you or are you not a good girl?
Its completely incurable and it will be lifelong for Cass  mum of baby with rare form of epilepsy faces 1,000 weekly bill for treatment
A nurse faked prescriptions for painkillers then used them at pharmacies in three border counties. Photo: Stock image/Depositphotos

A Fermanagh nurse and company director has been convicted of forging drug prescriptions in pharmacies across the Border in Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal.

Yvonne Nelson (38), with an address of 165 Tempo Road, Enniskillen faced 16 charges relating to the use of forged doctors prescriptions to get access to an opioid-based painkiller for her own use.
Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) Director General Kiril Valchev and Rector of the National Academy of Art (NAA) in Sofia Prof. Georgi Yankov signed an agreement to have a new typeface created that for the time being is known as BTA. At the signing, which took place at BTA's press club in Burgas on Saturday, Valchev and Yankov said that the goal is to BTA an institution with a unified new look based on Bulgarian traditions, Trend reports.

According to the agreement, the font will be developed on the basis of the Cyrillic alphabetic system and will include elements from the time of its creation in the 9th century AD by the disciples of Cyril and Methodius, who the Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates every year on July 27.

At the signing, Valchev said: "We already have experience with different fonts. On the BTA website, for example, we use the Sofia Sans font, which was developed with the participation of specialists from the NAA for Sofia Municipality. In LIK magazine we use various fonts such as Pliska, Monserrat, Bitter, and in our correspondence, we use Times New Roman. In fact, at this point, BTA is doing what all institutions do in this country - using fonts haphazardly. We have virtually no unified visual identity. Often we also use fonts based on other countries' designs."

Valchev said that while this may seem like a minor issue amid the vast pool of other problems that the country faces, it is still a part of the Bulgarian people's self-respect. He added: "To use others' fonts, even though we gave the Cyrillic alphabet to the world, is obviously ridiculous to say the least, so I hope that our example will be used by other institutions."

The term of the contract is five months, which means the project should be completed by the end of the year. The new typeface will then be patented and can be used by other institutions.

Yankov said the NAA has the capacity to make the state "play in harmony in terms of graphic design". He also shared his joy at the fact that institutions such as BTA and the NAA are helping to represent Bulgaria's typography tradition.

The NAA Rector said: "Bulgaria is still the first country admitted to the European Union whose official alphabet is not Latin, but Cyrillic. This is an exceptional opportunity to showcase our graphic standards and label [...]"

Yankov reported that the main person involved in the development of the BTA font was Assoc. Prof. Svetlin Balezdrov, who is also currently working on the design for Latvia's euro coin.

Prof. Kristina Borisova compared BTA to world leaders of mass media such as the BBC and CNN, who also commissioned the creation of their own corporate fonts. She praised BTA for choosing to work with the NAA, the country's most prestigious institution in the visual arts, instead of a typography studio.

Borisova shared that in terms of style, the new font will be a bearer of local traditions, but it will also have the simplicity and clarity of Frutiger, the rigour of Helvetica and the harmony of Optima.

Before the official signing, the July issue of LIK magazine was presented, which is dedicated to the 55th anniversary of the Black Sea resort of Albena.
Simon Harris interview: Taoiseach says immigrants will soon be asked to pay for State-provided services

Fine Gael leader believes there is scope to do cost-of-living measures as part of the BudgetSays period of five years between renewals of taxi licences should be reviewedI want the Government to go full term and I believe that is what the other party leaders have committed to do

Taoiseach Simon Harris and his wife Caoimhe Wade at the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Paris on Friday. Picture by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Gabija Gataveckaite Sun 28 Jul 2024 at 03:30

Immigrants will soon be asked to pay for State-provided services in a further tightening of supports for asylum-seekers and refugees, Taoiseach Simon Harris has told the Sunday Independent.
Environmental group claims toilets are operating illegally and pose an environmental and public health risk

Director Martin McDonagh and actor Colin Farrell were part of the 'Banshees of Inisherin' team who filmed on Inis Mor in 2021

Sources involved in the action say islanders are reluctant to raise concerns as it may damage tourism

An environmental group has warned Uisce Eireann that if it does not stop operating an alleged illegal public toilet system that discharges untreated waste into a field on Inis Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands, it will take legal action.

In a letter written from FP Logue solicitors, representing Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE), it said it believed Uisce Eireann was responsible for operating a wastewater system that collected outflow from public toilets located near Kilronan pier, the main point of entry to the island.

An assessment from Galway County Council previously found discharges had created a cesspool of effluent which poses a serious environmental and public health and safety issue.

The letter said FIE believed waste was disposed of in a field to the northeast of Kilronan, the largest settlement on Inis Mor.

Director Martin McDonagh and actor Colin Farrell were part of the 'Banshees of Inisherin' team who filmed on Inis Mor in 2021

FIEs letter said that having reviewed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) records, it appears that no certificate has been sought or granted for the discharge from this collecting system, and that the discharge from the system is not subject to any treatment prior to discharge.

It said this is contrary to regulations on wastewater discharge and an EU directive that required such waste to be treated before it is discharged.

The FIE letter calls on Uisce Eireann to cease discharge of the wastewater by August 31 or it would take legal action to seek a court order to halt use of the system. The FIE said it will seek to compel Uisce Eireann to comply with water regulations by installing appropriate treatment of the discharge and identifying unlicensed connections to same.

The letter said FIE will not object to the provision of temporary welfare units in Kilronan to service tourist requirements as an interim step, provided the wastewater is removed for treatment at an authorised wastewater treatment facility on the mainland.

Although it only has a population of 1,200, Inis Mor attracts some 250,000 tourists each year. Sources involved with the FIE action say there is a reluctance among islanders to raise environmental concerns as it may damage the attractiveness of the island to tourists.

Although it only has a population of 1,200, Inis Mor attracts some 250,000 tourists each year

When The Banshees of Inisherin was being filmed on the island in 2021, the production encountered a temporary crisis when it could not secure a licensed contractor to empty the wastewater from its portable toilets for the cast and crew.

The island is a designated EU Special Area of Conservation.

In a recent letter to Galway Fianna Fail TD, Eamon O Cuiv, Uisce Eireann revealed it believed it would take over eight years to develop proper waste-handling facilities on the island. The email said there is no public wastewater infrastructure present in this area. The settlement is therefore regarded as unsewered.

The Uisce Eireann email said it was the responsibility of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to fund wastewater collection and treatment systems to settlements without such services.

The email said Uisce Eireann had carried out extensive works to address legacy issues with a septic tank serving Kilronan Cottages. This included the installation of a new percolation system, new pumps and odour control units.

Uisce Eireann said it had taken over the operation and maintenance of the public wastewater infrastructure serving the Kilronan Public Toilets. It has begun working on a solution for the wastewater requirements of Kilronan. This could combine the Kilronan Cottages and Kilronan Village wastewater systems.

In a statement, Uisce Eireann said it was not responsible for the provision, operation or maintenance of public toilet amenities

It said it must overcome significant challenges relating to the long-term remediation of the current discharge site. This would involve purchasing land to locate a wastewater treatment plant and establishing a sea outfall and would require significant capital expenditure.

In a statement, Uisce Eireann said it was not responsible for the provision, operation or maintenance of public toilet amenities. In an effort to be proactive, it added that it had recently voluntarily agreed to take over operational and maintenance responsibility for the wastewater works associated with the public toilets.

Uisce Eireann has commenced working on a long-term solution for the wastewater requirements of the island. We are developing and implementing a long term, sustainable and environmentally responsible solution for the wastewater requirements of Kilronan. These works will take some time due to the level of assessment, design and statutory consents required, and will require significant capital expenditure, the statement said.
Eoin OMalley: Irish political memoirs are usually dull and self-indulgent, but maybe Leo Varadkar will buck the tradition

Will a rush to press lead the former taoiseach into the autobiographical trap?

Leo Varadkar is writing his autobiography, but political figures don't always get it right. Inset, clockwise from above left, books from Noel Browne, Garrett Fitzgerald, Ivan Yates, Ernie O'Malley, Albert Reynolds and Bertie Ahern

Eoin O'Malley Sun 28 Jul 2024 at 03:30

If the first draft of history comes in newspapers, the second draft is in political memoirs and autobiographies.
Sean Pollock: How Ireland is bucking high-end fashion trend  with extraordinary growth for several brands

Chupi is bouncing back, and while luxury brands slump globally, there is steady growth here

Chupi Sweetman. Photo: Frank McGrath

Sean Pollock Sun 28 Jul 2024 at 03:30

Sitting in a coastal village in Co Donegal, Chupi Sweetman, CEO of Chupi, is meeting with some of the premium jewellery brands board as they plot its next moves for the year ahead.
Evil exists. Ireland looked into its disturbingly banal face this week as former taxi driver Raymond Shorten was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to 17 years in prison for the brutal rape of two young women who had trusted him to take them home safely in his cab after a night out in town.

That Shorten will now spend a considerable portion of the remainder of his life behind bars is down entirely to Mr Justice Paul McDermott, who ruled that the 50-year-old father of seven should serve his sentences consecutively rather than concurrently. Both terms should begin only on completion of the 13-year sentence handed down in a different court earlier last week for twice raping a seven-year-old girl more than 10 years ago, just days after her mothers death.

As a result, the Dubliner now faces a combined sentence of more than 30 years  a powerful indicator of the continuing danger to women he is deemed by the courts to represent.

At a time when sentences have come under increasing criticism for being too lenient and judges regularly hit the headlines for the wrong reasons, this ruling goes some way to restoring the publics fractured faith in the justice system. Voters have repeatedly told politicians to take a zero-tolerance approach to sexual violence.

Shock at these crimes has in turn led to a wider discussion about what needs to happen next to keep women safe. There is already talk of putting CCTV inside taxis and of increasing garda monitoring of drivers and others in positions of trust.

It is high time legislation was brought before the Oireachtas to let judges impose whole-life tariffs

Ireland may be a relatively safe country by international standards, but there is always more that can be done. Whatever funding is needed should be made available without delay.

Any society must first ensure, however, that those who are convicted of the most serious offences face the full rigour of the law. In Ireland, that has not always been seen to happen.

One of the reasons rape remains hugely unreported, in the words of Garda Commissioner Drew Harris this week when urging other potential victims to come forward, is that women who bravely step up are often left feeling the punishments their attackers receive are inadequate to match the severity of the crime and the mental toll it takes on them to testify.

Shortens sentence is a significant step in reassuring them that this will no longer be the case; but taking into account time already served while awaiting trial, he will still, with remission, probably be free one day.

When sentencing Jozef Puska last November for the murder of 23-year-old primary school teacher Ashling Murphy in Tullamore, Mr Justice Tony Hunt indicated the crime was so far up the scale of gravity that, had he the power available to judges in the UK to impose a whole-life tariff, it would have been considered.

There are some prisoners who it will never be safe to release back into the community, and other offences so appalling that the perpetrator forfeits any right to ever expect to be freed.

It is high time legislation was brought before the Oireachtas to give judges the power to impose whole-life tariffs on such offenders.

Had that option been available for Raymond Shorten, there are few people in the country who would have thought it too harsh a punishment.
Nothing about the British governments Legacy Act proved as unifying as its demise. When King Charles said from his gilded throne in the Palace of Westminster that his government would repeal the legislation, it was welcomed by unionist and nationalist, by northerner and southerner, locally and internationally and by victims of all those responsible for Troubles killings.
Chef Mark Moriarty who is hosting an exclusive culinary event at Sheen Falls.

Chef Mark Moriarty who is hosting an exclusive culinary event at Sheen Falls.

Award-winning chef Mark Moriarty who has been at the forefront of the culinary scene in Ireland in recent years is to pay a special visit to Kenmare this October.

Mark will join Sheen Falls Lodges very own Chef Mark Treacy for exceptional culinary event at Sheen Falls Lodge, set to take place on the October 18, 2024.

This exclusive evening will feature a remarkable four-hands dinner with award-winning chef hosted at The Stables Brasserie within the picturesque grounds of Sheen Falls

The evening will commence with a welcome drink, followed by an exquisite four-course dinner crafted by the chefs. This unique dining experience, priced at 85 per person, offers a rare opportunity to savour the innovative and flavourful creations of two celebrated chefs.

Mark has strong links to West Kerry where his father hails from and where he first dipped his toes into his love of food as he spent his summers in Kerry.

Before he even turned 18, Mark had three summers under his belt in one of Dingle's busiest and best known restaurants, The Charthouse, where he worked and learned from chef Noel Enright.

His teenage years also included kitchen stints alongside chefs Neven Maguire, Kevin Thornton and Derry Clarke.

And this experience has led to him winning more than a few awards not least the world-wide 2015 S Pellegrino Young Chef competition, judged by seven of the world's top chefs.

Chef Mark Moriarty has also presented popular TV shows such as Off Duty Chef and Beyond the Menu,

And now he is back in his beloved Kerry for a very special occasion at Sheen Falls which will coincide wit the launch of his new cookbook Season which is released on September 26 and which will be available to guests as part of this exclusive event.

"We are delighted to host this exceptional event with Chef Mark Moriarty, said General Manager of Sheen Falls Lodge Brian Loughnane.

His talent and passion for excellence, combined with the expertise of our own Chef Mark Treacy, promise an unforgettable evening for our guests.

Special accommodation packages are in place for the culinary weekend and all details are on the hotel's website.
Kit Harington has hit back at criticism of black-only nights for West End plays as vaguely ridiculous.

The 37-year-old Game Of Thrones actor is in the cast of Slave Play at the Noel Coward Theatre, which has set aside two performances aimed at an all-black-identifying audience which is free from the white gaze.

A spokesman for then prime minister Rishi Sunak criticised the idea in February as being wrong and divisive.

Harrington defended the theatrical production following the first black-out performance, and told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme he believes it is an incredibly positive thing .

He said: Number one  if you are white, no-ones stopping you buying a ticket, its not illegal to buy a ticket for that show, if you want to come. Its saying We would prefer the audience to be this.

Number two  Ive been going to the theatre since I was young, with my mum. Ive only ever really known predominantly white audiences. It is still a particularly white space.

So to have the argument that Oh, this is discriminating against white people is, I think, vaguely strange and ridiculous.

Harrington also called it unlike anything Ive ever experienced because it provides a space where a certain group of people can come and feel open to laughing in a certain way, reacting in a certain way, in sort of safety.

However, he warned that audiences could feel sucker-punched by the play because the actors are saying words to each other, at each other, that you shouldnt and dont hear uttered in society.

Slave Play was written by Jeremy O Harris (Jennifer Graylock/PA)

Harington also said he is kind of terrified each night due to being naked during the play.

His co-star, Im A Virgo actress Olivia Washington, daughter of two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington, said she thinks the play is positive because with difficult subject matter, it can get hard for people to hear.

She added: However, to feel supported by this room in a different kind of way felt just it felt really great.

The production, playing from June 29 until September 21, has its second black-out night on September 17.

Previously staged on Broadway, the play was nominated for 12 Tony Awards and tells a story of race, identity and sexuality at the MacGregor Plantation in the southern US during the early 21st century.

The writer, Emily In Paris star Jeremy O Harris, has defended the production, saying it is not just for black-only audiences and there will be no restrictions on the black-out nights.

The producers said no-one will be prevented or precluded from attending any performance of Slave Play.

Actor Stephen Fry, appearing on BBC Ones Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, defended black-only theatre nights as a fair idea (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA)

Comedian and actor Stephen Fry, who also appeared on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, also defended it as a fair idea which will encourage more diverse theatregoers.

Harington has previously said a spin-off about his Game Of Thrones character, Jon Snow, is no longer in development, but told the BBC he hopes there will be a return.

At the moment, there isnt the right story to tell there for him and so its best just to leave it because you dont want to ruin a kind of beloved character by taking it too far, he said.

Harington is married to his Game Of Thrones co-star Rose Leslie, who played his love interest Ygritte in the series, and they have two children.
BBC presenter Chris Packham has called for people to sign a petition against Turkeys bill to regulate stray cats and dogs (Jonathan Brady/PA)

TV presenter and wildlife campaigner Chris Packham, model Heather Mills and actor Peter Egan are urging Turkey to reject new legislation that aims to regulate the countrys stray dogs.

Animal rights advocates are concerned that Turkish municipalities might kill dogs on the pretext that they are ill, rather than allocate resources to shelter them, under the new bill.

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

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan maintains Turkey has a stray dog problem and dogs attack children, adults, elderly people and other animals, they attack flocks of sheep and goats, they cause traffic accidents.

Packham posted a video on Twitter, in which he appeared alongside his poodle Nancy.

The Springwatch co-host, 63, said: I love my dogs. I love animals. I love all life. At the moment in Turkey, there is the potential for an absolute travesty when it comes to animal welfare.

Millions of cats and dogs could be unnecessarily murdered So can Nancy and I please both ask you to take action?

He encouraged followers to sign a petition, along with a letter that asked them to please not kill all of these beautiful cats and dogs.

Downton Abbey star Egan, best known as Paul Ryman in the classic sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles, called it an urgent appeal for the whole world.

The 77-year-old actor also said: We cannot allow this to happen Stop this appalling crime happening.

Mills, 56, said: The bill must be stopped.

She said: Even healthy, non-aggressive animals could be killed, while animal production and cruelty go unchecked. Join me and Animal Save Movement in urging Turkeys MPs to vote no.

The campaign against the bill is co-ordinated by the Animal Save Movement.

Heather Mills said the bill must be stopped (Ian West/PA)

The Turkish Government, which estimates that there are four million stray dogs in the country, says the proposed legislation mandates that municipalities collect stray dogs and house them in shelters where they would be neutered and spayed.

It also says that dogs that are in pain, terminally ill, pose a health risk to humans or are aggressive would be euthanised and there would be a requirement for improved shelters, according to the AP news agency.

Mayors who fail to meet their responsibilities in controlling stray dogs would face imprisonment of six months to two years.

Fines on people who abandon pets would be raised from 2,000 lira (47) to 60,000 lira (42).
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

A 13-year-old boy was shielded by his mother and sisters on the pretext that he was the 'only son' in the family after he raped and strangled his sister to death after watching a porn video on a mobile phone in the Central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh a few months ago, police said.

The shocking incident happened in a village in Rewa district on April 24 and it took around three months for the police to detain the culprits since the mother and the sisters tried to cover up his crime.

"A nine-year-old girl was raped and strangled to death under Jawa police station limits on April 24, after which the police had filed a case and started a probe. The victim's body was found in the courtyard of her house where she was sleeping at the time of the incident," Superintendent of Police Vivek Singh was quoted as saying by Indian news channel NDTV.

The 13-year-old teen's mother and sisters, aged 17 and 18, admitted that they tried to hush up the incident and save the culprit during the intense investigation.

During the questioning, the boy said he slept beside the victim on the night when the crime was committed.

The teen admitted that he raped his sister after watching a porn video on his phone.

Police said the boy strangled the victim after she said she would inform the father about the incident.

The boy informed their mother about the act and once he found that the victim was still alive he strangled her to death.

Singh told the news channel that the two sisters, who tried to cover up the crime, changed spots on the bed to mislead the investigation.

They even tried to deceive the cops by saying that the minor died after she was bitten by a poisonous insect.

They even took the body of the victim to a local doctor but after being refused by him they were forced to take her to the government hospital.

The doctor in the medical facility declared the cause of the death to be rape and murder.

Police said technical evidence was collected and 50 people were interrogated when cops found family members were repeatedly changing their statements.

Police said the family members admitted to their crime following intense interrogation.
 Flash

Li Hui, special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs, will visit Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia from July 28 to carry out the fourth round of shuttle diplomacy on the Ukraine crisis, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Friday.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the announcement in response to a relevant query during a daily press briefing.

The Chinese side will further exchange views with important members of the Global South on the current situation and the process of peace talks, explore ways to cool down the situation and accumulate conditions for the resumption of peace talks, Mao said.

It has been nearly two and a half years since the Ukrainian crisis escalated in an all-around way, Mao said, adding that the war is still going on, the prospect of peace talks is still unclear, and there is a risk of further escalation and spillover of the conflict.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, China has always been firmly committed to promoting the political solution of the crisis, said Mao.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 28. The Israeli Air Force attacked targets of the Shiite Hezbollah movement in Lebanon at night, the press service of the Israeli army said, Trend reports.

It is noted that targets were attacked both in the depths of Lebanon and in the south of the country.

Among the damaged objects are weapons caches and terrorist infrastructure, the army press service said.
Photo Courtesy: S Jaishanakr X page

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken when they discussed regional and global issues.

Jaishankar posted on X: "Great to catch up with @SecBlinken in Tokyotoday."He said: "Our bilateral agenda progresses steadily. Also had a wide-ranging discussion on regional and global issues."

The Indian leader further said: "Look forward to attending the Quad FMM tomorrow."

Jaishankar and Blinken are currently visiting Japan to attend the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting which will be held on July 29.

"The Ministers will take forward discussions held during the last meeting in New York in September 2023 and exchange views on developments in the Indo-Pacific region, and review progress on Quad initiatives and working groups," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The Ministers would discuss regional and international issues, and guide future collaboration to achieve the shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region by addressing contemporary priorities of the region through delivery of public goods.

This was the first meeting between Jaishankar and Blinken since the Indian politician and former diplomat was re-appointed as Minister of External Affairs.
Scientists might have discovered a hidden gem beyond Earth! Recent analysis of data from NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft suggests that Mercury, the smallest planet in our solar system, could have a diamond-rich mantle beneath its crust, about 10 miles thick.



Also read: Watch: NASA astronaut makes 'fidget spinner' with nut & bolt in zero-gravity space

Launched in 2004, MESSENGERshort for "Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging"was the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury. It mapped the planet and gathered crucial information about its geology and magnetic field from 2011 to 2015.

Whats the story behind Mercurys possible diamonds?

A fascinating mystery on Mercury involves the planet's graphite-rich surface, which has led scientists to speculate about its early history. They hypothesise that Mercury once had a carbon-rich magma ocean that surfaced, creating the graphite patches we see today and contributing to its dark appearance.

Recent research suggests that this same process may have produced a carbon-rich mantle beneath Mercury's surface. Contrary to previous beliefs that this mantle might be composed of graphene, the new theory proposes that it is actually made of diamond.

Planets I NASA

"Given the new estimate of the pressure at the mantle-core boundary, and knowing that Mercury is a carbon-rich planet, the carbon-bearing mineral that would form at the interface between mantle and core is diamond and not graphite," said Olivier Namur, an associate professor at KU Leuven, in an interview with Space.com.



Namur explained that diamonds on Mercury could have formed through two primary processes. The first involves the crystallisation of the magma ocean, which likely formed only a thin diamond layer at the core-mantle boundary. More significantly, he notes, the crystallisation of Mercurys metal core contributed to this diamond layer.

"Mercury formed much closer to the sun, likely from a carbon-rich cloud of dust. As a consequence, Mercury contains less oxygen and more carbon than other planets, which led to the formation of a diamond layer," Namur said.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
As the United States gears up for the 2024 Presidential elections, a 1989 video of former President Gerald Ford has resurfaced and gone viral.



In the clip, which has gained new relevance with Kamala Harris emerging as the Democratic nominee for President, Ford makes a striking prediction: America would only see its first female president when a male incumbent could no longer serve.

Also read: From coconut trees to venn diagrams: All of Kamala Harris's viral moments that have made her the meme queen!

The poignant moment captures a young girl's innocent question about how a woman could become president, and Ford's response now seems eerily prophetic.

In a 1989 event at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, a young girl asks President Gerald Ford, "President Gerald Ford, what advice would you give a young lady wanting to become President of the United States?"

Gerald Ford/ Brittanica

Ford responds, "I hope we do see a young lady become President one day."



He then offers a striking prediction: "I can tell you how I think it'll happen."

"Because it won't happen in the normal course of events. Either the Republican or Democrat political party will nominate a man for President and a woman for Vice President. And the woman and man will win. So you will end up with a President male and a Vice President female."

He adds, "In that term of office for the President, the President will die. And the woman will become President under the law of the Constitution. And once that barrier is broken, from then on, men better be careful because theyll have a hard, hard time ever even getting a nomination in the future."

Watch the clip here:

As the current US election unfolds with Joe Biden stepping aside and Kamala Harris emerging as his successor, many commentators see echoes of Ford's prediction in the present turmoil.

Kamala Harris/ AP

Although Ford anticipated this shift within "the next four or eight years" back in 1989, over three decades later, the US has yet to see a woman in the Oval Office.



Gerald R. Ford had served as the 38th President from 1974 to 1977 after Richard Nixon's resignation over the Watergate scandal.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
The presidency has denied reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would address Nigerians in a nationwide broadcast over the planned August 1 protest.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to Tinubu on Information and Strategy, made this known in a statement on Saturday.

Some mischief makers, he said, had started promoting reports that President Tinubu would address Nigerians over the planned nationwide protest, but there is no truth in such.

Advertisement

According to him, those behind the purported broadcast have also released a fake speech, but President Tinubu would not make any broadcast.

The presidential media aide also released a text of the fake speech.

Dear Nigerians

False text of broadcast in circulation

Please ignore the text of an alleged broadcast said to have been made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It is totally false. It is the handiwork of mischief makers, people bent on sowing confusion and chaos in our country. Please ignore it. President Tinubu has not made any broadcast.

READ ALSO: Bwala Is A Failed Lawyer, Cant Be Useful, Will Only Be Political Liability To Tinubu  Ndume

Please find below the concocted broadcast.

My fellow Nigerians,

I stand before you today with a heavy heart, but also with hope and determination. Our beloved nation faces unprecedented economic challenges that demand bold and decisive action. As your President, I am committed to leading by example and making the difficult decisions necessary to put Nigeria back on the path to prosperity.

Effective immediately, I am announcing a 50% reduction in my salary and all other emoluments. I call upon the Vice President, Senate President, and all other top government officials to follow suit. We who have been entrusted with leadership must be the first to make sacrifices for the good of our nation.

In the spirit of fiscal responsibility, I am also announcing the following measures:

1. The Office of the First Lady will be scrapped to reduce unnecessary expenditures.

2. We will sell off several presidential aircraft that are currently idle, retaining only those essential for official duties.

3. Government ministries will be consolidated, with a maximum of 36 ministers to streamline operations and reduce costs.

4. Fuel and electricity subsidies will be restored to provide immediate relief to our citizens, while we work on long-term solutions to our energy challenges.

5. All government officials will be mandated to use locally manufactured products, including automobiles, to support our domestic industries and reduce foreign exchange outflows.

These are just the first steps in our comprehensive plan to cut the cost of governance and redirect resources to critical areas of need. We are also implementing the following additional measures:

6. A significant reduction in the number of political appointees and aides across all levels of government.

7. The implementation of a comprehensive e-governance system to reduce bureaucracy and improve efficiency.

8. A review and renegotiation of all government contracts to ensure value for money.

9. The introduction of a performance-based budgeting system to ensure that every naira spent delivers tangible results for our people.

10. A freeze on non-essential foreign trips by government officials, with a shift towards virtual meetings and conferences.

11. Effective immediately, there will be no more foreign trips for medical treatment for myself, my cabinet, and all government officials. We will use Nigerian hospitals and medical facilities. This measure will not only save foreign exchange but also demonstrate our commitment to improving our healthcare system. We must have faith in our own doctors and nurses, and work together to enhance the quality of healthcare available to all Nigerians.

I want to assure all Nigerians that these measures are just the beginning. We are committed to a complete overhaul of our governance structures to make them leaner, more efficient, and more responsive to the needs of our people.

To our youth who have planned protests under the #endbadgovernment banner, I hear your frustrations. I understand your anger. But I implore you to give us a chance to implement these reforms. Let us channel our collective energy into rebuilding our nation rather than further dividing it.

The road ahead will not be easy. It will require sacrifice and patience from all of us. But I have faith in the resilience and ingenuity of the Nigerian people. Together, we can overcome these challenges and build a stronger, more prosperous Nigeria.

May God bless you all, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Thank you.


The Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Ango Abdullahi, has reacted to the feud between the Federal Government and Dangote Refinery.

Media reports have highlighted the difficulties faced by the Aliko Dangote-owned refinery, one of Africas largest oil plants, in securing local crude oil.

Abdullahi who issued a stern warning to those trying to sabotage the Refinery, stated that such efforts were detrimental to the growth of the country.

Advertisement

The former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, expressed his concerns in a statement released in Abuja on Saturday.

Speaking on the development, Abdullahi argued that for 30 years vested interests controlling the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) cartel have ensured that the nations four refineries remained non-operational and unable to meet domestic petroleum needs.

He lamented that instead of appreciating Dangotes efforts to reduce Nigerias dependency on imported refined petroleum products, some groups are intent on hindering the refinerys operations.

READ ALSO: Why Theres Fuel Scarcity In Lagos, Abuja  NNPCL Reveals

Abdullahi stated that Nigeria is globally ridiculed for being the only member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) without refining capacity, relying heavily on imported oil and derivatives.

The statement reads, The Northern Elders Forum is watching with sustained interest the unfolding drama being orchestrated by some powerful vested interests to frustrate the good example set by the nations leading investor and foremost African entrepreneur, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who has defied all formidable odds to build a privately-owned ultramodern petroleum refinery in Nigeria.

This remarkable business feat, which ordinarily should instantly earn him national encomiums and accolades, has paradoxically ignited the malicious fury of enemies of our dear country, who are strategically located in the oil and gas sector of the economy.

They have been wreaking havoc over the years through many subterfuges, resulting in the crippling of our nations refining capacity and the ruthless imposition of a ruinous regime of massive refined oil and other sundry products importation to the detriment of our national growth.

In this wise, the lamentable and highly troubling commentary against the Dangote refinery that came out from the NNPCL and its other sister regulatory bodies smacks of a glaring attempt to de-market this epochal national achievement and premeditatedly derail the economy from the path of healthy growth and stability.
A former spokesman for the Labour Partys presidential campaign council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has dumped Peter Obi over his attitude towards the partys crisis.

Recall that some partys chieftains such as Doyin Okupe and Balami Isaac, have announced their intention to leave the party.

In a statement titled Political Journey to a Great Nigeria, which he shared via his social media platforms on Saturday, Okonkwo expressed his displeasure over LPs internal crisis and the failure of its former presidential candidate, Obi, to address it.

Advertisement

He attributed Nigerias problems to a lack of internal democracy within parties, which leads to the emergence of incompetent and corrupt leaders in government.

He emphasised the need for a decisive leader who can build a party of integrity and character from the grassroots.

The statement partly reads: Every member of the Labour Party is confused today as to the future of the Labour Party because of lack of leadership from PO over the party, and unfortunately, when they look up to me to tell them about POs standpoint, I sincerely have nothing to tell them because I dont know myself.

READ MORE: I Cant Remain In Party That Cant Hold Acceptable National Convention  LPs Kenneth Okonkwo Hints At Decamping

I cannot continue to speak on behalf of a leader that I do not know his stand on issues of great importance. I simply dont know how to manipulate facts.

I am shocked that PO could not openly support the noble efforts of the Labour Unions who founded the Labour Party as a base to fight for the welfare of workers to the extent that some of them are openly saying that PO is now the problem of LP.

The Labour Unions now have the unfortunate situation where they are fighting criminals who want to hijack their party when an ordinary statement from PO would have brought the solution. I cannot continue with this ambivalence forever.

We also need a decisive leader who will be selfless enough, in boldness and bravery, to secure our victory, when the people vote for such a leader because these corrupt and incompetent leaders are not willing to conduct free and fair elections and will always grab, snatch power from any weak and indecisive leader, and run away with it. Our judiciary has not proved to be equal to the task of preventing the emergence of electoral bandits who steal electoral victories at gunpoint in the public glare of everyone.

https://twitter.com/realkenokonkwo/status/1817327000924635547?t=xye0QS38F49pmYERGQq4UQ&s=19
The operatives of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences have arrested some suspected drug peddlers in Aminkanle Market, NerdC Street by African Shrine in Agidigbi, and various locations in Ikeja.

It was gathered that the raid, led by CAP Adetayo Akerele, on Saturday, resulted in the seizure of illicit drugs including Colorado, hemp, codeine, and other harmful substances.

Disclosing this to the public on Sunday by the states commissioner of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement via his X page, said that the operation was escalated into a visibility patrol across the metropolis.

Advertisement

The statement reads: Acting on a credible intelligence received in the form of SOS, the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit led by CAP Adetayo Akerele, yesterday, carried out raid operation at a black spot at Amikanle area of Agbado-Oke-Odo LCDA in Alimosho LGA.

READ MORE: Fire Guts Lagos Warehouse, Destroys Properties Worth Millions Of Naira

124 suspected drug peddlers, abusers and criminal elements were arrested.

Exhibit recovered from the blackspot include substances suspected to be Indian hemp, colorado and several bottles of codeine syrup.

The operation was escalated into a visibility patrol across the metropolis, extending to CBD Alausa, where street traders constituting environmental nuisance along NERD C road by Africa Shrine, Agidingbi, were sacked, suspects arrested and all wares confiscated in line with the environmental sanitation law of Lagos State.

Many wraps of suspected Colorado leaves plus substances suspected to be indian hemp were also recovered.


Nigerian users of Africas largest mobile network operator, MTN, in their numbers, experienced blockage of their phone numbers without reason from the telecommunications provider.

Information Nigeria reports that the sudden barring of customers lines occured over the weekend.

This has undoubtedly led to restrictions in the use of communication services such as calls, internet, and SMS for unsuspecting customers.

Advertisement

Recall that in March, Nigerian Communications Commission said over 40 million telephone lines were barred after failing to link to the National Identity Numbers (NINs).

At the time, the telephone lines barred by their telecommunication operators breached the February 28, 2024 deadline issued by the commission mandating telecom customers to link their Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) to their NIN.

While some users think the blockage might be related to unsuccessful NIN linkage, some users opine that it is an effort by the government to hinder the August 1 protest that is being planned by youths lamenting the countrys hardship.

Reacting via X, one Olatunbosun posted, My MTN pulled a fast one yesterday, serving up a frustrating breakfast to their customers. I stopped by the Osogbo office and found that nearly everyones MTN line was down.

My MTN liner has been blocked, saying nin not up to date, after the stress the previous time @MTNNG if youre in plan with gov to distract the Protest in Nigeria, you fail, because your timing enh, all of a sudden lot of users NIN are not up to date. You lots are not serious, another user, Are wrote.

READ ALSO: August 1 Protest: Govt. Cant Subject Masses To Hardship And Expect No Reaction  Charly Boy

Rabiu Abdulkadir lamented saying, We deserve to be treated with respect and dignity in this country. Im extremely disappointed that my MTN line, which Ive used faithfully for over 10 years, was suddenly barred this morning without any prior notification. Ive lost count of how many times Ive linked it to my NIN

My phone is not even seeing my Mtn sim card shey na the same thing una dey experience too? uncle stef queried.

Jude Bala who had three of his SIMS barred posted: Hello @MTNNG, you have blocked 3 of my lines in the last 3 days. All of these numbers have been linked to my NIN, so that cannot possibly be the reason for this suspicious activity on your part.

What makes this more concerning is that one of the numbers was used when registering for NIN and before it was blocked this morning, I used it to check my NIN using the code *346#, and my NIN was displayed correctly.

Also, my wifes number was suspiciously blocked as well, even though that number is linked to her NIN.

So, can you please explain to me what is happening?
The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the North has urged the Federal Government to apologise to the citizens for its poor handling of economic issues and the nations security.

Sunday Oibe, Secretary General of northern chapter, in a statement on Saturday, asked the government to tender the apology rather than trying to induce and influence some religious and traditional leaders to stop the protest, as it is being speculated.

Advertisement

The government should apologise for its ineptitude and failure to address challenges threatening the very foundation of the country and improve the living conditions of the people.

There is no denying the fact that life in Nigeria has become unbearable as a result of these problems.

Nigerians are indeed hungry, angry, and as resilient as they had always been, they are becoming hopeless about the state of the Nigerian nation.

The planned protest is an indication that things have gone really bad.

Northern CAN notes the efforts of the government in addressing the myriads of problems facing the country.

However, such efforts have not brought about the desired succour to the people as the cost of living keeps rising amid security challenges, the statement read.

READ ALSO: Dont Be A Dictator, Use Planned Protest To Test Strength Of Security Agencies  Dele Momodu To Tinubu

Oibe said the government should stop cosmetic or temporary approaches to tackling the issues and provide pragmatic solutions that produce tangible and lasting relief.

Since the removal of subsidy on petrol by President Bola Tinubu over a year ago, Nigerians have yet to enjoy its benefits.

Almost daily, bandits and terrorists unleash mayhem. Mindless killings and kidnappings for ransom seemed to have become acceptable norms.

The government must muster the political will to stop these marauding criminals that have destroyed socio-economic activities in communities, especially in the northern part of the country.

We believe the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies have the capacity to crush these criminals and their sponsors.

This has been happening for years, and the government does not seem to have permanent solutions to it.

Economic activities, particularly the agricultural sector, cannot thrive when bandits go about terrorising people.

Hunger has now become a unifying factor for the masses. Government officials must be mindful of their utterances and actions to avoid provocating people groaning under hardship.

The insinuation by some people that the protest is being promoted by some opposition elements is an insult on the psyche of Nigerians who are going through pain.

The government must be sympathetic and apologetic in its approach to handling the situation, the statement added.
The Ogun State Police Command claimed it had detained 20 youths and impounded two vehicles following an incident in Ikenne region of the state, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday.

According to Vanguard, the crisis began when some youths insisted on celebrating the annual Oro festival despite the governments ban.

It was also revealed that the situation had been brewing for several days, with youths organising protests and informing anyone who cared that they would celebrate the yearly celebration with or without government approval.

Advertisement

The crisis was alleged to have gained a new dimension on Saturday morning, when the youths came out and began burning tyres across the key routes in the town insisting that the Oro festival will be celebrated.

This was claimed to have resulted in a confrontation with police officers who had been monitoring the incident to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order.

Some viral footage released on social media showed flames erupting from burnt tyres in various parts of the town.

The Ogun Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, confirmed the incident in a statement disclosing that 20 suspects were arrested while two vehicles impounded.

READ MORE: Police Kill Two Suspects During Carjacking Attempt, Arrest Two Others In Abuja

He said We are very much aware of the situation, it is a fallout of the longstanding obaship crisis in the town and recently, the court dismissed the one currently on the throne but the judgment had been appealed.

So based on the tense atmosphere, the local government which is the consenting authority for the festival said that it should not be celebrated so that it wont lead to any breach of peace, we did the same thing last year but some youths who were being misguided decided they must have their way.

We have arrested 20 of them, impounded two vehicles and everyone will soon be brought to the state command at Eleweran, Abeokuta to answer for their misdeeds.
On the night of July 28-29, 2022, the Russian occupiers committed a grave war crime: they blew up a barracks in the colony in Olenivka, Donetsk region, where captured soldiers from the Azov regiment were held. As a result, 54 Mariupol defenders were killed, and more than 130 Azov prisoners of war were wounded.

ADVERTISIMENT

On the second anniversary of the terrible crime, Ukrainians were called upon to draw the world's attention to what the Russians did in Olenivka so that no one would have any doubt about what modern Russia is like and so that the aggressor state would be held accountable for its actions. This call was published on the official channel of the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine.

"On the day of the second anniversary of the terrorist attack in Olenivka, we urge you to tell the world about this tragedy. Join us in honoring the memory of the victims of the Russian crime. Engage both Ukrainian and international audiences," the statement reads.

ADVERTISIMENT

Azov reminded that the occupiers blew up the barracks in Olenivska colony on the night of July 29. Just the day before, the captured Azov residents were transferred there.

The victims of the crime, which Russia cynically tried to blame on Ukraine, were 54 Mariupol defenders. At least 130 soldiers were wounded.

The surviving soldiers were forced to carry the bodies of their fallen comrades. Azov emphasized that some of the wounded could have been saved, but the invaders left them to die without even thinking to provide assistance.

"Olenivka is a crime against humanity, a violation of all possible rules of warfare and treatment of prisoners of war. Russia is relying on the short memory of the international community, on the oblivion of its crimes and its own propaganda. Every mention is important. The more people learn about the occupiers' crimes, the less chances Russia has to avoid punishment. Tell everyone about Olenivka. Join us in honoring the memory of the victims of the terrorist attack," the Ukrainian soldiers called.

ADVERTISIMENT

Ukraine still does not know the names of all those who died as a result of the barracks explosion in Olenivka. Some of the names that have been identified are listed on the Memorial Platform.

The identified victims of Russia's war crime:

- Ihor Prokopenko

- Oleksandr Hrynko

- Dmytro Bukaryov

- Yehor Bartosh

- Dmytro Krukovskyi

- Artem Serdeshnyi

- Bohdan Khomovskyi

- Yevheniy Horbatyi

- Stanislav Artemenko

- Vitaliy Lytvyn

- Kostiantyn Istratov

- Yevhen Pashnyuk-Pashniev

- Yaroslav Otrok

- Yaroslav Bais

- Ihor Kholodnyak

- Andriy Konyaiev

- Vladyslav Bilyi

- Mykola Baranovskyi

- Vladyslav Shelomiienko

- Oleksiy Kisilishyn

- Vladyslav Solonskyi

ADVERTISIMENT

- Bohdan Hryshkevych

- Denys Parfyonov

- Andriy Bereza

- Anatolyi Denysov

- Mykola Babych

- Serhiy Khavanskykh

- Vitaliy Zinchuk

- Petro Huk

- Mykola Karas

- Andriy Bozduhan

- Mykola Pelekhatyi

- Serhiy Petrenko

- Serhiy Pavlichenko

- Oleksandr Babenko

- Mykola Ahanin

- Serhiy Rakovskyi

- Serhiy Karnovych

- Serhiy Zusin

- Volodymyr Vlasishyn

- Vladyslav Volkov

- Volodymyr Hvozdynskyi

- Oleksiy Dmytruk

- Hryhoriy Barninets

- Oleksandr Tsechoyev

- Ihor Hamayunov

- Oleksiy Novykov.

"They were killed in captivity because they could not be defeated on the battlefield," Memorial added.

Earlier, AP published an article on the Russian terrorist attack in Olenivka. The authors stated that the results of the investigation of the terrorist attack in Olenivka point to Russia's direct guilt.

Two years have passed since the attack, and the occupiers have not allowed UN observers to enter the territory, nor have they conducted any other independent expert analyses.

ADVERTISIMENT

According to the journalists, less than 20 of the 193 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were in the colony at the time of the attack have returned home.

"On the morning of July 27, 2022, Russian guards gathered a group of prisoners and took them to the industrial part of the colony, away from the other five barracks for prisoners of war. They were taken to a building made of cinder blocks with a tin roof. There were 100 beds without mattresses and a hastily dug toilet," the journalists wrote, citing survivors.

According to the article, the guards of the colony dug trenches for themselves on the same day, and the next day they moved the guard post and put on bulletproof vests and helmets, which they had not done before. When the explosion occurred at night, fire engulfed the building. One witness said that the guards were laughing and throwing rags and flashlights at the Ukrainian prisoners. The next day, the survivors were isolated from the rest of the prisoners of war in the colony.

ADVERTISIMENT

An internal UN analysis showed that they were isolated on purpose to prevent them from telling others in the colony what had happened. In addition, some prisoners had access to cell phones.

According to the organization's analysis, another part of the Ukrainian military was sent to the bombed barracks and ordered to remove the remaining debris and bodies. Two hours later, this group was sent to a nearby hangar, and some saw people in camouflage bringing boxes of ammunition to the site of the explosion and placing HIMARS fragments on a nearby bench.

Soon after, Russian officials accompanied by propagandists arrived at the colony. They took photos of charred bunk beds, HIMARS fragments, and bodies lying in the sun. After everyone left, the men in camouflage put everything in boxes and left.

The UN Secretary-General announced that he would conduct his own investigation, but negotiations for access to the site were long and ultimately fruitless. The mission was disbanded on January 5, 2023.

ADVERTISIMENT

And two years after the terrible crime, international courts still have not investigated the terrorist attack in Olenivka.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
The Lagos State Police Command rescued a two-month-old baby boy from a couple, Mr and Mrs James Uwam, at the childs naming ceremony.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that the couple paid N2,350,000 to buy the infant from Loretta Nelson, a suspected child trafficker who purchased the kid from a pastor, Peter Udoh, for N1,450,000.

Hundeyin said Udoh purchased the infant for N500,000 from another suspected child trafficker, Gloria Sunday, who allegedly took the baby on July 11, 2024, prompting the babys mother to reported the case to the police.

Advertisement

Following the report, Hundeyin stated that the police acted quickly and arrested Sunday, which led to the arrest of other individuals involved in the crime by detectives from the commands Oko Oba Division.

READ MORE: NFVCB Responds To Muslim Groups Demand To Ban Nancy Isimes Film For Using Hijab For Violence

The PPRO said, Detectives swung into action which led to the arrest of Gloria Sunday who during interrogation confessed to selling the baby for N500,000 to one Pastor Peter Udoh.

Pastor Udoh, who was subsequently arrested in Ikene Town, Ogun State, admitted reselling the child for N1,450,000 to one Loretta Nelson who was then also apprehended in Festac Town, Lagos.

Hundeyin stated that Nelson admitted to selling the kid for N2,350,000 to Mr. and Mrs. James Uwam, who were detained at the stolen childs naming ceremony.

Hundeyin remarked that investigations had begun and that the accused will be charged in court following the findings.


Minister Nyesom Wike of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has stated that his office has not received any formal request for the use of Eagle Square for the planned protest set to commence on August 1.

This declaration was made during a town hall meeting held on Saturday with key stakeholders in the FCT.

Wike who emphasized the importance of following proper channels for such requests rather than relying on social media, said: No letter has been sent to my office requesting the use of Eagle Square for the planned protest.

Advertisement

He advised the organizers to submit their requests through official means, ensuring due process is followed.

The FCT Minister reiterated his stance against the planned protest, warning that the Federal Capital Territory would not be available for such activities.

READ ALSO: Why Theres Fuel Scarcity In Lagos, Abuja  NNPCL Reveals

For those who want to protest on the 1st, FCT is not available for such protests, Wike asserted, urging residents to avoid participating in any acts that could lead to disruption.

The town hall meeting, aimed at fostering communication between the FCT administration and residents, saw the attendance of several key figures, including the FCT Minister of State, Mariya Mahmoud, area council chairmen, traditional rulers, representatives from religious and political bodies, as well as women and youth groups.

Discussions at the meeting centred on addressing grievances with the current administration and exploring potential solutions.

The protesters should not just use social media to send a message to my office. They should rather pass through the appropriate channels, he advised.
A lawmaker representing Anambra South district in the National Assembly, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah is dead.

Senator Ubah was said to have departed Nigeria for the United Kingdom on Thursday, 25th of August, 2024.

The South East politician and businessman died at the age of 52, in the UK.

Advertisement

A close family source told PUNCH that he was confirmed dead in a UKs hospital where he went for an operation.

Reacting to the his death on Saturday, The Nigeria Senate, in a statement signed by the Senate Spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu in Abuja, described Ubah as an exemplary leader.

Thr statement reads: It is with deep sorrow and profound regret that the Nigeria Senate announces the passing of our esteemed colleague, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who until his passing represented the Anambra South Senatorial District.

Senator Ubah was an exemplary leader, a committed public servant, and an indefatigable advocate for his constituents.

READ MORE: Ohanaeze Ndigbos President, Iwuanyanwu, Dies At 81

His untimely departure represents a significant loss to the Senate, his community, and the nation at large.

Prior to his illustrious career in public service, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah distinguished himself as a prominent businessman and philanthropist.

As the founder and CEO of Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited, he made substantial contributions to Nigerias energy sector, fostering economic growth and creating numerous job opportunities. Through the Ifeanyi Ubah Foundation, his philanthropic endeavours provided scholarships, healthcare, and vital support to the less privileged, profoundly impacting countless lives.

Throughout his tenure in the Senate, Senator Uba demonstrated unwavering dedication to the progress and development of Anambra South and Nigeria as a whole.

He was a beacon of hope, a champion of economic empowerment, and a steadfast supporter of legislative reforms aimed at improving the lives of all Nigerians.
Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) wears a pendant in support of freeing hostages being held by Hamas, before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to a joint meeting of Congress at the Capitol on Wednesday. Read more

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms, he said in a post Sunday on the social media platform X.

Im grateful to be fully vaccinated and will be working from home, following the appropriate CDC guidance, Fetterman wrote.

Fettermans health was under scrutiny during his 2022 Senate campaign, and his first months as a senator. He suffered a stroke four days before winning the primary, which left him with lingering auditory processing issues. He also disclosed a heart condition  atrial fibrillation  in the aftermath of the stroke.

Advertisement

In February 2023, just a few weeks after he was sworn into office, Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to treat clinical depression. He was hospitalized for 44 days, and has since used his experience to encourage others to seek treatment for mental health conditions.

Last month, the senator, who is 54, and his wife, Gisele, were evaluated at a hospital out of an abundance of caution after, according to police, a Chevrolet Traverse Fetterman was driving at a high rate of speed, well over the posted speed limit of 70 miles per hour on Interstate 70 in Hancock, Md., struck a Chevrolet Impala being driven by a 62-year-old woman from Pennsylvania.

The Inquirer reached out to Fettermans office Sunday to see if he had plans this week to campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he has endorsed for president. There was no immediate response.

Fetterman is the latest politician in Washington to test positive for COVID-19. President Joe Biden contracted the virus earlier this month while campaigning in Las Vegas before he ended his bid for reelection. Biden experienced mild symptoms, which have since resolved, the White House said.

Nationwide, COVID-19 hospitalizations have been increasing since late spring, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but the rate is still dramatically lower than the latest peak this past winter.
A multiple-vehicle crash on the Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township Friday night left two dead, including a pregnant woman. Read more

Two people, one of them a pregnant woman, were killed and seven others were injured Friday night in a fiery multivehicle crash on the Black Horse Pike just outside of Atlantic City, police said.

Just after 8:15 p.m. a 2017 silver Nissan Sentra traveling westbound on the Black Horse Pike, or Route 40, in the West Atlantic City section of Egg Harbor Township crossed into the eastbound lanes and struck a 2018 Kia Forte head on, police said.

Advertisement

The collision pushed the Kia backward and into a 2020 red Nissan Sentra that was also eastbound on the Black Horse Pike, sending it off the roadway, while the Kia came to rest in the marsh area along the eastbound side of the road, police said.

Debris from the crash hit a fourth car, a 2019 silver Toyota Yaris.

After the collision, the silver Sentra caught fire. Passing motorists stopped and pulled passengers out of the vehicle before it became completely engulfed in flames, police said.

Police identified the dead as the driver of the Kia, Escarlin Suriel, 21, of Atlantic City, and Gabriella Constrantino, 22, of Pleasantville, an occupant in the silver Sentra.

Suriel was eight months pregnant and the mother of a 4-year-old daughter, according to the familys GoFundMe page. She was traveling with her husband, Francisco Nin Ferreras, who was taken to AtlantiCare City Division with serious injuries, police said.

Escarlin was a loving, caring, and devoted mother and wife. She was a beautiful soul, said Maria Tropea, who said she was Suriels sister-in-law.

Two juveniles, whom police did not identify, were also pulled from the silver Sentra and were listed in critical condition at AtlantiCare City Division and Cooper Hospital, respectively, police said. A third passenger, Kenneth Jones, 25, of Pleasantville, also was taken to AtlantiCare with serious injuries, police said.

Two occupants of the red Sentra were taken to AtlantiCare with minor injuries.

One man, who stopped to help pull occupants from the burning car, was taken to AtlantiCare with unspecified injuries, police said.

The driver of the Toyota Yaris was not injured, police said.

That section of the Black Horse Pike was closed to traffic for about 7 hours as police investigated.
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters.

HARRISBURG  A popular program that helps Pennsylvania homeowners with the cost of essential repairs did not receive more funding in this years state budget, despite overwhelming demand in many counties.

Advertisement

Almost 18,200 homeowners who applied for help from the Whole-Home Repairs program were wait-listed because of a lack of available funding, according to a survey by the Department of Community and Economic Development this spring.

Were very disappointed  more than disappointed, said Rachel Goodgal, government affairs manager at the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance, a trade association that advocated for the program to receive more funding.

I think most of the rank-and-file legislators can see that it has many benefits and is valuable to their constituents.

The Whole-Home Repairs program was created in 2022 with bipartisan support and $125 million in federal pandemic aid. The money helps homeowners fix major problems like leaking roofs and broken windows and can also be used to make properties more energy-efficient or accessible for people with disabilities. Eligibility is determined by income.

Pennsylvania has some of the oldest housing stock in the U.S. As of 2022, a quarter of occupied housing units in the state were in structures built before 1940, a recent state study found.

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiros budget proposal included an additional $50 million for the program, which he has called off the charts successful. But the final budget deal negotiated with the divided state legislature did not include money for the program.

The immediate impact will vary from county to county. Some have already given out all the available funding, while others opened applications more recently and still have money left.

By blocking funding this year, Republicans have left thousands more families vulnerable, Mary Collier, a spokesperson for Pennsylvania Stands Up, a progressive advocacy group, said in a statement. You block funding to a program when you are trying to kill it.

Kate Flessner, a state Senate GOP spokesperson, said in a statement that while many programs sought funding in this years budget process, the substantial investments made for education funding and human service programs became the focus.

Its not the first time lawmakers have been unable to agree on directing more money toward the home repair program. It was due to receive $50 million in last years state budget, but lawmakers failed for months to reach a deal on additional legislation to authorize that spending. The final deal on those bills, reached in December, did not include more funding for the program.

Some of the opposition this year sprang from Senate Republicans concerns over replacing one-time federal funding with state dollars, said state Sen. Nikil Saval, a progressive Democrat from Philadelphia who first proposed the initiative.

This years budget cycle has been marked by partisan disagreements over how much of Pennsylvanias $14 billion budget surplus to spend, with Democrats calling for more state investment and Republicans tending to oppose increased spending.

Supporters argue the program ultimately saves money by helping prevent homelessness and allowing older residents to stay in their homes longer.

In many counties, the demand for funding has been enormous.

Dauphin County closed applications after only four hours, while Indiana County received three times as many applications as it could cover.

Allegheny County received more than 4,000 applications from eligible homeowners, but could fund only about 4%, an administrator told Democratic lawmakers at a hearing earlier this year.

Most of the work paid for by the program addresses significant system failures that could otherwise result in the properties becoming vacant, Dan Sullivan, who works at the nonprofit overseeing the countys program, said at the hearing.

There is a huge trickle-down effect if we cannot fix these homes.

This years budget does include a major funding increase for a separate state program that offers flexible grants to local governments, nonprofits, and developers to build affordable housing, among other uses. Funding for the program will increase from $70 million in the current fiscal year to $100 million by 2027.

Aaron Zappia, director of government affairs at the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, called the increase monumental. As the states housing crisis has worsened in recent years, state lawmakers have begun showing a new level of interest, he said.

The budget also includes smaller allocations for homeless assistance, legal representation for tenants facing eviction proceedings, and a new emergency housing program for local governments.

Supporters of the Whole-Home Repairs program say they plan to keep pushing for more money, arguing that the demand for the funding demonstrates the need for a long-term solution.

Zappia said state programs often grow in fits and starts, but said he would be surprised if lawmakers dont ultimately agree to invest more in the program.

My sense is: at the end of the day, theyll find some funding for it, he said.

BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.
With Joe Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race, there is no time to waste for those opposed to Donald Trump to rally together to defeat the Republican nominee, Helen Ubinas writes. Read more

Anyone paying attention to our political climate crisis since President Joe Bidens debate performance could feel something was coming.

But even I was unprepared for the tsunami of emotions that crashed onto the New Jersey beach I happened to be on when Biden announced he was withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race Sunday afternoon:

Advertisement

Sadness.

From the elderly couple who expressed their sorrow on the beach blanket behind me while my phone incessantly pinged with messages from people who wanted to know if Id heard. (The historic presidential exit heard round the world? Yeah  I think everyone heard.)

Shock.

From half the group sitting in the beach chairs in front of me, with some cheers from the others.

Anger.

That last emotion was mostly mine and directed at the people who bailed on Biden while offering no concrete path to victory in a presidential election that is now just 107 days away.

So here we are  and lets be really clear on where here is: Anyone who hasnt pledged their allegiance to Donald Trump better get it together and unite in defeating the Dear Leader and his cult. (And, yes, its an ear bandage-wearing cult. Time to call everything what it is.)

And no one should work harder to defeat them than those people who wasted so much of our time on their pearl-clutching over Bidens age and debate performance without offering much in the way of a backup plan for an election upon which the fate of our democracy rests. (And if you listened to any of the Republican National Convention last week, you know that is hardly hyperbole.)

Way to go, America!

Yes, Im angry  as any American citizen who values our country should be right now.

But guess what? We dont even have time to be all up in our feelings, not less than four months before Election Day, because while politicians and pundits were wasting even more time last week falling so enthusiastically for the GOP narratives about a united Republican Party and how Trump was a changed man, the candidate himself wasted no time showing us  once again  just who he and his party truly are.

And he didnt just do that by his inability to keep his vile and violent rhetoric in check for longer than a half hour after accepting his partys nomination at the RNC on Thursday.

Nope. Moments after Bidens announcement that he was withdrawing from the race, Trump doubled down on his chaotic brand of divisiveness with a deranged statement.

Crooked Joe Biden is a complete fraud and a disgrace to our Country, said the twice-impeached, xenophobic, convicted felon who inexplicably insists on a puzzling philosophy of random capitalization. He added that Biden has been so weak and incompetent that World leaders are laughing at us.

And honestly, at this point, I actually believe that. Because who watching this clown show wouldnt laugh at a country voluntarily handing their democracy to a wannabe dictator who has respect for nothing and no one more than himself and his own insatiable hunger for power?

So now its Vice President Kamala Harris atop the Democratic Party presidential ticket after Biden endorsed her  and Im good with that, even while I worry about the whitelash, to borrow a phrase from journalist Wesley Lowery, that has marked white grievance in our country since President Barack Obamas election, and the calls for racial reckonings in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer.

My intention is to earn and win this nomination, Harris declared moments after Biden announced his intention to abandon the race and support her. We have 107 days until Election Day, Harris said. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.

We better win  and in order to do that, we better get it together fast. That includes people who say the right things in mixed company but do the wrong things when it comes time to vote.

Yeah, Im talking to nearly half of this countrys white women who voted for Trump in both elections.

As I was rushing off the beach to write this column, I passed a man who looked around incredulously at everyone just going about their business,

Look at us, swimming and listening to music ... he said, after Bidens historic announcement.

He was right, it is both horrifying and comforting, our ability to push forward even in the bleakest of times. But thats exactly what we have to do  come together, lock arms, and push forward  if we want to keep the darkest of days at bay.
Being chosen as Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate might place Josh Shapiros now-lively career into a gentle repose, Kyle Sammin writes. Would he still be a rising star when he wakes? Read more

Pennsylvania was always going to be at the heart of the 2024 campaign. As a large swing state and the birthplace of the sitting president, we in the Keystone State knew our televisions would be full of ads and our roads obstructed by motorcades until November. But now that Scrantons own Joe Biden is no longer in the race, the commonwealth is even more important as presumptive nominee Kamala Harris searches for a running mate.

Political prognosticators and bettors in the quasi-legal world of election wagering all say Gov. Josh Shapiro is among the top contenders for the spot. Which raises a few questions.

Advertisement

First: Would he even want the job?

The vice presidency has never been known as a great gig. The first vice president, John Adams, said it was the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived. Franklin D. Roosevelts VP John Nance Garner was more succinct, saying the office isnt worth a pitcher of warm spit (or words to that effect). HBO had a whole show about it, Veep, the first two seasons of which focused on the frustration and powerlessness of the fictional VP, Selina Meyer. Many insiders called it the most accurate of all the shows about life in Washington.

Compared with being governor of a big state, being vice president seems downright boring. Would Shapiro really want to be stuck in that job for four (or even eight) years?

Yeah, he might.

Shapiro has played coy with the press about the possibility, which is par for the course for those under consideration. No one wants to look too eager, but neither do they want to seem uninterested.

But his entire political career has been one of calm progression up the political ladder. Even before he won his 2022 race for governor, pundits had noted his presidential timber. He did not exactly discourage the speculation, just sidestepped the question (I have never talked about that, the then-attorney general told Philadelphia Magazine in 2021).

The vice presidency is often seen as a stepping stone to the White House. It has taken Harris from a 2020 also-ran to the consensus 2024 Democratic nominee, so theres something to the idea. If Shapiro has that presidential itch, spending a term or two as VP might be the best way to scratch it, now that he has declined to challenge Harris for the top spot at the convention next month. Alternatively, it might place Shapiros now-lively career into a gentle repose  would he still be a rising star when he wakes?

Another question is whether adding Shapiro to the ticket would do anything for Harris chances of winning. It probably wont, but any small bonus to her campaign from adding him would be localized to Pennsylvania, which is a must-win for the Democrats.

Most people are not looking at the second name on the ticket when they cast their ballots in November. Vice presidents have almost no official power, and typically not even much unofficial influence on the president. But for a nonincumbent nominee like Harris, the vice presidential selection is the first chance the voting public gets to see the would-be president make an important decision. A normal pick  like Shapiro, but also like Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona or Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina  would confirm the presidential nominee makes normal decisions. A wild-card pick shows the opposite.

Ive been interested in politics my whole life, and I only once heard someone I know say that a vice presidential selection changed his mind about a presidential candidate. Back in 2008, a friend of mine said that John McCains selection of Sarah Palin convinced him to vote for Barack Obama. Maybe he was looking for a reason to support Obama, but he was a moderate Republican serving in the military  just the sort of person who would normally have voted for McCain. At the time, I thought Palin was a savvy selection, so maybe my friend was wiser than I was.

These are differences between Shapiro and other Democrats, but in a way that makes him closer to the mainstream American voter.

Its hard to see Shapiro turning off any voters the way Palin did. To the extent he does differ from Harris, it is by being more moderate. Where Harris found a way to be out of town when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress last week, Shapiro has been publicly supportive of Israel and has (unlike most Democrats) declined to call for a unilateral cease-fire in Israels war against Hamas, even as he criticized how the Netanyahu government conducted the war. And while national Democrats remain in lockstep with teachers unions, Shapiro in his 2022 campaign said some encouraging things about school choice (before backtracking following resistance from leaders in his own party).

There are differences between Shapiro and other Democrats, but in a way that makes him closer to the mainstream American voter. The contrast might be uncomfortable for Harris, but if she decides on a more mainstream VP pick, it is not likely to chase any of her existing voter base into the arms of Donald Trump.

Another question Pennsylvanians may ask: Would the commonwealth benefit? Its doubtful.

California seems to be no better off for having Harris as VP, and Indiana received no special favors when Mike Pence held the office. Pennsylvania taxpayers would be paying someone to be governor even though hes out campaigning for another job, but weve done that with Shapiro so many times now that it feels like tradition.

But the most important query is the one least addressed in vice presidential selection this year, and in previous years: Would he be good at the job? Would he be able to step into the presidents shoes should she die or leave office? I think he would  and I hope Harris considers such questions when she makes her decision, looking beyond getting elected and thinking about the serious business of governing.
On the night of July 28, unknown drones hit another oil depot in the Kursk region of Russia. While the fires were being extinguished, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the attack had been "stopped."

ADVERTISIMENT

According to the so-called Russian defense ministry, Russian air defense allegedly managed to shoot down two UAVs over the Kursk region. This message appeared on the official resources of the Russian Defense Ministry.

"Last night, when the Kyiv regime attempted to carry out a terrorist attack using unmanned aerial vehicles against targets in the Russian Federation, regular air defense systems intercepted and destroyed five UAVs over the Belgorod and two UAVs over the Kursk regions," the Russian Defense Ministry said.

At first, the local authorities kept silent about the arrivals. But later, the acting governor of the Kursk region, Alexei Smirnov, confirmed the damage to the oil depot.

ADVERTISIMENT

"Last night, Ukrainian drones attacked an oil depot in the Kursk region. Three fuel tanks caught fire. None of the residents and employees of the industrial facility were injured," the official stated.

He also added that 82 rescuers and 32 pieces of equipment are trying to extinguish the fire. By 8 a.m., according to Smirnov, they had managed to extinguish the flames on only one tank.

ADVERTISIMENT

Earlier, it became known that on July 28, a number of fires broke out in the Kursk region due to UAV attacks. In particular, they were recorded in Medvensky and Kursky districts of the region. In the latter, the oil depot of Polevaya LLC in the village of Polevaya, Kursk district, was on fire.

This is not the first time that unknown drones have attacked it. For example, on February 15, 2024, two diesel fuel tanks, one for 1000 cubic meters and the other for 400 cubic meters, were on fire at this tank farm as a result of a drone attack.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, riding high on Democratic momentum, energized supporters for Vice President Kamala Harris at a rally Saturday in south-central Pennsylvania.

Shapiro is feeding off of national Democratic fervor  as well as a personal boost as one of Harris potential running mates. He has neither confirmed nor denied his interest in the role, and hes reported to be one of several candidates in contention. Dozens of Pennsylvania Democrats have thrown their support behind Shapiro for VP, with the Philadelphia Democratic Party taking the unusual move of endorsing him for the second-in-command spot.

Advertisement

 READ MORE: Josh Shapiro is getting VP hype for a commanding win in Pa.  against a weak opponent

The Harris campaign event had originally been a canvass kick-off for supporters to prepare to knock on voters doors or phone bank. But it grew to a 300-person rally, headlined by Shapiro in a county that former President Donald Trump won by 10 points in 2020.

Shapiro focused his stump speech for Harris on the differences he sees between Trump and the vice president, as well as a laundry list of Democratic ideals Harris will protect.

Every step of the way, Kamala Harris has fought for freedom. She has fought for opportunity, and she has delivered results, Shapiro said to the crowd, already waving Harris campaign signs less than a week since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. Let me tell you something, thats a hell of a contrast with the guy shes running against.

The Harris campaign said they registered 8,000 Pennsylvanians to volunteer for the campaign since Sunday, which they said translates to a new excitement in the race.

Several rally attendees said theyre feeling the new energy since Harris took over as the presumptive nominee.

Bailey Clayville, 14, of Carlisle, came to the rally with her mom, Sarah Clayville, 48, who is a public school teacher. They both said they supported Biden, but are excited to see Harris as the first female president.

Bailey Clayville said her peers are excited, even though they cant vote. She still plans to knock on doors with her mom for Harris, and she would have made a Kamala is brat T-shirt if they had more time. Brat is an album by pop artist Charli XCX and has become a vehicle to generate online excitement among young people.

Im surprised more of my friends arent here, Bailey Clayville added.

Kathy Sundberg, 73, of Mechanicsburg, said Harris will be more successful than Hillary Clinton, the failed 2016 Democratic nominee.

I think Hillary felt like she had to be stately and like the men, and she couldnt show her personality, Sundberg added. Harris comes right at em. Thats what I love.

Several attendees also said they love Shapiro and dont want him to leave Pennsylvania so early into his first term. But they would be happy for him if hes the vice presidential pick.

In a way, we dont [want to lose him], said Alan Vandersloot, 74, of Carlisle, who was wearing his 2022 Shapiro Squad T-shirt. But if [Harris] decides hes the best choice, were all for it.

 READ MORE: Josh Shapiro, Gretchen Whitmer will campaign for Harris next week in Montco

Shapiro did not take questions and did not comment on whether he was to be the nations second-most-powerful official. He has previously said Harris has a deeply personal decision to make on who her running mate should be and it should be void of outside pressure.
The Olympic Games in Paris are the main sporting event of the summer. Try to test your attention span with this interesting themed puzzle.

ADVERTISIMENT

Look at the picture and try to find all the hidden rewards. Be quick as you have only 7 seconds to complete the task.

Puzzles are a great way to improve cognitive skills, test memory concentration and visual acuity. Those with perfect observation skills will be able to quickly find the right answer quickly.

In the image, we see a lot of people celebrating the victory. Pay attention to the medals and cups that can get lost among other objects.

Scientists emphasize that regular intellectual challenges have long-term benefits for the brain like:

cognitive stimulation

improved problem-solving skills

improved analytical thinking

ADVERTISIMENT

improved memory

development of creativity - puzzles encourage thinking outside the box

improved mindfulness and concentration

stress relief

Did you manage to complete the task?

The correct answer is below.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA on Telegram and Viber channels to keep up with the latest events.
Turkish Parliament has approved the deployment of its Navy to Somalia

July 27 (Jowhar.com)  The Parliament of Turkey today approved President Recep Tayyip Erdogans proposal to send naval forces to Somalia, to be part of the implementation of the Defense and Economic Agreement between the two countries.

The legal term approved by the Parliament is two years, it will need to be renewed.

This is an important step in the implementation of the defense and economic cooperation agreement between Somalia and Turkey.

The Somali government has welcomed the approval of the agreement between Somalia and Turkey.

The Minister of Defense, Mr. Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, who spoke about this decision, said that this cooperation reflects the commitment of the two countries to develop cooperation in the fields of economy and defense.

This decision follows the defense and economic cooperation agreement that the two countries signed on February 8 this year.

The agreement includes provisions for joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, and training programs for Somali security forces. It also covers areas such as infrastructure development, investment, and trade.

President Erdogan has expressed his commitment to supporting Somalia in its efforts to combat terrorism, piracy, and other security threats in the region. The deployment of Turkish naval forces to Somalia is seen as a tangible demonstration of this commitment.

The Turkish government has stated that its presence in Somalia will help strengthen security in the region and contribute to the stability and development of the country. The deployment of naval forces is also expected to enhance maritime security and protect vital sea lanes in the region.

Overall, the approval of this agreement by the Turkish Parliament marks a significant milestone in the deepening of ties between Turkey and Somalia, and further solidifies their partnership in the areas of defense and economy.
Regardless of the outcome in November, U.S. foreign policy cannot square the circle of a decline in relative U.S. power in a multipolar, ever-more illiberal world.
Newark, Del. (Special to Informed Comment; Feature)  Netanyahus speech before a half full of the House of Representatives was a disgrace. It was not just a disgrace because he spewed his lies but because, in the middle of a genocide, those representatives of the American people rose and jubilantly accepted his lies.

Before America went to war in Iraq in 2003, the argument was that Saddam had chemical weapons. The lies were spread by the Neconservatives, including Netanyahu. At that time, the then secretary of state Colin Powell  who later apologized  went before the UN and showed (non-existent) evidence that the Iraqi government had compiled weapons of mass destruction. It was all a hoax. After the invasion, the U.S. military found no stockpiles.

In 2002, Israel also claimed that every suicide bomber was paid $25,000 by Iraqs Saddam Hussein regime. None of it was true.

The Israeli government under Netanyahu has made many false statements throughout the years about Iran. Iran is an obsession for him. Not that the Islamic Republic is not guilty of many wrong doings however the truth is that more Iranian officials were assassinated by Israel than Iran ever dared to do so vis a vis Israel. Nuclear data was stolen from Iran. No doubt it was the work of Mossad.

On January 3rd, 2020, General Soleimani was assassinated by the U.S. on Iraqi soil on the orders of Trump. But Trump didnt act alone. The decision was made in Tel Aviv.

All the while, the Trump administration, upon the advice of Netanyahu, got out of the nuclear deal. It was a setback for peace in the region.

Now Netanyahu comes before the U.S. congress while thousands protested his presence. Many hostage families left the chambers in defiance of his lies.

In the last nine months, forty thousand Gazans have been murdered and the people of the world including many Israelis and many Jewish Americans have demanded a cease fire to no avail.

The lying PM whose premiership is held by a threat lied again.

He insulted American protestors as useful idiots paid by Iran. The absurdity of this claim is so far-fetched that even a few American media outlets mocked him.

He has zero credibility.

The Islamic Republic may have engaged in many dubious acts against its own citizens, but who is Netanyahu to cry wolf when he and his humanitarian IDF has been engaged in a genocide against unarmed civilians, killing babies and children, women, and innocents.

The Palestinians of Gaza are left with nothing. Nowhere to go, no home, no schools, no hospitals, no universities, no mosques, no churches. Only rubble after rubble which according to various estimates, it will take a decade to remove the rubble.

All the while, his right-wing fascist government glorifies this attack and shows no willingness to make a deal for the release of their hostages.

The world is outraged while this clown shows his face in U.S. soil and spews lies about an Iranian hand in the recent protests just like when he did about the danger of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons or when he claimed that in Iran nobody wears jeans! Thousands in Iran posted their photos with their jeans.

This last performance by Netanyahu is most probably the very last even if many in the U.S. congress who are paid by AIPAC loudly clapped and gave him standing ovation.

A shift in the U.S. policy towards Israel is necessary as we see it happening before our eyes. The farcical notion that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East has crumpled with this assault on Gaza.

Maoz Inon, an Israeli who lost his parents in the kibbutzim on October 7 was involved in the DC protests alongside his Palestinian friend who had also lost his brother at the hands of Israeli interrogators ( Inons family did not seek revenge). He said Bibis brother died in courage, but Bibi will go down in history as the one who could not even defend his own people on October 7. They were busy grabbing land for the settlers.

It is time for him to go away and for the American lawmakers to show real spine and not invite war criminals to address them.

Bonus video added by Informed Comment:

Middle East Eye Video: Unpacking Netanyahus Lies Before Congress
Braunau am Inn has the dubious privilege of appearing in the first sentence of the first chapter of Mein Kampf. Adolf Hitler explains there that he considers it a fortunate destiny to have been born (at 6.30 p.m. on April 20, 1889, a cloudy Saturday, as noted in his biography of reference by Ian Kershaw) in the small Austrian town. A town, Hitler continues, situated just on the frontier between those two States [Austria and Germany] the reunion of which seems, at least to us of the younger generation, a task to which we should devote our lives and in the pursuit of which every possible means should be employed. Hitler goes on to say how little he remembers of his life in Braunau am Inn, which is logical because when he was not yet three years old his father Alois, a customs officer, was promoted and the family moved to Passau in Bavaria, on the other side of the border. In 1898, they moved again, this time to Leonding in the district of Linz. And it is Linz that he always considered his hometown and which he wanted later, when he was in power, to become the most beautiful city on the Danube and the cultural counterweight to Vienna, which he detested so much.

The fact that Hitler does not seem to have cared too much about Braunau am Inn  his homes were his Munich apartment, his second residence at the Berghof, and the chancellery (including the bunker)  has not managed to save the town from the curse of being called the cradle of evil, where the Nazi leader was born, and from having to carry that burden since the end of World War II, when everyone hid their portrait of the once beloved Fuhrer.

The fact is that the building in which Hitler was born, at 15 Salzburger Vorstadt, has remained quite unchanged over time, causing  apart from considerable embarrassment and dangerous neo-Nazi interest  a bitter debate about what to do with it, both in the city and in Austria as a whole. Austrian filmmaker Gunter Schwaiger has devoted himself to following this controversy, from a very interesting personal, moral and committed perspective, in the documentary Whos Afraid of Hitlers Town, subtitled A House and the Past Inside Us.

The film tackles the thorny question of the house by surveying the opinions of the inhabitants of Braunau, a place that, as one of them laments, already has brown in its name (Braun, as in Braunhemden, the brown shirts worn by the Nazi Partys paramilitary Sturmabteilung, the SA, not to mention Eva Braun). From the outset it becomes clear that a large part of Austrian society is not at all happy to have Hitler as a compatriot; they prefer Sissi and Mozart. This is summed up in the joke that the Austrians have managed to convince the world that Hitler was German and Beethoven was Austrian. One interviewee in Vienna even suggests shifting the border a bit so that Braunau is on the German side.

What to do with the house  shuttered since 2016  is the central question that runs through the entire film, and the fate of the property becomes a metaphor for the conscience and memory of the inhabitants of Braunau, and by extension of all Austrians. Schwaiger has residents, historians, and authorities speak, people of different ideologies, with different opinions. Some consider the house a stigma for the city, others ridicule so much controversy over a house in which nothing happened, no crimes were committed, and no orders were issued.

It is recalled that a Braunau resident threw a bucket of water at young men in SA uniforms who came to celebrate Hitlers 90th birthday. If they dont come here, theyll go somewhere else, remarks another. The opinions of the centenarian former deputy mayor, Lea Olczak, a woman of mettle with a father killed in Mauthausen and who is so similar in appearance to journalist Gitta Sereny, who interviewed Nazi war criminals, are noteworthy. Did I experience fear under the Nazis? I could write a book about fear.

Filmmaker Gunter Schwaiger, filming in front of Hitler's birthplace. DIMDIMFILM

Among the most impactful sections of the film is the hidden camera footage of what happens outside the house during a whole day of another Hitler birthday (a neo-Nazi arriving from Berlin lays a wreath to our blessed Adolf and gets into an argument with a neighbor who dislikes the tribute, while the neo-Nazi appeals to freedom of speech), the poignant Holocaust reflections by some mentally disabled people from the Lebenshilfe community institution (one of the better ideas was to bequeath the house permanently to them, and enjoy imagining the rage Hitler would have felt), and the scenes shot indoors when Schwaiger and his crew are granted exceptional access.

I was surprised by its simplicity and normality, the filmmaker tells this newspaper about his visit to the interior of the empty house. I imagined, like everyone else, a sinister place. I expected something dark, damp, with a negative aura, and what I found was the opposite; an open space, with many windows. Nothing that could induce a gloomy or rotten feeling. The symbology is in the head. In fact, Hitler barely lived in the house. It is assumed, Schwaiger says, that he was born in a small room on the second floor. When the family left, the property became a rental house, housed a school and a restaurant, and had other uses until Martin Bormann, Hitlers powerful private secretary, bought it and gave it to him. The Nazis installed a room where Hitler was supposedly born to foment the myth, with furniture that was never there, and in the house and its surroundings the anniversary was celebrated animatedly, with a profusion of swastikas, as can be seen in footage from the era recovered for the film.

A neo-Nazi offering in the window of Hitler's house. DIMDIMFILM

The idea of the intrinsic evil of the dwelling, contemplating it as a house of horrors or something out of The Exorcist, with the Hitler child on the top floor turning his head 360 degrees like the possessed Regan, is dangerous, Schwaiger reflects, because it reinforces the idea of Hitlers individual evil: to believe that he was like the child in The Omen to the detriment of collective responsibility for the crimes of the Third Reich.

Schwaiger, 58, who hails from Neumarkt am Wallersee, 12 miles from Salzburg and 25 from Braunau, and whose brother (who appears in the film) lives in Hitlers hometown, warns against the widespread and reassuring (and also false) assertion that Austria was the first victim of the Nazis, that Nazism came to them from the outside, and that Hitler was little less than an alien and his house an Area 51, when six million Austrians were members of the Nazi party, proportionally more than Germans, and also provided some of the worst criminals of the regime, among them Kaltenbrunner, Globocnik and Frank Stangl, the commandant of Treblinka.

The fact that Hitlers house is seen as a gloomy mansion of evil frees you from having to make a serious reflection, he says, and hence the proposals to keep it closed, demolish it or reform it, modifying the facade, until it becomes unrecognizable. For the director, who has his own parents talk with remarkable nostalgia about the old days under Nazism and how much fun it was to be a member of the Hitler Youth, the house needs another kind of exorcism that is not that of Merrin and Karras: it must become a place of memory, that shows how the whole nation was involved to the marrow in Nazism, that the Nazis were not an evil group that raped Austria, but a movement that was born here. And he stresses: The house should give us the opportunity to meditate on our past as a country of executioners, to explain how evil can grow from normality. We must confront ourselves with truth and guilt.

Olga Olgzak, in a scene from the documentary. DIMDIMFILM

Unfortunately, as the documentary shows, the Austrian authorities, who acquired the house in 2016 (it is under the control of the Ministry of the Interior), have not been in the mood. They have even gone so far as to want to remove the stone of peace, the monolith (from the Mauthausen quarry) installed in 1989 in front of the house with the inscription: For peace, freedom and democracy. Never again fascism. Millions of dead are a warning, provoking widespread protests.

The final decision about the house  for the time being, as Schwaiger warns that the next elections in Austria scheduled for September 29 could produce a far-right chancellor and anything could happen  was to neutralize it: modify the facade to return it to its 18th-century appearance and convert it into a police station. The works were supposed to start in 2020 and finish in 2022, but they started timidly last October and are now at a standstill. The house remains in limbo. That said, the budget for the work has shot up from 5 million to 22 million. The new timetable states that the refurbishment will be completed in 2025 and the police station will be operational in 2026. The debris produced by the renovation will be guarded and disposed of discreetly, so that it is not converted into neo-Nazi memorabilia and relics. The film intended to document the process, but with the delays it has had to modify its approach as it goes along. It was going to be a classic documentary, but I was forced to change it and take it to more emotional terrain, says Schwaiger.

Photograph of the project chosen by the Austrian government to remodel the house where Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) was born and transform it into a police station, where any reference to the crimes of Nazism will be eliminated. Stefan y Bernhard Marte (EFE)

For the filmmaker, simply changing the facade is an exact metaphor for Austrias relationship with its Nazi past. As Thomas Bernhard said: we are a nation of theatricals, changing on the outside so that everything stays the same on the inside. And he finds the idea of the police station scandalous. Not only because of the active participation of the German and Austrian police in the Holocaust and the linking of Hitlers house to an armed and uniformed force (only an army barracks would be a worse decision, he says), but because, according to a document whose discovery is shown in the film, the Nazis and Hitler himself wanted to give it an official administrative use. It is a terrible irony of history that the Austrian democratic authorities decision regarding the house is so much in line with Hitlers wishes, he says.

Cinematographically, taking the documentary towards moral reflections (I cant just be an observer) has made the director use artistic resources capable of translating the interior landscape into images, with metaphors such as the forest or the road, trying to reproduce dreamlike spaces or mental states. Its the most difficult film Ive ever made in my life, says Schwaiger. Hitlers house is a place inside us.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition




Sunday, July 28, 2024 - On 27th July 2024, a multi-agency team acting on intelligence foiled a planned Al Shabaab attack in Alango, along Garissa-Dadaab Road, Garissa County.

The militants were at an advanced stage of the attack at a hideout in a forested area South of Alango waiting for an opportune moment to strike.



However, security forces disrupted their plans, killing two Al Shabaab militants on the spot while others escaped with injuries.



Among the items recovered from the hideout were two AK47 Rifles, 7 magazines, IED making materials among other assorted food items.



Security teams are on the trail of the fleeing militants.

Meanwhile, Kenyans are encouraged to share information with security officers on the injured suspects should they be sighted.













The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Sunday, July 28, 2024 - Kimilili Member of Parliament, Didmus Barasa, has accused Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of being behind the youthful revolutionists who stormed the Kenyan Parliament on June 25, 2024.

Speaking in Bungoma County on Saturday, Barasa remarked that Gachaguas continued talks of shares in the government had infuriated the youth, leading to the breach at parliament that saw several protesters killed and others wounded.

The talks about shares (by DP Gachagua and inflammatory remarks about the one man, one shilling one vote which proposes that development should follow the population are what infuriated the Gen Zs to storm parliament looking for us.

During the public address attended by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, Barasa also criticized Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, accusing him of becoming Gachaguas mouthpiece in advancing divisive remarks.

Barasa, elected on a UDA party ticket, blamed Gachagua for exacerbating the challenges of uniting the partys elected leaders and the Mount Kenya region leaders.

The outspoken lawmaker further hailed Ruto for working with the opposition politicians, stating that it was time for the Kenya Kwanza government to observe how ODM chairman John Mbadi would raise revenue without increasing taxes.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, July 28, 2024 - ODM leader Raila Odinga on Saturday flew to Siaya for the burial of Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyongos brother-in-law aboard a chopper owned by President Ruto.

A photo widely shared on social media and which has sparked reactions shows Raila alighting from the chopper after landing at the burial ceremony.

The President bought the luxurious chopper, a H130 Airbus model, in 2019 through his Kwae Island Development Limited Company which deals with executive transport.

The photo comes at a time when Ruto and Raila are working closely after putting their political differences aside.

The political camaraderie between the two has seen key ODM leaders nominated to the Cabinet.









Ruto has in the past been spotted using the same chopper.





The Kenyan DAILY POST.
Venezuela goes to the polls this Sunday in the midst of a great historical urgency, as if the country were at a crossroads. The permanence in power of Chavismo, which has ruled the destiny of the nation for 25 years, is in question for this presidential election, the sixth since Hugo Chavezs irruption in 1998. In the Miraflores Palace, the tropical neo-baroque style seat of the government, full of paintings and busts of Simon Bolivar and Chavez himself, they do not quite understand how this situation has reached its limit. In its corridors, stupefaction prevails. A leader of the PSUV, the ruling party, says: A correct risk analysis was not made. President Nicolas Maduro and his advisors, all of them experienced in high voltage electoral processes, thought a couple of months ago that they had everything under control. It was a mirage.

They did not take into account that the opposition, after a series of defeats and internal conflicts, had also learned along the way. The confirmation in January of this year of the disqualification of Maria Corina Machado, the visible face of the anti-Chavistas, the name that in the polls was ahead of Maduro, could have put an end to the threat, clearing the way for Chavismo. However, Machado gave her place to Edmundo Gonzalez, an unknown 74-year-old diplomat who, at this point in his life, had planned to spend his evenings reading on the sofa of his house, while watching the macaws crossing the sky of Caracas through the window. But then, Machado tapped him on the shoulder and told him that this was his time, his moment and, together, they set out to travel across Venezuela, from one end to the other. Machado has taken his hand and raised it in long avenues of provincial cities. He, a Christian Democrat; she, a pragmatic liberal. Maduro has made a similar itinerary surrounded by the hardest core of Chavismo, which insists that the worst years of economic crisis are over and that only his continuity guarantees the political and social peace of the country.

At this point, only one can win. Maduro or Edmundo, Edmundo or Maduro. The numbers from the most reliable pollsters list the opposition candidate as the winner, some of them with a large margin of difference. Some analysts are skeptical of the polls, but still predict a victory for Gonzalez. Chavismo has handled its own surveys that warned it of its moment of weakness, after a quarter of a century in power with a lot of wear and tear. A part of the electorate that has been loyal during this time has become disenchanted, and even the most orthodox Chavistas 10% of them, according to a poll are considering the possibility for change. Maduro has recognized in his rallies his mistakes and his lack of speed in detecting in the very heart of his government a case of corruption of his Minister of Oil, Tareck El Aissami, estimated at more than $3 billion. However, he asks for a vote of confidence with the argument of the sustained growth of the economy since 2021 (this year, the GDP will grow by 4%) and the threat that his defeat would unleash an armed conflict. His inner circle admits they did not expect to face numbers like these for Gonzalez, but according to their unpublished measurements, Maduro reaches the final stretch with an eight-point lead.

This has not prevented Chavismo from spreading the feeling that a defeat is a real possibility, something that until a few months ago seemed an impossibility. The Bolivarian revolution controls all the institutions, all the levers of power. For the most radical Chavistas, like Diosdado Cabello, the partys vice president, leaving now would be a betrayal of Chavezs ideals, a revolutionary claudication. Although the numbers are not in their favor, this possibility does not fit within their mental framework. This thesis is shared by others close to Maduro, such as Jorge Rodriguez, his main political operator, who argues that a victory for Gonzalez would mean the arrival of fascism, a form of U.S. invasion. On the other side, there is a more moderate and somewhat more democratically inclined Chavismo, representing a younger generation that has studied abroad, speaks foreign languages, and wears less el chandal. The former see the latter as spoiled, unkempt, soft children who have not carried a rifle on their shoulders or protested against right-wing governments in the 80s. However, this Chavismo 2.0 opts to normalize the countrys political life and accept alternation, as in other countries in the region. This would even involve being in opposition and refounding the movement from there. Although the veterans hold the power and the final say, the internal debate has ignited like never before.

The entire Venezuelan electoral system is under scrutiny. The National Electoral Council (CNE), the arbiter of these elections, is controlled by Chavismo with a simple majority of rectors. It is headed by Elvis Amoroso, someone very close to Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, who has shown signs of bias during the campaign. Can the results of this Sundays elections be altered? It seems difficult. With the support of opposition parties, Chavismo devised an automated voting system to prevent fraud. At that time, they feared the establishment that had governed until then would steal from them. Now, this tool secures what can happen today: the voting machines and printed ballots are reliable. Where the contest is skewed in favor of the government is in everything surrounding the electoral process. Maduro has monopolized all the minutes on radio and television, his image is everywhere. With public money, a fictionalized five-episode series with a Hollywood-style finish has been produced. On Thursday night, drones filled the Caracas sky, drawing his name in the starry sky.

Presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado greet supporters during a campaign rally, in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on July 23, 2024. Matias Delacroix (AP)

Additionally, Chavismo has a geolocated system with the addresses of all public employees and their families. They will know whether they go out to vote or not. Activists of the movement spread the idea in the neighborhoods that voting for the opposition could cost them social aid and marginalize them when it comes to finding work. This is why, at the end of his campaign, Gonzalez emphasized this message: The vote is secret; no one will know who you voted for. Analysts like Luis Vicente Leon argue that this mobilization could be enough for Maduro to secure the votes that would allow him to remain in power for another six years, until 2030. Foreign correspondents who have been visiting my house these days have only two possibilities in their mind: either Edmundo wins, or fraud has been committed. And no, people. Numerically, with all these electoral maneuvers, Maduro could also win, explains Leon.

In Caracas, the last few hours have become tense. The anticipation of the possibility of political change after 25 years of Chavismo has altered the life of Venezuelas capital. On the streets, eight out of 10 people say they are hoping for that change  according to polls , though from the propaganda everywhere, it seems like Maduro is the only candidate in these elections. Gustavo Mendoza, a 64-year-old mechanic turned taxi driver, is one of those eight hoping for a new government. I want change for the better; I want democracy as it should be, with autonomous powers, where the government respects and we dont always live with so much anxiety, he says while waiting for passengers under a downpour in a central area of Caracas. In Mendozas house they have already decided to go to vote on Sunday before dawn. In the two decades under Chavismo, he says, the idea he had of what his family would be like has vanished. His children  aged between 33 and 22  havent migrated but have grown up and still live at home, unable to become independent. They are university graduates and are either unemployed or have salaries that are not enough for daily needs. He couldnt continue paying for his youngest daughters education. He has lived for years with a hip condition that causes him to limp and hasnt been able to get surgery. These years have changed my life a lot, but for the worse. Now I hope for better times.

Venezuelans vote with the police in the streets and in the more than 15.700 voting points (with 30.026 polling stations) opened throughout the country. In addition to the military uniformed members of Plan Republica, police forces were activated, an atypical measure. Venezuela usually quarantines its civilian public security officers during this process and leaves the protection in the hands of the Armed Forces, including the Bolivarian Militia. Maria De Freitas noticed this at her polling station, a school in central Caracas. She says there were no issues with the process, except for the presence of police officers alongside the Plan Republica personnel, who are responsible for guarding the electoral material and are the only ones supposed to be inside the voting centers.

For the past few weeks, Chavismo has been pushing a narrative about supposed opposition plans to create disturbances during the elections and boycott the process. This has led to a deployment of 380,000 military and police officers for the election, plus military reserves. To attend to situations of reestablishment and control of public order, according to Interior and Defense authorities. Incidents during the campaign have gained much traction on social media, but are minimal when looking at the whole picture, as pointed out by Delsa Solorzano, a leader of the Plataforma Unitaria and designated national observer for the coalition supporting Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutias candidacy. Notably, the infamous colectivos, Chavismos paramilitary-formed armed squads that used to harass opposition protesters, have been conspicuously absent.

For Analesly Silva, 29, the elections are already won by the opposition. She says this while parked on her motorcycle on the highway where dozens of people stopped to watch the campaign closing of Gonzalezs candidacy, accompanied, of course, by Machado. These were people who didnt march but stopped during their journey. Some waved flags and shared their thoughts: I feel so much emotion seeing this. God cant fail us this time, said one woman. This is won, unless fraud occurs, replied Analesly, a teacher who works for travel and tips for a delivery app. I have a degree but dont practice because a teachers salary is worthless. If things dont change, I have everything ready to leave for Spain in January.

Many believe that this Sunday is just the beginning of a major political process. The real importance starts the next day, Monday. If Maduro wins, he will need to demonstrate transparency for the rest of the world to recognize him and help Venezuela shed its status as an international pariah. Lifting sanctions is crucial for the countrys economy. The president has said he will seek a political agreement and understanding with the opposition. This has also been demanded by presidents of ideologically aligned neighboring countries, such as Gustavo Petro, Lula Da Silva, and Gabriel Boric. The leaders of Colombia, Brazil, and Chile tried to get him to sign a document accepting the results up until the week before the election. They assured him that with this commitment, signed by both him and Gonzalez, they could defend Maduro in the eyes of the world, which would have no choice but to recognize him as a democratic president rather than the authoritarian one he is currently perceived as. However, the volatility of the situation led Maduro to ignore that draft.

The most uncertain scenario opens up in the case of an opposition victory. From that point on, the unknown. Gonzalez and Machado have proposed a calm transition, without traumas or legal persecutions. The architects of this possible transition are contemplating the possibility of an amnesty for Chavista leaders, as many of them have international arrest warrants or are wanted by the DEA. According to sources within the ruling party, Chavismo would want this transition to be guaranteed by the military, with one unwavering condition, a red line: Machado cannot be part of the government under any circumstances. There would be practically six months of coexistence between the outgoing president, Maduro, and the incoming one, Gonzalez, until January 10th. Gonzalez would be the new authority in an entirely Chavista world, surrounded by red shirts and effigies of Chavez. Through the large windows of Miraflores, he would no longer see blue birds but the presidential guard stationed at the entrance. His fate as a serene reader of classics or the president of a tumultuous nation begin to be decided this Sunday.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition




Sunday, July 28, 2024 - Molo Member of Parliament Kimani Kuria has said he has forgiven all those who invaded and looted his home during the height of the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests.

The legislator took to X on Saturday, stating that those apprehended in connection with the invasion should be set free and all charges against them dropped.

"I ask @DCI_Kenya and the police to withdraw charges against all the youth that were arrested and charged. Let them be released so that they can get back to work," Kuria wrote.

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) lawmaker, however, warned that grave repercussions would follow any second invasion, noting that all suspects would be held accountable.

"But let us also agree on one thing, doing it once is not a mistake but repeating it is a mistake. Let us never repeat that despite how angry we will be," he said.

Kuria, who is the National Assembly Finance and Planning Chairperson, was under fire at the height of the protests as he was blamed for being part of the team that voted in favour of the punitive and now-withdrawn Finance Bill 2024.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, July 28, 2024 - Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has taken a swipe at President William Ruto's new cabinet secretary nominees.

Speaking at a burial in Makueni County, Kuria expressed doubts over the competency of Rutos CSs nominees, especially those from Raila Odingas ODM.

According to Kuria, despite the immense achievements during his tenure in the cabinet, the position was similarly marred by several challenges.

I saw people nominated to cabinet positions. It is a good thing. I will give you a manual on how you will start and complete, Kuria cheekily commented.

You know, while in government, there are several things that we achieved, but there are also others that posed a big challenge, he added.

While poking holes at the nominees, Kuria questioned their competence in solving critical challenges facing Ruto's administration.

According to Kuria, it would be a real baptism by fire as the ministers would be tasked with finding lasting solutions to several issues including the country's debt, challenges facing the hustler fund, and problems within the mining sector.

Over 12 million people took hustler fund and have refused to repay.

"We were defeated to find a solution to the problem only for the head of state to nominate Oparanya to solve the problem facing the hustler fund, Kuria alleged.

"Even in the coffee sector, we have a problem because cooperatives have refused to pay farmers, while in government, we tried to follow up on the matter but our efforts hit the rocks, now I believe Oparanya will help us solve the problem."

Ruto while addressing the press at State House in Nairobi, nominated opposition leaders, John Mbadi (Treasury), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum) Ali Hassan Joho to Mining, and Wycliffe Oparanya to the Ministry of Co-operatives.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, July 28, 2024 - Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has announced his intention to form a shadow cabinet to counter President William Rutos recent Cabinet nominations.

This is even as Omtatah has given the strongest indication that he may be on the ballot challenging Ruto for the presidency in 2027.

This move comes amidst controversy over Rutos decision to incorporate Raila Odingas ODM allies into his administration.

Omtatah, a vocal critic of the Presidents strategy, argues that Rutos Cabinet reshuffle undermines the oppositions role in government.

The President has nominated 21 members to his Cabinet, many of whom are recycled faces from his previous administration.

"If that Cabinet is established, some of us will be constrained to set up a shadow Cabinet," Omtatah declared.

"We shall no longer have a presidential system where we have a majority and minority side checking the executive.

"Instead, we will have a de facto parliamentary system where power emanates from the House. We must set up a shadow Cabinet to effectively check the excesses of this government," he added.

Under Article 152 of the Constitution, the Cabinet comprises the President, the Deputy President, the Attorney-General, and between fourteen and twenty-two Cabinet Secretaries.

"The President holds the exclusive authority to nominate and, with the approval of the National Assembly, appoint these Cabinet Secretaries.

The operational details and legal authority of Omtatahs proposed shadow cabinet remain ambiguous.

Rutos decision to bring ODM leaders into his Cabinet follows significant public backlash and six weeks of nationwide protests.

The President's move is seen as a calculated effort to bridge political divides and stabilise a country rocked by social and economic turmoil.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, July 28, 2024 - Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has detailed talks he had with President William Ruto over the nominations to the Cabinet.

Speaking in Siaya County yesterday, Raila revealed that he talked with the President after the Cabinet was dissolved.

At the time, he indicated that he advised Ruto to replace the dismissed CSs with people of his own choice.

According to Raila, the opposition was only going to suggest names of CSs after a national dialogue had been held and an agreement on the way forward signed.

However, he detailed that Ruto informed him that he could not wait for that long as the CS positions could not remain vacant.

"I told Ruto the other day that since he had fired his Cabinet, he needed to put his people and that we would submit our recommendations after we have had the national dialogue.

"However, he told me that he wanted to be fast with the nominations as the positions could not remain vacant. So, he told me that he would place his own people and then we would talk later," he revealed.

It was at this point that Ruto picked some members of his party.

Given that the names were not forwarded by ODM, Raila noted that he cautioned Ruto against apportioning blame on the opposition if the four ODM nominees failed at their work.

"Afterwards, he picked some of our people (from ODM). I then told him that he should not say that we are the ones who gave him the names should they fail to deliver.

"We have released them. We do not have a coalition agreement with the government," Raila reiterated.

Ruto nominated ODMs John Mbadi (Treasury), Hassan Joho (Mining), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives) and Opiyo Wandayi (Energy).

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, July 28, 2024 - Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli, has blasted Gen Zs for castigating ODM chief Raila Odinga, following the nomination of some senior members of the ODM party to cabinet positions.

Speaking in Kisumu on Saturday, Atwoli indicated that the nominations signify the spirit of multiparty politics, where members of the opposition can also assist the government in delivering on its agenda.

"These people who were saying that Raila is now working in government where they were when he was fighting for multi-party politics?

"Those are passengers who do not know what it takes to run a country and have stability, Raila will never betray Kenyans," Atwoli said.

Atwoli further called President William Ruto to ensure appraisal of members of his cabinet to weed out non-performers.

"And we want to tell the president, we should have CSs reviewed either 3 months or 6 months because we cannot have CSs who all they know how to do is talk down on Kenyans.

"You must look at them so that we don't see a repeat of what happened with the Gen Zs recently because what they are asking for is service delivery," he noted.

President Ruto and Raila Odinga have faced backlash from Kenyans following the nomination of four ODM members into the cabinet: Nominated MP John Mbadi (Treasury), Ugunja MP James Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), former Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy), and former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya (Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development).

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, July 28, 2024 - Former Prime Minister Raila Odingas lieutenants still believe that the ongoing protests by Gen Zs are sponsored by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

This is after Kileleshwa Ward MCA, Robert Alai, blasted Gen Zs, describing them as a rudderless middle class who refused to vote during the 2022 presidential election.

Alai, in a post on X, said the Gen Z who are protesting are being supported by Kenya's working class who refused to vote for their ideal candidate during the 2022 presidential election.

They are now using the anger of Gen Zs, which was instigated by Gachagua, to fight proxy wars.

Alai, a close ally of Raila Odinga, said voting in Kenya should be mandatory like in Australia, Belgium, Greece, Peru, Uruguay, Singapore, and Argentina to avoid future anarchy by Gen Zs.

Like in Australia, Belgium, Greece, Peru, Uruguay, Singapore, and Argentina, voting should be compulsory in Kenya.

"Many working-class Kenyans didnt vote and so they are using the anger of Gen Zs which was instigated by Gachagua to fight proxy wars.

"The over 8 million who didnt vote are feeling more angered than those who came out to vote.

"Lets make failure to vote a punishable offense, Alai wrote on X.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, July 28, 2024 - Kileleshwa Ward MCA, Robert Alai Onyango, has revealed why Gen Z's spokesman Kasmuel Mcoure, may die soon.

This is after Kasmuel appeared in an interview on Citizen TV on Saturday evening and explained the reasons behind the Gen Z protests in the country.

Kasmuel, who is an Alliance High School alumnus, brilliantly explained why Gen Z wants to rescue the country from the bad governance of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance regime headed by President William Ruto.

Kasmuel told Citizen TV presenter Olive Burrows that the issues raised by Gen Zs dont require dialogue but only actions from Rutos regime.

However, Alai, who appeared to be tuned into Citizen TV to listen to Kasmuel, urged Kenyans to save the Gen Z spokesman, warning that he might die out of his illusions and imaginations.

Alai said Kasmuel is living an alternative reality and someone should save him from himself.

Kasmuel needs guidance or he will die out of his illusions and imaginations. He is living an alternative reality.

Someone should save him from himself, Alai wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, July 28, 2024 - Word has it that Former Governor Wycliffe Oparanya is disgruntled despite being nominated to the Cabinet.

He was overheard lamenting that the docket he was nominated to wasnt the one he had negotiated for with his party leader Raila Odinga.

This is how Sunday Nation reported the gist.





The Kenyan DAILY POST.
David Cuartielles stood out among all the suited executives at the 2024 Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona in late February. The professor with the unruly beard and co-founder of Arduino, an Italian open-source hardware and software company, didnt look and talk like everyone else. Cuartielles has taught computer science and electronics for years at the Malmo University (Sweden), while his company continues to challenge the industry with its innovative computer boards that eschew traditional licensing models.

Question. Are you and your company going to move on from the students?

Answer. No, well keep going, aiming to better connect research with the industry. Arduino was made for university students, yet we found the language we created was easily used at earlier education levels. Our goal was to foster an engineering discussion in design and art, but it grew beyond to other fields.

Q. Arent you afraid of abandoning your roots?

A. Obviously! But when you run a company, you hire people who have bills to pay, you know? Making sacrifices is part of the deal. Its all about seeing your team grow with the company, rather than watching them walk out because theyre not getting paid what theyre worth. But Im okay with all the decisions weve made so far.

Q. You have always been committed to open-source technology, which has never gained much traction in traditional companies.

A. One key strategy in industrial technology has been keeping customers hooked with closed-door practices. Our approach is different  we attract customers by offering boards that can be completely customized.

David Cuartielles at the 2024 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Albert Garcia

Q. Does the mainstream industry understand this?

A. Some clients are beginning to understand it, yeah.

Q. You advocate for open-source technology because its a different way of doing things, right?

A. Our philosophy is simple  use tools you know. When Apple created the first iPhone, they believed you couldnt build an app on a non-Mac computer without their XCode system. Me and some other people were interested in using other software, but Apple made that impossible  they aimed for total control over the user experience.

Q. From an outsiders perspective, how do you feel about being at this congress, where most people oppose your views?

A. I realize I have a different perspective from many people here, but I dont feel bad about it, nor do I think ours is the wrong approach. Weve secured investments in our company, which demonstrates our potential for success.

Q. Is there a generation of native Arduinos out there?

A. Its amazing. When we hire engineers now, we only look for people with Arduino experience. Initially, we couldnt do that. But now weve been in the market long enough to be able to recruit people who grew up and learned with us.

Q. Was that the goal?

A. My main goal was for my daughter to learn more than just Word or Excel in school. Two years ago, she not only learned Arduino but also taught it to other kids at school. If the company shut down tomorrow, Id be at peace. Ive achieved my goal.

Q. Everyone is hoping for a boom from the Internet of things. Do you believe this leap is wholly beneficial for society?

A. The university department in which I work is called the Internet of Things and People. It can be a very useful if it is applied properly. But some parts of it lack a critical understanding of technology application. European regulators are making strides in privacy technology so it isnt misused. Balancing product innovation and data protection is crucial for enhancing lives without compromising privacy.

Q. Many companies and people claim that excessive regulation in Europe hinders innovation.

A. Regulation is necessary. As an academic, I believe regulations enhance safety, despite sometimes posing challenges to innovation. Europe has established a complex legal framework that protects people. Regulations help us make the right decisions, though mastering the necessary knowledge can be complicated. We have to be smart about innovation.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Staff from Specsavers Newbridge recently hosted a fundraiser in aid of Alzheimer's Society of Ireland.

The team in the Newbridge store have undertaken several community fundraisers over the past few years to raise funds for the organisation to support the crucial work in providing support, resources, and care to individuals affected by Alzheimer's disease.

Specsavers Newbridge invited a local music group, Kildare North Ukelele Club, to perform alongside the community who checked out the bake sale of delicious treats donated to the cause.

Speaking on their fundraising efforts, Specsavers Newbridge Audiology Director Carol ONeill said: We understand the profound impact Alzheimer's has on individuals and their loved ones, and we are determined to do our part in supporting the organisation's vital work. We are in awe of how incredibly generous the local community of Newbridge has been so far.

Alzheimer's is a debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide, and the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland plays a vital role in supporting those affected by the disease in Ireland.

Through their fundraising efforts, Specsavers Newbridge aims to make a meaningful contribution towards improving the lives of individuals and families impacted by the disease.

For more information on how to support Specsavers Newbridge in its fundraising efforts for the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland, visit the store on Edward Street.
As debate rages on about the laws around prostitution in Ireland, multiple websites openly offer sexual and escort services right here in Kilkenny.

Selling sexual services is currently legal in Ireland however it is against the law to buy or offer to buy sexual services, raising further questions around such websites and current legislation.

On one website, freely available to view publicly online, there are multiple profiles of women listed as being presently in Kilkenny charging 'for time and companionship only' - at least according to the website.

The website further notes, "Anything else that occurs is a matter of coincidence and choice between consenting adults."

This is despite the fact that there are various sexual acts being listed as 'favourites' on individual profiles.

Another website that hosts classified escort ads has multiple ad listings of a sexual nature listed in Kilkenny.

READ NEXT - Plans for large selfie structure at new 'pocket park' in Kilkenny

For example, one listing states: "I am an escort and I live in Kilkenny alone in my apartment."

Another states: "Available for all your hassle-free sexual satisfaction services with respect and discretion."

The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 made important changes to the law on prostitution.

It made paying for sexual services a criminal offence. Previously, paying for sexual services was only criminal if the person selling sex was either a victim of trafficking or a minor.

It also removed some of the criminal offences that were in place for selling sexual services.

While selling sex is not a crime, many laws directly or indirectly criminalise the work of sex workers.

For instance, if two sex workers work together indoors for safety, they can be charged with 'brothel-keeping' and face the threat of legal prosecution.

A recent report from Amnesty International stated: Our research clearly shows that criminalising the purchase of sex is forcing sex workers to take more risks while penalising brothel keeping is preventing sex workers from working together to ensure their own safety.

The research highlights the lack of data on sex workers experiences and the governments reliance on outdated and flawed research that conflates human trafficking for sexual exploitation with sex work.

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.

Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.

If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .

Support our mission and join our community now.
Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre has achieved full membership of the National Cancer Control Programmes (NCCP) Alliance of Cancer Support Centres.

Cois Nore manager Mary Dolan and Board member Brian Tyrrell were delighted to accept the plaque from Minister of State Colm Burke at a recent event.

The HSE National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) and Minister of State Colm Burke have acknowledged the valuable role of community cancer centres at a recent event in Farmleigh House, Dublin.

The event was held to acknowledge cancer support centres across Ireland who are working to an agreed standard as set out in the Best Practice Guidance published by the NCCP.

The Alliance of Community Cancer Support Centres and Services is an NCCP initiative, set up in 2022, made up of voluntary and charity organisations delivering support services directly to cancer patients and their families. The Alliance advocates for and supports the development of integrated pathways between the cancer centres, acute hospitals, community cancer support services and primary care.

READ MORE COMMUNITY NEWS HERE



They have an important role in delivering psychosocial services and survivorship programmes for those living with and beyond cancer. Services include counselling, provision of information, physical activity opportunities, financial advice and return to work support. They also offer peer support and both individual and group services. Their development is line with the values of Slaintecare, seeking to provide assurances to healthcare professionals that these organisations are working to an agreed standard.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 28, 2024 - 02:36 | Sports, Olympics, All

Japanese artistic gymnast Daiki Hashimoto will not defend his Olympic gold medal in the horizontal bar after failing on Saturday to qualify for the eight-man apparatus final in Paris.

Hashimoto nailed all his release moves but touched the floor with both hands after losing balance on the landing. The deficient dismount led the judges to hand him 13.733 points at Bercy Arena during the horizontal bar phase of the men's apparatus, individual all-around and team events.

"It's been a bit tough today. My body felt heavier going around the six apparatus and it was hard in the end, honestly speaking," said the 22-year-old, who damaged his right middle finger in May.

"I haven't had a proper performance (in training) on the horizontal bar since coming to Paris...Finals are a one-off and I want to prepare to be able to give my maximum."

Shinnosuke Oka scored 86.865 in the individual all-around, above Hashimoto's 85.064, with both earning a place in the 24-man final.

The Japan men's team, runner-up at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, can reclaim the gold it won at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games after Hashimoto, Kazuma Kaya, Wataru Tanigawa, Oka and Takaaki Sugino combined for 260.594 points in total from six apparatus.

The team's total was lower than China's 263.028 and qualified it for the eight-nation final.

Related coverage:

Olympics: Women's judoka Natsumi Tsunoda wins Japan's 1st gold in Paris

Olympics: Japan's men outgunned in basketball loss to Germany

Olympics: Japan lose tight opener to Germany in men's volleyball
The defense chiefs of South Korea and Japan held bilateral talks in Tokyo on Sunday and discussed North Korea's evolving threats and ways to strengthen their cooperation, Seoul's defense ministry said.

In their meeting, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and his Japanese counterpart, Minoru Kihara, reaffirmed the importance of their bilateral and trilateral security cooperation, also involving the United States, in the face of North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and deepening military cooperation with Russia.

They also agreed to draw up an annual plan for defense exchanges, including mutual visits and exchanges between the defense chiefs, top military officials and armed forces, as well as the resumption of joint search and rescue exercises, the ministry said in a release.

Sunday's meeting marked the first visit by South Korea's defense chief to Japan's defense ministry in 15 years. (Yonhap)
By Keita Nakamura, KYODO NEWS - Jul 28, 2024 - 22:23 | Japan, All, World

Japan and the United States agreed Sunday to upgrade the command functions of the U.S. forces in Japan for better coordination of their bilateral alliance amid China's assertiveness in the region and the North Korean nuclear threat, while pursuing expanded coproduction of air defense missiles.

The foreign and defense ministers of the two countries also vowed to explore ways to strengthen so-called extended deterrence, which includes U.S. nuclear protection provided to Japan, in their first-ever ministerial talks on the issue that followed the "two-plus-two" security talks in Tokyo.

At the outset of the security meeting, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said the two countries "must consistently beef up the alliance and enhance deterrence" to defend the existing international order. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the move to modernize their command and control structures is "one of the most significant developments in the history of our alliance."

The two-plus-two talks, also joined by Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, were the first such meeting since January 2023 and showcased the close ties between the two allies following U.S. President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race in November.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the four ministers cautioned that Beijing "seeks to reshape the international order for its own benefit at the expense of others" and called its coercive behavior a "serious concern" to the alliance.

Against the backdrop of the evolving security environment, the statement stipulated that the United States "intends to reconstitute U.S. Forces Japan as a joint force headquarters" to "facilitate deeper interoperability and cooperation on joint bilateral operations (with Japan) in peacetime and during contingencies."

The reconstituted USFJ is expected to serve as an important counterpart of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces' joint operation headquarters that will be launched by March 2025 to unify the command of its ground, maritime and air services, it said.

Currently, roles of USFJ headquarters have been largely limited to the management of military bases in the Asian nation, which hosts some 54,000 American troops. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, based in Hawaii, meanwhile, has authority over forces assigned to its vast area of responsibility that includes Japan.

Different time zones and physical distance have been seen as hampering the efficient interaction of the SDF and the U.S. military, prompting calls to upgrade the functions of the USFJ, headquartered at Yokota Air Base in the suburbs of Tokyo.

Austin told a joint press conference with the three other ministers that USFJ will be upgraded "with expanded missions and operational responsibilities."

Asked by a reporter about the possible impact of the U.S. presidential election, where Donald Trump pursuing his "America First" agenda could make a comeback, Blinken said the strengthened alliance "will be sustained irrespective of the outcome" of the race.

Tokyo and Washington will also explore opportunities to bolster production capacity of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 ground-based interceptor missiles and medium-range air-to-air missiles known as AMRAAM, both developed in the United States, according to the statement.

The move follows Japan's recent relaxation of its weapons transfer rules to facilitate arms exports, amid a U.S. missile stockpile shortage as Washington continues to supply Ukraine with weapons to push back against Russia's aggression.

The Japanese and U.S. ministers also stressed the "critical importance of continuing to enhance U.S. extended deterrence," referring to the U.S. commitment to deploy its nuclear and conventional forces to deter attacks on allies.

A separate statement issued in the wake of the extended deterrence ministerial meeting touched on China's "accelerating and opaque expansion of its nuclear arsenal," and Russia's "undermining of arms control and the global nonproliferation regime, including through its expanding military cooperation and unlawful arms transfers with North Korea."

On Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island that Beijing views as its own territory, Japan and the United States reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

They also said Taiwan's political transition "should not be used as a pretext for provocative actions," in a veiled reference to a large-scale Chinese military drill surrounding the island that took place after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's inauguration in May.

Discussions on upgrading the alliance's command and control frameworks as well as on extended deterrence were both issues Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden, when they met in April, tasked their ministers to deal with at the two-plus-two talks.

Tokyo and Washington have held senior-level discussions on extended deterrence. But some lawmakers from Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party have called for an upgrade to the dialogue, established in 2010, as concerns grow over Russia's threats to use nuclear weapons following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Following recent revelations of sexual assault cases involving U.S. servicemen in the southern island prefecture of Okinawa, which hosts the bulk of U.S. military installations in Japan, the two countries underscored "the importance of continued bilateral coordination for sharing timely information on incidents and accidents."

They also confirmed the relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam will begin this year as planned, a move that comes as part of a long-agreed Japan-U.S. forces realignment plan aimed at reducing Okinawa's base-hosting burden.

Related coverage:

Japan, U.S, South Korea sign document to cement security cooperation

U.S., China top diplomats spar over Taiwan, S. China Sea

Biden vows to boost ties with Asian allies in remainder of his term
The defense chiefs of South Korea, the United States and Japan signed a document on the Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework (TSCF) on Sunday, Seoul's defense ministry said, in a move solidifying their continued commitment to three-way security cooperation against North Korean threats.

South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Lloyd Austin and Minoru Kihara, respectively, inked a Memorandum of Cooperation on the framework in Tokyo amid their deepening security cooperation in response to the North's persistent nuclear and missile threats and growing military alignment with Russia.

As the first document that institutionalizes joint efforts for trilateral security cooperation among defense authorities, it provides the direction and policy principle for areas of high-level policy consultations, information sharing and trilateral drills, according to the defense ministry.

"Accordingly, the ministers of the three nations reaffirmed the unwavering nature of the new era of trilateral cooperation," it said in a joint press statement.

A ministry official said the document is meant to ensure the conditions for trilateral security cooperation are continuously pursued amid a fluid international security environment.

Under the agreement, the three nations are expected to step up cooperation for the effective operation of their real-time sharing of North Korean missile data and regularly carry out joint drills, including the multidomain Freedom Edge exercise, based on a multiyear plan.

The document's signing came after South Korea proposed drawing up a joint document during a trilateral security meeting in February, followed by a meeting of the defense chiefs on the sidelines of the Shangri-la Dialogue in June where they agreed on inking the document within this year.

In what marked their first-ever gathering in Tokyo, the three defense chiefs also voiced concerns over growing military and economic cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, emboldened by the signing of the "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty that includes a mutual defense clause.

They also denounced the North's diversification of nuclear delivery systems and test launches of multiple ballistic missiles, as well as other tension-escalating acts on the Korean Peninsula.

Speaking to South Korean correspondents after the signing, Shin pointed out that it should not be connected to the timing of the upcoming U.S. presidential elections but said it was swiftly carried out due to other political situations that could easily change.

Still, Shin said he believes trilateral security cooperation will likely endure regardless of who wins in the November election.

"It remains unchanged that North Korea's nuclear and missile threats threaten the security of the three countries, and there are a lot of regional challenges," Shin said. "I believe it will continue to be pursued in an unwavering nature since it is aligned with the respective national interests of the three countries."

The TSCF is not only the first such document between the three nations but also serves as a "benchmark document" that institutionalizes their security cooperation, Shin said.

The defense chiefs plan to meet in Seoul next year for their trilateral ministerial meeting. (Yonhap)
By Kim Hyun-bin

Sensitive information concerning numerous South Korean intelligence agents has been leaked, casting a shadow over the Korea Defense Intelligence Command (KDIC) and its operations.

The incident has initiated a comprehensive investigation by the Military Counterintelligence Command, aiming to uncover the full extent of the breach and its implications.

According to reports Saturday, the leak, discovered about a month ago, involves confidential data such as the identities and personal information of agents known as "white agents," who operate under diplomatic cover, and "black agents," who conceal their connections to the South Korean government.

These agents play crucial roles in intelligence operations, particularly those related to North Korea. Authorities have detected indications that some of the leaked information has reached North Korea, heightening the gravity of the situation.

The focus of the investigation is a person identified as a former soldier who works as a civilian employee at the KDIC. Evidence suggests that classified materials were transferred from secure KDIC computers, which are protected against external hacking threats, to the former soldier's personal laptop. This has raised suspicions, as it is considered highly improbable that such a transfer could occur without his knowledge.

The leaked data found on his laptop was subsequently confirmed to have been disseminated externally, making his laptop a conduit for the breach. He has said that his laptop was hacked. However, the presence of classified information on a personal device, which is against protocol, raises serious questions.

Military authorities are examining all possible scenarios, including the notion that the data might have been intentionally placed on the laptop to facilitate a hack.

The former soldier is reported to have been part of the KDIC's overseas operations department, leading to speculation that he might have needed the information on his personal laptop for undercover missions, as military-issued laptops are not typically used in such operations.

The risk associated with storing classified information on a personal device would have been well-known to the KDIC employee, suggesting that there may have been intentional misconduct. This raises the possibility of internal or external accomplices aiding in the information leak.

The breach has had immediate and severe consequences. Some agents dispatched overseas have had to abruptly cease their activities and return to South Korea.

With their identities compromised, these agents cannot be redeployed, resulting in a significant setback for South Korea's intelligence network. The incident has caused substantial damage, undermining years of efforts in building and maintaining these covert operations.

This is not the first time the KDIC has faced such challenges. In 2018, a team leader was caught selling military secrets to foreign entities over several years. That incident, which took over five years to detect and address, exposed significant vulnerabilities in South Korea's counterintelligence measures.

The authorities are conducting a thorough investigation, considering all potential angles, including the former soldier's claim that his laptop was hacked. They are also investigating whether negligence or intentional actions led to the leak.
3 defense chiefs express concerns over Pyongyang-Moscow ties

By Anna J. Park

South Korea, the U.S., and Japan have signed their first formal agreement institutionalizing trilateral security cooperation, aimed at strengthening their joint responses to regional security threats, Seoul's defense ministry announced, Sunday.

The ministry announced that the defense ministers of the three countries  South Korea's Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Japan's Defense Minister Minoru Kihara  signed the Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework (TSCF) during their meeting at the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo.

The TSCF is the first document jointly signed by the three countries to institutionalize their security cooperation, such as high-level policy consultations, information sharing and trilateral drills, with the goal of providing common policy guidelines to ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

While the TSCF is in the form of a memorandum of cooperation (MOC), which is not legally binding, South Korea's defense ministry explained that its purpose is to establish a basis for practical cooperation on more specific matters compared to a memorandum of understanding.

Following the signing, the three countries reaffirmed their commitment to joint security cooperation, vowing to coordinate their responses to regional challenges, provocations and threats, including North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

"Accordingly, the ministers of the three nations reaffirmed the unwavering nature of the new era of trilateral cooperation," the ministers said in a joint press statement.

The three defense chiefs vowed to enhance cooperation for more effective operation of their real-time sharing of North Korean missile data and will regularly conduct joint drills, including the multidomain Freedom Edge exercise.

The signing of the agreement followed South Korea's initial proposal in February to draft a joint document during a trilateral security meeting. This plan was further refined during the Shangri-la Dialogue in June, where the defense chiefs agreed to finalize the document within the year.

At their first-ever trilateral defense ministers' meeting in Tokyo, the ministers also voiced concerns about the increasing military and economic collaboration between Pyongyang and Moscow. They condemned North Korea's expansion of nuclear delivery systems, its multiple ballistic missile test launches, and other actions that heighten tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The three ministers will meet in Seoul in 2025 for their next trilateral ministerial meeting.

Shin and Austin also held a bilateral meeting, Sunday, addressing various issues concerning the South Korea-U.S. alliance. The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to deterring and responding to North Korean provocations and threats through their combined defense posture and capabilities.

Shin emphasized that North Korea's launches of trash balloons are a clear violation of the 1953 armistice agreement and pose a threat to South Korea's sovereignty. The two Koreas remain technically at war because the fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War ended with a ceasefire agreement and not a formal peace treaty. Both defense ministers strongly urged North Korea to immediately halt these provocative actions.

They also underscored that the mutual alliance is stronger than ever, pledging to continue joint efforts to advance the alliance in order to contribute, not only to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, but also in the Indo-Pacific region.

In a separate meeting with Japan's defense minister earlier in the day, Shin also agreed to enhance bilateral defense exchanges and cooperation, including the resumption of mutual visits between the Army, Navy, and Air Force chiefs of staff and their Japanese counterparts.

It marked the first time in 15 years that a South Korean defense minister visited Japan, and it is the second bilateral meeting this year alone between the defense chiefs of the two countries, following the first one in June.

"As key partners sharing universal values and strategic interests, the two countries will closely communicate on regional and global security issues and continue to strengthen South Korea-Japan ties and the trilateral cooperation based on mutual trust," Seoul's Ministry of National Defense said.
By Shin Freedman

As a hiking enthusiast, Ive always preferred mountains to beaches. One of my lifetime goals is to visit all the mountains over 4,000 feet in the White Mountain Range. So far, I have conquered about two-fifths of them. Even in summer, beach trips rarely cross my mind. So, when my daughter invited us to join her family vacation on the French Riviera, I surprised myself by accepting without hesitation. I figured it would be worth bending my preferences to spend quality time with them.

I had heard plenty about the beauty of the French Riviera  the opulence on display in Monaco, Nice and Cannes, with mega yachts flaunting their decadence. We settled in Saint-Raphael, France, a town boasting the longest coastline in the region.

To prepare, I brushed up on my limited French. I needed phrases vital for daily activities such as visiting local outdoor markets, bakeries, the post office and grocery stores. I reviewed the conversion from pounds to the metric system, studied French road signs and diligently practiced numbers in French.

Traveling with grandkids aged 4 and 6 in a foreign country where I am not fluent in the language can be tricky, frustrating and, at times, hilarious. They wanted popsicles on a hot day  a good idea, except I did not know where to get them or how to ask in French. Walking up and down La Croisette Promenade in Cannes, I eventually managed to get an ice pop in a cone. Only grandparents would dare to embark on such a quest. Will my grandkids remember these moments?

I do not remember any trips with my grandparents or even traveling to foreign countries with my parents. Such vacations were out of reach when I was growing up. How things have changed!

My daughter arranged a boat trip to the Calanques of the Esterel. After an hour and a half, we arrived at a fjord with red rocks, limestone oozing out, and clear emerald-green seawater. We were allowed to swim there. My grandkids hesitated at first to dive from the boat but eventually jumped off and proudly breaststroked on their own. They were so proud of their bravery, despite their initial fear. Parents were busy capturing the moments. We, the grandparents, were as proud as they were.

I realized it is OK to step out of your comfort zone. In fact, I highly recommend doing so in a safe and comfortable environment. You might just enjoy the moment of a lifetime. My grandkids will grow up quickly, diving into new adventures, while I will savor the memories of the French Riviera in 2024.

Traveling with young children requires balance, patience and a sense of humor. It is about finding joy in the little things  like buying a popsicle on a hot day or watching them conquer their fears. And as grandparents, we get to experience the delights of these moments, adding our own touch of adventure to their lives. So, whether it is mountains or beaches, the key is to cherish the time spent together, making memories that will last a lifetime.

Shin Freedman (shinfreed@gmail.com) is an author, educator and writer.
Lawmaker owes apology for blown opportunity to scrutinize KCC chairperson nominee

The confirmation hearing of Lee Jin-sook, the chairperson nominee of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), was disturbing, if not disgusting.

The three-day event was packed with personal attacks against the MBC journalist-turned-KCC-chief designate as well as her counterattacks against the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) lawmakers.

The two sides clashed throughout the hearing because of mutual distrust. The DPK lawmakers considered Lee as part of President Yoon Suk Yeols plans to control the media in his favor, and were united to stop her from assuming the post. Lee, however, didnt back down. She was resolute in urging opposition lawmakers to consider how the unionized MBC workers, supported by the then-Moon Jae-in government, had persecuted their non-unionized colleagues. This persecution had severe repercussions for the careers of those affected journalists.

Both sides are responsible for turning the hearing into a cat fight.

However, Rep. Choi Min-hee of the DPK, who chairs the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee, bears greater responsibility, because her inappropriate demeanor and controversial remarks only exacerbated the situation.

Tensions erupted from the very beginning of the hearing on Wednesday. When Lee presented a certificate to Rep. Choi after taking an oath and walked away to go back to her seat, Choi called the nominee to return and whispered in Lees ear. You had better not try to fight with me, Choi was quoted as saying.

Her remark indicated that she felt offended because she believed that the nominee didnt show respect to the committees chair by leaving without bowing.

Since the awkward start to proceedings, the two sides clashed several times, exchanging some barbed comments against each other.

When asked about her opinion regarding the 2017 reshuffle, which ousted then-MBC CEO Kim Jang-kyom, Lee said it was nothing more than political revenge taken by the Moon government. Mr. Kim was fired because of a news report that aired in 2012 when he the was politics editor. It was very rare that a certain person was dismissed because of an event that happened five years ago. So, I think the 2017 reshuffle was political revenge, she said.

The nominees answer irritated Rep. Choi. Taking advantage of her role as a chairperson, tasked with presiding over the hearing, she interrupted and launched a personal attack against the nominee.

I have never heard of anything like this. She used the term political revenge to describe what happened in MBC in 2017? the lawmaker said. The nominee is probably missing a few brain cells.

Her disrespectful word choice invited furious reactions from the nominee. Lee asked Choi to clarify what she meant by missing a few brain cells, demanding Rep. Choi offer an apology. The DPK lawmaker ignored Lees repeated requests.

The confirmation hearing was caught in a vicious cycle of Chois attacks against the nominee and the her counterattacks against the committee chair.

The hearings original goal of examining the professional background and ethics of the nominees to determine their suitability for the job became a minor concern.

The confirmation hearing lacked real impact since the president, who is the appointee, is not bound by the parliament's decision. As a result, skepticism about the effectiveness of the confirmation process has increased.

Despite this drawback, the hearing is still a useful platform to scrutinize Cabinet-level candidates. The confirmation hearing is televised nationally. It helps ordinary citizens better understand nominees and make their own assessments about whether they are prepared for their proposed jobs. This is a crucial factor in shaping public opinion about nominees. In a democratic nation, public opinion plays a significant role. As demonstrated by the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, public sentiment can ultimately determine the success or failure of a politician's career.

When conducted effectively, confirmation hearings can shape public opinion either in favor of or against nominees, depending on the circumstances.

Rep. Chois emotional reaction and unprofessional handling of the hearing, however, ruined this process. Her disrespect toward the nominee and emotional reactions led to unnecessary disputes with the KCC chairperson designate. As a result, Rep. Choi squandered a valuable opportunity to assess whether the nominee was fit for the job.

Her reactions were immature, and her choice of words was poor. Choi came across as a bully, targeting the nominee simply out of personal dislike. The DPK lawmaker acted shortsightedly, letting her personal animosity take precedence over the greater good.

She should apologize to the public for the blown opportunity to scrutinize the nominee and promise not to make the same silly mistakes again.
By Robert Neff

What did Namdaemun and Gyeongbok Palace have in common in 1891?As part of the currency reforms, their images were proposed for the design of a paper bill that would make business transactions easier.

Foreigners often complained about the unwieldiness of Korean currency; one literally had to have a pony and several servants carry enough money to complete small transactions. This new bill, however, would alleviate the need to have so many servants and ponies. According to one foreign resident: The bill would be for 10,000 cash  which in 1891 was worth about $4  and would have an image of the Great South Gate on the front and a picture of Gyeongbok Palaces Audience Hall on the back.

The bills inscriptions on the front would be in Korean and English. The other side of the bill would have a warning against counterfeiting  the penalty for this crime was death.

At the time, there was a great need for currency reforms. Korean trade was suffering horribly from the rapidly fluctuating exchange rate. In June 1891, a dollar was worth from 2,550 to 2,700 in small cash but in August 1892, the rate had climbed to just over 3,200 cash. Many Chinese and Japanese merchants had lost their fortunes due to the sudden rise and fall of the unstable Korean currency.

At about this time, a Korean national bank was proposed. The main office would be located in Seoul with a branch office in Jemulpo  near the Korean mint. The bank would serve as a guarantee for the new Korean currency but many expressed doubts that it would inspire trust with the public. In the end, the bank project, as well as the 10,000 cash note, never got off the ground.

In 1898, the Russo-Korean Bank was established for a very short time. It failed, not because of fluctuating currency rates, but because of the fickleness of international politics.

According to professor Andrei Lankov, a Korean institution known as Hanseong Bank was officially established in March 1897 (a year previous to the Russo-Korean Bank) but did not begin regular operations until 1903. Legend has it, Hanseong Banks first customer was a provincial merchant who managed to secure a loan using his donkey as collateral.

There were other banks, such as Daehan Cheonil which was established in 1899 as a private royal bank. Lankovs description of its operation is priceless:

In 1901 King Gojong appointed his fourth son and future heir designate as the banks director, despite the fact that the boy was only four years old at the time! With this appointment, the king challenged the centuries-old notion of propriety and demonstrated that banking was an occupation eminently suitable for a person of good breeding, even a prince.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.
By Eugene Lee

The world seems to be on fire, symbolically and literally. We've got democracy taking a hit in places you wouldn't expect, including in the U.S. The economy's not doing anyone any favors either, with markets wobbling all over the globe.

Add to that the growing tension between the U.S. and the China-Russia tag team, and it's enough to make anyone feel down about where things are headed. And just when you think you've got a handle on things; the U.S. political scene throws another curveball.

Take Trump, for instance  even after his legal troubles, he's still shaking things up. It's a lot to wrap your head around, and it's no wonder people are feeling overwhelmed by it all. How does one get through a difficult time? It is traditions in one form or another.

And as I see it, here in Korea, it is the lack of traditions that creates even more problems everywhere.

For example, in foreign policy, it brings more uncertainty. In South Korea today, it is hard to distinguish who is friend or who is foe. The media is full of questions asking if country A is our friend or not. By the way, you can replace A with a name of any country  China, Japan, the U.S. or North Korea. Current mercantile, or pragmatic, approach to foreign affairs, may look good, but it creates a vague, and often sly image of a country.

The same applies to business  look at K-pop. A global trend has become so excessively profit-oriented, that it endangers not only to corrupt itself, but also, if associated with the image, make Korea and Koreans look bad whenever it is evoked. The artificial and exaggerated glitz and glamour of K-pop risk becoming a reductive label for the entire country and its citizens.

Having established the importance of traditions, the obvious question is: where can we find them? There are few but powerful sources that require a delicate approach.

First, books need scrupulous reevaluation. To uncover authentic cultural traditions, we must peel away layers of "false culture" residue accumulated through decades of colonization and authoritarianism. Once we distill and properly understand these traditions, they'll be ready to be taught.

Second, we have the elders  a generation that consciously or subconsciously still carries these ideas. Unfortunately, they are often ignored due to a perceived lack of education or inability to convey their ideas comprehensively. Under constant criticism from younger generations who insist that they have "outlived their time" or that their ideals are "not compatible with current reality," they withdraw.

While these criticisms may seem valid on the surface, look deeper and we see otherwise. For instance, self-made, successful businessmen often express the need for proper traditions. They worry whether their descendants will be able to prosper and build upon their hard-earned wealth. Among my students, some parents are more concerned about the proper education of these traditions than about money or employment.

Another reason why the issue of traditions is relevant today is Korea's increasing diversity. The influx of young people from abroad is likely to create social challenges in the coming decades. Driven by business pressures, the government and universities are actively recruiting students from developing countries through a project called "glocal." However, this initiative increasingly resembles a nationwide Ponzi scheme, promoted and propped up by local governments.

Many universities, in their pursuit of financial gain, often lose sight of their core mission. They seize any financial opportunity, funneling these international students into factories and farms where labor is needed, rather than upholding the university's name, philosophy and values.

This approach not only risks exploiting these students but also threatens to dilute Korea's cultural traditions and educational standards. As the country becomes more diverse, it becomes increasingly crucial to find a balance between economic interests, educational integrity and the preservation of cultural heritage.

A good analogy for traditions is gold, a material with which jewelers have a complex relationship with. People love gold for its unchanging nature  gold is always gold, it doesnt react.

Traditions are like gold. And like gold, traditions can be tricky to work with. Gold is soft and malleable, requiring mixture with other metals to maintain its shape. Similarly, traditions may need to be adapted or combined with new ideas to remain relevant. Yet, just as gold enhances the value of any gem it encrusts, traditions add depth and worth to the cultures they inhabit.

Traditions, like gold, withstand the test of millennia. It's no wonder that people, especially in Korea, often cite the Talmud as a carrier of tradition. The Jewish people exemplify this understanding, instinctively preserving their traditions, and recognizing that their value transcends mere monetary worth.

Speaking of instinct, I often engage with elders, asking why they refrained from certain actions despite having opportunities. Many struggle to articulate their reasons, simply stating that it "wasn't the right thing to do." These elders internalized traditions from their parents and grandparents half a century or more ago, and continue to live by them.

Simple yet challenging traditions  such as refraining from foul language, avoiding dishonesty, and not discriminating  are increasingly difficult to maintain in today's world. Many businesses, in their struggle to survive, adopt "false" practices that contradict these traditional values.

New employees are often taught practices that directly conflict with traditional values. They learn to engage in criticism, euphemistically rebranded as "employer branding"; to participate in blatant lying, softened under the term "ad exaggeration"; and to practice discrimination, disguised as maintaining "corporate identity." These newly instilled corporate values collide with the principles young people were raised with, creating a stark moral conflict. The dissonance between their ingrained ethical standards and the demands of their professional environment leads to psychological, mental, and even physical problems for many workers.

Bringing back those old, but time-proven, values is bound to change things. Telling about things as they are without any deviation and lying will bring clarity and proper evaluation of any situation  hence, better judgement and decision-making, fewer dissatisfied customers and employees. For tradition-equipped universities  a higher value, a better quality of education and alumni loyalty  donations and philanthropy; create the triangular bond those universities so badly need  society, businesses and themselves.

So, my final appeal is, even to the older generation is: Let's bring "the gold" back  our old traditions and stick with them without trading ourselves to anyone or anything, under any circumstances.

Eugene Lee (mreulee@gmail.com) is a lecturing professor at the Graduate School of Governance at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul. Specializing in international relations and governance, his research and teaching focus on national and regional security, international development, government policies and Northeast and Central Asia.
The Singapore-based e-commerce platform Qoo10 Group, which owns the local online marketplaces TMON and WeMakePrice, is said to be seeking to raise $50 million to address delays in payments by the two local platforms, according to sources familiar with the matter Sunday.

TMON and WeMakePrice have failed to pay money earned by sellers in May, after Qoo10 Group was reportedly tipped into a tight cash situation over aggressive merger deals. Sellers on the online marketplaces have expressed frustration over the payment delays.

According to the sources, Qoo10 told Korean financial authorities that it would raise $50 million in August to address concerns over the payment delays.

However, a senior official at the Korean financial authorities said the proposed measure was insufficient.

On Thursday, the financial and antitrust regulators launched joint on-site inspections into TMON and WeMakePrice over their delays in payments to sellers.

Their payment delays sparked concerns about industrywide impacts and potential damage to customers, and most of their 60,000 sellers were small merchants and the self-employed, who are relatively vulnerable to such risks.

Lee Se-hoon, vice governor of the Financial Supervisory Service, told reporters that the value of payment delays by TMON and WeMakePrice was between 160 billion won and 170 billion won ($115 million-$122 million). (Yonhap)
By Ko Dong-hwan

Theborn Korea has seen its famous ball katsu brand lose more than half of its franchisees and sales falling by as much as 40 percent, according to the countrys major food and beverage company Sunday.

The slump came as some of the franchisees last month accused the company's CEO, Paik Jong-won, of promising them a profitable venture as they prepared to open Yeondon Ball Katsu shops. However, their sales figures did not meet expectations. Paik responded to the franchisees saying he didn't promise them anything.

As of Friday, Yeondon's franchisees numbered just 31, according to the brand's business information registered with the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), the country's top antitrust agency. The figure peaked in 2022 at 68 after Paik launched the brand in August of the previous year with four franchisees. The franchisees, following the peak, declined to 49 by the end of 2023.

The brand's average annual sales among franchisees peaked in 2022 at 260 million won ($188,000). However, by the end of last year, it fell by 40 percent to 157 million won, with monthly sales at just 13 million won.

"13 million won per month is disastrous," said one of Yeondon franchisees. "After paying rent and all of the operating costs, I'm left with almost nothing. Most of the brand franchisees see an operating profit of 10 percent of sales, with exceptional franchisees bagging around 15 percent."

Eight Yeondon franchisees under the Korea Franchise Union found that all of their sales peaked within two months of their shop opening but dropped to half just two months later.

One of the franchisees in Seoul opened in May 2022 and saw 45 million won in sales the following month. The figure then fell to 24 million won in July of the same year and to 7.68 million in December of that year. The franchisee has managed to recover his monthly sales to 20 million won this year by investing more in delivery. But he said he isn't happy with his work.

"I work 12 hours each day with my wife just to grab 3 million won a month," the franchisee said.

Another franchisee in Gyeonggi Province opened his shop in 2022 and saw sales peak at 28 million won in May the same year. The figure dropped to 13 million won after two months and further down to 6.56 million won in December. Another one in Busan witnessed a peak in sales in September 2022 at 29 million won, but the figure then dropped to 10 million won in December that year.

Yeondon franchisees have criticized Theborn Korea for the falling sales, saying the company trained them for three days, a period they said was not long enough, before their takeout stores opened.

"The poor training caused us to produce ball katsu that often drew complaints from consumers for bad their taste," one of the franchisees said. "We complained to the company about the brand's old recipes and mounting consumer complaints. After one year, the company modified the recipes."

"I kept seeing declining sales. I requested the company to raise prices or reduce ingredient costs but the company didn't listen," another franchisee said. "I'm not sure the company took good care of Yeondon."

Theborn Korea responded to the franchisees saying that the company shouldn't be held solely responsible for the franchisees' sales. Rather, it added that the decent sales require effort from both parties.

"Some franchisees saw a drop in sales, while some saw their sales rise," a company official said.

Some of the Yeondon franchisees last month filed a complaint against Theborn Korea at the FTC, saying the company shared false information with them to promote the brand prior to their stores' opening. Paik appeared on an MBC talk show earlier this month, saying the franchisees shouldn't put the blame entirely on him for their poor sales.

Earlier this month, the FTC launched an investigation against the company.
By Ko Dong-hwan

HD Hyundai Heavy emphasized its lack of connection to alleged abuse of power by the former head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). The company denied rumors suggesting it benefited from the allegation five years ago, according to the countrys major shipbuilder, Sunday.

The company said it submitted a letter to the National Police Agency, Friday, addressing the logical flaws behind rumors that former DAPA minister Wang Jung-hong had colluded with them against other defense system developers in the country. The police launched an investigation into Wang in June of last year.

HD Hyundai said it has been losing public trust due to the rumor and urged the police to complete the investigation fast.

According to the rumor, in 2019, Wang removed from the bidding procedure for the Korean Next-Generation Destroyer (KDDX) construction project a clause that would have deducted 0.5 to 1.5 points from any company that had experienced a data security breach. As a result, HD Hyundai Heavy, one of the bidders, did not lose any points despite a data breach related to the KDDX project. The company won the bid's basic design phase in August 2020 by a narrow margin of 0.056 points over Hanwha Ocean (formerly DSME Construction).

The KDDX project consists of four phases: concept design, basic design, detailed design, and construction. Hanwha Ocean was responsible for the concept design phase.



After losing the KDDX bid, Hanwha Ocean began alleging that Wang had favored HD Hyundai Heavy by removing the clause.

HD Hyundai denied the allegation, claiming that Wang removed the clause based on advice from the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) and the Office for Government Policy Coordination within the Prime Ministers Secretariat.

Hanwha Oceans argument has already been proven false by a court and the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea, a HD Hyundai Heavy official said. Among seven private companies that had urged ACRC to remove the clause, four of them were Hanwha subsidiaries.

HD Hyundai also denied rumors that the removal of the controversial clause facilitated the selection of specific firms as its partners for the KDDX project.

The selection of partner companies for the project became possible in late 2022 when most of the projects basic design works were done, the official said. Its illogical that a clause from the KDDX bidding procedure was removed to have certain companies be selected as our partner companies three years later.

Following Hanwha Oceans accusation against HD Hyundai, the KDDX project has been stalled and has not progressed beyond the second phase.
 Flash

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi elaborated on China's solemn stance on the South China Sea issue on Saturday while attending a series of meetings of foreign ministers of southeastern and eastern Asian countries in Laos' Vientiane.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said there is a full historical and legal basis for China to uphold territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.

With a view of safeguarding neighborhood friendliness and regional cooperation, China signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) with ASEAN countries and has consistently and effectively implemented it, Wang said, adding that China insists on managing differences properly through dialogue and consultation with parties involved.

Wang said China and ASEAN countries are advancing negotiations of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, actively conducting maritime practical cooperation, and jointly safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea. Countries in the region have full confidence, wisdom and capability to handle the South China Sea issue.

In respond to some countries' reiteration of the so-called South China Sea arbitration, Wang pointed out that the arbitral tribunal exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires and made an illegitimate ruling, had substantial flaws in law and fact, and was politically motivated.

The ruling itself gravely violated the international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Wang said, calling it illegal and invalid. He stressed that China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea will not be affected by this illegal ruling under any circumstances.

Wang said Ren'ai Jiao is China's inherent territory. The Philippines unilaterally changed the status quo by grounding its warship illegally at Ren'ai Jiao, and even attempted to build it into a permanent outpost, which severely violated Article 5 of the DOC and reneged on its commitments made to the Chinese side.

For humanitarian purposes, China has reached a provisional arrangement with the Philippine side on managing the situation, allowing supply of living necessities after on-site verification and monitoring of the process, Wang said.

Wang called on the Philippines to honor its commitments, not to break its promises and not to make more trouble.

Wang said that the South China Sea is one of the safest and freest maritime routes in the world, and there is no need to worry about freedom of navigation and overflight.

Certain external countries stirred up trouble and created disruptions, and even attempted to deploy intermediate-range missile system in the region, provoked confrontation, that is the biggest disruptive factor to peace in the South China Sea, Wang said.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 28, 2024 - 11:30 | All, Japan

The growing popularity of rideable suitcases with electric motors designed to get people quickly around airports and train stations has alarmed Japanese authorities following a rise in incidents of foreign visitors using them illegally on public roads.

Japan currently classifies electric suitcases, which are particularly popular in the rest of Asia, as motorized vehicles that can be ridden on roads only with the required safety equipment and a driver's license.

Two major Japanese airports have already asked travelers not to ride them within their facilities while police are urging domestic retailers to warn customers of the strict laws concerning their use, concerned that foreign visitors are unfamiliar with the rules.

A Chinese woman became the first person referred to prosecutors in Japan in June for unlicensed driving after she was spotted riding a three-wheeled electric suitcase on a sidewalk in Osaka.

In early July, a boy from Indonesia on an electric suitcase was seen weaving his way through a crowd of pedestrians on a street of Osaka's Dotonbori district, one of the busiest shopping areas in Japan. His family was taken aback when they were told riding such devices on roads is illegal in Japan, saying they can be ridden anywhere in Indonesia.

An electric suitcase has a built-in battery and an electric motor and can travel at around 10 kilometers per hour. Those sold in Japan are priced at around 100,000 yen ($640).

Under Japanese traffic law, the suitcases are categorized as "motorized bicycles," a category that includes mini motorcycles with 50 cc or smaller engines. As such, they need to be registered and equipped with a rear view mirror and turn signals. Drivers are also required to wear a helmet and carry liability insurance.

Narita airport near Tokyo said some people using terminal buildings complained about travelers whizzing past them on electric suitcases. Chubu Centrair International Airport in Aichi Prefecture and Kansai International Airport in Osaka advise travelers not to ride them in their facilities.

In recent years, advancements in motor and battery technologies have led to the emergence of new mobility devices. Japan has seen a sharp increase in accidents involving electric scooters since a traffic law revision in July 2023 allowed their use without a driver's license.

"Unexpected new forms of transport will continue to emerge," said Takeru Shibayama, a senior scientist at the Vienna University of Technology's Institute for Transportation.

Given the range of vehicles that fall under the category of motorized bicycles in Japan, the country needs to discuss "whether a new classification should be established" to deal with electric suitcases, Shibayama added.

Related coverage:

Motorized suitcase rider referred to prosecutors for 1st time
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was set to announce Sunday an upgrade to U.S. command structures in Japan, as Washington and Tokyo overhaul military cooperation in the face of an increasingly assertive China.

The United States has around 54,000 military personnel in Japan who currently report back to Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, around 6,500 kilometers (4,000 miles) away and 19 hours behind.

But Austin, who on Sunday joined U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken for "2+2" talks with their counterparts in Tokyo, will announce a new Joint Force Headquarters headed by a three-star commander, a U.S. military official said.

This will serve as a counterpart to Japan's planned Joint Operations Command for all its armed forces, making the two militaries more nimble in the case of a crisis over Taiwan or the Korean peninsula.

Prompted by unease about China and alarm about North Korea, Japan has in recent years been shedding its strict pacifist stance, ramping up defense spending and moving to obtain "counterstrike" capabilities.

In April President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced a "new era" in cooperation at a summit at the White House.

This month Japan and the Philippines  Blinken and Austin's next stop for a "2+2"  signed a defense pact that will allow the deployment of troops on each other's territory.

This followed the first trilateral summit in April between the leaders of Japan, the Philippines and the United States in Washington.

As with Manila, Japan and South Korea have also moved to bury the hatchet over World War II, with Biden hosting both countries' leaders at Camp David last August.

Extended deterrence

The discussions between Japan and the U.S. were also set to cover enhancing Washington's "extended deterrence" commitment to use its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to protect Japan.

China's military modernization, North Korea's nuclear and missile work, and nuclear saber-rattling in the Ukraine war have unsettled Japan, said Naoko Aoki, political scientist at the RAND think-tank.

"(It) is important for the United States to reassure Japan of its commitment and signal to potential adversaries that the alliance remains strong and that the United States is committed to using nuclear weapons if necessary to defend Japan," she told AFP.

On Monday, Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa will meet S. Jaishankar and Penny Wong, their Indian and Australian counterparts in the Quad, an alliance seen as a bulwark against Beijing.

In Laos on Saturday Blinken and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi sparred over what the top U.S. diplomat had criticized as Beijing's "escalatory and unlawful actions" in the South China Sea.

The U.S. should "refrain from fanning the flames, stirring up trouble and undermining stability at sea," Wang said at the meeting, according to a foreign ministry statement.

Blinken also raised "U.S. concerns about provocative actions" by China, including a simulated blockade of Taiwan following the May inauguration of President Lai Ching-te.

China claims the democratic island as its territory and slammed Lai's inauguration speech as a "confession of independence."

Blinken also raised U.S. concerns over China's support for Russia as it wages war in Ukraine. (AFP)
KYODO NEWS - Jul 28, 2024 - 18:05 | All, Japan, World

The defense chiefs of Japan, the United States and South Korea on Sunday signed a memorandum institutionalizing their trilateral defense ties to sustain policy consultations, information-sharing and joint exercises, amid North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and China's growing assertiveness in the region.

"By signing this memorandum, our trilateral cooperation...has become more solidified and will not waver, even under changes in international circumstances," Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told reporters following his meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won Sik in Tokyo.

The agreements in the memorandum on the Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework, which has already come into effect, include those on taking turns hosting ministerial meetings every year and closely sharing real-time information about North Korean missiles, according to Kihara.

The next trilateral ministerial meeting will be convened in South Korea next year.

The three countries have been fleshing out what they call a "new era" of trilateral partnership since their leaders met at the U.S. presidential retreat of Camp David near Washington in August last year, leveraging the benefits of the rapprochement between Tokyo and Seoul.

The latest development also came as closer alignment between Russia and China, as well as with North Korea, has been seen amid Russia's war on Ukraine, while the U.S. presidential election in November is closely watched as to whether Donald Trump, a critic of long-standing alliances, will return to the White House.

In a joint press statement issued on Sunday, the three ministers expressed "grave concern over the increasing military and economic cooperation commitment" between Pyongyang and Moscow.

They also vowed to deter nuclear and missile threats posed by North Korea, and condemned Pyongyang's tests and launches of multiple ballistic missiles and other relevant activities, urging the country to "immediately cease" provocative actions that could escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Apparently with China's forceful stance in the East and South China seas in mind, they also reaffirmed that they "strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the waters of the Indo-Pacific."

Tokyo, Washington and Seoul have been concerned about China's maritime claims in the South China Sea, where tensions have risen amid confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels. Chinese vessels have also repeatedly intruded into Japanese territorial waters around the Tokyo-controlled, Beijing-claimed uninhabited Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

At the outset of the talks, Austin said the meeting was meant to come up with "a powerful message" on the commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Shin, who became the first South Korean defense minister since 2009 to visit Japan, said beefing up cooperation among the three countries is essential in countering North Korean threats.

When they held the previous meeting in June in Singapore on the sidelines of a regional security conference, Kihara, Austin and Shin had agreed to institutionalize trilateral security cooperation.

Later in the month, the three countries conducted a new annual joint military exercise dubbed "Freedom Edge," spanning aerial, naval and cyber domains in areas including the East China Sea.

The three governments have also fully activated a real-time information-sharing system for missiles launched by Pyongyang in December last year.

Earlier on Sunday, Kihara and Shin affirmed during their bilateral talks their commitment to boost exchanges between their defense officials and officers, including mutual visits by ministers, saying they will craft an annual plan on the issue.

The plan will also include resuming mutual visits at the level of top uniformed officers, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry.

Tokyo-Seoul relations have been strained over wartime historical issues and other issues such as an alleged locking of a fire-control radar on a Japanese patrol plane by a South Korean warship in 2018, which South Korea still denies.

But the ties have been recovering after conservative Yoon Suk Yeol replaced left-leaning Moon Jae In as the South Korean president in May 2022, especially since a solution to a bilateral wartime labor dispute was announced in March last year.

Related coverage:

Japan, Britain, Italy agree to advance fighter jet co-development

Japan, Philippines sign defense pact amid growing China concern

Japan pledges to strengthen ties with Britain under its new gov't
Easton police Chief Carl Scalzo said while consumer fireworks are legal in Pennsylvania, there are conditions according to state law.

Still, the police can only do so much.

Scalzo attended Eastons city council meeting on Wednesday to walk council and the public on Pennsylvanias fireworks laws after an extensive discussion by council members earlier this month following the Fourth of July.

Scalzo said he recognizes a number of fireworks-related complaints by residents, calling it an epidemic across the entire state.

Because there are state laws in place, Scalzo said, there are certain procedures the police must follow in regards to fireworks. He is referring to Act 74, which amended House Bill 2157. It outlines what is  and isnt  allowed when it comes to fireworks.

This legislation states, in part, anyone over the age of 18 may purchase, own and use consumer fireworks. Users are not permitted to shoot them off on public or private property without necessary permission; directed at a vehicle, building or another person; or while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any controlled substances.

Users also cannot shoot them off within 150 feet of another property. Councilwoman Crystal Rose said there arent many places in the city that meet this requirement, and Scalzo agreed.

The bill was amended in 2022, which Scalzo said increased the allowed amount of explosive material in ground and aerial fireworks, measured in milligrams.

The only way we would know what the milligrams of explosive material are inside of firework is to actually take the firework, look at the firework and try to figure out how many milligrams it has in that device, Scalzo said.

Act 74 also outlines the timeframe in which fireworks are permitted. On July 2, 3, 4, fireworks can be used until 1 a.m. On any other day, 10 p.m. is the cut-off.

When police receive complaints about fireworks, Scalzo said the best they can do is go to the area and evaluate if they can legally see them.

Were not allowed to go into yards, private property and things like that to try to search for these devices, he said. But we tried to get into places where we can see if theyre shooting them off in the street.

If they catch fireworks being shot off in violation of the law, such as within 150 feet of a property, police can issue a summary citation. Greater consequences come out should someone shoot off display fireworks, which are not consumer fireworks.

This house bill and the passing of it in 22 has really made things difficult when it comes to enforcement of the utilization of fireworks, Scalzo said. And this isnt an Easton problem. This is a problem all over the state. Communities all over are really trying to figure out the resolution to the problem.

Rose suggested, as Labor Day approaches, increased patrolling on holidays where fireworks are most frequently used.

Thats another complaint I hear, especially in the West Ward, Rose said.

She said in a previous meeting that residents sent her numerous videos that displayed the amount of fireworks set off on the Fourth. Scalzo said video evidence is helpful, so long as a clear violation is shown in the video.

Councilman James Edinger told Scalzo of a complaint he previously discussed with council, where a neighbor witnessed another shooting Roman Candles at a roof. According to Edinger, the neighbor said the police had gone by, but didnt see anything.

Obviously, shooting a Roman candle at a house is prohibited, Scalzo said. If somebodys shooting a Roman candle at a house, theres an intent there to almost catch the house on fire. Thats something a little bit more than just a firework. So thats something that should have been handled very different than just somebody shooting the fireworks.

Scalzo said the affordability of fireworks is an issue, and the firework industry generates an abundance of revenue. With that brings in tax revenue, Scalzo said, which he suspects is why the state is unwilling to change the laws.

Were gonna see what we can figure out to try to come up with a better solution, Scalzo said. Were really combing through this law to try to see if theres anything that we can do, if we see any gaps in here that maybe the city could fill with ordinances to try and regulate the utilization.
Music Generation Laois members are bound for Wexford to perform in this year's Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann.



The Portlaoise based music school has two groups performing at this year's festival which is being hosted in Wexford Town from August 4 to 11.



Taking to social media to announce their excitement Music Generation Laois said: "We are performing in the Wexford Credit Union Ltd Dome at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann! We have two groups performing in the evening concert : our harpers as part of the Music Generation Ireland Harp Collective along with our friends in Music Generation Mayo, Music Generation Louth and Music Generation Waterford who will premiere a new suite of music composed in collaboration with Grainne Meyer.

"The MGL Trad Orchestra is doing a special collaboration with The Senior Ensemble from Music Generation Waterford and Reeling from Music Generation Carlow and will perform The Tionol Suite, composed and directed on the night by the incredible Ernestine Healy! A massive thank you to Music Generation Wexford for making it all happen!"



Wexford is preparing to host the world's largest celebration of Irish traditional music and heritage, welcoming over half a million people to the sunny south east.



With this year's theme of 'A Fleadh for All', the festival promises an inclusive and diverse events programme with something for everyone.
A crash occurred after a man stopped in the middle of the road at a junction in Portlaoise.

Oleg Masarov (72) of 3 Dublin Road, Bradshaw House, Portlaoise admitted careless driving at Rathleague, Portlaoise on October 9, 2023.

Garda Rebecca Gavin attended a two car crash at Sheffield Cross, Portlaoise on the date in question. She said the defendant was one of the drivers involved in the crash at a t-junction.

Mr Masarov pulled out, then stopped, then pulled out again. He was coming from the sideroad and he pulled out onto the main road, she explained.

She said the other motorist was driving within the speed limit when the collision occurred.

He was stopped right in the middle of the road, Garda Gavin explained.

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client, who was a Lithuanian national living on the State pension, had no previous convictions. She said the collision occurred on a foggy day.

Judge Andrew Cody convicted the man and fined him 300. He told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court that he wouldnt impose a disqualification.
A Laois judge said there is a serious problem with Brazilian workers in meat plants buying cheap cars to share.

Welton Aparecido Matias Rodriguez (29) of Derrykearn, Abbeyleix appeared in court for not having insurance on the N80 at Rossleighan, Portlaoise on November 12 last.

A previous court sitting was told the meat plant worker had been paying money to a broker in Brazil and believed he was insured.

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client had since tried to get insurance.

With the Brazilian licence he cant get insurance in this country, he said.

Mr Fitzgerald said his client was working in Kepak and has dependents.

Judge Andrew Cody said while it may sound racist a pattern was emerging both in Laois and Offaly of meat factory workers from Brazil who live together getting Portuguese licences and buying 2005 and 2006 cars.

They pass the car around, he said, adding that he would not tolerate them driving without insurance.

Judge Cody said a clear pattern was arising with Brazilian meat factory workers employed in Edenderry and in Rathdowney.

That may sound racist but that is a very common theme, he told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court.

Mr Fitzgerald said I think this is an exception.

Is my impression wrong that there is a serious problem with meat workers from Brazil sharing cars, Judge Cody asked the prosecuting garda. The garda agreed that there was a problem.

Judge Cody fined the defendant 1,000 and disqualified him from driving for two years. He fixed recognisance in case of appeal.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 28, 2024 - 21:17 | All, Japan

One more body, believed to be a missing police officer, was found Sunday in northeastern Japan, which was hit by heavy rain that triggered flooding and landslides, bringing the death toll to three, local authorities said.

The body discovered in Shinjo, Yamagata Prefecture, is likely one of two police officers in their 20s who went missing after being swept away in a police car last Thursday, they said. The other one had been found earlier and confirmed dead.

Three other people were unaccounted for in the disaster affecting Yamagata and its neighboring Akita Prefecture, with heavy rain feared to continue in the regions.

In Sakata, Yamagata, an 86-year-old woman went missing while heading to an evacuation site with her family, while the whereabouts of two men in Akita Prefecture remained unknown.

Local authorities will search for the missing people as weather conditions allow, they said.

Related coverage:

2 dead as northeastern Japan battered by heavy rain

Heavy rain lashes northeastern Japan, triggering floods, landslides
A Co Louth community has rallied around a mother with a terminal cancer diagnosis who is vowing to fight the illness.

Beauty therapist Tracey Taaffe, 44, from Monasterboice, outside Drogheda, had got her life back on track following a breast cancer diagnosis in 2021.

But after experiencing back and shoulder pain earlier this year, scans confirmed her worst fears  the disease had spread to her liver, lungs and sternum.

Doctors have given her a life expectancy of three to five years.

Her daughter Lea said the nightmare has awoken a steely determination in her mother to fight on  a resolve matched by family, friends and anonymous donors who gave 30,000 euro to a GoFundMe page in the first 24 hours.

The total now stands at more than 52,000 euro after just one week, which will be used for her medical bills, further treatment options and to ease the financial burden on the family  Traceys husband Alan, Lea, 25, and 18-year-old son Rhys.

Lea said: She says we need to get over five years, well try to make the most of what is there.

Given the circumstances, I dont know how she puts a smile on her face every day.

After her initial cancer diagnosis three years ago, Tracey underwent 12 gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and 20 rounds of radiation treatment.

Lea said that when her mother began to feel unwell again in April, she booked a GP appointment, expecting to be back at work later that day.

Instead, she was told the disease had returned  stage four incurable metastatic breast cancer.

It completely stopped her in her tracks, it was so hard for the first month, said Lea.

Since then there has been a plan in place, we cant wake up every day and think weve got this many days left with her.

When shes having a bad day I remind her we cant wait to cheer her up and make her laugh.

Now under the treatment of oncologist Professor John Crown, Tracey faces an operation next month to remove her ovaries, a monthly bone infusion, a hormone-blocking injection and a new targeted therapy treatment.

She has also been forced to close Beauty by Tracey, the business she worked to build up over the last 18 years.

Dublin-based accountant Lea says the response to the fundraising appeal has been incredible.

I know how great she is, but for everyone else to see it too, its so lovely.

A benefit night, including a sponsored head shave, will be held in Dalys pub in Donore, Co Meath, on August 24.
A new special protection area (SPA) for seabirds off the coast of Co Wexford could help to safeguard the puffin population on the uninhabited Saltee Islands, experts have said.

It is believed that the number of puffins nesting on the islands five kilometres off the Irish coast has begun to rise again after years of decline.

The breeding season usually starts in late March or early April, finishing in July or August.

A spokesperson for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) said the most recent census of breeding seabirds in Ireland covering the period 2015-21 estimated the number of puffin breeding in Ireland to be 14,232 pairs.

This represents a decline of 26% since the previous census during 1998 to 2002.

The spokesperson said: A recent series of counts of puffin at the Saltee Islands earlier this year indicate that the breeding population across these islands, which experienced a pronounced decrease at the turn of the century, is now increasing.

While the population increase is good news, there are challenges for puffin in its nesting habitat.

Puffin nest in colonies, at some locations such as the Great Saltee Island, the nests are mostly in old burrows.

NPWS has addressed a previous problem of predation through a rat eradication programme.

The main concern for puffin now is the level of recreation pressure on the island, with numbers of daily visitors to the island increasing significantly in recent years.

The puffins nest in burrows under the ground, which makes it more difficult to count their population, compared with other seabirds that nest on ledges in the open.

Earlier this year Nature Minister Malcolm Noonan announced that the new Seas off Wexford SPA would be designated under the EU Birds Directive.

The SPA will cover more than 305,000 hectares of marine waters for a range of bird species.

The SPA will give protection to 20 species, including puffins.

Dr Mark Jessopp, senior lecturer in zoology at University College Cork, said he was very positive about the new SPA.

He said: The designation ensures that additional measures are put in place to ensure that the vulnerable seabird populations in the area, including puffins, are fully considered when it comes to any future developments.

It creates a higher bar for ensuring that the populations are not impacted.

It also requires more regular surveys of the populations to make sure that they are attaining a favourable conservation status within the SPA.

Dr Jessopp said the main limitation of the SPA was that it did not put many restrictions on fisheries.

He said the main threat to puffins on the islands is land-based predation and disturbance.

He added: NPWS recently undertook a rat eradication on Great Saltee which by all indications was very successful and we are already seeing signs of recovery of the puffins which for many years had suffered from predation by rats on the Saltees.

Professor John Quinn, from the School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences at University College Cork, said it was good news that there are signs of increasing puffin numbers.

He added: We have also done studies that show tourism is impacting both the gannets and the puffins.

Tourism is important for the area and increasing numbers visit the island every year. However, tourism is almost entirely uncontrolled.

Signage has helped ease the problem for the gannets but more work needs to be done for the puffins.

The SPA is an important step for the protection of the areas seabirds.

In principle the Government is clearly committed to protect their populations.

In practice, this is challenging because explaining the causes of population trends is not always easy, and the area is also important for fisheries.
A FRIEND of mine was travelling to America recently and his flight was delayed by two hours and he thought he was entitled to some form of compensation but he wasnt because the delay needed to be greater than four hours because of the length of his journey.

Given the time of the year where hundreds of thousands of people are flying abroad for their summer holidays and also whats gone on with Aer Lingus, I wanted to put some information in front of you regarding what your rights are and what you are entitled to in the event your flight is delayed or cancelled.

And for 100% accuracy, so that no one is left in any doubt, Im going to use some text which Ive taken directly from websites from the likes of the Irish Aviation Authority, Citizens Information, and the European Consumer Centre Ireland.

Delayed Flights

If your flight is delayed beyond certain time frames, your air carrier should provide you with written information about your entitlements and also with care and assistance. The time frames are as follows:

 for all flights less than 1500kms (short haul eg, Shannon to Brussels or Cork to Paris), the delay must be greater than two hours.

 for European flights of more than 1500kms and all other flights of between 1500  3500kms (medium haul eg, Dublin to Malta or Knock to Madrid), the delay must be greater than three hours.

 for all non-community flights of more than 3500kms (long haul eg, Shannon to New York or Dublin to Cape Town), the delay must be greater than four hours.

If your flight is delayed by more than five hours (regardless of the length of the journey) and you decide not to travel, you are entitled to a full refund.

What is care and assistance?

Care and assistance consists of:

 meals and refreshments (in reasonable relation to the waiting time)

 hotel accommodation (where an overnight stay becomes necessary)

 transport between the airport and the hotel (where necessary) and

 two telephone calls/ faxes/ emails.

If the airline does not provide the above assistance to you and you are forced to make your own arrangements, you should retain all your receipts as you will be entitled to reimbursement of your expenses.

But you should make yourself known to the airline, to avoid a situation where you must make your own arrangements. And airlines should also ensure, where available, that accommodation is accessible for people with disabilities and their service dogs.

And you only have the right to assistance as long as you have to wait for re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to your final destination at the earliest opportunity or a return flight.

In exceptional cases, the airline may decide to limit or decline assistance if it would cause further delay to passengers waiting for an alternative or a delayed flight.

Compensation

Following a 2009 European Court ruling, you are now entitled to compensation if you arrive at your destination three hours or more after the scheduled arrival time unless the air carrier can prove that the delay was the result of extraordinary circumstances.

And examples of events defined as extraordinary circumstances are air traffic management decisions, political instability, adverse weather conditions and security risks.

Situations which are not considered as extraordinary circumstances include:

 most technical problems which come to light during aircraft maintenance or are caused by failure to maintain an aircraft.

 collision of mobile boarding stairs with an aircraft.

 strikes by air carrier staff (internal strike action).

Any strike external to an air carrier that affects the operation of the airline may be considered as extraordinary circumstances. However, to be exempted from paying compensation, the airline must prove that (a) there is a link between the extraordinary circumstances and the delay or the cancellation, and (b) the delay or cancellation could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.

If a dispute arises between you and your air carrier regarding the existence of extraordinary circumstances and the payment of compensation, the matter should be referred to the appropriate enforcement body.

If you miss a connecting flight travelling within the EU or outside the EU on a flight originating from an EU country, you should be entitled to compensation, if you arrive at your final destination with a delay of more than three hours. It is not relevant if the carrier operating the connecting flights is an EU or non-EU airline.

If you depart from a non-EU country to your final destination in an EU country, with connecting flights operated successively by non-EU and EU airlines or by EU airlines only, only the flights operated by EU airlines are taken into consideration for the right to compensation in case of a long delay on arrival at the final destination.

You are not entitled to compensation if you miss connecting flights due to delays at security checks or if you did not respect the boarding time of your flight at the airport of transfer.

If you accept a flight to a different airport from the one in the original booking and it arrives late, you're entitled to compensation. The time of arrival used for calculating the delay is the time of arrival at the airport mentioned in the original booking or the destination agreed upon with the airline. Transport costs between the alternative airport and the one in the original booking or agreed destination should be borne by the airline.

The amount of compensation payable depends on the distance of the flight. If the flight is classed as:

 short haul, the amount payable is 250 per person.

 medium haul, the amount payable is 400 per person.

 long haul, the amount payable is 600 per person.

The amount of compensation payable in respect of non-community flights of more than 3500kms (long haul) may be reduced by 50% if you arrive at your destination less than four hours after the scheduled arrival time.

Compensation when re-routed

When the choice is re-routing and you are entitled to compensation, the amount of compensation you are entitled to depends on the length of delay past your original planned arrival time.

Cancelled flights

Where your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to a choice of:

 Refund the cost of your ticket within seven days or

 Re-routing to your final destination at the earliest opportunity or

 Re-routing at a later date at your convenience, subject to the availability of seats

You are not entitled to compensation if:

 You have received at least two weeks notice of the cancellation; or

 You have received between two weeks and seven days notice, but you have been offered an alternative flight departing no more than two hours before your original departure time and arriving at your final destination less than four hours after your original scheduled time of arrival: or

 You have received less than seven days notice, but you have been offered an alternative flight departing no more than one hour before your original departure time and arriving at your final destination less than two hours after your original scheduled time of arrival.

If the airline can prove that the cancellation was caused by an extraordinary circumstance which could not have been avoided, even if all reasonable measures had been taken, no compensation is payable.

How to make a complaint

Complain to the airline first: If you have a complaint about a cancellation, long flight delay or an instance of denied boarding, complain to the airline first.

Complain to the appropriate national enforcement body: If your airline does not resolve your complaint, you should send it to the appropriate national enforcement body.

Each member state is responsible for departures from airports within its territory and arrivals into such airports from third countries on EU/EEA-licensed carriers.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is the national enforcement body in Ireland. It deals with complaints arising from flights departing from Irish airports or those arriving at an Irish airport from outside the EU/EEA on an EUEEA-licensed carrier. You can make a complaint online.

If you have a complaint about a flight returning to Ireland from the EU/EEA, you contact the national enforcement body in the EU/EEA state your flight departed from.

Liam Croke is MD of Harmonics Financial Ltd, based in Plassey. He can be contacted at liam@harmonics.ie or www.harmonics.ie
A 49-year-old woman was fined for verbally abusing gardai in the public office of Newbridge Garda Station.

Shirley Morgan, with an address given as Peter McVerry Trust Homeless Shelter, Eyre Street in Newbridge, was fined by Judge Desmond Zaidan on Thursday, July 25 last for the offence.

Ms Morgan was represented by her solicitor, Tim Kennelly, as she was absent from Naas District Court on the date in question.

Gardai alleged that she became verbally abusive to gardai in the public office of Newbridge Garda Station on July 19 last.

It was heard that she has two previous convictions related to public disorder offences.

Speaking to Judge Zaidan, Mr Kennelly said: "She has a lot of issues... she is sober now, which is a massive step for her, but the difficulty is now that she is still reacting."

He added: "I would ask you for leniency."

Referring to the gardai, Mr Kennelly also told the judge: "No one should have to put up with that [behaviour] at work."

Judge Zaidan decided to impose a 200 fine on Ms Morgan, which is to be paid in a lump sum within three months.
A special screening of Food, Inc. 2 takes place at the Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge on Thursday, October 3.

The ground-breaking Oscar-nominated documentary Food, Inc. ignited a cultural conversation about the multinational corporations that control our food system at enormous cost to our planet, workforce and health.

The well-timed sequel, Food, Inc. 2, comes back for seconds to reveal how corporate consolidation has gone unchecked by our government, leaving us with a highly efficient yet shockingly vulnerable food system dedicated only towards increasing profits.

Seeking solutions, the film introduces innovative farmers, food producers, workers rights activists and legislators fighting to create a more sustainable future.

Since the first film, multinational corporations have tightened their stronghold on the US government. The system at large has robbed workers of a fair living wage, and profit focused corporations are proliferating a chemically formulated international health crisis by focusing on growing the market for ultra-processed foods.

The film centres around innovative farmers, future-thinking food producers, workers rights activists and prominent legislators such as U.S Senators Cory Booker and Jon Tester, who are facing these companies head-on to inspire change and build a healthier, more sustainable future.

Directed by Robert Kenner and Melissa Robledo, the film lasts 94 minutes. This film is presented in association with Access Cinema and will be screened at 8pm on October 3.

Tickets cost 5 to 9.
A Kildare court defendant had his bail 'reluctantly' varied after his partner gave testimony in front of a judge.

Judge Desmond Zaidan made the decision in the case, which was heard in-camera (in private) at Naas District Court on the morning of Thursday, July 25 last.

The man had been accused of committing two breaches of a protection order, which his partner had previously taken out against him.

For the first instance, the court was told by gardai that he allegedly kiicked the front door of his partner's home.

For the second instance, the court was told that he allegedly rang her phone a number of times, and also followed her to her home.

It was heard that the couple have no children together.

Commenting on the case, Judge Zaidan said: "It's not nice alleged behaviour."

Turning to the alleged injured party, who was sworn in, he asked her: "Are you here of your own free will?"

"Yes," she replied.

When the case was adjourned to the afternoon, a bail application was scheduled to take place.

Returing to the stand, the woman told Judge Zaidan: "I don't think prison is good for him; he needs rehab."

The judge responded: "I've given him chances before... but I hear you, and I will take it onboard."

He also told her: "Go get help... if this alleged behaviour is true, then no one should have to put up with it."

Although Garda Sergeant David Hanrahan expressed concern given the fact that the defendant breached the protection order on two separate occasions, the judge said that he would 'relunctantly' vary bail for the man.

However, Judge Zaidan added: "It wouldn't surprise me if he is in before me on September 1... I hope I'm wrong."

The judge warned the man not to commit any more breaches, to which the man replied: "I'll be on my best behaviour."

It was heard that a 500 cash lodgement was to be made, in addition to 500 for an independent surety.

Judge Zaidan noted that the other bail conditions, as well as the conditions of the protection order, remain in place.

He adjourned the case to a later date, and marked it for progress.

Judge Zaidan also suggested to the woman to go to a domestic violence support service.

If you have been affected by this article, you can find resources to help you by contacting Women's Aid at 1800 341 900 or emailing helpline@womensaid.ie, or Men's Aid by ringing 01 554 3811 or emailing hello@mensaid.ie.

Additionally, you can find resources to help you by emailing Samaritans Ireland at jo@samaritans.ie, or by ringing 116 123.
The family of Kildare woman Deirdre Jacob has urged people with information about her murder to come forward.

Gardai have renewed their appeal for details that could help with their investigation into her disappearance 26 years ago.

Ms Jacob was last seen near her home at Roseberry, Newbridge County Kildare at around 3pm on July 28, 1998.

She was 18 years old at the time of her disappearance and had just completed one year at St Marys University in London.

Deirdres family and the garda investigation team urge any person or persons with information in relation to the murder of Deirdre Jacob to please come forward, read a statement which was issued on Saturday night.

An Garda Siochana are reminding the public that if you have information about Deirdres murder, not to assume that we already know it, or that it has limited value.

Gardai say the incident room remains in place at Kildare Garda Station and Ms Jacobs family, including her parents Michael and Bernadette, are updated through a designated liaison officer.

READ ALSO: Gardai in urgent appeal for help in locating missing teenager

On the day she was last seen, Ms Jacob had walked into Newbridge town to get a bank draft to send to a college friend in London for their rent deposit.

At 2.14pm, she was observed on CCTV walking on Main Street Newbridge and shortly after was observed in the AIB bank.

At 2.26pm, Ms Jacob was observed again on CCTV queuing in the Post Office Newbridge and at 2.32pm was seen on CCTV speaking with a friend outside the Post Office on Main Street Newbridge.

The last known recording of Ms Jacob on CCTV was recorded at 2.35pm, walking outside the PTSB Bank on Newbridge Main Street.

She was last seen shortly after 3pm near her family home.

On the 20th anniversary of her disappearance, An Garda Siochana confirmed that the missing person investigation had been upgraded to a murder investigation.

Ms Jacob was five-foot three-inches in height and was of slim build with grey-green eyes and dark chin-length hair.

When she went missing, the student was wearing a navy v-neck t-shirt with white trim on the collar and sleeves, navy or black straight jeans and blue Nike runners.

She was carrying a distinctive black satchel-type bag with long shoulder straps and the word CAT in large yellow capital letters on the side. The black satchel bag has never been located.
IT WAS a lucky day for the parish of Pallasgreen - Templebraden when Dublin native Brian ONeill spotted a picturesque site for a house near Nicker Church some 40 years ago.

He and wife Nell, who is from the city, have become an integral part of community life. There were many who put their heart and soul into the parishs 24-hour production of the Passion but none more so than the ONeills.

Brian took on the demanding role of Caiaphas while Nell designed over 30 costumes. At every community and charity event in the locality you would find them putting their shoulders to the wheel.

And none more so than in the Church of St John the Baptist, Nicker, where they have faithfully served as sacristans for the last 14 years.

The community gathered as one to celebrate Brian and Nell in the community centre following a special Mass.

READ MORE: Fundraising drive from the Limerick border, across the Irish Sea

Fr Tomas OConnell, parish priest for the last three years, said the couple are pivotal in the life of the church.

He described Brian and Nell as loyal, dedicated and great community people.

They were very diligent, hard-working and always had everything organised to a tee. They were very sensitive which is very important when people are grieving.

There's a team there now at the minute so it took a team of people to replace them, said Fr OConnell (pictured below with Brian and Nell).

The attendance at the Mass, featuring the local choir, and party afterwards in the community centre, is testament to their popularity and the esteem they are held in the locality.

Chairman of the community council, Michael Ryan was the MC with Cllr Noreen Stokes, among the speakers. Paschal Dawson provided the music and Blasta Cafe provided the fantastic spread.

Fr OConnell, on behalf of the parish, presented them with a painting of Nicker Church by Cappamore artist Michael OBrien.

The parish priest notes the painting shows the church door open and welcoming just like Brian and Nell. Fr OConnell thanked them for their 14 years as sacristans and for their lifetime of devotion to the betterment of their community.
A CHARITY shop manager has received an eye-watering bill from Uisce Eireann.

Paul Ryan, who manages a Vincents shop in the city centre, has received a demand for 2,628.38 from the firm formerly known as Irish Water.

But he says in reality, those volunteering and working in the shop would have used a fraction of that.

Theres no way we would go through that level of water. We might as well be washing the toilet with champagne - itd be cheaper than this, he said.

READ MORE: Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes appears in court charged with dangerous driving

The furniture shop - whose proceeds help homelessness charity St Vincent de Paul - only opened two-and-a-half years ago.

And Mr Ryan believes in this time, there would have been just 80 spent on water.

He pointed to a meter outside the shop which also shows a spend of just 180 in eight years - with the premises empty for five of these.

Householders do not pay water charges - but they are levied on commercial premises like Vincents.

The charity shop boss has made a number of attempts to call Uisce Eireann about the bill without satisfaction.

Mr Ryan says all volunteers on site would be doing is filling the kettle and flushing the toilet a few times a day.

In 2022, Vincents opened across four units at Palmerstown Court beside the Milk Market.

In order to cut down on water usage, toilet and sink facilities were stripped out to just the one they have today.

People have said we should just pay it. But why should we? We have a team who have worked so hard to raise the money for the charity. And then just to hand over 2,500 for nothing? Weve used nothing to that value. Since weve opened this shop, weve raised almost 700,000 in sales. We have high bills, high rents, we have a van to pay for, he said.

Uisce Eireann said it could not comment on individual customer accounts.
TAOISEACH Simon Harris has urged the Church to ensure their further consideration and consultation on Bishop Eamonn Caseys remains being at Galway Cathedral is victim focused.

In the lead story in last weeks Limerick Leader, the diocese of Galway said they needed to reflect after watching the major documentary, Bishop Caseys Buried Secrets, on whether Bishop Caseys remains should stay interred in the crypt at the cathedral.

The programme on Monday night revealed that there were at least five complaints of alleged child sexual abuse made against Bishop Casey - three in Limerick. The Church received four separate complaints of childhood sexual abuse against Bishop Casey and one further child safeguarding concern.

READ MORE: Diocese reflects on Bishop Eamonn Casey's burial in crypt

The RTE documentary is in association with the Irish Mail on Sunday and Daily Mail news editor Anne Sheridan, formerly a journalist with the Limerick Leader. It aired on Monday night with over half a million views thus far.

Bishop Casey was a native of Kerry but was brought up in Adare, where his father was a creamery manager. He attended St Munchin's College before being ordained a priest for the Diocese of Limerick. His first parish was St Johns in the city.

On Saturday, a statement from the Diocese of Galway said the interment of the remains of Bishop Casey in the crypt beneath Galway Cathedral is a very sensitive issue that deeply affects people in different ways, and which has different facets.

The interment of Bishop Casey in the Cathedral crypt now requires a period of careful consideration and consultation, which has already begun.

Time and space are required to adequately and appropriately bring this undertaking to completion. We will not be making any further public comment until we are in a position to provide an update.

It said it was in the context of a statement last Tuesday by the Bishop of Galway Michael Duignan relating to the life and legacy of Bishop Eamonn Casey, clearly expressing his commitment to working with anybody affected, to help bring truth, healing and peace to such terribly painful situations.

READ MORE: Consultation on Casey interment in Galway crypt begins following allegations

The Mail on Sunday received a statement from Taoiseach Simon Harris, who thanked the victims of Eamonn Casey for coming forward and sharing their stories.

Without them and without this documentary, we would never have known the extent of evidence of abuse against Eamonn Casey. An Garda Siochana has now initiated a review of the case, and I welcome that.

The Taoiseach also noted the churchs comment on Eamon Caseys remains being at Galway Cathedral and urged them to ensure their further consideration and consultation is victim focused.

In the past week Irish society has learned there was something much darker behind Eamon Caseys estrangement from the church than many believed. The evidence in the documentary has only added to the sense of betrayal that people feel about the Catholic Church in Ireland and the concealment seen in the case of Eamon Casey.

"There are serious questions for church authorities to answer once again as to why this was the case, said Mr Harris in the statement to the Mail on Sunday.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 29, 2024 - 07:03 | Sports, Olympics, All, World, Japan

Japan's Koki Kano won the men's individual epee fencing gold at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, beating Frenchman Yannick Borel in the final 15-9.

The win at the Grand Palais gives the 26-year-old Kano a second gold medal to add to the one he claimed in the epee team event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. It also makes him the first Japanese in history to win an individual fencing gold medal.

"I wanted to come here and get gold in the individual and I just did it, " Kano said. "I'm so happy to win gold in the individual event."

Mohamed Elsayed of Egypt won the bronze medal, beating Tibor Andrasfi of Hungary, the man Kano defeated in the semifinal.

Kano got separation from Borel early in their gold medal bout, going up 3-1 late in the first period, he then extended his lead to as many as four hits in the second and closed it out 9-5.

In the final period he let loose, scoring the first three hits as his much taller and increasingly desperate opponent lunged forward with the gold slipping away.

"It feels good to have a medal but it feels bad to lose the match," Borel said.

"I know Kano really well. We've already fenced against one another in team or individual, so I had some tips for the win, but this time it went his way. He did really well, because I wanted to win gold really bad."

After his win, Kano grabbed a Japan flag and ran the length of the piste to celebrate his nation's third gold on Sunday and fourth overall at the Paris Games.

Kano will now look to defend the team title with his compatriots Kazuyasu Minobe, Masaru Yamada and Akira Komata on Friday.

Related coverage:

Paris Olympics latest: July 28, 2024

Olympics: Hifumi Abe wins 2nd straight Olympic men's 66-kg judo gold

Olympics: Japan's Yoshizawa, Akama win street skateboard gold, silver
Propelled by the enhanced premiumisation trend that started during the Covid-19 pandemic, single malt whiskies, especially Indian brands, have been all the rage over the past few years. But international spirits makers, particularly those who make single malts, are unfazed by this.

In fact, they have been benefiting from the trend, with the entire single malt whiskey category growing as a whole.

For instance, Scotland-based William Grant & Sons, which sells brands like Glenfiddich, Grant's, The Balvenie, and Monkey Shoulder, among others, is expecting several newer consumers to enter the single malts category from India, which will eventually help the company grow its businesses further.

Sachin Mehta, the company's country director for India operations, said each one of the Indian single malts, whenever they've been launched, have been well received in India. Premium malts have been doing very well on the whole as a category. India consumes 250-300 million cases of whisky (in a year). So, in a way, Indian malts are doing a great service to the entire industry," he told Mint.

They're also helping people upgrade from scotch and other blended whiskies to try something newer, more refined. We haven't seen any reduction in sales since the time these brands have become popular. I am looking at this very positively," he added.

Compared to the usual variants of whiskies aged up to 18 years that the company was selling in the country since it started operations here a decade ago, William Grant is now introducing many more rare single malt variants to the country.

This is because India has emerged as one of the top five markets for William Grant globally, across most of its portfolio of brands, especially whiskies. The company also makes the popular Hendrick's gin.

In high spirits

India is the largest consumer of brown spirits like whisky. Rising incomes, increased awareness, and a plethora of new choices, are leading to a shift in the consumption pattern of tipplers.

As per industry data from drinks and beverages consultancy IWSR, the overall single malts business in India is pegged to grow the maximum within the whisky category, at 5.5%, till 2027. In contrast, the entire alcoholic beverages industry is expected to grow only 3.7% during the period.

Moreover, the entire whisky category is expected to grow from $210 million in 2022 to $480 million, in 2027. Across different spirits, it is whisky which is expected to dominate the alco-bev sector, with approximate sales of 243 million cases, accounting for 63% of the total spirits' market.

While still at a nascent stage, Indian single malts have been gaining strong market share. The category grew at a rate of 14,200% between 2022 and 2021, to 2.81 lakh cases (of 9 litres each) being consumed in the year. And that is because, there are about a dozen Indian and foreign distilleries that have launched their own single-malt brands, such as Paul John, Amrut, Rampur, Indri Godawan and GianChand, among others.

William Grant has also moved to a self-owned distribution networkwhich is controlled by its UK parent companyin India, over the past decade. The company officially set up its India operations in 2014.

The number of cities and towns accepting this kind of (high end and luxury) product and price point has changed in the last decade. The last six years for the premium spirits category have been very healthy for the industry. From a consumption point of view, the pandemic changed the trends entirely," Mehta said.

We've heard this many times, but Indians are consuming better. We are now even bringing many rare liquids or whiskies into the country. For example, earlier the company would only bring in a maximum of 21-year-old aged whiskies, but today, that number goes to 23, 29 year and 30-year-old spirits in Glenfiddich," he noted.

Similarly, The Balvenie range of whiskies, which used to earlier run out of stock pretty regularly, has also seen a spurt in consumption recently. William Grant's sells a variety of beverages in India, ranging from premium and luxury scotch whiskies to high-end gin and single malts.

These segments make up a majority of the company's portfolio here. In addition to single malts, blended malt whiskey Monkey Shoulder and Hendrick's gin have also been fast-growing contributors to its portfolio here.

"Aged whisky or aged stocks have been difficult to project around the world because it's a prediction game and the demand has been huge around the world and so it's not new that companies have stopped numbering their aged whiskies in the number of years they have been aged to. But this is also a testament to the growing demand for single malt whiskies around the world," Mehta explained.

A new drink

William Grants tied up with Delhi-based Modi Distillery in 2018 to set up its first facility in the country in Uttar Pradesh and launched its first-ever made in India product from there. The company launched a variant of its Grant's range, called Grants Distinction.

Despite the country's dramatically different climate compared to Scotlands, William Grants created a new variant here, which it then ran trials for in the country to ensure that the whisky's flavours wouldnt be impacted by changing ambient temperatures.

There has been consistent growth in demand for our brands across the country. Metro cities contribute the largest segment to our business, both in value and volume," Mehta said.

The main business is coming from the north of the country (Delhi-NCR and Punjab). In the west, it is Mumbai and Goa, and other locations like Hyderabad and Kolkata are also catching up quickly. Demand and consumption in tier II cities is also growing rapidly," he added.

This growth accelerated post-Covid-19, particularly in 2021 and 2022, as remote working continued. Consumption of international spirits in tier II and III cities, was relatively strong starting between 2012-13, but the purchases were only happening in the bigger metros when travellers would move about.

The trend has changed a lot since then. The retail and shopping experience in tier II cities has improved dramatically. "Shoppers are consuming 250 million cases of whisky in India and they are looking to upgrade. I don't think it was about the ability or the exposure ever for smaller cities, but the access, and now that's changing," Mehta noted.

Globally, William Grant & Sons reported revenue growth of 21.7% for the year ending December 2022, at 1.72 billion ($2.1 billion). Its profit after tax for the year stood at 331.3 million, while it's expected to declare its 2023 results soon.

The company bounced back from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2022, with its profit levels back in line with those of 2019, when the pandemic and the consequent disruption in global supply chains had impacted the alcoholic beverages business.
With June having marked a 13th straight record-hot month on Earth, it is clear that temperatures are rising. At the same time, so is something else: the number of employees at real-estate-management firm Jones Lang LaSalle who are helping its clients respond to a warming planet.

The cost of inaction brings a lot more risk than the cost of action," says Guy Grainger, the companys global head of sustainability services. Over the past couple of years, Jones Lang LaSalle has doubled the ranks of those who are tackling issues stemming from climate change to about 900. In addition, Grainger says, the company has invested millions of dollars to train the bulk of its other 100,000 employees, including its on-site facility managers, on how they can bring sustainability into their day-to-day jobs."

All sorts of companies from different industries have been staffing up to help their customers meet carbon-emissions and waste-reduction targets and comply with a welter of environmental regulations, as well as ensure that they meet their own climate goals and that their supply chains arent disrupted by extreme-weather events and energy shortages.

Whats notable is that, according to our research, these businesses are generally better managed than those that arent dedicating the same level of resources to such matters.

Our findings are derived from a measure of corporate effectiveness created by the Drucker Institute at Claremont Graduate University. The institutes statistical model, which rests on the core principles of the late professor and author Peter Drucker, forms the basis of the Management Top 250, an annual ranking produced in partnership with The Wall Street Journal. Bendable Labs, a private firm, works with the institute to make the calculations and interpret them.

In all, we use 34 metrics to evaluate how companies perform, using standardized scores with a typical range of 0 to 100 and a mean of 50, across five areas: customer satisfaction, innovation, social responsibility, employee engagement and development, and financial strength. These categories then roll up into a score that indicates a companys total effectiveness. Drucker defined effectiveness as doing the right things well."

The Management Top 250 for 2023, published in December, was culled from a bigger universe of 794 large, publicly traded U.S. companies.

Climate connection

In our most recent analysis, we wanted to determine whether there was a connection between the number of climate-related jobs that a company has, relative to the size of its overall workforce, and how well-managed it is by our reckoning.

The data on climate jobs was supplied by Revelio Labs, which tracks hundreds of millions of public employment records, such as online professional profiles, and then adjusts for positions and locations that are underrepresented. It tallied employees in a variety of rolesincluding those who assess climate risk, forecast the weather, prepare for disasters, promote energy efficiency and much moreby searching for keywords in job titles and descriptions.

To see what, if any, links there might be between how a company scored in last years Drucker rankings and its share of climate jobs, we divided the 733 firms for which Revelio Labs had head-count information into quartiles.

Strikingly, those with the greatest share of climate jobs outscored those in the bottom quartile in each of our five categories. And in several cases, the gap was sizable. (In some areas, those in the second and third quartiles scored best.)

Corporations with the largest portion of climate jobs outpaced those with the smallest portion, on average, by 4.3 points in customer satisfaction, 3.5 points in innovation, 8.4 points in social responsibility, 5.3 points in employee engagement and development, and 1.4 points in financial strength.

The difference in overall effectiveness was 7 pointsan average score of 52.9 versus 45.9 on our 0-100 scale. The higher score would have landed a company in the top 40% of our rankings in 2023; the lower mark would have relegated it to the bottom third.

On the whole, more companies are paying attention to the elements. A study by Revelio Labs in April showed that the demand for jobs mentioning climate response or extreme weather has tripled between 2018 and now. Youd have to be living under a rock if you dont think climate change is important," says Lisa Simon, the chief economist at Revelio Labs.

Yet not every company is equally attuned. Of the capital-goods companies in our analysis, for example, 17 were in the top quartile with respect to climate jobs and 16 were in the bottom quartile. The spread in their average total effectiveness was huge: 53.5 compared with 44.4.

Proxy for good management

That those in the top tier tend to rank significantly higher in terms of their management prowess doesnt surprise Trevor David, client solutions director at Sustainalytics, which provides data for our social responsibility category. He points out that the institutional investors with which he works have started to use climate-related patents as a proxy for good management."

Whats less obviousand what we cant account for from a data-science standpointis why this nexus exists. Are well-managed companies concentrating on climate because theyre naturally future-focused," as David puts it? Or is there something about taking on sustainability initiatives that helps to drive results?

Those in the trenches say its a bit of both.

This month, Jones Lang LaSalle announced a partnership with International Business Machines to deliver a platform that commercial properties can use to capture sustainability data for decision-making and public reporting. From the Jones Lang LaSalle side, its an extension of a strategy launched three years ago to expand aggressively into what Grainger calls one of the most disruptive areas in real estate"climate change.

But its also the kind of project that is exciting for the companys employees to be involved withespecially those from Gen Z, who want to work at a business that has a purpose," Grainger says. This, he adds, helps with recruitment and retention, and that, in itself, brings success." In last years rankings, Jones Lang LaSalle finished at No. 109.

Mike Colarossi, head of enterprise sustainability at Avery Dennison, a materials science and digital-identification company that finished at No. 122 in the 2023 rankings, has witnessed the same phenomenon. Well-managed companies are forward-looking," he says. They see the opportunities and challenges that climate change brings."

All the while, with Avery Dennison offering climate-related productssuch as RFID technologies, which can help its customers cut down on food and apparel waste that would otherwise end up in landfills, belching methaneemployees feel like theyre part of something thats affecting them personally. Those at Avery Dennisons operations have had to deal this year with flooding in Brazil, drought in Mexico and stifling temperatures in Bangladesh, the U.S. and elsewhere.

Employees are very interested in climate," Colarossi says, and that drives innovation. That drives engagement. We start to see the flywheel take hold."

Where the action is

Few believe the trend will reverse, at least soon.

At Honeywell, some 60% of the industrial conglomerates revenues are from sustainability products, including emissions sensors, heat pumps, industrial carbon-capture and energy-storage systems, and low-carbon aviation fuel. Thats where the action is," says Gavin Towler, the chief sustainability officer at Honeywell, which was No. 27 in last years Drucker rankings.

Last month, the International Energy Agency forecast that global investment in clean energy technology and infrastructure is set to reach $2 trillion this year, twice the amount going into fossil fuels. If youre a company," Towler asks, wouldnt you want a piece of that?"

He, too, has observed the pride that employees take in trying to slow climate change. It really attracts people who want to have an impact," he says.

For some, the sense of urgency may be particularly acute. Towler notes that Honeywell has factories and offices in Phoenix, where the thermometer hit 110 degrees Fahrenheit or above 14 days in June.

In Chicago, where Towler lives, it hasnt been as bad. Still, warmer-than-average temperatures have brought out the spiders, ants and other insects. We got a lot of bugs this year," he says.

For the best-managed companies, however, that has come to look more like a feature.

Rick Wartzman is co-president and Kelly Tang is chief data scientist at Bendable Labs. They are also both senior research fellows at Claremont Graduate University.
The decision for a sharp reduction in import duties on gold and silver will help check gold smuggling and free up blocked funds, said Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) chairperson Sanjay Agarwal.

Given that gold is the primary raw material for the gems and jewellery sector, the move can also unlock blocked funds for these businesses, he explained, as the sector pays the duty upfront and only realizes the sale value after production.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in the union budget, proposed a sharp cut in the import duties on gold and silver bars from 15% to 6%, on gold and silver dore from 14.35% to 5.35%, and on platinum from 15.4% to 6%.

This sector is crucial as it provides significant employment and contributes substantially to exports.

Also Read: Budget 2024: FM Nirmala Sitharaman announces cut in custom duty on gold and silver to 6% As per trade analysts, the objective behind reducing the duties is to balance the inflow of cheaper bullion comin in. India imports gold mainly from Switzerland, the UAE, South Africa, Peru and Australia. But gold from the UAE is substantially cheaper because they enjoy zero tariff on account of the free trade deal between the two countries.

Smuggling increased following the duty hike in July 2022, with gold seizures rising by 37.14% from FY23 to FY24, increasing from 3,500 kg to 4,800 kg.

Imports jumped from $33.6 billion in FY 2019 to $48.8 billion in FY 2024, marking a 45.2% increase over the period.

Also Read: Budget 2024: I want to relieve middle class, but I have limitations too, says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman India's gold jewellery exports have also seen a steady rise from $6.59 billion in FY 2021 to $10.99 billion in FY 2022, $12.29 billion in FY 2023, and $13.24 billion in FY 2024.

"We need to ensure the sector remains healthy, as this is a key factor among others. The import duty on gold was increased in July 2022 due to the prevailing circumstances at that time, including a worsening current account deficit (CAD). The increase was intended to reduce normal imports, the CBIC chairman said.

"This had an impact on the gold import value, which decreased. Subsequently, the CAD position improved, Agarwal said.

However, trade experts have expressed reservations about the duty cut, suggesting it is a temporary measure. They pointed out that gold was being imported as a platinum compound at a mere 5% tariff, benefiting from a 10% duty arbitrage.

With the new Most Favored Nation (MFN) duty on gold at 6%, this arbitrage is reduced to 1%, but it is expected to increase again. Next year, the arbitrage will rise to 3.9%, and in two years, it will increase further, reaching 6.4% when CEPA tariffs on platinum drop to zero, said Ajay Srivastava of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). a think tank.

The duty cuts on precious metals will cause the government an annual revenue loss of Rs. 28,000 crore, based on FY2024 import levels, the GTRI chief said, adding that this is a significant fiscal sacrifice, but a necessary step to curb the unsustainable influx of bullion and protect the domestic market.

The duty cut is expected to significantly boost the export industry, leading to the creation of numerous job opportunities. Although the exact number of new jobs has not yet been evaluated, there is a general consensus that the bullion business will experience growth," Vipul Shah, the chairman of Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), said.

"This measure will enhance productivity and exports, which, in turn, will generate more employment for artisans and ultimately increase exports, Shah said.

Sachin Jain, the regional CEO for India at the World Gold Council (WGC), said it will reduce the incentives for smuggling of gold and create a level playing field for honest industry stakeholders.
Mumbai: ICICI Bank expects a compression of 10-14 percentage point in its liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) from the Reserve Bank of India's recent guidelines, senior officials of the private lender said in a call with analysts after the June-quarter earnings on Saturday.

Last week, the RBI came out with draft guidelines asking banks to set aside a higher stock of liquid assets to meet a contingency like a potential bank run. RBI has asked banks to account for the possibility of an outflow of retail deposits through digital means, while calculating the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR). Currently, banks are required to maintain an LCR of 100%.

LCR refers to the proportion of highly liquid assets that lenders must hold to honour short-term obligations such as withdrawals of current account and savings account deposits.

In a recent note on the RBI guidelines, IIFL Securities said that ICICI Bank could see its LCR decline to 108% from 121%, once the new LCR comes into effect from 1 April.

ICICI Bank posts net profit growth The country's second-largest private sector lender reported a 15% year-on-year (y-o-y) growth in deposits and a 15.9% rise in credit at the end of June quarter. While deposit growth has been in line with credit growth so far, ICICI Bank expects some impact due to the revised LCR guidelines.

Also read | Sebi finds ICICI bank outreach to I-sec shareholders inappropriate ICICI Bank reported a 14.6% year-on-year jump in net profit in the first quarter of this financial year owing to higher treasury gains and non-interest income.

The bank's net profit rose nearly 15% to 11,059 crore during the quarter. Non-interest income or other income jumped 23.3% to 6,389 crore, as the bank saw higher dividend from subsidiaries. The bank saw a dividend income of 894 crore, as against 291 crore during the corresponding quarter a year ago. Treasury gains more than doubled to 613 crore in the three months through June.

Core income slows, asset quality dips The bank's core income slowed, with net interest income (NII) rising just 7.3% year-on-year to 19,553 crore in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. The core net interest income growth was restricted by a drop in net interest margin to 4.36% at the end of the June quarter from 4.4% in the previous quarter and 4.78% in the corresponding quarter a year ago.

Also read | Why ICICI Bank employees are dialling ICICI Securities shareholders "We were at a peak NIM a year ago. But margins have been trending downwards due to the rate cycle, but this is largely done. We see margins rangebound going forward. We will have to see the impact of LCR guidelines and whenever the repo rate is cut," said Sandeep Batra, executive director, ICICI Bank.

Asset quality deteriorated marginally in the first quarter due to higher bad loans in the agriculture loan portfolio. The bank added fresh bad loans worth 5,916 crore during the quarter. Gross non-performing assets increased to 28,719 crore compared to 27,962 crore during the same quarter a year ago. As a percentage of total assets, gross NPA stood at 2.15% at the end of June quarter compared to 2.16% in the previous quarter. Provisions increased to 1,332 crore during the first quarter compared to 718 crore in the previous quarter.

ICICI Bank's advances grew by 15.7% y-o-y and 3.3% quarter-on-quarter, led by higher disbursements to non-banks and corporate segments. The management also said that it has calibrated the growth in personal loans from a 40% year on year growth in FY24, to 20% in FY25.
New Delhi/Mumbai: Indian banks are turning to advanced technology and specialized teams to try and trace accounts known as 'cyber mules' amid a rising tide of digital banking frauds.

Mule accounts, so named because they act as conduits for sending and receiving funds that do not belong to the bank account holder, usually remain dormant but can see a sudden spurt in typically low-value, high-volume transactions.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has urged banks to keep a close watch on such accounts.

RBI governor Shaktikanta Das recently expressed concern over digital frauds and the rapid increase in use of mule bank accounts to perpetrate such frauds". In FY24, the value of digital payment frauds at banks was at 1,457 crore and involved 29,082 transactions, higher than both FY22 and FY23, as per the RBIs annual report.

Experts said mule accounts are used by scamsters for digital frauds that involve transferring money out of the victims bank account into a chain of accounts, making it harder to trace such funds.

Typically, the mule accounts involve up to 15 accounts in a distribution chain, and this entire chain is kept ready at any pointwith scammers tasked with live-tracing which accounts are operational, and which are not.

Teams at banks are using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning (ML) tools in order to take on such scams. For instance, Axis Bank created a new internal unit about six months ago that consolidated some of the existing roles of monitoring and detecting suspicious accounts across the bank.

We call that unit the financial crime intelligence unit," Subrat Mohanty, executive director of banking operations and transformation, Axis Bank said during an earnings call on 24 July.

This unit has been working on 20 initiatives as we speak, largely focussed on preventing frauds and identifying suspicious and mule accounts. This is something we believe we are a bit ahead in terms of our thinking and execution."

However, Mohanty declined to share details on what kind of accounts these weresavings or currentsaying the bank does not share that kind of internal intelligence at this point in time to the external world".

It is something we work very closely with the law enforcement authorities."

Rival lender Kotak Mahindra Bank is also using technology to detect mule accounts. According to Ashok Vaswani, chief executive, Kotak Mahindra Bank, the lender takes the issue extremely seriously".

We have actually seen, and the governor has also pointed out, that it (mule accounts) is more in the current account space than in savings accounts," Vaswani said in response to a question on its earnings call on 20 July.

We have built machine learning models that spot these transactions and therefore the accounts as early as possible. We are very very vigilant on this particular item."

Indias largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) has initiated the process of putting in place a robust fraud monitoring solution  specifically for electronic channels that are being used by the customers".

The bank said in its 2023-24 annual report that this was in addition to the industry standards of IT security/Cyber Security that are being followed".

Cybersecurity experts said that mule accounts at banks are being identified through techniques such as behavioural authentication, or risk-based authentication.

Most of these mule accounts do small transactions, but at a very high volume," said Sandip Panda, chief executive at cyber security firm, Instasafe.

Such accounts are trickier to trace, since small-ticket transactions are very inconspicuous and are difficult to have a blanket rule against and to take on such accounts, additional authentication mechanisms and productivity of banking operations come as a collateral damage and trade-off to security standards."

Panda also pointed out that several Indian banks are stuck with legacy systems in their IT infrastructure and there is a need for smarter, faster security solutions that conduct trials to come up with better ways to identify such accounts.

A banker involved in investigating fraudulent transactions said that most mule accounts are those whose know-your-customer (KYC) details are sold to scammers.

People living in abject poverty are approached by scam circles who urge them to sell their KYC documents, and are promised an incentive of 5-10% for every transaction that happens in that account. Those targeted are mostly people in the lowest income and education circles who are not aware of the legal and risk aspects of agreeing to such an arrangement.

By doing this, the main perpetrators get away with the crime, and cyber investigations remain incomplete since the real criminals are never caught," the banker said on condition of anonymity.

The unified payments interface or UPI is also being used by scammers to quickly transfer funds between multiple accounts. A cyber security expert working closely with regulators said that transfers made through UPI are instantaneous and seamless, unlike other modes of electronic fund transfers that require adding beneficiaries and waiting for a specific time before movement of funds are allowed.

The ease of access of UPI has also made scams harder to prevent, as it removes multiple practical barriers of the transaction chain," said the expert cited above who also spoke on condition of anonymity.
Google abandoned efforts to eliminate tracking cookies in its Chrome browser, but the snippets of code that have fueled the lucrative digital-advertising economy for decades might disappear anyway.

Instead of killing cookies itself, Google will leave that up to the consumer. And if history is any lesson, people might just do it.

Google plans to introduce a prompt asking users to opt in or out of cookies in Chrome, according to U.K. regulators overseeing the process. The strategy shift followed a four-year effort to sunset and replace the tracking technology, a process mired in delays and pushback by the ad industry.

Online publishers and ad-tech companies are hungry for details about how Googles user-choice prompt will work. The precise wording and timing will drastically affect how many users opt in and how much data the industry gets.

The ad industry is concerned that the Alphabet unit will adopt a sternly worded prompt similar to the Ask App Not to Track" language Apple rolled out in 2021 as part of its privacy push, which hurt many in the digital-ad business. Apples prompt asks if the user will allow the app owner to track their activity across other companies apps and websites. U.S. users opt out of tracking about 74% of the times they encounter the language, according to mobile-analytics firm Adjust.

Googles Chrome is the most popular web browser in the world and the only major one that still supports cookies. That makes it essential to the global digital-ad industry, which is expected to bring in $677 billion in annual spending this year, according to Insider Intelligence.

An opt-out mechanism paired with a foreboding prompt could eliminate cookies through the guise of consumer choice," said mobile-marketing analyst and venture capitalist Eric Seufert.

Previous outcomes

Other approaches have resulted in different outcomes. When California in 2020 required websites to let consumers opt out of having their data sold, many publishers simply placed a link saying Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" at the bottom of their home page. Fewer than 1% of site visitors clicked it, according to large publishers.

The ad industry hopes Google will consider the lessons and challenges already learned through previous efforts, such as Apples," said Rajeev Goel, chief executive of ad tech firm PubMatic.

While the industry innovates to enable user choice and protect privacy, we have to ensure the solutions maintain the economics that support a free and open internet," Goel said.

If a swath of Chrome users opts out of cookies, that would have major repercussions for ad-tech companies and web publishers lacking access to consumer data. When Apple introduced its tracking prompt, Facebook lost $10 billion in revenue in 2022 alone.

Goel said his company will be less affected because advertisers would likely shift money to other areas that offer targeting such as streaming and retail media, sectors where PubMatic has been growing its business.

Google hasnt decided on the wording and timing for rolling out the new option, Google executive Alex Cone told a conference call of ad-tech executives Wednesday, according to the meeting minutes viewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Cone told attendees that Google would still develop and test its Privacy Sandbox," a suite of alternative technologies to the cookie, according to the document.

A Google spokesman declined to comment beyond the companys blog post this past week, which said it was exploring an approach that elevates user choice."

The cookies in question are bits of code that log the activity of internet users across websites so marketers can target them with relevant ads and track their effectiveness. Other kinds of cookies, known as first-party cookies, collect basic details such as login credentials for specific websites.

Chrome users already can opt out of cookiesbut only about 8% do so, according to estimates from ad-tech company Index Exchange. To take this option, users have to hunt it down in their browser settings.

The U.K.s competition regulator, which is overseeing Googles cookies policies, has said it would carefully consider the companys new approach and solicit feedback from the industry. Google has agreed to work with the regulator on any changes and said it would apply them worldwide.

We could end up in a world where cookies are effectively deprecated because consumers opt out," said Anthony Katsur, chief executive of IAB Tech Lab, an ad-tech trade group.

Effect on Google

Ad-tech executives also want to know whether Google will make it just as easy to opt out of allowing Google to collect data on users web searches or YouTube viewing. If not, this move could benefit Google, they said.

Its hard to predict what Google will do next," said Jeff Green, chief executive of ad-tech company The Trade Desk, a Google competitor. They are caught between trying to champion privacy while also monetizing their owned content such as YouTube, while trying to appease regulators."

Google has said it promised not to give any preferential treatment to the companys own products as part of its agreement with the U.K. regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority. The CMA didnt respond to a request for comment.

For their part, web publishers have invested in systems and strategies for collecting information about their customers in preparation for cookies going away.

Publishers that rely heavily on ad revenue have the most on the line, said Matt Prohaska, CEO of Prohaska Consulting, a firm that works with web publishers and brands. They are trying to determine the impact on their revenue should Google adopt the Apple-like prompts.

Its a lot of frustration about time, money, energy spent creating something for a new world that now is going to be different again," Prohaska said.

Alexandra Bruell contributed to this article.
Philip L. Graham, the former publisher of The Washington Post , is widely credited with the truism: Journalism is the first rough draft of history." But this claim can be equally staked by writers of fiction and poetry. For it is through the alchemy of their experience and imagination that the history of our distant past, or vanishing present, begins to assume a human face.

Scholar, journalist and writer Uddipana Goswamis latest collection of stories, The Women Who Would Not Die: Stories, drives home the truth behind this sentiment with a raw force. Except for the last, all the stories are set in the authors homeland, Assam. In letter and spirit, these vignettes are rooted to specific cultural and social contexts. You could wager that although written in English, these stories pulsate with the cadence of colloquial Axomiya, its idioms, expressions and emotional registers.

While the people and places that appear in the stories are recognisably from Assam, there is a tragic universality to the scars they carry on their minds and bodies, like festering physiological wounds. Goswami sets up her canvas right off the bat. Andolan, the opening story, offers the reader a potted history of sectarian violence in the village of Barbari. From the origins of this division during the British Raj to its persistence in contemporary India, it tells a familiar morality tale: All oppressors loathe and fear those whom they oppress." Whether it is Gaza or Ukraine, the North-East or Kashmir, places described as conflict zones, are, in essence, riddled by the same underlying tension, irrespective of historical triggers to violence. Life runs on the age-old natural law of the big fish eating the small and small fish eating those smaller than them.

Goswami builds on this idea, unpeeling layers of social and economic inequalities that have turned ordinary, decent, once-neighbourly humans into monsters. In themselves, they are good people," the narrator says, but between them, they are deeply divided." The bleak irony is that those in power today can, in a blink of an eye, be turned into victims tomorrow, simply because the political or economic reality has shifted. The Hindu Axamiyas atavistic pride in being the true natives of Assam, for example, is quickly overturned by the arrival of migrants from across the border. Bengali Muslim settlers, employed as cheap labour to till the land, soon begin to expand their community as well as their influence. In the pecking order of caste Hindus, Muslims, Bodos and other tribes, the wheel of advantage keeps turning, depending on who gets to call the shots.

This theme of radical instability is at the core of life in conflict zones. Goswami carries it into other stories, where the focus is on a different site of conflict: the home. Men and women thrown together through marriage or circumstance are locked in a battle for self-determination. Just as breach of territorial borders leads to violence among communities, the violation of personal boundaries erupts into marital rape, domestic violence and lifelong suffering.

Goswamis women are survivors, even when they are dead like Romola in Write Romola.The shadow of her absence in her afterlife runs so long that her story cannot be told by another woman from a different social station, even though she, too, is a victim of her volatile husbands moods.

View Full Image The Women Who Would Not DieStories: By Uddipana Goswami, Speaking Tiger, 224 pages,  499

Questions ripple through the collection: Who has the right to speak for others? Can a writer convey the experience of oppression when they are sheltered from the worst of it? And finally, are there stories that cannot, should not, be told?

In one of the longest stories, Beloved of Flowers, the protagonist Dino, the scion of a family of religious leaders but in reality an aspiring writer, suffers a nervous breakdown as he encounters a horrific truth in his patrons family. In Body, Bones and All, the protagonist is fortified by the knowledge that If a body was crushed, it would become a creeper, a plant or a flower, and finally recover." This Ovidian transformation of the body into nature is an allusion to the Assamese folklore of Tejimola. Its a paradigm that rears its head at several moments, including in the title story.

Published by Lakshminath Bezbarua in 1911, the story of Tejimola is a familiar one, about a girl falling victim to her stepmothers wrath. When Tejimolas corpse is buried in the yard by the evil stepmother, it flowers into a gourd tree. When the stepmother cuts it down, Tejimola returns as a plum tree. Finally, when the plum tree is hacked and thrown into the river, the young girl reincarnates as a lotus, which tells her father, returning from a trip by water, the truth of the tragedy that befell her. In a final deliverance of justice, Tejimola returns to her original, human form. The stepmother is punished and the father-daughter duo live happily ever after.

Also read: Sushin Shyam and new sounds in Malayalam cinema

Reality, unfortunately, is deprived of the comfort of the magical revivifying power of mythical tales. Goswamis girls and women either recover enough to ignore their scars and carry on, or disappear, leaving behind the legacy of intergenerational trauma.

Somak Ghoshal is a writer based in Delhi.
The deadline to file income tax return (ITR) for financial year 2023-24 is July 31. It is a well-known fact but what most taxpayers are not aware is that the deadline is highly unlikely to be extended. If you recall, a similar situation happened last year. A large number of taxpayers were hoping for the deadline to get extended as a convention.

But at the eleventh hour, they faced a rude shock when they learnt that the deadline was not going to be moved.

The situation is not too distinct this time around. While there is a chatter, and some demands that the deadline to file income tax return may (or should) get extended, it is perhaps as unlikely and uncertain as the roll-back of revision of provision of capital gains tax.

Also Read | Interest on personal loan can be claimed as income tax deduction in some cases

Let us understand what do you stand to lose if you fail to file income tax return before July 31.

1. Losing out on exemptions given in old tax regime: When you miss the July 31 deadline, you would not be able to file your return after this date under the old tax regime because for financial year 2023-24, new tax regime is the default regime. This effectively means you will not be able to avail exemptions and deductions against investments in tax-saving instruments.

After July 31 deadline, taxpayers will not be able to claim these benefits since they will be shifted to the new tax regime wherein these benefits are absent.

Chirag Chauhan, a Mumbai-based chartered accountant, explained this in an X post wherein he says, missing the deadline could lead to the forfeiture of benefits tied to the old tax regime, as taxpayers will automatically be shifted to the new tax regimethis being the default option. This shift could make the situation more costly, as taxpayers who preferred the old tax regime for its deductions and exemptions will find that the new regime does not offer these benefits and may have to pay higher taxes with interest.

For salaried taxpayers with no business income, who have opted for Old Tax Regime, have to file the ITR before the due date. Else they will not be able to opt out of the default New Tax Regime, says Chartered Accountant Pratibha Goyal, partner, PD Gupta & Company, a Delhi-based firm.

Also Read | ITR filing 2024: IT dept says more than 5 cr income tax returns filed so far

2. Late filing fee: As we are aware that missing July 31 deadline for filing ITR means the income tax department can impose a late filing fee of 5,000 under Section 234F of the Income Tax (I-T) Act. However, the late filing fee is slashed to 1,000 if your income is below 5 lakh.

Besides, if there is a tax liability, taxpayers are made to pay interest at a rate of 1 percent per month as per Section 234A of the Income Tax Act on the outstanding tax amount from the due date.

3. No carry forward of loss: If taxpayers happened to incur losses because of their investment in stock market, mutual funds, properties or any of their businesses, they have the option to carry forward these losses and offset them against income in the subsequent years.

This provision substantially reduces your tax liability in future years. However, this is not permitted when you file your return after the deadline.
(Bloomberg) -- Firefighters in California are bracing for hotter and drier conditions in coming weeks that may impede efforts to contain a massive wildfire after a brief respite from several days of cooler temperatures.

The Park Fire, which authorities say was started by arson, has doubled in size since Friday, scorching more than 350,000 acres in four northern California counties  Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama. The expansion has made it the largest active blaze in the state and one of the biggest in Californias history.

The fire was 12% contained as of Sunday morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. Almost 4,000 firefighters and other personnel have been working to tame the fast-moving blaze located about 85 miles (137 kilometers) north of Sacramento. The Park Fire has triggered evacuation orders and warnings and briefly threatened Californias power grid, damaging or destroying 71 structures.

Temperatures are poised to rise again after cooling down across Northern California over the weekend.

The fire is actively burning in heavy, receptive fuel beds, Cal Fire said Sunday on its website. This allows the fire to expand rapidly. Warm, windy, and dry conditions will increase risk of extreme fire activity, similar to what the fire has done previously. There will be higher temperatures and lower humidities today.

Brian Thompson, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, also warned of worsening weather conditions in the coming week and into August.

Itll start to turn hotter again and it may start to get closer to 100 degrees (38C) especially the second half of the upcoming week, Thompson said. The humidity may start to come down a little bit as well. So that could be more of a problem later in the week compared to what were seeing this weekend.

The blaze is one of several raging across the Western US, with Oregon contending with the nearly 290,000-acre Durkee fire since a lightning strike on July 17. In Canada, Albertas resort town of Jasper and its iconic national park have also been engulfed in five devastating wildfires, two of which were classified as out of control as of Saturday, according to an official website monitoring the fires.

AccuWeather is also forecasting a hotter-and dryer-than-normal August, which could pose challenge in the longer term for efforts to contain the Park Fire, Thompson added.

Listen on Zero: The 21st Century Will Be Shaped by Destructive Fire Weather

The blaze may take weeks, if not months to fully contain, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing a climate scientist.

Govenor Gavin Newsom secured federal assistance for Tehama County on Saturday night, in addition to aid for Butte County.

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the fire and directed his team to do everything possible the federal government can to help put it out, according to a White House official.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
'Mann Ki Baat', Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio broadcast for the month of July will be aired today, i.e, July 28. Today's episode is the 112th one of the series.

Earlier, PM Modi had said that he had received numerous inputs for July's episode, and expressed his happiness at several youngsters coming together to highlight collective issues for transforming society.

I've been getting numerous inputs for this month's #MannKiBaat, which will take place on Sunday, the 28th. Happy to see several youngsters in particular highlight collective efforts aimed at transforming our society. You can keep sharing inputs on MyGov, the NaMo App or record your message on 1800-11-7800,  Modi wrote on the social media platform X.

The last episode of 'Mann Ki Baat', was aired on June 30, 2024, Sunday. It was PM Narendra Modi's first address to the nation, since February 2024, as there had been delays due to the Lok Sabha Elections.

In the June episode, Modi highlighted the significant role of Sanskrit in ancient Indian knowledge and science. He also addressed Akashvani's Sanskrit Bulletin completing 50 years of broadcast on the same day.

Modi also spoke about the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign that was launched on World Environment Day(June 5), requesting people around the world to partake in the tree plantation initiative.

When did 'Mann Ki Baat' start The programme was first launched on October 3, 2014, with an aim to connect the various segments of the Indian society, including women, the youth and the elderly. The episodes are broadcast on the last Sunday of every month.

Also Read | PM urges states to take tangible actions, turn districts into growth drivers

Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, 'Mann Ki Baat' is broadcast in 11 foreign languages, including French, Chinese, Indonesian, and several others. Mann Ki Baat is broadcast by more than 500 centres of All India Radio.
Local people display traditional costumes on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 27, 2024.

A rural folk event kicked off here on Saturday, consisting of performances, milking competition, yak beauty contest, horse racing and other activities. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Local people display traditional costumes on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 27, 2024.

A rural folk event kicked off here on Saturday, consisting of performances, milking competition, yak beauty contest, horse racing and other activities. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Locals perform Guozhuang dance on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 27, 2024.

A rural folk event kicked off here on Saturday, consisting of performances, milking competition, yak beauty contest, horse racing and other activities. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Locals perform Guozhuang dance on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 27, 2024.

A rural folk event kicked off here on Saturday, consisting of performances, milking competition, yak beauty contest, horse racing and other activities. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Locals participate in a horsemanship performance on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 27, 2024.

A rural folk event kicked off here on Saturday, consisting of performances, milking competition, yak beauty contest, horse racing and other activities. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

A woman participates in a milking competition on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 27, 2024.

A rural folk event kicked off here on Saturday, consisting of performances, milking competition, yak beauty contest, horse racing and other activities. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Locals participate in a milking competition on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 27, 2024.

A rural folk event kicked off here on Saturday, consisting of performances, milking competition, yak beauty contest, horse racing and other activities. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

This photo taken on July 27, 2024 shows a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

A rural folk event kicked off here on Saturday, consisting of performances, milking competition, yak beauty contest, horse racing and other activities. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Locals participate in a horsemanship performance on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 27, 2024.

A rural folk event kicked off here on Saturday, consisting of performances, milking competition, yak beauty contest, horse racing and other activities. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Locals perform Guozhuang dance on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 27, 2024.

A rural folk event kicked off here on Saturday, consisting of performances, milking competition, yak beauty contest, horse racing and other activities. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

A woman participates in a milking competition on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 27, 2024.

A rural folk event kicked off here on Saturday, consisting of performances, milking competition, yak beauty contest, horse racing and other activities. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

A woman participates in a milking competition on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 27, 2024.

A rural folk event kicked off here on Saturday, consisting of performances, milking competition, yak beauty contest, horse racing and other activities. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

A man participates in a competition of picking up hada on horseback on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

A rider and his horses are pictured before a horse racing in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Riders participate in a horse racing on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Locals participate in a competition of picking up hada on horseback on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

A man participates in a competition of picking up hada on horseback on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

A rider falls off his horse during a horse racing in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

A man participates in a competition of picking up hada on horseback on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Riders participate in a horse racing on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Riders participate in a horse racing on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Riders participate in a horse racing on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Riders participate in a horse racing on a grassland in Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)
Dausa: After Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma received death threats reportedly from Shyalawas Jail in Dausa, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Lalsot Lokesh Sonwal said that the police have identified the accused and recovered nine mobile phones from the spot.

ASP Lalsot Lokesh Sonwal said, "Today morning at 7.30 a.m. Dausa SP Ranjita Sharma received a phone call from higher officials in Jaipur that a person had issued a threat to a control room from the location of Central Jail Shyalawas. She gave directions to verify the threat. The local CEO and SHO went to the spot. A search was conducted at the spot along with jail authorities."

He further said that the mobile and the SIM were seized, from which the threat was given.

"The mobile and sim was seized and the person was identified who issued the threat. An FIR has been issued and an investigation is going on. We carried out a search operation in which ADM, SDM and DIG were involved. 9 mobile phones were unearthed from the ground. The name of the accused cannot be revealed," he added.

He further revealed that the accused is serving a sentence under 376 and that he is from Darjeeling.
A woman in New York found her child's freshly prepared meal at Burger King splattered with blood from inside. While sharing the horrifying incident on social media, the woman claimed that her daughter took a few bites of the food, assuming the red substance to be tomato ketchup.

Also Read | Viral Video: Dead insect found in Burger King order

New York resident Tiffany Floyd shared the incident on Facebook and took the matter to the senior representatives of the American fast food chain. The company has issued an apology and has also assured to compensate Tiffany and pay her daughter's medical bills as she took a few bites of the food wrapped in the blood-stained food packet.

While sharing a post on Facebook about the incident, Tiffany Floyd wrote, Burger King count your freaking days.

In her Facebook post, Tiffany explained how she wanted to enjoy a happy meal with her daughter. After purchasing the packet, she handed it over to her daughter letting her open the packet by herself. After some time, her daughter complained that the food had ketchup, which she didn't want. After checking the food, Tiffany realised that the ketchup was actually blood, shared Tiffany in her Facebook post.

Also Read | Tomatoes on vacation at Burger King amid rising prices

Im out doing running around with the kids and Tay wanted a happy meal so i stop and i usually take her food out for her but today i just gave her the bag than i hear mommy theres ketchup and i didnt want ketchup so i take it back to see if they messed up our order and its BLOOD!!! Tiffany wrote on her Facebook post.

Tiffany Floyd claimed she found blood inside a Burger King food packet in her Facebook post.

Theres blood all over her food and inside the bag  i called Burger King because i knew if i went back there Id end up in jail and the manager calmly goes ya our one guy cut his hand , if you come back Ill refund you the money  WHAT!!! So now im waiting for tays doctor to call me back to see if i have to take her to the hospital to get blood work . I AM LIVID!!!! she added.

Where did the blood come from? After the incident, Floyd immediately called the establishment and claimed that the Burger King manager admitted that one of the cooks had cut his hand and was bleeding. The manager also apologised for the inconvenience and provided a refund for the food. The next thing Floyd did was to contact her daughter's paediatrician, who told her that her daughter needed to undergo blood tests regularly to check for any side effects of consuming the food, the woman told The New York Post.

Burger King's reaction to the incident The company issued a statement and said that it was deeply upset with the incident.
Robert Downey Jr. is making a surprising return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom in the new "Avengers" movie titled "Avengers: Doomsday." Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, who are also returning to Marvel, the movie will introduce Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom. The Russo brothers are set to helm two new "Avengers" movies: "Doomsday" and "Avengers: Secret Wars."

While Downey had recently expressed openness to returning to Marvel, fans naturally assumed he would reprise his role as Iron Man/Tony Stark. His return as the villainous Victor von Doom has shocked the fandom, including the ecstatic audience at Marvels presentation at San Diego Comic-Con. Downey made a triumphant appearance in Hall H on Saturday evening to reveal his return.

The panel was flooded with hooded figures concealed by masks that resembled the iconic comic book villain known for his skills in both sorcery and science when Downey Jr. revealed himself.

"I like playing complicated characters," he said as fans began to chant his name.

Downey as Iron Man Downey's debut as the playboy super-genius Stark was in 2008's "Iron Man," the inaugural film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe created by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige.

Over the next 11 years, Downey would starred in 10 Marvel films, including Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3, The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers, Captian America: Civil War, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

Endgame featured the death of Iron Man. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige told Vanity Fair earlier that he had no interest in messing with Downeys emotional exit.
C Spire, one of the largest telecommunications companies in the US, on Saturday decided to pull all advertisements from the Paris Olympics 2024.

This development came after the opening ceremony of Paris Olympics on July 26 ignited widespread criticism and backlash. It showcased drag queens and transgender individuals in a parody of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper.

Also Read | Is Paris Olympics 2024 last outing for Rafael Nadal before retirement?

The telecom giant took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express its disapproval. The post reads, "We were shocked by the mockery of the Last Supper during the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics. C Spire will be pulling our advertising from the Olympics."

Mississippi Governor supports C Spires decision Governor of Mississippi, Tate Reeves, also stood in full support of C Spires decision as he remarked, I am proud to see the private sector in Mississippi step up and put their foot down. God will not be mocked. C Spire drew a common-sense, appropriate line."

The act depicting The Last Supper has been termed as an 'anti-Christian' display. C Spire joined the group of religious leaders and politicians condemning the portrayal of religious and historical figures.

Also Read | Time for government to do more for Badminton: Shuttler Chirag Shetty

C Spire CEO Suzy Hays in a statement said, C Spire is supportive of our athletes who have worked so hard to be a part of the Olympics. However, we will not be a part of the offensive and unacceptable mockery of the Last Supper, which is why were pulling our advertising from the Olympics, reported 16 WAPT.

(Mint could not independently confirm the development)

Netizens' reaction Netizens were strong to react to this post as many hailed this decision while others criticised it for bowing to the radical right.

A user on X wrote," My company uses your services. Well be changing providers. We cant do business with a spineless company that bows to the radical right." A second user stated,  I will be contacting you very soon about changing my wireless service!
Beijings rigorous push for chatbots with core socialist values is the latest roadblock in its effort to catch up with the US in a race for artificial intelligence (AI) supremacy. Its also a timely reminder for the world that a chatbot cannot have its own political beliefs, the same way it cannot make human decisions.

Its easy for finger-wagging Western observers to jump on recent reporting that China is forcing companies to undergo intensive political tests as more evidence that AI development will be knee-capped by the governments censorship regime.

The arduous process adds a painstaking layer of work for tech firms, and restricting the freedom to experiment can impede innovation. The difficulty of creating AI models infused with specific values will likely hurt Chinas efforts to create chatbots as sophisticated as those in the US in the short term.

But it also exposes a broader misunderstanding around the realities of AI, despite a global arms race and a mountain of industry hype propelling its growth.

Since the launch of OpenAIs ChatGPT in late 2022 kicked off a global generative AI frenzy, there has been a tendency from the US to China to anthropomorphize this emerging technology. But treating AI models like humans, and expecting them to act that way, is a dangerous path to forge for a technology still in its infancy. Chinas misguided approach should serve as a wake-up call.

Beijings AI ambitions are already under severe threat from all-out US efforts to bar access to advanced semiconductors and chip-making equipment.

But Chinese internet regulators are also trying to impose political restrictions on the outputs from homegrown AI models, ensuring their responses dont go against Communist Party ideals or speak ill of leaders like Xi Jinping. Companies are restricting certain phrases in the training data, which can limit overall performance and the ability to spit out accurate responses.

Moreover, Chinese AI developers are already at a disadvantage. There is far more English-language text online than Chinese that can be used for training data, not even counting what is already cut off by the Great Firewall.

The black box nature of large-language models also makes censoring outputs inherently challenging. Some Chinese AI companies are now building a separate layer onto their chatbots to replace problematic responses in real time.

But it would be unwise to dismiss all this as simply restricting its tech prowess in the long run. Beijing wants to be the global AI leader by 2030, and is throwing the entire might of the state and private sector behind this effort. The government reiterated its commitment to develop the high-tech industry during its recent Third Plenum.

And in racing to create AI their own way, Chinese developers are also forced to approach LLMs in novel ways. Their research could potentially sharpen AI tools for harder tasks that they have traditionally struggled with.

Tech companies in the US have spent years trying to control the output of AI models and ensure they dont hallucinate or spew offensive responsesor, in the case of Elon Musk, ensure responses are not too woke." Many tech giants are still figuring out how to implement and control these types of guard rails.

Earlier this year, Alphabet Incs Google paused its AI image generator after it created historically inaccurate depictions of people of colour in place of Caucasian folks. An early Microsoft AI chatbot dubbed Tay was infamously shut down in 2016 after it was exploited on Twitter and started spitting out racist and hateful comments.

Because AI models are trained on gargantuan amounts of text scraped from the internet, their responses risk perpetuating the racism, sexism and myriad other dark features baked into discourse there.

Companies like OpenAI have since made great strides in reducing inaccuracies, limiting biases and improving the overall output of chatbotsbut these tools are still just machines trained on the work of humans.

They can be re-engineered and tinkered with, or programmed not to use racial slurs or talk politics, but its impossible for them to grasp morals or form their own political ideologies.

Chinas push to ensure chatbots toe the party line may be more extreme than the restrictions US companies are imposing on their AI tools. But these efforts from different sides of the globe reveal a profound misunderstanding of how we should collectively approach AI.

Also read: AI can predict tipping points before they happen

The world is pouring vast swaths of money and immense amounts of energy into creating conversational chatbots. Instead of trying to assign human values to bots and use more resources to make them sound more human, we should start asking how they can be used to help humans. bloomberg
Even as the US Democratic Party works to secure a formal nomination for Kamala Harris after President Joe Bidens decision to bow out of the electoral process, the Republican National Convention earlier this month put its stamp on former president Donald Trumps candidacy for the White House.

Trump also announced the junior senator from Ohio since 2023, J.D. Vance, as his running mate. Vance had been a strong critic of Trump in the past, calling him Americas Hitler" and a moral disaster." He had been categorical in his public assessment of Trump as a total fraud" who didnt care about regular people and had even called him reprehensible."

But that was then. After the assassination attempt against Trump, Vance placed the blame directly on Biden and had tweeted: 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." At the convention, he was all praises for Trump, arguing that Trump had given everything he has to fight for his country" and that he didnt need politics but the country needed him."

More strikingly, he also laid out a vision of a Trump-Vance foreign policy that is striking in the way it positions the Republican external engagement far away from the traditional centre ground of American politics. Both Trump and Vance have articulated a foreign policy landscape that is causing ripples across the world.

The most significant aspect of a Trump-Vance foreign policy is likely to be an even closer scrutiny of China. The duo has repeatedly underlined, with some justification, that policies pursued by Washington over the past few decades have resulted in the US market being flooded with cheap Chinese goods, with cheap foreign labour," and in the decades to come, inflows of deadly Chinese fentanyl" could worsen.

In his four years in office, Trump succeeded in re-configuring the contours of American policy toward Beijing despite his occasional displays of a liking for Chinas leader Xi Jinping.

It resulted in a tech and trade war with China, but more significantly forced the world to recognize the costs of allowing China to grow at the expense of others. A broader Western re-appraisal followed, leading to a rapid shift in the global consensus.

Trumps successor Joe Biden also agreed with the Trump assessment, and, after initial criticism, ended up not only keeping but expanding the US tariffs placed on a range of Chinese goods.

For the Biden administration, the centrality of China in the US foreign policy matrix cannot be overestimated, though the security architecture it has tried to create is in partnership with allies.

Yet, Trump remains relentless in his targeting of China, suggesting in one of his recent interviews that he would not be averse to raising tariffs to around 50% on Chinese products as this would encourage American companies to shift from China and manufacture in the US.

With Trump appearing to inch closer to the White House, Beijings concerns are evident and it has been underlining that it remains opposed to making China an issue in US elections."

But tensions in Trumps China policy are also evident. Where Biden has been steadfast in his support for Taiwan, Trump has argued that Taiwan should pay [the US] for defence," and has also suggested that the US would struggle to defend the island because of distance, saying Taiwan is 9,500 miles away. Its 68 miles away from China."

At the same time, Vance, Trumps vice-presidential candidate has suggested that the supply of weapons to Ukraine by the US could prevent its ability to support Taiwan in the event of an attack by China.

The broader logic of the Trump-Vance position flows from the argument that ending the war in Ukraine is important in order for the US to focus its energies on China, which is the real threat. Vance has been very critical of US aid to Ukraine and has pushed for negotiations with Russia, going to the extent of saying that I dont really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another."

Both Trump and Vance have been targeting Europe for not spending enough on defence. At the convention, Vance couldnt have been clearer: Together, we will make sure our allies share in the burden of securing world peace. No more free rides for nations that betray the generosity of the American taxpayer."

This transactional approach to partnerships is going to drive the Trump-Vance foreign policy in ways that remain as unpredictable as disconcerting to some. In his speech, Vance tried to clarify that he did not believe the US should pull out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) or abandon Europe," but that Washington should pivot" toward Asia.

The United States has to focus more on East Asia," he said. That is going to be the future of American foreign policy for the next 40 years, and Europe has to wake up to that fact." There is a lot of merit in this assessment, but it also requires a more coherent and holistic approach than what is on offer at the moment from the Trump-Vance ticket.

The isolationist streak now dominating American body politic is a warning to the rest of the world that has become far too dependent on the US as the key guarantor of global security.

Even if Trump doesnt win a second term in the White House, his candidacy is reflective of deeper trends that are shaping American politics today and will have a great bearing on the complexion of the global order in the future.
It was edifying to see the Indian Constitution occupy centre-stage during some phases of this years general election. Indian republicansthose who believe in upholding constitutional values and behaviourshave long been a beleaguered lot. We have watched in impotent horror as both the left and the right have used the brute force of populism to ignore or circumvent constitutional norms.

We have seen rulings of the Supreme Court that appear to side a little too readily with what is popular over what is constitutional. We have been derided in some of the public discourse as being impractical, like street dogs barking at passing cars."

It was, therefore, a delight to see opposition politicians waving the pocketbook edition of the Constitution and the government responding by announcing the celebration of its 75th anniversary on a grand scale.

I am happy that Indian politics has rediscovered the Constitution. Yet, I have been concerned about some of the motivations behind the newfound enthusiasm. In some places at least, the Constitution was conflated with Indias policy of reservations and people voted to preserve it.

Now there is nothing wrong in voting for reservations. It is the equation of the Constitution with a specific policyin this case education and job quotasthat ought to worry us. Social justice is one of the first objectives of the Indian republic, but a reservation policy is just one of several possible ways to achieve it.

It is not hard-coded in the document. Indeed, if there are better ways to achieve social justice, then both constitutional and conventional morality require us to adopt them.

The danger of equating reservations with the Constitution is that we will let that single policy hijack the entire enterprise. Then those who are opposed to reservations will needlessly become opponents of the Constitution.

When asked in 1949 why socialism was not written into the Constitution, B.R. Ambedkar replied that it would be unwise to commit future generations to a particular policy, however desirable it might seem at the time. The same goes for reservations.

It is not just possible, we are actually enjoined to think of improving how we achieve the goals set out in the Constitution. The road to social justice does not end at quotas. As much as we celebrate the rekindling of political interest in the republics founding statute, we must be very careful not to devalue it by identifying with narrow causes and policies.

Citizens of a democratic republic should also be concerned when the Constitution is claimed to be a holy book. It is not holy. It is clearly not the immutable word of supernatural providence. It is, in fact, a social contract framed by humans.

As I have written elsewhere, Instead of centralising power in an almighty God, it divides power among fallible humans. The Constitution is, ultimately, a product of reason and a framework for us to conduct our affairs using reason."

It is amendable by popular consent. In interpreting it, we must be sensitive to what the framers intended, to present realities and precedents for the future. We must respect it, but it is unnecessary to attach holiness to a book in order to do so.

The risk of deifying or sanctifying a book is that it becomes possible to worship it while ignoring its content. Indian society has successfully raised the Buddha, Rabindranath Tagore, M.K. Gandhi and Ambedkar onto pedestals while forgetting the principles they advocated.

The Buddha, it is often forgotten and records show, had a non-theistic religious persuasion. Tagore is included in the nationalist pantheon despite his rejection of the idea. Gandhi is frequently a statue, road or a pretext for prohibition.

Ambedkar, who warned against hero worship, seems to be worshipped as a statue even as his ideas on constitutionalism and building a casteless society are ignored. We must not allow the Constitution to go the same way. In any case, a holy book for a secular state is a contradiction in terms.

Similarly, as the Chief Justice of India warned earlier this month, There is a very grave danger when people say that the court is a temple of justice. It is a grave danger that we perceive ourselves as the deities in those temples."

The judge is a public servant bound by constitutional morality. We can stick with the convention of addressing judges as My Lord or My Lady, and accord them due respect, but without deifying the humans occupying a very human seat.

We should therefore neither diminish the Constitution nor worship it. More than book-thumping or worship, constitutionalism is about day-to-day conduct. The profound declaration Dharmo rakshati rakshitaah" (dharma protects those who protect it) enjoins everyone to act according to constitutional values and norms.

Remember Ambedkars words: The first thing... we must do is to hold fast to constitutional methods of achieving our social and economic objectives." We have to do a lot better in this respect.

Tailpiece: The pocket edition of the Constitution of India is beautifully produced and I recommend that you buy one for yourself. It also makes a great gift. Its resemblance to a holy book is entirely coincidental.
Outgoing Jharkhand Governor C P Radhakrishnan expressed gratitude on Sunday to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for appointing him as the new Governor of Maharashtra.

As reported by PTI, Radhakrishnan, who had an additional charge of Telangana, will succeed current Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, as announced by Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday night.

Former Union Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar will be the new Jharkhand governor in place of Radhakrishnan.

I thank from the bottom of my heart our beloved most respected Honourable President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji, our People's leader our beloved most respected Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi and our beloved most respected Honourable Home Minister Amit Shah for appointing me as the Governor of Maharashtra and giving me an opportunity to serve the great State, people of Maharashtra and Mother Bharat. I am deeply Humbled and Proud and assure to do my utmost best until my last breath in service of the Nation, Radhakrishnan said on X.

I am also deeply proud and honoured to have had the wonderful opportunity to serve the three great States of Jharkhand , Telangana and Puducherry. Will forever cherish it and will always remain close to my heart. I wish the three great states the very best, he added.

He also expressed gratitude to Home Minister Amit Shah for his new assignment as Maharashtra governor.

President Droupadi Murmu has appointed six new governors and reshuffled three others, according to a communique issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday night. The statement noted that these appointments will take effect from the dates the individuals assume their respective offices.
The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), a mega rail project in Malaysia being built by a Chinese company, is expected to help with the country's green transformation by shifting much freight transport from fossil fuel trucks to electrified trains.
A defendant who failed to keep up licences on a number of antique guns following a family tragedy was given the benefit of the probation act at Longford District Court.

An application to overturn a decision to revoke a number of firearms certificates, or gun licences, was withdrawn.

Appellant Charles McCord (61) of Knockanboy withdrew his application to Longford District Court regarding a decision by the responding Superintendent of An Garda Siochana to revoke firearms certificates in respect of a Marlin bolt action rifle, and two French double barrel shotguns.



Mr McCord's application was moved by solicitor Paddy Groarke.

Judge Bernadette Owens was told there were 11 charges against the defendant including: possession of components of a firearm, possession of shotguns and rifles and possession of two deactivated revolvers.



Inspector David Jordan said an agreement had been reached with the defendant that 10 antique guns would be given to a registered firearms dealer who will hold them until the Garda armourer certified that the weapons are obsolete.

The inspector said EU legislation meant a certificate that confirmed the weapon is disabled must be issued through the popper channel.



Outlining details of the matter Sergeant Mark Mahon said on Friday, October 15, 2021 at 7:00pm a search of the defendant's home found 12 firearms, an air rifle and three deactivated components of guns.

Sgt Mahon said there was nothing sinister about the possession, stating to the court the defendant is a firearms enthusiast and that Mr McCord co-operated fully at all times. The Sergeant said the defendant had no previous convictions.



Mr Groarke said the case against his client was an unusual one. The solicitor told the court at the time of the seizure the items were in a cabinet for display purposes.

Mr Groarke said the family had experienced a tragedy the previous year and his client took his eye off the ball in relation to his obligations to keeping his firearms licence.



A weight of trauma descended on the household, as a consequence he did not do what he had been doing up to that point. He has now fully regularised his position, Mr Groarke told the judge.



Noting the matter has been before the court for some time and an agreement had been reached in respect of the status of the firearms Judge Owens said she could give Mr McCord credit for not having any previous convictions and would deal with the matter under the probation act.
The search for a young boy who fell from the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare earlier this week has been stood down following the recovery of a body from the sea.

A major land, sea and air operation was launched on Tuesday after the boy, believed to be 12, became separated from his family.

The Irish Coast Guard, which had been co-ordinating the search operation, has confirmed that a fishing vessel reported the sighting of a body at sea between Doolin and the Aran Islands this Sunday morning.

"Volunteers from the Doolin Coast Guard Unit boat team assisted by the Aran Islands RNLI located and recovered the body, which was subsequently transferred to An Garda Siochana. The search around the Cliffs of Moher and surrounding sea areas has now been suspended," said a spokesperson.

READ ALSO: Boy, 14, dies after e-scooter is struck by car in Kilkenny crash

The Irish Coast Guard has the volunteer Coast Guard Units from Doolin, Cleggan, Inisheer, Costelloe Bay, Killaloe, Aran Islands lifeboat, Coast Guard helicopter R115 and members of the Civil Defence who participated in the search efforts for the past five days.

In a statement, a garda spokesperson said: "Following the recovery of a body this morning by Coast Guard, a coastal search operation for a young boy missing from the vicinity of the Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare since Tuesday afternoon, has been stood down."

Arrangements are now being made to conduct a post-mortem examination and a file will be prepared for the local Coroner.
A man in folk costume demonstrates falconry during the folk festival "Mittelalter-Spektakel" at Munchenwiler Castle in the Lake Murten region in Switzerland, July 27, 2024.

The folk festival was held from Friday to Sunday at Munchenwiler Castle. Various activities, fairs, and folk performances featuring the Middle Ages were organized during the festival. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

People attend the folk festival "Mittelalter-Spektakel" at Munchenwiler Castle in the Lake Murten region in Switzerland, July 27, 2024.

The folk festival was held from Friday to Sunday at Munchenwiler Castle. Various activities, fairs, and folk performances featuring the Middle Ages were organized during the festival. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

People in folk costumes pose for photos during the folk festival "Mittelalter-Spektakel" at Munchenwiler Castle in the Lake Murten region in Switzerland, July 27, 2024.

The folk festival was held from Friday to Sunday at Munchenwiler Castle. Various activities, fairs, and folk performances featuring the Middle Ages were organized during the festival. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

People try soapstone making during the folk festival "Mittelalter-Spektakel" at Munchenwiler Castle in the Lake Murten region in Switzerland, July 27, 2024.

The folk festival was held from Friday to Sunday at Munchenwiler Castle. Various activities, fairs, and folk performances featuring the Middle Ages were organized during the festival. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

People demonstrate traditional weaving during the folk festival "Mittelalter-Spektakel" at Munchenwiler Castle in the Lake Murten region in Switzerland, July 27, 2024.

The folk festival was held from Friday to Sunday at Munchenwiler Castle. Various activities, fairs, and folk performances featuring the Middle Ages were organized during the festival. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

People in folk costumes perform during the folk festival "Mittelalter-Spektakel" at Munchenwiler Castle in the Lake Murten region in Switzerland, July 27, 2024.

The folk festival was held from Friday to Sunday at Munchenwiler Castle. Various activities, fairs, and folk performances featuring the Middle Ages were organized during the festival. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
A former Fine Gael politician charged with money laundering over 2.6m through a number of companies linked to Cyril 'Dublin Jimmy McGuinness has been remanded in custody this afternoon, with Judge Kenneth Connolly indicating there will be a custodial sentence imposed next week.

Frank Kilbride (70), of Aughakilmore, Ballinalee, Co Longford, appeared before Longford Circuit Court on Friday, having previously pleaded guilty to three counts of money laundering sums totalling 2,604,564.05 through three bank accounts on dates between October 2017 and March 2018.

Detective Garda Rhona Bohan, told the court that, in November 2019, a number of searches were carried out in this jurisdiction, Northern Ireland and Buxton, UK, on foot of warrants issued in respect of the assault and abduction of Quinn Industrial Holdings Director, Kevin Lunney.

During the course of those searches, a partial AIB bank statement was discovered in the name of WOI Plant Hire & Supplies Ltd, which provided a narrative relating to another company, TJO Developments.

On November 29, 2019, Mr Kilbride made contact with Gardai to make a statement regarding TJO Developments, after he received documentation from the Revenue Commission regarding an outstanding VAT bill.

Mr Kilbride told Gardai that, in the spring of 2017, he had been approached by a third party looking to see if he had any companies for sale. Mr Kilbride sold the man TJO Developments for a sum of 3,000.

A number of months later, Mr Kilbride was informed by a woman working in a North Longford bank, that the account for TJO Developments was still in his name, with money going through it. The bank worker advised him to change the numbers on the account.

Following a change of details on the account, Mr Kilbride said a man known to him as Dublin Jimmy, arrived at his house with two men - one from Louth and the other from Northern Ireland - to talk about the account.

Dublin Jimmy told Mr Kilbride that there was 100 left in the account, which he should hold onto for medical expenses. Mr Kilbride perceived that as a threat, the court heard.

When Mr Kilbride contacted the third party who had purchased the account on behalf of Dublin Jimmy - who Mr Kilbride later learned was Cyril McGuinness - he was told to pass no heed on Dublin Jimmy, hes only blowing steam.

During the course of the investigation, Gardai became aware of two Irish bank accounts associated with TJO Developments, one of which had moved a total of 1,727,427.28, and the other which moved 867,143.80 to companies across Ireland, the UK and Europe.

Gardai also became aware of a third bank account, which was Mr Kilbrides personal account. This account was linked to the moving of approximately 10,000 in funds.

Vincent Heneghan, Senior Counsel for Mr Kilbride said the case was one of a man who should know better, and a man who acted stupidly out of desperation in a case of intimidation.

Theres no doubt he involved himself, he was active himself and an important cog in a wider enterprise. He unwittingly and stupidly allowed himself to be used, said Mr Heneghan.

Judge Connelly told Mr Heneghan that he cant see any way of dealing with the matter on a non-custodial basis, stressing that 2.6m is a lot of money.

I want there to be no false hope for a non-custodial term, he said, opting to remand Mr Kilbride in custody until this coming Tuesday when he will pass judgement.

I do regret having to remand him in custody this evening. But 2.6m is a lot of money and I cant see any way of avoiding a custodial sentence, he concluded.

Mr Kilbride will reappear before Longford Circuit Court on Tuesday, July 30, for sentence.
BOSTON  The Red Sox have added a veteran starting pitcher (James Paxton) and a right-handed bat at catcher (Danny Jansen) so far and still have more than 48 hours before Tuesdays 6 p.m. trade deadline. Saturday nights loss, which looked all too familiar to those who have been watching the team for the last week, reinforced, yet again, where Craig Breslows focus should be next.

The Red Sox bullpen blew multiple late leads  again  and lost, 11-8, despite Kenley Jansen having the Yankees down to their last strike with light-hitting outfielder Trent Grisham at the plate in the ninth. Boston has now blown eight late game leads in eight games since the All-Star break and is 2-6 in those games. The Sox offense has scored more than five runs in seven straight games but the pitching staff has allowed 53 runs (7.57 per game) in that span. While the bullpen put together a strong first half, the house of cards has fallen due to two key injuries (Chris Martin and Justin Slaten) and Bostons starters, like Kutter Crawford, who logged just 4  innings Saturday, not going deep into games recently.
THE sunny weather drew an estimated 5,000 people to Croagh Patrick for the long-running Reek Sunday pilgrimage this afternoon.

Though the numbers attempting the centuries-old pilgrimage have declined in recent years, favourable weather conditions saw an increase in the estimated number of pilgrims who climbed the mountain last year.

Fr John Kenny, Parish Priest of Westport, told The Mayo News that 2,000 Holy Communions were administered between 8 am and 2 pm.

Fr Kenny estimated that over 2,000 people climbed the mountain without receiving Holy Communion, including several people who reached the top before 8 am and after 2 pm.

Approximately 4,000 people climbed Mayos holy mountain for Reek Sunday last year on a day which was beset by wet, windy weather conditions.

This years pilgrimage was blessed with mostly sunny and very dry conditions throughout the day which made for ideal climbing conditions.

The newly completed pilgrims path also enhanced the safety of many climbers on the mountain.

Brian Moran, Assistant Commander with Westport Order of Malta, told The Mayo News that ten people received treatment at their base in Murrisk. Three were subsequently transferred to Mayo University Hospital, including one person who had to be airlifted from the mountain. None of the injuries sustained were serious.

Pilgrims descend Croagh Patrick on the newly-completed pilgrim's path (Pic: Conor McKeown)

Approximately 200 people attended Mass on the summit for Garland Friday, followed by over 300 who attended Mass at the foot of the mountain in the evening.

A number of people from Galway and Armagh climbed the mountain for Reek Sunday despite both counties being involved in the All-Ireland final in the afternoon.

Click here for more on the history behind the Reek Sunday pilgrimage.
BEIJING, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese water authorities are sparing no efforts in coping with flash floods and related disasters as they take more precise and targeted measures to mitigate the impact of rainstorms and floods in the wake of Typhoon Gaemi, the Ministry of Water Resources said on Saturday in a situation update.

According to the update, 87 rivers in seven provinces, which are Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi and Guangdong, as well as the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, have reported a rise in water levels that triggered warnings as of 8 p.m. Saturday.

Currently, 17 working teams dispatched by the ministry are assisting and guiding local authorities in emergency response to the typhoon as well as the rains and floods it triggered, it said.

"We are strengthening efforts in monitoring and forecasting on the typhoon and making sure that forecasts immediately reach the front line of emergency response," said Li Guoying, minister of Water Resources.

"We are further refining our response measures for floods and related disasters and are precisely utilizing flood control engineering systems in river basins to ensure the safety of water projects under construction and the safety of the middle line of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, as well as the safety of the water supply," Li said.

In the update, the ministry warned that floods would exceed warning levels at some rivers flowing across the river basins of the Yangtze River, Yellow River, Haihe River, Liaohe River and Songhua River from July 27 to 31.

The ministry and the China Meteorological Administration warned on Saturday that mountain torrents are extremely likely to occur in the southern part of Hunan Province in central China, and there is also a high possibility of mountain torrents in parts of Liaoning and Jilin provinces in northeast China.

The ministry highlighted that over the next 24 hours, 29 counties in Hunan Province will experience heavy rainstorms, adding that it has raised flood emergency response to Level-III from Level-IV for the province at 6 p.m. Saturday.

The meteorological authorities of the province had earlier made preparation arrangements for Typhoon Gaemi's potential impact and conducted a special discussion session with meteorological experts.

Xiao Yanglin, deputy chief of the provincial meteorological department, urged more attention to be given to screening and removing risks that may follow the typhoon, adding that every effort would be made to ensure the safety of people's lives and property.

According to the Ministry of Emergency Management, 95 professional rescue teams comprised of 4,800 engineers, as well as 40 other rescue teams comprised of more than 2,000 people have been pre-positioned in different areas to cope with the typhoon's impact. Meanwhile, eight helicopters and two Yilong drones are deployed for rescue work.

China has a four-tier emergency response system for flood control, with Level I being the most urgent response.

Gaemi, the third typhoon of this year, is traveling inland and northward after making landfall on Thursday night in east China's Fujian Province, where hundreds of thousands of people had been temporarily evacuated to safety.

Earlier on Saturday, the ministry also activated a Level-IV emergency response to floods in Tianjin, a major port city neighboring Beijing, the Chinese capital. This came after the ministry activated emergency response to floods in the four provinces of Guangdong, Shandong, Henan and Hubei in the wake of Typhoon Gaemi on Friday. 
  Trusted Source

Jasmine Bhasin Recovers From Corneal Damage: 'Finally Free From Eye Patch'



Go to source Trusted Source

Did You Know?

Approximately 12% of all eye transplants performed worldwide are corneal transplants. #eyehealth #cornealdamage 

Approximately 12% of all eye transplants performed worldwide are corneal transplants. #eyehealth #cornealdamage 

Hygiene and Regular Checks Are Key

Advertisement

Advertisement

Jasmine Bhasin Recovers From Corneal Damage: 'Finally Free From Eye Patch' - (https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/jasmine-bhasin-recovers-from-corneal-damage-finally-free-from-eye-patch)

Proper lens hygiene and routine eye exams are crucial to avoid eye problems , experts say, noting TV actress Jasmine Bhasin's corneal damage ().In an Instagram, the 34-year-old actress shared that it will take her at least four to five days to recover fully from corneal damage that she got after wearing contact lenses at an event in Delhi.Bhasin thanked her followers for their love and blessings and noted that she is now recovering.Earlier in a media interview, Bhasin of Tashan-e-Ishq and Dil Se Dil Tak fame, reported that despite feeling pain in her eyes, she continued with her work commitments, opting to wear sunglasses during the event.However, her condition worsened, and she eventually lost her vision temporarily. She said she was diagnosed with corneal damage and had her eyes bandaged.Speaking to IANS, Dr. Bhavya Reddy from Aster Whitefield Hospital stressed the need to maintain hygiene, use lenses appropriately, and avoid contaminants.The key pointers include washing hands before lens handling, fresh cleaning solution usage, and disposing of any irritating contacts immediately. Take off the lens immediately and get a quick checkup with an ophthalmologist if you suspect redness, irritation , and pain soon after wearing contact lenses. Always keep a pair of backup spectacles, Dr. Reddy said.Visual distortions such as halos around lights may occur. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult an eye care professional immediately, Dr Neeraj Shah, Chief Medical Officer and Consultant, Sankara Eye Hospital Jaipur told IANS.The experts advised following proper guidelines on lenses like buying contact lenses of the correct size and fit. Maintain hygiene by washing hands before handling the lenses.Adhere to the recommended wear schedule;Avoid sleeping in lenses unless prescribed. Schedule regular eye check-ups to monitor eye health and lens fit.Source-IANS
  Trusted Source

Incidence and Prevalence of Early Onset Dementia in Finland.



Go to source Trusted Source

Did You Know?

Early-onset dementia affects individuals younger than 65 and represents about 5-10% of all dementia cases. #dementia #earlyonsetdementia #alzheimersdisease 

Early-onset dementia affects individuals younger than 65 and represents about 5-10% of all dementia cases. #dementia #earlyonsetdementia #alzheimersdisease 

Advertisement

Early-Onset Dementia Incidence Soars

Advertisement

Incidence and Prevalence of Early Onset Dementia in Finland. - (Incidence and Prevalence of Early-Onset Dementia in Finland)

Early-onset dementia, especially Alzheimers disease , is more common than previously reported, with rising incidence among the working-age population in Finland as per a study by the University of Eastern Finland, the University of Oulu and Neurocenter Finland, published inthe medical journal of the).and based on small study cohorts, with no recent data from Finland available.For the present study, researchers analyzed patient data registries of Kuopio and Oulu University Hospitals from 2010 to 2021, reviewing all working-age patients diagnosed with dementia during this time period.Both incidence, which is the number of new cases, and prevalence, which is the total number of people affected, were explored.The patient charts of a total of 12,490 individuals were reviewed and classified into diagnostic groups using uniform criteria. The two hospitals diagnose practically all cases of early-onset dementia in their respective provinces, which makes the data highly robust.The study observed higher incidence rates of early-onset dementia than previously reported in international studies.In the age group 3064 years, the incidence of early-onset dementia was 20.5 cases per 100,000 person years; and 33.7 cases per 100,000 person years in the age group 4564 years.Alzheimers disease was the most prevalent subtype (48%), followed by frontotemporal dementia spectrum disorders (23%), and Lewy body spectrum disorders (6%). These numbers are higher than in previous smaller publications from other countries.The higher incidence rates observed in our study may be attributed to our methodology, which allowed us to capture nearly all EOD cases from the study areas. Additionally, heightened awareness of dementia among the public and healthcare professionals in Finland may also contribute to the high number of diagnosed cases, says Associate Professor Eino Solje of the University of Eastern Finland, the study PI.A strength of the present study is that all diagnoses were retrospectively and manually reviewed from patient charts, allowing for the removal of incorrect diagnoses and also the consideration of diagnoses that changed during the follow-up period, Solje says.The researchers found thatwhilst the incidence of other dementias remained unchanged.The incidence of Alzheimers disease nearly doubled. This cannot be explained simply by better diagnostics and earlier seeking of treatment, as we did not see an increase in the incidence of other dementias, says Docent Johanna Kruger, PI of the study at the University of Oulu, the first author of the article.The present study is the first from an extensive project that combines exceptionally broad real-life patient data with various registries.The project involves a unique collaboration between the University of Oulu and the University of Eastern Finland, as well as across different scientific disciplines, involving, e.g., scholars of medicine and law."Combining extensive patient data with various registries enables a higher standard of science. For instance, we are now seeing that data from carefully analyzed patient charts yields very different results than mere registry-based data," notes Professor Mikko Aaltonen from the University of Eastern Finland Law School.The project is also led in a new way. Research is funded by companies, which also have theunder the coordination of Neurocenter Finland.The model makes it possible to leverage private sector resources in the implementation of scientific projects that will benefit all. With Neurocenter Finland coordinating collaboration between the different parties, researchers can better devote their time to solving scientific problems, says Eero Rissanen, Director of Neurocenter Finland.Source-Eurekalert
SACRAMENTO, the United States, July 27 (Xinhua) -- A massive wildfire torching Northern California, known as Park Fire, has quickly grown to nearly 1,400 square kilometers in just three days, making it the seventh-largest wildfire in the state's history.

The Park Fire "reaches No. 7 on the list of Top 10 Largest Wildfires in California," announced the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) in a post on social media X on Saturday afternoon.

"Extreme fire conditions continue to challenge firefighters as the blaze has now grown to over 345,000 acres (1,396.2 square kilometers)," the post said.

The fire started on Wednesday afternoon in a park near Chico. It rapidly moved into wildland to the north, exploding from 400 acres (1.7 square kilometers) to more than 71,000 acres (287.3 square kilometers) in several hours, according to Cal Fire.

As of Saturday afternoon, containment efforts have been overwhelmed, with Cal Fire reporting zero percent containment due to the fire's rapid spread.

Two individuals were injured, while an estimated 134 structures were destroyed. The fire threatened an additional 4,200 structures, forcing thousands of residents in Butte and Tehama counties to evacuate their homes.

The entire town of Paradise, north of California's capital city of Sacramento, is under an evacuation warning on Saturday. Residents were advised to prepare to evacuate if officials instructed them to do so.

This community was the site of the deadly Camp Fire in 2018, which caused over 80 deaths and is considered to be the worst wildfire in modern state history.

"The potential for explosive fire growth during fire weather conditions should not be underestimated," Cal Fire said in another social media post on Saturday. "The combination of winds, dry fuels, and terrain allowed the Park Fire to consume miles of grass and brushland in a day."

The fire's cause has been traced to an act of arson. Authorities have arrested a 42-year-old man named Ronnie Dean Stout II, a Chico resident, on suspicion of intentionally starting the fire. The motive remained unclear.

More than 2,400 personnel from across California were deployed to battle the wildfire. Saturday's cooler temperatures and increased humidity provided some relief to containment efforts. The National Weather Service's Sacramento office predicted these cooler conditions would continue for the next few days before hot weather returned next week. 
BATH, Maine (AP)  With an Irish flag overhead and bagpipes playing, three sisters of an Irish-born recipient of the Navy Cross christened a warship bearing his name on Saturday  and secured a promise that the ship will visit Ireland.

The future USS Patrick Gallagher is a guided missile destroyer that is under construction at Bath Iron Works and bears the name of the Irish citizen and U.S. Marine who fell on a grenade to save his comrades in Vietnam. Gallagher survived the grenade attack for which he was lauded for his heroism. But he didn't survive his tour of duty in Vietnam.

Pauline Gallagher, one of his sisters, told a crowd at the shipyard that the destroyer bearing her brother's name helps put to rest her mother's fear that memories of her son would be forgotten.

Patrick has not been forgotten. He lives forever young in our hearts and minds, and this ship will outlive all of us, she said, before invoking the ship's motto, which comes from the family: Life is for living. Be brave and be bold.

Joined by sisters Rosemarie Gallagher and Teresa Gallagher Keegan, they smashed bottles of sparkling wine on the ship's hull. A Navy band broke into Anchors Aweigh as streamers appeared in the air overhead.

The Irish influence was unmistakable at the event. An Irish flag joined the Stars and Stripes overhead. A Navy band played the Irish anthem, and bagpipes performed My Gallant Hero." A large contingent of Gallagher's family and friends traveled from Ireland. The keynote speaker was Sean Fleming, Ireland's minister of state at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Lance Cpl. Patrick Bob Gallagher was an Irish citizen, from County Mayo, who moved to America to start a new life and enlisted in the Marines while living on Long Island, New York. He survived falling on a grenade to save his comrades in July 1966  it didnt explode until he tossed it into a nearby river  only to be killed on patrol in March 1967, days before he was to return home.

Teresa Gallagher Keegan, one of nine children, described her brother as a humble man who tried to hide his service in Vietnam until he was awarded the Navy Cross, making it impossible. She said Gallagher's hometown had been preparing to celebrate his return. Ironically the plane that carried my brothers coffin home was the plane that would have brought him home to a heros welcome, she said.

Gallagher was among more than 30 Irish citizens who lost their lives in Vietnam, said U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, one of the speakers, who described the event as a day of solemn remembrance as well as a day of celebration.

A brother, in addition to the sisters, attended the ceremony in which Pauline Gallagher secured a promise from Rear Adm. Thomas Anderson that the ship would sail to Ireland after it is commissioned.

Outside the shipyard, police arrested nine protesters who were part of a larger group of about 75 demonstrators from organizations including Maine Veterans for Peace and a group supporting Palestinians, according to the Bath Police Department. The nine were blocking vehicles and trespassing before the event began, police said.

The 510-foot (155-meter) guided-missile destroyer was in dry dock as work continues to prepare the ship for delivery to the Navy. Displacing 9,200 tons, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is built to simultaneously wage war against submarines, surface warships, aircraft and missiles. The newest versions are being equipped for ballistic missile defense.
TOKYO (AP)  Japanese and U.S. defense chiefs and top diplomats agreed to further bolster their military cooperation by upgrading the command and control of U.S. forces in the East Asian country and strengthening American-licensed missile production there, describing the rising threat from China as the greatest strategic challenge.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin joined their Japanese counterparts, Yoko Kamikawa and Minoru Kihara, at the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee in Tokyo, known as 2+2 security talks where they reaffirmed their bilateral alliance following President Joe Biden 's withdrawal from the November presidential race.

Japan is home to more than 50,000 U.S. troops, but the commander for the U.S. Forces Japan headquartered in Yokota in the western suburbs of Tokyo, tasked with managing their bases, has no commanding authority. Instead, instructions come from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii. The plans will give the USFJ greater capability while still reporting to INDOPACOM.

The command upgrade will be the most significant change to the U.S. Forces Japan since its creation and one of the strongest improvements in our military ties with Japan in 70 years, Austin said. These new operational capabilities and responsibilities will advance our collective deterrence.

We are standing at a historic turning point as the rules-based, free and open international order is shaken to the core, Kamikawa said. Now is a critical phase when our decision today determines our future.

Austin, in his opening remarks, said China is engaging in coercive behavior, trying to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas, around Taiwan and throughout the region," adding that North Korea's nuclear program and its deepening cooperation with Russia threaten regional and global security.

In the joint statement issued after the talks, the ministers said China's foreign policy seeks to reshape the international order for its own benefit at the expense of others and that such behavior is a serious concern to the alliance and the entire international community and represents the greatest strategic challenge in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

China has been at odds with many countries in the Asia-Pacific for years because of its sweeping maritime claims over the crucial South China Sea. It also claims self-governing Taiwan as its territory, to be annexed by force if necessary. In March, Beijing announced a 7.2% increase in its defense budget, already the worlds second-highest behind the United States, marking a massive military expansion.

The ministers said the U.S. command reorganization, set for March to be in line with Japan's own command updating, aimed to facilitate deeper interoperability and cooperation on joint bilateral operations in peacetime and during contingencies and enhance intelligence coordination, surveillance, reconnaissance and cybersecurity.

The new U.S. command in Japan will be led by a three-star general, not the four-star sought by Japan, but Austin said we haven't ruled that out" and will keep negotiating.

Japan has long suffered from cybersecurity threats that Washington believes are of grave concern. Lately, Japans space agency revealed it suffered a series of cyberattacks, and though sensitive information related to space and defense was not affected, it has triggered worry and pushed the agency to pursue preventative measures.

The ministers in a joint statement reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to extended deterrence, which includes atomic weapons  a shift from Japans earlier reluctance to openly discuss the sensitive issue, as the worlds only country to have suffered atomic attacks, amid nuclear threats from Russia and China.

Japan has been accelerating its military buildup and has increased joint operations with the U.S. as well as South Korea while trying to strengthen its largely domestic defense industry.

Tokyo has significantly eased its arms export restrictions and in December accommodated a U.S. request for shipment of surface-to-air PAC-3 missile interceptors produced in Japan under an American license to replenish U.S. inventories, which have decreased due to its support for Ukraine.

The ministers said they will pursue efforts to expand Japanese production of PAC-3 interceptors for export to the United States, as well as co-production of Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles to meet critical demand for such systems to be ready when needed to deter aggression.

Japan and the U.S. have also been accelerating arms industry cooperation following an April agreement between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Biden. The two sides have set up working groups for missile co-production and for the maintenance and repair of U.S. Navy ships and Air Force aircraft in the region.

While Japan's role is largely designed to help U.S. weapons supply and keep its deterrence credible in the Indo-Pacific amid continuing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, Japanese officials say it will help strengthen the Japanese defense industry.

Earlier Sunday, ahead of the 2+2 talks, Kihara met with Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik for their first trilateral defense talks hosted by Tokyo and signed a memorandum based on their June agreement in Singapore that institutionalizes their regular high-level talks, joint exercises and other exchanges.

Defense officials said Sunday the memorandum serves as the basis for future defense cooperation among the three countries despite possible leadership changes while showcasing their unity.

The signing of this memorandum makes our trilateral cooperation unwavering even under changing global environments, Kihara told reporters.

Kihara also met Shin, the first South Korean defense chief to visit Japan in 15 years. They agreed to take steps to deepen their bilateral defense ties.
The Dodgers recalled catcher Hunter Feduccia to the big leagues earlier today, who takes the place of Freddie Freeman after the former MVP was placed on the family emergency list. Feduccia was already on the 40-man roster after being added ahead of the Rule 5 Draft back in November, though his first game action will be his MLB debut.

Feduccia, 27, was the Dodgers 12th-round pick in the 2017 draft. The catcher climbed through the clubs minor league system to eventually reach the Triple-A level back in 2022 and has remained there ever since. His already solid offensive numbers have steadily improved during his time at the level, and hes slashing a strong .295/.420/.451 with a 124 wRC+ and a 16.8% walk rate against an 18.6% strikeout rate in 64 games at the level this year. Ranked 25th in the Dodgers farm system by Fangraphs entering this season, Feduccia pairs those solid offensive numbers with fairly strong work behind the plate. His framing and blocking skills are both strong, though his arm is somewhat lackluster for the position and leaves him to struggle with controlling the running game at times.

With Will Smith as the Dodgers everyday catcher and Austin Barnes acting as the primary backup to Smith, Feduccia seems unlikely to get much playing time while hes in the majors outside of possible pinch-hit appearances. That being said, its possible that the Dodgers take this opportunity to see how Feduccia performs at the big league level with Barnes currently in the final guaranteed year of his contract. The Dodgers have a $3.5MM team option on the 34-year-olds services for 2025, however, and hes rebounded from a brutal 2023 season to post roughly league average (99 wRC+) offensive numbers this season.

As for Freeman, Noah Camras of Dodgers Nation relays that the first basemans wife, Chelsea, wrote in an instagram post earlier this week that their son, Maximus, was dealing with health issues. Freeman is now headed back home to L.A. from the clubs road trip to Houston, and manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register) yesterday that Freemans son was still undergoing tests and that he was not anticipating Freeman being available during the remainder of their series against the Astros.

With a day off on Monday, Roberts added that the club will see if a return to action for Freeman is possible when the club returns to California for series against the Padres in San Diego and the As in Oakland next week. In the meantime, Cavan Biggio has been handling first base in Freemans absence. The 29-year-old was acquired by the Dodgers from the Blue Jays last month after he was designated for assignment by Toronto, and hes struggled in a bench role with L.A. ever since. In 59 trips to the plate since joining the Dodgers, Biggio has hit a paltry .180/.281/.240 with a 30.5% strikeout rate while splitting time between first base, third base, and right field.
The Marlins are placing first baseman Josh Bell on waivers, reports Robert Murray of FanSided on X. At this point, theres been nothing to suggest Bell has been removed from the roster. In fact, hes in the lineup for Miamis game against the Brewers that is taking place as of this writing. Its possible he stays in Miami if he clears waivers, similar to what happened with Kevin Kiermaier and the Blue Jays earlier this month.

When a player is placed on waivers without being removed from the roster, the club is hoping that some other team will put in a claim and take the contract off their hands. If the player clears, they can send them outright to a minor league affiliate. But Bell has more than enough service time to reject an outright assignment and elect free agency while retaining all of his salary, so the club can also decide to simply hang onto the player. Thats what transpired with Kiermaier, as he went unclaimed but the Jays kept him around.

Bell, 31, has had some really good seasons in his career but has been trending down of late. He slashed .266/.362/.422 for a wRC+ of 123 in 2022 and then headed into free agency. The Guardians signed him to a two-year, $33MM deal, with Bell making $16.5MM in each year and having the ability to opt out after the first season.

His tenure in Cleveland didnt go especially well. He slashed .233/.318/.383 in 97 games for a wRC+ of 96. Since Bell isnt especially fast nor considered a strong defender at first base, he needs to hit to provide value.

He was flipped to Miami at last years trade deadline in a swap of bad contracts, with Jean Segura and prospect Kahlil Watson going the other way. Bells results improved after the deal, as he hit .270/.338/.480 for a wRC+ of 119 and helped the Marlins get into the playoffs. Despite the hot start, he decided to trigger his player option and stick with the Fish for one more year.

But he hasnt been able to carry over his strong finish from 2023, as hes hitting .239/.303/.396 this year for a wRC+ of 96. With his lack of contributions on defense or the basepaths, hes been below replacement level.

Theres just a bit under $6MM left on Bells deal, so the odds of him being claimed are pretty slim. The Marlins are clearly in sell mode, as they have traded controllable players like Luis Arraez and Jazz Chisholm Jr., so a rental player like Bell will undoubtedly be available. Though assuming he goes unclaimed in the coming days, the Fish will likely have to eat some of that money to facilitate a deal. Clubs like the Yankees, Astros, Mariners and others are looking for first base help and could perhaps look into buying low on Bell.
The Yankees and Padres are two of the teams expressing interest in left-hander Blake Snell, the New York Posts Jon Heyman writes (links to X). Reports surfaced earlier this week that Snell was drawing interest from pitching-needy contenders, and New York and San Diego are the first clubs specifically known to gotten in touch with the Giants over Snells availability.

It remains to be seen if the Giants will actually move Snell, or be deadline sellers in any real capacity given that the team is still just 4.5 games out of a wild card berth. Snell is himself a major factor in San Franciscos renewed hopes of contention, as the southpaw has been almost untouchable since returning from the injured list. Over his last four starts, Snell has a 0.75 ERA and a 35.7% strikeout rate, highlighted by a 15-strikeout gem of an outing against the Rockies yesterday.

This is the type of rotation-carrying production was what the Giants were hoping to receive when they signed the reigning Cy Young Award winner to a two-year, $62MM deal back in March. However, Snells lengthy stint in free agency and subsequent lack of proper Spring Training work wreaked havoc on his performance, resulting in two IL stints (with an adductor strain and a groin strain) and a 9.51 ERA over his first six starts in a Giants uniform.

This recent injury history will obviously weigh on the minds of any team that does approach the Giants about a Snell trade, not to mention the fact that Snell can opt out of the second year (and $30MM salary) of his contract. The presence of this opt-out clause means that Snell isnt exactly a rental player, thus creating extra financial risk for an acquiring team, and some difficulty in working out an acceptable trade package with San Francisco. Snells recent form increases the chances that he might exercise his player option, but if any more injury issues arise, Snell could pass on his opt-out and remain on the books for that hefty $30MM payday next year.

Snell is naturally a known quantity to the Padres after pitching with San Diego from 2021-23, but the financial aspect of a Snell trade is particularly noteworthy for a Padres team that is trying to remain under the luxury tax threshold this season, in order to reset its penalty status after two years of overages. San Diegos acquisition of Jason Adam from the Rays earlier today resulted in a pretty minor financial hit, though the Padres had to give up a hefty prospect package to obtain the reliever. Payroll aside, there is also the broader fact that it seems rather unlikely that the Giants would trade Snell to a division rival.

The Bronx Bombers have long had Snell on their radar, and the six-year, $150MM offer Snell reportedly received from the Yankees in January is the highest contract known to be on the table for the left-hander during his elongated free agent market. As Heyman notes, the luxury tax is also a factor given that New York has already topped the upper tier ($297MM) of tax penalties. RosterResource estimates that the Yankees Competitive Balance Tax number is just shy of $312.9MM, and thus they would face a 110% tax on any further salaries added to their ledger.
OAKLAND COUNTY, MI  A 21-year-old man drowned while swimming in Kensington Lake, Oakland County sheriffs deputies said.

Its the fourth drowning at an Oakland County lake in three weeks. The sheriff said the tragic accidents have become too frequent.

The sheriffs offices Search and Rescue Team were called around 6 p.m. Saturday, July 27, to the lakes Martindale Beach in Kensington Metropark in Milford Township.

Rescuers were initially dispatched on a report that a child may have gone into the water.

Upon arrival, the search team learned that a 21-year-old Detroit man was swimming with a friend when the man started to struggle and went underwater in the marked swimming area.

Investigators believe the man may have tried to grab a nearby buoy but could not hold onto it.

Police said the friend the man was swimming with did not speak English, which made it difficult to convey to others on shore that the man was in distress.

Another nearby swimmer also saw the man go underwater and contacted authorities.

First responders found the Detroit man in roughly 6-8 feet of water 50 yards from shore.

The Detroit man  who was not immediately identified  was taken to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The death was the 10th in an Oakland County lake so far this year.

The other July drownings are:

 A 62-year-old Detroit man fell off a boat July 6 and into the water on White Lake and did not resurface.

 A 21-year-old Highland Township man drowned July 16 while swimming in Townsend Lake in Independence Township.

 A 20-year-old Detroit man drowned July 20 while swimming with a friend in Taylor Lake in Rose Township.

I encourage people to have emergency capabilities nearby including floatation devices and watch each other while in the water, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. If you are not a strong swimmer, its a good idea to wear a floatation device.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Ten bars and restaurants in Kent County had more than $200,000 in on-premise liquor sales in 2023.

Topping the list was The B.O.B. in downtown Grand Rapids, which had $652,208 in liquor sales, according to data from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. Located across the street from Van Andel Arena, the B.O.B. has four restaurants, a craft brewery, a live music venue, a nightclub, and features stand-up comedy.
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Five civilians in southern Lebanon were wounded early Sunday in Israeli airstrikes, according to Lebanese military sources.

The sources, who spoke to Xinhua anonymously, said that an Israeli warplane fired four air-to-ground missiles on the outskirts of the municipality of Burj al-Shemali in southwest Lebanon, wounding five civilians and causing material damage to several houses.

They added that the civil defense and the Lebanese Red Cross worked to transfer the wounded, including children, to a hospital in the city of Tyre.

They noted that Israeli drones and warplanes carried out six raids at dawn, targeting five towns and villages in eastern and southern Lebanon.

The Israeli military said on Sunday morning that it had carried out airstrikes overnight in seven locations in Lebanon, hours after a rocket fired from Lebanon killed at least 12 children and teens in the occupied Golan Heights.

The Israel Air Force struck a series of targets belonging to Hezbollah, which Israel accused of sending the deadly rocket, "both deep inside Lebanese territory and in southern Lebanon."

The sites include weapon caches and infrastructure in the areas of Chabriha, Burj al-Shemali, Beqaa, Kfarkela, Rab El Thalathine, Khiam, and Tayr Harfa, according to the military.

Hezbollah has dismissed the Israeli accusation of attacking the occupied Golan Heights in a statement, saying it had "absolutely nothing to do with the incident."

The United Nations called for calm. "We urge the parties to exercise maximum restraint and end the intense and continuous exchange of fire that could ignite a wider conflict and plunge the entire region into an unimaginable catastrophe," said a statement issued on Sunday by the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and head of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon Aroldo Lazaro. 
KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP, MI -- Two Democrats are running for Kalamazoo Township treasurer in the Aug. 6 primary. The top vote-getter will likely win the job, barring any write-in candidacy.

Dylan Grosser, 26, grew up in the Kalamazoo area and has served as an election worker for the township.

Sherine Miller, 62, is the current Kalamazoo Township treasurer. She did not provide biographical information. She was first elected to the treasurer role in 2016.

Dylan Grosser, 26, said he has served as an election working in the past.Vote 411

MLive has partnered with the League of Women Voters Michigan Education Fund to provide voters with a Vote411 election guide with information about candidates in local primary races across the state. Candidates were asked to fill out information about their campaigns and answer a list of questions compiled by the League of Women Voters.

RELATED: Michigan voter guide now live for August primary

Miller did not respond to requests to fill out the League of Women Voters questionnaire.

All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidate and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters or MLive, except for necessary cuts if a reply exceeded character limitations. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties.

What are your top three priorities for the office you seek? What do you hope to accomplish?

Grosser: My primary issues are increasing government transparency, uplifting impoverished communities, and connecting with marginalized groups in the township to bring them into the fold and welcome their voice in the townships mission to be inclusive of all residents.

What essential talents, skills and experiences would you bring to this office?

Grosser: As a resident of the Township and a former worker of the Township I have an awareness of the struggles of the everyday resident of Kalamazoo: putting food on the table, obtaining affordable housing, and achieving higher education for our children. We need a community activist who will work with residents to improve their quality of life.

What are the major environmental issues facing your township and what activities or initiatives would you support to address them?

Grosser: Kalamazoo Township must join the rest of the civilized world in using a sophisticated trash recycling system. It is my goal that the Township can recycle 70% of its trash by residents sorting their own waste into different categories and taking it to recycling facilities in exchange for money to use on transport or food.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter.
TEXAS TOWNSHIP, MI -- On Tuesday, Aug. 6, voters will narrow the Republican field of candidates from six to four in the Texas Township trustee race.

The six Republicans on the ballot are Lisa Koop, Brian Kovacik, Fred Krymis, Tamara Mitchell as well as incumbents Donald Boven and Michelle ONeill.

Democratic candidates Barb Hammon and Dennis Smith will automatically advance to the Nov. 5 ballot.

Brian Kovacik (left), Michelle O'Neill (middle) and Lisa Koop (right) are three of six Republican candidates running for four seats on the Texas Township Board of Trustees.Vote 411

Koop, 46, is a first grade teacher with over 23 years of experience. She has lived in Texas Township for 24 years, and wants to use the listening and problem-solving skills she developed as an educator to work with residents.

Kovacik, 60, is a sales consultant and long-time Texas Township resident. He ran for a seat on the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners in 2022 and 2014.

Krymis, 79, used his bachelors in chemistry from Michigan State University to work in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 40 years. He has also owned his own businesses, requiring him to manage budgets and taxes on his own.

ONeill, 47, currently serves on the township board and township road committee. The incumbent candidate is a practicing civil engineer with 25 years of experience in the government sector.

Boven and Mitchell did not provide biographical information in the questionnaire.

MLive has partnered with the League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund to provide voters with a Vote411 election guide with information about candidates in local primary races across the state. Candidates were asked to fill out information about their campaigns and answer a list of questions compiled by the League of Women Voters.

RELATED: Michigan voter guide now live for August primary

All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidate and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters or MLive, except for necessary cuts if a reply exceeded character limitations. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties.

Boven and Mitchell did not complete the election guide.

Here are the unedited answers from the Republican candidates. The Democratic candidate responses are not included, since their race is uncontested.

What are your top three priorities for the office you seek? What do you hope to accomplish?

Koop: I want to bring common sense, common decency and common honesty to the township board. My goal is to bring fresh ideas and perspectives for the residents of Texas Township.

Kovacik: 1. Customer service to the residents of the township. 2. Make decisions that have positive outcomes for the residents of the township. 3. Maintain a tax base that makes sense for the residents of the township and not to increase for special interest groups.

Krymis: Bring a conservative approach to the township to help assure tax payer money is well spent. Help assure water and sewer rates are reasonable and residents are charged a reasonable connection fee. Help assure township residents are appropriately represented.

ONeill: I will focus on infrastructure, public safety, and transparency as my top priorities for Texas Township. It is important to continue to invest in our local roads and township owned facilities in order to support residential and commercial growth. I will continue to partner with the County Sheriff and the Township Fire Department staff to maintain a high level of public safety as our population grows. At board meetings I ask questions to promote transparency between the township staff and board members. Transparency in government can resolve the majority of misconceptions and promote trust within the community.

What essential talents, skills and experiences would you bring to this office?

Koop: I have lived in Texas Township for over 24 years and watched it grow to become a more active place for families to live. Being a teacher, I spend a lot of time problem solving, listening and presenting ideas in ways that support my students and families. I plan to use these skills as a board member to do whats best for Texas Township.

Kovacik: I have lived in the community for 20 years. I have ran for political office before and the reason was to continue decency and fiscal responsibility to the residents in the township. I will never vote for a tax increase

Krymis: Able to evaluate budget items and determine those items that best serve the residents and are cost-effective.

ONeill: I have 25 years of experience working as a Licensed Civil Engineer. I am well versed in government contracting and setting government policies and procedures. I apply risk analysis to decision making regarding government owned assets with limited budgets. These skills translate well into the role of the trustee as the township often faces difficult decisions balancing fiscal constraints with the community desire for additional services. I have experience working on projects that require partnering with many different stakeholder groups. I hope to help the township grow while also continuing to preserve the character of the township.

What are the major environmental issues facing your township and what activities or initiatives would you support to address them?

Koop: The amount of trash along our roadways is concerning to me environmentally. I would support programs to improve that. Other items that I would support, although not necessarily environmental, include vehicle speed through the township and allowing residents to raise chickens without having to pay large fees. I encourage productive conversation among the board and residents and want to hear from more citizens at the township board meetings.

Kovacik: To save the lakes, stop the flooding, fight for funding from the county and county

Krymis: My objective is to serve the residents in an effective and efficient manner.

ONeill: Extreme weather events are on everyones mind. Texas Township has unfortunately faced several extreme weather events including flooding and a tornado. Resilience to extreme weather events is important to protect lives and property. I support initiatives that include proactive measures to improve the townships ability to respond swiftly and minimize damage. By focusing on resilience, we can safeguard our communitys safety and well-being in the face of unpredictable weather events. As Trustee, I will encourage partnering with the Drain Commissioner and Road Commission as we face these environmental extremes together.

Information on other state, county and local primary races can be found at Vote411.org.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter.
 Flash

China and the United Kingdom (UK) cooperating together serves the interests of both countries and the world, said Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang on Thursday.

Zheng made the remarks at a reception held by the Chinese Embassy in the UK to celebrate the 97th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army of China.

"The right approach to the bilateral relationship has always been to respect each other, strengthen engagement and cooperation, manage differences properly, and face challenges together," stressed the ambassador.

Noting that China attaches great importance to its relations with the UK, he added that the Chinese side is ready to work with the new British government for the sound and steady development of bilateral relations.

Zheng said he hopes the two countries' militaries will increase dialogue and exchanges, enhance mutual understanding, avoid misjudgment, and always be a stabilizing factor in the overall China-UK relationship.

In her opening remarks, Defence Attache Major General Feng Min, who presided over the event, highlighted that China will continue to actively promote international security cooperation, work with other countries for regional security and stability, and jointly embrace peace and a bright future.

Air Vice-Marshal Mick Smeath from the British Ministry of Defence said that the military relationship is an important part of the China-UK overall relationship.

Recalling a fruitful talk held recently between the chiefs of the armed forces of the two sides, Smeath said those dialogues have been "exceptionally important." The UK and China will continue to enhance defense dialogue and communication, and work together to promote regional and global peace and stability.

"We will find common grounds," said Smeath, adding that "we will look to where we can create peace, stability and where we can work together to make this world a better place."

Nearly 200 guests, including officials from the UK government and parliament, defense attaches and members of the diplomatic corps in the UK attended the reception.
Cai Wenke shows hand-made cloth shoes in Beijing, capital of China, July 21, 2024. Located at the south section of the Beijing Central Axis, Dashilan commercial area is home to many time-honored Chinese brands such as shoe maker Neiliansheng, silk and fabric store Ruifuxiang, foodstuff company Daoxiangcun and pharmaceutical company Tongrentang.

Cai Wenke, an inheritor of making techniques of Neiliansheng handmade cloth shoes, is now exploring new possibilities of the products by combining the traditional designs with modern elements. He hopes that more people could wear the cloth shoes and walk on the Beijing Central Axis to experience the colorful Chinese culture.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Saturday announced the inclusion of the Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital, into its world heritage list.

Beijing Central Axis, initially established in the 13th century and formed in the 16th century, runs through the old city of Beijing from north to south. It has become the longest urban axis in the world today, spanning 7.8 kilometers. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

Cai Wenke makes cloth shoes in Beijing, capital of China, July 21, 2024. Located at the south section of the Beijing Central Axis, Dashilan commercial area is home to many time-honored Chinese brands such as shoe maker Neiliansheng, silk and fabric store Ruifuxiang, foodstuff company Daoxiangcun and pharmaceutical company Tongrentang.

Cai Wenke, an inheritor of making techniques of Neiliansheng handmade cloth shoes, is now exploring new possibilities of the products by combining the traditional designs with modern elements. He hopes that more people could wear the cloth shoes and walk on the Beijing Central Axis to experience the colorful Chinese culture.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Saturday announced the inclusion of the Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital, into its world heritage list.

Beijing Central Axis, initially established in the 13th century and formed in the 16th century, runs through the old city of Beijing from north to south. It has become the longest urban axis in the world today, spanning 7.8 kilometers. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

Cai Wenke walks in front of the Zhengyang Gate in Beijing, capital of China, July 21, 2024. Located at the south section of the Beijing Central Axis, Dashilan commercial area is home to many time-honored Chinese brands such as shoe maker Neiliansheng, silk and fabric store Ruifuxiang, foodstuff company Daoxiangcun and pharmaceutical company Tongrentang.

Cai Wenke, an inheritor of making techniques of Neiliansheng handmade cloth shoes, is now exploring new possibilities of the products by combining the traditional designs with modern elements. He hopes that more people could wear the cloth shoes and walk on the Beijing Central Axis to experience the colorful Chinese culture.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Saturday announced the inclusion of the Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital, into its world heritage list.

Beijing Central Axis, initially established in the 13th century and formed in the 16th century, runs through the old city of Beijing from north to south. It has become the longest urban axis in the world today, spanning 7.8 kilometers. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

Cai Wenke explains as a visitor feels a hand-made cloth shoe to a student in Beijing, capital of China, July 21, 2024. Located at the south section of the Beijing Central Axis, Dashilan commercial area is home to many time-honored Chinese brands such as shoe maker Neiliansheng, silk and fabric store Ruifuxiang, foodstuff company Daoxiangcun and pharmaceutical company Tongrentang.

Cai Wenke, an inheritor of making techniques of Neiliansheng handmade cloth shoes, is now exploring new possibilities of the products by combining the traditional designs with modern elements. He hopes that more people could wear the cloth shoes and walk on the Beijing Central Axis to experience the colorful Chinese culture.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Saturday announced the inclusion of the Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital, into its world heritage list.

Beijing Central Axis, initially established in the 13th century and formed in the 16th century, runs through the old city of Beijing from north to south. It has become the longest urban axis in the world today, spanning 7.8 kilometers. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)
HONG KONG, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Over 120 Hong Kong college students demonstrated their training results in the 11th Military Summer Camp for Hong Kong tertiary students which concluded on Sunday at San Wai Barracks of the Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

In the summer camp, the students received military physical training and training in platoon movements, laser simulation shooting and map reading. They also attended lectures on patriotism and national defense education, and participated in other activities, spending a fulfilling time in the military camp.

Over the past 27 years since the Chinese PLA Hong Kong Garrison entered Hong Kong, it has always been focusing on enhancing communication and exchanges with all sectors of society in Hong Kong, which included organizing activities for college students to stimulate their enthusiasm for serving Hong Kong and the country. 
Zaitunna and her husband arrange the items at their family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 24, 2024. Zaitunna, an ethnic Tatar woman living in Tacheng City of Xinjiang, is a representative inheritor of Saban Festival of Tatar ethnic group, which is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. She is also famous in the city for her expertise in making traditional Tatar pastries.

Over the years, Zaitunna and her husband have been committed to the inheritance and promotion of Tatar ethnic culture. They used their old family house built in 1915 to establish the first family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, displaying a collection of more than 500 pieces of old objects full of Tatar characteristics, which carry the life memories of the family for several generations. Today, their family museum attracts visitors from all over the country, and the Tatar pastries made by Zaitunna are also sold nationwide.

In recent years, Tacheng City has accelerated the exploitation, protection and inheritance of folk culture. The folk customs of Tacheng city have become a major feature in promoting local tourism, attracting tourists from all over the world. At present, there are 14 family museums in the city, receiving around 100,000 visitors a year. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Zaitunna arranges the items at her family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 24, 2024. Zaitunna, an ethnic Tatar woman living in Tacheng City of Xinjiang, is a representative inheritor of Saban Festival of Tatar ethnic group, which is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. She is also famous in the city for her expertise in making traditional Tatar pastries.

Over the years, Zaitunna and her husband have been committed to the inheritance and promotion of Tatar ethnic culture. They used their old family house built in 1915 to establish the first family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, displaying a collection of more than 500 pieces of old objects full of Tatar characteristics, which carry the life memories of the family for several generations. Today, their family museum attracts visitors from all over the country, and the Tatar pastries made by Zaitunna are also sold nationwide.

In recent years, Tacheng City has accelerated the exploitation, protection and inheritance of folk culture. The folk customs of Tacheng city have become a major feature in promoting local tourism, attracting tourists from all over the world. At present, there are 14 family museums in the city, receiving around 100,000 visitors a year. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Zaitunna and her husband are pictured at their family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 24, 2024. Zaitunna, an ethnic Tatar woman living in Tacheng City of Xinjiang, is a representative inheritor of Saban Festival of Tatar ethnic group, which is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. She is also famous in the city for her expertise in making traditional Tatar pastries.

Over the years, Zaitunna and her husband have been committed to the inheritance and promotion of Tatar ethnic culture. They used their old family house built in 1915 to establish the first family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, displaying a collection of more than 500 pieces of old objects full of Tatar characteristics, which carry the life memories of the family for several generations. Today, their family museum attracts visitors from all over the country, and the Tatar pastries made by Zaitunna are also sold nationwide.

In recent years, Tacheng City has accelerated the exploitation, protection and inheritance of folk culture. The folk customs of Tacheng city have become a major feature in promoting local tourism, attracting tourists from all over the world. At present, there are 14 family museums in the city, receiving around 100,000 visitors a year. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Zaitunna (R) demonstrates as her apprentice learns to make traditional Tatar pastries in Tacheng City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 24, 2024. Zaitunna, an ethnic Tatar woman living in Tacheng City of Xinjiang, is a representative inheritor of Saban Festival of Tatar ethnic group, which is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. She is also famous in the city for her expertise in making traditional Tatar pastries.

Over the years, Zaitunna and her husband have been committed to the inheritance and promotion of Tatar ethnic culture. They used their old family house built in 1915 to establish the first family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, displaying a collection of more than 500 pieces of old objects full of Tatar characteristics, which carry the life memories of the family for several generations. Today, their family museum attracts visitors from all over the country, and the Tatar pastries made by Zaitunna are also sold nationwide.

In recent years, Tacheng City has accelerated the exploitation, protection and inheritance of folk culture. The folk customs of Tacheng city have become a major feature in promoting local tourism, attracting tourists from all over the world. At present, there are 14 family museums in the city, receiving around 100,000 visitors a year. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

A customer selects traditional Tatar pastries at Zaitunna's retail store in Tacheng City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 24, 2024. Zaitunna, an ethnic Tatar woman living in Tacheng City of Xinjiang, is a representative inheritor of Saban Festival of Tatar ethnic group, which is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. She is also famous in the city for her expertise in making traditional Tatar pastries.

Over the years, Zaitunna and her husband have been committed to the inheritance and promotion of Tatar ethnic culture. They used their old family house built in 1915 to establish the first family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, displaying a collection of more than 500 pieces of old objects full of Tatar characteristics, which carry the life memories of the family for several generations. Today, their family museum attracts visitors from all over the country, and the Tatar pastries made by Zaitunna are also sold nationwide.

In recent years, Tacheng City has accelerated the exploitation, protection and inheritance of folk culture. The folk customs of Tacheng city have become a major feature in promoting local tourism, attracting tourists from all over the world. At present, there are 14 family museums in the city, receiving around 100,000 visitors a year. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Zaitunna (L) talks about traditional Tatar pastries with customers at her retail store in Tacheng City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 24, 2024. Zaitunna, an ethnic Tatar woman living in Tacheng City of Xinjiang, is a representative inheritor of Saban Festival of Tatar ethnic group, which is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. She is also famous in the city for her expertise in making traditional Tatar pastries.

Over the years, Zaitunna and her husband have been committed to the inheritance and promotion of Tatar ethnic culture. They used their old family house built in 1915 to establish the first family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, displaying a collection of more than 500 pieces of old objects full of Tatar characteristics, which carry the life memories of the family for several generations. Today, their family museum attracts visitors from all over the country, and the Tatar pastries made by Zaitunna are also sold nationwide.

In recent years, Tacheng City has accelerated the exploitation, protection and inheritance of folk culture. The folk customs of Tacheng city have become a major feature in promoting local tourism, attracting tourists from all over the world. At present, there are 14 family museums in the city, receiving around 100,000 visitors a year. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Zaitunna arranges the items at her family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 24, 2024. Zaitunna, an ethnic Tatar woman living in Tacheng City of Xinjiang, is a representative inheritor of Saban Festival of Tatar ethnic group, which is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. She is also famous in the city for her expertise in making traditional Tatar pastries.

Over the years, Zaitunna and her husband have been committed to the inheritance and promotion of Tatar ethnic culture. They used their old family house built in 1915 to establish the first family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, displaying a collection of more than 500 pieces of old objects full of Tatar characteristics, which carry the life memories of the family for several generations. Today, their family museum attracts visitors from all over the country, and the Tatar pastries made by Zaitunna are also sold nationwide.

In recent years, Tacheng City has accelerated the exploitation, protection and inheritance of folk culture. The folk customs of Tacheng city have become a major feature in promoting local tourism, attracting tourists from all over the world. At present, there are 14 family museums in the city, receiving around 100,000 visitors a year. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Zaitunna promotes traditional Tatar pastries via livestreaming at her retail store in Tacheng City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 24, 2024. Zaitunna, an ethnic Tatar woman living in Tacheng City of Xinjiang, is a representative inheritor of Saban Festival of Tatar ethnic group, which is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. She is also famous in the city for her expertise in making traditional Tatar pastries.

Over the years, Zaitunna and her husband have been committed to the inheritance and promotion of Tatar ethnic culture. They used their old family house built in 1915 to establish the first family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, displaying a collection of more than 500 pieces of old objects full of Tatar characteristics, which carry the life memories of the family for several generations. Today, their family museum attracts visitors from all over the country, and the Tatar pastries made by Zaitunna are also sold nationwide.

In recent years, Tacheng City has accelerated the exploitation, protection and inheritance of folk culture. The folk customs of Tacheng city have become a major feature in promoting local tourism, attracting tourists from all over the world. At present, there are 14 family museums in the city, receiving around 100,000 visitors a year. (Xinhua/Lin Liping)

Zaitunna promotes traditional Tatar pastries via livestreaming at her retail store in Tacheng City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 24, 2024. Zaitunna, an ethnic Tatar woman living in Tacheng City of Xinjiang, is a representative inheritor of Saban Festival of Tatar ethnic group, which is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. She is also famous in the city for her expertise in making traditional Tatar pastries.

Over the years, Zaitunna and her husband have been committed to the inheritance and promotion of Tatar ethnic culture. They used their old family house built in 1915 to establish the first family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, displaying a collection of more than 500 pieces of old objects full of Tatar characteristics, which carry the life memories of the family for several generations. Today, their family museum attracts visitors from all over the country, and the Tatar pastries made by Zaitunna are also sold nationwide.

In recent years, Tacheng City has accelerated the exploitation, protection and inheritance of folk culture. The folk customs of Tacheng city have become a major feature in promoting local tourism, attracting tourists from all over the world. At present, there are 14 family museums in the city, receiving around 100,000 visitors a year. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Zaitunna plays the accordion at her family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 24, 2024. Zaitunna, an ethnic Tatar woman living in Tacheng City of Xinjiang, is a representative inheritor of Saban Festival of Tatar ethnic group, which is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. She is also famous in the city for her expertise in making traditional Tatar pastries.

Over the years, Zaitunna and her husband have been committed to the inheritance and promotion of Tatar ethnic culture. They used their old family house built in 1915 to establish the first family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, displaying a collection of more than 500 pieces of old objects full of Tatar characteristics, which carry the life memories of the family for several generations. Today, their family museum attracts visitors from all over the country, and the Tatar pastries made by Zaitunna are also sold nationwide.

In recent years, Tacheng City has accelerated the exploitation, protection and inheritance of folk culture. The folk customs of Tacheng city have become a major feature in promoting local tourism, attracting tourists from all over the world. At present, there are 14 family museums in the city, receiving around 100,000 visitors a year. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

A visitor takes photos at Zaitunna's family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 24, 2024. Zaitunna, an ethnic Tatar woman living in Tacheng City of Xinjiang, is a representative inheritor of Saban Festival of Tatar ethnic group, which is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. She is also famous in the city for her expertise in making traditional Tatar pastries.

Over the years, Zaitunna and her husband have been committed to the inheritance and promotion of Tatar ethnic culture. They used their old family house built in 1915 to establish the first family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, displaying a collection of more than 500 pieces of old objects full of Tatar characteristics, which carry the life memories of the family for several generations. Today, their family museum attracts visitors from all over the country, and the Tatar pastries made by Zaitunna are also sold nationwide.

In recent years, Tacheng City has accelerated the exploitation, protection and inheritance of folk culture. The folk customs of Tacheng city have become a major feature in promoting local tourism, attracting tourists from all over the world. At present, there are 14 family museums in the city, receiving around 100,000 visitors a year. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Zaitunna (R) and a customer communicate at her retail store of traditional Tatar pastries in Tacheng City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 24, 2024. Zaitunna, an ethnic Tatar woman living in Tacheng City of Xinjiang, is a representative inheritor of Saban Festival of Tatar ethnic group, which is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. She is also famous in the city for her expertise in making traditional Tatar pastries.

Over the years, Zaitunna and her husband have been committed to the inheritance and promotion of Tatar ethnic culture. They used their old family house built in 1915 to establish the first family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, displaying a collection of more than 500 pieces of old objects full of Tatar characteristics, which carry the life memories of the family for several generations. Today, their family museum attracts visitors from all over the country, and the Tatar pastries made by Zaitunna are also sold nationwide.

In recent years, Tacheng City has accelerated the exploitation, protection and inheritance of folk culture. The folk customs of Tacheng city have become a major feature in promoting local tourism, attracting tourists from all over the world. At present, there are 14 family museums in the city, receiving around 100,000 visitors a year. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Zaitunna puts traditional Tatar pastries in a car in Tacheng City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 24, 2024. Zaitunna, an ethnic Tatar woman living in Tacheng City of Xinjiang, is a representative inheritor of Saban Festival of Tatar ethnic group, which is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. She is also famous in the city for her expertise in making traditional Tatar pastries.

Over the years, Zaitunna and her husband have been committed to the inheritance and promotion of Tatar ethnic culture. They used their old family house built in 1915 to establish the first family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, displaying a collection of more than 500 pieces of old objects full of Tatar characteristics, which carry the life memories of the family for several generations. Today, their family museum attracts visitors from all over the country, and the Tatar pastries made by Zaitunna are also sold nationwide.

In recent years, Tacheng City has accelerated the exploitation, protection and inheritance of folk culture. The folk customs of Tacheng city have become a major feature in promoting local tourism, attracting tourists from all over the world. At present, there are 14 family museums in the city, receiving around 100,000 visitors a year. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Zaitunna looks at old photos at her family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 24, 2024. Zaitunna, an ethnic Tatar woman living in Tacheng City of Xinjiang, is a representative inheritor of Saban Festival of Tatar ethnic group, which is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. She is also famous in the city for her expertise in making traditional Tatar pastries.

Over the years, Zaitunna and her husband have been committed to the inheritance and promotion of Tatar ethnic culture. They used their old family house built in 1915 to establish the first family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, displaying a collection of more than 500 pieces of old objects full of Tatar characteristics, which carry the life memories of the family for several generations. Today, their family museum attracts visitors from all over the country, and the Tatar pastries made by Zaitunna are also sold nationwide.

In recent years, Tacheng City has accelerated the exploitation, protection and inheritance of folk culture. The folk customs of Tacheng city have become a major feature in promoting local tourism, attracting tourists from all over the world. At present, there are 14 family museums in the city, receiving around 100,000 visitors a year. (Xinhua/Lin Liping)

Zaitunna plays the accordion at her family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 24, 2024. Zaitunna, an ethnic Tatar woman living in Tacheng City of Xinjiang, is a representative inheritor of Saban Festival of Tatar ethnic group, which is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. She is also famous in the city for her expertise in making traditional Tatar pastries.

Over the years, Zaitunna and her husband have been committed to the inheritance and promotion of Tatar ethnic culture. They used their old family house built in 1915 to establish the first family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, displaying a collection of more than 500 pieces of old objects full of Tatar characteristics, which carry the life memories of the family for several generations. Today, their family museum attracts visitors from all over the country, and the Tatar pastries made by Zaitunna are also sold nationwide.

In recent years, Tacheng City has accelerated the exploitation, protection and inheritance of folk culture. The folk customs of Tacheng city have become a major feature in promoting local tourism, attracting tourists from all over the world. At present, there are 14 family museums in the city, receiving around 100,000 visitors a year. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Zaitunna's husband looks at old photos at the family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 24, 2024. Zaitunna, an ethnic Tatar woman living in Tacheng City of Xinjiang, is a representative inheritor of Saban Festival of Tatar ethnic group, which is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. She is also famous in the city for her expertise in making traditional Tatar pastries.

Over the years, Zaitunna and her husband have been committed to the inheritance and promotion of Tatar ethnic culture. They used their old family house built in 1915 to establish the first family museum of Tatar ethnic culture in Tacheng City, displaying a collection of more than 500 pieces of old objects full of Tatar characteristics, which carry the life memories of the family for several generations. Today, their family museum attracts visitors from all over the country, and the Tatar pastries made by Zaitunna are also sold nationwide.

In recent years, Tacheng City has accelerated the exploitation, protection and inheritance of folk culture. The folk customs of Tacheng city have become a major feature in promoting local tourism, attracting tourists from all over the world. At present, there are 14 family museums in the city, receiving around 100,000 visitors a year. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaoyong)
LHASA, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Recent monitoring and studies by Chinese scientists reveal that southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region remains one of the regions with the best ecological environment quality in the world, while the implementation of the ecological security barrier construction project in the region has achieved significant benefits.

Monitoring and research efforts conducted by scientists show that Xizang has managed to maintain the authenticity of its ecosystems, with a rate of change in ecological pattern of less than one percent, far lower than other regions in China, laying a solid foundation for the construction of the national ecological security barrier, said Wang Xiaodan, a researcher with the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment (IMHE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Ten monitoring stations have been established in Xizang, namely Xainza, Shannan, Nyingchi, Qamdo, Tingri, Shigatse, Nagqu, Ali, Gerze and Mangkam, providing technical and data support for evaluation of the functioning of the ecological security barrier and assessment of the effectiveness of its construction, according to IMHE.

Carbon sequestration, water source conservation, soil conservation and sand fixation in Xizang have been improved, while populations of wild animals and plants have shown positive growth, with the number of Tibetan antelopes increasing from about 70,000 to nearly 300,000, Wang said.

Forest coverage in the entire Xizang Autonomous Region stands at 12.31 percent, and the quality of most grasslands has improved, while 66 percent of natural wetlands are effectively protected, according to Wang.

The area of desertification in Xizang has decreased by 35,000 hectares compared to 2010, and the occurrence of hazardous sand and dust weather in the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley, a typical observation area, has dropped by a significant two-thirds, according to studies.

Xizang is now home to various types of nature reserves covering a total area of 412,300 square kilometers, accounting for more than one-third of the total land area of the region, effectively conserving 217 species of national key protected wild animals and 38 species of national key protected wild plants, studies show.

The annual average concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 in major cities in Xizang have decreased by 28.1 percent and 37.5 percent, respectively, compared to 2015, and there has been a significant reduction in sand and dust weather, Wang said.

The water quality of drinking water sources in Xizang meets the national standards with a compliance rate of 100 percent. The content level of heavy metal elements in most arable soils in Xizang is better than national first-class soil standards, according to the studies.

However, scientists also point out that the high-altitude and cold ecological environment in Xizang is extremely fragile, and the construction of the ecological security barrier is a complex and long-term undertaking that requires sustained efforts in order to achieve lasting results.

Chinese scientists proposed the construction of the ecological security barrier on the Xizang plateau in 2006, and a long-term plan was approved by the State Council in 2009, with the aim of completing the national ecological security barrier in Xizang by 2030 -- a project lasting more than two decades.

Scientists predict that by 2030, after the completion of the ecological security barrier project, Xizang will be able to achieve the overall goals of effective protection, successful governance, stable improvement and ecological security. 
Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta here on Sunday.

Li said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 22 years ago, no matter how the international landscape has evolved, China and Timor-Leste have always understood and supported each other, deepened political mutual trust and achieved fruitful results in practical cooperation.

China is willing to work with Timor-Leste to further carry forward their traditional friendship, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and achieve more results to better benefit the two peoples, Li added.

Noting that China will, as always, firmly support Timor-Leste in pursuing a development path suited to its own national conditions and in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, Li said the two sides should further synergize their development strategies, deepen practical cooperation and inject more impetus into their respective modernization drives.

He said China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Timor-Leste in infrastructure and connectivity under the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, expand mutually beneficial cooperation to a wider range of fields, and help Timor-Leste improve its independent development capabilities.

China is willing to import more quality products from Timor-Leste and encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Timor-Leste, Li said, adding that China is ready to deepen communication and coordination with Timor-Leste in multilateral areas, strengthen exchanges and cooperation on climate policy, support Timor-Leste's early accession to ASEAN, and jointly contribute to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Noting that China was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with Timor-Leste, Ramos-Horta thanked China for its long-term support for Timor-Leste.

He said Timor-Leste highly appreciates China's important role in international and regional affairs, firmly adheres to the one-China principle, supports and actively participates in the Belt and Road Initiative, welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in Timor-Leste, and hopes to deepen cooperation with China in various fields. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)
CHANGSHA, July 28 (Xinhua) -- A dike breach occurred in the Juanshui River in central China's Hunan Province at about 8 p.m. Sunday, local authorities said.

Rescue personnel have rushed to the scene. By 9:40 p.m., the breach had widened to about 50 meters, according to the flood control and drought relief headquarters of Xiangtan City.

More than 3,100 people have been evacuated and no casualties have been reported. 
*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Rebecca Lee introduces the cold-proof clothing she wore during an Antarctic expedition at a climate change museum of the Hong Kong Jockey Club in Hong Kong, south China, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Duo)

by Xinhua writers Lu Yun, Lu Min

HONG KONG, July 28 (Xinhua) -- With straight bangs, a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, and a soft voice, Rebecca Lee looks more like a teacher than an explorer.

The 80-year-old has many identities: photographer, polar researcher, graphic designer, and most importantly, Hong Kong's first female explorer to have set foot on the earth's three extremes -- the North Pole, the South Pole and Mount Qomolangma.

Now, having hung up her explorer boots, Lee is ready for the next expedition, one that would last a lifetime: environmental protection and education.

From a young age, Lee was intrigued by adventures. Books such as "Robinson Crusoe" and "Around the World in Eighty Days" were her favorites. By 1985, when China established its first scientific research station in Antarctica, she had visited over 100 cities worldwide.

Back then, as a graphic designer, Lee was part of the team planning for an exhibition on China's Antarctic expedition in Hong Kong. Intrigued by the unique continent, she applied to become a photographer to film China's second Antarctic expedition that year.

The first time she set foot on Antarctica, she was stunned.

"The research station was red - bright, glorious Chinese red - in a vast blanket of white. Snow and ice were everywhere," she recalled.

"I felt as excited as a bride arriving at a distant new home," she recalled. "I vowed in my heart that I would never let this land down," she said.

Over the ensuing decades, she returned to the continent seven times, visited the Arctic ten times, and left her footprint in areas of the Mount Qomolangma four times.

During the trips, she developed intimacy with nature, and felt for herself how climate change is causing damage to it.

"You can even swim in the Arctic during the summer," she said.

Her expeditions have led her to reflect on the impact of human activities on nature. In order to enhance public awareness of environmental issues, she organized lectures and initiated the establishment of the Polar Museum Foundation, hoping to inspire young people to appreciate nature and contribute to environmental protection.

In 2013, thanks to Lee's efforts, the Museum of Climate Change was established. The city's first ever museum dedicated to climate change displayed a collection of artefacts from Lee's expeditions, including thousands of pictures and hundreds of hours of video footage.

"I'm in the final phase of my life. It's time to give all I have to my students and the public. I'm in a great position to do so too -- I have passion; I have connections with scientists; and the Chinese government supports my efforts in popularizing Polar sciences. I'm also a designer by profession, good at packaging science in art," she said.

If Lee's life is about connecting the dots, the arrival of China's first domestically made polar icebreaker Xuelong 2 to Hong Kong was another important mark.

In April this year, the vessel made a stop in Hong Kong during its homebound voyage after China's 40th Antarctic expedition.

Boarding the ship, Lee felt a familiar sense of pride. To her, "Xuelong" was like an old friend. She first saw "Xuelong" in 1996, when the vessel made a stop in Hong Kong on its way to Antarctica. She boarded the icebreaker in 1999, when she spent two months onboard as a student alongside many scientists. In 2004, when "Xuelong" made a stop in Hong Kong during China's 21st Antarctic expedition, she organized a series of welcoming events for the old friend.

This year, she has been more of a teacher, an educator. Together with members of the country's 40th Antarctic scientific expedition team, she shared polar research and exploration experiences with students in Hong Kong.

For Lee, the adventure of environmental protection and education never ends. While there will be obstacles in the journey, nature will be her guide.

"There's so much environmental protection work to be done. We need to learn, learn from nature, and see how nature needs us to help it," she said. 

Rebecca Lee gestures during an interview in Hong Kong, south China, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Duo)

Rebecca Lee (L) introduces the exhibits at a climate change museum of the Hong Kong Jockey Club in Hong Kong, south China, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Duo)

Rebecca Lee (L) introduces the exhibits at a climate change museum of the Hong Kong Jockey Club in Hong Kong, south China, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Duo)

Rebecca Lee speaks during an interview in Hong Kong, south China, July 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Duo)
DAMASCUS, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Pro-Iranian groups and Hezbollah forces on Sunday evacuated known positions they hold in Damascus and its surrounding areas, anticipating potential Israeli airstrikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Observatory reported that pro-Iranian groups, comprising both Syrian and non-Syrian nationals, withdrew from their posts in the Sayyida Zaynab area south of Damascus and areas southwest of Damascus and the southern province of Quneitra.

Concurrently, Hezbollah forces implemented the same measures in the western Qalamoun region in the northwestern countryside of Damascus close to Lebanon.

The pro-Iran militias have restricted the movement of their personnel and military leaders to avoid detection and have re-positioned themselves, the Observatory said, noting that the groups are no longer visible in the areas following these preventive actions.

The recent evacuation and reposition of pro-Iranian groups and Hezbollah forces come against the backdrop of the attack on the Israeli-occupied Majdal Shams area in the occupied Golan Heights on Saturday when as many as 12 people were killed in an attack Israel blamed on Hezbollah.

Hezbollah denied responsibility for the attack, which signaled a new rising tension and opened the door wide for speculations about a potential showdown between Israel and Hezbollah. 
This photo taken on April 4, 2024, shows the city view of Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

From fashion design training to installation of solar power systems, Hong Kong Polytechnic University is trying to bring hope to communities in rural villages in eastern Rwanda.

KIGALI, July 28 (Xinhua) -- From fashion design training to installation of solar power systems, Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is trying to bring hope to communities in rural villages in eastern Rwanda.

Under PolyU's "Green Home" service-learning project, students and faculty from the Department of Computing and the Department of Electrical Engineering, along with PolyU staff, members of the University Social Responsibility Network, and Hong Kong secondary school students and teachers, visited eight villages in Rwamagana District, where they designed and developed green energy solutions and installed solar power systems for more than 400 local households.

The service-learning project was launched in 2013, drawing on over a decade of experience serving the Rwandan community. It ran from July 15 to 29 this year.

Speaking at the closing event Friday, Rwamagana District Mayor Radjab Mbonyumuvunyi commended the cooperation between Rwanda and the Chinese government that makes such initiatives possible.

"We appreciate the cooperation between Rwamagana District and Hong Kong Polytechnic University. This marks our third year working together to provide solar panels to vulnerable residents living far away from on-grid electricity," he said.

Mbonyumuvunyi said solar power will impact lives by extending working hours for businesses and education, as local students will be able to do their revisions at night. "Today, we are celebrating 420 households given solar panels, meaning no more darkness; they can continue their daily activities even at night. It is very interesting for us."

Alphonsine Mukakamanzi, a community health volunteer and one of the beneficiaries of solar power systems, could not hide her excitement.

This photo taken on Feb. 26, 2023, shows an upgraded road in Kigali, Rwanda. (CRBC/Handout via Xinhua)

"My phone could go days without power, cutting off communication with those who wanted me. My children could also not revise in the evening due to darkness. These will be no more. I'm very excited because I have been saved from darkness," Mukakamanzi said.

Like many other residents of the Nyakariro sector in Rwamagana District, Mukakamanzi's only source of lighting was a candle. "Because of the darkness, I could not tend to patients who sought health services at night. I asked them to return the following morning. But this challenge is now addressed. I merely tap on the switch on the wall, and there is light," she said.

Thanks to the project, about 2,000 households in Rwanda have accessed power and radios over the last 11 years, Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Wang Xuekun said.

He noted the importance of radios in connecting villagers to the world and the importance of electricity in enabling students to study at night.

This photo taken on Feb. 26, 2023, shows an upgraded road in Kigali, Rwanda. (CRBC/Handout via Xinhua)

In addition to lighting up the community, the Fashion Innovation and Design Project was implemented by students and faculty from PolyU's School of Fashion and Textiles in cooperation with local villagers and young people with textile experience.

PolyU's fashion creativity was combined with local fabrics to design and create clothing with local characteristics. The finished garments were donated to disadvantaged groups in the area, promoting community care and inclusion.

"This year, designing encounters traditional Rwandan culture and produces fashion art. All these elements show hope for the future, connection with the world, and thus a better life," Wang added. 
TOKYO, July 28 (Xinhua) -- A Japanese civil group held a rally here on Saturday, demanding that the government return the Chinese cultural relics looted during the Japanese war of aggression against China.

Takakage Fujita, co-representative of the group which aims to promote the return of Chinese cultural properties, said that many developed countries that invaded other countries and looted cultural relics in the past are gradually returning looted cultural relics.

The first step to reconciliation is to correct the wrongs of the past, and it is not right to keep the cultural relics looted in one's own country as a matter of course, Fujita said.

The Japanese government's reluctance to return cultural relics looted in the past shows that its reflection on the war is still not enough, Fujita added, noting, "I hope Japan can reflect on its past from the bottom of its heart and change its current practices. This is also the reason we started this campaign."

According to the group, the University Museum of the University of Tokyo has collected and partially exhibited cultural relics of the Shangjing Longquan Prefecture Site of the Bohai Kingdom during the Tang Dynasty that were plundered by Japan in "Manchukuo," a puppet state established by Japanese invaders to control Northeast China.

The group requires the University of Tokyo to disclose all cultural relics that have been obtained by improper means and collected to this day, including the above-mentioned ones, and to disclose their sources.

About 50 people from all over Japan attended the rally on the day. A Tokyo University student told Xinhua, "I really want to know about the situation of Tokyo University's possession of Chinese cultural relics. After listening to today's speech, I think we need to seriously understand history and return the cultural relics."

The founding purpose of the civil group is to encourage Japan to return Chinese cultural relics, achieve "historical reconciliation" between the two countries, and further promote the development of bilateral relations. 
The air of dissent that has been simmering beneath the surface of Zimbabwean society has once again boiled over, this time in the form of a harsh judicial sentence that has left a bitter taste in other would-be protesters.

Tafadzwa Hapureni, a 23-year-old resident of Chipinge, found himself on the wrong side of the law after he dared to voice his displeasure with the current state of affairs, a sentiment that landed him a three-year prison sentence.

Hapureni, along with his accomplice Isaac Chitengwa, who remains at large, engaged in a bold act of defiance on July 15th. They chose a location that could not be ignored, the 20-kilometre peg along the Birchenough Bridge-Mount Selinda road, to stage their protest. There, they barricaded the road with stones and burning tyres, a potent symbol of their frustration and a blatant attempt to disrupt the flow of life in the region.

Their message, scrawled on placards, was clear and unambiguous: The Zimbabwe African# Revolution, Mnangagwa must step down resistance # fire 4 fire, the revolutionary movement # with due respect Mnangagwa must step down the fall of vision 2030 resistance fire for fire sniper operation. These words, a potent cocktail of defiance and discontent, were meant to be a wake-up call to President Mnangagwa, a challenge to his authority and a demand for change.

However, the authorities were not receptive to this call to action. Hapureni was apprehended and brought before Chipinge magistrate Nixon Mangoti, where he faced charges of obstructing the free movement of persons. The magistrate, seemingly unmoved by the young mans plea for a voice, handed down a three-year prison sentence, with a one-year conditional suspension.

The sentence, a harsh reminder of the limited space for dissent in Zimbabwe, has sparked outrage and concern among those who believe in the importance of free speech and the right to protest. Many see it as a deliberate attempt to stifle any form of opposition, a chilling reminder of the consequences of speaking out against the government.

While Hapureni will serve his time behind bars, Chitengwa remains at large, a fugitive from justice. The authorities are actively seeking his apprehension, a pursuit that underscores the seriousness with which they view this act of defiance.

Breaking News via Email

Related Zimbabwe Latest News
The serene beauty of the Kruger National Park, a sanctuary for wildlife and a symbol of South Africas natural heritage, has been marred by a shocking tale of alleged theft and deception. At the heart of this scandal is Amos Tineyi Kampinya, a Zimbabwean man who is wanted by the Hawks, South Africas elite crime-fighting unit, for allegedly stealing almost R1 million from the Mugg & Bean franchise in the Lower Sabie Rest Camp.

Kampinya, a former manager at the popular eatery, is accused of orchestrating a sophisticated scheme that involved falsifying invoices and siphoning off company funds. The Hawks allege that he stole a staggering R897 229, leaving a trail of financial chaos in his wake.

It is further alleged that Kampinya stole the company funds amounting to R897,229 and disappeared, said Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, Mpumalanga regional spokesperson for the Hawks.

Adding to the intrigue, Kampinya is not alone in this alleged heist. He is believed to have been working in cahoots with Ronald Mankena Khoza, a 45-year-old South African man who was recently arrested by the Hawks and charged with theft and fraud. Khoza is accused of authorizing cash payouts from daily sales, using false invoices to support the transactions and pocketing the money for his own gain.

It is alleged that during July 2022, Khoza was employed by Gemla Holdings working at the Mugg & Bean franchise in the Lower Sabie Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park. The suspect authorized cash payouts from the cash money received from the daily sales, said Sekgotodi.

He attached false invoices in support of these cash payments, purporting to have been issued by SA Liquor Komatipoort for stock. The suspect appropriated the cash and used it for his own purposes. The value involved is R253,208.

Khoza, who appeared in the Bushbuckridge Magistrates Court on Wednesday, was released on R20 000 bail. His case was postponed to September 20.

Meanwhile, Kampinya has vanished, leaving a trail of unanswered questions and a sense of unease among those who knew him. The Hawks have launched a manhunt for the fugitive, releasing his photograph to the public and appealing for information regarding his whereabouts.

A manhunt has been launched for Zimbabwean man, Amos Tineyi Kampinya, 44, who is wanted by the Hawks in connection with a fraud and theft case, stated the Hawks.

The disappearance of Kampinya has sent ripples through the Kruger National Park, raising concerns about security and the vulnerability of businesses operating within the parks confines. The alleged theft has also cast a shadow over the reputation of Mugg & Bean, a popular South African restaurant chain, raising questions about their internal controls and their ability to safeguard their assets.

The Hawks, determined to bring Kampinya to justice, have appealed to the public for their assistance. They have urged community members to come forward with any information that could lead to his arrest.

Provincial head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Nicholas Gerber has appealed to Kampinya to come forward. Gerber also also urged community members to give information regarding Kampinyas whereabouts by contacting the investigating officer, Captain Mandla Mphephethe on 071 481 3295, said the Hawks.

The Hawks have assured the public that all information provided will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

Breaking News via Email

Related Zimbabwe Latest News
Elon Musk blames woke virus for his sons gender confusion

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has blamed the "woke virus" for the gender confusion that befell his son Xavier.

The X owner denounced this "woke virus" in the form of "gender-affirming care"  medical sterilization  during a recent conversation with clinical psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson. According to Musk, he was pressured into approving puberty blockers for his son after being threatened with the possibility of Xavier taking his own life. This eventually led to Xavier's distress and eventual estrangement with him.

The South African-born technocrat was reportedly "misled" about the effects of these treatments. He subsequently described Xavier's "transition" and use of the new name Vivian Jenna Wilson as a result of being infected with this "woke mind virus." This experience has only intensified Musk's resolve to challenge the harmful gender ideology. (Related: Musk slams expensive California school for infecting his transgender son with "woke mind virus.")

"It happened to one of my older boys, where I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys, Xavier. This is before I had any understanding of what was going on. [The Wuhan coronavirus] COVID-19 was going on, so there was a lot of confusion and I was told Xavier might commit suicide if he doesn't [receive puberty blockers]," Musk recounted to Peterson on July 22.

Peterson replied that the suicide threat "was a lie from the beginning," something Musk agreed with. "Incredibly evil, and I agree with you that people that have been promoting this should go to prison," the X owner continued. "It wasn't explained to me that puberty blockers are actually just sterilization drugs."

"I lost my son, essentially. They call it 'deadnaming' for a reason. The reason it's called deadnaming is because your son is dead. My son Xavier is dead, killed by the woke mind virus."

Musk's "dead son" pushes back against father's comments

In 2022, Xavier petitioned a California court to change his name and gender, arguing that he no longer wishes to be related to Musk "in any way, shape or form"  which was granted. He later took to social media following his father's comments.

Xavier pointed out on July 25 that he is "legally recognized as a woman in the state of California," and "does not concern [himself] with the opinions of those who are below me." He also urged Elon to "touch some grass."

Great Game India mentioned: "The suicide threat is often raised by professionals who suggest gender-neutral therapy. In an attempt to get parents to comply, they frequently pose a troubling question, usually framed as: 'Would you rather have a dead son or a living daughter?' But criticism of the presumed connection between gender dysphoria and suicide has surfaced, and not just from the general public."

The outlet referenced a Finnish study published in January, which concluded that "gender dysphoria per se does not seem to predict either all-cause [or] suicide mortality in gender-referred adolescents." It continued that the "main predictor of mortality in this population is psychiatric morbidity. Medical gender reassignment does not have an impact on suicide risk."

Last year, Musk said his separation from Xavier was perhaps more heartbreaking than when his first son passed away at a young age. Xavier is the eldest of five children  a pair of twins and a set of triplets  the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has with Canadian author Justine Wilson. Musk's experience strengthened his determination to get rid of the leftist ideology.

"I vowed to destroy the woke mind virus after that," he told Peterson. In line with this, Musk has promised to donate $45 million to a super-political action committee that supports former President Donald Trump and concentrates on "get out the vote" campaigns  putting his money where his mouth is.

Visit ElonMuskWatch.com for more stories about Elon Musk.

Watch the full conversation between Elon Musk and Dr. Jordan Peterson where the X owner recounts how he lost Xavier to the "woke mind virus."

This video is from the Thrivetime Show channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

LAST STRAW: Elon Musk to move X and SpaceX to Texas following California's passage of new pro-trans, pro-pedo law.

Elon Musk planning to develop "TruthGPT" to challenge woke AI rivals like DeepMind, OpenAI.

Billionaire Elon Musk says Netflix became "unwatchable" due to "the woke mind virus."

Elon Musk pledges to donate $45 million PER MONTH to Donald Trump's campaign.

Sources include:

GreatGameIndia.com

EgyptIndependent.com

Brighteon.com
Group asks House Speaker to investigate whether Democrats used 25th Amendment threat to force Biden out of presidential race

After repeatedly insisting that he would remain in the race for president after his horrifying debate performance, why did Joe Biden suddenly have a change of heart and withdraw his candidacy with little fanfare? Some people are speculating that he may have been forced out by his own party in a desperate bid to hold onto their chances of keeping the White House under their control, and one conservative group has implored lawmakers to investigate the possibility

The opposition research firm The American Accountability Foundation has sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson asking the House Judiciary and Oversight committees to find out whether Democrats threatened the elderly president with the 25th Amendment to get him to step aside.

The letter refers to an exclusive report by the New York Post based on a source close to the Biden family that says that Democratic Party operatives at the very highest levels threatened to remove the president from office using the powers of the 25th amendment in what they described as a palace coup.

The 25th Amendment stipulates that if the vice president and a majority of the president's cabinet deem the president incapable of carrying out his duties, they can force him to step down and replace him with the vice president. Although there is a mechanism in place for the president to challenge such a move, he would need a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress to remain in office.

This means that if Vice President Harris could get eight cabinet members to support such a move, they could give Biden an ultimatum that would force him to not only end his campaign but also endorse her candidacy or face the possibility of being forcibly removed from office and damaging his legacy.

According to the insider, Biden was aware that they were trying to push him out but fought it at every chance and displayed anger, paranoia and frustration as his party continued to pressure him to step aside. The source even said that letting him debate Trump was part of their strategy as they knew he would not fare well and his performance would convince other Democrats not to let him run for president.

The letter states that the president's own actions lend credence to the idea of such a palace coup given the fact that he said on numerous occasions in multiple interviews that he would not be dropping out of the race. When he finally did announce he was no longer running, the announcement was quietly posted on X on a Sunday afternoon without warning his inner circle beforehand, and he disappeared from public view for the following two days  something that they believe reinforces that this was a hastily conceived withdraw likely forced by external pressure.

Threatening Biden with 25th Amendment amounts to extortion, group says

The American Accountability Foundation noted in its letter that if this is what happened, it would be considered extortion, stating: Such a demand by the Vice President, and any supporters in the cabinet, would have unquestionably been extortion.

If the Vice President and members of the cabinet pressured President Biden to suspend his campaign under the threat of invoking the twenty-fifth amendment, it would represent one of the most consequential seizures of power in American government history.

Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer also believes he was forced out, telling Fox News: Joe Biden was pressured out by the Democratic power brokers. They loved him until they concluded they could no longer use him. Once it was clear that he was likely going to lose, they threw him overboard so fast.

Sources for this article include:

X.com

NYPost.com

NYPost.com
CAIRO, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Several Middle Eastern countries issued warnings on Sunday about a potentially dangerous escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based militant group, after a rocket strike on Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights left at least 12 people dead.

The Egyptian foreign ministry cautioned against opening a new front of war in Lebanon following the Majdal Shams attack, emphasizing the risk of a broader regional conflict. It underscored the importance of supporting Lebanon, its people, and institutions to prevent further conflict.

Sufyan Qudah, Jordan's foreign ministry spokesperson, stated that ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza could lead to increased tension and escalation, posing a threat to regional stability. He called for international action to halt the aggression immediately, mitigate humanitarian suffering, protect Palestinians, and safeguard regional security.

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani warned Israel against any new "adventurism" against Lebanon on the "pretext" of the rocket attack.

He said in a statement that Israel sought to divert global public opinion and attention from its "widespread crimes" against Palestinians by resorting to a "fabricated scenario."

Israel attributed the rocket attack in Majdal Shams to Hezbollah and vowed retaliation against the Lebanese military group. Hezbollah, however, denied involvement in the incident.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib called for an international investigation, suggesting a meeting under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon to examine the attack.

Meanwhile, military sources in Lebanon reported on Sunday that Israeli airstrikes on six towns and villages overnight, destroying six houses and damaging 30 others.

The sources, who preferred anonymity, also noted an increase in Israeli drone activity in eastern and southern Lebanon, possibly linked to threats against Hezbollah following the rocket attack. 
Israeli tourism industry in collapse as 10% of the countrys hotels at risk of shutting down

About 10 percent of hotels in Israel are at real risk of closing , with many others on the brink of financial collapse, according to a report released by the Israel Hotel Association (IHA), detailing hotel occupancy rates across the country for the first half of the year.

"Maintaining the tourism industry is a national interest, and all relevant parties must work together to prevent hotel closures and increase security for an industry that proves to be a strategic asset for the State of Israel daily," said Sivan Detauker, CEO of IHA, which represents 450 hotels nationwide, employing about 42,000 workers. (Related: COUNTRY IN COLLAPSE: 46,000 Israeli businesses have shut down since October 7.)

The report highlights the severe financial distress experienced by parts of the Israeli economy dependent on incoming tourism. The only bright spot is that regions hosting displaced Israeli residents and relying on domestic tourism, particularly those around Eilat in Southern Israel and the Dead Sea in the occupied Palestinian West Bank, are reporting high occupancy rates. Meanwhile, hotels and guesthouses along the northern border have been closed for the 10 months since the war in Gaza began.

Detauker emphasized the vital role Israeli hotels have played since the war's outbreak, hosting tens of thousands of displaced Israelis while maintaining operations in a challenging security environment devoid of tourists. She highlighted the significant staff shortages and economic uncertainty, which hinder the sector's ability to plan for the future.

The report indicated that approximately 969,000 tourist overnight stays were recorded in the first half of 2024, marking an 81 percent year-on-year decline and an 84 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2019. Detauker noted that this massive drop in activity has contributed to significant staffing shortages and other economic uncertainties, making planning for the industry's future difficult.

Hotel occupancy rates in Israel dropping rapidly

According to the Tourism Ministry, only about 500,000 foreign tourists visited Israel between January and June, compared to about two million in the same period last year. This has made occupancy rates drop, especially in areas commonly visited by foreign tourists, such as Jerusalem, Nazareth and Tel Aviv.

The occupancy rate for hotels in Jerusalem was 41 percent, a 37 percent decrease compared to last year, while Nazareth recorded a 33 percent occupancy rate, 40 percent less than the previous year.

At the same time, Lebanon experiences a strong tourist season despite Israeli threats to invade the country and bomb its capital city, Beirut.

Jean Abboud, president of the Association of Travel and Tourism Agents, stated that 14,000 passengers arrive daily at Beiruts Rafiq Hariri International Airport. If the regional calm currently being discussed succeeds, this summer season could surpass last years rate, he said.

Earlier this month, Hebrew newspaper Maariv called Israel a "country in collapse." The paper reported that 46,000 Israeli businesses have been forced to shut as a result of the ongoing war and its devastating impact on the economy.

"This is a very high number that encompasses many sectors. About 77 percent of the businesses that have been closed since the beginning of the war, which make up about 35,000 businesses, are small businesses with up to five employees and are the most vulnerable in the economy," Yoel Amir, CEO of Israeli information services and credit risk management firm, CofaceBdi, told Maariv.

Visit IsraelCollapse.com for similar stories about the effect the war has had on Israel's economy.

Watch as Israeli settlers lit fires in the main streets of Tel Aviv and staged a show called "Burning House" to portray the "burning of Israel" due to Netanyahu's policies.

This video is from the PureTrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Intel HALTS construction of $25B computer chip plant in Israel due to lack of supplies stemming from Red Sea blockade.

Florida's Palm Beach County invests $700M in Israeli bonds, essentially using taxpayer money to fund genocide in Gaza.

Israel's DEBT has doubled to nearly $43 billion since declaring war on Gaza.

Israel faces cascading DEBT COLLAPSE as Jewish state hit with credit rating downgrade.

S&P downgrades Israel credit outlook to "negative" amid its ongoing ethnic cleansing and genocide campaign targeting the people of Gaza.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

YNetnews.com

Brighteon.com
Israeli strike on UN-run school that housed displaced families in Nuseirat kills 23 Palestinians

On July 16, an Israeli strike on a United Nations-run school offering housing for displaced families in central Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp claimed the lives of 23 Palestinians and wounded 73 others.

The Israeli strike left the school in al-Razi partially destroyed, and the aftermath of the attack showered debris in the schoolyard and the classrooms used as shelters by displaced Palestinian families.

One man collecting body parts from the victims said many civilians were killed, including the lives of several children, whose bodies were "torn up" during the attack, with "nothing left of them."

The casualties included Mohammad Meshmesh, a local journalist. According to the government media office in Gaza, this increased the number of journalists killed in the war to 160.

The deadly Israeli strike on the school left many people in a state of shock while they watched rescue workers removing several bodies from under the rubble, reported Nuseirat resident Riyad Abu Shanab. The resident added that a quick look around the place offered a chilling view of many "body parts strewn around." He added that he also could have been hurt or died if he hadn't left to go to the toilet to wash his hands when the strike hit. (Related: UN experts: Children in Gaza are dying because of Israel's "targeted starvation campaign.")

The target was a school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) that has since been turned into a shelter for the many Gazans displaced by the conflict. Survivors of the attack shared that Israel also targeted another school earlier on July 15. Both attacks have claimed many lives, with the survivors left with nowhere safe to go.

When the missile hit nearby, Um Alaa Abu Daher said she was sitting with her daughter and niece in a classroom on the ground floor. She added that after the strike, flames and smoke covered the area.

Israeli forces blame active "terrorists" for the attack

The Israeli military has claimed that they attacked the school because "terrorists" were allegedly active in the area. It also said that it will be investigating reports of civilian casualties.

Israeli attacks throughout the Gaza Strip on July 16 have claimed the lives of at least 57 Palestinians, including 17 individuals who were killed in a strike near a tented area offering housing for displaced people in the humanitarian-designated area of al-Mawasi in Khan Younis, located in southern Gaza.

The attack on al-Mawasi followed previous air strikes earlier this month that claimed the lives of around 88 people and wounded 289 others in a displaced people's camp in the same area.

Since October 2023, the Israel-Palestine war has claimed the lives of more than 38,000 Palestinians. According to data, the majority of the dead are women and children.

Israel said it had killed or wounded 14,000 Hamas members and eliminated half of the organization's leadership. Israel also insisted that the al-Mawasi strike was targeting Mohammed Deif, the Hamas military leader. However, the Palestinian group denied that he was affected by the attack.

The UNRWA reported that Israeli forces have hit at least 70 percent of its schools in Gaza since the war began in October 2023.

Posting on X, formerly Twitter, the UNRWA said more than 95 percent of the schools were being used as shelters when they were attacked. The organization added that at least 539 people sheltering in UNRWA facilities have died during the attacks.

"Nowhere is safe. The blatant disregard for UN premises and humanitarian law must stop," said the UNRWA.

Hamas issued a statement condemning Israel's deliberate attacks on the displaced families in UNRWA's al-Razi school in the Nuseirat camp, along with the attacks on the al-Mawasi area west of the city of Khan Younis, which was "declared a safe area."

The group criticized the attacks as a "brutal and shameful act that is a scar on humanity," adding that America, Israel's loyal ally in the ongoing war, was complicit in the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Visit IsraelCollapse.com for more updates about the ongoing Israel-Palestine war and its many casualties.

Watch the video below of the Israeli attacks on al-Mawasi.

This video is from the alltheworldsastage channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Israeli army approves BRUTAL and SHOCKING "free-for-all" violence in Gaza.

Congress orders State Department to cover up Israels war crime death toll.

IDF demands evacuation that will displace tens of thousands of people in Gaza.

IDF says murder is okay after statistics show that Israel killed 75% of all journalists who died in 2023 while covering conflict zones.

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net

AlJazeera.com

Brighteon.com
Kamala Harris hired an illegal immigrant WHO ATTACKED A WOMAN to be part of jobs program while serving as San Franciscos DA

While she was San Francisco's district attorney, Vice President Kamala Harris hired an illegal immigrant who attacked a woman to be part of a free jobs program.

Harris has consistently claimed that she has spent her career fighting individuals and institutions who harm the American public and has been broadcasting this message since beginning her presidential bid. But her tenure as San Francisco District Attorney reveals otherwise.

During her time as a prosecutor, Harris implemented a program known as "Back on Track" to rehabilitate illegal immigrants arrested for drug crimes through education and job training. Harris supported this initiative as a model for criminal justice reform. (Related: Media rewrites history, claims Kamala was never Bidens border czar in charge of migrant problem.)

However, the program faced scrutiny when one of its participants, Alexander Izaguirre, an illegal immigrant from Honduras, committed a violent crime while enrolled.

Izaguirre, who had been arrested twice within eight months for purse snatching and selling cocaine, was selected for "Back on Track" by Harris's office.

But in July 2008, while Izaguirre was enrolled in the program, he assaulted Amanda Kiefer, a San Francisco resident, in a brutal attack that left her with a fractured skull and long-term trauma. At that time, Izaguirre stole Kiefer's purse and, in his attempt to escape, got into an SUV and tried to run her down. Kiefer clung to the hood of the vehicle before being thrown onto the road, resulting in severe injuries. The attack prompted Kiefer to leave California permanently. He avoided deportation and still received job training.

When his story surfaced in 2009 during Harris' campaign to be California's attorney general, she expressed regret about the program's oversight regarding illegal immigrants and expressed her confusion and anger over why individuals with criminal records were not being deported.

"The immigration issue, as it relates to the Izaguirre case, obviously is a huge kind of pimple on the face of this program," Harris said at the time. "I dont mean to trivialize it, nor do I mean to cover it up." She was left with no choice but to support the deportation of Izaguirre and revised the "Back on Track" criteria to require participants to provide documentation proving their eligibility to work legally. But Harris still allowed the remaining illegal immigrants in the program to complete their training.

"My issue was more, what are we going to do to prevent this from happening in the future?" she said at the time. And now, she is touting her time as a prosecutor in her 2024 presidential bid.

Harris also supports sanctuary policies linked to the release of violent criminals

Aside from the "Back on Track" program, she also supported sanctuary policies, which have been linked to the release of violent criminals, as a San Francisco District Attorney.

In fact, a 2006 statement from her spokesperson declared, "We are a sanctuary city, a city of refuge, and we always will be." This policy, which protects undocumented immigrants, prohibited local authorities from questioning individuals' immigration status unless they committed a crime.

However, the loose interpretation of several city departments about the policies has been implicated in multiple violent crimes.

For instance, the notorious case of Edwin Ramos, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador with a significant criminal history, committed a triple murder in June 2008. Ramos fatally shot Tony Bologna, 48, and his two sons Michael, 20 and Matthew, 16, at a traffic stop. Prosecutors suggested that Ramos mistakenly believed the victims were rival gang members.

Ramos was charged with gang-related assault and an attempted robbery, yet the juvenile probation department did not involve federal immigration authorities due to the sanctuary city policy.

At the time, Danielle Bologna, the widow and mother of the Bologna victims, pleaded with Harris to seek the death penalty for Ramos. But Harris clung to her anti-death penalty stance and instead advocated for a life sentence without parole for Ramos.

In March 2008, just months before the Bologna murders, Ramos was found in a car with another gang member who had tried to discard a gun used in a double killing. Charges were not filed against Ramos as police could not prove his knowledge of the gun.

In line with this, Danielle Bologna filed a lawsuit against the city in 2009. She argued that the lenient interpretation of sanctuary city policies contributed to the death of her family. However, a judge dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that city officials were not responsible for Ramos' actions.

Follow KamalaHarris.news for more stories about the vice president.

Watch this Fox News report about about Trump campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt calling Kamala Harris a dangerously liberal and radical leftist.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

VP Kamala Harris a descendant of notorious Irish slave owner in Jamaica.

Tennessee Rep. Burchett: Kamala Harris is a DEI VICE PRESIDENT.

Kamala Harris secures endorsements from top Democrats except Barack Obama.

Obama refrains from endorsing Kamala Harris in his statement about Bidens withdrawal.

Democrats quietly prepping to anoint a NEW nominee thats NOT Kamala Harris  who will it be?

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

NYPost.com

Brighteon.com
Netanyahu defends Israels war with Hamas, gets boycotted by lawmakers during address to U.S. Congress

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the United States came amid various heavy global issues. At the moment, the toll of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza is nearly 40,000. It's also in a week when new deaths were reported among the surviving hostages, who include Israelis, Americans and other nationalities. Also, U.S. presidential elections are just around the corner.

The Israeli leader addressed the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, not only polarizing the already heavily contending political parties, but he also raised false claims about his country's war on Gaza. Former House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi said that his speech was the "worst" by a foreign dignitary in Congress's history, as they were filled with false statements.

In his speech, he rejected the International Criminal Court's accusation that his troops were not allowing deliveries of humanitarian aid. He said that Israel has facilitated the entry of over 40,000 aid trucks into the strip. "If there are Palestinians in Gaza who aren't getting enough food, it's not because Israel is blocking it. It's because Hamas is stealing it," he claimed.

But the Middle East Eye debunked his claim saying that the United Nations had 28,018 aid trucks that entered the strip since Oct. but since Israeli forces seized the Rafah crossing in May, one of the few routes in and out of Gaza, only 2,835 trucks were able to enter the Palestinian enclave. In March, the UN's Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), projected that Gaza may experience famine by May. Another report published in June found that half a million Palestinians are already suffering starvation.

Netanyahu also claimed that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have done their best to make sure Palestinian civilians are safe. He added that they gave out "millions of flyers, sent millions of text messages, made hundreds of thousands of phone calls to get Palestinian civilians out of harm's way." The news outlet disagreed citing IDF's bombing of Khan Younis, which was a previously designated humanitarian area that sheltered 400,000 Palestinians, just minutes after it issued an evacuation order on July 22. The UN also assessed six Israeli attacks that caused a high number of fatalities and concluded that Israeli forces had consistently failed to minimize civilian harm in June. According to UN and Ministry of Health data, the majority of the 39,000 confirmed deaths are civilians.

The Israel leader also said that Hamas "burned babies alive" during its initial assault on Oct. 7, recounting a story implying that Hamas fighters murdered two babies who were hidden in the attic of a family home. He even previously told U.S. President Joe Biden that Palestinians "bound dozens of children" together, burned and executed them. However, there is no available evidence to suggest that groups of children were found dead in the same location that match the description provided by Netanyahu, according to Haaretz.

Meanwhile, roughly half of lawmakers skipped the speech as around 100 House Democrats and 28 Senate Democrats were present in the chamber. Among the boycotters were Pelosi (D-Ca), former House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Isolationist Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky) said he was not attending, saying he didn't want to be a "prop" for Netanyahu, Axios reported.

The latest boycott was significantly larger than the 58 Democrats who skipped Netanyahu's 2015 speech.

Netanyahu's visit sparks massive protests in Washington

Meanwhile, thousands of protesters gathered in Washington on Wednesday to condemn Netanyahu's visit.

They were calling for the end of the war in Gaza that killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. The demonstrators were chanting "Free, free Palestine" as they marched toward the Capitol carrying Palestinian flags and signs with messages such as "arrest Netanyahu" and "end all U.S. aid to Israel." (Related: 'Responsible for a genocide': Jewish-American groups reject Netanyahu visit to U.S.)

The police blocked them from getting close to the Capitol. Police said they used pepper spray after some protesters became "violent" and "failed to obey" orders to move back from the police line.

Before Netanyahu's speech, some protesters also tried to block his route to the Capitol but were removed from the street by police. After being turned away by officers near the Capitol, protesters wound through the Capitol Hill neighborhood for several blocks before gathering in front of the nearby rail station.

Outside Washington's Union Station, protesters removed American flags and hoisted Palestinian ones in their place. "Bibi, Bibi, We're not done! The intifada has just begun!" they shouted, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname. "Netanyahu, you can't hide. You're committing genocide," other protesters shouted.

Meanwhile, following his polarizing speech, Netanyahu met with Biden where the two discussed the possibility of ending the war. The Biden administration reportedly tried to pressure Netanyahu to accept the ceasefire deal during the meeting. Instead, Israel seems to have issued new demands in the negotiations for an agreement to secure the release of dozens of hostages in exchange for a halt in the war.

"We feel that we've got to get this hostage deal in place so we can get a ceasefire also in place," White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said during a press briefing as the two world leaders met. He acknowledged that there were issues that still need to be resolved that would require compromise from both Israel and Hamas, but added: "We are close, we just have to finish it."

IsraelCollapse.com has more stories similar to this.

Sources for this article include:

MiddleEastEye.net

Axios.com

APNews.com

CBSNews.com
Pro-life advocate gets 41 months in jail for trying to save babies at Planned Parenthood clinic in NY

A Tennessee woman has been sentenced to more than three years behind bars for blocking the entrance to a Planned Parenthood center in Manhattan where women were going to obtain abortions.

33-year-old Bevelyn Beatty Williams was sentenced on federal charges of conspiracy to violate the Freedom of Access to Clinical Entrances (FACE) Act and violating it via force, threats of force, and physical obstruction, resulting in bodily harm.

The pro-life advocate was hit with the charges in December 2022 after working with a friend to stop women from aborting babies in multiple states, including New York, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida.

The bodily harm charge relates to an incident at a Planned Parenthood abortion center in Manhattan in which a staff member opened the door from the outside to allow a woman to enter. When this happened, Williams refused to move aside and used her body weight to keep the door closed while the staff member continued trying to push it open so the woman could go inside.

The Planned Parenthood staff member claims that Williams crushed her hand, but Williams insists that it was an accidental injury and is therefore not covered by the FACE Act. Moreover, Williams contends that the staff member violated a no engagement policy by recording her and talking to her while she protested outside of Planned Parenthood.

After a nine-day trial, Williams was convicted on one count of violating the FACE Act by District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon, who was appointed by President Biden. In sentencing this week, the same judge handed down a 41-month sentence followed by two years of supervised release.

Williams said that she was suffering from trauma over an abortion that she obtained when she was 15 years old and asked for leniency, but Rochon told her: You cannot commit crimes, even in the name of a religious cause.

Williams converted to Christianity during a previous jail sentence and now devotes her time to highlighting how abortion disproportionately damages the black community. This is a message that pro-life advocates have been trying to convey for many years. The founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, was a eugenicist who said her goal was to assist the race toward the elimination of the unfit.

Biden administration is going out of its way to throw the book at pro-life activists

In May, 75-year-old Paulette Harlow was sentenced to 24 months in jail following a conviction for taking part in a pro-life blockade of an abortion clinic in Washington, D.C. in 2020. The Massachusetts woman was one of several people who took part in the blockade that ended up serving time in prison over the protests, during which some of them were recorded sitting inside the clinic singing hymns and praying the rosary.

The FACE Act has been used by the Biden administration to target people protecting babies from being murdered in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Former U.S. Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta said that the devastating overturning gave a new sense of urgency to the Department of Justices efforts in this regard.

It is clear where the Biden administration's priorities are. As they relentlessly pursue pro-life advocates and charge them with FACE Act violations, there have been more than 400 attacks on Catholic churches in America, many of which contained pro-abortion graffiti, but none of the incidents have resulted in federal prosecutions despite the fact that attacking places of worship is considered a federal crime.

Sources for this article include:

LifeSiteNews.com

Justice.gov

ABCNews.go.com
Trump shooters home scrubbed clean like medical lab  no silverware, trash anywhere to be found

Members of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security grilled Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris this week about what was discovered at the home of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old suspected of shooting Donald Trump in the ear at a July 13, 2024, rally in Butler, Penn. What Paris inadvertently revealed in his testimony is that Crooks' home had already been scrubbed clean like a "medical lab" by the time local law enforcement arrived.

According to Paris, his agents were unable to confirm the presence of any silverware, trash or other things that one would expect to find in someone's living residence. In fact, it almost sounds as if the house was simply a staging area or perhaps a command center.

"Did your team make entry and conduct any investigation of the suspect's home?" asked former Navy Seal and current Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), who serves Arizona's 2nd Congressional District.

"I believe we had people that participated in securing it; there were bomb assets that we provided on the night of," Paris responded.

"Did you get any reports from any of your agents of anything fishy at the home?" Rep. Crane then asked.

"I was briefed on, uh," Paris started to respond before Rep. Crane interjected.

"Was there any silverware found in the home or trash?" Rep. Crane continued in his line of questioning.

"I have nothing in the briefing I was given," Paris said.

"Was it extremely clean, almost like a medical lab? Were you given any of these reports?" Rep. Crane probed.

"I wasn't given any of those details," Paris admitted.

The following video contains highlights from the exchange:

I was a Sniper in the Seal Teams, Colonel, and this is just obvious Are you surprised that a lot of Americans think there might be more to this story? pic.twitter.com/q1aCOjI2JL  Liz Churchill (@liz_churchill10) July 23, 2024

You can also watch the full hearing video below.

(Related: Did you hear that the Trump campaign is filing an FEC challenge over Joe Biden's campaign funds being funneled to Kamala Harris?)

Why was Crooks' home pristine as if nobody lived there?

There is growing speculation that the reason Crooks' home was spotless, almost like it had been staged by a realtor, that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) cleaned the place up just prior to the shooting.

On X, Dr. James Joyce (@drjamesbjoyce) wrote that he believes Paris lied at the hearing, and not in a very convincing way.

"Col. Paris looks a little surprised by this line of questioning almost as though he never prepared himself to have to answer those questions," wrote another.

The term "inside job" is also being thrown around a lot in reference to the shooting. There are simply too many bits of the story that make no sense, including the questionable claim that Crooks is the one who fired a weapon at Trump.

The Health Ranger is convinced that Crooks never fired a single shot, this based on a lack of compelling evidence. If you are interested, check out the below episode of Brighteon Broadcast News to learn more.

A 20-year-old kid with no camouflage: ??Crawled up a white roof with an AR-15 ??Fired shots at Trump from within 150 yards ??Flew a drone to conduct site surveillance ??Was spotted with a rangefinder Meanwhile, USSS missed the most obvious spot for counter sniper operations pic.twitter.com/QSOPzY8WIK  Rep. Eli Crane (@RepEliCrane) July 24, 2024

The latest news about Trump's efforts to secure a second presidential term can be found at Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

NaturalNews.com
BEIJING, July 28 (Xinhua) -- A dike breach occurred in the Juanshui River in central China's Hunan Province at about 8 p.m. Sunday, local authorities said.

By 9:40 p.m., the breach in Yisuhe Township of Xiangtan County had widened to about 50 meters, according to the flood control and drought relief headquarters of Xiangtan City.

More than 3,100 people have been evacuated, and no casualties have been reported.

China's Ministry of Emergency Management urged efforts to evacuate the affected people, mobilize professional personnel, materials and equipment, and ensure the safety of the local people and rescuers.

An emergency rescue center under the ministry has dispatched over 200 rescuers and 110 units of equipment to provide emergency support. Local firefighting authorities have sent 266 rescuers, 47 vehicles and 37 boats to the scene.

On Sunday, another dike breach occurred in a section of the Juanshui River in Huashi Township, Xiangtan County, authorities said. The river flows into the Xiangjiang River, a major tributary of the Yangtze.

Evacuation and emergency response efforts are underway.

The ministry said Saturday that Hunan would experience heavy rainstorms and parts of the province would see "extremely heavy rainstorms from Saturday evening to Monday" due to the impact of Typhoon Gaemi. 
Telecom connectivity will be extended to all villages in one year: Jyotiraditya Scindia

U

nion Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Saturday that within the next year earlier telecom connectivity would be extended to 100 per cent of villages in the country.

The Union Minister said that special funds of Rs 26,500 crore have been sanctioned by the Cabinet for the expansion of telecommunication network in all villages and he has himself been monitoring the progress of work on a weekly basis.

He said that the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) is committed to 100 per cent saturation. "We have identified around 24,000 odd villages in the country that still need saturation in terms of telecom communications. Out of 24,000 villages, 13,000-14,000 villages have already been covered," the DoNER and Communications Minister told the media in Guwahati.

A special scheme to extend telecommunication networks in all villages has already been rolled out and funds were sanctioned for the purpose, he said.

He said that despite terrain-related problems, areas in the northeastern states are among these villages, and strategies are being worked out to reach these places and telecommunications would be extended there.

Provisions of the new telecom Act enable setting up required infrastructure and mixed technologies, like V-SAT and satellite, are being utilised with the "target of cent per cent saturation within 12 months, he said.

 Telecom connectivity will be extended to all villages in one year: Jyotiraditya Scindia

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
PM Modi's vision is to make Northeast growth engine of India: Jyotiraditya Scindia

U

nion Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision is to make the northeast region the growth engine of the country.

The DoNER Minister said that the Prime Minister termed the region as 'Purvodaya' and this region would be the gateway of India's progress and prosperity. "This vision has been on track for the last 10 years in terms of the huge outlay increase for the northeast."

"For over 65 years, the northeastern region was not cared for and treated as an orphan. After Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, the Centre has started giving special emphasis to the region," the Union Minister told the media in Guwahati.

He said that Rs 11,000 crore has been allocated in the Central Budget 2024-25 for flood management in Sikkim and Assam.

The Minister said that while presenting the Budget in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that more than 100 branches of India Post Payment Bank (IPPB) would be set up in the northeastern region.

The decision once again amplifies the Prime Minister's vision of developing India's northeast region, he said.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, who also holds the Ministry of Communications, said that during the Congress regime, Rs 1,775 crore was the budget for the DoNER ministry and now, it has increased to Rs 6,000 crore.

He said that during the Congress government at the Centre between 2004 and 2014, Rs 64,000 crore was given to Assam as tax devolution with Rs 6,500 per year.

"In 2014-2024, during the ten years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, increasing the tax devolution by four times, Rs 2.30 lakh crore was given to Assam. This year (2024-25) Rs 39,000 crore was given to the state as tax devolution," the Union Minister said.

He said that in addition to 15th Finance Commission allocation, Rs 13,000 crore was given to Assam in the last ten years as Capital Expenditure.

Claiming that major industrial projects would soon enter the region with the proper infrastructure in place, Jyotiraditya Scindia cited the example of the Rs 27,000-crore semiconductor unit to be set up by the Tata Group near Guwahati and termed it as a 'game changer' for the entire region.

"The Central Budget 2024-25 is a holistic budget, which would set a new era of development for the entire country," the DoNER Minister said.

 PM Modi's vision is to make Northeast growth engine of India: Jyotiraditya Scindia

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
NITI Aayog meet: Uttarakhand CM calls for policies specific to Himalyan state's needs

U

ttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Saturday that the state is continuously working towards fulfilling the goal of 'Viksit Bharat'. He was speaking at the 9th NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting in the national capital.

Highlighting the fact that the hilly state was prone to disasters and natural calamities, he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making a special financial provision in the Union budget. He also called for policies specific to the Himalayan state's needs.

He said that Uttarakhand has secured first position in the recently released Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Index ranking, which is a matter of pride for the state. He also spoke about Uttarakhand becoming the first state to pass the Uniform Civil Code Bill.

The CM said that there was a pressing need to work on water conservation and increasing the ground water given the drinking water crisis in many cities.

"A Spring and River Rejuvenation Authority has been formed in Uttarakhand, which is working on the project of water conservation and reviving water sources and connecting snow-based rivers with rain-based rivers," he said and requested for special financial assistance and technical support from the Central government.

Dhami said that for a 'Viksit Bharat', there was a need to promote entrepreneurship in the rural areas, for which cluster based incubation centres and growth centres will prove to be important. Two rural incubation centres and 110 growth centres have been established in Uttarakhand as a pilot project.

He also requested the Centre for technical and financial support in setting up incubation centres. To meet the energy shortage, the Chief Minister asked the states to allow the implementation of hydropower projects of less than 25 MW capacity and to implement the proposed 24 percent capital subsidy for the construction of small hydropower projects in the Himalayan states along with the northeastern states.

The CM said that everyone needs to pay special attention to important issues like global warming and climate change. .

He added that in any developed nation, its urban areas make a special contribution as a growth engine. It becomes difficult to provide basic facilities in these cities due to excessive population. To solve this problem, 'counter magnet areas' will have to be developed between different cities of the country.

He also brought to the attention of the top policymakers the fact that in the eighth meeting of NITI Aayog last year, some proposals related to the development of Himalayan states were put forward. He urged the Centre to facilitate specific policies on those proposals, for the development of the Himalayan states.

 NITI Aayog meet: Uttarakhand CM calls for policies specific to Himalyan state's needs

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Country's largest industrial park to be built in Maharashtra: Piyush Goyal

U

nion Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said on Saturday that the country's largest industrial park will be built in Maharashtra.

At a press conference here, Piyush Goyal, the Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai North constituency, said that the proposed industrial park will be among the total of 12 industrial parks announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Budget.

These industrial parks have been sanctioned under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP), which was launched to create employment opportunities and boost economic growth, leading to overall socio-economic growth.

This proposed development of the 12 industrial parks aligns with the government's priority on employment and skilling, infrastructure, and urban development.

Piyush Goyal further said that Nirmala Sitharaman presented a 'financially prudent' Budget.

"The Budget has not fallen prey to trying to get into populism. It has a long-term perspective and ensures that the strength of the Indian economy is respected. It further strengthens the fundamentals of the Indian economy, macroeconomic fundamentals and its base. Unless we have a strong base, we will not be able to build the edifice of Viksit Bharat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and FM Sitharaman have demonstrated to the world that India continues to be on the path of Amrit Kal, Viksit Bharat," he added.

 Country's largest industrial park to be built in Maharashtra: Piyush Goyal

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
PM Modi envisions investor-friendly charter for states to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047

P

rime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday encouraged the states to provide an investor-friendly environment, as he directed the NITI Aayog to prepare an 'Investment-friendly Charter' of parameters which would include policies, programmes, and processes to be put in place for attracting investments.

The states may be monitored on the achievements in these parameters to promote healthy competition among them for attracting investments, said the Prime Minister while chairing the 9th Governing Council meeting of the NITI Aayog in the national capital on Saturday.

PM Modi also underscored the importance of law and order, good governance, and infrastructure as vital for attracting investments, rather than just incentives.

The meeting was attended by Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors representing 20 states and six Union Territories.

The Prime Minister also directed the NITI Aayog to study the suggestions of the states and UTs made during the meeting, encouraging the states to initiate Demographic Management Plans to address the issues of population aging in the future.

PM Modi asked the states to take up capacity building of government officials at all levels and encouraged them to collaborate with the Capacity Building Commission for the same.

The Prime Minister also emphasised cooperation and collective efforts of all states and the Centre to work together to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The Indian economy, which was ranked 10th largest in the world in 2014, has risen to become the fifth largest economy.

The Prime Minister also encouraged the creation of River Grids at the state level for the effective utilisation of water resources, as he suggested that we must target 'Zero Poverty' as a priority for Viksit Bharat.

 PM Modi envisions investor-friendly charter for states to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Tripura to be made gateway to NE region: CM Saha at NITI Aayog meet

T

ripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Saturday that the state government earlier launched 'LAKSHYA-2047' and for this purpose, several transformative steps were taken to enhance connectivity by making the state the gateway to the northeastern region.

Speaking at the 9th Governing Council meeting of the NITI Aayog in the national capital on Saturday, the Chief Minister said that through the Prime Minister's 'HIRA Plus Model' for Tripura's development, various programmes are being introduced, including enhancement of capital expenditure to bring about Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living, e-office introduction up to the gram panchayat level, and the opening of Beneficiary Management System (BMS) to facilitate Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for state-run welfare schemes

He also said the deliberations and decisions at the NITI Aayog meeting would go a long way to strengthen cooperative federalism in the country.

At the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CM Saha informed the Governing Council regarding the various measures taken up by the state government for the development of Tripura.

He also said that the Tripura government has established the Good Governance Department and SIT (State Institution for Transformation) as per the mandate of the NITI Aayog.

Speaking about the industry and investment sector, Saha said, "We are focusing on reducing the dependency of the workforce on agriculture by 50 per cent, increasing trade and commerce through Bangladesh and other states of India to up to Rs 1 lakh crore, and enhancing tourism's contribution to GSDP up to 15 per cent by 2047."

The Chief Minister also said that in the fields of infrastructure, communication, and logistics, the state government's vision is to achieve 80 per cent agricultural land area under irrigation and provide four-lane road connectivity to all important destinations.

"In the fields of environment, forest, and climate change, we would like to increase the value of forest produce by five times, improve the composition of very dense forests to 40 per cent, resulting in an increase of GSDP by up to 25 per cent, 2.5 times increase in water bodies in forest areas and enhancing the Agar wood economy to Rs 10,000 crore," Saha said.

He also informed that the state government has taken several steps for women's empowerment, such as 33 per cent reservation for women in state government Jobs, collateral-free loans for women-run startups, reduction in stamp duty for property registration, and no tuition fee for girl students in government degree colleges.

Over 4.71 lakh rural women have been mobilised into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and there are presently 83,424 'Lakhpati Didis' in the rural areas of the state, he said.

 Tripura to be made gateway to NE region: CM Saha at NITI Aayog meet

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Trump vows to make US 'crypto capital of the planet'

D

onald Trump, the former US President and Republican nominee for the White House, has pledged to turn the US into the "crypto capital of the planet and the Bitcoin superpower of the world" if elected and unveiled a plan to unlock the potential of the fledgling industry.

The former President on Saturday also promised to appoint an advisory council to frame his administration's cryptocurrency policy, fire Gary Gensler, the current head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which oversees the industry; and free a jailed American who ran the Silk Route market, a dark-net platform, by commuting his life-term sentence to time served in jail.

A one-time sceptic who called cryptocurrency -- digital money that is not backed by any central bank -- a "sham", Trump has embraced it in recent months and said in a speech to an annual conference of the industry in Nashville, Tennessee, that Bitcoin -- a type of cryptocurrency -- "stands for freedom, sovereignty and independence from government coercion".

"This afternoon, I'm laying out my plan to ensure that the United States will be the crypto capital of the planet and the Bitcoin superpower of the world," he said.

"We'll get it done. If crypto is going to define the future, I want it to be mined and made in the USA. It's not going to be made anywhere else. I want America to be the nation that leads the way. And that's what's going to happen, though, you're going to be very happy with me," the former President added.

Trump's journey from aversion to cryptocurrency to conversion was marked by intense industry outreach to him and to his campaign and donations.

The first real sign of the shift in his thinking came in the Republican party's platform release ahead of the convention in Milwaukee. "Republicans will end Democrats' unlawful and un-American crypto crackdown and oppose the creation of a Central Bank Digital Currency," said the platform. "We will defend the right to mine Bitcoin, and ensure every American has the right to self-custody their digital assets and transact free from government surveillance and control."

The SEC has filed more than 80 cases against cryptocurrency industry figures under the Joe Biden administration. The charges range from defrauding customers, misrepresenting assets to making unregistered offerings of cryptocurrency.

"If you are considering a digital asset-related investment, take the time to understand how the investment works and to evaluate its risks," the agency has warned in an investor alert.

An estimated 50 million Americans have invested in cryptocurrency, according to The Digital Chamber, an advocacy group for the industry. Black and Latino communities account for higher rates, the chamber wrote in a recent letter to Vice-President Kamala Harris urging her to include "pro-digital asset" language in her party platform.

Trump has beaten Harris to it and reinforced it with a policy plan received with loud cheering and applause from the attendees.

Trump promised the attendees that not only would his administration frame laws to encourage the cryptocurrency industry but also remove obstacles impeding the generation of electricity which is needed to power it.

"You need tremendous amounts of electricity. You need double the electricity of the entire electricity that we have right now in the United States to dominate. And we'll get that done," he said, adding, "We'll be having power plants built at the sites. We'll be releasing people from certain ridiculous requirements, and we'll be using fossil fuel to make electricity because we're going to have to. We'll be using nuclear power."

The former President left the attendees with a rousing promise, "My job will be to set you free and to let you do what Americans do best, and what you're going to do better than anybody: Win, win, win. You're going to win, win, win, with energy, passion and brilliance, like we have rarely seen before. Our country cannot fail. We're in a failing nation right now, but we're not going to be alone. Our country cannot fail. With your help, we will save our nation. We will restore our Republic. We will make America and Bitcoin, bigger, better, stronger, richer, freer and greater than ever before."

 Trump vows to make US 'crypto capital of the planet'

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
The Third Eye: Demystifying economic growth

S

ome academicians describe economics as science because it submits to facts, measures up to logic and defines principles that are lasting enough even in the face of a shifting global scenario. However, economic theories abound to the extent that an economist can get away with propounding personal views as 'findings' without having to prove any of those as viable 'principles' that could be explained to a person with an average intellect, in simple populations.

Unlike science, however, economics gets mixed up with politics, often producing an unrealistic play of supply and demand and creating confusion between the role of the state and the efforts of an individual.

Economic growth of the nation should translate into some betterment of life for the citizens, state funding should give primacy to infrastructure development, health and education as progress there leads to lasting benefit for all concerned, growth should get intrinsically linked to the creation of opportunities, policy framework should not permit of any distinction of class, creed and region during its implementation and finally, economic growth should become 'self-dependent' as far as possible -- not totally determined by trends in the world outside. How are these five paradigms working out, is a matter that needs to be closely examined.

There is a perpetual debate on the interconnectivity between GDP and Per Capita Income as the two signify the economic growth of the country and the economic well-being of its people respectively and it is natural to expect that the former somewhere served the cause of the latter. GDP accounts for the total value of goods and services generated by a nation while Per Capita Income defines the average income per day or per annum of the individual citizen of that country. Per Capita Income is the most important factor in international economic comparisons.

It is obvious that the size of the population and the ability of the people to contribute to economic growth would both count for a meaningful link between these two indicators of the state's economy. Even if a nation had a high GDP its residents may not necessarily have high standards of living.

Countries with smaller populations and good GDP are likely to boost the economic well-being of their citizens more effectively than a large populous nation like India could do.

Policies have to ensure that even if fewer capitalists owned the bulk of the means of production, there is a healthy and adequate 'trickle down' of wealth not only into the hands of the 'workers' but also -- through a check on stark monopolies and other means -- to the people in general.

It is instructive to note that the demise of International Communism proved how state-controlled economies would not work. A democratic dispensation combines freedom of enterprise with state-sponsored public welfare measures and there should be no dogmatic approaches on this fundamental aspect of economic growth.

The latest Indian budget narrows the deficit to 4.9 per cent of GDP while it plans to spend a package of $24 billion for boosting jobs -- this is apparently a move to establish a healthy correlation between GDP and Per Capita Income.

Economic development of a nation calls for building the infrastructure of transport, communications and digital connectivity, places emphasis on MSMEs to generate employment, ensures a spread out of production, encourages start-ups that give fillip to the process of economic empowerment of the people through personal initiatives and establishes a match between GDP and Per Capita Income. This has to become a part of the state policy that favours a free market economy based on competitiveness but also provides for a minimal guarantee of special support for the weak and the poor.

Even a developed country like the US had a system of extending state support through unemployment dole to those who ran into a situation of lack of any earnings. This is done through the US Department of Labor's unemployment insurance scheme that provides unemployment benefits to eligible workers who became unemployed through no fault of their own. This is a joint State-Federal programme.

While investment in infrastructure generates employment, funding of health and education brings in the benefit of demographic dividend by enhancing the employability of the youth.

In India, health and education should be declared as strategic sectors at par with national security responsibilities so that the Centre should become the prime driver of initiatives and funding policies -- of course with adequate support from the state governments.

In the new budget of India, Infrastructure spending is pitched at record Rs 11 lakh crores, measures to boost MSMEs including a new credit guarantee scheme have been announced and a boost of 52 per cent given in the budget of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for development of digital base in the country. All this should facilitate long-term economic advancement.

Democratic expansion of economic opportunities is the mandate of growth today. This cannot happen without the public and private sectors competing with each other on the merits of delivery and organisational culture. It is good that India is emphasising on PP Partnership model in many fields and carving a new pathway to progress.

Economic growth calls for both FDI and domestic funding and the state policy has to concentrate on promoting 'ease of doing business' for them. India is consciously working for that, among other things, through a 'single window clearance'. This can help to present this country as a successful competitor of China in terms of inviting investment from global players.

As mentioned earlier the economic success of India would substantially depend on the growth of MSMEs and entrepreneurial ventures that would require the right business climate and government back-up. They would expand the ambit of employment and contribute to both GDP and Per Capita Income.

The government has facilitated the grant of bank loans for businesses, education and startups and smoothened digital transactions to lend speed to all business and commerce activity. In the new budget, internship opportunities for 1 crore youth in 500 top firms have been provided through necessary funding and this would add to Per Capita Income by enhancing employment prospects.

The business climate is adversely affected by inadequacies of law and order management. Unevenness on this front across the country is a cause for concern from the point of view of economic growth and there is a dire need for the Centre to have a greater oversight on the two top functionaries of the state governments -- DGPs and Chief Secretaries -- who are together accountable ultimately for the standards of law & order upkeep in the states whose governments had been constitutionally assigned this responsibility. This duty clearly lies above politics.

Unfortunately, in the political environment prevailing after the recent Parliamentary election there is a revival of caste, religious and regional divides in the country and one hopes this is not allowed to come in the way of economic development that was based on 'sabka saath sabka vikas'.

Secularism and equality are built into India's governance that rests on 'one man one vote', rejection of any denominational stamp on the government and declared equality before the law as also equality as the beneficiaries of the policies of the government. Economic policy can never be sectarian or divisive and reservations if any have to be subject to the stipulation that their beneficiaries did not belong to the 'creamy layer'.

India is rightly trying to move people away from government 'doles' and encouraging them to earn their livelihood through honest initiatives and hard work.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's regime deserves praise for raising the slogans of 'vocal for local' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' as the mandate for economic advancement and this is beginning to make an impact already. 'Vocal for local' was in historical consonance with India's past when 'village economies' flourished here -- even a barter system prevailed then -- and made communities happy without trapping them into induced cycles of 'supply and demand'.

Of course, India had to open up to the global markets and find its own trade balance with other countries.

India has shown remarkable capabilities of keeping pace with science and technology -- it has an acknowledged leadership status in the world as far as Information Technology and its latest offspring Artificial Intelligence(AI), are concerned. This country is therefore eminently suitable for working out the mandate of 'vocal for local' to its complete advantage and pressing its economic partners in the international community to accept the condition that foreign investment in our market will get 'production' done on our own soil as far as possible.

The economic growth of India has certainly a positive graph ahead as the country understands the global trends and has shown the political will to follow policies that would not allow any world powers to take unfair advantage of this country. It is good to see that India is headed towards becoming the third largest economy in the world after the US and China in the course of time.

(The writer is a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau. Views are personal)

 The Third Eye: Demystifying economic growth

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
How Viksit States can help India become world's 3rd largest economy faster

A

s India begins its journey to become the third largest economy in the world in the next few years, the collective effort of all states and the Centre can help the country reach this milestone faster and achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

According to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has achieved steady growth in the past 10 years. The economy, which was ranked the 10th largest economy in the world in 2014, has risen to become the fifth largest economy in 2024.

Now, the collective aim of the government and all citizens is to become the third largest economy in the world, said PM Modi while chairing the ninth Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog.

From being a predominantly import-driven country, India now exports many products to the world.

The country has made its mark on the world stage in wide-ranging sectors like defence, space, startups and sports.

The country's job market is on the rise and major global players are predicting that India will soon be a superpower.

More than 12.5 crore jobs were created from FY14-23, with an average of 2 crore jobs per year. There has been a 56 per cent rise in workers' income (FY22-23) and India is well on track to become a $10 trillion economy.

According to the government, the country will be the third-largest economy in the next few years while the country's exports are slated to reach $2 trillion by 2030.

The Economic Survey 2023-2024 projects India's GDP growth rate at 6.5 to 7 per cent for 2024-25 as it sees the economy on a strong wicket.

At the NITI Aayog meeting, PM Modi appreciated the confidence and enthusiasm of more than 140 crore citizens, which is the driving force behind the progress of the country.

The vision of Viksit Bharat can be realised through Viksit States, and that the aspiration of Viksit Bharat should reach the grassroots level -- to each district, block and village.

"For this, each state and district should create a vision for 2047 so as to realise Viksit Bharat @ 2047," PM Modi emphasised.

The Prime Minister also appreciated the Aspirational Districts Programme anchored by NITI Aayog.

He observed that the key to its success was continuous and online monitoring of measurable parameters, which led to healthy competition among districts to better their performance in different government schemes.

PM Modi also emphasised skilling and training of youth to make them employment ready as the world looks favourably towards India for skilled human resources.

The Union Budget 2024-2025 has allocated Rs 2 lakh crore for education and employment.

 How Viksit States can help India become world's 3rd largest economy faster

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Prisoners are on chore duties at Makala Central Prison of Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), July 27, 2024. (Str/Xinhua)

KINSHASA, July 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1,284 inmates at Makala Central Prison in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), will be granted conditional release to ease the prison's overcrowding, DRC State Minister for Justice Constant Mutamba announced Saturday.

The inmates will be released in groups of about 400 per week, said Mutamba, who approved the release of the first 421 inmates on Saturday from the country's largest prison, located in the DRC's capital Kinshasa.

A decongestion commission was set up to examine the cases of prisoners eligible for conditional release. Prisoners arrested for embezzlement of public funds will not be eligible, said the minister.

The first 421 prisoners released had served at least three-quarters of their sentence and were deemed to behave well during their incarceration.

The release is part of a series of measures aimed at improving detention conditions and reforming the DRC's prison system.

"We have taken the step of rehabilitating all the toilets in all the pavilions and rehabilitating the health center," he noted. "We see how to drastically decongest and rehabilitate the prison from top to bottom. We have identified a new site to build a modern prison."

Built for 1,500 prisoners in 1957, Makala Central Prison now holds around 15,000 prisoners in cells, according to local media. 

A prisoner transports food at Makala Central Prison of Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), July 27, 2024. (Str/Xinhua)
EAM Jaishankar and US Secretary Blinken hold talks in Tokyo

E

xternal Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Tokyo on Sunday ahead of the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting.

EAM Jaishankar and US Secretary Blinken hold talks in Tokyo

"Great to catch up with Antony Blinken in Tokyo today. Our bilateral agenda progresses steadily. Also had a wide ranging discussion on regional and global issues," the EAM posted on X after the meeting.

"Look forward to attending the Quad FMM tomorrow," he added.

Just before arriving in Tokyo, both Blinken and EAM Jaishankar were in Laos for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meetings.

The foreign ministers of the four Quad countries -- India, the US, Japan and Australia -- will hold their eighth meeting in Tokyo on July 29 to review and build on continuing initiatives and announce deliverable outcomes.

"The foreign ministers meeting will be an opportunity for the Quad partners to reaffirm our commitment to delivering concrete benefits to the Indo Pacific region," said Camille Dawson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the US State Department, earlier this week.

"Quad partners are deeply invested in the success of the people of the region and that is reflected in the initiative that the quad is promoting by listening to the priorities our regional partners and harnessing the considerable resources of our four countries," she said.

The Quad is a diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient.

 EAM Jaishankar and US Secretary Blinken hold talks in Tokyo

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
EAM Jaishankar unveils Mahatma Gandhi's bust in Tokyo

E

xternal Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar began his Japan visit by unveiling a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Tokyo's Edogawa, on Sunday.

"Bapu's achievements continue to inspire us to this day and his message of peace and non-violence is timeless. His principles are even more relevant today when the world sees so much conflict, tension and polarization," the EAM said at the unveiling ceremony.

Edogawa Mayor Takeshi Saito, Japan's Parliamentary Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Masahiro Komura, Member of Parliament Hideo Onishi and several members of the Indian community also attended the event.

"Happy to learn from the Mayor that the park, close to the heart of Indian community in Tokyo, would also be soon named as the Gandhi Park," said Jaishankar.

"I was told this is a place, somebody called it Little India, I hope it becomes bigger, but this is a place where the Indian community in Tokyo lives and gathers in large numbers. And I cannot think of a more appropriate occasion and a better way of strengthening bonds between India and Japan than by this event," he added.

The EAM is in Tokyo to attend the eighth meeting of the Quad foreign ministers on Monday where the grouping - comprising of India, Japan, Australia and the United States - will review and build on continuing initiatives and announce deliverable outcomes.

 EAM Jaishankar unveils Mahatma Gandhi's bust in Tokyo

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Sergei Lavrov warns of increased security risks with potential US nuclear deployment in Southeast Asia

T

he deployment of US nuclear weapons in Southeast Asia would heighten regional security risks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, following his visit to Malaysia.

According to Russian media reports, Lavrov stated the United States has long been sharing nuclear weapons with its NATO partners in what it calls "joint nuclear missions," in which non-nuclear states can train their soldiers to use nuclear weapons. That practice is now shifting to Asia, Xinhua news agency reported.

"If this sad and rather risky experience (the deployment of US nuclear weapons in other countries) is brought to Southeast Asia, I think no one will benefit from it; the risks will increase," he said.

The United States is "impudently" pushing its military infrastructure, including strategic weapons, into the region, militarising Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific, Lavrov said.

He mentioned AUKUS, a project to build nuclear-powered submarines involving the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

AUKUS aims to instill "tolerance in the Asian region concerning the deployment of nuclear weapons components," Lavrov said. It "must be put under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency" for "full transparency."

Lavrov also said the recent agreement between the United States and South Korea on joint nuclear planning is yet another extension of US strategic influence in the region.

 Sergei Lavrov warns of increased security risks with potential US nuclear deployment in Southeast Asia

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
PM Modi hails tiger conservation efforts in 'Mann Ki Baat'

P

rime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 'Mann Ki Baat' address on Sunday, lauded tiger conservation programmes run by various state governments and said India constitutes 70 per cent of the world's tiger population.

PM Modi said, "My dear countrymen, Tiger Day will be celebrated all over the world tomorrow. In India, Tigers have been an integral part of our culture."

PM Modi said, "We all have grown up listening to stories of incidents related to tigers. In the villages around forests, everyone knows how to live in harmony with the tiger. In our country, there are many villages where there is no conflict between humans and tigers. But where such a situation arises, unprecedented efforts are being made for the protection of tigers there as well."

"One such effort of public participation is 'Kulhadi Band Panchayat' campaign, which began in Ranthambore of Rajasthan, where the local communities have taken an oath to not go into the forests with axes and not cut the trees. Due to this one decision, the forests here are becoming green once again, and a better environment is being created for the tigers," he added.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, where local communities, including the Gond and Mana tribes, have embraced eco-tourism by reducing their dependence on the forest to help preserve the habitat for tigers.

Sharing the inspiring story of the 'Chenchu' tribe in Andhra Pradesh's Nallamalai hills, who serve as Tiger Trackers, the Prime Minister said, "As Tiger Trackers, they have gathered every bit of information on the movement of wild animals in the forest. Along with that, they also keep monitoring illegal activities in the area."

He also mentioned a similar initiative undertaken in Uttar Pradesh -- the 'Baagh Mitr Karykram' in Pilibhit. Under this programme, locals are trained as 'Tiger Friends,' who ensure that there is no conflict between tigers and humans, fostering peaceful coexistence.

Expressing pride in India's tiger conservation achievements, PM Modi noted that the country is home to 70 per cent of the world's tiger population. He attributed this success to various conservation efforts, including the establishment of numerous Tiger Sanctuaries.

He also spoke about the increase in forest cover in India, crediting community efforts for this achievement.

Talking about 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, PM Modi mentioned a recent event, during which over 2,00,000 saplings were planted in a single day in Indore.

He asked everyone to participate in this initiative by planting a tree in their mother's name and sharing a selfie on social media, thus doing "something special for both your mother and Mother Earth."

 PM Modi hails tiger conservation efforts in 'Mann Ki Baat'

 Post your comments

 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Download Now

The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print.




Chief Executive John Lee, leading a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region delegation, arrived in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, this afternoon to begin a visit to three Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries - Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Upon arrival in Vientiane, Mr Lee attended a dinner hosted by Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Lao People's Democratic Republic Fang Hong.

Mr Lee thanked Ms Fang and the embassy for the support to the Hong Kong SAR Government and the thoughtful visit arrangements as well as for the embassy's continuous care and assistance to Hong Kong people in Laos and Hong Kong enterprises investing there.

Noting that Hong Kong and Laos have good prospects for economic and trade co-operation, the Chief Executive said the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to explore room for co-operation and promote cultural exchanges between the two places, and introduce Hong Kong's advantages and development opportunities in Laos and other ASEAN countries, telling Hong Kong's good stories.
ARUSHA, Tanzania, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Lake Victoria Basin Commission, a specialized institution of the East African Community (EAC), a regional bloc, in collaboration with Maasai Mara University in Kenya, will convene a conference on the conservation of the Mara Basin ecosystem.

The conference will be held at the Maasai Mara University in Kenya on Sept. 14, featuring a theme of "Flowing Forward Together: Conserving the Mara Basin Ecosystem for Sustainable Biodiversity and Climate Resilience," said the commission in a statement issued Saturday.

Lake Victoria Basin Commission, with headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, aims to promote, facilitate, and coordinate activities of different actors towards sustainable development and management of the natural resources of Lake Victoria.

According to the statement, the upcoming conference will focus on various themes, including environmental conservation and climate resilience in the Mara Basin ecosystem, natural resource management for inclusive socioeconomic development, and relevant knowledge, innovation and technology in the conservation of the Mara Basin ecosystem. It will be open to all researchers, students, and government officials from the EAC member states of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Somalia, as well as international researchers.

The Mara Basis ecosystem covers 13,325 square kilometers, of which, about 65 percent is located in Kenya and 35 percent in Tanzania. 
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday reiterated that the Budget 2024 has kept every states consideration and misinformation is being spread around ignoring some states.

While speaking to the media in Bengaluru, Sitharaman highlighted the budgets announcements.

We have very clearly emphasised youth, MSMEs, agri research and development, and many other categories.

Karnatakas Budget Share

Sitharaman clarified the revenue share and allocation for Karnataka.

Theres a lot of misinformation in Karnataka including of government that the central government does not give its dues.

Its a wrong prachaar (information) that the current state government is doing, she added.

Tax share given to Karnataka by UPA from 2004-2014 was Rs 81.71 crore and under NDA its Rs 2,95,818 crore.

Grants in aid under UPAs previous 10 years regime Rs 60,779 crore and under PM Modi in the last 10 years, its Rs 2,36,955 crore.

She also highlighted that under PM Mitra mega textile park, Karnataka has got one park in Kalaburgi where Rs 200 crore has been allotted for it.

We are planning to have large-scale clusters for vegetable production, this will help Bengaluru. Especially when logistics break down, Sitaraman added.
Steps to Access CUET UG Result 2024 Online Step 1: Go to exams.nta.ac.in Step 2: On the homepage, click on the CUET UG scorecard link. Step 3: Enter required details. Step 4: The results will appear on your screen.

CUET UG Result 2024: What About Merit List? CUET results are now available at exams.nta.ac.in. The NTA does not release any merit or toppers list for the exam.

CUET UG Result 2024: Websites to Check The CUET scorecards are now available at:  nta.ac.in  exams.nta.ac.in/CUET-UG

CUET UG Result 2024 OUT, What's Next? The CUET UG does not have a centralized counseling process, and the NTA will not release subject-specific cut-off marks. The participating universities will choose their admission cut-off scores based on CUET results.

CUET UG Result 2024 Live Updates: Delay In Admissions Across Colleges The first semester classes at Delhi University which were originally scheduled to begin on August 1 may be pushed to August 16 due to delay in CUET results, Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh had said earlier. Meanwhile, Jamia Millia Islamia is mulling an alternate strategy to hold its UG admissions this year amid the uncertainty over the declaration of the CUET-UG result, an official had said. The CUET results were slated to be out on June 30 initially.

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: Website Not Working

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: Over 250 Universities To Accept CUET Scores The CUET-UG is conducted annually across more than 500 cities in India and abroad. This year, the exams took place from May 15 to 29 in a hybrid mode, accommodating approximately 13.48 lakh students across 379 locations. The results will impact admissions to 261 universities.

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: Application Number Needed to Check Scores To access their CUET results, students will need to enter their login credentials, including their application number and date of birth.

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: Eligibility Criteria For College Admissions Candidates who qualified in Class 12 with a minimum of 50 per cent marks are considered eligible for the exam based on the CUET eligibility criteria 2024. There is no age limit for the eam. The CUET 2024 participating universities have different eligibility criteria based on the universities.

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: One Mark Deducted For Each Incorrect Answer According to the CUET marking pattern, candidates will be awarded with five marks for each correct answer whereas there will be a negative marking of one mark for every incorrect answer.

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: Scorecard Invalid Without Photo While downloading the results online, the NTA has advised students  Please check your photo and QRcode on your score card. If either is missing, please re-download it, as your score card is invalid without both the photo and QRcode.

How to Check CUET UG Result 2024? Step 1: Go to the official website, exams.nta.ac.in. Step 2: From the homepage, look for the CUET UG 2024 result link and select it. Step 3: Enter your date of birth and roll number as your login information. Step 4: A screen displaying your scorecard will appear. Step 5: Download and print a copy of the CUET UG Result 2024 for your recordsread more

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: Details to Check On Scorecard The CUET scorecard will provide details such as the candidates name, roll number, subject codes, raw scores, percentiles, and qualifying marks.

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: Direct Link to Check Scores OUT

CUET UG Result 2024 Declared!

What to Do After Checking Your CUET UG Result? The CUET UG does not have a centralized counseling process, and the NTA will not release subject-specific cut-off marks. The participating universities will choose their own admission cut-off scores based on CUET results.

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: Login Credentials To check the scorecards, students who took the exam will have to enter their application or registration number as mentioned on their admit card. Without this ID, they will not be able to check their scores.

CUET UG Result 2024 LIVE Updates: Important Dates for CUET UG 2024 Exam This year, the NTA conducted the CUET UG 2024 between May 15 and 24 in the hybrid mode across 379 locations for around 13.48 lakh students.

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: How to Check CUET UG Result 2024? Step 1: Visit the official website  exams.nta.ac.in .

. Step 2: On the homepage, click on the CUET UG result link once it is available.

Step 3: Log in with your application number and date of birth.

Step 4: The results will appear on your screen.

Step 5: Download and save for further use.
The reduction in the prices of three key cancer drugs after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced removing customs duty on them comes as a relief to many who are undergoing the treatment.

The customs duty on Trastuzumab deruxtecan, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab drugs was around 10%. But the decision to reduce their prices will make these drugs more accessible to patients and reduce overall cost of cancer therapies.

Let us understand what are the uses of these drugs in cancer treatment.

These drugs target only the cancer cells, leaving normal ones unaffected. They target specific genetic changes in cancer cells that help them grow, divide and spread.

Unlike the traditional cancer drugs used in chemotherapy that target all cells, these three drugs have fewer side-effects.

About These Three Drugs

Trastuzumab deruxtecan: The drug is used in the targeted therapy for breast cancer. It attaches to the HER2 receptor (a protein that appears on the surface of some breast cancer cells) and can stop the cancer cells from growing. It is developed by Daiichi Sankyo and marketed by Astrazeneca as Enhertu, trastuzumab deruxtecan. It is a second-line treatment, which is used when traditional therapies have failed. The drug was approved in 2019 to treat breast cancer. In 2021, it was used for targeting certain types of gastrointestinal cancers. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug to be tissue agnostic, that is, it can be used for any cancer with HER-2 receptor regardless of where it originates. The drug costs Rs 1.6 lakh per vial.

Osimertinib: The drug is used to treat lung cancer, and is known as a cancer growth blocker. It blocks protein called epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) or cancer cells that encourage the cancer to grow. Osimertinib can help slow down or stop the growth of an advanced cancer for a time. After surgery, osimertinib might help stop the cancer from coming back. Marketed as Tagrisso by AstraZeneca, the drug targets mutation, which occurs in 25-30% of lung cancers in women who are non-smokers, according to Dr Ankur Bahl, senior director of medical oncology at Fortis Gurugam, as quoted by The Indian Express. The drug costs Rs 1.5 lakh per strip of 10 pills, which needs to be taken every day.

Durvalumab: It is FDA-approved immunotherapy drug for cancer developed by AstraZeneca. It is used in treatment of lung cancers, biliary tract cancer, bladder cancer and liver cancer. Durvalumab stimulates the bodys immune system. It seeks out cancer cells by looking for the PD-L1 protein and attaching to it. The immune system then recognises the marked cells and kills them. The drug costs around Rs 1.5 lakh for every 10 ml vial, and is sold as Imfinzi.

How Customs Duty Cut Will Impact Treatment

The cost cut will help cancer patients immensely to reduce the financial burden on cancer patients.

All imported life-saving drugs are costly and customs duty exemption is a welcome step. Deruxtecan drug is a breast cancer drug and can be used in all cancers with HER2 positive gene. Osimertinib and Durvalumab are used for lung cancer treatment. However, we use Durvalumab for biliary tract cancers. All these cancers are quite common in India and detected in late stages in our country, said Dr Shyam Aggarwal, chairman, medical oncology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, as quoted by Livemint.

Dr Abhishek Shankar, oncologist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, also welcomed the positive move from the government. These drugs cost up to lakhs, and even a small percentage decrease will make a significant difference to patients and their families. They are targeted therapies that offer much better results than traditional therapies, Dr Shankar quoted The Indian Express as saying.

Cancer Cases In India

India reports 14.13 lakh new cancer patients every year, with annual reported mortality of 9.16 lakhs, as per data by GLOBOCAN 2022 by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), World Health Organization.

An estimated 14.6 lakh new cancer cases were detected in 2022, up from 14.2 lakh in 2021, and 13.9 lakh in 2020, according to the National Cancer Registry data.

The number of deaths due to cancer increased to an estimated 8.08 lakh in 2022, up from 7.9 lakh in 2021, and 7.7 lakh in 2020.

In India, around 2 lakh women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Breast cancer can be caused by poor lifestyle such as alcohol and smoking, inadequate breast feeding make hormonal imbalances in women.

Among men, the most common cancers were of the lung, mouth, prostate, tongue, and stomach; for women, they were breast, cervix, ovary, uterus, and lung.

Certain cancers are also affecting younger people sooner than in the US, UK, and China. The median age for lung cancer, for example, is 59 in India, but 70 in the US, 68 in China, and 75 in the UK, according to the new report.
The US Presidential Elections are just three months away, a lot has happened over the past few weeks  former president Donald Trumps assassination attempt, President Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 race and Senator JD Vance of Ohio chosen as Trumps running mate.

Bidens Vice President Kamala Harris is the probable nominee of the Democratic Party. Biden and much of the Democratic Party have already endorsed her.

Both parties tickets have an Indian connection. Kamala Harris is half India; her mother was a Tamil Brahmin immigrant from India, while Vances wife Usha Chilukuri Vance is the daughter of Telugu-speaking Indian immigrants from Andhra Pradesh.

What to Expect?

Foreign Policy: Trump has said he is going to prosecute all of Bidens earlier officials who acted against him. He is likely to pull out of NATO or let Europeans handle it, which can have implications on Ukraine. Trump and Vance will very much want to engage with the world and play power politics and endorse America First view. They will also look out for countries such as India to balance out against China. According to State Senator Niraj Antani of Ohio, an ally of Vance, US-India relations were good under Trump, who stayed neutral on many Indian political issues. Biden, by contrast, has criticised Indias Citizenship Amendment Act and the abrogation of Article 370, as quoted by The Diplomat.

In a post on X from March 9, 2022, Vance pushed back against hypothetical sanctions against India that some in the US had suggested should be implemented because of continuing Indian ties with Russia after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In another post, he called India and Japan as one of our two most important allies and criticised the Biden administration for slamming India for not allowing more immigration.

Russia and China: Both Vance and Trump have pushed for de-escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war and better ties with Russia. Russian officials seem to be convinced that their interests will not be undermined by Ukraine under Trumps presidency. This helps India as it is not in its interests for Russia to become weak. On China, Vance has clearly stated that it is the biggest threat to US. Trump, however, has not said as much but has consistently pushed backed against Chinese business practices.

Military and Resources: As per an article by The Diplomat, Trump-Vance administration would shift US resources and military operations away from Europe and the Middle East and towards Asia, increasing pressure on China. They may well decide to deepen military cooperation and the transfer of weapons and technology to India, while redirecting investment and jobs away from China to India.

Tariffs: Last year, Trump again raked up the issue of high tax by India on certain American products, in particular the Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and threatened to slap reciprocal tax if voted to power again. During his first term as the US president, Trump described India as a tariff king and in May 2019, terminated Indias preferential market access  Generalised System of Preferences (GSP)  to the US alleging India has not given the US equitable and reasonable access to its markets. Trump had also raised import duty on Indian steel and aluminum products. India too raised import duties on several American products. Trumps hard stance against what he called protectionism by India is seen as a possible risk for India-US trade ties.

Bilateral Trade: Both India and US have been seen negotiating a trade deal during Trumps first term. While there is no progress on a bilateral trade deal between the two countries during Bidens presidency, Trump might take the US out of the World Trade Organization and deal with the countries individually. The previous Trump administration had revoked the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) from India. The GSP allows eligible developing countries to export duty-free goods to the US. At the 14th India-US Trade Policy Forum in New Delhi in January, India sought easier visas for its traders and investors, participation in Washingtons public procurement and also asked the US to make permanent the system of eligible applicants to renew their H-1B visa there itself instead of coming back home. The bilateral trade between India and the US stood at $118.28 billion in 2023-24. Exports to the US dipped by 1.32 per cent to $77.5 billion in 2023-24 as against $78.54 billion in 2022-23, while imports dipped by about 20 per cent to $40.8 billion, as per a GTRI report. Washington was the top trading partner of New Delhi during 2021-22 and 2022-23, but in 2023-24 China emerged as Indias largest trading partner with $118.4 billion worth of trade.
The Kolkata Polices active intervention helped foil a suicide attempt mentioned on social media on Saturday.

Around 11 pm om Saturday, a follower sent a message on Kolkata Police. The link was to a screen recording of a Facebook Live, in which a 20-year-old was threatening to end his life. Police traced the account immediately, but couldnt access it as it was locked.

On calling the person who had informed police, they learned that the youngster was his school friend, and is currently an undergraduate at the university. The informer knew his friends earlier phone number but not his current address.

Using technology, the police traced the number to an area in Behala, but realising it would take more time to find the specific address, the information was sent to Parnasree Police Station (PS) Officer In-charge (OC) Inspector Satya Prakash Upadhyay.

News was also sent to Behala PS OC Inspector Animesh Haoladar. On his instruction, Sub-Inspectors Subhankar Das, Amaresh Naskar and Arun Bhattacharya began a thorough search in the Behala PS area. On the other hand, Sub-Inspector Rajat Mondal began searching the Parnasree PS area.

The officers of Behala PS kept in constant touch with the informant, and Sarsuna PS was also informed.

As the young mans name is a fairly common in Bengal, officers woke up other bewildered residents with the same name in the middle of the night. Apologising for the misunderstanding, they then rushed to the next possible address. Finally, the Behala PS team traced the youths address and current phone number in Parnasree.

Speaking to him, police came to know that he had decided to take the extreme step as he was upset about a few issues.

Speaking to News18, a Kolkata Police officer said, It is a group effort. We got intimation from our control room and four thanas worked together.

The social media monitoring cell in Lalbazar has yielded good results. It saves people from fraud and even lives, said Additional CP 1 Murli Dhar Sharma.

A day ago, the Kolkata police convinced a car owner to pull down a sticker which had an objectionable message towards women.
In a pleasant surprise for Ramchet, a cobbler on Vidhayak Nagar Crossing in Sultanpur, a sophisticated shoe-mending machine got delivered to his shop on Saturday, a day after Rae Bareli MP Rahul Gandhi met him.

On Friday, Gandhi was in UPs Sultanpur to appear before the MP\MLA court regarding a defamation case linked to remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. After the proceedings, while en route to Delhi via Purvanchal Expressway, his convoy halted for five minutes at Vidhayak Nagar Crossing under Kurebhar Police Station, Sultanpur.

ALSO READ | Like God Descended On My Kiosk: UP Cobbler Who Taught Rahul Gandhi to Mend Shoes Shares Memorable Experience

Rahul jis visit to my kiosk was no less than Gods visit to me. I am extremely thankful to Rahul ji for the kind gesture. I had asked him to help me as I hardly earned anything as a cobbler. I am thankful to him, I havent seen any neta like this, Ramchet told News18.

Ramchet said that Gandhi enquired about his work and family and also discussed about his difficulties.

Ramchet, who has been in the profession for the past 40 years, said, I was wondering that like other netas who are known to forget their promises, he, too, might have forgotten me after leaving Sultanpur. But I was wrong. I am thankful to Rahul ji for lending a helping hand and for keeping his word. I am sure this machine would help me further in expanding my work.

Peoples leader Rahul Gandhi ji met cobbler Ramchait ji in Sultanpur (UP) yesterday and understood the intricacies of his work. Now a shoe stitching machine has been sent to him, which will make it easier for Ramchait ji to stitch shoes, the Congress posted in X.
Union Home Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, started bleeding from the nose while addressing the media after a coordination committee meeting of the BJP and the JD-S leaders here on Sunday.

The Union Minister was taken to Apollo Hospital in the Jayanagar locality here. His son, actor-turned-politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy, and other senior leaders of the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) rushed him to the hospital.

H.D. Kumaraswamy has participated in a series of programmes since morning.

He visited a temple in Nanjangud town, then arrived in Mysuru to hold meetings and address the media.

#WATCH | Karnataka: Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy was taken to hospital after his nose started bleeding while he was attending a press conference in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/yGX1pOwGVZ ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2024

In the afternoon, he arrived in Bengaluru and took part in the BJP and the JD-S leaders meeting.

While H.D. Kumaraswamy was addressing the media along with former Karmataka CM B.S. Yediyurappa, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Karnataka unit BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra, and Opposition leader R. Ashoka, he suddenly suffered a nosebleed.

The blood was seen splattered all over his white shirt.

Despite this, H.D. Kumaraswamy did not panic and asked Yediyurappa to address the media, then stepped aside while pressing a hand towel to his nose.

Later, he was rushed to the hospital.

The Union Minister, according to the hospital authorities, is currently being examined. A clearer picture will emerge once the report of tests is available, a hospital official said.

It is suspected that the blood thinner drug or medication would have resulted in the bleeding. However, an official statement is yet to be released.

H.D. Kumaraswamy had undergone heart surgery earlier.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday held wide-ranging talks with his American counterpart Antony Blinken against the backdrop of an unease in India-US ties following Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Russia three weeks back.

Jaishankar and Blinken are in Tokyo to attend a meeting of foreign ministers of the four-nation grouping Quad or Quadrilateral coalition on Monday.

The talks between the external affairs minister and the US secretary of state also came amid Washington consistently seeking accountability from New Delhi in the case relating to the alleged foiled plot to kill Sikh extremist Gurupatwant Singh Pannun in New York.

It is not immediately clear whether Prime Minister Modis visit to Russia and the murder-for-hire plot figured in the Jaishankar-Blinken talks.

In a post on X, Jaishankar said he and Blinken had a wide-ranging discussion on regional and global issues.

Great to catch up with@SecBlinken in Tokyo today, he said.

Our bilateral agenda progresses steadily. Also had a wide-ranging discussion on regional and global issues, Jaishankar added.

In his post on X, Blinken wrote that he met Jaishankar to deepen U.S.-India collaboration and affirm our shared commitment to regional peace, security, and prosperity. It is learnt that the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the overall situation in Gaza figured in the talks.

The US and several of its allies were outraged over the timing of Modis July 8 to 9 visit to Moscow as it coincided with the NATO summit in Washington. Some Western capitals were also learnt to be peeved over Modi choosing Russia for his first bilateral trip in his third term.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu told a US Congressional hearing on Tuesday that the US was disappointed by the symbolism and timing of Modis visit to Russia.

The Biden administration official especially highlighted that the Indian prime minister paid the visit to Moscow when Washington was hosting a summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

New Delhi on Thursday rejected Lus comments and asserted that all countries have the freedom of choice in a multipolar world and everyone should be mindful of such realities.

Meanwhile, India and Ukraine are planning a visit to Kyiv by the Indian prime minister next month.

The India-US ties also came under some unease following the alleged murder-for-hire plot.

In November last year, US federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun in New York.

Pannun, wanted in India on terror charges, holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada.

Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic in June last year, was extradited to the US last month.

Following the allegations by the US, India appointed a high-level inquiry committee to look into the inputs provided by the US on the plot.

In April, The Washington Post named an Indian official for the alleged plot.
In a shocking example of the danger of such acts, a teenager who went viral for performing a skating stunt hanging from a local train in Mumbai was traced by the Railway Protection Force, but when cops went to arrest him, it turned out the youngster has lost an arm and leg.

The youngsters video, which showed him engaged in a dangerous act while clinging on to a train moving out of a platform, had gone viral after it was posted on X on July 14. The Central Railway posted a video on social media to issue a warning against performing dangerous acts like this.

Central Railway has identified the stunt performer from this viral video, who later lost an arm and leg during another stunt. @RPFCRBB swiftly took action to ensure safety.We urge all passengers to avoid life-threatening stunts and report such incidents at 9004410735 / 139. https://t.co/HJQ1y25Xkv pic.twitter.com/DtJAb7VyXI Central Railway (@Central_Railway) July 26, 2024

According to an official, the youngster was identified as Farhat Azam Shaikh from Wadala. He performed the stunt in the video on March 7 and, later in an attempt to execute another such stunt, lost an arm and leg on April 14.

A case was registered by the Wadala unit of the RPF, which was successful in tracing the youngster to his home in Antop Hill in central Mumbai a few days later. When the RPF found him, they were shocked since the boy, identified as Farhat Azam Shaikh, had lost a leg and arm in a stunt he performed on April 14 at Masjid station. He told us the July 14 video that went viral was of March 7 this year. It was recorded at Sewri station by a friend who uploaded it on social media, the official said.

In the video posted by the railway authorities, Farhat is urging citizens to stay away from such acts. Stressing on the danger of such illegal acts, a press release said he now faces extreme difficulty in performing daily chores.

He has appealed to all passengers through a video to stay away from such acts, which are not only illegal but life-threatening. Central Railway requests passengers to desist from such unsafe stunts/activities that are life-threatening both for the individuals involved and other passengers, the release said.

The release further stated that these actions can have fatal consequences, urging citizens to report anyone performing them by immediately calling mobile number 9004410735 or 139. This will create safe travel conditions and reduce deaths on tracks, it added.
The CPI(ML) Liberation, a constituent of the INDIA bloc, has claimed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar skipped the NITI Aayog meeting out of embarrassment over the Centres refusal to grant special category status to the state.

The party also slammed the NDA-led central government for misleading people over the special package, and announced protest marches next month.

JD(U) leaders, however, were tight-lipped over the absence of Kumar, the party president, at the NITI Aayog meeting held in Delhi on Saturday.

The CM held a party meeting in Patna on Saturday to discuss preparations for assembly polls in neighbouring Jharkhand.

Mehboob Alam, CPI(ML) L leader in the Bihar assembly, said, I must say that Kumar skipped the meeting out of embarrassment over the refusal of the Centre to grant special category status to Bihar. He should have attended the crucial meeting He has once again lost the opportunity to seek special category status for Bihar, and inclusion of the states amended reservation laws in the ninth schedule of the Constitution, he told PTI.

The ninth schedule includes a list of central and state laws that cannot be challenged in court.

Another CPI(ML) L MLA, Ajeet Kumar Singh, expressed similar views.

The CMs decision to skip the NITI Aayog meeting shows that he is least bothered about the welfare of the people of Bihar, Singh asserted.
MANILA, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday reported that a second oil tanker had sunk off Bataan province, west of Manila.

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said the oil tanker MTKR Jason Bradley sank off Mariveles town around 5 p.m. local time on Saturday.

He said three coast guard vessels went to the accident site and confirmed the sunken vessel's presence. The team confirmed the presence of an oil slick and oil sheen in the area. "They deployed an oil boom at the site to ensure that the oil sheen would not spread," he added.

PCG Lieutenant Commander Michael John Encina, the acting PCG station commander in Bataan province, said the MTKR Jason Bradley was not carrying cargo and just carry working fuel instead.

Encina added that salvage operations will begin soon and are expected to last one or two weeks.

Meanwhile, Balilo said that the siphoning of the industrial fuel oil from the Philippine tanker that sank Thursday off Limay town in Bataan province will be delayed as divers seal the leaking valves of nine tanks aboard the tanker. He said the divers are expected to finish sealing the nine leaking valves on Monday so that the siphoning can proceed on Tuesday.

Balilo said a minimal amount of oil sheen from the first sunken tanker had reached the waters off Hagonoy town in Bulacan province. However, he reiterated that the amount of oil spills remains manageable. 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled Manu Bhaker and congratulated her on winning Indias first medal in Paris Olympics 2024. You have made your country proud, PM Modi said. Bhaker clinched a bronze medal in the 10m Air Pistol Final on Sunday.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with Olympic Bronze Medalist Manu Bhaker and congratulated her on winning a Bronze medal in Womens 10 M Air Pistol at #ParisOlympics2024 pic.twitter.com/IHrumNS5yv ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2024

Follow Paris Olympics 2024 Day 2 LIVE news here

Earlier, taking to microblogging site X, the prime minister called Manus victory an incredible achievement. A historic medal! Well done, @realmanubhaker, for winning Indias FIRST medal at #ParisOlympics2024! Congrats on the Bronze. This success is even more special as she became the 1st woman to win a medal in shooting for India. An incredible achievement! PM Modi said.

A historic medal!Well done, @realmanubhaker, for winning Indias FIRST medal at #ParisOlympics2024! Congrats for the Bronze. This success is even more special as she becomes the 1st woman to win a medal in shooting for India. An incredible achievement!#Cheer4Bharat  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 28, 2024

I Dedicate This Win To My Country: Manu Bhaker

Winning this medal is a dream come true, not just for me but for everyone who has supported me. I am deeply grateful to the NRAI, SAI, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Coach Jaspal Rana sir, Haryana government and OGQ. I dedicate this victory to my country for their incredible support and love, Manu Bhaker wrote in an X post.

Winning this medal is a dream come true, not just for me but for everyone who has supported me. I am deeply grateful to the NRAI, SAI, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Coach Jaspal Rana sir, Haryana government and OGQ. I dedicate this victory to my country for their incredible pic.twitter.com/hnzGjNwUhv Manu Bhaker (@realmanubhaker) July 28, 2024

She also expressed gratitude to the government for all the support and encouragement and thanked PM Modi for his blessings.

Thank you Honble Prime Minister @narendramodi ji for your blessings. I would like to thank government for all the support and encouragement. It means a lot. https://t.co/JxfDYU0oK4 Manu Bhaker (@realmanubhaker) July 28, 2024

Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed Manu Bhaker saying nation swells in pride at your achievement. Kudos to @realmanubhaker on winning the first medal in the Paris Olympics 2024, by bringing home the bronze. You have sent a wave of euphoria across the nation with your stellar performance. The nation swells in pride at your achievement, Shah wrote in an X post.

Kudos to @realmanubhaker on winning the first medal in the #ParisOlympics2024, by bringing home the bronze. You have sent a wave of euphoria across the nation with your stellar performance.The nation swells in pride at your achievement. #Cheer4Bharat  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 28, 2024

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that Manu Bhakers victory has brought immense pride to our nation.

Congratulations to @realmanubhaker for her exceptional performance and winning the Bronze Medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Her victory has brought immense pride to our nation. I wish her the very best for her endeavours ahead, Singh said.

Congratulations to @realmanubhaker for her exceptional performance and winning the Bronze Medal at the #paris2024olympics.Her victory has brought immense pride to our nation. I wish her the very best for her endeavours ahead. pic.twitter.com/tgKURGinsn  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) July 28, 2024

Minister Of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari said, Congratulations to @realmanubhaker for securing Indias first medal at the Paris Olympics 2024! Your remarkable performance and dedication in the 10-meter air pistol event have earned you a well-deserved bronze. India is proud of your achievement. Heres to many more victories!

Congratulations to @realmanubhaker for securing Indias first medal at the Paris Olympics 2024! Your remarkable performance and dedication in the 10-meter air pistol event have earned you a well-deserved bronze . India is proud of your achievement. Heres to many more pic.twitter.com/0RyKDLQTv5 Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) July 28, 2024

Celebrations At Manu Bhakers House In Haryana

Celebrations have begun at the residence of Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker in Haryana.

#WATCH | Haryana: Celebrations underway at the residence of Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker.Shooter Manu Bhaker won a bronze medal in Womens 10 M Air Pistol at #ParisOlympics2024 pic.twitter.com/7jxsdUETrY  ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2024

Manus father, Ram Kishan Bhaker said, The entire country is proud of Manu, two of her events are remaining we expect her to perform better. Manu got a lot of support from the government and the federation. She could achieve this only because of the blessings of the people of the country. This is a huge achievement.

#WATCH | Olympic Medalist Shooter Manu Bhakers father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, says, The entire country is proud of Manu, two of her events are remaining we expect her to perform better. Manu got a lot of support from the government and the federation. She could achieve this only pic.twitter.com/8iiY84TPF4 ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2024

The Shooters aunt, Nirmala Devi said, We were expecting a gold medal, but this is not a small achievement. We are hopeful that she will win gold in the next two events.

#WATCH | Haryana: Shooter Manu Bhakers aunt Nirmala Devi, says, We were expecting a gold medal, but this is not a small achievement. We are hopeful that she will win gold in the next two events. pic.twitter.com/08tgPSzRBu ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2024

With her bronze, 22-year-old Bhaker broke Indias 12-year Olympic medal drought in Shooting, and also became the first female shooter to win a medal in the same event for India.

Catch Paris Olympics 2024 Day 1 LIVE Updates Here. Stay updated with the latest from Paris Olympics 2024. Explore Paris Olympics 2024 events today. Check the updated list of medal tally for Paris Olympics 2024. Check Paris Olympics 2024 event results.
Anthony Mackie reacted to his Avengers: Endgame co-star Robert Downey Jrs MCU comeback. On Saturday, it was announced that Robert Downey Jr will return to MCU as Doctor Doom. Anthony found out about RDJs new Marvel role during an interview. The actor, who will be seen in Captain America: Brave New World, expressed his excitement on Downey Jrs return but said he wants to be the first one to take him down in a showdown.

I better kill him first, Anthony told The Hollywood Reporter. I get first dibs to knock him off, he joked. When asked if fans can expect Captain America vs Doctor Doom, Anthony said, Yeah, hes going to pull a hamstring or something, I am going to take him down. I am not going lightly into this dark night.

#CaptainAmericaBraveNewWorld star Anthony Mackie on welcoming Robert Downey Jr. back to the MCU during #SDCC: "I better kill him first" pic.twitter.com/bNz9396A4k The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) July 28, 2024

Florence Pugh also shared her reaction to the news. The Oppeheimer star admitted she was unaware of the development but was thrilled about his return. The Thunderbolt star was visibly shocked while she watched the video of his big reveal and told Variety, I didnt see this. I bet it went insane in there.

Florence Pughs reaction to Robert Downey Jr. being announced as Doctor Doom for 'AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY' pic.twitter.com/vgTmn8ylw0 Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) July 28, 2024

At the Marvel panel of the San Diego Comic-Con, Anthony Russo announced that they had to get one of the best actors to play the role of Doctor Doom. If were going to bring Doctor Doom to the screen  he is one of the most complex characters, most entertaining characters in all of fiction, Anthony Russo said, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. If were going to do this  then we are going to need the greatest actor in the world.

As proof of the unimaginable possibilities of the Marvel Universe, we give you the one person who could play Victor von Doom he added before RDJ took centre stage and unveiled himself as Doctor Doom.

Robert Downey Jr will be seen playing Doctor Doom in two Avengers films  Avengers: Doomsday, set to release in May 2026, and will seemingly reprise his role for Avengers: Secret Wars, eyeing a May 2027 release.
Social media influencer Sufi Motiwala was seen begging Urfi Javed to talk to him after she shared a screenshot of a disgusting message sent from his account. Sufi, who is known for his commentary on day-to-day fashion, allegedly commented on Orry Awatramani aka Orrys shoutout to Urfi. Orry was praising Urfi for her outfit and she had reposted the compliment. Sufi allegedly replied to the story with a nasty comment.

Urfi took a screenshot of the comment, shared it on her Stories and slammed him. She also predicted that he will claim that his social media ID was hacked. Dekhna ab bolega ki account hack ho gaya tha ya dost ne bheja, she said. Her prediction came true. Sufi shared a screenshot of his replies to her, claiming that he had no access to his account and logged back in only after her post featuring his alleged message went viral.

In the screenshot, Sufi was seen begging Sufi. Uorfi, please pick up my call. I genuinely havent sent this. Please. I have no hard intentions towards you. Please Uorfi,I dont use such language. I just logged back into my account, he said in his messages to her. Please, Ill be ruined I have never wished you bad Uorfi, he added. Sharing the screenshot on his Instagram Stories, Sufi said, Ive texted her, I had no such intentions and I wouldnt text someone like that.

Urfi then shared a note that read, So he (Sufi) was probably sending this reply to one of his friends, accidently sent to me only! Unfortunately for him I was online at that time and I immediately took a screenshot. Koi id hack nahi hui hai iski, 2 min mein id wapas mil gayi (His id was not hacked, how did he get it back in two minutes)

The incident has left internet in shock. Many slammed Sufi for the messages from his account while lauded Urfi for not letting such comments pass by quietly.
Janhvi Kapoor is gearing up for her next mystery drama Ulajh. The film is releasing on August 2. Well, ahead of the release, makers organised fan screenings which has been getting an overwhelming response. The films team announced special preview screenings in multiple cities before the official release which got sold out in just 30 minutes!

For the first time for any Janhvi Kapoor movie, the makers will host special preview screenings for fans in various cities ahead of its theatrical release. Janhvi Kapoor took to social media to announce the multi-city fan screenings, which are being hosted on 29th July in Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, and Delhi. Ulajh is scheduled to premiere on 2nd August. The preview screenings were made available on ticketing outlets on 27th July at noon and were sold out within 30 minutes. Due to the overwhelming response, the makers have decided to add fan screenings in three more cities, with details to be announced soon.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Junglee Pictures (@jungleepictures)

Janhvi Kapoor expressed her excitement, stating, Im thrilled to share that we have special pre-release screenings for fans across multiple cities for Ulajh. This will be my first film to have a special preview for fans ahead of its release across so many cities. What is even more exciting and overwhelming is to see the shows get booked out so quickly. The enthusiasm has been incredible, and I hope these previews make the wait a little bit sweeter!

In this thrilling narrative, Janhvi Kapoor portrays Suhana, a young diplomat embroiled in a treacherous personal conspiracy during her crucial assignment at the London embassy. As she navigates the complexities of her career-defining role, she finds herself entangled in the weight of her legacy and in a web of deception, where every ally could be a foe.

The trailer pulses with intensity, featuring Janhvi, Gulshan, and Roshan at their electrifying best. Each character is layered with shades of grey, promising a rollercoaster ride of suspense and unexpected twists.

The film also features Adil Hussain, Meiyang Chang, Rajendra Gupta and Jitendra Joshi. This film is written by Sudhanshu Saria and Parveez Shaikh, with dialogue by Atika Chauhan, and also directed by Sudhanshu Saria. Produced by Junglee Pictures, Ulajh will be released in theatres on 2nd August 2024.
Actor-poet Priya Malik recently shared a concerning update on Instagram about her four-month-old son, Zorawar. The infant has been suffering from a high fever for over a week, resulting in a hospital admission.

Malik recounted the harrowing experience, stating, Zorawar had an alarmingly high fever that lasted an entire week. Initially, the doctors thought it was viral. However, on the morning of July 20, his fever spiked to 103 degrees, prompting an emergency hospital visit as it became a life-threatening situation for such a young baby.

Malik elaborated on the treatment process, which has been ongoing for the past four days. Initially, Zorawar was given paracetamol for two days and an injection, followed by a drip. We returned home, hoping he would recover, she explained. However, her concern escalated when Zorawars fever spiked again. On July 22, his fever rose to 102 degrees, and we had to rush him back to the hospital. This time, they admitted him due to the persistent fever, she shared.

Doctors are now considering a possible urinary infection, and Zorawar has been put on an antibiotic course. Malik expressed her surprise at this potential diagnosis, noting, Hes only on breastfeed and formula until six months, so it would be shocking if its a urinary infection. I had also started letting visitors hold him, which might have been a lapse on my part. The doctor mentioned that while adults have immunity to handle the weather, babies dont. Malik also speculated about other possible causes, adding, We strongly feel that the monsoon weather might be contributing to his condition.

In addition to dealing with her sons health issues, Malik had to postpone her husband Karans birthday celebrations. Karans birthday was on July 23, and I had planned to share Zorawars monthly photo update. Unfortunately, we had to delay all our plans. Its heartbreaking to see your baby in the hospital on days that are meant to be joyful, she shared.

Malik also discussed the preventive measures her family is planning to take. The doctor recommended that all of us get flu shots. He also advised against letting visitors hold Zorawar and to avoid having visitors at home until hes completely fine, she concluded.

After her divorce in 2018, Priya Malik got engaged to Delhi-based entrepreneur Karan Bakshi in 2019. They later tied the knot on October 10, 2022.

Priya Malik shot to fame with her memorable appearance on the controversial reality show Bigg Boss 9. Apart from that, she has been featured in several other shows including Savdhaan India, Crime Patrol, Nazar and more.
In a recent podcast with Nikhil Kamath, Ranbir Kapoor opened up about his thoughts on PM Narendra Modi. When Nikhil asked him about his thoughts on politics, Ranbir said that while he doesnt think much about it, he admires Prime Minister Modi a lot.

Ranbir said, I dont think much about politics. But all of us  actors and directors  went to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi 4 to 5 years back. You see him on television, you see how he talks  hes a great orator. I remember the moment we were sitting and he walked in. There is a magnetic charm about himself. He came and he sat down. He spoke to each and every person about something so personal. My father was going to treatment at that time, so he asked me hows the treatment going, whats happening and all of that. He talked to Alia about something else, Vicky Kaushal about something else, Karan Johar about something and so on. Everything was very personal.

Ranbir also said that this effort is something he has noticed in many great men. He added, That kind of effort, you see in great men. They put that kind of effort- they dont need to, but they do. Like Shah Rukh Khan. There are many such great men. It says a lot about them.

Nikhil Kamath, also, shared a story about the PM. He said that he has had the privilege of being around him at a couple of events. I respect him and I admire him. Once we were in the US, Washington DC and he would do a speaking session with us and a couple of American businessmen in a room, 8 AM in the morning. Then would go give a speech somewhere else at 11 am, he would then sit with the vice president at 1 pm. He would then do something at 4 pm, something else at 8 pm and something else at 11 pm. At 8 pm, I was tired. I was feeling sick after two days. He was then hgoing to Egypt to do the same thing all over again. This is his energy at his age. Theres a lot to learn from him, Nikhil recalled.
Robert Downey Jr finally reacted to making his Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) comeback. The actor, who played Iron Man for 10 years, confirmed he is returning to MCU as Doctor Doom, a villain from the Fantastic Four comics. His comeback was announced at the San Diego Comic-Con by Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige and director duo Russo Brothers. RDJ re-confirmed the news by sharing a post on Instagram.

He shared a photo with the Doctor Doom mask along with a video of his grand entry in the Hall H of SDCC. He shared the post on Instagram along with the caption, New mask, same task. In the photo, RDJ was also seen wearing the iconic green robe that Doctor Doom wears in the comics. Russo Brothers took to the comments section and welcomed him back. They said, Weve always said green is your color

Check out his post below:

Fans also took to the comments section to express their excitement over his return. ROBERT YOUVE MADE ME SCREAM ALL OVER MY HOUSE. THE KING HAS RETURNED. THANKS MARVEL, a happy Marvel fan said. Now we will change from red to green, Daddy is back! added another. WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, a third fan wrote.

At the Marvel panel of the San Diego Comic-Con, Anthony Russo announced that they had to get one of the best actors to play the role of Doctor Doom. If were going to bring Doctor Doom to the screen  he is one of the most complex characters, most entertaining characters in all of fiction, Anthony Russo said, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. If were going to do this  then we are going to need the greatest actor in the world.

As proof of the unimaginable possibilities of the Marvel Universe, we give you the one person who could play Victor von Doom he added before RDJ took centre stage and unveiled himself as Doctor Doom.

Robert Downey Jr will be seen playing Doctor Doom in two Avengers films  Avengers: Doomsday, set to release in May 2026, and will seemingly reprise his role for Avengers: Secret Wars, eyeing a May 2027 release.
Robert Downey Jr is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to play Doctor Doom. The actor, who previously played Iron Man in the MCU, will be seen playing Dr Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige and Robert Downey Jr confirmed the news at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. RDJ went to Hall H at the SDCC and unveiled himself as Fantastic Four villain Doctor Doom on stage.

Not only is Robert Downey Jr returning to MCU, Kevin Feige also confirmed that the Russo Brothers, Joe and Anthony Russo, are also making a comeback into the MCU. The director-duo will be helming the Avengers: Doomsday film. They were present in the Hall H when the news was announced.

If were going to bring Doctor Doom to the screen  he is one of the most complex characters, most entertaining characters in all of fiction, Anthony Russo said, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. If were going to do this  then we are going to need the greatest actor in the world.

As proof of the unimaginable possibilities of the Marvel Universe, we give you the one person who could play Victor von Doom he added before RDJ took centre stage and unveiled himself as Doctor Doom.

In a video that went viral from the Comic-Con event, RDJ was seen sporting the iconic green Doctor Doom robe and a metal mask. He took off the mask to announce his return, leaving fans in the room screaming. New mask, same task, he said, as he confirmed his MCU comeback. What can I say, I like playing complicated characters, he teased.

Watch the video below:

The Hollywood Reporter stated RDJ is returning for two Avengers films. The Oppenheimer actor will be working with the Russo Brothers in Avengers: Doomsday, set to release in May 2026, and will seemingly reprise his role for Avengers: Secret Wars, eyeing a May 2027 release. Robert Downey Jr and the Russo Brothers have worked in Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019).

Robert Downey Jr announced his retirement from the MCU after Avengers: Endgame. He played Iron Man through the 10 years of MCU. Tony Stark aka Iron Man died in Avengers: Endgame, opening the door to RDJs exit.
Mouni Roy, who launched her acting career with the popular television show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, has since made a successful transition into films and music videos, capturing attention with her stunning looks and captivating performances. Her Instagram account, brimming with fashionable posts, frequently goes viral, setting major fashion goals with her vacation snapshots. Keeping up with her trendsetting ways, Mouni made the most of her Sunday by sharing a new set of sizzling pictures, once again dazzling her followers with her impeccable style.

Taking to her Instagram handle, Mouni Roy posted a slew of snaps, featuring her standing on a balcony with the Mumbai cityscape in the background. She is wearing a black crop top and light blue jeans. Her left hand is on her head, and she is looking over her right shoulder towards the camera. The slideshow also included several pictures where Mouni can be seen striking several poses. She penned the caption,

Whispers from the sky

Take a look:

Mouni Roy, a household name in the Hindi television industry, has soared to the top as one of the highest-paid actresses after her mesmerizing performances in Naagin and its sequel. Besides her acting prowess, she is celebrated as a fashion trailblazer, continuously wowing her fans with her unique and bold style choices. Her social media is a treasure trove of candid shots and memorable moments, always giving her followers something to look forward to.

Mouni Roy has come a long way ever since she made her television debut with Ekta Kapoors Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. She became a popular name after she starred in Naagin. Mouni made her Bollywood debut with Akshay Kumars Gold in 2018. Last year, Mouni was seen in Ayan Mukerjis magnum opus, Brahmastra. Recently, she was also seen in a music video titled Dotara along with Jubin Nautiyal. Mouni Roy was also seen in the web-series Sultan of Delhi. She was last seen in Emraan Hashmi-starrer Showtime.

In a recent interview, Mouni shared that it is projects like Sultan of Delhi and Brahmastra which changed peoples perception of her as an actor. Brahmastra was absolutely different. When you see Gold, RAW and Made In China, I had played very Indianised characters. Maybe after Naagin and Sati, people could only see me as a saree-clad Indian character. So, for Milan sir to think of me as this cabaret dancer Nayantara, at a time when Brahmastra had not even released. I think it is an exciting time to be an actor where makers can visualise you in different roles. Such great parts are being written. I really feel fortunate to be offered these parts and be able to play them on screen, she told Indian Express.
Sonakshi Sinha shares a close bond with her Double XL co-star Huma Qureshi. Time and again, they have been spotted stepping out for lunch dates, and have also attended multiple award ceremonies together. As the latter celebrates her birthday today, Sonakshi penned the sweetest birthday wish for her.

Sharing a bundle of happy pictures with Huma, Sonakshi wrote, Happy birthday to this crazy HUMA-n. Cant stand straight for one photo also. Love u bye.

Have a look at the photos:

Sonakshi Sinha recently got married to Zaheer Ion June 23 in the presence of their loved ones at their residence in Mumbai. Huma Qureshi was also a part of their celebrations. Post their wedding, she even took to her Instagram handle to celebrate the couple with a heartfelt Instagram post.

Huma captioned the post, Two most different personalities  two unique souls . But  together you fit perfectly  Im so blessed to have witnessed this beautiful mad passionate love story .. my friends are now husband and wife @aslisona @iamzahero.

At the wedding, Huma was the epitome of beauty, dressed in a gorgeous white saree and jacket with exquisite white embroidery. She accessorised perfectly, with multiple rings and a stunning pair of diamond earrings that gave her ensemble the perfect amount of glitz.

On the work front, Huma Qureshi is set to headline the upcoming investigative police procedural drama Bayaan. The film will go on floors this month in Rajasthan. Set against the backdrop of Rajasthan, the film follows the story of a father-daughter duo. Roohi, a female detective, is sent to a small town in Rajasthan to investigate the first case of her career as a lead investigator. She is, however, doomed to fail as her opponents influence runs deep within the system.
KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia has applied to join the BRICS, Malaysian national news agency Bernama quoted Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as saying on Sunday.

Malaysia has sent a letter of application to join the BRICS organization to Russia, the BRICS rotating chair, expressing openness to participate as a member country or a strategic partner, the Malaysian prime minister was quoted as saying. 
Sonakshi Sinha is making heads turn and how. She made a stunning return to the ramp as the showstopper for designer Dolly Js collection at India Couture Week in Delhi on Saturday. This marks her first runway appearance since tying the knot with actor Zaheer Iqbal. A paparazzo captured the moment on video and shared it on Instagram, which showcased Sonakshis confident stride and radiant presence on the catwalk.

Sonakshi looked all things beautiful in a sequin thigh-high slit gown. She flashed her million-dollar smile, left her wavy locks open and was a complete vision to behold on the ramp. She styled her shimmery blush pink gown with a cape and heels.

Post the event, Sonakshi also opened up about her wedding with Zaheer. In an interview with ANI she shared, I genuinely feel the simpler bride is going to be back. I honestly had the freedom to enjoy my wedding so much because I was so comfortable. And I was able to breathe and move around. And I didnt stress myself out. So I think a simpler but beautiful bride, thats going to be a forthcoming trend for sure.

She further added, about how she chose her wedding outfit, she said, It took five minutes for both of us to choose outfits. I was very clear in my head that I wanted to wear a red saree. And I was very clear in my head that for my actual signing and the wedding, I wanted to wear my mothers saree and her jewellery, which is exactly what I did. So it was all in my head. And we just brought it to life on that day. Were very not so fussy people.

Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal got married on June 23 in the presence of their loved ones at their residence in Mumbai. Their first post-wedding update featured beautiful photos from their civil ceremony, with a heartfelt caption revealing that they first committed to each other seven years ago. The caption read, Today, that love has guided us through all the challenges and triumphs, leading up to this moment. With the blessings of both our families and both our gods, we are now man and wife. Heres to love, hope, and all things beautiful with each other, from now until forever.

Following their intimate ceremony, the couple hosted a grand reception in Mumbai, attended by industry stars, including Salman Khan. Since their marriage last month, Sonakshi and Zaheer have been enjoying their newlywed life to the fullest. Theyve embarked on trips, enjoyed dinner dates, and frequently indulged in couple activities in public. To celebrate their first month as a married couple, they went on a dinner date with Aditi Rao Hydari earlier this week. The following day, they enjoyed a fun bowling session with Aayush Sharma and Arpita Khan.
Rishi Kapoor once revealed he was slapped by his father, legendary director-actor Raj Kapoor. Rishi worked closely with his father during his growing up years. Not only was Rishi on sets of Rajs films but also played his younger version in Mera Naam Joker. Raj Kapoor then launched him in Bobby, opposite Dimple Kapadia. In an interview, in 2013, Rishi opened up about his relationship with his father Raj Kapoor and son Ranbir Kapoor, when he revealed Raj had once slapped him.

The Agneepath star and the Animal actor were discussing about Rishis temper with India Today when Rishi brought up an incident involving Raj Kapoor. Did he (Rishi) ever shout on you? Never? India Today asked Ranbir. The actor said, No, he has never raised his voice. Rishi jumped in to say that Ranbir was being diplomatic.

No, he is being very diplomatic. I have been slapped once by my father because at a very young age, I smoked a cigarette borrowed from my fathers make-up man. He (Ranbir) also got it once when he wore his shoes to the puja room, Rishi recalled. When asked how old Ranbir was when the incident took place, the actor said, Must be around 12.

Rishi Kapoor passed away in April 2020. Speaking about his death recently, Ranbir told Nikhil Kamath on his podcast, I stopped crying very early on in life. I didnt even cry when my father passed away. The doctor told me the night that I was in the hospital  I spending many nights there  that it was his last night and hes gonna go anytime soon. I went up to the room and got a panic attack. I dont know how to express myself. I didnt know what was happening  it was too much to take. I dont think Ive understood the loss [yet]. Losing one of the parents is very big moment.
Time and again, Ranbir Kapoor has admitted that he did not share a friendly bond with his late father, Rishi Kapoor. In one of the many interviews hes done, the actor confessed that he could never make eye contact with his father, and added that he was scared of him. Ranbir, who is Rishi and Neetu Kapoors son, said in another interview that he bonded with Rishi while working on Aa Ab Laut Chalen.

Speaking with Rediff during the release of Saawariya, Ranbir admitted, We dont even make eye contact. We hardly speak to each other, and I cant look at him when we speak. Around the same time, he told CNN IBN (now, CNN News18) that he was not close to his father but his bond became better during the making of Aa Ab Laut Chalen. Ranbir was an assistant director in the film.

I was an assistant by default because I board exams just got over. You usually go on a holiday after that so dad was shooting in America so he said, Why dont you come along? You can assist me. Thats the time I started bonding with dad also, we never really had that friendly relationship, he said.

I was an assistant by default because I board exams just got over. You usually go on a holiday after that so dad was shooting in America so he said, Why dont you come along? You can assist me. Thats the time I started bonding with dad also, we never really had that friendly relationship because my growing years, he was busy. I think at that point, we began bonding because we stayed together, every night after pack up, he used to take me to these fancy restaurants, hes really fond of food and hes very particular that I eat food from every different cuisine, Ranbir added.

In a recent interview, Ranbir got candid about witnessing his parents fighting while he was growing up. Speaking with with Nikhil Kamath on his YouTube show, People by WTF, Ranbir said, Anybody who speaks in a louder tone, it disturbs me, since childhood. My parents went through a lot of fights. We lived in a bungalow, so I have spent most of my childhood on the staircases, hearing them fight. I was always scared and on the edge. He continued, I think they were both going through a rough patch. My sister wasnt around, so I kind of felt responsible. My mother used to talk about her feelings to me. But, my father wasnt that expressive. I never understood or heard his point of view.

It was widely reported that Ranbir and Rishi grew closer after the veteran actors cancer diagnosis. Ranbir dedicated time to be with Rishi during his treatment in New York. However, the actor admitted that after his father passed away, in April 2020, he was unable to cry. He admitted he had a panic attack when the doctors told him that Rishi might not make it but he couldnt cry.
Indias Chef de Mission Gagan Narang on Saturday consoled shooter Sarabjot Singh who failed to make it to the final round of the mens 10m air pistol event in Paris Olympics 2024.

Sarabjot and Arjun Singh Cheema sparkled in patches but could not make it to the mens 10m air pistol final.

While Sarabjot finished ninth with a total score of 577 in the qualifications, Arjun ended way behind at 18th with 574.

No one can understand how Sarabjot feels like I do. I faced a similar situation missing out on a count back in 2008 Beijing Olympics, Narang, a bronze medallist in the 10m air rifle event in the 2012 London Olympics, wrote on his X handle.

Chin up @sarabjotsingh30 you have one more event.. You got this.. come back stronger and conquer the world my friend.

Sarabjot has one more chance to achieve success as he will pair up with Manu Bhaker in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the Paris Games.

Sarabjot finished ninth with a total score of 577 in the qualifications while Arjun ended way behind at 18th with 574.

Germanys Robin Walter, who also shot 577, grabbed the last (eighth) qualifying spot after managing to shoot one inner 10 (X) more than Sarabjots 16.

A perfect 100 in the fourth series propelled the 22-year-old Sarabjot into the top-three after a poor start but he failed to sustain the momentum and fizzled out.

Cheema shot 10 perfect 10s off his last 10 shots, which lifted him to the fourth position but he too lost the plot after promising much.

The 23-year-old Cheema collected 97 points from Series 2 (8, 10, 10, 10, 9, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10) and was placed 10th in the list. He collected 96 points from Series 1. However, a poor 7 followed by a 9 from Cheema saw him slip outside the top eight.

Catch Paris Olympics 2024 Day 1 LIVE Updates Here. Stay updated with the latest from Paris Olympics 2024. Explore Paris Olympics 2024 events today. Check the updated list of medal tally for Paris Olympics 2024. Check Paris Olympics 2024 event results.
History is made, as Indias Manu Bhaker brought home the nations first medal of the 2024 Paris Olympics, clinching a bronze medal in the 10m Air Pistol Final on Sunday.

Manu Bhaker finished her run after 22 shots, scoring 221.7, falling just 0.1 short of overthrowing second placed Yeji Kim in the penultimate series.

With her bronze, 22-year-old Bhaker broke Indias 12-year Olympic medal drought in Shooting, and also became the first female shooter to win a medal in the same event for India.

Bhaker started off the first series with her eyes on the prize scoring a strong 50.2 off her five shots, to skyrocket herself up to second place out of the gate, right behind South Koreas Ye Jin Oh, who scored an impressive 52.2.

The Indian kept her composure and almost recreate her first series exactly with her next five shots, scoring 50.1 in the Series 2, and putting up a total of 100.3.

But, South Koreas Ye Jin Oh and Kim Yeji both overtook Bhaker, pushing her to third place by the end of the five-shot series.

A battle ensued withing the top three, as they went shot-for shot, with Bhaker, Ye Jin and Kim all shuffling places throughout Stage 2, where Single Shots ensued.

In a thrilling shot 21, after securing a medal finish, Bhaker overtook Kim Yeji by 0.1 points, but Yeji overtook her with the 22nd shot to pull one over her and creep up to second by yet another 0.1 points.

(more to follow)

Catch Paris Olympics 2024 Day 1 LIVE Updates Here. Stay updated with the latest from Paris Olympics 2024. Explore Paris Olympics 2024 events today. Check the updated list of medal tally for Paris Olympics 2024. Check Paris Olympics 2024 event results.
Rafael Nadal said Saturday that he does not know if he will play singles at the Paris Olympics after picking up a thigh injury in training.

Nadal is due to face Hungarys Marton Fucsovics in the first round on Sunday and victory would hand him a 60th career clash with old rival Novak Djokovic.

I dont know whats going to happen, I dont know if I am going to play tomorrow or not, said the 38-year-old Spaniard, who is at his farewell Olympics and is also in the mens doubles.

I will talk to my people and make the smartest decision that I can to have the best chance of bringing a medal home, so lets see.

Nadal, who has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, teamed up with Carlos Alcaraz for the first time and defeated Argentinas Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 in front of a packed, raucous crowd under the roof on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Nadal, a singles gold medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and doubles title winner at Rio four years later, appeared on court with a bandage strapped around his right thigh.

The Olympics is just his seventh tournament of 2024, in a season where he has also battled a hip injury and seen his singles ranking plummet to 161.

Sometimes more isnt always more, sometimes more is less, added Nadal over the decision he faces.

I am just enjoying the moment playing doubles together with Carlos, added Nadal, who featured in the opening ceremony on Friday when he carried the Olympic torch.

It has been an unforgettable day for me today and an unforgettable day yesterday. I am enjoying every single moment, having the best experience possible.

Hours earlier when Alcaraz had opened his singles campaign with a straights sets victory over Hady Habib, the 21-year-old said it was a dream to play alongside his compatriot Nadal.

The duo appeared to a standing ovation on the same packed court where Nadal won 14 French Opens and Alcaraz collected his first just last month.

Gonzalez and Molteni, the sixth seeds, entered the arena to a chorus of boos in the aftermath of a recent racism row between Argentina and France.

The Spanish pair endured a nightmare start when Alcaraz was broken in the first game. Having not played doubles on tour since 2022, the rustiness was not surprising.

The greater experience of Nadal was key and the break was quickly retrieved with the veterans reflexes as razor sharp as ever at the net.

Alcaraz and Nadal went to three set points in the tiebreaker and a pinpoint backhand down the line by Nadal secured the opener.

Gonzalez and Molteni raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set but back came the Spanish pair to level.

Nadal secured another key break with a rasping backhand return to allow him and his partner to lead 5-4 and the opportunity to serve for the match.

That honour fell to the 22-time Grand Slam title champion and victory was secured when Alcaraz slapped the winning forehand crouching at the net.

Catch Paris Olympics 2024 Day 1 LIVE Updates Here. Stay updated with the latest from Paris Olympics 2024. Explore Paris Olympics 2024 events today. Check the updated list of medal tally for Paris Olympics 2024. Check Paris Olympics 2024 event results.
India shooter Ramita Jindal finished 5th in the Womens 10m Air Rifle qualification to storm into the finals. She became the second Indian woman athlete at the Paris Olympics 2024 to qualify for the final of a shooting event after Manu Bhaker. On the other hand, Ramitas compatriot Elavenil Valarivan finished 10th and missed out on qualification by 2 places after faltering in the last series.

Ramita, , the Hangzhou Asian Games bronze medallist, ended with a total of 631.5, behind Koreas Hyojin Ban (1st with 634.4), Norways Jeanette Hegg Duestad (2nd with 633.2), Swiss Shooter Audrey Gogniat (3rd with 632.6) and Chinas Yuting Huang (4th with 632.6).

10 M AIR RIFLE WOMENS QUALIFICATION ROUND ResultsRamita Jindal shoots her way into the final with a score of 631.5, finishing 5th Elavenil Valarivan finishes 10th with a score of 630.7 The top 8 progressed to the finals. Lets #Cheer4Bharat pic.twitter.com/OsNEGpdbBF  SAI Media (@Media_SAI) July 28, 2024

Ramita had a sluggish start and was not among the top eight till the sixth and final series but she rallied superbly to book a berth in the final while stalwart Elavenil, who had finished 16th at the Tokyo Olympics three years back, held on to the fifth position for much of the qualification round.

But a poor last series of 103.8 saw the 24-year-old former junior world champion take a mighty tumble from the fifth to the 10th slot and miss the eight-shooter final.

Ramita, who had scored 636.4 points, 0.1 more than the world record during the Olympic Selection Trials in New Delhi and Bhopal, was patchy initially, shooting a below-par 104.6 in the opening series before she shot 106.1 in the next round.

Another ordinary 104.9 was followed by two successive 105.3 and a 105.7 which fetched her a dream entry into the final.

South Koreas Ban Hyojin smashed the Qualification Olympic Record (QOR) with a superb score of 634.5, eclipsing the previous mark of 632.9 set by Norways Jeanette Hegg in the Tokyo Games.

Elavenil, who had struggled following the Tokyo Games and could not enter the squad for the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, kept averaging a score of 10.5 throughout the qualifying round as she shot superb series of 105.8, 106.1, 104.4, 105.3, 105.3 but a rank poor final series of 103.8 saw her bowing out.

(With Agency Inputs)

Catch Paris Olympics 2024 Day 1 LIVE Updates Here. Stay updated with the latest from Paris Olympics 2024. Explore Paris Olympics 2024 events today. Check the updated list of medal tally for Paris Olympics 2024. Check Paris Olympics 2024 event results.
President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday congratulated Manu Bhaker for securing a bronze medal in the 10-meter air pistol event at the Paris Olympics, marking Indias first medal in shooting by a woman at the Olympics.

In a social media post on X, Murmu said, Heartiest congratulations to Manu Bhaker for opening Indias medal tally with her bronze medal in the 10 metre air pistol shooting event at the Paris Olympics. She is the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in a shooting competition. India is proud of Manu Bhaker. Her feat is going to inspire many sportspersons, especially women. I wish she scales greater heights of accomplishment in the future.

Heartiest congratulations to Manu Bhaker for opening Indias medal tally with her bronze medal in the 10 metre air pistol shooting event at the Paris Olympics. She is the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in a shooting competition. India is proud of Manu Bhaker. Her President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) July 28, 2024

Congratulating Bhakar for her win, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar also shared, Congratulations to Manu Bhaker on winning the bronze medal in the 10 metre Air Pistol shooting event in #ParisOlympics2024 . She not just opened the medal tally for India in Paris but also became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting.

Manu Bhakars achievement is going to inspire the countless young girls who aspire to raise Bharats tricolour at #Olympic podium, Dhankhar added.

Congratulations to Manu Bhaker on winning the bronze medal in the 10 metre Air Pistol shooting event in #ParisOlympics2024 . She not just opened the medal tally for India in Paris but also became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting.Manu Bhakars  Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) July 28, 2024

Bhakers bronze medal ends a 12-year wait for a shooting medal for India since Gagan Narang and Vijay Kumars successes at the 2012 London Olympics.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised Bhaker, noting her historic achievement. In a post on X, Modi wrote, A historic medal! Well done, @realmanubhaker, for winning Indias FIRST medal at #ParisOlympics2024! Congrats for the Bronze. This success is even more special as she becomes the 1st woman to win a medal in shooting for India. An incredible achievement!

A dream come true: Manu Bhaker

In her remarks after winning the medal, Bhaker posted on X, Bhakar in an X post, wrote Winning this medal is a dream come true, not just for me but for everyone who has supported me. I am deeply grateful to the NRAI, SAI, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Coach Jaspal Rana sir, Haryana government and OGQ. I dedicate this victory to my country for their incredible support and love.

With this medal, the 22-year-old Bhaker becomes the fifth Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal, joining RVS Rathore (2004), Abhinav Bindra (2008), Gagan Narang (2012), and Vijay Kumar (2012). This brings Indias total medal count in shooting at the Olympics to fiveone gold, two silver, and two bronze.
Central government schemes and the Lok Sabha elections were focus on the first day of chief ministers conclave chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two-day event is being attended by chief ministers and deputies of BJP-ruled states.

According to sources, Modi noted the efforts of the BJP-run governments to help different sections of society, especially the poor. He said on X, Our Party is working tirelessly to further good governance and fulfil the aspirations of the people.

The mukhyamantri parishad organised by the BJP at regular intervals is aimed at reviewing key schemes in states, following the best governance practices and the delivery of central government welfare initiatives.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath was among those who delivered a presentation. His topic was the digitisation of gram secretariats and its impact. His Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma also made a presentation on recruitment drive for government jobs while Bihar deputy CM Dr Vijay Sinha Bedis topic was how to curb illegal mining and its impact. N Biren Singh, the CM of strife-torn Manipur, attended this meeting after a year since ethnic clashes broke out in the northeastern state. He made a presentation on development projects.

Among other issues discussed during the Adityanaths presentation was the focus on how to make India the worlds third largest economy  a goal stressed upon by the prime minister time and again.

There was much emphasis on how to maximise the impact of the central government schemes in all states. The central leadership of the BJP told all the states once again to ensure that every last penny given to schemes should be implemented on the ground and no beneficiary should be left out.

Adityanath and his deputies, Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, were also present after not attending together a number of other meetings recently called in Uttar Pradesh. Sarma, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, Goa CM Pramod Sawant, Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini were among others present.

Along with the prime minister, BJP national president JP Nadda and Union home minister Amit Shah were also present at the meeting. On the second day, the focus will primarily be on political issues with upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday told chief ministers of the states ruled by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to ensure the efforts of the Centre are not diluted. The two-day meet concluded in the national capital on Sunday afternoon.

PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Party President JP Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with 13 CMs of Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states and five deputy CMs who are part of the government run by NDA, participated in the meeting. After the meeting, the convener of the PM-CM cell told the media that the focus of the discussion was governance, especially the implementation of the central governments schemes.

While PM Modi lauded the efforts of several CMs who were running different schemes in their states, such as a CM who spoke about the recruitment drive for government jobs, or Uttar Pradeshs focus on digitisation of gram panchayats, he said that giving people maximum benefits of the central schemes must be priority.

In the meeting, the PM said that it was important to implement the central governments schemes in various states in the same letter and spirit and not get diverted. He also said that people should not try to divert attention or dilute the efforts and therefore should not adulterate the intent with which the central government is trying to implement any scheme, a source aware of the development told News18.

There was also a discussion on reaching the target of making India the worlds third largest economy and becoming a $5-trillion economy. The party should not compromise on its culture, while keeping development as its focus, PM Modi is said to have told his colleagues.

The meeting also saw a presentation by Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on the national education policy and how all state governments need to work on war footing to ensure its implementation.

There was also a programme for all leaders present to listen to Mann Ki Baat by PM Modi.
BEIJING, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held multiple high-profile events in Pyongyang Saturday to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the country's victory in the Fatherland Liberation War. Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, was in attendance, state media said Sunday.

A meeting with the war veterans was held in the DPRK capital on Saturday, featuring a major speech by Ri Il Hwan, member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, and oath-taking speeches by representatives from the Korean People's Army, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

During the speech, Ri paid high tribute to the martyrs who had fallen in the war for defending the country and extended heartfelt thanks and best wishes to the war veterans, the KCNA said.

On Saturday evening, Pyongyang also hosted a commemorative march featuring symbolic columns of military units from the Fatherland Liberation War and a grand performance celebrating the war victory, KCNA report. 
The Pentagon and World Trade Centre reported a terrorist attack during the early hours of September 11, 2001. The event is still remembered as the worst act of terrorism in the history of the USA. Three planes crashed into the three buildings, one after the other, killing almost 3,000 people.

Live footage of the second plane crash, which occurred soon after the first plane struck the Twin Towers, was captured by several TV stations and by public viewers. Nearly 23 years have passed since then, and viewers claim that a man, Kei Sugimoto, posted a video of the incident on YouTube from an unseen angle."

He uploaded the footage and added in the description, Footage I filmed of the World Trade Centre collapsing on 9/11/2001. Filmed from the roof of 64 St Marks Place in NYC on a Sony VX2000 with a teleconverter."

Sugimoto stated why he waited 22 years to publish the clip. He claimed to have discovered crates full of Hi-8, Digital-8 and DV cassettes while organising the closet. He discovered that about a third of them had demagnetised over the years and were either blank or had significant data distortion when he attempted to play them again.

Sugimento claimed to have studied online and discovered that even in the best of storage environments, video cassettes might deteriorate with time. And then he began the process of digitising them. Thus Im just uploading the video now."

A user commented, Wow, crazy this was released almost 23 years later! Makes you wonder how many other unreleased videos there are! Thanks for sharing this!"

Another user said, That footage was WOW. I got shivers. It was such a sad day, and I was only a kid when it happened."

Crazy how theres probably more new" unseen footage out there in someones storage or attic," read another comment.

The then US President George W Bush was notified by the Central Intelligence Agency that Al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, was responsible for the attacks, according to the Counterterrorism Centers analysis.

Al-Qaeda claimed that sanctions on Iraq, US military outposts in Saudi Arabia and US backing for Israel as reasons for their actions.
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs didnt just shape the tech world with his innovations, he also left a personal yet cryptic email written to himself in 2010  a year before his demise. The email, shared publicly by his widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, on the Steve Jobs Archive website, sheds light on his thoughts during his final years. The tech legend was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003 and battled the disease for eight long years before passing away at the age of 56 in October 2011. In the email, Jobs shared his thoughts on humanity, his personal struggles and concerns about his health. The entrepreneur had also expressed feeling helpless to help himself survive.

Jobs wrote, I grow little of the food I eat, and of the little I do grow, I did not breed or perfect the seeds. I do not make any of my own clothing. I speak a language I did not invent or refine. I did not discover the mathematics I use. I am protected by freedoms and laws I did not conceive of or legislate, and do not enforce or adjudicate. I am moved by music I did not create myself.

When I needed medical attention, I was helpless to help myself survive. I did not invent the transistor, the microprocessor, object oriented programming, or most of the technology I work with. I love and admire my species, living and dead, and am totally dependent on them for my life and well-being, he added. The email concluded with the classic Apple message, Sent from my iPad.

Steve Jobs emails himself a year before he died pic.twitter.com/8w7hetRkx6 Madni Aghadi (@hey_madni) July 25, 2024

Over the years, several more emails from Steve Jobs have surfaced online, revealing interesting details about his work. Among them was a hint that Apple was once planning to launch a smaller version of their mobile device, known as the iPhone Nano. While going through emails from the Apple vs Epic lawsuit, The Verge found a message where Jobs discussed working on Nano.

The email included a bullet point specifically mentioning the iPhone nano plan. It also had two subpoints  one about the cost goals for the device, and another simply stated, Jony, referring to Apples former Chief Designer Jony Ive, who probably was supposed to present the model or design of the Nano.

Steve Jobs founded Apple with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne on April 1, 1976 in California.
King Charles and Prince William were involved in a dispute earlier this year concerning the safety of flying by helicopter, according to a new book.

In the book Catherine, The Princess of Wales, royal expert Robert Jobson details how King Charles expressed concerns to his son, Prince William, about using his helicopter to fly his entire familyKate Middleton and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louisacross the country. This issue reportedly led to a tense disagreement between the father and son.

The book, set to be released soon, reveals that Charles, grappling with his own mortality following his cancer diagnosis announced in February, became increasingly worried about the safety implications of William and his young family.

The King, 75, insisted that William sign a formal document, acknowledging the risks involved and taking full responsibility for his actions, The Daily Mail reported.

After being diagnosed with cancer, King Charles  perhaps reminded of his own mortality echoed his late mothers concerns. And when William refused to stop flying with his family, Charles insisted that he sign a formal document, acknowledging the risks involved and taking full responsibility for his actions, Jobson writes.

King Charles concerns mirrored those of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who had previously advised Prince William, a seasoned pilot with experience in the Royal Air Forces Search and Rescue Force, against making helicopter trips with his family.

Jobsons book revealed that William had previously defied similar warnings from Queen Elizabeth. However, the Queen did not hesitate to express her disapproval, influenced by past trauma. Her concern was partly due to the 1967 helicopter crash that killed her flight captain, which left her haunted by the event.

William had upset the late Queen when he defied her request not to pilot his family the 115 miles from Kensington Palace to Anmer Hall, their home in Norfolk. The Queen, haunted by the 1967 crash that killed the Captain of the Queens Flight (although no royals were on board), did not hold back, Jobson wrote.
Amid criticism of a tableau reminiscent of the Last Supper, which was presented by drag queens at the opening ceremony, an American telecommunications company pulled its advertising from the Paris Olympics saying it is shocked by the mockery of Christianity.

We were shocked by the mockery of the Last Supper during the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics. C Spire will be pulling our advertising from the Olympics, the company said in a post on X.

We were shocked by the mockery of the Last Supper during the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics. C Spire will be pulling our advertising from the Olympics. C Spire (@CSpire) July 27, 2024

C Spire is the sixth-largest wireless provider in the US. Mississippi governor Tate Reeves said he is proud that the private sector is taking a stand when it comes to such issues. I am proud to see the private sector in Mississippi step up and put their foot down. God will not be mocked. C Spire drew a common-sense, appropriate line, he said in a post on X.

I am proud to see the private sector in Mississippi step up and put their foot down. God will not be mocked. C Spire drew a common-sense, appropriate line. https://t.co/R38yJye97I Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) July 27, 2024

In an unprecedented display of inclusivity, drag queens took centre stage at the opening ceremony, showcasing the vibrant and influential role of the French LGBTQ+ community. But, they also attracted widespread criticism over the tableau that was a scene that seemed to evoke Leonardo da Vincis The Last Supper. It featured the drag queens and other performers in a configuration reminiscent of Jesus Christ and his apostles. This segment drew significant attention  and mixed reactions.

Held along the Seine River, the spectacular four-hour event featured global stars such as Celine Dion and Lady Gaga, both considered queer icons. The ceremony blended historic and modern French culture with a touch of kitsch, culminating in a flotilla of barges carrying thousands of Olympians.

Nicky Doll, known for competing on the 12th season of RuPauls Drag Race and hosting Drag Race France, took part in a high-octane fashion runway segment along with Season 1 winner Paloma, Season 3s Piche, and Giselle Palmer. Initially, they stood alongside the runway, gazing fiercely at the strutting models. Later, they joined in, showcasing their own style.

Le Filip, the recent winner of Drag Race France expressed their positive surprise and pride at the ceremonys scale and representation. I thought it would be a five-minute drag event with queer representation. I was amazed. It started with Lady Gaga, then we had drag queens, a huge rave, and a fire in the sky, they said. It felt like a crowning all over again. I am proud to see my friends and queer people on the world stage.

The (French) government knows what its doing. They want to show themselves in the best way possible. They showed no restraints in expression, Le Filip told The Associated Press.

On the other hand, prominent far-right politician Marion Marechal denounced the performance on social media. To all the Christians of the world who are watching the Paris 2024 ceremony and felt insulted by this drag queen parody of the Last Supper, know that it is not France that is speaking but a left-wing minority ready for any provocation, she posted on X, a sentiment that was echoed by religious conservatives internationally.

 because decapitating Habsburgs and ridiculising central Christian events are really the FIRST two things that spring to mind when you think of #OlympicGames, Eduard Habsburg, Hungarys ambassador to the Vatican, posted on X, also referencing a scene depicting the beheading of Marie Antoinette.

Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony, afterward drew attention away from The Last Supper references, saying that had not been his intention.
Apostle Andrew Wutawunashe, the Founder and Overseer of Family of God Church (FOG) has told a SADC Summit breakfast prayer meeting held in Masvingo on Thursday that there is no hunger in Zimbabwe and accused citizens of being cry-babies who complain about everything and blow things out of proportion.

He added that the country has no economic refugees and described over nine million citizens who have run into the Diaspora as skilled expatriate workers imparting their critical knowledge in the host countries.

Apostle Wutawunashe described Zimbabwe as one of the most economically progressive nations in the region. Indigenous churches, bishops and prophets are pampered with money and vehicles by the Zanu PF Government with some receiving as much as US$1 million in what analysts see as an intricate patronage system.

The church leaders remarks come at a time when the country is facing one of the most debilitating droughts in living memory caused by El Nino with an estimated six million people that were expected to be food insecure during 2024-2025 lean season (January to March) according to the World Food Program (WFP) and Gov going around the World bowl in hand begging for food.

Wutawunashe who is chairman of the Zimbabwe Indigenous Interdenominational Council of Churches (ZIICC) and Faith for the Nation Campaign said this at the organisations prayer meeting held and attended by more than 60 delegates at Flamboyant, a Regency Group hotel.

Minister of State for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira was the guest of honour. He stood in for the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador Frederick Shava and the meeting was sponsored by ZICC and FANA.

When people look at Zimbabwe, they are always complaining especially us Zimbabweans. We are ever complaining that our country has hunger, its not true. You can ask the likes of Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi who travels to all countries in Southern Africa, he will tell you Zimbabwe is a prosperous country.

Our citizens have migrated to SADC countries and the truth is that they are not going there to seek greener pastures or to beg, but to uplift those countries with skills that we possess as Zimbabweans. The knowledge that we are imparting to SADC is the opportunity given (sic) to the nation and the President Emmerson Mnangagwa by God to pass to other SADC countries, said Wutawunashe.

Objectives of the meeting included praying for a conducive, peaceful and harmonious atmosphere for the 44th SADC Summit to be held in Harare on August 17 and wisdom and power to SADC state leaders to operate in oneness as they deliberate on the agenda of integrating Southern African nations.

The SADC Summit will take place under the theme, Promoting Innovation to unlock Opportunities for Sustainable Economic Growth and Development towards an Industrialised SADC.

We pray for President that God will grant him wisdom as well as the cooperation of his peers that will enable him to lead SADC in the same visionary spirit which is enabling him to lead Zimbabwe. We call upon the people of Zimbabwe to be awakened and understand that this SUMMIT and imminent chairmanship of SADC is a God given opportune visitation, he said.

ZIICC patron and Zion Christian Church (ZCC) leader Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi said it is the prayer of churches that God grants SADC leaders wisdom in their deliberations. SADC is going to benefit immensely from Zimbabwes leadership. SADCs focus after all countries became independent shifted to economic development. The Southern African Development Growth Co-ordination Committee consists of 16 member nations, said Chadzamira. Masvingo Mirror
Yet another province is saying President Mnangagwa must stay on for a third term. Mashonaland East province held a provincial inter-district conference in Goromonzi, where it was agreed that the President must stay on.

After seeing the positive results in terms of developments that are being done across the whole province, we agreed as a province that President Mnangagwa should stay. Each district is being developed, from Nyamapanda to Chikomba, there is development. Yes, President Mnangagwa said in Mutare that he will rest after his second term, but we are now appealing to him; we are persuading him to stay beyond 2028.

We are sending you Cde Machacha to our President; please tell him that your children in Mashonaland East province are asking you to stay in office beyond 2028. Tell him that we want him to be with us till 2030, as the First Secretary for Zanu PF, as the President of our party and as the President of Zimbabwe, said chairperson, Daniel Garwe.
YANGON, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar police have seized 12,800 kg of controlled chemicals ammonium nitrate in Shan state of eastern Myanmar, according to the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, the country's anti-narcotics police searched a 12- wheeler vehicle in Tachileik township of Shan state on Thursday and confiscated the chemicals.

The seized drugs had a street value of 256 million kyats (about 120,000 U.S. dollars), the CCDAC said.

Three suspects involved in the case have been charged under the related law and further investigation is underway, it said. 
In Colombia's fabled fight against Pablo Escobar's hippos, it seems safe to say the hippos are winning. For now. Writing at Smithsonian, Joshua Hammer lays out the numbers: Maybe four were left behind when authorities shot the drug lord dead in 1993 and took over his propertyincluding his menagerie of exotic animalsoutside the town of Doradal. Today, nobody is quite sure how many roam near the rivers of the Magdalena Basin, but the official government count is about 170, and that seems conservative. Biologists estimate the population will reach 1,400 by 2040 if left unchecked. Accounts of run-ins with humans are percolating with more regularity in local media accounts, and that's not the only issue. "If I lived in Colombia, I would be worried," Rebecca Lewison, an ecologist at San Diego State University's Coastal and Marine Institute, tells Hammer.
Maria Corina Machado has hiked overpasses, walked highways, ridden motorcycles, sought shelter in supporters' homes, and seen her closest collaborators detained and persecuted as she has crisscrossed Venezuela. The ruling party has blocked Machado from running in Sunday's hotly contested presidential election, but fueled by that ban, she has become the driving force for the main opposition coalition and a symbol of perseverance for millions of Venezuelans, per the AP . Machado, once a political outcast, is their freedom fighter and the main threat to President Nicolas Maduro's reelection aspirations. Though she herself is not on the ballot, she is backing the main opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, in Sunday's vote.

Supporters scream "Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!" as the 56-year-old mother of three arrives at rallies and while she speaks, some overwhelmed to the point of tears. The thousands-strong crowds include opponents of the self-professed socialist revolution that Maduro's predecessor began at the turn of the century, as well as voters who supported those ideals but abandoned them because of Venezuela's ongoing crisis. As the AP details in a profile, Machado's road to leadership has been long and winding. The industrial engineer and daughter of a steel magnate began challenging the ruling party in 2004, when the non-governmental organization she co-founded, Sumate, promoted a referendum to recall then-President Hugo Chavez.

The initiative failed, and Machado and other Sumate executives were charged with conspiracy. A year later, she drew the anger of Chavez and his allies again for traveling to Washington to meet President George W. Bush in the Oval Office. Chavez considered Bush an adversary. She formally entered the political arena in 2010 when she was elected to a seat in the National Assembly, receiving more votes than any aspiring lawmaker ever. It was from this position that she boldly interrupted Chavez as he addressed the legislature and called his expropriation of businesses theft. "An eagle does not hunt a fly," he responded. The exchange is seared in voters' memories.

story continues below

Machado is a "symbol of resistance to the regime," said Michael Shifter, an academic and former president of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington-based think tank. Her efforts to challenge the ruling party have earned her the admiration of many voters who see her as the "instrument for a transformation in Venezuela," Shifter said. Read the full profile.

(More Venezuela stories.)
In the end, the highly anticipated Ariarne Titmus-Katie Ledecky rematch wasn't close. The Australian star and defending champion won the gold medal in swimming's 400-meter freestyle at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, with Ledecky taking the bronze. Canada's Summer McIntosh earned silver, NBC News reports. Ledecky had won the event in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 before losing to Titmus in 2020. "I would like to have been faster, so just a little disappointed that I could not bring my best today," Ledecky said. "But a medal is a medal."

Titmus' time was 3 minutes, 57.49 seconds, McIntosh's 3:58.37, and Ledecky's 4:00.86, per the AP. Titmus said her previous victories helped her win her third gold medal Saturday. "I know what it takes to be an Olympic Champion," she said. "The noise and atmosphere and village life definitely makes performing well hard, but I'm really happy to come out on top." Titmus said she and Ledecky get along well outside the pool: "I definitely don't see my rivalry with her in anything but racing." (More 2024 Paris Olympics stories.)
Edna O'Brien, Ireland's literary pride and outlaw who scandalized her native land with her debut novel The Country Girls before gaining international acclaim as a storyteller and iconoclast that found her welcomed from Dublin to the White House, has died. She was 93. A statement by her publisher Faber and the literary agency PFD said O'Brien died Saturday after a long illness, the AP reports. Calling O'Brien "a defiant and courageous spirit," Faber said in a statement that "the vitality of her prose was a mirror of her zest for life: she was the very best company, kind, generous, mischievous, brave."

O'Brien published more than 20 books, most of them novels and story collections, and would know fully what she called the "extremities of joy and sorrow, love, crossed love and unrequited love, success and failure, fame and slaughter." Few so concretely and poetically challenged Ireland's religious, sexual and gender boundaries. Few wrote so fiercely, so sensually about loneliness, rebellion, desire, and persecution. "O'Brien is attracted to taboos just as they break, to the place of greatest heat and darkness and, you might even say, danger to her mortal soul," Booker Prize winner Anne Enright wrote in the Guardian in 2012. A world traveler in mind and body, O'Brien was as likely to imagine the longings of an Irish nun as to take in a man's "boyish smile" in the midst of a "ponderous London club."

She befriended movie stars and heads of states while writing sympathetically about Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and meeting with women farmworkers in Nigeria who feared abduction by Boko Haram. O'Brien was an unknown living with her husband and two small children outside London when The Country Girls made her Ireland's most notorious exile since James Joyce. Written in three weeks and published in 1960, The Country Girls follows two young women, Caithleen (Kate) Brady and Bridget (Baba) Brennan, from a rural convent to the adventures of Dublin. Admirers were as caught up in their defiance and awakening as would-be censors were enraged by such passages as "He opened his braces and let his trousers slip down around the ankles," and "He patted my knees with his other hand. I was excited and warm and violent."

story continues below

Fame, wanted or otherwise, was O'Brien's ever after. Her novel was praised and purchased in London and New York while back in Ireland it was labeled "filth" by the minister of justice and burned publicly in O'Brien's hometown of Tuamgraney, County Clare. Detractors included O'Brien's parents and her husband, author Ernest Gebler, from whom O'Brien was already becoming estranged. She continued the stories of Kate and Baba in The Lonely Girl and Girls in Their Married Bliss. She said people in Ireland were courteous to her face "but slanderous behind her back," per the Irish Times. Her treatment there changed as younger Irish writers embraced O'Brien's work. "I am seen as a genteel romantic writer," she once said. "But the reality is I am a savage writer with a savage eye. I write about the things we are not supposed to speak about."

(More obituary stories.)
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

The development of roads in blocks 421 and 423 in Jidhafs has reached the halfway mark in the first phase of the project, according to Engineer Ahmed AlTajir, Assistant Undersecretary for Roads at the Ministry of Works. He mentioned this as part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to enhance infrastructure across Bahrain's governorates.

AlTajir explained that the project will cater to 200 homes and properties, aiming to smooth out the movement of residents and visitors. It will also help to manage traffic flow and increase capacity. The work includes the removal of old asphalt, laying of backfill, and resurfacing with new asphalt, covering a total distance of 1.3 kilometres.

The project also involves the construction of a rainwater drainage network, the relocation of existing underground utilities, and the installation of new lighting poles in coordination with the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA). Additionally, traffic safety measures will be implemented, including the installation of traffic signs and the painting of road lines to ensure safety for all road users.

The project, with a value of 457,825 Bahraini dinars, was awarded by the Tender Board to JAHECON W.L.L.
China and US spar over alarmingly contentious South China Sea issues at Laos talks

China and US spar over alarmingly contentious South China Sea issues at Laos talks

AFP | Vientiane, Laos

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

The top diplomats of China and the US sparred yesterday over the South China Sea, where Beijing is locked in a territorial dispute with US treaty ally the Philippines.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi met on the sidelines of a foreign ministers meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Laos.

The US hailed the meeting as open and productive, after Blinken had criticised Beijings escalatory and unlawful actions in the South China Sea.

Chinese and Filipino ships have clashed in the waterway, fuelling fears of a conflict that could drag in the US due to its mutual defence treaty with Manila.

Flames

The US should refrain from fanning the flames, stirring up trouble and undermining stability at sea, Wang said at the meeting, according to a foreign ministry statement.

The risks and challenges facing China-US relations are still rising, he said. Blinken also raised US concerns about provocative actions by China, including a simulated blockade of Taiwan following the May inauguration of President Lai Ching-te. China claims the democratic island as its territory and slammed Lais inauguration speech as confession of independence.

Whenever the promoters of Taiwanese independence will make a provocation, we will respond with a countermeasure, Wang said, according to Beijings foreign ministry.

Concerns

During the meeting, which a State Department official said lasted one hour and twenty minutes, Blinken also raised US concerns over Chinas support for Russia as it wages war in Ukraine.

The two had had not arranged another meeting. Beijing claims the South China Sea - through which trillions of dollars of trade passes annually - almost in its entirety despite an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

A Filipino sailor lost a thumb in the latest June 17 confrontation when Chinese coast guard members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy resupply attempt.

Deal

Yesterday, Manila said it had successfully resupplied troops on the Second Thomas Shoal - the focus of clashes in recent months - under a deal agreed with Beijing.

According to a Chinese foreign ministry statement released later, Wang said the deal was a temporary arrangement... to manage the situation, without giving details.

On Friday, Wang called on the Philippines to honour its commitments under the deal rather than backtracking or creating complications, warning Beijing would respond resolutely to any violation.

Warning

Wang also warned the Philippines over deploying a US medium-range missile system on its soil, saying it would create tension and confrontation in the region and trigger an arms race.

The US Army said in April it had deployed the Mid-Range Capability missile system in the northern Philippines for annual joint military exercises. Philippines military officials later said the system would be removed from the country.
LJUBLJANA, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Slovenia's air connectivity ranks among the lowest in Europe, according to the Airports Council International (ACI) in its annual Connectivity report.

The report highlights that Europe's overall air connectivity remains 14 percent lower in June 2024 than pre-pandemic levels in June 2019.

"This year's report shows that air connectivity should not be taken for granted. Four years have passed since the onset of the pandemic, yet air connectivity levels have still not fully recovered," Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI Europe, noted in the report.

Slovenia's air connectivity is 29 percent lower than five years ago, placing it in a worse position than any other European Union member state except for Sweden and Finland. However, the country's air connectivity improved by 6 percent compared to June 2023.

On the list of total air connectivity, Slovenia is second to last among European Union countries, ahead of Slovakia. Ljubljana Airport, operated by German transport company Fraport, offers regular flights to 23 cities, including Athens, Brussels, Dubai, Frankfurt, London, Munich, Paris, Tel Aviv, Warsaw, and Zurich. Despite this, many Slovenians prefer using airports in neighboring Italy, Austria, and Croatia for cheaper flights.

To enhance air connectivity, the Slovenian government has offered subsidies to air carriers establishing direct routes to Slovenia, totaling 16.8 million euros (18.26 U.S. dollars) until 2025. Currently, flights to Luxembourg, Riga, Madrid, and Copenhagen are being subsidized.

Slovenia has had no national air carrier since state-owned Adria Airways was sold to German investment fund 4K Invest in 2016 and declared bankrupt in 2019. 
Perhaps its a lesson in not naming buildings in tribute to people who are still alive.

In the wake of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendezs corruption conviction earlier this month, West New York school district officials will remove his name from an elementary school before kids return to school in September.
Jersey City is aiming to cash in on the risky and speculative cryptocurrency market by investing a piece of the citys pension fund.

While referred to as a currency, crypto is a digital asset that many see as the future of investment and spending across the world, even if few business currently accept it as payment.

The term crypto is derived from the encryption technology that makes the digital asset secure.

Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency to be developed and has become the most notable and lucrative of the crypto market. The price of publicly traded Bitcoin hovered around $67,400 Friday, more than double its price last year and over 600% more than five years ago.

Mayor Steve Fulop in a social media post the city is updating paperwork to the Securities and Exchange Commission to allocate a percentage of the citys pension fund into a Bitcoin Exchange-traded Fund (ETF).

An ETF allows investors to put their money in a managed fund that invests in numerous securities like stocks and bonds. It saves the investor time from looking into singular stocks or bonds.

The question on whether crypto/Bitcoin is here to stay is largely over and crypto/Bitcoin won, the three-time mayor and gubernatorial candidate said on X. Ive been a long-time believer (through ups/downs) in crypto but broadly, beyond crypto, I do believe blockchain is amongst the most important new technology innovations since the internet.

Not my normal subject matter in a post but Ill share anyway - the question on whether Crypto/Bitcoin is here to stay is largely over + crypto/Bitcoin won. The #JerseyCity pension fund is in process of updating paperwork to the SEC to allocate % of the fund to Bitcoin ETFs https://t.co/5iNEqRqHGM  Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop) July 25, 2024

Fulop worked for the Wall Street investment banking firm Goldman Sachs before enlisting in the Marine Corps after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Fulop was first elected mayor in 2013.

The move follows the state of Wisconsin, which invested 2% of its state pension fund in a Bitcoin ETF.

City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione could not be reached for comment. It is unclear how much the city will invest in Bitcoin ETFs or why the city is jumping in now, 17 months before the mayor, leaves office.

The Jersey City pension fund is the retirement fund for city employees, with the exception of city firefighters and police officers, who are members of the state pension fund.

Two professors told The Jersey Journal investing in the crypto market is risky, since its worth is based on what another person is willing to pay. Crypto is not like purchasing stock in Verizon, a telecommunication company with a revenue stream and a customer base that determines its worth.

Calling crypto completely speculative, Dennis Rafferty, a finance and economics professor at St. Peters University in Jersey City, says All financial assets and investments come with a degree of uncertainty.  The only thing that makes cryptocurrency worth anything is because you believe you can sell it to the next person for a value higher than you bought it.

There is a reason why pensions are always invested in the safest of assets because you know companies like say Verizon and Goldman Sachs are going to be around 30 years  Can anybody tell anyone with certainty that cryptocurrency will be around in five years?

John Donnellan, a global business professor and chairman of the Management Department inside New Jersey City Universitys School of Business, says the mayor has diminished risk to the city by investing in an ETF, which is regulated.

Donnellan says buying into an ETF is a smart way to diversify investments and provide a nice bump for the pension without a potential large loss. He said people are attracted to Bitcoin because it is a non-sovereign nation currency regulated by the people.

The way I look at crypto ETF, just remove the word crypto, if I put energy or water ETF, who cares? said Donnellan. Nobody would mention anything. The minute you put in the word crypto there is a fear of the unknown because it is still not fully understood.
By Josh Bauers

Families in New Jersey are currently facing two interconnected challenges: historic levels of income inequality and an unprecedented housing affordability crisis. Soaring housing costs have made it extremely difficult for many hard-working people and vulnerable communities  including seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers  to keep a roof over their heads.

Fortunately, this year New Jersey took a major step toward addressing this issue by enacting a major new law that will significantly increase the supply of affordable housing.

Under the landmark Mount Laurel Doctrine  based on a series of New Jersey Supreme Court decisions rooted in economic justice  every municipality in the state is required to provide its fair share of affordable housing. The new state law that passed earlier this year strengthens the Mount Laurel framework by streamlining the affordable housing development process. The updated framework increases transparency and efficiency, while also safeguarding towns discretion in deciding how they want to fulfill their fair share obligation.

Since the inception of the Mount Laurel Doctrine, municipalities have claimed that it takes away their ability to choose what is right for their town  but this couldnt be further from the truth. The system is actually designed to do the opposite. Municipalities have a wide variety of options and significant latitude in deciding how they meet their affordable housing obligations. Towns only lose their ability to be in control of the process when they refuse to allow any affordable housing and instead obfuscate the entire process.

Enforcement is thus essential. Most towns do cooperate with the process  they build their fair share and get to decide how to do that in a way that works best for them. Other towns, however, opt for the more difficult path, attempting to undermine affordable housing and the Mount Laurel Doctrine every step of the way.

Wealthy towns like Millburn, which have resisted affordable housing for decades, demonstrate why enforcement is crucial to safeguard affordable housing for New Jerseys low-income residents.

Millburn officials have defied multiple court orders to move forward with the development of a 75-unit, 100% affordable housing complex a short walk away from the towns downtown area and NJ Transit station. In April, the Millburn Township Committee even voted unanimously to pull out of the project completely, a clear violation of their fair share obligation.

But at a hearing on July 10, Superior Court Judge Cynthia Santomauro ordered the town to adopt the redevelopment agreement within one month. If town officials fail to do so, the judge will adopt it for them  or start fining the town until they adopt it.

As a proud son of South Orange & Essex County,    to @FairShareNJ for keeping up the effort - and the judge for deciding - to ensure Millburn ultimately fulfills its constitutional obligation and responsibility to build affordable housing. https://t.co/4Jfv9hyve4  Brandon J. McKoy (@Brandon_McKoy) April 17, 2024

In Colts Neck, a similar situation is unfolding, with town officials wasting an inordinate amount of taxpayer dollars on litigation attempting to dodge their affordable housing obligations. This money could have been spent on sewer infrastructure upgrades and other priorities. Ironically, town officials  who never seem to oppose luxury housing developments  are now using the strain on infrastructure as an excuse to not build affordable housing. But they brought this on themselves by refusing to plan for it in advance.

Thankfully, Millburn and Colts Neck are outliers. Their neighbors have built a lot of affordable housing  towns like Livingston, West Orange, South Orange, Aberdeen and Tinton Falls are running laps while they refuse to budge from the starting line.

We have seen firsthand the benefits of integrated communities in our state. The families that live in affordable developments have seen increases in wages, better physical and mental health outcomes, and increased college attendance. Meanwhile, the surrounding residents continue to experience stable taxes, low crime rates, and high property values.

Thats the thing about affordable housing: it doesnt just improve the lives of its residents  it improves everyones lives. On the other hand, housing shortages are damaging to the fabric of our society, leading to reduced labor mobility and significant declines in overall economic growth.

Since 2015, when the New Jersey Supreme Court reinvigorated the Mount Laurel Doctrine, New Jersey is producing more new multifamily housing than ever before creating nearly 70,000 new homes over the last eight years. Much of this new housing is close to public transportation and redevelops older office parks or shopping centers that are no longer viable  thus cutting down on pollution by making towns more walkable.

With climate change already baked into New Jerseys future, municipalities should be prioritizing sensible and equitable growth, redevelopment, and infrastructure investments to foster healthy, resilient communities. Instead of flushing taxpayer dollars down the drain fighting affordable housing, local policymakers should invest in infrastructure that will benefit their towns for generations to come.

Josh Bauers is director of exclusionary zoning litigation at Fair Share Housing Center.

Home rule, the housing crisis, and segregation | Moran https://t.co/DTX7PVvHWm  njdotcom (@njdotcom) February 6, 2024

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
State taxpayers send over a billion dollars a year in school aid to Newark, and more and more evidence suggests that the district is wasting large sums of it.

The latest is its costly decision, with the states help, to open a new elementary school in an area of the city where the existing elementary schools were already underenrolled.

For some reason, the Murphy administration supported the move, giving Newark the money it needed to win the building over top charter schools that also put in bids. Was the real purpose here to block the development of a charter school? That would fit with Superintendent Roger Leons long record of hostility to the charters, even though children there are performing much better on average than in district schools.

The competition also drove up the price to $15.5 million, after the state initially appraised the building at $8.5 million in 2022. Now, like some of its neighboring elementary schools in the Central ward, the new Nelson Mandela school has relatively few students, with a 7 to 1 student teacher ratio, according to the Newark Enrolls database.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city and in other districts like Elizabeth, students are crammed into badly overcrowded classrooms. From a statewide perspective, what sense does it make to make this purchase the priority?

If Leon wants to take on charter schools, he doesnt need to sabotage them. He could instead offer Newark families a better alternative by improving district schools.

Your best selling point is a good product, as Newark Councilman Anibal Ramos says. I think if the district is in a position where its offering good educational options for parents, theyre going to choose traditional Newark schools versus charters.

Leons hostility to charters is an expensive indulgence. Take the case where he went to court in a failed attempt to claw back the sale of a building that was being used by a charter school; one the district had previously sold to a developer for $1.2 million. The city ended up spending more than $2.1 million on lawyers in that pointless fight, and a related case in which it tried to claw back another building it had sold off years ago for $650,000.

And it lost in court, with a judge calling the districts case against the charter school a shameful use of tax dollars.

So why is the Murphy administration collaborating with Newark school officials to further undercut charters and waste more money like this?

An email exchange between the district and Schools Development Authority (SDA), obtained by Tapinto through a public records request, provides a clue. Among the bidders for the building was North Star, a high-performing charter network that had finally been granted 492 new seats by the Murphy administration after a long fight to expand, and over the objection of Newarks superintendent.

The districts business administrator, Valerie Wilson, wrote to the states school construction chief, Manuel Da Silva, to lament that North Star won approval for so many new seats, calling it a real nightmare. Da Silva replied, Wow thats a significant increase. Then his agency proceeded to muscle out North Star and other charter schools for the building, apparently.

Did somebody call up and ask for this favor from the SDA, a notorious patronage pit? We dont know. The district denies that this was about blocking a charter, and we got no answer of substance from the SDA. But it reeks of politics, rather than good sense.

Newark families rank schools by preference under the citys universal enrollment system, and it appears theyre not flocking to the Central ward. The superintendent argues that the ten new schools hes opened  including several in this ward  arent underenrolled, just growing gradually by adding one grade per year.

But in fact, many are losing kids in almost all their grade level cohorts, Tapinto reported last year, after reviewing enrollment data that the district submitted to the state for the six new schools for which it was available.

While these schools grew in overall size each year because they were adding a grade, almost every existing grade shrunk as kids left, Tapinto found. Three of the new schools also spent time under state oversight for poor performance. And if Newark schools are in such demand, then why is the district paying a Memphis headhunter nearly $900 for each child it can find to enroll, according to a contract approved by the school board in June?

Its unclear why Leon is opening all these new schools at a time when he has excess capacity in many of his other schools. The per pupil costs of the citys underenrolled schools are extremely high, Ramos noted  in some cases, more than double what it costs per student in other Newark schools. Malcolm X Shabazz High School, for instance, is half empty and costs more than $33,000 per pupil to run, state data shows.

Some schools in the East ward, on the other hand, have double the number of kids that theyre supposed to. Every public school in the East Ward continues to be overcrowded, East Ward Councilman Michael Silva told us, calling it morally reprehensible that the area hasnt been prioritized. When we couple this with the shortage in several teaching areas (math, science, ESL) I have been told of some cases of 40 students in a classroom! he wrote.

Schools are overcrowded in pockets of the North ward, too. But the district seems more focused on fighting for buildings in the wards where there are the most charter schools.

The district wastes money in smaller ways as well. It has sent staffers and school board members to a host of sunny places like Palm Springs, Orlando, Puerto Rico, Last Vegas, San Diego, New Orleans and Honolulu for conferences. It also sought to spend more than $4 million to create a museum, while a majority of Newark third graders cant read  and while its recovery from the pandemic is among the worst in the state, trailing other low-income cities like Camden, Elizabeth and Jersey City, and across the river, Philadelphia.

The district has not recovered from the impact of COVID yet, while other districts around the state and the country are making substantial progress, Ramos noted. We still have a long way to go, so every dollars precious. And how you decide to invest those resources matters.

Do children benefit when the state spends millions to block a successful charter school, while other schools and districts are desperately waiting years for decent buildings? No. Thats about politics, not kids. And its a waste for state taxpayers, too.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
If youre looking at problems down below the border, a quote from the late Jimmy Buffett is always in order.

This citation from his 1995 album Barometer Soup sums it up quite nicely:
ANKARA, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish military has neutralized a total of 16 "terrorists" in operations in northern Iraq and northern Syria, the country's Defense Ministry said Sunday.

The Turkish forces killed 11 members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Hakurk, Gara and Asos regions in northern Iraq, said the ministry in a statement, without specifying the time frame of the operations.

Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" in their statements to imply the "terrorists" in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

In a separate operation in northern Syria, the Turkish forces "neutralized" five members of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the ministry said in a statement.

The Turkish army launched Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016, Operation Olive Branch in 2018, Operation Peace Spring in 2019, and Operation Spring Shield in 2020 in northern Syria to create a YPG-free zone along its border with the neighboring country.

Turkiye sees the YPG group as the PKK's Syrian branch.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades. 
Im no fan of Sen. Bob Menendez, but my older brother went to prison for four years on drug charges, and once you see someone you love sink that low, you cant celebrate a moment like this. With his recent conviction on corruption charges, the senator will likely end his days behind bars.

I even had one sympathetic thought: Menendez began his career as a reformer, winning his first election at age 19 and taking a seat on the Union City school board at age 20, setting a record.

He made a name for himself in 1982, at age 28, when he testified against his political mentor, Union City Mayor Bill Musto, in a federal trial centered on a mob-connected construction project at a local school. Menendez wore a bullet-proof vest for a month before and after the trial, fearing for his life.

And that was not for show. He had testified against several players in Mustos administration, along with two mob figures. A few years earlier, a judge in town had been assassinated as he arrived at work, a crime that remains unsolved.

Donald Scarinci, an attorney and power broker who grew up with Menendez and remains close, remembers the trial. Musto and the people indicted with him were mob figures, Scarinci says. Bob had death threats. He had rocks thrown into his windows. He wore a bullet-proof vest because he had to. These were real bad guys.

So how did Menendez get from there to here? How did the young man who risked his life to help the FBI clean up Union City morph into the corrupt old man we know today, with cash and gold bars hidden in a closet? Why does this happen so often in Hudson County?

Maybe its something in the water. Maybe its a curse. But Im guessing its history, a mindset passed down from one machine politician to the next, one that tends to thrive in Democratic strongholds, but especially in Hudson. Menendez is the latest in a line of corrupt characters who have sprouted from this soil over the last century.

Lets go to the time machine and take a look.

* * *

The Godfather of Hudson County corruption was Jersey City Mayor Frank Hague, who left office in 1947 after 30 years running a political machine regarded as one of the nations most potent.

Like Menendez, Hague started out as a reformer. But by the time he died in 1956 he was worth an estimated $10 million, despite never earning more than $8,500 a year as mayor.

In his downtown office, Hague had a special desk that allowed him to solicit bribes without using words, or even touching the money. It still sits in City Hall.

It has a drawer you can pull in, or you can push it out towards the other person, says Bret Schundler, a former mayor who once showed me how it worked.

The corrupt pols in Hudson tend to be ambitious, and sometimes creative.

When prosecutors caught a former county executive, Robert Janiszewski, taking an envelope of cash holding a few thousand dollars, many wondered why a gifted politician regarded as a potential governor would throw it all away for scraps. When the FBI searched his home, though, they found a file cabinet stuffed with cash envelopes, worth nearly $100,000. He went to prison in 2005.

In Operation Bid Rig, a 2009 bribery case made famous by charges of kidney trafficking, the FBI hauled in a busload of politicians from Hudson County, including the mayors of Hoboken and Secaucus, the deputy mayor of Jersey City, a state legislator, several lower-level officials, and a few well-connected political consultants.

For creativity, its hard to beat David Friedland, a state senator from Hudson who was charged with his father with taking $360,000 in bribes to arrange loans from a Teamsters pension fund. He was convicted on racketeering charges in 1980, then faked his death while awaiting sentencing by supposedly drowning during a scuba diving trip 12 miles off the coast of Grand Bahama.

Two years later, after using a fake passport to travel to Kenya, Paris, Venice, and Hong Kong, Friedland was arrested in the Maldives, an island country in the Indian Ocean, where he was teaching scuba.

Bill Braker, a Hudson freeholder, gets honorable mention for originality. He was busted for extorting bribes from a doctor who was wearing a wire and cooperating with the FBI.

What did Braker ask for?

Cash and unlimited scrips for Viagra, says Chris Christie, then U.S. Attorney in New Jersey.

As for Musto, he was convicted of racketeering and spent three years in prison after the trial in which Menendez wore the body armor. But the day after Musto was sentenced in 1982, he won re-election as mayor of Union City against a young challenger: Bob Menendez.

To this day, many people in Hudson County dont believe the arc of this Menendez story. They suspect he was in on the corruption in Union City from the start, and served up Musto to save his own neck.

Dont miss the best in editorials, opinion columns and commentary from NJ.com writers. Add your email here:



But thats a myth. The late columnist Jim Dwyer, a Pulitzer Prize winner, covered the trial as a cub reporter for the Hudson Dispatch, and many years later wrote a definitive defense of Menendezs role in the trial, talking to all four prosecutors and a defense lawyer in the case, and reviewing recordings and transcripts.

There certainly was never any deal, or any need for a deal, Richard Friedman, the prosecutor who questioned Menendez, told him. Menendez just testified truthfully.

* * *

This year, more than any other, New Jersey voters have revolted against the county machines that tried to win favor with Gov. Phil Murphy by supporting the Senate campaign of First Lady Tammy Murphy. They overreached on that one, and Rep. Andy Kim made them pay a price. Not only did he beat her soundly, he filed a lawsuit that stripped the Democratic machines of a key source of power, their manipulation of the primary ballots to favor their chosen candidate.

But the machines are corrosive in another way: They protect bad actors like Menendez. They supported him for years and only ditched him when the jury voted to convict, when the fight was over.

Once youre in the club, you stay in the club, and they take care of each other, says James Solomon, a councilman in Jersey City and a likely candidate for mayor next year. The machines are very much a self-perpetuating mechanism. Theres a sense of entitlement  were here to protect our interests.

Matt Hale, a professor of politics at Seton Hall University, agreed that the machines protect bad actors across the state, not just Hudson. New Jersey politics is transactional, meaning people are willing to cut deals, he says. The good side is they can get stuff done. The bad side is the attitude of Ill scratch your back and you can scratch mine. That can very quickly turn into Where are my gold bars?

A small example shows how brazen it can get: In the summer of 2022, Jersey City Councilwoman Amy DeGise, a former county Democratic chair whose father was county executive at the time, struck a bicyclist with her car at 8:00 a.m., sending him somersaulting in the air after whacking into her windshield. She didnt even tap the brakes, and she waited six hours before reporting to police, making it impossible to know if she had used alcohol or drugs before the crash. She denies it, but why else would she have waited that long? I asked her at a city council meeting and she answered with a blank stare.

The machine rallied, despite protests at public meetings and an online petition demanding her resignation signed by more than 7,500 people. She remains on the council today.

Does any of this excuse Menendez? Not a bit. He took the bribes. He did the favors. Its hard to forgive his efforts to help the Egyptian military evade sanctions intended to discourage torture.

But as Kamala Harris might say, he didnt just fall out of a coconut tree. Were all, in part, a product of our environment.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or (973) 986-6951. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
Oh, those French. You save their country from the Nazis and what do you get  an Olympics Opening Ceremony of disciples in drag at the Last Supper!

Its enough to make Christian fundamentalists clutch their pearls and Bibles.

Alabamas Katie Britt  the Senator who gave the widely panned and lampooned dissenting view on President Joe Bidens State of the Union Address in a creepy, overacting voice  for some reason demanded that Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the de facto Democratic presidential nominee, condemn the Summer Games opener.

This was an intentional choice to mock Christianity and Christians, Britt tweeted. Its disgraceful. And its the same kind of bizarre craziness thats being pushed on children and teenagers across America. We need to turn our eyes back to God and restore common sense.

She asked Harris: Will you condemn this?

Harris, of course, had nothing to do with the Paris extravaganza, but while insisting Harris shake her finger at the Opening Ceremony, which Britt saw as an insult to Christians, Britt left herself vulnerable to a charge of hypocrisy. Author Peter Wehner immediately seized the opportunity.

Condemn anti-Christian behavior? Heres an idea, Wehner tweeted at Britt, you go first. Condemn Trump for being found liable of sexual assault; an affair with a porn star involving hush money; parading his affair with Ms. [Marla] Maples in the tabloids; having been accused by dozens of women of harassment/assault; and more.

We could add misogyny. Employing what Paul Ryan called textbook racism. Mocking POWs, the handicapped and victims of violent assault. Provoking a violent attack on the Capitol. Encouraging a mob to hang his VP. And pathological lying.

If you dont speak out on these, Katie, folks might mistake your thundering moral condemnation for thundering moral hypocrisy. Trumps entire life has been mocking Christian virtues you claim to cherish. Yet you cheer him on. Show courage/integrity. And remember Matthew 7:5.

Matthew, Chapter 7, Verse 5, says: You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brothers eye.

In addition, Britt never has spoken out against Trump idolatry, which often has depicted him as Christ or other Christian historical saints and figures.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
After boasting about having raised $200 million since she emerged as the likely Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris campaign said Sunday a majority of the donations came from first-time contributors in the 2024 election cycle.

They reported 66% of the donations were from first-time contributors and were made after Joe Biden announced he would not run against Donald Trump this November.

Also, over 170,000 volunteers have also signed up to help the Harris campaign with phone banking, canvassing and other get-out-the-vote efforts.

The momentum and energy for Vice President Harris is real  and so are the fundamentals of this race: this election will be very close and decided by a small number of voters in just a few states, Michael Tyler, the campaigns communications director, wrote in a memo.

Harris quickly coalesced Democratic support after Biden, whose candidacy fizzled following his disastrous June 27 debate performance against Trump, exited the race. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former House Minority Whip Jim Clyburn, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were quick to announce their support.

Biden endorsed Harris to be the partys nominee and Democrats rasllied behind her.

Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats  its time to come together and beat Trump. Lets do this, Biden posted to X on when he announced his decision not to run for reelection.

The Democratic National Convention runs from Aug. 19 to 22 in Chicago.

Biden plans to serve out the remainder of his term in office, which ends at noon on Jan. 20, 2025.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
Except for Antarctica, Peter Genovese has set foot in every continent on the planet as a tourist or a journalist.

Its on my bucket list, said the ever-curious Genovese, who was born in Trenton.
Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost.

If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below.
MOSCOW, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The deployment of U.S. nuclear weapons in Southeast Asia would heighten regional security risks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, following his visit to Malaysia.

According to Russian media reports, Lavrov stated the United States has long been sharing nuclear weapons with its NATO partners in what it calls "joint nuclear missions," in which non-nuclear states can train their soldiers to use nuclear weapons. That practice is now shifting to Asia.

"If this sad and rather risky experience (the deployment of U.S. nuclear weapons in other countries) is brought to Southeast Asia, I think no one will benefit from it; the risks will increase," he said.

The United States is "impudently" pushing its military infrastructure, including strategic weapons, into the region, militarizing Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific, Lavrov said.

He mentioned AUKUS, a project to build nuclear-powered submarines involving the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

AUKUS aims to instill "tolerance in the Asian region concerning the deployment of nuclear weapons components," Lavrov said. It "must be put under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency" for "full transparency."

Lavrov also said the recent agreement between the United States and South Korea on joint nuclear planning is yet another extension of U.S. strategic influence in the region. 
Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!

Your notification has been saved.

There was a problem saving your notification.

{{description}}

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
The craze for tourism has increased rapidly over the past few years. People now prefer to explore the world instead of staying at home. You can easily find many individuals who earn their living by traveling. However, traveling isn't as easy as it seems. In this regard, Forbes Advisor has released a report highlighting the 10 safest and 10 most unsafe cities for tourists.

Let's first discuss the 10 most unsafe cities. Caracas, Venezuela, tops the list, notorious for its high crime rate and robberies. If you're a tourist, you can easily become a victim of crime in this city. Pakistan's Karachi ranks second, with a surge in criminal activities in recent years. If you plan to visit Pakistan, it's best to avoid this city.

Yangon, Burma, ranks third, with an increase in crimes against tourists. Lagos, Nigeria, is also on the list, where looting, snatching, and fraud are common. This city is not safe for tourists, especially solo travelers. Other cities on the list include Manila, Dhaka, Bogota, Cairo, Mexico City, and Quito, Ecuador. If you plan to visit these cities, you'll need to be cautious at all times.

On the other hand, the safest cities for tourists include Singapore, Tokyo, Japan, Toronto, Canada, Sydney, Australia, Zurich, Switzerland, Copenhagen, Denmark, Seoul, South Korea, Osaka, Japan, Melbourne, Australia, and Amsterdam, Netherlands. These cities are perfect for travelers, and you can even opt for solo travel without worrying about your safety.

Remember, safety should always be your top priority while traveling. Research your destination thoroughly and take necessary precautions to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey.

Little Girl's Joyride in Driverless Car Sparks Internet Debate: Safety vs. Innovation

Union Budget 2024: Boost to Electric Vehicles as Lithium-ion Battery Prices Slashed, Luxury Car Imports to Get Costlier

Automatic vs. Manual Transmission Cars: Which is More Powerful?
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
Description

Guild Hall (158 Main Street, East Hampton) has announced the return of their popular series of culinary conversations, Stirring the Pot, hosted by New York Times food and wine writer Florence Fabricant. The series, now in its 14th year and after two years offsite, will return to the newly renovated theater for a series of four insightful and entertaining talks including Chef Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park, Emmy award-winning TV personality and New York Times best-selling author and founder of Giadzy, Giada De Laurentiis, Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald of Levain Bakery, and chef, TV personality, philanthropist, and newly inducted member of Guild Halls Academy of the Arts, Marcus Samuelsson.

The series will begin on Sunday, July 28 at 11 AM with the award-winning chef and owner of Make It Nice and the highly acclaimed Eleven Madison Park, Daniel Humm. Chef Humms appearance is a repeat for Guild Hall, first when his EMP Summer House pop-up was in East Hampton. He has now become a resident of Montauk. His Manhattan menu has notably shifted to be plant-based, and the topic of conversation will be discussing the change, why it happened, and what it has taken to achieve, with great advice for those in the audience who plan more vegan cooking and dining. He may be persuaded to talk about his new restaurant, and Clementine, his new upstairs bar.

Stirring the Pot will include a complimentary breakfast provided by Citarella, which will be served at 10 AM.

SUNDAY, JULY 28, 11AM:

DANIEL HUMM OF ELEVEN MADISON PARK

$35 ($31.50 For Members)

https://www.guildhall.org/even...
A family was displaced after a house fire in the Lakes of the Four Seasons early Saturday morning.

The Lakes of the Four Seasons Fire Department responded just after midnight Saturday to a house fire on the 3400 block of West Lakeshore Drive in Four Seasons. The department got a report of an exterior fire and an occupant who was possibly unaccounted for.

Many neighboring fire and EMS departments responded to the call.

Crews put out the fire quickly and searched the inside of the house. The Lakes of the Four Seasons Fire Department extinguished the fire and found that all residents were safe and unharmed. The family was not home at the time, said Deputy Chief Scott Whitlock.

"Everyone was accounted for and there were no injuries," he said.

The Lakes of the Four Seasons Fire Department dispatched several units, including Chiefs 3502 and 3503, Engine 3511, Quint 3522, Tanker 3545 and Utility 3555.

"The fire was contained to the garage," he said.

But all the smoke damage left the home uninhabitable, Whitlock said. The house also suffering some water damage from firefighters putting out the blaze with their hoses.

The displaced family is believed to be staying with family in the area, Whitlock said.

Lake County's MABAS Division 207 Fire Investigation Team is investing the cause of the fire, which is not yet known at this time, he said.

"There's not a suspected cause. They're going through everything," he said.

The Hebron, Boone Grove, Kouts, Union Township, Merrillville, Crown Point and Lowell fire departments assisted, as did Tri-Creek EMS.
Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, in contention to be Vice President Kamala Harriss running mate on the Democratic ticket, tried out for the post in Iowa on Saturday by going after the man he would face on the Republican ticket, telling Iowa Democrats that Senator JD Vance of Ohio has contrived his claims to be from Appalachia.

He aint gonna be your vice president, Mr. Beshear told a standing, cheering crowd of around 450 of Iowas top Democratic Party supporters. Mr. Beshear headlined the state partys Liberty & Justice fund-raiser in Des Moines, which sought to energize voters in the run-up to the November general election.

After a bruising 2024 legislative session overseen by the states Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, and a majority Republican Legislature, Democratic lawmakers have been desperate for the voter energy they said they had seen since the Harris announcement.

Theres just a sense of, OK, the election is starting now, State Senator Nate Boulton of Des Moines, the Democratic whip, said just before the event.
Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged on Saturday that she had the delegates to win the Democratic nomination, but she cautioned her supporters about the road ahead, saying, We are the underdogs in this race.

Ms. Harris suggested that if former President Donald J. Trump were elected, he would restrict Americans most fundamental rights, including reproductive freedoms, and she called him a bully. She also leaned into a new Democratic attack on the former president and his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, saying that some of the swipes the men had taken at her were just plain weird.

The event, at a historic theater in the Berkshires, a popular vacation destination in western Massachusetts, raised over $1.4 million, significantly more than the $400,000 organizers had hoped to bring in, according to the Harris campaign.
The choice of Senator JD Vance as former President Donald J. Trumps running mate reflected the confidence of a campaign so sure of victory in November that it could look beyond a second Trump term to the legacy of his movement.

But in less than two weeks, Mr. Vance has found himself on the defensive, and his struggles have dented the sense of invulnerability that only a week ago seemed to be the overriding image of the Trump campaign.

A stream of years-old quotes, videos and audio comments unearthed by Democrats and the news media in recent days has threatened to undermine the Trump campaigns outreach to women, voters of color and the very blue-collar voters Mr. Vance, a first-term Ohio senator, was supposed to reach.

His past comments deriding childless cat ladies, supporting a federal response to stop abortion in Democratic states and promoting a higher tax burden for childless Americans have yielded a chorus of criticism from Democrats. Mr. Vances fresh efforts to explain them have provided Democrats more material, with the Harris campaign promoting one short clip in which he seems to suggest that when he spoke of childless cat ladies, he meant no insult to cats  Ive got nothing against cats, he said.
Jill Schary Robinson, an author and journalist who limned her glittering, complicated Hollywood upbringing in much of her work, beginning with her wry 1963 memoir, With a Cast of Thousands, and who found fame for chronicling Hollywoods darker side a decade later in Bed/Time/Story, died on July 19 at her home in Beverly Hills, Calif. She was 88.

Her daughter, Johanna Simmel, confirmed the death. She did not specify the cause.

Ms. Robinson was the eldest child of Dore Schary, a playwright, screenwriter and studio mogul who was the head of production at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for a time. She grew up in an 18-room Tudor manor in swanky Brentwood  a Hollywood princess chauffeured to birthday parties with all the other Hollywood princesses and princelings, including Jane Fonda (who was an audacious, terrifyingly cool tomboy), Brooke Hayward and Daniel Selznick.

The Schary home was always brimming with movie people: Elizabeth Taylor came to dinner swathed in yellow chiffon and barely spoke. Marlon Brando brought his father. When Clark Gable visited, Jill was so overwhelmed that she spiked a fever (he sent her long-stemmed roses afterward). She was 17 when, at an event with her parents, Humphrey Bogart called her out for being the only virgin in the room.

Ms. Robinson was 27 when With a Cast of Thousands, an arch but loving look at her childhood and its oddities, was published. At the time, she was married to a Navy officer turned stockbroker, working as a copywriter for an ad agency, contributing to Cosmopolitan magazine and raising two children. A few years later, she was divorced, strung out on amphetamines, struggling with deadlines and disastrously in love with an alcoholic.
Decades before Elena Ferrantes Neapolitan novels, the Irish writer Edna OBrien  who died at 93 on July 27  provided her own searing portraits of an oppressive, violent society seen through the prism of female friendship.

When we first meet them in 1960s The Country Girls, Kate and Baba are teenagers, dreaming of a future beyond the confines of their rural Irish village and strict convent school. Its sequels  Girl With Green Eyes (1962), and the ironically-titled Girls in Their Married Bliss (1964)  follow them through their first taste of womanhood in Dublin, then to London, where they struggle to reconcile their romantic fantasies with the frustrations of real marital life.

OBrien was 29 when The Country Girls was published, living with two young sons and her then-husband, the writer Ernest Gebler, in a small house in a bleak south London suburb to which theyd moved, two years earlier, from Ireland. The novel took her only three weeks to write, the words having tumbled out, as she recalled in her 2012 memoir, Country Girl, like the oats on threshing day that tumble down the shaft, the hard pellets of oats funneled into bags and the chaff flying everywhere, getting into the mens eyes and their having to shout to be heard above the noise of the machine.

Although tame by todays social mores, and praised on its publication by the English press, The Country Girls  with its candid portrayal of female sexuality and extramarital romance  sent shock waves through Ireland, where it was denounced by the church and banned by the Irish censorship board as indecent. Copies were even publicly burned.
Scientists have made another major stride toward the long-sought goal of diagnosing Alzheimers disease with a simple blood test. On Sunday, a team of researchers reported that a blood test was significantly more accurate than doctors interpretation of cognitive tests and CT scans in signaling the condition.

The study, published Sunday in the journal JAMA, found that about 90 percent of the time the blood test correctly identified whether patients with memory problems had Alzheimers. Dementia specialists using standard methods that did not include expensive PET scans or invasive spinal taps were accurate 73 percent of the time, while primary care doctors using those methods got it right only 61 percent of the time.

Not too long ago measuring pathology in the brain of a living human was considered just impossible, said Dr. Jason Karlawish, a co-director of the Penn Memory Center at the University of Pennsylvania who was not involved in the research. This study adds to the revolution that has occurred in our ability to measure whats going on in the brain of living humans.

The results, presented Sunday at the Alzheimers Association International Conference in Philadelphia, are the latest milestone in the search for affordable and accessible ways to diagnose Alzheimers, a disease that afflicts nearly seven million Americans and over 32 million people worldwide. Medical experts say the findings bring the field closer to a day when people might receive routine blood tests for cognitive impairment as part of primary care checkups, similar to the way they receive cholesterol tests.
The South Korean stock market has experienced a downward trend over the past few sessions, with the KOSPI index witnessing significant declines. Amidst this backdrop of market volatility and mixed global economic signals, investors might consider the potential stability offered by high-yield dividend stocks. In times of market uncertainty, dividend-paying stocks can be appealing for their potential to provide investors with a steady stream of income.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In South Korea

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Kia (KOSE:A000270) 5.00%  Hyundai Steel (KOSE:A004020) 3.68%  NH Investment & Securities (KOSE:A005940) 5.92%  LOTTE Fine Chemical (KOSE:A004000) 4.27%  Industrial Bank of Korea (KOSE:A024110) 6.92%  Samyang (KOSE:A145990) 3.66%  KT (KOSE:A030200) 5.17%  Kyung Nong (KOSE:A002100) 5.03%  HANYANG ENGLtd (KOSDAQ:A045100) 3.34%  Hansae Yes24 Holdings (KOSE:A016450) 5.53% 

Click here to see the full list of 71 stocks from our Top KRX Dividend Stocks screener.

Let's review some notable picks from our screened stocks.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. is a South Korean insurance company specializing in marine and fire insurance products, with a market capitalization of approximately 2.74 trillion.

Operations: Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. generates revenue primarily from the financial industry segment, totaling approximately 1.36 billion, and a smaller portion from the non-financial industry at about 17.52 million.

Dividend Yield: 5.9%

Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance has shown a mixed performance as a dividend stock. Despite being in the top 25% of Korean dividend payers with a yield of 5.9%, its dividend history is short and marked by volatility, with payments unstable over the past five years. Recent earnings have improved significantly, rising to KRW 373.25 billion in Q1 2024 from KRW 213.56 billion the previous year, supporting a sustainable payout ratio of 21.6% and a low cash payout ratio of 7.5%.

KOSE:A001450 Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Kangwon Land, Inc. operates in South Korea, focusing on the casino industry, tourist hotels, and ski resorts, with a market capitalization of approximately 2.94 trillion.

Story continues

Operations: Kangwon Land, Inc. generates its revenue primarily from casino operations, tourist hotels, and ski resorts in South Korea.

Dividend Yield: 6.4%

Kangwon Land, despite trading below its estimated fair value and offering a competitive dividend yield of 6.41%, presents challenges for dividend investors due to its less than a decade-long, volatile dividend history and an expected earnings decline of 12.9% annually over the next three years. Recent financials show a slight decrease in net income from KRW 101.5 billion to KRW 92.9 billion year-on-year, with dividends reasonably covered by both earnings (48.3% payout ratio) and cash flows (67.9% cash payout ratio).

KOSE:A035250 Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: BNK Financial Group Inc. operates as a financial services provider offering a wide range of products and services both in South Korea and globally, with a market capitalization of approximately 2.86 trillion.

Operations: BNK Financial Group Inc.'s revenue is primarily generated through its subsidiaries, with Busan Bank contributing 1.29 billion, Gyeongnam Bank adding 0.94 billion, BNK Capital at 0.21 billion, and BNK Investment Securities providing 0.13 billion.

Dividend Yield: 9.2%

BNK Financial Group has a relatively short but growing dividend history, with dividends currently well-covered by earnings at a 48.7% payout ratio. The company's dividend yield stands high in the South Korean market at 9.2%. Recent activities include a share buyback of KRW 12.99 billion and stable first-quarter earnings, though slightly lower year-on-year at KRW 249.52 billion. Despite its brief dividend history and unstable track record, forecasts suggest dividends will remain sustainable with future earnings coverage anticipated at 28.8%.

KOSE:A138930 Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Seize The Opportunity

Click through to start exploring the rest of the 68 Top KRX Dividend Stocks now.

Have a stake in these businesses? Integrate your holdings into Simply Wall St's portfolio for notifications and detailed stock reports.

Streamline your investment strategy with Simply Wall St's app for free and benefit from extensive research on stocks across all corners of the world.

Ready For A Different Approach?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include KOSE:A001450 KOSE:A035250 and KOSE:A138930.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
When we spoke this month, she told me why she feels so much urgency to get involved in these issues now. (We talked before Biden dropped out of the presidential race; she has since endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.) We also talked about life after divorce, raising rich children, her new YouTube series, called Moments That Make Us, and her evolving views on how to use her own money.

You are in this big moment of transition. Youve been through a divorce. Youre about to turn 60. Youve left the Gates Foundation after over two decades. Has it felt like a big identity shift? Not really, because I am still the same person that I was when I was at the foundation. Im still doing the work on behalf of women and girls. And you know, it was a decision that I gave a lot of careful thought and reflection when I was making it. So while youre doing that, I think I had to get a bit used to the idea the last few months.
Edna OBrien, the prolific Irish author whose evocative and explicit stories of loves lost earned her a literary reputation that matched the darkly complex lives of her tragic heroines, died on Saturday. She was 93.

Her death was announced on social media by her publisher, Faber, which said only that she had died after a long illness. She had spoken in recent years about being treated for cancer.

Ms. OBrien wrote dozens of novels and short-story collections over almost 60 years, starting in 1960 with The Country Girls, a book that dealt with the emotional conflicts of two Irish girls who rebel against their Roman Catholic upbringing.

Her books often depicted willful but insecure women who loved men who were crass, unfaithful or already married. Much of her early work carried aspects of autobiography, which stirred whisperings about her morals and led to personal attacks against her back home in Ireland.
Is America an idea or a homeland? That question lies at the heart of this roller coaster of a presidential race. Its about whether we Americans should continue to set our sights on global leadership and enforcing universal principles or instead hunker down and take care of our own.

President Biden, in his speech on Wednesday explaining why he withdrew his candidacy, described America as the most powerful idea in the history of the world. In language echoing legacy Republicans like Ronald Reagan, Mr. Biden said that it was an idea stronger than any army, bigger than any ocean, more powerful than any dictator or tyrant.

But Donald Trumps Republican Party is turning away from that kind of language. At the Republican convention, JD Vance, his running mate, made a point of saying that America is not just an idea but a homeland, evoking a mountain cemetery in Eastern Kentucky where he said his ancestors are buried and where he hopes that he and his children will be buried as well.

Some of his critics immediately denounced those references to his familys land and lineage as coded blood and soil nationalism, the ideology of Nazis. In The Atlantic, Adam Serwer accused Mr. Vance of signaling an exclusivist vision of America to his far-right allies when he asserted that America is a country made up of people who share a history rather than a creedal nation  one primarily based on ideas like freedom and equality. If America is a creedal nation, then anyone can be an American, Mr. Serwer wrote. But if real Americans are those who share a specific history, then some of us are more American than others.
Timothy Mellon, a wealthy banking heir and railroad magnate, has reached the stratosphere of American political influence as the top supporter of Donald J. Trump, doling out millions to try to elect the former president and his allies.

But to his neighbors in a Rhode Island beachfront enclave, he is better known as the prime suspect in the Narragansett Runestone Affair.

A hulking boulder once positioned just offshore in Narragansett Bay, the runestone bears inscriptions that some believe were left by Viking explorers. It was the stuff of local lore and attracted visitors at low tide  to the consternation of Mr. Mellon, the pedigreed businessman whose home looked out on the rock.

And then one day it was gone.

A criminal investigation yielded a witness who had heard sounds of heavy machinery at night. Mr. Mellon refused to talk and hired a former state attorney general as his lawyer. Nearly a year later, the matter was resolved quietly: Mr. Mellon agreed to return the stone, and prosecutors agreed not to bring charges.
Distract me, Michael said. What part of our country is falling apart today?

On the other end of his phone were hundreds of people in a live voice chat for Patriot Party News, one of about a dozen far-right media platforms that has grown in both size and influence over the past few years, not only by creating an ecosystem of disinformation but also by providing an authentic sense of community. The company was co-founded in 2020 by Warren Armour, a conservative with no media experience who runs a flooring company in Tennessee, but Michael admired the Patriot Party News slogan when he first saw it shared on Facebook last year: If you hate mainstream media, you are going to love us!

Michael started watching the sites daily videos about election fraud and vaccine pseudoscience, some of which have now been viewed more than a million times. He signed up for the companys social media platform and paid $8.99 a month to join the audio channel, which functions like an old ham radio and promised him the chance to meet comrades in our battle for the soul of America.
Vice President Kamala Harriss campaign said on Sunday that it had raised $200 million in the week since President Biden withdrew from the race  more than Mr. Bidens haul in the first three months of the year.

Roughly two-thirds of that amount came from first-time donors, according to the campaign, offering another sign that Ms. Harriss ascent to the top of the partys ticket has invigorated Democrats. The campaign also said it had signed up more than 170,000 new volunteers.

And more money is coming: Ms. Harris will hold a fund-raiser in Houston on Wednesday, according to a copy of the invitation reviewed by The New York Times.

It is unclear how much of the $200 million has gone directly to the campaign versus to allied Democratic Party committees. But it is eye-catching, even in comparison with other surges recorded over the course of the 2024 race. Former President Donald J. Trumps campaign reported raising nearly $53 million in the first day after his criminal conviction in May, a haul that helped him outpace Mr. Biden that month and erase what had been a significant financial advantage for the president.
Early in his speech in Minnesota on Saturday night, former President Donald J. Trump made clear just how quickly he has jettisoned the appeal for national unity that he made after he survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania two weeks ago.

I want to be nice, Mr. Trump said. They all say, I think hes changed. I think hes changed since two weeks ago. Something affected him.

But to a cheering crowd of thousands, Mr. Trump quickly conceded the point. No, I havent changed, he said. Maybe Ive gotten worse. Because I get angry at the incompetence that I witness every single day.

Propelled by the upheaval in the presidential race caused by President Bidens decision to end his campaign six days ago, Mr. Trump on Saturday once more escalated his attacks against Vice President Kamala Harris, now the presumptive Democratic nominee.
The top diplomatic and defense officials from the United States and Japan announced on Sunday that their nations would take concrete steps to bolster their military alliance because of the growing threat from China in the region.

Those steps include establishing a joint force headquarters that would answer to the American commander in the Indo-Pacific, according to a statement issued by the two governments top officials and the committee that they oversaw. They also call for increasing co-production of air-to-air missiles and air defense interceptor missiles.

The U.S. will have a direct leadership role in planning and leading U.S. forces in both peacetime and in potential crises, Lloyd J. Austin III, the U.S. defense secretary, said of the new headquarters at a news conference later Sunday. And that will give us an opportunity to work more closely together to ensure greater peace and stability.

The statement framed these changes in the alliance relationship mainly as a response to aggressive moves by China in East Asia. The statement focused on Chinas actions in the East China Sea, South China Sea and beyond while also mentioning hostile activity by Russia and North Korea.
The surveillance drone appeared high above the Ukrainian air base without warning in early July. Minutes after it relayed targeting data back to a Russian base, a barrage of ballistic missiles struck the airfield, Ukrainian officials said, recounting the episode.

That first hit was so powerful that even our windows were trembling, said Valeria Minenko, 21, who lives near the air base in Myrhorod, central Ukraine, one of many targeted in relentless attacks by Russia in recent months.

Now theyre hitting the air base with the rockets all the time, Ms. Minenko said.

Russia has been saturating the skies over Ukraine with surveillance drones, exploiting gaps in air-defense systems, to launch increasingly sophisticated attacks on Ukrainian positions. Its dominance in the air along parts of the front has allowed it to bombard Ukrainian positions with hundreds of powerful guided bombs every day, helping its ground forces to make slow and costly gains.

Ukraines strategy was to counter Russia in the air war with the aid of long-coveted F-16 fighter jets from the West that it says it will deploy this summer.
Twelve Libyan officials were convicted and sentenced on Sunday for their roles in a disaster that killed thousands of people and wrecked a huge swath of eastern Libya, the countrys top prosecutor said.

But the verdict left untouched Libyas entrenched political class, which many Libyans blame for a decade of political stagnation, corruption, violence and chaos that, directly or indirectly, probably contributed to the catastrophe, in which two dams collapsed.

The convictions came nearly a year after rainfall from a major storm last September inundated the aging dams above the seaside city of Derna, causing them to fail and sending an avalanche of water hurtling to the areas below. While the official death toll stands at 4,352, according to the United Nations, more than 8,000 people remain missing, many of their bodies believed to have been swept out to sea.

The flood destroyed much of Derna and the surrounding areas and displaced nearly 45,000 people. All in all, the disaster affected about 1.5 million people, 22 percent of Libyas population, a January report by the World Bank, the European Union and the United Nations found.
Robin Rayne / ZUMA Press Wire / Shutterstock.com

Everyones eyes are on the economy as the November election draws closer. Former President Donald Trump just announced his running mate: Ohio Sen. JD Vance. With the ticket solidified, voters are wondering what this means for the future of their finances  specifically voters who are in the middle class and retired.

Read More: Im an Investor: Im Making These Money Moves Immediately If Trump Wins

Find Out: 7 Reasons Future Retirees Should Consider a Financial Advisor

The middle class comprises American households making roughly between $50,000 and $150,000. Thats not a lot, considering a 65-year-old retiring in 2023 might spend an average of $157,500 on healthcare. The financial situation for retirees seems to be on the decline: by 2050, the World Health Organization estimates that 80% of senior citizens will reside in low- and middle-income areas.

Looking at those statistics, what can middle-class retirees expect if Trump and Vance win in November?

Money mistakes the super wealthy never make - that you might be doing now.

Lower Taxes

One thing retirees might have on their minds is how their estates will be taxed, in addition to any potential income theyre receiving. If Trump wins the election, there might be good news ahead.

One of the key components of the Trump plan is to renew tax cuts from his 2017 budget, said Dr. Jim Ronan, a lecturer with the department of political science at Villanova University. Therefore, there wouldnt be an increase in areas such as stock dividends and estate taxes, which may factor into the minds of many retirees. Also, if retirees plan to maintain a part-time stream of income, a potential further tax reduction may be beneficial.

Ronan is referring to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The TCJA had previously raised the income threshold for who is subject to estate taxes. It also increased the standard deduction taxpayers can take, lowered the income tax rate, and increased the Child Tax Credit.

Check Out: Im an Economist  Heres My Prediction for the Housing Market If Trump Wins the Election

Optimizing taxable income during retirement is crucial, as up to 85% of Social Security benefits can be taxed if income rises above certain limits, said Brenton Harrison, a financial advisor and founder of New Money, New Problems. And Medicare Part B premiums increase for higher earners as well. An extension of the TCJA might help in these areas.

However, Harrison cautioned that retirees in states where income tax is already high could be in for a rude awakening if the TCJA is extended.

Story continues

The TCJA negatively impacted retirees in states with high income taxes, such as New York and California, by placing a $10,000 cap on the amount of local taxes that can be deducted on federal returns. Since many large cities also charge a city tax, the current cap could mean portions of income for retirees in these areas will be subject to three levels of taxation: federal, state and city.

With all of that said the average retiree might not feel a huge jolt to their wallet. David Schultz, professor of political science and legal studies at Hamline University, said that, though middle class retirees will benefit a little, most of the perks of TCJA will be felt by the upper class.

Trump has pledged to make his expiring tax cuts from his presidency permanent if he is elected, Schultz said. If this happens, retirees, especially at higher income levels, will benefit. For most retirees, making these tax cuts permanent will not matter as much.

Regardless, Harrison said you should consult a tax specialist after November to see how the new president (Republican or Democrat) will impact your taxes going forward.

The economic policy of any president will have certain features that benefit a taxpayer and others that make life more difficult, Harrison said. Its important to do your research and/or hire a professional so that youre aware of relevant policy and have an idea of how to integrate it into your planning.

No Healthcare Cuts

As referenced earlier, retirees spend thousands of dollars on healthcare, making it a key issue for them when it comes to voting. With Trump in the White House, Ronan said retirees likely would see more of the same when it comes to healthcare.

In terms of healthcare, there have not been specific proposals thus far, Ronan said. However, the GOP platform pledges no cuts to Medicare or Social Security, along with no increase to the retirement age.

Future Retirees Might Be in Trouble

Just because those who are currently retired would not see changes to their Social Security payments doesnt mean future retirees would have the same luck.

Four years of Trump would continue to exhaust the Social Security Trust Fund, making it likely that full benefits could not be paid past 2035, said Michael Montgomery, an intermittent lecturer in the Department of Health and Human Services at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Schultz agreed, saying that no matter which nominee is elected, the livelihood of Social Security will need to be addressed.

Studies suggest that in the next few years Social Security and Medicare face insolvency problems and possible cuts unless something is done, Schultz said. No candidate seems to want to discuss this issue; but, for retirees, it is a looming major issue,

Whatever Happens Will Be Gradual

Ronan wanted to reiterate that, no matter who is in the White House, the American public wouldnt feel a significant economic change for quite some time.

Although budget and tax proposals receive a lot of attention during a campaign, their impact tends to be delayed. For instance, a new president will take office in January 2025, but a budget proposal usually is not delivered to Congress until June. Then, Congress takes a few months to deliberate and amend, so the changes probably wont be felt until early 2026.

Jordan Patrick, a senior financial advisor at Truepoint Wealth Counsel, said its normal to want to take action based on who is in the White House, but its better to think long-term.

While no individual has control over who will be elected, it is important to focus on the things that you can control related to your finances, Patrick said. As a financial advisor, Ive seen people take drastic actions that were based on emotions driven from media headlines.

During this election cycle, be sure to maintain a long-term perspective and stick to your financial plan. Dont let headlines cause you to take action that you might later regret. Focus on understanding where your money is going and increasing your savings so that you have flexibility regardless of what may be happening in the political arena.

Editors note on election coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. You can find more coverage of this topic on GOBankingRates.com.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 3 Ways Middle-Class Retirees May Be Affected If Trump Wins the Election
Senior officials from Israel, Egypt, Qatar and the United States met in Rome on Sunday to continue negotiations over a cease-fire in Gaza, according to three officials involved in or briefed on the talks and a statement from the Israeli government. The talks came as tensions mounted in the region amid growing violence along the border between Israel and Lebanon.

The officials at the daylong talks in Rome were pushing to forge a truce in which Israeli hostages held captive by Hamas would be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinians jailed by Israel under a plan that has been discussed for months. Qatar hosts part of the Hamas leadership and, along with Egypt, plays a key role in mediating between the two sides.

The Israeli government announced on Sunday evening that its representative at the meeting, David Barnea, Israels foreign intelligence chief, had already returned home and that negotiations would resume in the coming days. The statement did not give further details.

Despite progress in recent weeks, the monthslong negotiations remain stalled over several critical issues, particularly the extent to which Israeli forces would remain in Gaza during a truce, according to seven officials involved in or briefed on the talks.
Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com

The pandemic was a time of shrinkage in many regards  but not so for every city. In fact, some cities thrived. Pandemic boomtowns saw an influx of people who looked for cheaper places to live when they were working from home and, therefore, the housing prices started to rise.

Learn More: 5 Types of Homes Expected To Plummet in Value by the End of 2025

Check Out: Become a Real Estate Investor for Just $1K Using This Bezos-Backed Startup

Well, experts think some of these boomtowns might see their home values drop big-time by the end of next year. Lets look at seven real estate boomtowns expected to plummet in value by the end of 2025.

Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them.

Boise, Idaho

Boise stands out as the poster child for pandemic boomtowns. Boise had by far the greatest appreciation over that period, reaching 230% of its initial value in May 2022 before starting to depreciate, said Thomas (Thom) Malone, a real estate economist at CoreLogic, who is responsible for analyzing housing markets and home price trends.

Despite some cooling, Boises real estate market remains inflated, with prices still more than double what they were five years ago as of February 2024.

People flocked to Boise for cheaper houses and a laid-back lifestyle. But now that its not so cheap anymore, and with more folks heading back to the office, Boise might see house prices fall significantly by 2025.

Trending Now: If You Live in One of These 20 Housing Markets, Consider Selling While Its Still Hot

Austin, Texas

Austin became a hotspot for tech workers and companies during the pandemic. Everyone wanted a piece of its cool vibe and job opportunities.

But heres the thing: When too many people rush to one place, it gets expensive fast. Malone explained that when this happens, people start looking elsewhere. Austin might lose some of its appeal as other cities start to look like better deals.

Phoenix

Phoenix was a big hit with its warm weather and (initially) affordable homes, but with growing concerns about heat and water, it might be one to avoid.

As more companies call workers back to the office, fewer people might want to move to Phoenix. All this could lead to a drop in home values, making it a city to watch.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City seemed like a perfect place to move during the pandemic  a strong job market, inexpensive housing and tons of outdoor activities made it a beacon in the gloom. But just like the other cities, its gotten more expensive.

As prices have gone up so much, Salt Lake City isnt the bargain it used to be. This could mean fewer people wanting to move there, potentially causing house prices to fall by the end of 2025.

Story continues

Tampa, Florida

Tampa is part of what Malone called the second wave of boomtowns, especially in Florida. He thinks places like Tampa are probably the most likely places to be seeing drops in demand now or soon.

Why? Well, as Florida got more expensive, it became less attractive to out-of-state buyers. This could lead to a big drop in home values by 2025.

Gainesville, Florida

Gainesville, with its university and growing tech scene, was another Florida hotspot. But it might face the same issues as Tampa.

As the price gap between Florida and other states shrinks, people might start looking elsewhere to buy homes. This could cause Gainesvilles house prices to tumble by the end of 2025.

Palm Beach, Florida

Palm Beach, known for its fancy homes, saw lots of wealthy buyers during the pandemic. But even luxury markets can face problems.

When prices in Florida rose, the gap in prices between it and the Northeast shrunk, Malone said. This means rich buyers might start looking at other high-end areas again, potentially causing Palm Beachs home values to drop by 2025.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Real Estate Boomtowns Expected To Plummet in Value by the End of 2025
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in SSE implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

A total of 25 investors have a majority stake in the company with 45% ownership

Recent sales by insiders

A look at the shareholders of SSE plc (LON:SSE) can tell us which group is most powerful. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 76% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of SSE.

View our latest analysis for SSE

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About SSE?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in SSE. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of SSE, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Hedge funds don't have many shares in SSE. The company's largest shareholder is The Vanguard Group, Inc., with ownership of 4.8%. With 4.4% and 3.6% of the shares outstanding respectively, BlackRock, Inc. and Capital Research and Management Company are the second and third largest shareholders.

Our studies suggest that the top 25 shareholders collectively control less than half of the company's shares, meaning that the company's shares are widely disseminated and there is no dominant shareholder.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Story continues

Insider Ownership Of SSE

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our information suggests that SSE plc insiders own under 1% of the company. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own UK13m worth of shares (at current prices). In this sort of situation, it can be more interesting to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 23% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over SSE. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Take risks for example - SSE has 3 warning signs we think you should be aware of.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
DEAR ABBY: I worked for 11 years in the accounting department of a busy law firm.

During my tenure, my three much younger colleagues married and started families. Due to the inevitable trials of raising kids, planned, unplanned and often simultaneous absences became commonplace, which left me to run the department alone.

During my last performance review, which I presumed to be confidential, I shared with our boss my exhaustion and health-impacting stress.

My appeal for additional personnel was rejected.

Rather than address the matter in the context of firm productivity, our boss informed each of my co-workers that I had complained about their chronic absenteeism, drawing charges that I, a middle-aged male with no children, was insensitive to their familial obligations.

I mended fences to the best of my ability but resigned shortly thereafter. I never confronted my boss, and he was never aware I had any knowledge of his manipulation. He now contacts me monthly to feign concern for my health and tell me how much I am missed, all of which is disingenuous.

As my former colleagues have now left the firm and face no retribution, I would like to end his contacts with an appropriate expression of my contempt. Or should I simply block him and be done with it? -- MOVED ON IN ARIZONA

DEAR MOVED ON: As a former employee of that firm, you are under no obligation to have ANY more contact with your former boss. If you are still in the working world, refrain from venting about your contempt. Simply express that you prefer he not call you again. If he asks why, you would be within your rights to tell him you know he violated your confidence, which is why you left the firm.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
The Portland-based firm PAE Consulting Engineers wanted its new headquarters to be among the worlds most environmentally friendly  a Living Building that stood five stories tall but tread lightly on the world around it.

So the company designed its office to last for hundreds of years, powered by renewable energy. The building recycles its water and even gathers urine to convert into fertilizer, generating more than $30,000 a year since its opening in 2022.
A dangling live power line contacted a firefighters helmet on Saturday morning as Portland fire crews responded to a house fire in the Sylvan-Highlands neighborhood.

The incident happened soon after firefighters arrived at a burning three-story home in the 200 block of Northwest MacLeay Boulevard around 7:30 a.m., Portland Fire & Rescue said in a statement Saturday.
Hummingbirds can fly in all directions.

So it makes sense that the fluttering pollinators are Isaac Dennetts favorite birds. The Fort Vancouver High School senior finds himself pulled in different directions too.

Like chemical engineering.

Or experimenting with fashion.

Or his path into journalism.

Isaac, who lives in Vancouvers Hazel Dell neighborhood, has observed hummingbirds everywhere from the nearby Ridgefield National Wildlife Conservation Area to the faraway forests of Panama.

Driving slowly through the Ridgefield sanctuary with his father when he was little, Isaac remembers sticking his head out of the sun roof to get a closer peek at the birds.

Human design can never be able to match the beauty of birds flying. Theyre a biological marvel, said Isaac.

Isaacs favorite hummingbird is the Annas hummingbird, native to his home state of Washington. To him, the Annas hummingbird signifies freedom, and shows how fleeting life is.

If youre passionate about something, you should just do it because opportunities are not always going to be there, Isaac said.

So, when the chance to get involved in a high school engineering competition came up, of course he was ready to take it.

He was inspired by his chemistry teacher Anne Kizerian and is now drawn towards chemical engineering.

He has twice won the Southwest Washington regional competition, and was second in the state, in 2023 at the National Engineering Design Competition through MESA, an organization that spotlights math, engineering, science and achievement.

During his sophomore year, Isaac and his team created a dog harness that would light up at a certain light level to keep the dogs safe if they ever run out on the street late at night.

For his junior year, the team made an emotional robot, with the shortened name, emoti-bot. The six-buttoned robot  imagine a robot Game Boy, like BMO from Adventure Time  was designed to help little kids with developmental disabilities express their emotion.

Isaac himself wears his emotions on his sleeve  literally. He can look down at his bracelets and see a collection of memories and the people he loves.

He knows he has unconditional love from the rose quartz bracelet his boyfriend gave him, and his own passion for birds is represented by his feather bracelet.

He is reminded of the support from his best friend Cristina with the beaded bracelets she gave him, and his mother who collected pride bracelets for him.

And just like his bracelets, journalism has been an outlet for Isaac to express himself. He testified to the school board about the school districts massive budget reduction, then interviewed the school districts superintendent about the issue for a story.

I love having an opinion and seeing if its right or wrong, said Isaac. Finding out information and sharing it with other people helps humanity be less stupid.

-- Juwon Kim, Lakeridge High School

This story was produced by student reporters as part of the High School Journalism Institute, an annual collaboration among The Oregonian/OregonLive, Oregon State University and other Oregon media organizations. For more information or to support the program, go to oregonlive.com/hsji.
When Sean Gerbrandt discovered a guest speaker at his Model United Nations conference was both an ex-CIA agent involved in the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and a university representative, he had questions. The university where the man worked planned to host some international students from Iraq, Sean learned. Sean, then a sophomore, wanted to know if the agent personally supported the invasion.

The mans face turned bright red as he dodged the question, Sean remembers.

It was a heated question. It was a really important one, Sean said. If I was one of those students, I would want to know I was going to a school that would support me and make me feel safe.

Sean, now a senior at McMinnville High School, likes to piece together intricate problems. He wants to ask the questions nobody else is asking to reveal the nuanced truth. Investigative journalism is an outlet Sean has considered to peel back the curtain on the world around him and provide a better-educated future, he said.

Sean grew up in Pendleton. As a kid, he enjoyed playing video games, writing and reading. He shares a home with one older brother and his mother. Almost every day, he wears the same black hat covered in animal pins, song lyrics and references to his favorite podcast, Welcome to Night Vale. He said he wears the hat when his hair is not grown out so he doesnt have to style it.

Seans passion for truth-seeking began in his sophomore year. The adults in his life never thought to concern Sean with politics or foreign policy, he said. However, after seeing his mother upset over the 2016 election results, he started asking: Why?

If his mother was so upset, why shouldnt he worry about it?

Sean comes from a family of scientists, a field built on the fundamentals of why? His dad has a background in biochemistry and would amaze him with physics facts, he said. The more he learned, the more curious he became.

They influenced me toward finding more about why things work, Sean said.

He turned his sights to finding the reason behind everything from foreign controversies to quantum mechanics.

Our world is so much more complex than we think, he said.

Sean began researching quantum mechanics independently and was intrigued to find the parallels between what happens on a quantum level and what happens in politics and world events. In both, there are similar chain reactions, he said. When one thing happens, it affects another.

Sean noticed that foreign policy often stirred controversy in the classroom, especially with issues that dont have a black-and-white answer. He believes that there are never only two answers to a problem. He joined Model United Nations to apply that idea.

If we fix some things that seem harmful, we can have a better society, Sean said.

In the future, Sean plans on studying science, journalism or possibly becoming a teacher to further educate the people around him.

Im just seeing where life is going to take me, he said.

--Veronica Corta, Ontario High School

This story was produced by student reporters as part of the High School Journalism Institute, an annual collaboration among The Oregonian/OregonLive, Oregon State University and other Oregon media organizations. For more information or to support the program, go to oregonlive.com/hsji.
Oregon State Universitys new student body president said she will prioritize a program to increase mental health services on campus because she believes resources currently available are failing to meet demand.

Audrey Schlotter, 19, who majors in public policy with a minor in sociology, began her one-year term on June 1.

The Healthy Campus program prioritizes students mental and physical health in and out of the classroom.

The systems that we do have in place, she said, oftentimes cant support the amount of  the demand.

She also wants to offer free testing for sexually transmitted diseases and make Narcan available on campus.

College students are facing historic rates of depression, anxiety and suicide risk, a 2023 national study produced by the Healthy Minds Network, found. The research organization focuses on adolescent and young adult mental health.

An Oregon State spokesperson did not make a university official available for an interview.

Schlotter said she wants to increase mental health services because she believes not everyone is currently able to access the help they need on campus.

Healthy Campus, Schlotter said, will conduct research on the mental and physical needs of the various student populations on campus to better allocate resources where they are needed the most.

University partners from all different areas of the university come together and focus on student health and wellness, and prioritize that above all else, she said. Thats who I represent.

Mental health needs are more acute in certain vulnerable groups of students. A national survey on mental health for LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-24 found that there were significant mental health disparities for this group. The study found that 50% of LGBTQ+ youth who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to get it, and that 53% of LGBTQ+ young people reported experiencing recent symptoms of depression.

Joshua Goodman, 34, assistant psychology professor at Southern Oregon University, said the struggles that most of the LGBTQ+ community faces correlate to higher rates of mental health concerns.

Some of the things that relate to those higher rates of mental health disparities include things like experiencing discrimination and also fearing discrimination, he said. It can relate to internalized heterosexism and internalized transphobia.

Daiz Sondag, 20, president of Rainbow Continuum, a student-funded organization that supports the LGBTQ+ community at Oregon State, said having services available is critical.

They said their organization is doing its part to provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ students.

I really think that just having a physical, in-person space that is welcoming for queer students is incredibly important, Sondag said. Its one thing to say that you are a welcoming university and that you will always accept your students, but its another to actually have a space for queer people to feel safe in, (and) to have resources at.

Sondag says the university has several mental health services in place including resources like queer focused counselors, a separate department for LGBTQ+ care, and a free support line that is available 24/7 with vetted counselors.

Ive heard a lot of great things about them, Sondag said, and they really do assist our students here at OSU.

Schlotter believes its important for all students, including those who identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community, to find a home where they feel welcome. Oftentimes being heard is the first step to understanding that you need help.

 Ysabel Adriano, South Albany High School

 Alexa Aguirre, Sprague High School

This story was produced by student reporters as part of the High School Journalism Institute, an annual collaboration among The Oregonian/OregonLive, Oregon State University and other Oregon media organizations. For more information or to support the program, go to oregonlive.com/hsji.
Ive said before that news organizations, especially legacy ones like The Oregonian/OregonLive, can be a bit stodgy and slow to adapt to cultural change. When we adopted Black instead of black, for instance, it was in recognition that the shift to that usage had already occurred.

I was reminded of this last weekend on the occasion of the Pride Parade in Portland. The joyful event brought to mind one year when we missed the parade entirely, even though thousands of people marched along Southwest Broadway right outside our then-headquarters building.
Jordan Schnitzer

Schnitzer is president of Schnitzer Properties, a commercial real estate investment and development company. His family foundations have contributed over $300 million to arts, culture, health, education and other community efforts. He lives in Portland.

I am proud that the Schnitzer name is aligned with the arts in Portland and beyond. For many years, arts and culture have been important family values. I learned from my parents  and particularly from my mother, Arlene Director Schnitzer  to always be an advocate for the arts as part of a well-rounded education and as a vital part of civic life.

Downtown Portland has had its share of issues. It is clear to me that a thriving future for downtown relies on a diverse mix of arts and culture destinations to bring energy and opportunity back to our central city.

When it comes to the future of Portlands premier performing arts venue, it is time to think bigger than replacing or renovating the Keller Auditorium, which is aging and seismically unsound. It is time to expand our view of what downtown Portland could become. It is time for city leaders to select Portland State Universitys proposal to build a new world-class, multi-use facility that would take the performing arts in our city to a new level.

The PSU site, located at the University Place Hotel on Southwest Lincoln Street, is four times larger than the Keller, so theres room for everything our arts community needs and audiences want  now and into the future.

The PSU proposal includes a conference center, a hotel, classrooms and community spaces. Most importantly, the 3,000-seat auditorium planned for the site would serve the bigger shows of the future, while a second 1,200-seat second auditorium would benefit regional arts organizations. Portland has long needed a theater exactly the size of the second auditorium. The PSU team behind the proposed arts center knows that because they have talked to hundreds of arts leaders and citizens.

Arts organizations have said loudly and clearly that closing the Keller for an extended period would be like enduring a second pandemic closure. They would lose artists, staff, donors, dollars and downtown Portland would lose a key ingredient for vitality. A report commissioned by Metro, which manages the Keller and other venues, calculated that closing the Keller would cost our community $140 million in lost economic impact and around 340 lost jobs.

Choosing the PSU proposal means Keller performances could continue without interruption until the new venue a few blocks south opens in 2031. Broadway shows and beloved traditions will continue for Oregon families and visitors. Arts organizations will remain intact. Workers will keep their jobs and downtown businesses wont lose out.

In addition, PSUs plan is exciting because of what it could mean for students of all ages and artists across our community. It would bolster the citys arts reputation, seed new arts organizations and inspire and train the artists and stagecraft professionals of the future.

It is true that a 100-year investment in the performing arts will be expensive. Only Portland State brings a diverse set of funding sources to the $448 million 3,000-seat venue, as well as the potential for state bonds for the educational facilities. The opportunity for an arts organization to co-locate at the site adds to its attractiveness.

If you add up all those funding pluses  and subtract the millions in economic losses that a two-year Keller closure would cause  then the choice is clear. The PSU proposal is best.

Our city must make bold moves to regain its global reputation. The time to act is right now.

Many ask: What will happen to the Keller? The answer is: something amazing. We have years to figure out whats next and how to redevelop it into a new jewel in Portlands crown.

This important decision by the Portland City Council would unlock decades of excitement and potential for downtown Portland and be a hundred-year arts and culture legacy for our region.

Lets get this done.

Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email:


Retirement ages vary worldwide. In countries like Greece, Luxembourg, and South Korea, the normal retirement age is 62. bluecinema/Getty Images

Retirement ages vary worldwide, from between 66 and 67 in the US to 57 for women in Colombia.

The normal retirement age is when people are eligible for full retirement benefits without penalty.

Countries like Greece boast a normal retirement age of 62.

Retirement looks different depending on the person  and the country.

In the US, people born between 1943 and 1954 can collect full Social Security benefits at age 66. For people born after 1960, the age jumps to 67.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines normal retirement age as the age at which people can receive full benefits without penalty, assuming they've worked a full career since they were 22 years old.

While the US retirement age is comparable to Iceland, Denmark, and the UK, other countries allow citizens to collect full retirement benefits earlier. In Colombia, for instance, women can retire when they're 57.

As of 2022, the average normal retirement age for men is 64.4 across the OECD's 38 member countries. For women, the average normal retirement age is 63.6.

These nine countries have normal retirement ages of 62 or below, according to the OECD's 2023 report on pensions. The report uses 2022 data  the latest available  that is based on information provided by countries to the OECD.

Greece

Santorini, Greece. The normal retirement age in Greece is 62. Maglara/Getty Images

The normal retirement age in Greece is 62.

Famed for its gorgeous islands, rich history, and warm Mediterranean water, Greece is a hot destination for summer tourists and retirees.

South Korea

Seoul, South Korea. The normal retirement age for men and women in South Korea is 62. CJNattanai/Getty Images

The normal retirement age in South Korea is 62.

According to the OECD, South Korea's pension system was developed in the late 1980s.

Luxembourg

The normal retirement age for men and women in Luxembourg is 62. Xantana/Getty Images

The normal retirement age in Luxembourg is 62.

In 2023, Luxembourg's neighboring country, France, raised its retirement age from 62 to 64, sparking a public backlash.

Slovenia

The normal retirement age for men and women in Slovenia is 62. xbrchx/Getty Images

The normal retirement age in Slovenia is 62.

Slovenia is known for its lakes, castles, and natural beauty. The country shares a border with Italy, Austria, Croatia, and Hungary.

Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, the normal retirement age is 62 for men and 60 for women. mbrand85/Getty Images

In Costa Rica, the retirement age differs for men and women. Men can retire by 62, and women can retire by 60.

Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula is a Blue Zone, meaning residents live longer and healthier lives than the global average.

Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey. The normal retirement age in Turkey is 52 for men and 49 for women. Seqoya/Getty Images

The normal retirement age in Turkey is 52 for men and 49 for women.

Turkey is an outlier with its early retirement age, but according to the OECD, it will rise to 65 for men starting work in 2022.

Colombia

Bogota, Colombia. The normal retirement age in Colombia is 62 for men and 57 for women. Arturo Rosenow/Getty Images

The normal retirement age for men in Colombia is 62.

For women, the retirement age is 57, one of the lowest retirement ages among OECD member countries.

Story continues

Indonesia

Jakarta, Indonesia. The normal retirement age in Indonesia is 58. Fadil Aziz/Getty Images

In Indonesia, men and women can retire by 58, making it a country with one of the youngest retirement ages.

Indonesia is not one of the 38 OECD member countries but is a candidate.

India

Mumbai, India. The normal retirement age in India is 58. Alex Robinson Photography/Getty Images

The normal retirement age in India is 58.

Similar to Indonesia, India is not an OECD member country but is a key partner of the OECD.

Are you an American who retired abroad? This reporter wants to hear your story. Reach out at jtowfighi@businessinsider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
Amy Wang

Wang is the former books columnist at The Oregonian/OregonLive. She interviewed Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn about their 2020 book, Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope.

When the door closed on Nicholas Kristofs campaign for Oregon governor, a window opened.

All of a sudden, I had time on my hands, Kristof said recently from his familys Yamhill County farm. It seemed the perfect moment to do a book.

Kristof, a longtime New York Times columnist, left his job in October 2021 to run as a Democrat for governor in the state where his family put down roots when he was 12. Three months later, in January 2022, then-Secretary of State Shemia Fagan ruled that Kristof didnt meet Oregons three-year residency requirement for gubernatorial candidates. The Oregon Supreme Court upheld Fagans decision, ending Kristofs campaign.

The book he wrote afterward is a 433-page memoir, Chasing Hope: A Reporters Life, that came out in May, shortly after Kristofs 65th birthday. I thought that the narrative of my career would be a way to try to bring readers into issues that I care about, from journalism to human rights around the world to the challenges that we face in politics, he said.

Kristof started in journalism at age 16 as a part-time reporter with the News-Register in McMinnville. Then came stints at the Statesman Journal in Salem, The Oregonian and The Washington Post before he was hired at age 25 by The New York Times, which has been his professional home since.

Hes won two Pulitzer Prizes, one with wife Sheryl WuDunn in 1990 for their coverage of the Chinese governments bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, and one in 2006 for what judges called graphic, deeply reported columns that, at personal risk, focused attention on genocide in Darfur and that gave voice to the voiceless in other parts of the world.

Here are excerpts from a recent conversation with Kristof about life since his gubernatorial run and Chasing Hope.

Q: Did you ever think again about trying to run for office?

Kristof: I dont think so. I mean, it was an amazing adventure. Im glad I did. It was fascinating to have been so proximate to politics for so long, and then it really was fairly different on the other side.

As a journalist or as an author, Im paid to be provocative and to piss people off periodically. And when I diagnose Portlands problems, I think one reason is that the mayor has sometimes been too reluctant to piss people off. And I came to understand why, in political life, its really hard to show that kind of leadership and bulldog ones way through, past constituencies that you rely on and that dont want you to do something or want you to say something different.

So I came to value the perch that I have right now where I can absolutely antagonize people every hour of the day.

Q: You recently wrote a column, What Have We Liberals Done to the West Coast?, taking West Coast liberalism to task for the problems that Oregon and other West Coast states are facing. Whats the response been like?

Kristof: Well, there were certainly a lot of West Coast liberals who were upset and angry. I was not surprised that I had a lot of eggs thrown at me, metaphorically.

I was actually surprised by how many liberals wrote and said, Just right. You can be deeply liberal and not want your catalytic converter stolen. You just cant walk through San Francisco or Portland or Seattle today and think, This is a triumph of good governance. And that is as obvious to liberals as to conservatives. Because I am a liberal, I have more latitude to say that and get away with it. And I think that I also have some responsibility to do so.

Q: You wrote in your book that your campaign was leaning toward the message Oregon can do better. Are you still behind that message?

Kristof: Oh, absolutely.

Its great that we have compassion and good intentions. But the metric is whether you do get people housed, whether you do get people through high school and into college or some kind of tactical training program into a job. Whether you get treatment for people with substance use disorder and can help get them off drugs.

Good intentions are not enough, and I think in Portland, Seattle, elsewhere, weve too often let ourselves be lulled by our good intentions. We pay too much attention to inputs and not enough to outcomes.

Q: Did you have a particular goal for this memoir?

Kristof: I was particularly pissed off at the denunciations of journalism. You know, those T-shirts (Rope. Tree. Journalist. Some Assembly Required.) I find it painful to see those. And so, I wanted to say something about journalism. But you know, in fairness, I also think that we in journalism have screwed up an awful lot. And so I thought this was a chance to write about that.

I was troubled by the state of the state. My 10-minute political career didnt do anything to address that. But, you know, maybe at the margins, writing about some of these issues can help illuminate some of those challenges.

More broadly, I look at the number of Americans whove been left behind, and I think the country has really failed them. I think that there tends to be in liberal circles, like my own, condescension toward a lot of working-class Americans that I think is unhelpful and wrong. And so, to the extent that is probably who my book audience is, it was a way of pointing out the distress in a lot of parts from America and the need to do a better job to try to lift people up and provide more opportunity.

Q: What was your favorite part of this book to write?

Kristof: I think the China parts, partly because democracy has been under great stress in the United States. And I think we can learn something from the heroic struggle for democracy that I witnessed at Tiananmen Square (in Beijing in 1989) and before and after.

I think that period also illuminated some really tough ethical challenges for journalists. When I helped Liu Xiang, this dissident, escape from China, that was probably the most unprofessional thing Ive ever done. It could well have been a firing offense. But it was also one of the things that Im proudest of having done.

Q: What was the most challenging part of this book for you to write?

Kristof: One of the things that I had wondered about was the accuracy of my memories. So, I would often call up people I hadnt spoken to for decades and say, This is how I remember it, how do you remember it? And actually, our memories really did coincide to a remarkable degree. Probably because these were really traumatic, particular memories that did tend to be frozen in your consciousness. And I think I had a clearer sense in writing about one incident after another that at times I really had been unfair to Sheryl and the kids  that I was often so focused on getting the story in Darfur, or in Iraq, that I probably took more risks than I should have.

Its an impossible balance. How do you not cover genocide abroad? But how do you risk leaving your kids without a dad? Theres no real balance to be found. But in writing the book, I saw just how often I had placed that burden on them.

Q: What advice would you give your 25-year-old self?

Kristof: Its the distinction between the resume virtues and the eulogy virtues.

I was certainly very focused on being the youngest national correspondent at the Times or the youngest foreign correspondent at the Times, getting a Pulitzer, and those obviously were certainly very satisfying.

But the things that have been most important to my well-being have been much more about family, have been much more about having friends with whom I can laugh and heal. And the most important journalism Ive done has really been about trying to make a difference here and there, whether or not there is any prize at the end of it.

I would advise myself back then to find a purpose and to harness your journalism to that purpose and damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.

Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email:


The Oregonian/OregonLives Hillary Borrud showed that Oregon relied heavily on Sean Keys companies to house and feed wildfire survivors, asylum seekers and others throughout the state since 2021, (Oregon paid his companies $70 million. Personal tax, business debts are piling up, July 21). Thats great. But whats not so great is that Keys companies have accumulated $718,000 in unpaid property taxes going back two years. In addition, Keys is delinquent on more than $913,000 in personal state income taxes.

I agree with Frankline Muthomi, a Portland State University assistant professor of public policy. Muthomi was quoted as saying that while tax delinquency shouldnt always prevent government officials from awarding a contract, repeatedly securing government contracts despite a history of delinquency is different. The Oregon Legislature should consider regulation to prevent that kind of abuse, Muthomi said.
For Cleo Sandler, graphic novels like Maus and Gender Queer, or novels like Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye, are close at hand. But for many readers across the country, thats not the case.

After all, these are all commonly banned books.

Banned books are titles that have been removed from libraries, or relocated to sections where children or young adults are less likely to find them, in order to censor content typically deemed too explicit or inappropriate. Removal requests have targeted other things, too, such as CDs, DVDs and video games.

More and more people  largely parents, library patrons and activist groups  are challenging what they think should be accessible in shared spaces.

According to the American Library Association, the number of unique book ban requests has increased nationally by more than 128% in the last three years, jumping from more than 1,800 in 2021 to about 4,200 in 2023.

Nearly half of the challenges target titles related to the LGBTQ+ community and people of color.

The cool thing about literature is that you can have your mind opened to different perspectives, said Cleo, a sophomore at Corvallis High School whos passionate about book accessibility. And when people are censoring those books, youre basically saying, My mind is just closed to these other perspectives.

Earlier this year, state lawmakers debated how to handle this issue. Senate Bill 1583 would have prohibited school book bans that discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community, people of color or religious groups. The bill passed the Senate but did not make it through the House before the session ended.

And while book challenges have historically focused on school libraries, that shifted in the last year. On top of ongoing school challenges, data from the American Library Association shows ban requests have gone up 92% at public libraries.

A staff member at Corvallis-Benton County Public Library shelves books.Olivia Wang

One Oregon library is defying national trends and keeping the number of challenges down to single digits almost every year.

The Corvallis-Benton County Public Library has addressed concerns while keeping its collection more complete by using three key strategies: conversations with patrons, compromises and specific policies.

This, director Ashlee Chavez says, allows the library to fulfill its responsibility of serving an entire community  people of all ages, all backgrounds and all lifestyles.

The Corvallis library receives around six challenges a year on average, Chavez said. In most scenarios, patrons asked to remove or relocate specific books because they seemed too explicit for the intended audience. The challenges, she said, did not appear to single out any groups of people.

Theres not too much political divisiveness in Corvallis, Cleo said. The high schooler serves as the student representative on the librarys advisory board and is a member of the queer community. The people who are against (LGBTQ+ issues) and would want to ban those books are going to be the minority.

Still, some people have tried.

The library saw a kind of informal censorship, for example, when a person took some of the librarys anti-racism titles and put them in bathroom trash cans.

There have also been challenges from the other side of the ideological spectrum, like when people have challenged books for being derogatory toward women or racist.

Censorship can fall on either side, Chavez said. It doesnt really matter what your values are.

Ashlee Chavez is director of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library.Olivia Wang

For parents like Deanna Page, banned books arent top of mind, but she does think about what she wants her 5-year-old daughter, Lily, to be exposed to.

I grew up on Dr. Seuss, and I know that some of his books can be considered controversial, Page said. While she likes sharing books she grew up with, Page is paying attention to how literature is evolving over time.

I was just reading things to read, Page said of her own childhood. Now, I think (kids) are going to be a little more cognitively aware of what theyre reading.

In one way or the other, she said, its going to really affect them.

One of the biggest ways Corvallis has kept the number of challenged book requests low, Chavez said, is by making connections with library patrons. The challenge form isnt available on the librarys website; library officials hope that people will talk their concerns through with staff first.

When someone comes up and asks or shares a concern, the first thing we do is try and have a conversation, she said.

Im not here to try and change someones mind, Chavez added. Its not something I think is gonna happen, and I dont think I can really do it within the limits of my job.

The library staff also work to find a middle ground.

For example, Chavez said a group of pediatricians a few years ago challenged a book that they believed inaccurately characterized vaccinations.

Ultimately, the library decided the books content didnt warrant removal; however, they found a compromise. The pediatricians instead donated different books that they argued provided more accurate information to libraries around the area.

But one of the librarys policies in particular creates a crucial stopgap.

Across the country, some groups have mounted campaigns to challenge books at multiple public libraries, even ones they havent been to, often challenging hundreds of books at a time.

But in order to challenge a book in Corvallis, a patron has to be eligible for a library card. That means they live, work, go to school or own property in the county. This, Chavez said, helps prevent some of the bulk ban requests seen elsewhere.

The result? People in Corvallis can access a wider range of material.

Diversity in literature is super, super important because literature is how we learn about different peoples experiences, Cleo said, even if theyre experiences we disagree with or that are different from our own.

 Olivia Wang, West Linn High School

This story was produced by a student reporter as part of the High School Journalism Institute, an annual collaboration among The Oregonian/OregonLive, Oregon State University and other media organizations. For more information or to support the program, go to oregonlive.com/hsji.
Thousands of firefighters battling a wildfire in Northern California received some help from the weather hours after it exploded in size, scorching an area greater than the size of Los Angeles. The blaze was one of several tearing through the western United States and Canada, fueled by wind and heat.

Cooler temperatures and an increase in humidity could help slow the Park fire, the largest this year in California. Its intensity and dramatic spread led fire officials to make unwelcome comparisons to the monstrous Camp fire, which burned out of control in nearby Paradise in 2018, killing 85 people and torching 11,000 homes.

Paradise again was near the danger zone on Saturday. The entire town was under an evacuation warning, one of several communities in Butte County. Evacuation orders were also issued in Plumas, Tehama and Shasta counties. An evacuation warning calls for people to prepare to leave and await instructions, while an evacuation order means to leave immediately.

Temperatures are expected to be cooler than average through the middle of next week, but that doesnt mean that fires that are existing will go away, said Marc Chenard, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.

As of Saturday night, the Park Fire had scorched 547 square miles and destroyed 134 structures since igniting Wednesday, when authorities said a man pushed a burning car into a gully in Chico and then fled. It was 10% contained and moving to the north and east near Chico.

The fire is larger than the city of Los Angeles, which covers about 469 square miles (1,214 square kilometers), and now ranks seventh on the list of the states top 10 largest wildfires by acreage, Cal Fire said in a social media post.

Nearly 2,500 firefighters were battling the blaze, aided by 16 helicopters and numerous air tankers.

Jeremy Pierce, a Cal Fire operations section chief, said firefighters were taking advantage of the cooler weather while it lasts: Were having great success today.

Susan Singleton and her husband packed their SUV with clothes, some food and their seven dogs and rushed to evacuate their home this week in Cohasset, a town of about 400 northeast of Chico. They have since learned that their house burned down.

Everything else we had burned up, but getting them out, getting us out, was my priority, Singleton said Saturday, standing outside her SUV as her dogs rested. They have all been sleeping in the car outside a Red Cross shelter at a church that does not allow animals, and Singleton, 59, said the next thing is to find a place for her pets to stretch out.

Weve got to have a place to land and stop doing this, because this is whats stressing me out, she said.

Overall more than 110 active fires covering 2,800 square miles were burning in the U.S. as of Friday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

In Southern California, a blaze in the Sequoia National Forest swept through the community of Havilah after burning more than 48 square miles in less than three days. The town of 250 people had been under an evacuation order.

Crews were also making progress on a complex of fires in the Plumas National Forest near the California-Nevada line, Forest Service spokesperson Adrienne Freeman said. Traffic was backed up for miles near the border along the main highway linking Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

The most damage so far has been to the Canadian Rockies Jasper National Park, where 25,000 people were forced to flee and the parks namesake, a World Heritage site, was devastated, with 358 of the towns 1,113 structures destroyed.

Late Friday in eastern Washington, crews stopped the progress of a fire near Tyler that destroyed three homes and five outbuildings, the Washington Department of Natural Resources said.

Two fires in eastern Oregon, the Durkee and Cow Valley blazes, burned about 660 square miles.

And in Idaho, homes, outbuildings and a commercial building were among structures lost in several communities including Juliaetta, which was evacuated Thursday. The grouping of blazes referred to as the Gwen Fire was estimated at 41 square miles in size with no containment.

 By NIC COURY, EUGENE GARCIA and OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ Associated Press

Garcia reported from Chico, California, and Rodriguez from San Francisco. Associated Press writers Becky Bohrer, John Antczak, Rio Yamat, David Sharp, Holly Ramer, Sarah Brumfield, Claire Rush, Terry Chea, Scott Sonner, Martha Bellisle and Amy Hanson contributed.
VALE  A faint smell of smoke permeated the air and orange, smoke-filtered sunlight fell on Vale Elementary School as most of the team that has managed the response to two massive wildfires in eastern Oregon was preparing to leave after two weeks of duty.
Generally, when a single insider buys stock, it is usually not a big deal. However, when several insiders are buying, like in the case of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE:AAP), it sends a favourable message to the company's shareholders.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

Check out our latest analysis for Advance Auto Parts

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Advance Auto Parts

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Independent Chairman Eugene Lee bought US$500k worth of shares at a price of US$57.65 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, at around the current price, which is US$60.76. Of course they may have changed their mind. But this suggests they are optimistic. If someone buys shares at well below current prices, it's a good sign on balance, but keep in mind they may no longer see value. In this case we're pleased to report that the insider purchases were made at close to current prices.

In the last twelve months insiders purchased 20.93k shares for US$1.5m. But insiders sold 1.86k shares worth US$160k. In total, Advance Auto Parts insiders bought more than they sold over the last year. The average buy price was around US$70.25. This is nice to see since it implies that insiders might see value around current prices. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

Advance Auto Parts is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find small cap companies at attractive valuations, this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Advance Auto Parts Insiders Bought Stock Recently

There was some insider buying at Advance Auto Parts over the last quarter. Executive VP of Human Resources & CHRO Kristen Soler purchased US$30k worth of shares in that period. It's great to see that insiders are only buying, not selling. But the amount invested in the last three months isn't enough for us too put much weight on it, as a single factor.

Does Advance Auto Parts Boast High Insider Ownership?

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Insiders own 0.6% of Advance Auto Parts shares, worth about US$22m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders.

Story continues

So What Do The Advance Auto Parts Insider Transactions Indicate?

We note a that there has been a bit of insider buying recently (but no selling). Overall the buying isn't worth writing home about. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Overall we don't see anything to make us think Advance Auto Parts insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. While it's good to be aware of what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Advance Auto Parts (of which 1 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about.

But note: Advance Auto Parts may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
The Ghana Police Service has filed an injunction to prevent the Gen-Z demonstration from taking place.



The seven-day protest, scheduled from July 31 to August 6, 2024, aims to bring over 2 million young people onto the streets of Accra.



The demonstration intends to address severe economic hardships primarily affecting the youth, driving many into drug addiction, dangerous migrations, and some even joining terrorist groups.



Protesters also aim to challenge the heavy taxes imposed by the government, including the controversial betting tax, COVID-19 tax, sanitation tax, and increased internet data taxes.



Additionally, the protest seeks to express Gen-Z's strong disapproval of the widespread corruption and nepotism allegedly characterising the incumbent administration.



The court is scheduled to hear the injunction application on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.



Reacting to this, the conveners of the demonstration have pledged to defend their right to protest, citing constitutional provisions that protect citizens' rights to demonstrate.



It appears the organisers are taking a cue from the massive protests by the young people of Kenya which has forced the President to make drastic changes.

Source: myjoyonline.com









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

Featured Video
NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Afigya Kwabre North, Collins Adomako Mensah says former President John Dramani Mahama cannot run away from having a debate with Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.



The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has called for a debate between him and Mr. Mahama to tell Ghanaians their vision in hope of winning their votes on December 7 but the National Democratic Congress has refused to let their presidential candidate debate the Veep.



This notwithstanding, Collins Adomako says the presidential debate will surely come off.



He's asked Mr. Mahama to avail himself and meet Dr. Bawumia to present their policies and compare track records.



Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Collins Adomako said; "We will force him to debate...I plead with His Excellency Mahama; we all know he is a good communicator. He should come and let's have a debate. Bawumia is ready."



He added; "The interesting thing is that, normally, from history even in Ghana, it is the candidate in opposition who is more eager. The one in opposition is always calling for a debate but this time round, it is the candidate in power who the economy has even become a problem for him who says I am prepared to defend my record."



"Debate helps us Ghanaians; how you can think sharp on your feet. It's important; it's very, very important...It will give us an opportunity to listen to the two leading candidates."



"Why are you afraid?", he queried Ex-President Mahama.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

Featured Video
Former US president Donald Trump claimed Friday, July 26 that conflicts in the Middle East could escalate into a third World War if he loses the 2024 election.



The Republican nominee for president made those remarks as he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort home.



Netanyahu traveled to Florida to meet with Trump after meeting with Uas President Biden and presumptive Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington, D.C., earlier this week, following his Wednesday address to a joint session of Congress. .



At Mar-a-Lago, Trump told reporters that Harris is "worse" on Middle East issues and claimed Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza could expand into a wider regional conflict if she succeeds Biden, who announced Sunday that he would not seek re-election.



"We'll see how it goes. But if it all works out, if we win, it'll be very simple. It's all going to work out. And very quickly," Trump said.



"If we don't, you're going to end up with major wars in the Middle East. And maybe a third World War. You are closer to a third World War right now than at any time since the Second World War. We've never been so close because we have incompetent people running the country."



Trump's remarks come amid a reported diplomatic issue between Harris and Netanyahu which occurred after their meeting Thursday.



In comments after the meeting, Harris said she told the Israeli prime minister that she "will always ensure that Israel is able to defend itself, including from Iran and Iran-backed militias such as Hamas and Hezbollah."



"I also expressed with the Prime Minister my serious concern about the scale of human suffering in Gaza, including the death of far too many innocent civilians. And I made clear my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there," she added, calling for an end to the war and the release of all hostages held in Hamas captivity.



Harris' criticisms of Israel's conduct in the Gaza war reportedly irked Netanyahu, according to Axios. The prime minister has repeatedly said fighting must continue until Hamas is eliminated, even if hostages are released.



Asked about Harris' comments Friday, Netanyahu told reporters Israel still hopes for a cease-fire deal.



"We're trying to get one. And I think, to the extent that Hamas understands that there's no daylight between Israel and the United States, that expedites the deal. And I hope that those comments don't change that," Netanyahu said.



The Mar-a-Lago meeting is the first face-to-face contact Netanyahu has had with Trump since the Republican nominee left the White House in 2020.



Their relationship strained when Netanyahu congratulated President-elect Biden on his victory that year, which prompted Trump to call out the Israeli leader. "I haven't spoken to him since," Trump told Israeli journalist Barak Ravid that year. "F--k him," the former president added.















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

Featured Video
Ranking Member of Parliaments Finance Committee, Isaac Adongo, has assured Ghanaians that John Mahama will fix the economic challenges of the country if elected back to power.



Speaking to NDC supporters in Tamale during the launch of the partys campaign, Isaac Adongo said the NDC administration in the past years have been the best government to solve the economic challenges.



According to him, the NDC will not have its President selling off mobile phones to Ghanaian youth instead of solving the countrys economic challenges.



The Bolgatanga Central MP noted that the challenges being faced by Ghanaians goes beyond selling mobile phones to Ghanaians for them to be paying in installments of one cedi and two cedis.



I can assure you that with John Dramani Mahama at the hem, I can assure you that with you are not going to see the Presidency at the Tiptoe lane selling mobile phones for GHC1.00 or GHC2.00.



We will find a solution to fixing the problems of our country and create opportunities for our youth. Let me tell you that the only political party that has the history, of fixing challenging economies in our country is the NDC, he assured.



His comments come on the back of a promise from the Vice President and flagbearer of the NPP, Dr. Bawumia, promising to create a credit scoring system where people can leverage to purchase mobile phones on credit and pay a cedi or two at the end of each month.

Source: 3news.com









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

Featured Video
(Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc.s upcoming artificial intelligence features will arrive later than anticipated, missing the initial launch of its upcoming iPhone and iPad software overhauls but giving the company more time to fix bugs.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The company is planning to begin rolling out Apple Intelligence to customers as part of software updates coming by October, according to people with knowledge of the matter. That means the AI features will arrive a few weeks after the initial iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 releases planned for September, said the people, who declined to be identified discussing unannounced release details.

Still, the iPhone maker is planning to make Apple Intelligence available to software developers for the first time for early testing as soon as this week via iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 betas, they added. The strategy is atypical as the company doesnt usually release previews of follow-up updates until around the time the initial version of the new software generation is released publicly.

The stakes are higher than usual. In order to ensure a smooth consumer release of its big bet on AI, Apple needs support from developers to help iron out issues and test features on a wider scale. Concerns over the stability of Apple Intelligence features, in part, led the company to split the features from the initial launch of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18.

Apple announced the new features and operating systems in June at its Worldwide Developers Conference, saying Apple Intelligence would debut as part of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. The new timing means the AI capabilities wont be widely launched until a subsequent update to the new operating system. An Apple spokesperson declined to comment.

The tech giant launched a fourth beta of iOS 18.0 to developers last week and is aiming to complete development by the end of July. When Apple introduces new iPhones each September, the company includes the accompanying new software. That necessitates finishing the operating system several weeks earlier so there is time to install the software on the devices before shipping them out of the factory.

The release plan for Apple Intelligence presents the possibility that the first iPhone 16 models shipped to consumers this year will lack the new AI features and require a software update weeks later. Apple Intelligence includes a range of features, including prioritization of key notifications, web page and voice note summaries, tools to improve writing, a revamp to Siri and integration of OpenAIs ChatGPT.

Story continues

Even when Apple Intelligence launches with iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1, it will be missing some features. That includes some of the most significant changes to Siri, such as the ability to use on-device data to help field queries and for the system to use what is on a persons screen to provide context for answers.

The company is planning to roll out its full set of Apple Intelligence features via multiple updates to iOS 18 across the end of 2024 and through the first half of 2025, Bloomberg News has reported. Beyond the iPhone and iPad, Apple Intelligence will come to its Mac computers with in-house Apple chips as part of macOS Sequoia. Its also in development for the Vision Pro, but a release for that device isnt planned until later.

The technology giant is betting on Apple Intelligence to help compete in the generative AI space that has taken the world by storm and upended both businesses and consumer devices over the past year. By limiting support to the iPhone 15 Pro from last year and the upcoming iPhone 16 line, Apple also believes the new features could help sell new iPhones this year.

The iPhone 16 line will have little in the way of design changes so software-related enhancements  in addition to a new button for controlling the camera and a faster chip  will do the heavy lifting to sell the new models.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
A single round was fired from a Pennsylvania State Police troopers pistol during an arrest Saturday evening in the Greencastle area, but no serious injuries were reported, according to police.

In a press release, state police did not immediately say why the shot was fired or if it was directed at the man being arrested, identified as Brett Daniel Crone, age 43.

According to state police, troopers were seeking Crone on a warrant from York County related to witness intimidation. Troopers had earlier issued Crone with a protection-from-abuse order, according to police.

Around 8:40 p.m., Crone was seen driving his vehicle in a residential area near Interstate 81 just north of the Maryland border, according to police. Crone failed to stop, but troopers used legal intervention to terminate the pursuit in the area of Camden Drive, state police wrote.

While taking Crone into custody, a single round was discharged from a troopers pistol, according to the police narrative.

Crone experienced a minor injury during the arrest and no troopers were injured, according to state police. Crone was jailed in Franklin County.
By Nancy Cook, Josh Wingrove and Jenny Leonard, Bloomberg News (TNS)

Vice President Kamala Harris is zeroing in on a group of potential running mates, as she faces a two-week dash to make the biggest decision of her nascent presidential bid.

Harris is considering a wide range of vice presidential candidates from the Democratic Partys bench, though people familiar with the process say a short list has emerged that includes three elected officials with nationwide appeal: Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Kevin Munoz, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, said she directed her team to begin the process of vetting potential running mates but declined to elaborate on the search.

Harris is expected to make a selection by Aug. 7, in order to align with the partys plan to virtually nominate a ticket by that date.

Picking a vice presidential candidate will cement the Democratic standard-bearers to take on Republican nominee Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance in the November election. Harris sidekick can serve as a force multiplier who can campaign and raise money on her behalf, while ideally complementing her strengths and covering any vulnerabilities.

Most on Harris list are white, male politicians with centrist leanings who could help Harris appeal to swing-state voters, as well as business leaders and donors. They have a track record of attacking Trump and his firebrand style of politics. Walz has gained momentum with progressives, enough to vault himself into consideration, according to people familiar with the matter.

Allies of Harris say chemistry between the vice president and whoever she picks is just as important as their political attributes. Harris knows firsthand the pressures of being No. 2 on the Democratic ticket and is weighing her experience as she makes a selection, according to her supporters.

Harris ascension to become the likely Democratic nominee, after President Joe Bidens stunning exit from the race, has accelerated what is typically a monthslong vetting process of potential running mates. The pick will take place amid a furious effort by Harris to shape the Biden campaign operation in her image, define herself to voters and expand her war chest  all with roughly 100 days until Election Day.

Democrats cautioned that the search must still be thorough in order to catch any red flags. Those warnings took on new urgency as old clips emerged of Vance making disparaging comments about childless women, which have come under widespread criticism.

As the Trump team is finding out, its not just the legal vetting that the team has to do, but it also has to go through tweets, speeches and clips, said Democratic strategist Karen Finney. You want a thorough vet, and you want to go through a substantial volume of background info to give you a picture of the person.

Former Attorney General Eric Holder is leading the vetting process. Holders law firm, Covington & Burling LLP, has 12 to 15 files on candidates, according to one person familiar with the process, showing Harris initially cast a wide net.

19 1 / 19 Vice President Kamala Harris campaign Weekend of Action kickoff with Gov. Shapiro

Shapiro is a popular governor of arguably the most important swing state, and a skilled orator who has performed strongly in rural areas, a weakness for Democrats. Walz, a former teacher and Army National Guard member, could dash Trumps hopes of making Minnesota competitive and mirror Vances Midwestern appeal.

Kellys state doubles as a battleground and border area, and he has broken with Biden on immigration issues. His wife, Gabrielle Giffords, is a former congresswoman who became a gun control activist after surviving an assassination attempt in 2011.

Harris also is looking at the Biden Cabinet for options. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are being vetted, the people said.

A Harris campaign official said she is evaluating potential picks based on shared political values, including on the economy and democracy, and their ability to act as a governing partner and lead the country, if necessary.

The switch from Biden to Harris has energized Democrats, who have gathered tens of thousands on organizing calls and given millions of dollars in donations since the president dropped out. The challenge for Harris is to sustain that momentum.
WWE Hall of Famer Abdullah the Butcher has been hospitalized for nearly a week in Georgia, according to PWInsider.com.

The site said the 83-year-old has been dealing with an intestinal issue.

It is another tough blow for Abdullah, whose real name is Larry Shreve. He told Click on Detroit last year that he is broke.

Shreve told the site that a big reason for that came when he lost a lawsuit for $2.3 million. Shreve blamed his inability to read or write for the loss, saying that he didnt know he was being summoned to court. That, he said, caused a default judgement. According to reports, that lawsuit was filed by Devin Nicholson, who claimed that Shreve gave him Hepatitis C during a match and cost him a contract with the WWE.

Shreve, who once ran two restaurants  one in Atlanta and one in Japan  called Abdullah the Butchers House of Ribs and Chinese Food, also claimed he has lost those establishments.

You got a lot of people who try to take what you worked all your life for, he said then. In my opinion, Ive been ripped off so bad its unbelievable, and Im still getting ripped off.

You can check out the entire story about the 2011 WWE Hall of Fame inductee, here.
By Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune (TNS)

Abbott Laboratories must pay $495 million in damages in the case of a girl who developed a serious gastrointestinal disease as a premature infant after consuming Abbott formula, a Missouri jury decided Friday evening.

The jury awarded the girl $95 million in compensatory damages and said the company must pay $400 million in punitive damages, half of which will go to the girl and half of which will go to the state of Missouri, said attorneys representing the family.

The lawsuit is one of hundreds against north suburban-based Abbott and Mead Johnson alleging that their formulas for premature infants cause necrotizing enterocolitis, a disease of the intestinal tract, in which tissue lining the intestine becomes inflamed and dies.

This was the first case against Abbott over the issue to go to trial.

In a similar case that went to trial earlier this year in Illinois against Mead Johnson, a jury awarded $60 million in damages to a woman whose son died of NEC after consuming Mead Johnsons cows-milk-based premature infant formula.

The Abbott trial began earlier this month in Missouri Circuit Court in St. Louis after Illinois resident Margo Gill sued the company. Gill alleged her daughter Robynn Davis was given Abbotts cows-milk-based infant feeding products as a premature infant, which caused her to develop NEC. Davis, who was born in 2021, had to undergo extensive surgery because of her NEC diagnosis and continues to suffer from long-term health issues.

Despite knowing of the risk of NEC, Abbott did not warn of the significantly increased risk of NEC (and resulting medical conditions, and/or death) associated with its products, or of the magnitude of this increased risk, the lawsuit alleged.

Abbott lawyers argued that the girls condition was caused by trauma at birth, before she consumed the formula, Reuters reported.

Abbott said in a statement Friday evening: We strongly disagree with the verdict which was not unanimous, and continue to believe that Robynns condition is a tragedy for which no one is to blame. We will pursue all avenues to have the erroneous decision overturned.

According to the National Institutes of Health, preterm and low-birth-weight babies are at higher risk of developing NEC, potentially because of their immature digestive systems, and about 15% to 40% of infants with the disease die.

In 2011, the U.S. surgeon general acknowledged that formula feeding was associated with higher rates of NEC for premature infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics in its March 2012 policy statement supporting breastfeeding also noted that studies have shown that feeding preterm infants human milk is associated with a significant reduction in incidences of NEC. The AAP formally recommends breastfeeding or human donor milk to reduce the chance of NEC in premature babies.
This work is part of a project to maintain or repair Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) equipment in multiple counties.PennDOT

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced that there will be nighttime lane restrictions this week on Interstate 83 so a contractor can trim trees around overhead message boards between Exit 45 (Paxton Street/Bass Pro Drive) and 29th Street in Swatara Township, Dauphin County.

Weather permitting, this work will be performed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Monday through Friday nights. There will be right lane closures in both directions of I-83 during work hours, a press release said.

Motorists should be alert and drive with caution through the work zone.

This work is part of a project to maintain or repair Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) equipment in multiple counties in the PennDOT District 8 south central Pennsylvania region, as well as elsewhere in the state.

Kuharchik Construction, Inc., of Exeter, Pa., is the contractor on this $5,583,518 project. All work on this contract is expected to be completed by July 2, 2027.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following local alerts on X.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties at PennDOT District 8.
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

Go to form
(Reuters) -Apple's upcoming artificial intelligence features will arrive later than anticipated and will miss the initial launch of upcoming iPhone and iPad software overhauls, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday.

The iPhone maker is planning to begin rolling out Apple Intelligence to customers as part of software updates coming by October, the report added, citing people familiar with the matter. AI features will arrive a few weeks after the initial iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 releases planned for September, Bloomberg said.

Apple is planning to make Apple Intelligence available to software developers for the first time for early testing as soon as this week via iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 betas, the report added.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.

In June, Apple underscored its AI push with a slew of new features and software enhancements for its iPhone and other devices to bolster sagging sales.

Apple Intelligence, which uses AI to conjure text, images and other content on command, would be available on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and Mac with its M1 chip and later versions. iPhone Mirroring on MacOS Sequoia allows the phone's screen to be viewed and interacted with on Mac computers.

The report comes after Apple in late June delayed launching three new artificial intelligence features because landmark European Union tech rules require it to ensure that rival products and services can function with its device.

(Reporting by Gursimran Kaur in BengaluruEditing by Chris Reese)
In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape, adaptability is not just a desirable trait for leaders  it is a critical one. The rapid pace of technological advancements, shifting market dynamics, and unforeseen global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have underscored the necessity for leaders to be agile and responsive. The ability to adapt allows leaders to navigate through uncertainty, seize emerging opportunities, and maintain a competitive edge. This article explores the significance of adaptability in business leadership and how it contributes to organizational success.

Navigating uncertainty and change  One of the most compelling reasons adaptability is crucial for leaders is the need to navigate uncertainty and change. The business environment is inherently unpredictable, with new challenges and opportunities arising unexpectedly. Leaders who are adaptable can pivot strategies, objectives and tactics, reallocate resources, and make swift decisions to address these changes. For instance, during the pandemic, businesses that quickly adapted to remote work, takeaway meals, digital transformation, and new customer demands were better positioned to survive and thrive.

Fostering innovation and creativity  Adaptable leaders are often more open to innovative ideas and creative solutions. They understand that what worked yesterday may not work tomorrow and are willing to explore new approaches. This mindset fosters a culture of innovation within the organization, encouraging employees to think outside the box and experiment without fear of failure. As a result, companies can develop cutting-edge products and services that meet evolving market needs.

Enhancing employee engagement and retention  Employees are more likely to be engaged and loyal to organizations led by adaptable leaders. Such leaders are perceived as being flexible, open-minded, and supportive of their teams. They are better at understanding and addressing the diverse needs of their workforce, leading to higher job satisfaction and retention rates. By creating a dynamic and inclusive work environment, adaptable leaders help employees feel valued and motivated to contribute their best efforts.

Building resilient organizations  Adaptability is a cornerstone of organizational resilience. Leaders who can anticipate and respond to disruptions are better equipped to maintain business continuity and recover from setbacks. This resilience not only protects the organization during crises but also positions it to capitalize on new opportunities that arise from change. Adaptable leaders invest in building robust systems, processes, and cultures that can withstand and adapt to external shocks.

Story continues

Leveraging technology and data  In the digital age, the ability to leverage technology and data effectively is a key component of adaptability. Leaders must stay abreast of technological trends and integrate data-driven decision-making into their strategies. This enables organizations to optimize operations, enhance customer experiences, and gain actionable insights into market trends. Adaptable leaders who embrace digital transformation can drive significant improvements in efficiency and competitiveness.

Cultivating a learning culture  Adaptable leaders recognize the importance of continuous learning and development. They invest in upskilling their teams and encourage a growth mindset. By promoting ongoing education and professional development, leaders ensure that their workforce remains competent and prepared for future challenges. This culture of learning not only boosts individual performance but also enhances the organization's overall capability to adapt and innovate.

Managing emotions  When addressing adaptability one has to consider both internal resilience and external agility. Uncertainties can best be managed when emotions are in check. JT Thompson calls it positivity, when you have the resilience to adjust quickly, pivot and take a new direction without losing it. By managing your emotions, leaders can make rational decisions by clear evaluation of the facts of the situation. So, (1) recognize the emotional response to change or uncertainty, (2) use mindfulness techniques to cope with uncertainty and (3) rely on colleagues or health professionals as needed to remain adaptable in times of change and uncertainty.

There are some best practices that a small business leader can embrace: (1) Create a growth mindset through embracing change and promoting a lifelong learning culture. (2) Maintain the organizations focus on the customer by understanding their changing needs and adapting the offerings and approaches to satisfying customer needs, wants and desires. (3) Embrace planning to remain resilient, flexible and adaptable. (4) Continually keeping ones eye on external environmental factors that affect the organization and make changes that are necessary in a timely manner. (5) Be innovative by creatively looking at all situations your organization faces and reward innovative thinking among team members. (6) Enhance organizational communications both internal and external and encourage feedback to maximize outcomes from initiatives. (7) Leverage technology by continually adding team members that bring access to new technology, problem solving skills and a willing to adopt lifelong learning values.

The importance of adaptability in business leadership cannot be overstated. In an era marked by rapid change and uncertainty, leaders who possess the ability to adapt are better positioned to guide their organizations to success. Adaptability enables leaders to navigate uncertainty, foster innovation, engage employees, build resilience, leverage technology, and cultivate a learning culture. As the business landscape continues to evolve, the ability to adapt will remain a defining trait of effective and impactful leadership. Organizations that prioritize adaptability at the leadership level will be well-equipped to thrive in the face of whatever the future holds.

Contributed by Marc L. Goldberg, Certified Mentor, SCORE Cape Cod & the Islands, www.score.org/capecod, 508/775-4884. Free and confidential mentoring, webinars and workshops. Source: 6 Ways to Develop Adaptability at the Workplace and Manage Change, www.profit.co/blog/employee-engagement

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Adaptable leaders are open to innovation, leading employees to do same
Przepraszamy!

Ogoszenie na stanowisku:

Client Service Delivery Administrator with Norwegian



wygaso z dniem 2024-08-07



Ta propozycja bya zozona przez Aon

Mozliwe przyczyny wygasniecia oferty to:

oferta zozona przez pracodawce zostaa wycofana z naszych zasobow

firma zakonczya proces rekrutacji uzyskujac odpowiednia ilosc pracownikow

firma zmodyfikowaa tresc ogoszenia i jest ono dostepne pod innym adresem url

dostawca tresci usuna ogoszenie z bazy danych

bedny adres WWW ogoszenia

Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w branzy Administracja biurowa, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Administracja biurowa

Jezeli poszukujesz pracy na stanowisku Client Service Delivery Administrator with Norwegian, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Client Service Delivery Administrator with Norwegian

Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w miescie: Krakow, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Krakow



Pamietaj, ze mozesz takze rozpoczac poszukiwanie pracy od strony gownej, kliknij tutaj.

Inne propozycje, ktore mogy byc w kregu Twoich zainteresowan:
Movie title: House Of Gaa

Release date: 26 July 2024

Running time: 2 hours 4 minutes

Director: Bolanle Austen-Peters

Casts: Jide JBlaze Oyegbile, Femi Adebayo, Ibrahim Chatta, Bimbo Manuel, Lateef Adedimeji, Mike Afolarin, Tosin Adeyemi, Toyin Abraham, Adeniyi Johnson, Femi Branch, Funke Akindele,

To what lengths will a man go to get what he wants? Insatiable, right? Thats the story of the epic Netflix movie House of Gaa , a title that symbolises the insatiable quest for power and the consequences it brings.

Amidst Netflixs recent collection of Yoruba films, like Ajakaju: Beast of Two Worlds, House of Gaa is an unforgettable epic.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

The story of Bashorun Gaa is a famous Yoruba real-life story of an Oyo-Ile tyrant. Adebayo Faleti wrote the novel Basorun Gaa, which the writer adapted for the stage and performed in 2010 by students. In 2004, Faleti shot a movie based on the story.

Netflixs House of Gaa is a captivating tale that entertains while delivering a didactic lesson. It is worthy of emulation for its excellent delivery and brilliant storytelling.

Though rooted in Yoruba tradition, its appeal transcends cultural boundaries. Its suspenseful plot and engaging dialogue appeal to both Yoruba and non-Yoruba speakers, keeping audiences hooked from start to finish. What could this story be about?

Plot

The movie begins with a gripping war scene between the Nupe and the Yoruba kingdom. Gaa and his sons lead the Yoruba to victory, earning Gaa the title of Bashorun of Oyo.

After the war, Gaa chooses a Nupe enslaved person, Zainab, as one of his servants, eventually making her his wife, which displeases his other wives. He appoints his brother Olokoye as the governor of Ibadan and his first son Olaotan as the governor of Dahomey and sends his other sons to govern Egbaland and Ilorin. However, he gives nothing to his younger brother Olubu, considering him a drunk and a family disgrace.

Gaas son, Oyemekun, was sent to Dahomey to be trained as a warrior. Oyemekun was in love with Princess Agbonyin, whom he had wanted to marry until his father married her off to his uncle Olokoye, the governor of Ibadan.

Meanwhile, as Bashorun, Gaa remembers how the Alaafin, when he was a crown prince, beat his older brother Oluke to death.

Gaa considers himself the most powerful man in the kingdom, refusing to bow even to the emperor. Fearful noblemen allowed Gaa to select the Alaafin, ensuring a ruler who would respect him and not demand his obedience.

Gaas resentment towards the Alaafin grows, leading him to conspire with the Oyomesi against any non-submissive Alaafins. This continues until Majeogbe becomes Alaafin. Majeogbe, aware of Gaas tricks, protects himself with charms and is determined to end Gaas authoritarian rule.

Majeogbes reign is marked by his efforts to stop Gaas violence. At the wedding of Olokoye and Princess Agbonyin, Majeogbe proposes a one-on-one sword fight between his best warrior and Gaas best warrior. Olaotan accepts the challenge, but Majeogbe insists that Oyemekun, who is less experienced, fight instead.

Majeogbes warrior, Idi Al-Farouk, is intimidating and skilled, but when Oyemekun struggles, Onisigun intervenes and stabs Idi, who kills Onisigun before dying. Devastated by his sons death, Gaa vows to destroy Majeogbe at any cost. But what could be the cost?

Character Analysis

House of Gaa features a star-studded cast of A-list Yoruba actors, including Jide JBlaze Oyegbile, Tosin Adeyemi, Toyin Abraham, Bimbo Manuel, and Lateef Adedimeji.

Femi Branch, Mike Afolarin, Femi Adebayo, Ibrahim Chatta, Adeniyi Johnson, and Funke Akindele also play significant roles.

Femi Branch leads with enthusiasm and conviction as Gaa, an actor whose onscreen presence is compelling. The film chronicles Gaas rise to power and inevitable downfall, delivering a well-told tale. However, a few things could be improved in the storytelling, particularly in the pacing of certain scenes, which might test the patience of some viewers.

Branchs unique gestural dispositions speak more than words, as his acting, portraying the character Gaa, was apt and flawlessa proud tyrant who met his doom unprecedentedly.

Remarkable performances from the ensemble cast stand out, particularly Funke Akindele and Mike Afolarin. Akindele, playing Gaas first wife, provides much-needed comic relief, whether intentional or not. Despite her limited screen time, she leaves a lasting impression.

Afolarin shines as Oyemekun, Gaas youngest son, shows impressive commitment to the role. The love subplot involving his character becomes the driving force of the films third act, adding depth to the story.

Narrative technique

The dialogue of House of Gaa is predominantly in the Yoruba language. The story is told from the unique perspective of one of Gaas sons, Oyemekun. This narrative style adds a layer of intrigue and keeps the audience engaged.

Employing an omniscient third-person narrative, the film delves into every characters thoughts, feelings, and motivations, even those unvoiced to others. This narrative style adds depth and understanding, explaining the characters actions and emotions.

Third-person Omniscient means all-knowing, likewise, an omniscient narrator knows every characters thoughts, feelings, and motivations.

Though part of the story, the narrator is independent of the actual story, which helps deliver the backstory and the sub-stories so that they are cohesive from the movies central idea.

A backstory is a literary technique used to bring to light events before the actual event.

Literary techniques

House of Gaa employs numerous literary techniques, including flashbacks, irony, suspense, and deus ex machina. The film explores situational irony and deus ex machina, adding layers to its storytelling.

Situational irony occurs when audiences expect one outcome, but something entirely different happens. For instance, when everyone anticipated the Alaafin would reward Olubu for bringing Princess Agbonyins child to the palace, he was instead killed, defying expectations.

Deus ex machina, the intervention of an unexpected power or event to save a seemingly hopeless situation, is also prominently featured. Oyemekun survives against all odds despite being shot with an arrow. This unexpected turn of events adds an element of surprise and keeps viewers engaged.

Movie Analysis

House of Gaa offers a rich and respectful exploration of Yoruba culture, encompassing language, attire, music, dance, worship, and general lifestyle. The writers deserve accolades for seamlessly combining these elements.

Initially, the storyline of House of Gaa seems like a typical Yoruba epic. Still, it quickly distinguishes itself by impressively using diverse literary techniques, adding intrigue and depth to the narrative.

The film excels in various aspects, including acting, production, storytelling, props, costumes, effects, and soundtrack, showcasing the growth of Nollywood over the years. The well-chosen locations, especially the mountains and horses, enhance the movies historical aesthetic.

Directed by Bolanle Austen-Peters, House of Gaa captures viewers attention from the first shot to the last credit.

Austen-Peters infuses the historical epic with subtle depth, blending dramatic moments with fast-paced action. The story presents a compelling portrait of Bashorun Gaas complex personality, weaving a tale of ambition, power, and inevitable consequences.

The films authenticity and meticulous direction respect Yoruba culture and its people. From costumes and location scouting to dialogue, the movie exudes legitimacy. House of Gaa is an important film striving to stay close to historical accounts, which is reflected in the performances.

House of Gaa deserves commendation for delivering yet another powerful, albeit slightly flawed, Yoruba epic.

Verdict

8/10

House of Gaa is now streaming on Netflix.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A civic technology organisation, Orodata Science, is set to unveil a tool designed to enhance transparency and accountability in Nigerias primary healthcare system.

The organisation made this known in a statement issued Friday, stating that the platform will encourage sub-national participation in governance while strengthening health institutions.

According to the statement, for over a decade, the organisation has been harnessing the power of data science, technology, and research to champion fiscal transparency and accountability in Nigeria, driving positive change through informed advocacy.

CheckMYPHC

According to the statement, the platform, CheckMYPHC, aims to empower stakeholders, including government officials, journalists, citizens, and healthcare professionals, with access to comprehensive data on the status of primary health centres across the country.

Orodata said the platform enables users to explore primary health centre status by state and local government.

It said: CheckMYPHC was developed under the African Data Hub (ADH) initiative and is part of a larger project called My PHC Project, which has three facets: the frontline data collection programme, the frontline investigative programme, and the digital platform called Check MyPHC.

On the platform, users can explore the status of primary health centres by state and local governments across Nigeria, download data, and request more. They can also search for specific primary health centres (PHC) in their communities, compare them with one in another community, and view key insights on building structure, infrastructure, personnel, and more.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

The organisation said the platform has a crucial feature enabling users to submit feedback based on their experiences at a Primary Health Centre (PHC), adding that it allows community champions and organisations to record ongoing, real-time information about the condition of PHCs in their areas, informing targeted interventions to restore neglected and abandoned healthcare facilities across Nigeria.

With the recent claim by the Nigerian government of disbursing over N12 billion to NPHCDA Gateway through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), non-state actors need to support stakeholders with essential baseline healthcare data necessary for effective service delivery through optimised resource allocation, tracking of spending, and strengthening the feedback loop between the government and citizens, the statement reads in part.

It further stated that the inaugural version of the CheckMYPHC platform boasts an extensive dataset comprising primary health centres from six states, representing all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

Specifically, the platform features data from Sokoto, Taraba, Benue, Cross River, Anambra, and Osun, providing invaluable insights into the current state of over 345 primary health centres in these challenging, hard-to-reach areas.

READ ALSO: Nigerian president approves management unit for health investment initiative

It explained that the initial dataset spans the North-central, North-east, North-west, South-west, South-east, and South-south zones, offering a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare landscape in these regions.

It said building on this foundation, the upcoming second phase of data collection aims to substantially augment the platforms coverage, targeting over 1,000 primary health centres across 16 states, adding that the expansion is slated to begin promptly after the launch, thereby significantly amplifying the platforms reach and effectiveness.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Chairman of the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Igwe Samuel Asadu, says the council is not in support of the planned nationwide protest slated for 1 to 10 August.

Mr Asadu, who is the traditional ruler of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu kingdom, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, said this when he appeared at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja on Sunday.

The traditional ruler said that the council would not support any agitation organised by faceless people, adding that the council is asking for calm.

He urged those behind the protest to find other ways of venting their anger to avoid causing chaos across the country.

Mr Asadu said that peaceful protests could be infiltrated by miscreants who will take laws into their hands to cause anarchy.

It is easier to destroy than to build, so all we are asking is for calm, we are asking for dialogue, he said.

He urged the federal government to engage them in a dialogue as they may have their reasons for planning the protest.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

The traditional ruler said that times are hard due to the countrys current economic situation and the removal of fuel subsidies.

I am feeling it in my community because the people come to me every day for assistance. We are not in any way supporting the protest at all.

But I still want the government to see a way of engaging them in dialogue, the President is the Father of the nation, he said.

Mr Asadu encouraged traditional rulers in the country to find a way to engage their people by periodically organising festive activities.

Find a way to engage the people. Everything is not about the government alone. Insist on what you can do for your people and not what they can do for you as their leader, he said.

NAN reports that several groups have announced their withdrawal from the planned nationwide protests against economic hardship.

A group from the South-east, under the aegis of Enugu Innovative Youths, said its members were opting out of the exercise to avoid exacerbating the security situation in the state and the country.

It recalled what transpired during the ENDSARS protest, adding that the tendency to hijack the protest was too high and called for patience while things improved.

Calls for Kanus release

Mr Asadu also appealed to the federal government to release Nnamdi Kanu, saying his eventual freedom would reduce tension in the south-east zone of Nigeria.

He said the council supported stakeholders calls for his release, such as those by South-east governors and lawmakers.

He said, He is our son. He has been there for a long time, in spite of the ups and downs of the judiciary.

Of course, we back the Governors Forum and other stakeholders call for his release so that tension will be reduced.

We hope that the government will do its due diligence to ensure that people are guaranteed that the release wont go beyond what is expected. There should be some form of measures, a deal to be made.

Mr Asadu said that Mr Kanus eventual release would usher in relative calmness and evoke joy in the people of the zone.

If the president looks into that and gives him a pardon, we will be excited. It is affecting our area, because of his absence. Some of the people are his die hard fans.

So, who will want to have his son locked up for a long time? Of course, we are praying every day. All the traditional rulers are praying for Nnamdi Kanu to be released.

We feel his pains and the pain of his family.

It will be a gift if the president does that. Well come back to thank him in a big way.

(NAN)

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A Sudanese cleric has cautioned Nigerians against the nationwide protest called for 1 August, warning that it may be hijacked by interests who do not wish the country well.

Al-Mustapha Assudany spoke on Friday at the Sultan Bello Mosque, Kaduna. He spoke about previous protests in Sudan and other Muslim countries which he described as catastrophic.

The full video of the pre-Friday sermon was later posted on the Facebook page of Ahmad Gumi, a Kaduna-based cleric who hosted the Sudanese.

The cleric in the 24 minutes-long video, cautioned the youth not to give room to enemies to destroy Nigeria, saying the Sudanese youth protesters inadvertently paved the way to their countrys destruction.

The protest in Sudan started on 19 December 2018 and continued with sustained civil disobedience for about eight months.

The protest resulted in the 2019 coup detat that deposed President Omar al-Bashir on 11 April after 30 years in power.

Mr Assudany said as in Nigeria, the protesters in Sudan had complained about harsh economic conditions. However, he said, since then, Sudan and other Muslim countries who protested against hardship ended up destroying their countries.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

I stand before you to advise you about the planned protest in Nigeria. Before the protest in Nigeria, there was a protest in Syria, Libya, Tunisia, and Yemen and it happened in Sudan. I am from Sudan, and what happened in Sudan is what had happened in other Muslim countries where protests occurred.

As I heard about the planned protest in Nigeria, I made it mandatory for myself as in the teaching of Islam to share my experience and counsel people on what had happened in Sudan and other Muslim countries resulting from the hardship protest, Mr Assudany stated

He said the protests in those countries were hijacked by those opposing the government and some foreign countries.

The high cost of living is what made some Sudan citizens protest. Those who started the protest had no sinister motives, but many organisations, including opposition and foreigners, went into the protest.

The interests provided logistics and directed the protesters on what to do. Eventually, the protest put the country in trouble, it allowed outsiders to meddle in the crisis. Foreign countries supported the youth, provided the logistics, supported and guided them on what to do, Mr Assudany said.

He said the initial intention of the protesters was to address the high cost of living but vested interest intervened and guided the protesters on how to topple the government.

He said those who hijacked the protest made the citizens believe that when they dissolved the government things would be good for all citizens.

The protest raged on, they (foreigners) were busy forming offices across Sudan, encouraging the youth on their right to protest. Anyone who spoke against the protest was abused and humiliated

At last, they asked the protesters to barricade the military headquarters and all government establishments to deny them movement and block all routes, and shops in major cities. They compelled the military to take over, this is what happened.

The protesters disagreed among themselves on the transition period announced by the military and who among the military was to lead the country; that is how the protest and the trouble continued, Mr Assudany said.

Mr Assudany claimed that hundreds of the protesters were killed in the protest by their fellow protesters as part of foreign conspiracies to spite the people to revolt against the government.

The protest led to unprecedented war between the military and other civilian groups, some civilians living in the remote areas were attacked and killed by their rivals just because there was no authority in place.

Two-thirds of the Sudanese population have fled their country. Some wealthy individuals who owned companies are now begging for food to eat.

The mass killings in Sudan are between Muslim faithful; what if this happens in Nigeria, a complex society with different religions? Mr Assudany queried.

Assuming that you forced the current administration out of power, who are the people that will call the country to order? Let us sit back and think. It happened in many countries, it can happen in Nigeria. I caution you not to give room for people who dont want Muslim countries to thrive to come into your country and destroy it.

These people can only lead your country to disaster, not a solution to your problem, Mr Assudany said.

Sudan has been in turmoil since the overthrow of long-ruling dictator, Mr Al-Bashir, in 2019.

A civil war broke out between rival factions of the ruling military junta in April 2019 and has reduced the capital, Khartoum, to rubble and left many other cities in the country in ruins.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


NWTHS announces new Chief Financial Officer

Northwest Texas Healthcare System (NWTHS), a 495-bed facility with over 2,000 employees serving the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle and neighboring states is excited to welcome Harvey Torres as the new Chief Financial Officer.

Harvey Torres has been named the new Chief Financial Officer at Northwest Texas Healthcare System.

A graduate of the University of Houston, Harvey has more than 25 years experience in hospital finance and is significantly experienced in systems development and implementation with established best practices. He has served on the Texas Department of Health Mentorship program, Texas Association of University and College Auditors and other non-profit organizations.

Tim Glass

Education Credit Union welcomes new Advisory Board members

Education Credit Union (ECU) is pleased to announce the addition of three esteemed professionals to its Advisory Board: Tim Glass, Barbara Holeman, and Selena Fogg.

Each individual brings a wealth of experience and commitment to community service, further strengthen the credit unions mission to love our people with smarter banking, said Linda Purdy, Board Chairman of Education Credit Union.

Glass joins the Advisory Board following his election as County Judge for Hansford County in 2023. Glass has an extensive background in law enforcement, having served as Hansford County Sheriff and Criminal Investigator for the 84th District Attorney. A graduate of the FBI National Academy (2007) and Oklahoma Panhandle State University (2016), Glasss diverse experience in public service will be invaluable to the board.

Barb Holeman

Holeman brings her expertise from the technology and finance sectors. She is retired from the Canyon ISD Technology Department and has previously served as a Finance Industry Specialist with IBM for 12 years. Holeman holds degrees in Instructional Technology from West Texas A&M University and Communications/Journalism from New Mexico State University. Her active involvement in the community including leadership roles with the Junior League of Amarillo, United Way of Amarillo & Canyon, Lone Star Ballet, and the Womens Banking Association, is a testament to her dedication to service.

Selena Fogg

Fogg joins the Advisory Board as the owner of Selena Fogg, CPA. Fogg who studied Public Accounting at West Texas A&M University, earned her Masters Degree and CPA designation in 2011. Her professional insights and experience in public accounting will contribute significantly to the boards financial oversight and strategic planning.

For more information, visit their website at educationcu.com.

Xcel Energy seeks proposals for new power generation

Xcel Energy is seeking proposals for a major expansion of its Texas-New Mexico power generating system as older power plants are retired in the coming years and electricity demand is forecast to increase to meet the needs of a growing regional economy, according to a news release.

Story continues

Power forecasts show that the region has a future need over 3 gigawatts (3,000 megawatts) of accredited capacity, which would translate to more than 5 gigawatts (5,000 megawatts) of additional nameplate capacity on the regional system by the end of the decade. In comparison, the current peak demand in Xcel Energys Texas-New Mexico service area is a little more than 6,000 megawatts.

The Xcel Energy Echo Substation in Northeast Amarillo is seen in this May 2023 file photo.

Xcel Energy owns and operates a fleet of conventional power generating stations in its Texas-New Mexico service area along with two large wind energy facilities. The regions energy mix also includes electricity generated by outside suppliers and sold to Xcel Energy through long-term contracts called power purchase agreements, or PPAs. The request for proposals is seeking options for new PPAs, extensions or changes to existing long-term PPAs, self-build projects and build projects that transfer to Xcel Energy.

In addition to the need to replace retiring power plants and provide for growth on the system, Xcel Energy seeks to meet increased Southwest Power Pool (SPP) resource adequacy requirements designed to ensure providers have power generating capacity in reserve in the event of a loss of scheduled power generation. Xcel Energy is a member of SPP, which oversees the reliability of a transmission network covering all or portions of 14 states and operates a wholesale power market.

Xcel Energys Texas-New Mexico request for proposals identifies the specific power needs in the years 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030. Bids from developers are due by Jan. 3, 2025. All documents and guidance for submission may be found on the xcelenergy.com webpage SPS 2024 All-Source RFP. Xcel Energy will evaluate submissions with proposed commercial operation dates within or before May 1, 2027, to May 1, 2030.

The company expects to file its bid evaluation report and recommended portfolio to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission for review in the second quarter of 2025. Individual projects selected will be submitted for approval to the NMPRC and the Public Utility Commission of Texas, with decisions expected in summer 2026.

Lindley Herring

Lupe Zermeno

Cathryn Dail

Officewise announces addition of 3 new shareholders to company management

Officewise is pleased to announce three new shareholders to its management team. As the commercial furniture, design and business products leader for West Texas, this strategic decision marks a significant step in Officewise's commitment to providing ownership opportunity for these individuals, a news release states.

The new shareholders are:

Cathryn Dail - With over 20 years of experience in commercial interior design, project management, sales, marketing and operations, Dail has been an integral part of Officewise's success.

Lindley Herring  An experienced professional in sales, marketing and business development, Herring has been instrumental in expanding Officewise's market reach. .

Lupe Zermeno  With an extensive background in interior design, sales and operations, Zermeno has been invaluable to Officewise.

"As current members of our management team, we are excited to welcome Cathryn, Lindley, and Lupe as shareholders," said Officewise President Tommy Sansom. They are all Texas Tech alumni, each involved in and committed to the communities they live. Their combined expertise, passion, and dedication to Officewise have been pivotal in our achievements to date. This move not only recognizes their significant contributions, but also strengthens our leadership team as we continue to pursue our mission of delivering exceptional commercial interiors and business supply solutions to our customers."

Officewise has built a reputation for excellence in providing creative and functional commercial interior and business supply solutions with offices in Amarillo, Lubbock, and Midland. The addition of these three shareholders is a testament to the company's commitment to fostering talent and leadership from within, ensuring a robust and dynamic future. For more information about Officewise and its services, visit https://www.officewiseco.com/.

AC receives $331,268 JET grant to leverage advances in welding training

Amarillo College will receive a $331,268 grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) that will significantly enhance the Colleges welding program, particularly through the acquisition of virtual reality (VR) training technology.

TWU Commissioner Alberto Trevino III will be on hand to personally present the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grant at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 31 at ACs Innovation Outpost, 1220 S. Polk St.

David Hall, dean of technical education, says the demand for professional welders is expected to surge in the decade ahead, both nationally and within the Texas Panhandle. The new VR technology, he said, will enable the College to train competent welders both in greater numbers and far more efficiently. The high-quality virtual reality trainers now on the market allow students to watch demonstrations of proper welding techniques, to practice machine set-up and welding processes, to take virtual bend tests, and to receive visual and audible feedback before they ever step into the welding lab, Hall said.

According to labor market projections from the TWC and Lightcast, an authority on labor market analytics, 22 percent more welders will be needed in the Panhandle by 2030, which equates to about 96 new jobs annually. The JET Grant also will enable AC to acquire additional live welders and cutting equipment, almost doubling existing welding lab capacity and, thus, directly increasing class-size capacity.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area business news and developments for July 28, 2024
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Benneth Igweh, has ordered the deployment of 4,200 personnel and assets for the planned nationwide protests in Abuja.

The commissioners spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, announced the deployment in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday.

She stated that the commissioners action aims to ensure the protection and safety of lives and property of residents and individuals within the FCT during the nationwide demonstration scheduled for 1 August.

The Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth Igweh, mni, has ordered the deployment of 4,200 personnel and assets to ensure the protection and safety of law-abiding residents within the FCT ahead of the proposed nationwide protest. He also warned against violent protests, the post reads.

End Hunger Protests

The planned #EndBadGovernance protest, scheduled to take place from 1 to 10 August, aims to demand economic and political reforms. However, the government is using all its resources to suppress the protest.

The government has been using several schemes, including meetings with traditional and religious leaders, as well as threats by security agencies to prevent the protests from happening or prevent them from turning violent if they hold.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun summoned commanders of the mobile police formations across Nigeria to a meeting on Saturday.

Earlier on Friday, Mr Egbetokun said organisers of the protests should provide state police commissioners with their personal details, venues of protests, and other information.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Also, major security forces, including the State Security Services (SSS), the Nigerian Army and the police, have issued stern warnings against the protests.

Despite the governments efforts to suppress the protests, the organisers remain resolute.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Ruga settlement in the Katampe area of Abuja is the only home 55-year-old Zainab Saidu knows.

Ruga is a Hausa term for settlements predominantly inhabited by Fulani nomadic herders and their cattle.

Mrs Saidus parents were raised in the community long before then Head of State, Murtala Muhammed (an army general) proclaimed Abuja as Nigerias federal capital on 3 February 1976. The proclamation became a reality on 12 December 1991, when the then federal military government, led by Ibrahim Babangida, moved the countrys political capital from Lagos to the brand new city in the centre of the country.

The Saidus raised cattle and tilled the land, which is now being used for the governments housing expansion project. However, frequent visits by land developers in recent months have filled Mrs Saidu with a growing sense of foreboding that her time at the community is ending.

The people are saying this land has been allocated to them by the government, and they want to use it, she said.

Those years before she was born, Abuja was a vast Savannah grassland inhabited by indigenous ethnic groups. Mrs Saidu wondered if the years her community has occupied the land do not matter as the visitors claim.

Our people have occupied this land for about eight decades, she said defiantly.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Housing expansion in Abuja

Since becoming Nigerias federal capital, Abuja has experienced rapid urbanisation and population growth at the expense of the indigenous communities. Hundreds of informal settlements were destroyed in the last decades, and their inhabitants were forcefully evicted to give way to modern houses and structures that fit the master plan of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). As population growth pushes housing expansion, more settler communities, such as Mrs Saidus Ruga in the Katampe district of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), are threatened.

Surrounded by developing estates and houses with contemporary designs, the inhabitants  about 70 Fulani herders and milk farmers  are being badgered to leave.

Villagers who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES said they had received numerous orders in the last two years to vacate the area or specific plots of land.

They claim to have bought the pieces of land and have papers to back this claim, said the village head, Saidu Salihu.

Some others come sightseeing or to survey the village. However, Mr Salihu fears it is only a matter of time before they make the same demand.

They live every day anticipating the siege of bulldozers that have flattened the homes of many other indigenous people whose lands were allocated to new, wealthy owners in different parts of Abuja.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the landowners, often represented by agents, consider the presence of the settlers at the site as an obstacle to development.

Ruga settlers pestered

The administration of land in the FCT differs from that of other states in Nigeria. The territory is covered by the Federal Capital Territory Act, first promulgated in 1976 as a Military Decree No 6, giving the federal government control of all its land. The power of land allocation trickles from the president through the Ministry of FCT to the FCDA.

The area councils also allocated land in some areas until this power was withdrawn due to cases of multiple allocations of the same parcels of land.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the FCDA controls the land in the Katampe district and that the area occupied by the pastoralists was allocated to other beneficiaries by the agency more than a decade ago.

An estate development agent, Udoh Johnson, said landowners usually allowed villagers to remain on their land until they were ready to develop it.

Now, the district is becoming more developed, and my client, who resides abroad, wants to develop his plot, Mr Johnson, the CEO of J.N. Dunu and Associate, told PREMIUM TIMES.

The Ruga community has been shrinking as more landowners claim their land.

The first to be seized was a vast piece of land opposite the community, which the inhabitants used as farms. It is now occupied by a new development known as Paradise Estate. A few years later, 15 huts on the right end of the community were demolished to make way to construct a modern structure.

Adamu Garba, a 35-year-old cattle herder in the Ruga, said the owners were paid N1.2 million as compensation for the loss of the huts.

We should not have accepted the compensation. We want to keep our homes but without the constant fear that we would be thrown out any time, Mr Garba said in Hausa.

He said the villagers had since been rejecting offers of compensation.

No more access to school, healthcare

For Mrs Saidu, eviction would cost her more than her home. It would cut her access to medical care at the Maitama General Hospital, and her seven children would quit school. She said she would also no longer be able to attend the nearby market where she hawks cheese and fresh milk.

Whenever these people (land developers) appear, my heart sinks. I know what they want. They see us as illiterates without rights. Where do we go if we leave? she said, her hands clasped and pressed tightly to her chest.

We lived here and paid taxes from the colonial era. That should count for something, Mrs Saidu exclaimed after a pause like one having an epiphany.

Ishaq Haruna, who listened as Mrs Saidu spoke to the reporter, brought out three paper receipts. One of the receipts bears the date of 1968. He said the papers were evidence of tax payment.

However, PREMIUM TIMES noticed that the taxes were on cattle. Historically, pastoralists were required to pay taxes on their cattle as part of the governments effort to generate revenue and regulate livestock management.

Land Use Act

However, Illmi Childrens Fund (ICF), a non-profit advocating for the settlers, insists that the receipts prove that the community existed before the enactment of the 1978 Land Use Act, making the residents legal occupants of the area.

The Land Use Act stipulates that communities existing on a parcel of land before the establishment of the Act automatically have the right of ownership.

Based on this Act, Henry Abdulsamad, the ICF programme officer, said the Ruga community members are legal landowners.

This community has been here for at least 80 years. This is why we are backing their right on this matter, Mr Abdulsamad said.

They have not enjoyed any government support or development whatsoever, and now they are at risk of a forceful eviction.

However, a property rights specialist, Kazeem Oyinwola, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES, said the Land Use Act does not apply to the federal capital territory.

Section 36(2) of the Act recognises the customary rights of land, but section 49 states that the provisions of the Act exclude the FCT as the territory is under the federal government.

Nothing in this Act shall affect any title to land, whether developed or undeveloped, held by the Federal Government or any agency of the Federal Government at the commencement of this Act or acquired by the Federal Government after the commencement of this Act, the legal provision states.

Mr Kazeem said the territory is guided by the FCT Act, established in 1976, two years before the Land Use Act.

He noted that Section 6 of the FCT Act provides for compensation to land owners affected by the creation of the FCT within a particular timeframe that has since elapsed.

They are not the victims, we are

PREMIUM TIMES could not reach the people laying claims to the land. However, our reporter contacted some of their agents.

Those who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES stressed that the FCDA has allocated the land.

They are not the victims here, we are the victims, Mr Johnson said.

He said he was engaged to develop a plot of 2,000 square metres but could not work because the community mosque, school and a few huts sit on about 30 per cent of the plot.

The agent said he made multiple attempts to enter an agreement with the villagers to allow him to begin his work, but the attempts were rebuffed.

I have been discussing this with them for over two years now. They cant prevent owners from using their land, an exasperated Mr Johnson said.

He urged the FCDA to relocate the villagers.

Abdullahi Jahi, another agent, agreed with Mr Johnson.

I think they want a place in the district and within urban development, Mr Jani said.

But they need to find a new area to settle soon, especially before other landowners come to claim their property. They cannot remain here permanently, he said.

Indigenous inhabitants compensated  Official

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the spokesperson for the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), Segun Kayode, he said the federal government compensated the inhabitants when it acquired the FCT.

He said the government paid and relocated the original inhabitants of the land.

Most of them have been compensated. Every land in Abuja belongs to the government. The government acquired all the land before they were allocated, Mr Kayode said.

However, he said many refused to vacate the land despite getting government compensation. In some cases, he said, they try to extort money from the allottees.

It is just that they dont want to leave. Thats the problem. After collecting government compensation, some will also want to collect money from the person to whom the land has been allocated, Mr Kayode noted.

But contrary to the officials claim, the Nigerian government has yet to compensate and relocate many of the indigenous people whose land was taken over by the government in 1976 ahead of the eventual relocation of Nigerias federal capital there in 1991.

In recognition of this, the House of Representatives in 2017 resolved to probe the botched compensation agreement made by the federal government and the indigenous tribe.

Five years later, a member of the House proposed a bill to create the Federal Capital Territory Compensation, Resettlement and Welfare Board to resolve the lingering problems with the compensation and resettlement policy of the government.

The sponsor of the bill, Gaza Gbefwi, the lawmaker representing Kari/Keffi/Kokona Federal Constituency of Nasarawa State at the time, said the authorities had yet to compensate every deserving indigenous community affected by the development-induced displacement due to corruption, poor funding and the lack of involvement of the natives in the process.

He said the resettlement policy had yet to yield any tangible result despite past efforts.

These efforts have not allayed the fears of Mrs Saidu, who faces the prospect of being evicted without receiving adequate compensation and resettlement by the government.

They have also not met the aspirations of other indigenous people already living the reality that Mrs Saidu and her Ruga community fear.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over the failure to account for and explain the whereabouts of the over N100 billion dirty and bad notes and other large sum of cash awaiting examination which are kept in various branches of the CBN.

In the suit number FHC/L/MSC/441/2024 filed last week at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is asking the court to direct and compel the CBN to explain the whereabouts of the over N100 billion dirty and bad notes kept in various branches of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) since 2017.

SERAP is also asking the court to direct and compel the CBN to explain the whereabouts of the N7.2bn meant for the construction of the CBN Dutse branch building in 2010 and the N4.8bn meant for the renovation of the CBN Abeokuta branch in 2009 and to publish the names of contractors who collected the money.

SERAP is asking the court to direct and compel the CBN to explain the whereabouts of the allegedly missing outstanding loan of N1.2bn granted to the Enugu State government in 2015 and the outstanding loan of N1.9bn granted to the Anambra state government between 2015 and 2016.

In the suit, SERAP is arguing that, Explaining the whereabouts of the missing public funds, publishing the names of those suspected to be responsible and ensuring that they are brought to justice and the full recovery of any missing public funds would serve the public interest and end the impunity of perpetrators.

SERAP is also arguing that, These grim allegations by the Auditor-General of the Federation suggest grave violations of the public trust, the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the CBN Act, and national and international anticorruption obligations.

According to SERAP, These grave violations also reflect a failure of CBN accountability more generally and are directly linked to the institutions persistent failure to comply with its Act and anti-corruption standards.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

SERAP is arguing that, These allegations have seriously undermined the ability of the CBN to effectively discharge its statutory functions and the public trust and confidence in the bank. The CBN ought to be committed to transparency and accountability in its operations.

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Adelanke Aremo, read in part: Nigerians have the right to know the whereabouts of the public funds. Granting the reliefs sought would advance the right of Nigerians to restitution, compensation and guarantee of non-repetition.

Paragraph 708 of the Financial Regulations 2009 provides that, on no account should payment be made for services not yet performed or for goods not yet supplied.

Section 35(2) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 provides that, once a mobilization fee has been paid to any supplier or contractor, no further payment shall be made to the supplier or contractor without an interim performance certificate.

Section 16(6) of the Public Procurement Act states that all bidders shall possess the necessary professional and technical qualifications to carry out particular procurements; the financial capacity and adequate personnel to perform the obligations of the procurement contracts.

SERAP notes that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Section 13 of the Constitution imposes clear responsibility on the CBN to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution.

Paragraph 3112(ii) of the Financial Regulations 2009 provides that, Where a public officer fails to account for government revenue, such officer shall be surcharged for the full amount involved and such officer shall be handled over to either the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption to ensure accountability in the management of public resources. Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption also impose legal obligations on the CBN to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds.

The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the countrys anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their public institutions activities.

According to the recently published 2020 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has since 2017 been keeping over N100 billion [N100,672,999,000.00] dirty and bad notes, and other large sum of cash awaiting examination in various branches of the CBN.

The Auditor-General fears that the dirty and bad notes initially planned to be destroyed may have been be diverted and re-injected into the economy.

The CBN in August 2010 also reportedly budgeted N7.2 billion [N7,286,500,476.76] for the construction of Dutse branch building. The Dutse branch was due to be completed in November 2012 but the contractors have failed to complete the project.

The Auditor-General is concerned that the project may have been awarded to incompetent contractor, and wants the job completed without further delay.

The CBN in 2009 reportedly budgeted N4.8 billion [N4,812,608,028.10] for the renovation of the CBN Abeokuta branch. The Abeokuta branch was due to be completed in 2012 but the contractors have failed to complete the project.

There is no significant renovation work on the site, several years after the proposed completion date. The Auditor-General is concerned that the project may have been awarded to incompetent contractor, and wants the job completed without further delay.

The CBN also reportedly failed to account for the missing outstanding loan of N1.2 billion [N1,294,453,887.83] granted to the Enugu state government in 2015 and the outstanding loan of N1.9 billion [N1,994,383,561.64] granted to the Anambra state government between 2015 and 2016.

The Auditor-General fears the public funds may have been diverted. He wants the money fully recovered and remitted to the treasury.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Kolawole Oluwadare SERAP Deputy Director 28/07/2024 Lagos, Nigeria Emails: info@serap-nigeria.org; news@serap-nigeria.org Twitter: @SERAPNigeria Website: www.serap-nigeria.org For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


There is concern in government quarters in Ondo State following the discovery of a peculiar strain of hepatitis infection among patients.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Matters, Simidele Odimayo, gave the indication in Akure on Saturday on the sidelines of a sensitisation road walk to mark the World Hepatitis Day.

Mr Odimayo said the state government was, however, trying to know more about the peculiarity to tackle it accordingly.

The state government has observed that there is a peculiarity in the viral hepatitis that we have in the state. We have seen people with low viral load in hepatitis coming up with complications,  he said.

The special adviser explained that ordinarily, the low viral load by the European Community for Hepatitis does not need treatment.

But in our own case, these patients with low viral load are coming with complications of hepatitis like liver cancer, he further noted.

According to him, patients will undergo viral loading and genotyping, while the samples will be sent for sequencing.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

This will enable us to know the peculiarity of hepatitis we are having here, he said.

Mr Odimayo said those who were positive for hepatitis would be structured for further tests and possible commencement of treatment.

He said the state governor was passionate and concerned about the well-being of the people, adding that the populace needed to enjoy free hepatitis screening and education on its prevention.

He said the governor had given the mandate to tackle the infection and that the exercise would capture at least 3,000 people for free screening across the state.

Meanwhile the Commissioner for Health in the state, Banji Ajaka, has said that the state government is in the process of securing additional financing running into several billions of Naira from development partners that will be used to enhance the health services.

Mr Ajaka also spoke in commemoration of the World Hepatitis Day with the theme, It is time to act, with focus on improving access of the populace to diagnosis and treatment.

He described Hepatitis as a viral infection that targets the liver, causing inflammation and affecting its ability to function properly.

He said the liver is a very important organ in the body that is responsible for several functions, including breakdown of food and drugs and production of blood among others.

He noted that any disease of the liver therefore has dire consequences.

There are several types of Hepatitis but the commonest ones, which are of public health concerns, are Hep A, B, C, and E. Hepatitis A and E are transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food or water. It is often associated with poor sanitation.

Hep B & C are usually transmitted through contact with infectious body fluids such as blood and sexual fluids through practices (similar to transmission of HIV virus) such as sexual acts, blood transfusion, sharing of contaminated needles and transmission from mother to child, among others, Mr Ajaka said.

He emphasised the need for prevention, which is hinged on well-established strategies like immunisation, compulsory screening of blood and blood products, strict guidelines on sterilisation of medical instruments and ban on reuse of needles.

The clinical features of Hepatitis can vary widely. Some individuals may not experience any clinical features while others may experience mild or severe symptoms. It can also present as acute illness, which may be resolved within days or weeks, or progress to chronic illness.

The common features include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine and jaundice, he said.

The health commissioner advised pregnant women to always insist on screening for Hepatitis B and encouraged them to deliver in hospitals where they can have access to skilled birth attendants and sterile instruments.

He noted that this would prevent mother-to-child transmission, and if any mother is already infected with Hep B, drugs will be administered to the baby immediately after birth.

Mr Ajaka reiterated that the government would continue to create awareness among the public to embrace immunisation, hospital deliveries and avoid patronising quacks.

He also informed that the government was set to commence the screening and regulation of food vendors in the state, which he said was the first step to ridding the state of Hepatitis A and E that are contracted through food ingestion.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has defended its decision to demand the details of the leaders and organisers of the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest, saying such demand was constitutional.

This comes amid accusations by rights activist Deji Adeyanju and other groups that the police chiefs request contravenes constitutional provisions.

In a press statement by its spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Sunday, the police said that requests for the names of the organisers and details such as time, routes, and location of protests were in line with the Nigerian constitution.

He explained that while every Nigerian has the right to peaceful assembly, the police are responsible for ensuring that such gatherings do not harm the general public.

It is vital to clarify that the IGP has never denied the constitutional right of every citizen to freedom of association and expression, but has rather, at every point, emphasised that the right is that to peaceful assembly and expression.

Also, the Nigeria Police holds the responsibility to ensure that any activity, including protests, does not pose a threat to national security.

In this wise, requesting the details of protest organisers and their leaders and the schedules of their protests, which include location, period, routes etc, is a standard procedure to facilitate effective communication, ensure the safety of all participants, and prevent any unlawful activities, he said.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Mr Adejobi, an assistant commissioner of police, said that the IGPs request was not out of place in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality, or public health or for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedom of other persons as enshrined in Section 45 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution.

Drawing a comparison to the #EndSARS protest, which turned violent after a government clampdown, the police spokesperson stated that matching a face to the protest would help prevent another national unrest.

He added that if organised labour and other recognised bodies were involved, it would have provided a more structured and safer environment for such public protests.

End bad governance protest

In recent weeks, talks of a nationwide protest to express citizens grievances with the state of the nation have dominated the public space.

Central to the preparations for the protest has been the police request for the identity of its leaders and organisers. While no one has officially been identified as the leader, many activists and social commentators such as Aisha Yesufu, Deji Adeyanju, and Omoyele Sowore, among others, have expressed support for the protest.

The protest is scheduled to be held across Nigeria from 1 August to 10 August.

The protesters want an end to hunger, economic hardship, and bad governance.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that the government has taken various steps to prevent the protest from holding or if held, to prevent it from turning violent.

The steps include meeting with state governors, traditional rulers, and clerics. They also include threats by security establishments such as the Nigerian Army and the State Security Service, which said it had identified the protests financiers.

President Bola Tinubu has also urged citizens not to participate in the protest, saying the organisers were not patriotic.

The sponsors of protests do not love our country. They have no love for the nation. They do not understand citizenship. They have alternative passports. They are in different parts of the world holding meetings virtually.

We do not want to turn Nigeria into Sudan. We are talking about hunger, not burials. We have to be careful. We should be careful with premature politics; politics of hate, and anger, President Tinubu said in a Friday statement.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Labour Party (LP) has spoken on the departure of Kenneth Okonkwo from the party.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Okonkwo, the former spokesperson to LP presidential campaign organisation, announced his exit from the party on Saturday.

The former campaign spokesperson, in a post on his X handle on Saturday, said he decided to leave the LP because the party failed to inspire the brand of leadership that can solve Nigerias challenges.

He also accused the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of failing to solve the partys leadership crisis after the 2023 general election which he lost to Bola Tinubu, now president.

Were not surprised

But reacting in a statement on Sunday night, the LPs national spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, said Mr Okonkwos exit from the party did not come as a surprise.

Mr Ifoh accused the former spokesperson of smuggling himself into the presidential campaign of the party, describing him as a political mole.

Labour Party is not perturbed by his decision to move on and in fact, we wish him well in his future endeavours, whether in acting, law practice, politics or otherwise, he said.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

If you recall, recently a former director general of the partys presidential campaign organisation resigned and rejoined the APC. Only last week, a former deputy director general of the presidential campaign organisation also resigned and rejoined the APC.

Today, it is the turn of Mr Okonkwo, a former member of APC, who smuggled himself into the presidential campaign, and his destination is already known to us, Mr Ifoh added.

The spokesperson said the LP was aware that there were a few other persons planted as moles and are currently instigating crisis within the party.

He said some of the unnamed moles within the LP unsuccessfully attempted to hijack the party for unnamed paymasters.

We urge them to act fast and do the needful before they are exposed and fumigated out of the party, he said.

Peter remains our 2027 candidate

Mr Ifoh condemned Mr Okonkwo for attacking Mr Obi, saying his criticism of the LP candidate would not diminish Nigerians trust in him.

Labour Party is keeping to its decision to stand with Peter Obi as its leader and presidential hopeful come 2027 presidential election and we are not apologetical about that position.

Coordinated attacks from some quarters will not in any way diminish the trust Nigerians, particularly, the Obidients and youths in Nigeria have in him, he stated.

We know that with him, a new Nigeria will be possible. Nigerians spoke loudly in 2023 and they will speak even louder come 2027.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The challenge before Nigerian universities is clear  to transform outdated curricula into modern, relevant programmes that prepare students for the future. The time for change is now, and the benefits of such a transformation will be far-reaching for students, institutions, and the broader society. Now is the time to take bold steps to modernise the curricula and embrace contemporary knowledge demands, so that Nigerian universities can ensure that they remain at the forefront of global education

In todays rapidly evolving world, Western universities are leading the charge in adapting their curricula and course titles to meet the demands of contemporary society. This transformation is important for ensuring that the knowledge imparted to students is relevant and actionable in addressing current global challenges. Programmes such as the MSc Climate Change: Science, Society and Solutions at the University of Manchester, the MSc in Global Environmental Change and Planetary Health at Cranfield University, the MSc Environmental Futures: Sustainable Systems at the University of Glasgow, and the MSc Climate Futures: Science, Society and Politics at the University of Leeds exemplify this progressive approach. These courses are meticulously designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to tackle pressing environmental and societal issues.

The importance of this educational evolution cannot be overstated, especially for African universities, and particularly those in Nigeria. It is vital that Nigerian universities recognise the necessity of adapting their curricula to meet contemporary knowledge demands. Persisting with outdated subjects does a disservice to students, who graduate with knowledge that may no longer be applicable in the modern world. This is especially true in fields such as geology, where Nigerian postgraduate programmes often emphasise traditional courses like mineral exploration, stratigraphy and sedimentology, etc. While these areas hold historical significance, the evolving landscape of the geosciences demands a more forward-thinking approach.

For Nigerian universities to align with global trends and ensure the relevance of their academic offerings, it is important to introduce innovative programmes that address contemporary issues and leverage modern technologies. For example, instead of continuing with traditional courses, we could introduce programmes like Critical Minerals Studies, which would focus on the exploration and sustainable management of critical minerals essential for modern technology and renewable energy solutions. Digital Stratigraphy and Climate Change could integrate digital technologies with traditional stratigraphy to explore the impacts of climate change on sedimentary processes and the geological record. Integrated Basin Analysis could combine geological, geophysical, and geochemical data to provide a comprehensive understanding of sedimentary basins, crucial for natural resource management and environmental assessment. In addition to these, Big Data and Sedimentology could leverage big data analytics in the study of sedimentological processes, equipping students with the skills to handle large datasets and perform advanced statistical analyses.

Just because a subject has been part of the curriculum for decades does not mean it should remain unchanged. The refusal to modernise curricula and teaching methods will inevitably hinder Nigerian universities ability to compete on the global stage. To ensure that graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills required in the modern world, it is necessary to remodel educational systems and thinking processes.

All of these examples suggest that it is important for academic institutions in Nigeria to innovate and embrace new concepts that address contemporary challenges. Academics in Nigeria must also understand that curricula are not immutable. Just because a subject has been part of the curriculum for decades does not mean it should remain unchanged. The refusal to modernise curricula and teaching methods will inevitably hinder Nigerian universities ability to compete on the global stage. To ensure that graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills required in the modern world, it is necessary to remodel educational systems and thinking processes.

Continuous curriculum assessment is also important for maintaining relevance and alignment with global trends and technological advancements. This involves regularly reviewing and updating curricula to ensure they meet contemporary demands. Engaging with industry stakeholders is also essential for understanding current and future skill requirements, ensuring that academic programmes produce graduates who are ready to meet these needs. Investing in faculty development is another key component providing opportunities for faculty to engage in ongoing professional development to teach contemporary subjects and utilise modern pedagogical techniques. Incorporating technology in education is also vital, leveraging digital tools and platforms to enhance learning experiences, facilitate research, and provide students with the skills needed in a technologically advanced world. But beyond these, fostering an innovative academic culture that encourages creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving among students and faculty is essential for creating an environment where new ideas can flourish, and traditional paradigms can be challenged.

It is also worthy of note that modernising the curriculum is not just about keeping up with global trends but also about addressing the unique challenges faced by Nigeria and the broader African continent. Issues such as climate change, sustainable development, and technological advancement are not just global concerns but also local ones that require localised solutions. By adopting a forward-thinking approach to education, Nigerian universities can play a pivotal role in driving sustainable development and innovation in the region.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Through innovation, fostering industry collaboration, and continuously assessing and updating academic offerings, Nigerian universities can ensure that their graduates are prepared to meet the demands of contemporary society. This will not only enhance their competitiveness on the global stage but also contribute to the sustainable development of the country and the region.

This transformation is not merely an academic exercise but a critical step towards ensuring that Nigerian universities produce graduates who are well-equipped to tackle the challenges of the modern world. Through innovation, fostering industry collaboration, and continuously assessing and updating academic offerings, Nigerian universities can ensure that their graduates are prepared to meet the demands of contemporary society. This will not only enhance their competitiveness on the global stage but also contribute to the sustainable development of the country and the region.

The challenge before Nigerian universities is clear  to transform outdated curricula into modern, relevant programmes that prepare students for the future. The time for change is now, and the benefits of such a transformation will be far-reaching for students, institutions, and the broader society. Now is the time to take bold steps to modernise the curricula and embrace contemporary knowledge demands, so that Nigerian universities can ensure that they remain at the forefront of global education and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of knowledge and society.

Mohammed Dahiru Aminu writes from Abuja, Nigeria.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Charles Schwab Corporation's (NYSE:SCHW) investors are due to receive a payment of $0.25 per share on 23rd of August. The dividend yield is 1.5% based on this payment, which is a little bit low compared to the other companies in the industry.

See our latest analysis for Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage

It would be nice for the yield to be higher, but we should also check if higher levels of dividend payment would be sustainable. The last dividend was quite easily covered by Charles Schwab's earnings. This indicates that a lot of the earnings are being reinvested into the business, with the aim of fueling growth.

The next year is set to see EPS grow by 98.8%. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 24% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.

Charles Schwab Has A Solid Track Record

Even over a long history of paying dividends, the company's distributions have been remarkably stable. Since 2014, the dividend has gone from $0.24 total annually to $1.00. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 15% over that duration. We can see that payments have shown some very nice upward momentum without faltering, which provides some reassurance that future payments will also be reliable.

Charles Schwab May Find It Hard To Grow The Dividend

The company's investors will be pleased to have been receiving dividend income for some time. Let's not jump to conclusions as things might not be as good as they appear on the surface. Over the past five years, it looks as though Charles Schwab's EPS has declined at around 2.1% a year. If earnings continue declining, the company may have to make the difficult choice of reducing the dividend or even stopping it completely - the opposite of dividend growth. However, the next year is actually looking up, with earnings set to rise. We would just wait until it becomes a pattern before getting too excited.

Our Thoughts On Charles Schwab's Dividend

Overall, a consistent dividend is a good thing, and we think that Charles Schwab has the ability to continue this into the future. While the payments look sustainable for now, earnings have been shrinking so the dividend could come under pressure in the future. The dividend looks okay, but there have been some issues in the past, so we would be a little bit cautious.

Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. As an example, we've identified 1 warning sign for Charles Schwab that you should be aware of before investing. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.

Story continues

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
The discussions and endeavours at the conference will aim to draw the Nigerian governments attention to the industrial and developmental importance of River Benue and the projected expectation of the nations growth. For instance, discourses around hydroelectric power production are important for the potential sustainability of energy distribution in the country following current challenges. The conference will serve as a lens through which the hidden advantages and realities of the river are revealed, offering guidelines for practical steps and action points to realise these conceptualisations.

I offer this piece on the occasion of the great initiative by Benue State University, which is organising a major conference on African rivers between 28th and 31st July. A highly focused thematic conference is the best in the academy, bringing together those who work on the same subject. I now rarely attend conferences, but I cannot miss this one because of the connections that I have with rivers.

I was born on the bank of a small river in my city, Ogunpa. I must confess that during the dry season, you can actually walk into parts of it, as the water would have receded so much. Not so when I had my first encounter with the Rivers Niger and Benue, where I had a breath-taking experience. To cross to the area we now call Benue State, we had to take a ferry. If you missed the ferry, you took a boat. That was too risky for non-swimmers. I wondered them how many lives the Benue and Niger must have consumed. I once lived on the campus of Benue State University, and I could walk to the bank of the River. The universitys staff club is located next to the Great River. Whenever I am in Jos, my great friend, Professor Sati Fashwak, takes me to my favourite joint by the bank of the Great River. I have also had encounters with both the Rivers Nile and Niger. I am cumulating these experiences into a great book on African Rivers.

The history of human settlements and their developments have always been influenced by environmental factors that either enable or hinder them from reaching the conceived achievement of their developmental objectives. Studies, along with archaeological and anthropological evidence, have shown that the strength and growth of territories worldwide have been significantly influenced by their locations and proximity to important environmental features. Land turbidity, rivers, forests, rocks, hills, and other environmental attributes have built empires and reduced some to ruins throughout human history.

Recognising this, the Benue State University, in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin and the Consortium of the Universities of the River Benue Basin, has decided to invite lenses, perspectives, and analytical evaluations of the relevance of the River Benue (the largest tributary of the Niger River) in the growth of Africa and its historical properties.

The mother of waters, as River Benue is often called, has historically served as a suitable source from which many ethnic groups and societies have drawn their identities from generation to generation. Archaeological evidence shows that early settlers around the river explored floodplains and other resources for their developmental and commercial purposes throughout history. The cultural tapestry of the Benue people, as well as those of other societies connected to the river, can be understood from its primary attributes. Notably, these benefits are not just within the bounds of Nigeria but transcend to other African nations.

In Nigeria, the River Benue flows through both the central and eastern regions and rests on the basins of Lokoja in Benue State. The societal development of Yola, including transportation, agriculture, and fishing, has always largely relied on the rivers attributes. Also, the connection of the Logone River to the Benue attracts Garoua, Cameroon, contributing to the historical benefits to the societies that settled around it. Although it is unarguable that people have resided along the coastlines and basins of the river for countless generations, the recorded history of the pre-18th century people, economy, and development around the river has not been well illuminated.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

The cultural importance of the River Benue to Nigeria and the people living around it can not be underestimated. Many spiritual affiliations, mythological stories, and cosmological perceptions are linked to the river, which all have some level of influence on the people. To the north of the river was the ancient settlement of the Nok, with its remarkable cultural reputation and social relevance marking the Iron Age of West Africa. The cultural development of the Tiv has been closely tied to the history of the river over the years.

Many of the historical reliance on these periods were largely drawn from the results of WEB Websters Benue Valley Project at Dalhousie University. Following his research, several scholars and historians uncovered facts from the antics, often in conjunction with some early African historians. A major challenge at that time was that no manuscripts, whether from Islamic or Atlantic studies and sources, properly recorded these periods, except for very few ones.

However, archaeological and anthropological evidence has shown that the coastal parts and areas around the River Benue have been engaged for thousands of years. Early African historians have expanded this knowledge, revealing that the fertile floodplains of the river have served as a remarkable source of agricultural activities, attracting different agricultural communities to settle around the areas. The long stretch of the rivers flow has drawn communities along its parts, making it one of the most significant rivers in both Nigeria and the continent. There are traces of the rise and fall of societies along the river, with many communities drawing their traditions and ethos from experiences linked to it.

The cultural importance of the River Benue to Nigeria and the people living around it can not be underestimated. Many spiritual affiliations, mythological stories, and cosmological perceptions are linked to the river, which all have some level of influence on the people. To the north of the river was the ancient settlement of the Nok, with its remarkable cultural reputation and social relevance marking the Iron Age of West Africa. The cultural development of the Tiv has been closely tied to the history of the river over the years. Living on both sides of the river, the Tiv hold it in great reverence, with festivals, rituals, and agricultural circles centred around it. Similarly, the Jukun people from the Kwararafa background built their military and trade strategies, as well as economic development around the rivers features. The oral traditions of the Jukun still contain reasonable reference to the River Benue.

Flowing from the past to the present, the economic relevance of the River Benue to Nigerians and, by extension, Africa cannot be underestimated. It has always been a source of livelihood for millions across its coasts and basin. The nutritious soil around the river has increased the cultivation of maize, millet, yam, rice, and other farming products. These nutrients are largely from the annual floods of the river that produce fertile soil for cultivation, and this agricultural abundance continues to be relevant in contemporary times.

The influence of the river on transportation in precolonial, colonial and postcolonial eras has been well-documented. During the colonial period, the river was a significant route for colonial officials transversing the nation. It was instrumental in establishing trade routes and facilitating the exploration of Africa by figures such as the Lander brothers and Mungo Park, who contributed to the geographical understanding of the continent. Further exploration by WB Baikie provided additional insights, serving as a blueprint for the colonial economy and transportation systems.

The trading strategy of the Royal Niger Company during the colonial establishments largely relied on the attributes of the River Benue and the River Niger. The company established trade posts along these rivers, ensuring a consistent and regular flow of commercial items, allowing them to escape trade obstructions by the locals. Rivers Benue and Niger were part of the factors that motivated the Britishs struggle for Nigeria at the Berlin Conference, as the rivers were seen as access to colonial expansion. The River Benue, in particular, provided opportunities for increased access to raw materials and it facilitated the consolidation of colonies under British control.

Some of the highlights of these themes include colonial explorations, tourism, hydroelectric power production, flood and ecological challenges, culture and indigenous attributions, settlements and migration, agriculture, intergroup relations, technological development, as well as other subjects relevant to Nigerian and African societies. These subjects are crucial for the environmental growth of Africa and the future planning of societies around the river, providing insights into approaches to cultural preservation and transmission.

The realisation of the importance of River Benue to African development and Nigerian growth has sparked scholarly interest and calls for further epistemological expansion. Understanding this, the conference is focused on the meeting of minds of African scholars to reexamine the river from all fronts and through all lenses, with the purpose of addressing several key questions such as:

Are there economic realities still hidden within the volume of existing scholarship on the river?

To what extent is the river still relevant to the spiritual motivations and conception of the people around its banks?

What are the links between its past political role and contemporary impact?

How much has the river influenced the political activities in the societies near its course?

These questions have also shaped the sub-themes of the conference and the direction of scholarly contributions. Some of the highlights of these themes include colonial explorations, tourism, hydroelectric power production, flood and ecological challenges, culture and indigenous attributions, settlements and migration, agriculture, intergroup relations, technological development, as well as other subjects relevant to Nigerian and African societies. These subjects are crucial for the environmental growth of Africa and the future planning of societies around the river, providing insights into approaches to cultural preservation and transmission.

The discussions and endeavours at the conference will aim to draw the Nigerian governments attention to the industrial and developmental importance of River Benue and the projected expectation of the nations growth. For instance, discourses around hydroelectric power production are important for the potential sustainability of energy distribution in the country following current challenges. The conference will serve as a lens through which the hidden advantages and realities of the river are revealed, offering guidelines for practical steps and action points to realise these conceptualisations.

I offer my congratulations to Professor Joe Iorapuu, the vice-chancellor and his wonderful management team; Professor Elijah Terdoo Ikpanor, the chair of the Conference Organising Committee and all the members of the organising committee; and the entire student body. To preview the feast, visit HERE.

Toyin Falola, a professor of History, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at The University of Texas at Austin, is the Bobapitan of Ibadanland.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The government, through the Pension Commission (PenCom) has insisted that the police is too big, and excusing them from the CPS would affect Nigerian economy, and as such they must remain within the Scheme, even though the Nigerian Army, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State (DSS) were exempted. And police have kicked against this, severally preferring to be migrated to the DBS.

Badge of Independence

In the landscape of Nigerias public service, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has a rich history that dates back to the colonial era and stands as a pillar of law enforcement and civil order. However, beneath the badges and uniforms lies a growing discontentment among the rank and file for a quest for pension reform that resonates with the Forces desire for autonomy, fairness in post-service benefits, and in alignment with its constitutional duties and the risks faced during the performance of these duties.

According to Wikipedia, the NPF dates back to 1879 through the formation of the 1,200-member Hausa Constabulary and the establishment of the Lagos Police in 1896.

In the early 1900s, the Northern Nigeria Police and Southern Nigeria Police were created from parts of the Royal Niger Company Constabulary and the Niger Coast Constabulary, respectively. And in 1930, the Northern and Southern Nigeria Police Forces were merged to form the first national police force.

After Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the Force was renamed the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) with jurisdiction over the whole of the country. It is worthy of note that the Nigeria Police Force (Establishment) Act, 2020 (the new Act), which came into force, repealed the Police Act of 2004.

Getting out of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) into the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS)!

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Police Pension Revolt

Media organisations carried the story of retired police officers under the CP Scheme, who besieged the National Assembly to protest over several months of unpaid pensions on 21 May, and demanded to be removed from the CPS. The retirees were from various state chapters and they expressed the severe hardships they were experiencing due to the failure of the National Pension Commission to pay their entitlements.

It is gathered that the agitation has moved with the introduction of bills seeking to establish a dedicated Nigeria Police Pension Board, passed by the ninth Assembly Senate in June 2023, as stated on their X-handle, and to exempt the Police Force from the PenCom Act 2014, which came up on the floor of the tenth National Assembly in November, 2023, as the harmonisation process is pending.

What is the CPS All About?

The Pension Reform Act 2004, modelled after the Chilean Pension Scheme which exempts the Army and Police, enacted a new pension scheme called the CPS, that is not only contributory and fully funded but also privately managed, with funds and assets based on individual accounts under third party custody. This was to ensure, unlike in the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), that everyone who has worked receives retirement benefits when due.

The government, through the Pension Commission (PenCom) has insisted that the police is too big, and excusing them from the CPS would affect Nigerian economy, and as such they must remain within the Scheme, even though the Nigerian Army, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State (DSS) were exempted. And police have kicked against this, severally preferring to be migrated to the DBS.

At a February public hearing on the amendment of the PenCom Act, the sponsor based his request on the claim that a Deputy Superintendent of Police under the CPS pension scheme dances home with about N2 million, while an Assistant Superintendent of Police walks home with about N1 million, their equivalent under the DBS, like a Captain in the Nigerian Army and a DSS official haul home about N12 million and N10 million respectively.

Police, is the above assertions, correct?

Breaking Down the Pension Chains

The NPF continues to be the Principal Law Enforcement Agency in Nigeria, with a mandate to prevent and detect crime, enforce laws, and protect lives and property, etc.

The following security agencies were excised from the NPF over the years:

Nigerian Federal Fire Services (NFFS): Originally known as the Police Brigade, it was founded in 1901 as a division named the Lagos Police Fire Brigade, which was later formalised by an Act of Parliament in 1963. Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS): Founded in 1958, the NIS which is responsible for immigration control and border security, was formalised in 1963.

The Principal Security Agency in Nigeria is the Nigerian Army (NA), whose history dates back to 1863 when Lt. Glover of the Royal Navy selected 18 indigenes from the Northern part of the country to form a local force known as the Glover Hausas to protect the Royal Niger Company from constant military incursions by the neighbouring Ashanti Empire. Later on there was the formation of the Royal West African Frontier Force in 1900. Officially founded in 1956 and formalised in 1960, the NAs other arms are:

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF): Officially established in 1964 to support the NAs participation in peace-keeping operations in Congo and Tanganyika (now Tanzania). The Nigerian Navy (NN): It originates from the Marine Department of the Royal Navy established in 1887. A quasi-military organisation that combined the duties of the present-day Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority, and the Nigerian Navy, it was formalised in 1956.

Other para-military outfits that surfaced in the law enforcement landscape include:

Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS): Formerly known as the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), it traces its origins back to 1861 when Western-type prisons were first established in Nigeria. The name change came in 2019. Nigeria Customs Service (NCS): It was established in 1891. Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB): It was created in 1989. State Security Service (SSS) or Department of State Services (DSS): It was established in 1986 following the dismantling of the infamous Nigeria Security Organisation (NSO). National Intelligence Agency (NIA): It was established in 1986 (part of the NSO). Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA): It was created in 1986 (as part of the former NSO). Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC): It was established in 1988. National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA): It was created in 1989. Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC): It was established in 2000. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC): It was set up in 2003. Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC): It was introduced in 1967 during the Nigerian Civil War within the then Federal Capital Territory of Lagos and statutorily established with an expanded mandate thereafter.

It looks like the first 1999 Constitution was definitely copied, may be word for word from somewhere, if not how come the NPF found itself in this pension dilemma?

For context, lets visit history. The Udoji Public Service Review Commission was set up in 1972 by the General Gowon administration to propose Civil Service Reforms. Far-reaching recommendations were made, in which all the laws on regular pensions, war pensions, disability benefits and gratuities were consolidated. These altered the remunerations and benefits of public servants and culminated in Decree No 102 of 1979 for the civilian employees and Decree 103 for military pensions and gratuities.

Note: The Armed Forces Pension Act came in 1979, while the Police and Other Government Agencies Pension Scheme was enacted under Pension Decree No 75 of 1987.

What the laws did was to provide for a public service scheme that was mostly unfunded and non-contributory. They were based on a defined benefit Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) scheme, which relied solely on budgetary provisions and releases.

Then entered Section 219 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 5(1) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, which mandated the establishment of a body to ensure the welfare and pension of members of the armed forces, defined the subsequent exemption of some security agencies and part of the categories of those exempted from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) respectively.

Liberating the Pension Funds

The CPS introduced in 2004 was designed to ensure all public servants have a secure retirement. However, the one-size-fits-all approach looks inadequate.

The multifaceted concerns and reasons are:

The Police have a specialised need. Ditching the CPS by the Police will create a significant financial liability on the government. PenCom and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) are suggesting enhancements within the current CPS scheme. There would be dire consequences not only for pension reform but also for other reform initiatives. There is a White Paper from the report of the Presidential Committee on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies which forbids any government body, apart from the military and intelligence services, from exiting the CPS.

Financial implication according to PenCom are:

It would cost the government an additional N2 trillion in pension liabilities for over 300,000 police personnel based on a 2021 actuarial valuation exercise. The total allocation approved by the National Assembly for settling pension liabilities in the 2022 Appropriation Act was N125 billion out of a total pension liability of N3 billion, which is just 21.6 per cent of the total allocation proposed for pensions for the military, NIA, DIA and prospective retirees of Federal Government treasury-funded MDAs. While the break down sum for those exempted are: Military  N263.3 billion; NIA  N9.2 billion; and DSS  N12.1 billion respectively. Professors are allowed to retire with full benefits if they served for at least 20 years. When their RSA savings are not enough to cover the full benefits, government will cover the shortfall. Under the CPS for the police personnel, there is a liability made up of N4 billion as accrued pension rights and about N2.2 billion monthly employer pension contributions. About 63 per cent of the total pension assets will be affected through the bond, the securities and the mortgage markets etc., which runs into trillions of naira. The Federal Government was already overburdened with the payment of pensions under the Defined Benefit Scheme that will expire in 2039.

Carve Out or Cave In

In conclusion

For the Police, it has a case but this has not been put together properly.

Do pension fund administrators and pension fund custodians may have a cause to be jittery? may be!

For PenCom, a way out is possible but not the route it has taken.

Adamu Rabiu writes from Kaduna

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


If you tell a liar the truth of God, he will reject it.

Jesus told Pilate that he who is of the truth hears His voice. This means Jesus is only acceptable to the truthful. A man is either of the truth or he is of the lie:

Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears Gods words; therefore you do not hear because you are not of God. (Jn 8:43-47).

Two Kinds of Human Beings

Here is a stark definition of two kinds of men. One who is of the truth and one who is of the lie. One who is of God and one who is of the devil. One who can hear the word of God and one who cannot but can hear the voice of the devil.

The world says that opposites attract. But the word of God says likes attract. Only those who are of God find the gospel of Jesus Christ attractive. Jesus says those who are attracted to the gospel are those who are of God.

Jesus is like a magnet. His people are drawn to Him and they welcome His revelation. Although His light rebukes their sin, they nevertheless respond to that light in repentance and faith. They live by His truth. But those who are not of God reject the gospel. Otherwise, why would a man not believe the truth and prefer to be told a lie?

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Rejecting the Truth

If you tell a liar the truth of God, he will reject it. Jesus said the reason the Jews did not believe Him was because He told them the truth. If He had told them a lie, they would have believed Him.

Look at this scripture again:

Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? (John 8:46).

Jesus asked the Jews if He had ever told them a lie. Have you ever caught Me telling you a lie? Have you ever caught Me sinning? On the contrary, you have only observed Me telling you the truth. Everything I tell you I practice. I do everything I tell you I can do. I do everything I teach. You have never heard Me or seen Me contradict Myself. You have never observed Me being hypocritical. You have always known Me to be truthful. And yet, you dont believe Me. Therefore, the problem is not in what I say. The problem is in you. The problem is that you are not of the truth. The problem is that you are not of God. For God is a God of truth.

We cannot know our true selves if we dont know the true God. If we dont know God, we will be open to lies, especially about humanity. It is in the wisdom of God that men who reject the truth of God will believe lies:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. (Romans 1:18).

Because men did not like to retain God in their knowledge, the Bible declares that God gave men over to a debased mind and vile passions, allowing men to do ungodly things:

For this reason, God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).

So, God says to Isaiah:

Go, and tell this people: Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed. (Isaiah 6:9-10).

Unbelievers Are Liars

Unbelievers are liars and they make God a liar. Because they are liars, they reject the truth. But the truth we reject will judge us on the last day. Jesus says:

He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him  the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. (John 12:48).

Those same words of truth we rejected will come back to question us. The truth will ask: Did I not tell you so-and-so on such-and-such a date? Why did you reject what you knew to be the truth?

We reject the truth because it is true. We reject the truth because we are liars. We reject it not because we believe it is false, but because we know it is true. We reject truth because we are not of the truth. We reject it because we dont like the truth. We reject it because we dont think the truth is profitable in this life.

We want the world to like us but if we speak the truth they will not. If we are truthful, we will not get away with murder. If we are pastors, our ministry will suffer. Our membership will decline. We might not be able to pay our bills.

In which case we cannot expect to spend eternity with the truth. We must spend eternity with the lie. Jesus says:

I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. (Luke 16:9).

Eternal Habitations

A man will end up in the end with what he believes. According to our faith, so shall it be unto us. We will end up with who we believe. If we believe in idols, then we should be prepared to spend eternity with the idols where they are. If we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, then we can look forward to spending eternity with Him where He is.

Truth in man comes in response to the truth of God. It is received as a gift from God. This gift comes by way of teaching and also by way of the working of the Holy Spirit in the life of a man.

Jesus is the word of God. The word of God is truth. The more we read the words of Jesus and trust the Holy Spirit to quicken what we read to our spirit, the more our hearts are cleansed so that we think the pure thoughts of God.

In the end, the pastors, bishops, popes and other members of the religious establishment decided that the way out was to kill Jesus. But can you, O great Christian, kill the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, today?

Hating the Truth

God is love and He is also the truth. There is a very close relationship between the truth and love. The truth is to be spoken in love. (Ephesians 4:15).

Love thinks no evil. Love rejoices in the truth. Love believes true things. Love hopes for true things. Love never fails to love.

Why do we hate the truth? We hate the truth because the truth is bitter. We hate the truth because the truth exposes us. We hate the truth because the truth reveals who we are. We hate the truth because we believe in self-deception. We hate the truth because we dont like ourselves. We hate the truth because we are not who we want to be. We hate the truth because we are not who we claim to be.

We like lies because we cannot handle the truth. Yes, he is a preacher of the gospel. Everyone acknowledges him as a man of God. But nobody knows he is a closet drunkard. Nobody knows he is having an affair with his secretary. They call him Archbishop, but nobody knows that he is addicted to pornography.

Would they still love me if they knew the truth? Would they still love me if they knew I am a fraud? Would they still love me if they knew I am still striving against sin? What if they found out that I beat my wife? What if it becomes public knowledge that I have children outside of my marriage? What if they knew that I shoot cocaine? Would they still love me?

Secrets Dont Exist

All the things we are hiding are already known. Nothing is hidden from God.

The prodigal son went away into a far country so that he could be with prostitutes without having to bother with his father. No such luck. God is Jehovah Shammar. Take solace. God knows already. What a relief.

He knows I am a thief. He knows I have lustful thoughts.

He knows I still shoot cocaine.

God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world. He did not send Jesus into the world to condemn me, but to save me. He knows that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Therefore, let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

Even though my sin is scarlet, the promise of God says His grace will ensure that it will be as white as snow. Jesus says about a sinful woman: Her sins, precisely because they are many, have been forgiven her because she loved much. She has been accepted into Gods beloved. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

Gospel of Truth

We have met the truth and it did not destroy us. The truth is not as damning as we feared. The truth is the gospel. The truth is ultimately good news.

Adam, who told you that you were naked? That is not the truth. The truth is that although you have been stealing, you are not a thief. It is not in your nature to steal, beat people up, lie, cheat and fornicate. The truth is that we can be righteous, and live godly lives. God in Christ has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.

The truth is that God has provided the opportunity for the man who has messed up, the man who has blown it, the man who has failed, the man who has sinned and the man who has transgressed to begin again.

How has he done this? He did it by giving us the avenue to a new birth.

But I am an old man says Nicodemus. Would I have to go back into my mothers womb?

It does not matter if you are young or old. It is a spiritual and not a physical rebirth. The slate is wiped clean. The past is forgiven and forgotten. God is the most merciful of all. Once we repent, confess our sins and make a turnaround, He does not remember our sins anymore.

Thanks to the path of life laid out before us by Jesus, the believer has new principles, new affections, and a new nature. He has the divine ability to overcome temptation.

When a man is born again, his spirit is re-generated, quickened and made alive by God. He is now able to see, understand and perceive hitherto hidden things about the kingdom of God. The things of God are spiritually discerned.

Nicodemus was a teacher and a ruler of the Jews. Nevertheless, he could not understand this because he was spiritually dead. What Christ spoke spiritually Nicodemus passed through carnal filters?

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christs behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). CONCLUDED.

Faribisala@yahoo.com; www.femiaribisala.com

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Without moving his body, African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Akinwumi Adesina, watlzed his tall frame in a dance last week. He danced to the rhythm of Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo of Gentleman Mike Ejeaghas trending song track, Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche. A rhythmic refrain track from an album titled Akuko NEgwu Vol. 1., Ka Esi has a lot of similarities with A o merin joba, both taken from Igbo and Yoruba cosmologies respectively. Both are from rich traditional African folklore. While both also had Elephant and Trickster Tortoise animal totems as their major characters, folklore teaches the moral of how never to throw benefactors under a moving train. Released in 1983 by Ejeagha of Imezi Owa, Ezeagu in Enugu State, Ka Esi recalibrated an ancient Igbo folklore of trickster Tortoise who sacrificed the huge and mountainous Elephant for his selfish desire to have the kings daughter as wife. Elephant thought he was assisting a friend.

Folklorist/writer, Joseph Odunjo, like Ejeagha, brought A o merin joba into vivid perspective in his Alawiye Yoruba literature series. Using the animal world as a motif, Odunjo told the story of gross human deception and how human beings are easily susceptible to and capable of mischief. Represented as a character with power, majesty and acclaim, the mammoth-sized Elephant beast was the untouchable king of the jungle whose humongous size was a huge bother to other animals in the jungle. Several efforts were made to oust his prowess, to no avail. So, a plot was hatched using his majesty as his destruction. Tortoise, a clever and serpentine animal, was procured to do the hatchet job. Tortoise resolved that, given Elephants size and height, violence would not bring him to his hilt but a strategy of deception, praise-singing and bootlicking. Tortoise then traveled to the wooded savannah jungle to see his friend, the Almighty Elephant. His message was that, all animals had purposed to make him King of all Animals. Elephant was to come to the palace adorned in the full regalia of a King. Prior to the day, Tortoise had dug a very deep hole by the palace that could occupy Elephants mammoth size, decorated with a beautiful wool carpet worthy of a kings royal feet. He completed it with an ornamented chair just at the edge of the royal carpet. Encircling the carpet, all the animals in the town clapped and hailed the new King dressed in flowery royal robe as he walked majestically towards the royal carpet. They cheered the Elephant on, shouting A o merin joba, eweku ewele. Fascinated by the splendour and cheer, Elephant walked majestically, acknowledging the cheers, until he fell into the ditch and unto his death.

Ostensibly marrying the morale in both Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche and A o merin joba, Adesina deployed them to paint a picture of a Nigerian establishment in whose veins flowed the blood of cruelty, shamelessness and greed. Either intended or stray, Adesina threw a bomb into their fold, a bomb whose shrapnel hit the innermost recess of Nigerias sleaze and slush petroleum sector. In a tweet on X last week, while upbraiding the apparent systemic gang-up to frustrate Aliko Dangotes refinery by the Nigerian government, Adesina said, Investing is tough. Pettiness is easy. It sadly sends a signal that the price for sacrificing for Nigeria is to get sacrificed. In the short tweet, Adesina denounced governments attempt to profile Dangote as a selfish monopolist Tortoise, as reflected in Ejeagha and Odunjos reworking of the Igbo and Yoruba folklore. He ultimately situated the gang-ups as attempt to sacrifice the monstrous Elephant refinery of Aliko Dangote to governmental pettiness.

Adesinas cryptic quip of sacrificing for Nigeria (and getting) sacrificed also finds a corollary in another ancient anecdote, the killing of the proverbial hunchback, Abuke Osin. The hunchback was the favourite servant of Obatala. Among the Yoruba, Obatala is known as the munificent and benevolent father of all Orisa  gods  and indeed, of all humanity. Obatala is also reputed to be the owner of all heads and minds of all human creations of Eledumare  God. While Eledumare created the entire universe, Obatala created humanity in their entirety. Everything that is pure without blemish emanates from Obatala because he is the source of purity and wisdom. Obatala was peaceful and compassionate.

According to the anecdote as told by the renowned living archive of Yoruba traditional institution, Yemi Elebuibon, in his The Adventures of Obatala: Ifa and Santeria God of creativity (2016), Obatala sent the hunchback on errands and impressed by his service to him, Obatala chanted some incantations which deposited precious beads, gold and other ornaments inside the carapace-like chest of the hunchback. He however chanted that anyone who made him happy and rubbed his chest would partake of the wealth deposited therein. Ojugbe, the hunchbacks neighbor, benefitted from these gifts due to his good neighbourliness. When Abuke complained of pain in the chest, Ojugbe rubbed it for him and became stupendously wealthy therefrom. Not knowing the caveat attached to Ojugbes wealth, Tortoise envied him. But, unable to compete with Ojugbe-kind care, one day, Tortoise lured the Abuke Osin into his house and forcefully rubbed his chest. It refused to emit money. He then resolved to kill this servant of Obatala and incurred the wrath of the god.

I do not want to go into details of the Nigerian establishments battle with this 650,000 bpsd state-of-the-art refinery which erupted upper week. They are in the public domain. Since 1973 when it was created, the NNPC has been a cesspit of corruption and vehicle for hemorrhaging Nigerias petro-dollars. It is a haven for white-collar criminals. According to Stephen Ellis in his This Present Darkness, (2016) by the late 1970s, an illegal trade in Nigerian oil flourished like a new bride. Corrupt politicians and military big epaulettes connived with NNPC officials to funnel Nigerian oil abroad. They did this with the connivance of Greek and Lebanese traders. All manner of internal and external sharks feasted on the Nigerian crude. In the process of this feast, scant consideration was paid to the goose that laid the golden egg, the refineries of Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri. Today, they have become moribund, resulting in Nigeria exporting its own crude and importing petroleum products from them. The refineries are grounded due to fossilised technology, humongous corruption and a wicked ploy by petrol cabals to keep the goose perpetually castrated.

In October 2023, the Nigerian senate attempted to probe Nigerias expenditure on rehabilitation of the four refineries which were yet unproductive. A senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi, presented a motion which revealed that, Between 2010 to date, Nigeria is estimated to have spent N11.35 trillion (N11, 349, 583, 186, 313.40) excluding other cost in other currencies which include $592,976,050.00, 4, 877, 068.47 and 3, 455, 656.93 on renovation of refineries, yet they are unproductive. Karimi further said that, Despite the moribund state of the four refineries, the operating costs of these refineries between 2010 and 2020 were estimated at N4.8 trillion. The refineries are estimated to make a cumulative loss of N1.64 trillion, within four years. Indeed, in the last 25 years, NNPC has spent something in the neighourhood of $25 billion on TAM on these obsolete dinosaurs called refineries. The world was shocked recently when told that an NNPC subsidiary, PHRC, expended N23 billion on salaries and maintenance of a refinery that was too crude to refine even a gallon of crude. For these oil vampires who grow rotund tummies out of our ancient comatose refineries, Dangote refinery must be stopped from functioning.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

President Olusegun Obasanjo, in a revelation, said he was advised by knowledgeable experts that aside their obsolete equipment and infrastructure, the refineries were mere scraps which needed to be sold. He thus sold two of the refineries plants in Port Harcourt and Kaduna to Blue Star, a consortium of Aliko Dangote, a man who Bloomberg assessed as worth more than $15 billion, for a whopping $670m. Apparently instigated by a sleaze-steeped oil cabal, labour unions and other oil rats pressurised President Umaru YarAdua to reverse the purchase. Dangote Cement, his financial empires jewel, is also one of Nigerias traded companies, becoming one of Nigeria Stock Exchanges companies to reach a market capitalisation of N10 trillion. Since the reversal, Nigeria has spent multiple of the amount it would have collected from selling the refineries and is yet expending huge costs on sham Turn Around Maintenance and the bottomless pit of corruption in the NNPC. The corporation is alleged to be one of the most non-self accounting conglomerates in the world with an allegation of $32 billion hemorrhage in the Goodluck Jonathan administrations corruption-ridden oil-for-product swap agreements.

The Dangote $20 billion refinery, biggest in Africa and second in the world, built on a 2,635 hectares land in Ibeju-Lekki, was a protest against the YarAdua governments unconscionable reversal of the sale of the two Nigerian refineries by Obasanjo. With its 650,000 barrels of crude oil refining capacity per day, it surpasses the refining capacity of 435,000 of Nigerias total moribund refineries. It is said to be capable of supplying almost all of Nigerias daily consumption need. The downside is that it will eliminate Nigerias bottomless pit sleaze called subsidy and kill the roaches who have over the decades fed fat on this brand of Nigerias cesspit. Dangotes almost 50,000 staff is said to be made up of over 90 per cent Nigerians and a meagre expatriate number of 11,000. Dangote Cement is also said to have paid N200 billion in tax since 2003, it pays N27 billion VAT monthly and corporate tax of N40.39 billion. The Federal Government also collects 52 per cent tax on every N1 that Dangotes companies earn in profit. This is the context of Adesinas X tweet of pettiness is easy.

Opposition to the Dangote refinery was initially amorphous. Platformed on allegation of Dangotes famed monopolistic tendency, it soon branched into allegation that the quality of the refinery was suspect. At long last, the masquerade abandoned its costume  ago  to reveal Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) chief executive, Farouk Ahmed. Same last week, Ahmed openly alleged that the diesel produced by the Dangote Refinery, compared to the one imported, was inferior. Ahmed also alleged that the Dangote fuel had huge sulphur content, which he situated at between 650 to 1,200 ppm. He was most likely shell-shocked when asked where his or NNPCs test laboratory for sulphur level resides. It was only then that Nigerians learnt that Lagos laboratories  Sewort, SGS and GMO perform this task for Almighty Nigerian oil colossus.

A number of surreptitious, faceless persons and groups have been used to push a mafia-like battle against the birthing of the Dangote Refinery. If derobed of their identities, it will be clear that these persons are angered by the obvious reality that the success of that humongous refinery means an end to their decades-old bazaar on Nigerian oil industry. A couple of weeks ago, the media reported Aliko himself as confirming that the blood-baiting oil sharks had run a ring round him. He, in fact, acknowledged his awareness that they could even be within his organisation.

The other leg of the accusation came in a last year Financial Times report. It alleged that Tinubu is putting the squeeze on Dangote for not supporting him during his presidential bid. When EFCC raided his Lagos company last year, ostensibly on allegation of investigation into the foreign exchange allocations under CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, the thinking was that Tinubu was exerting the powers of his presidency on Aliko. It was alleged that while his business rival, Abdul Samad Rabiu and Tony Elumelu showered bounties on Tinubu during his presidential campaign, Dangote queued behind Atiku Abubakar. Anyone who knows how the Nigerian state runs will know that only Aso Rock authorises such high-level infiltration.

Those who are opportune to visit the Dangote refinery have labeled it one of the most awesome wonders of our world. A television anchor called it the Dangote Planet. The most depressing reality about Dangote is that, in practical terms, he is not the richest Nigerian. At a conservative estimate, he could be one of the twenty richest. The bulk of the 19 others are mostly politicians who, in our sane moment as Nigerians, we ask, in American voice, we have seen the bucks, where is the shop? They take our stolen wealth to Malta, Dubai and other countries where their billions of dollar investments are beyond prying eyes. Dangote certainly isnt richer than Olowo Eko who, in a moment of grandstanding immodesty told a monarch during a visit to Osun State, Kabiyesi, ee lowo mi!  Kabiyesi, you dont have my kind of money! But, does anyone know Baba Olowos shop? We are his shop!

Lets even accept that all the charges against Dangote are true  monopolist, feeding off closeness to successive governments, and all that  investing $20b in this economy, excluding his behemoth fertilizer and cement plants  is courage, valour, patriotism. Dangote and his refinery are Nigerias national assets. So also are the Mike Adenugas of our world. We must protect them from the Shylocks, Saurons, Lord Voldemorts, the Ikoko ajeran jegungun  foxes that devour human flesh and bones  and the Komodo dragons of this world who want to swallow our economic saviours.

Hardship Protest: Tinubu, bi iwo ba se rere

All of a sudden, President Bola Tinubu is running from pillar to post. The febrile fear with which his presidency tries to stave off the proposed August 1 Hardship protest is baffling. It seems to remind one of the biblical verse in Genesis 4:7 which says, if thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? This English interpretation does not convey the messages total interpretative capturing as its Yoruba version rendition. That particular scriptural verse is interpreted in Yoruba as Bi iwo ba se rere, ara ki yio ha ya o? It was God speaking to Cain, Adam and Eves first born, who was enraged because he reaped what he sowed. Cain leapt into a fury because God rejected his paltry offering and accepted his brother, Abels which was God-respecting. Rather than see this rejection as his own doing and take a redemptive detour, Cain took a callous step further. He murdered his younger brother.

Recounting Nigerians groaning lot in the last 14 months here will be an overkill. The man they hyped as coming of a pedigree of dancers whose eclectic dancing feet attracted donations of slaves now dances and is barely gifted a wrap of corn meal. Rather, his feeble dance-steps attract curses and boos. A pre-dancing cheering audience now jeers as its stomach hisses and rumbles. To say Nigeria tastes as bitter as Jogbo leaf will be an understatement. Our country is Jogbo leaf itself. Wherever you turn, it is bitterness. And this is under the grip of a man who was said to be King Midas whose touch turned everything to gold.

Nigerians unusual resilience makes the world agape with incredulity. They are a people who could weather the storm, no matter the turbulence. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti couldnt understand such orthodoxy of suffering which he called cowardice. My people sef dem fear too much My Pa dey for houseI nor wan die he dramatises our pacifist spirit. Rotimi Amaechi said something worse recently about Nigerians. In a viral video which appeared to be a lecture on Nigerians famed pacifism, he said even if you kill a Nigerians father and mother, they would move on and say it was Gods wish for them. What many do not know is that Nigerians detest their leaders taking them for granted. Wily General Ibrahim Babangida knew only of the first sheaf about Nigerians resilient spirit. He didnt however know about the other sheaf  the peoples tendency for rebellion. The truth is that, when Nigerians flip the other side of the cudgel, they are difficult to tame. By the time Nigerians made up their minds about IBB, they dropped his heap by the dumpsite of history.

Revisionists say that the key to Nigerians docile tendencies can be found in their history. What they call a history devoid of bloodshed. They juxtapose Nigeria with Kenya. In the latter, the Mau Mau rebellion in the British Kenya Colony between the Kenya Land and Freedom Army (KLFA), also known as the Mau Mau, and the British authorities lasted for good eight years. So they submit that whilst rebellion against oppressors was a Kenyan DNA, pampering oppressors was Nigerians. Which is not true. Our forefathers fought, shed blood for the freedom we have now. Collective fights against white aggressors may be rare but we had the Ovonramwen Nogbaisis. Ovonramwen was the Oba of Benin Kingdom who fought British usurpation. He attacked British Deputy Commissioner and Consul for the Niger Coast Protectorate, James Robert Phillips, killing him and virtually all on his entourage. A punitive expedition against the Benin kingdom resulted in its razing in 1897 and looting of its bronzes.

Nigerians do not expect their leaders to be magicians, apologies to Madam RAT. They even know that the taciturn Mallam from Daura inflicted his Janus persona on the economy so fatally that the wound would take long to heal. But Nigerians detest governmental deceit, incompetence and hypocrisy advertised as leadership. In the last 14 months, this has been the broth served Nigerians a la carte. To worsen matters, our leadership has carried on with an I-dont-care attitude which Yoruba describe as a let-the-angry-torrents-of-rainfall-pierce-into-shreds-the-helpless-cocoyam-leafs-if-it-can ojo pa ewe koko, bo le ya, ko ya.

So when this same leadership runs from Ankara to Kutuwenji in its bid to stop Nigerians from letting the whole world know of their plight, the apt response to it is the same that God gave to stubborn Cain, Bi iwo ba se rere, ara ki yio ha ya o? In the last couple of weeks, government has been funneling scarce resources into bribing Cash-tivists who call themselves activists not to come out and demonstrate on August 1. Students union leaders have received theirs. Journalists have. The three gbosas people have. Traditional rulers across Nigeria, too have visited an Aso Rock which changes people into unfeeling mummies.

So many reasons have been proffered for why Nigerians must not protest their deplorable plights. One is that criminals could hijack the peoples constitutional right to protest. So, why spend peoples money to pay policemen if they cannot be funneled out in their thousands to protect protesters on their constitutionally mandated responsibility to an absent government? Second reason from government on why Nigerians should dress their punches in velvet glove: That the government is finding a way round the hunger in the land. One is reminded of someone who is spending twenty years to practice madness. They even say that since the protest has no identifiable leadership, it could be uncontrollable like scattered pellets of a dane-gun bullet. The police also come out to Afghanistanize the protest by claiming that Intel tells them foreign mercenaries were part of the ploy. Since they know anything security is opaque, it is quite easy for them to befuddle the people with such scary lie. This is same police which no calamity has ever befallen Nigeria that they forewarned Nigerians about. But, shouldnt Nigerians let the world know about their plights?

Let me mimic judges at the temple of justice: Considering all evidence before me, Nigerians must protest on August 1. Nigerians need to retrieve their country from the hands of leaders who dont care about their plights. Not violently. Violence under-develops a people. Do you think, if he ever survives his ongoing ordeal, William Ruto, in his own words, the village boy (who) has become the president of Kenya, will ever take Kenyans for granted? Let the man whose ambition it has always been to live in Aso Rock be made to commit to making Nigerians live meaningful life.

Gbolagunte: Good night, great jurist

On Friday, I listened to one of the most impactful sermons ever at the New Reservation Baptist Church, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo State. It was devoid of the depressing low of style-style fundraising and motivational prosperity sermons that Pentecostalism has sunk into in Nigeria. Church Pastor, Dr Kayode Oyedemi, taught about how death was mans companion which should be loved and not hated. He brought the reality of death in our lives so vividly that I doubt if any one who attended that service would unnecessarily reify life, going forward. It was at the burial of My Lord Justice Adegboye Ayinla Gbolagunte, son of Oyo State Second Republic House of Assembly Speaker under Governor Bola Ige, Jagunmolu of Eruwa, University of Ibadan pioneer student and lawyer, Mokolade Davidson Gbolagunte. Justice Gbolagunte was aged 64.

My path and that of Justice Gbolagunte crossed in 2019 during my court externship. The Nigerian Law School had attached me and other colleagues to his chambers at the Oyo State High Court. There, I saw him in his true self. After each sitting, Gbolagunte would call us into his inner chambers and the teacher in him took over. He would lecture us on the judicial background of his pronouncements.

Our friendship began from there. It was later I realized that he saw my quest to combine journalism with law in himself. He had gained admission to study History at the University of Lagos in 1978 but later ported to Mass Communication. At the funeral, I met one of his friends, the highly respected journalist, Kayode Samuel. Gbolagunte later studied law at the University of Ibadan from 1983 to 1986.

Before law, Gbolagunte was a lecturer of journalism in different institutions. He particularly taught News Writing, Editing, Press Law, Marketing and Insurance Law at The Polytechnic, Ibadan and the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos. He was also a prolific writer. From his holiday job at the then NTV Ibadan in 1980 where he began reportorial job, he spent time with the Imo State newspaper, Nigerian Statesman during his NYSC. While on the editorial board of the Times newspaper, Gbolagunte covered the famed visit of Nelson Mandela to Nigeria in 1991.

When he later learnt of my passion for Apala maestro, Ayinla Omowura, he told me he passionately retained his middle name, Ayinla because of the profound manner Ayinlas music arrests him. He called to request for a copy of my biographical portraiture of the musician upon its publication. I honoured the request by couriering an autographed copy to him through the first President of the Oyo State Customary Court of Appeal, My Lord Justice Adegboyega Akinteye (rtd) which he acknowledged.

While still interning in his chambers, Justice Gbolagunte proposed that we both collaborated in a biography to mark his 60th. I guess the ailment which took him killed that dream as well.

If commendable testimonials could wake Gbolagunte, last week, the jurist would leave the morgue and go embrace his wife, Wuraola. If corroborations of his unusual integrity, humility, service to God and humanity were the passport to heaven, he will be by the feet of his Creator now. A valiant and courageous judge, Gbolagunte fought judicial powers and principalities who he considered to be thieves in judges robes. When he received medical judgment that his death was afoot, Gbolagunte took time to arrange his home and proceedings of funeral. He paid for his casket, the vault where he would be buried and in the words of one of his sons at last week wake service, he arranged every part of this burial service, who to meet, talk to and how he should be buried.

Good night, great brother, Great Akokite, Great UIte.

Festus Adedayo is an Ibadan-based journalist.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


.economic mismanagement, rabid corruption, irresponsible political behavior and squandermania, the near abandonment of the state by its very custodians weakened it and made it largely irrelevant to the daily lives of the people. The state was now seen and treated as enemy by the people, a force that was to be avoided, hated, attacked, and subverted as opportunity permitted. Such a state had no room for the development, rule of law, social justice, human rights, and constitutionalism. All these were sacrificed on the altar of political expediency, political rascality, the hunger for raw power, and the arrogance of a political elite with only a tenuous relationship to real production.  Julius Ihonvbere (2002)

When he uttered these words in October 2002, Julius Ihonvbere was a distinguished Professor of political science about to make the transition from exile into public office. He spoke as a guest of the Institute for Governance and Development (IGD) at the Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma, Edo State, whose academic community were his audience. The topic of his lecture was the timeless subject of Constitutionalism and Democratisation in Africa. His focus was Nigeria.

Nearly 22 years later, Professor Ihonvbere has logged an impressive public service resume in both the executive and legislative arms of government as well as at both federal and state levels. Among other things, he has served as an intimate adviser in the presidency; Secretary to the State Government in Edo State and also as a federal legislator. As the Majority Leader in the House of Representatives today, Professor Ihonvbere is the undisputed manager of legislative business in that chamber.

The progressive credentials of his opposite number in the Senate, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB), are just as intimidating. A lawyer with transboundary qualifications, Ope, as he was known back in the day, was a firebrand president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) under whom the association logged an impressive record of resilient and effective opposition to the worst excesses of military rule.

This coincidence of enlightened and progressive credentials was  until this parliament  unknown in the annals of parliamentary floor management in Nigeria. It was entirely natural, therefore, that the public was willing to suspend credulity and heap a burden of high expectations on this 10th National Assembly (NASS). What they have reaped in return has been nothing short of a dis-spiriting anti-climax.

In its first year, this 10th National Assembly compiled a record that makes Professor Ihonvberes 22 year old Ekpoma declamation sound rather damp. To be sure, they signaled their direction very early, handing the administration the largest cabinet in the history of elective presidentialism in Nigeria in return for a scandalous harvest of four-wheel drives for every member.

The National Assembly of Professor Ihonvbere and Opeyemi Bamidele will go down in history as the one that casualized the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme by clearing for appointment, ministerial nominees who manifestly had not fulfilled that requirement. Their handling of appropriations will deserve special treatment on its own. But it is their treatment of constitutive national symbols and institutions that will probably define the legacy of this 10th National Assembly.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

On the first anniversary of the regime of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May 2024, the NASS altered the National Anthem and secured presidential assent for the change even before the record of Votes and Proceedings could have been compiled or transmitted, an essential requirement for presidential assent to bills passed by the National Assembly. This uniquely symbolic event occurred without as much as notice to Nigerians or an opportunity for public participation in the process.

The speed of parliamentary business under the joint floor leadership of Professor Ihonvbere and Opeyemi Bamidele has been nothing short of disconcerting, to the extent that it routinely catches many of their own conscientious colleagues entirely unawares. This has led to accusations of legislation by ambush. They have indeed been described as worse than a rubber stamp. A copy-and-paste arm of the executive.

The latest example of legislation by copy-and-paste was the swift decision in the past week by both chambers of the National Assembly to amend the Nigeria Police Act of 2020, in order to extend the tenure of the present Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for a transparently political hit-job in 2027. As with the National Anthem, this also blindsided the country.

The Nigeria Police (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is one of the shortest pieces of law-making in Nigerias parliamentary history. It comprises three sections which, together with the marginal notes, add up to a mere 100 words. The only substantive provision in the new law proposes to insert into the Nigeria Police Act 2020, a provision to the effect that any person appointed to the office of Inspector-General of Police shall remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment in line with section 7(6) of this Act.

The Police Act provides for a tenure of up to four years for the Inspector-General of Police. However, all police officers are also liable to retire on attainment of the age of 60 years or 35 years in service whichever occurs earlier. Under this rule, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, the current IGP, will retire on 4 September when he turns 60.

As the rumours of a tenure extension for him built up in the past few weeks, the police authorities were forced at the beginning of this month deny allegations that IGP Egbetokun made moves to influence the National Assembly to pass a bill seeking to raise the retirement age of officers. Those denials have proved to be worthless.

There are two possible scenarios. One is that Egbetokun was appointed in 2023 with a clear tenure stipulation in his letter of appointment. If that is the case, however, then the new amendment is an irresponsible waste of parliamentary bandwidth. This throws up an alternative explanation: that this amendment is intended to extend Egbetokuns tenure, keeping him in office until after the 2027 presidential elections. As a matter of law, that should be impossible under the terms of legislation that is clearly not retrospective in its text or ordinary effect.

On either of these readings, IGP Egbetokun has to go on his 60th birthday on 4 September. If a letter materializes on that date granting him longer tenure, it would almost assuredly be a lawless forgery. That is not to say that the regime may not attempt it.

The Constitution and the Police Act together empower the president to appoint the IGP. They place only three constraints on this. One, the person must be from the ranks of serving police officers. Two, only officers on or above the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police are eligible for consideration for the position of IGP. Third, the president is obliged to consult with the Police Council in the appointment but the decision is ultimately the presidents alone to make. On 4 September, Kayode Egbetokun will no longer be eligible to be appointed IGP because he would no longer be a Police Officer as a matter of law.

The perversely targeted amendment of the Police Act by the National Assembly of Julius Ihonvbere and Opeyemi Bamidele is the latest curiosity from a Parliament whose only aspiration appears to be the transformation of the NASS into presidential plaything. The objective of this amendment is rather transparent. That is not surprising: in a previous life, Kayode Egbetokun served for a long time as Aide-de-Camp to Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The enthusiasm of Julius Ihonvbere and Opeyemi Bamidele in readily enabling this prostitutes the National Assembly. To reprise the thoughts of Professor Ihonvbere from over two decades ago, this NASS under the joint enterprise of himself and Opeyemi Bamidele manifestly has no room for development, rule of law, social justice, human rights, and constitutionalism. Instead, it has become a place where all these were sacrificed on the altar of political expediency, political rascality, the hunger for raw power, and the arrogance of a political elite with only a tenuous relationship to real production. Who would have thunk it?!

Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a lawyer, teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and can be reached through chidi.odinkalu@tufts.edu.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


One of the expectations of column writing is that it will not just advance the journalistic goals of educating, informing and entertaining the society, but also serve as a watchdog for both the government and the governed. This role of surveillance to check developments that could tear the society apart is, probably, the most important of all the expectations from both professional and occupational journalists, especially in a developing country like Nigeria.

Trouble has a habit of sleeping until rudely stirred. Only those who have never really experienced anarchy or war talk glibly about the deployment of violence to advance any cause. Anyone who has ever truly participated in protest marches in the real tradition of grievance ventilation knows that there is a world of difference between a march for a cause and a march on a city.

If you have ever been in the trenches as some of us have, you wont have any problem drawing a line: Thus far and not an inch further!

For the avoidance of doubt, protests are legitimate. We all have a right to demonstrate against anything we consider inimical to our wellbeing. It is a fundamental human right; no less. It has been said over and over again that President Tinubu himself was a veteran protester both during military rule and the current 4th Republic. Having enjoyed that fundamental right, he shouldnt be seen denying others of the same entitlement.

The presidents men say that he believes in allowing people to express themselves as long as that can be done peacefully. In other words, the authorities want the protesters to note the undercurrents attending this intended demonstration which point to the fact that some other agenda  notably regime change  is already being smuggled into the mix by fifth columnists and opposition elements with partisan political agenda.

Speaking when he received the new US ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Mille Jr, President Tinubu acknowledged his past role as a notable protester: During the military era, we made our voices heard against dictatorship, and I was part of the group that engaged in peaceful protests without resorting to the destruction of property. As much as we believe that demonstrations are part of democracy, we will never encourage any protests that lead to the destruction of lives and property.

There is ample evidence on social media that some groups, with violence as their main weapon, are battle ready to cause mayhem under the pretext of the #EndBadGovernance protest. Their online meetings have been freely circulated, perhaps to encourage fence sitters to join in. If their words are to be taken seriously  and theres no reason why not  they are primed for violence. Many of the instigators are overseas but they have pledged to foot the bill of the proposed insurrection.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

One of the arrogant rabble-rousers in an online meeting actually boasted that by the time they are through with the insurrection, they would have got rid of the democratic dispensation and installed a clean and politically neutral leader in the country  a civilian coup!

Now, no government in the world will sit idly by while a group of disgruntled people plan its forceful exit through the instrumentality of anarchy.

A protest is a far cry from a riot. When a civil protest is infiltrated by faceless war mongers, the protesters themselves are in danger of being caught in the crossfire. Considering that the key conveners of the proposed August days of rage are not known, unlike the situation in normal demonstrations where the leaders and their agenda are well advertised, many social media influencers who had earlier signed on, have now withdrawn their participation.

Fears have been expressed that if the protest is allowed to degenerate to the anarchical level of the #ENDSARS campaign in which criminal elements hijacked what had started out as a beautiful celebration of the culture of civil resistance, Nigerias commercial capital, Lagos, will be further reduced to a modern jungle of ruins after the billion dollar damages inflicted on the city in the earlier demonstration from which it is yet to fully recover.

Then there is palpable evidence of ethnic baiting in comments made by those in favour of the protest and those against. As usual in such situations in Nigeria, some groups of people have already been marked down by their political opponents in the event that the handshake goes beyond the elbow. Mark my words, if push turns to shove, we shall be dealing with cases of ethno-religious cleansing in some parts of the country.

I dont find the announcement of an Oro cult festival intended to cleanse the land on exactly the same dates as the planned protests funny at all. When Oro eats, there are no leftovers. Remember the case of Alfa Bisiriyu Apalara (1918-1953), a fiery Islamic preacher who clashed with the Oro cult in Lagos in the early 1950s? He suddenly disappeared. To this day, the clerics body has never been found, although the authorities used circumstantial evidence to convict and hang the 11 perpetrators of the crime.

Anything that will make society regress to such savage means of silencing opponents should not thrill any rational human being. Unfortunately, we seem to find it all theatrical, even hilarious. But I insist that we must not give room to such developments because they are designed to rend the cord of amity between man and fellow man.

In their bid to find a deeper meaning in their planned protest, some of the identifiable activists supporting the demonstration have declared that it is not just another protest but a revolution! Former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore is of that persuasion. My dictionary defines revolution as, A forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favour of a new system. I am not sure that a democrat will want to take power by force as a preferred alternative to the ballot box.

Those advocating Kenya-style perpetual sit-out protests make the mistake of wrong equivalency. The lizard and the crocodile may both be reptiles but, whereas one is a staff sergeant, the other is an admiral. There are many things to admire and learn from the Kenyan protests just as there were many lessons from the last #ENDSARS protests in Nigeria. But you cant transplant one into the other. Each clime with its own spirit and vibes and peccadilloes. If I may borrow a line from Afrobeat superstar Asake, Ogogoro no be Vodka!

There is so much tension caused by economic hardship in Nigeria at the moment that many people are just one inch away from blowing a fuse. If any kind of anarchy is added to the mix, youre going to have a really combustible situation that could easily degenerate into mini gang warfares or full scale tribal wars.

To douse tension, the president has been consulting widely and massively publicising measures already taken by the government to address the concerns of the youthful protesters. Traditional rulers, religious leaders, political bigwigs and captains of industry have added their voices to appeal to the protesters to cancel the protest so as not to start what they may not be in a position to finish.

Revolutionary images from other lands, featuring fire-spitting youthful leaders and clips of internally displaced people may look fascinating because theyre from afar. If those images reflect our local circumstances, there may not even be a columnist to write about it. That is why I have taken the liberty to adapt Gil Scott-Herons song as a melody and prayer: This revolution shall not be televised.

Wole Olaoye is a Public Relations consultant and veteran journalist. He can be reached on wole.olaoye@gmail.com, Twitter: @wole_olaoye; Instagram: woleola2021.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has appealed to Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as his administration rolls out programmes to improve the living standards of people.

The governor made the appeal in Ijagbo, Oyun Local Government Area of the state. At the first coronation anniversary of the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Sarafadeen Babalola, and the launch of the Ijagbo Palace Development Fund.

Mr AbdulRazaq said the president assumed office amid a mounting economic downturn, which required systemic reforms and understanding of the people.

President Tinubu is gradually fixing things. So he needs our patience and support to get things done, the governor said.

For those planning protests, let them have patience with Mr President to fix things. It is an appeal. He just spent one year in the office. It is also too early for those who have political ambitions to start measuring his performance.

The governor congratulated the monarch on the anniversary, commending him for promoting peace and unity and supporting the government.

Govt doing best to salvage economic situation  AGF

Speaking at the event, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said the federal government is doing its best to salvage the economic situation in the country and called on people to shelve the planned protests.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Mr Fagbemi assured that Nigerians would soon begin to feel the impact of the transformative agenda of the President Tinubu-led administration.

The minister, an indigene of Ijagbo, said the reign of the traditional ruler has been peaceful and impactful.

Mr Sarafadeen, in his remarks, thanked the governor for his support for the community and solicited for more, especially in the area of road infrastructure and school teachers.

He praised Mr AbdulRazaqs efforts to improve the security of lives and properties in the state.

He also thanked Mr Fagbemi, Senator Lola Ashiru, and the Olofa of Offa for their support and advice in the last one year.

He disclosed a plan by his community to establish a community secondary school to complement the governments efforts.

The ceremony was attended by dignitaries, including the Chairman of KAM Holdings, Kamoru Yusuf; the Olupo of Ajase Ipo, Oba Ismaila Alebiosu; Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Esuwoye II; Olomu of Omu Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Olaoti; and Olusin of Isanlu-Isin, Oba Solomon Oloyede.

The governor had earlier visited Share, Ifelodun Local Government Area, to attend the Fidau prayer for the mother of the Olupako of Share, Oba Olawale Ilufemiloye, late Bilikisu Suleiman, who died on the 19th of July.

He also attended the funeral of the mother of Yusuf AbdulRasheed Musa, Wulemat Musa, in Offa.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A former spokesperson for the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Kenneth Okonkwo, has dumped the party.

Mr Okonkwo, who joined the party in 2022, disclosed this in a statement posted on his X handle on Saturday.

The former spokesperson said he decided to leave the LP because the party failed to inspire the brand of leadership that can solve Nigerias challenges.

Mr Okonkwo said the problem of Nigeria was caused by bad leaders whom he termed kakistocrats and kleptocrats, and argued that the ruling APC and the main opposition PDP lack the capacity to solve the countrys problems.

The former spokesperson said wrestling power from bad leaders in Nigeria will require a solid political party with a solid grassroots base that can produce good leaders.

He said he had hoped the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would build LP to become such a party and offer the needed direction, but disappointed him by failing to do so.

Mr Okonkwo said Mr Obi also failed to solve the partys leadership crisis after the 2023 general election, which he lost to Bola Tinubu, now president.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

After the 2023 general election, Nigerians, including me, had high hopes for the Labour Party. I believed that Peter Obi will seize the momentum and build a solid party of integrity that will have the solid base that we need to overthrow these kakistocrats and kleptocrats, he said.

However, I continued in his defence believing he will still privately bring the needed solution to LP problems, (but) to no avail, Mr Okonkwo stated.

The former spokesperson expressed shock that Mr Obi was silent after his call for LP national convention for the election of new party leaders was not ignored.

He said Mr Obi ought to have disassociated himself from the current national leadership of the party since the convention was not organised.

However, the consequence is that I no longer have the confidence that Peter Obi has what it takes to build a party that can win these kakistocrats and kleptocrats, and above all, he has proved that even if the people vote for him, he doesnt have what it takes to secure the mandate, he said.

Mr Okonkwo also criticised Mr Obi for allegedly failing to support organised labour, an affiliate of the LP, in their quest for improved minimum wage.

He claimed that every member of the LP was confused about the future of the party because of the lack of leadership from the presidential candidate.

I cannot continue to speak on behalf of a leader that I do not know his stand on issues of great importance. I simply dont know how to manipulate facts, he said.

New political journey: Cutting ties with Peter Obi

Mr Okonkwo said, given the lack of leadership in the LP, he has decided to pursue a new political journey.

Its in this regard that I have decided to continue my political journey into the great Nigeria of our vision without Peter Obi, he said.

The former spokesperson said he has no plans to join APC or PDP, stressing that the decision to adjust my relationship with Mr Obi was not personal.

Its 100 per cent based on principles and my conviction that I need a more decisive, bold, brave leader with integrity and team spirit who can confront these kakistocrats and kleptocrats head-on, he said.

With this declaration, I am free to embark on negotiation and consultation with every like-minded people to determine the next step in my political journey, which does not include joining APC or PDP for now but includes, and is not limited to, consolidation of the Labour Party.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW AS MR OKONKWO POSTED ON HIS X PAGE.

POLITICAL JOURNEY TO A GREAT NIGERIA AND THE NEED FOR A NEW ALIGNMENT





Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The police in Abia State, South-east Nigeria, have arrested 162 crime suspects for various offences.

The police spokesperson in the state, Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this during a press briefing at the State Police Headquarters in Umuahia on Friday.

A text of the briefing was posted on the Facebook page of the police in the state Friday night.

The suspects

Ms Chinaka, an assistant superintendent of police, said the suspects included 142 males and 20 females.

The police spokesperson said some suspects arrested allegedly committed armed robbery, child trafficking, stealing, unlawful possession of firearms and kidnapping.

She said some suspects had been arraigned while the court had already convicted others.

But did not give details of the suspects and the court that convicted them.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

The text of the briefing showed that the police paraded some suspects at the police facility on Friday.

Ms Chinaka said one suspect, Chinyere Nwaje, a 45-year-old native doctor, was arrested for allegedly buying a stolen Sienna vehicle in the state.

She said in an earlier operation in April, police operatives serving Arochukwu Divisional Police Headquarters arrested a nursing mother, Ikwo Effiong, for allegedly selling her three-month-old son.

The spokesperson said Ms Effiong was arrested alongside her stepmother, Blessing Effiong, whom she allegedly conspired with to sell the child, a twin, at N700,000.

The police also arrested a suspected accomplice, Nnenna Ukoha, 47, during the operation.

She said several arms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects during separate operations in the state.

The police said six trafficked children and four kidnap victims were rescued during separate operations in the state.

READ ALSO: Suspended Abia commissioner resigns

Crime reduction

Ms Chinaka boasted that the police in the state had reduced criminal activities due to recent operations by the security agencies in the state.

The spokesperson listed some criminal activities which had reduced in the state to include armed robbery, kidnapping, child trafficking, rape, and vandalisation of government properties.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Here are the highlights of the top stories that made headlines in the South-east within the past week:

Again, gunmen kill a police inspector three others in the South-east

The week began on a sad note on Sunday when gunmen killed a police inspector and three civilians in Abia State.

The deceased inspector and other police operatives were conducting a routine patrol when the hoodlums opened fire on them.

Like other states in the South-east, security appears to have worsened in Abia State with increased attacks in the state in recent times.

Ohanaeze on injustice against Igbos

The Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Monday, stirred controversy when it claimed Nigeria will never experience peace and development because of growing injustice against Igbos.

Igbo, an ethnic nationality, is dominant in Nigerias South-east.

That was not the first time Igbos would accuse the Nigerian government of injustice against them, considering that they have been making the accusations since the last civil war between 1967 and 1970.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Labour Partys ultimatum to Nigerian senate to declare lawmakers seat vacant

The Labour Party in Imo State, on Wednesday, is making moves to unseat Imo East senator Onyewuchi Ezenwa after the party gave the Nigerian Senate three days ultimatum to declare his seat vacant.

The LP is angry that the senator who won the election under the partys platform defected to the ruling APC.

Shocking deaths of Iwuanyanwu, Ifeanyi Ubah

The South-east, indeed the entire Nigeria, was in a sorrowful mood on Thursday following the news of the passing of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who died in an Abuja hospital.

Mr Iwuanyanwu, 82, hailed from Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State.

About two days after came the shocking news of Ifeanyi Ubahs death.

Mr Ubah, the senator representing Anambra South, died on Saturday at a London hospital after he slumped and went into a coma.

Mr Ubah, 52, hailed from Otolo Nnewi in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Many are mourning the passing of these two prominent Nigerians.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Dave Ramsey Tells Man $300,000 In Debt That He Needs To Stop Trying To 'Borrow His Way Through All Of His Dreams'

Jeremy from Tulsa, Oklahoma, received some eye-opening advice from personal finance expert Dave Ramsey during an episode of the popular Ramsey Show. Here's what went down during the exchange.

Ramsey is known for his blunt and honest advice, which caller Jeremy experienced firsthand when he asked the finance guru whether he should buy rental properties as an investment while still in debt. Jeremy explained his situation to Ramsey, saying that he and his wife are currently in massive debt from student loans. He explains, "My wife and I are both recent graduates. We have an astronomical debt of $290,000 in student loans."

Don't Miss:

The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement  How do you compare ?

Many are surprised by Mark Cubans advice for lotto winners: Cash or annuity?

Ramsey's first response to that eye-watering debt was to ask who the doctor was. Jeremy tells Ramsey that both he and his wife are well-educated. His wife has a doctorate in physical therapy, and he has a masters in environmental safety. This situation reflects what many people in the U.S. encounter when pursuing higher education. On average, the total costs per year for a doctoral program are around $40,900, so studying for a Ph.D., which can take 4-8 years, can set you back by $163,600-$327,200. By the end of 2023, 43.2 million Americans had federal student loans, with a national balance of $1.6 trillion.

With his current financial situation revealed, Jeremy then asked Ramsey if buying rental properties as an investment is a good idea. If you've ever listened to Ramsey before, you know his stance on debt and spending. So, before Jeremy could finish his question, Ramsey exclaimed in disbelief that it was a bad idea for someone with close to $300,000 in debt to purchase rental properties as an investment. Ramsey tells Jeremy that this is a bad idea and that no, he should not buy rental properties. Instead, Ramseys advice is to work harder than he's ever worked before to clear his debt.

Trending: If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it?

Jeremy and his family acknowledge their financial troubles, and thanks to Ramsey's advice, they have sold their home because they could not afford it. So far, they have paid off $10,000 in debt with $35,000 from selling the house, and their current rental house costs $800 per month. With this in mind, Jeremy thinks they can buy a $60,000 house with a $400,000 mortgage to help pay off debt, which Ramsey feels is risky.

Story continues

While Ramsey may believe investing in debt is not advisable, others disagree, such as Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, an expert in financial education and author of the bestselling book, "Say Yes to No Debt." Additionally, SmartAsset reported that debt can be a powerful tool for building wealth if used correctly, which Jeremy plans to do by utilizing his debt to invest in property, potentially generating income to clear his debt. Investing in real estate is a time-tested method for building long-term wealth because it involves acquiring valuable assets, and using a mortgage is a common way to gain equity.

See Also: Will the surge continue or decline on real estate prices? People are finding out about risk-free real estate investing that lets you cash out whenever you want.

What was Ramsey's final piece of advice for Jeremy?

He told Jeremy seriously, "You have $300,000 in student loan debt, dude. Don't talk to me about buying a rental house." Instead, he urged Jeremy to get out of debt first and keep his life simple. His final advice for the indebted couple was, "Quit trying to borrow your way through all of your dreams. You're turning them into nightmares."

While Ramsey feels this way, Katie Ross, executive vice president for the nonprofit national financial education organization American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC), believes that investing while in debt is not necessarily a bad thing; it's more of a balancing act. Ross admits that you'll have less money for investment while paying off debt, but it is possible to both invest and pay down debt. To do this, Ross suggests creating a debt management plan to invest and pay off debt.

Read Next:

Warren Buffett flipped his neighbor's $67,000 life savings into a $50 million fortune  How much is that worth today?

How much money will a $200,000 annuity pay out each month? The numbers may shock you.

"ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now!

Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga?

This article Dave Ramsey Tells Man $300,000 In Debt That He Needs To Stop Trying To 'Borrow His Way Through All Of His Dreams' originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Ahead of the planned 1 August protests to denounce the economic hardship in the country, Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, has hinted of his arrangement to dialogue with the organisers of the civil demonstration.

The meeting, which is to be held on Monday, will have in attendance other stakeholders, including security agencies and Civil Societies Organisations (CSOs).

Mr Adeleke, who made the disclosure on Sunday in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said his team members will reach out to representatives of various civil society groups and student bodies for a dialogue session on governance in the country, especially in Osun.

Describing dialogue as critical to achieving peace in the country, the governor requested key commanders of Police and other security services to attend the session where stakeholders will be free to make recommendations on grievances and expected responses from government at all levels.

I have instructed my team to organise a dialogue session on Monday where stakeholders can jaw-jaw as part of peacemaking in the exercise of constitutional rights. The session will afford parties to list grievances and what they expect the government at all levels to do.

We will convey outcomes of the session to government leaders from myself to Mr President in Abuja. It will also be an opportunity to tell stakeholders what we are doing as a government to resolve the economic hardship facing our people, the statement said.

The governor, however, restated his belief in the nations constitution, rights and liberties enshrined in it, just as he called for peace and non-violent actions among the citizenry.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


More than 400 Branches: Strategic Partnership in Azerbaijan Fuels Ambitious Growth Plan

DOHA, Qatar and BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Al Baladi Holding Group, a distinguished Qatari company, proudly announces a strategic partnership with Azerbaijan's Green Capital Management Investment Group, marking a significant milestone in its global expansion strategy. This collaboration aims to launch over 400 new branches of the renowned "Go Crispy" restaurant chain and the "Tea Time" cafe chain worldwide.

Mr.Hany Al Sayyadi, CEO of Al Baladi Holdings, Mr. Mohamed Abdulla Hamad Al Ibrahim Al-Attiya, Chairman of Al Baladi Holdings, and Mr. Adnan Ahmadzada, Shareholder of Green Capital Management and Mr.Khayal Jibov, shareholder of Green Capital Management. Mr.Hany Al Sayyadi, CEO of Al Baladi Holdings, Mr. Mohamed Abdulla Hamad Al Ibrahim Al-Attiya, Chairman of Al Baladi Holdings, and Mr. Adnan Ahmadzada, Shareholder of Green Capital Management and Mr.Khayal Jibov, shareholder of Green Capital Management.

The announcement was made during a ceremonial signing in Baku, Azerbaijan attended by Mr. Hani Al Sayyadi, CEO of Al-Baladi Holding Group and Mr. Adnan Ahmed Zadeh, Chairman and Shareholder of Green Capital Management. This partnership aligns with Al Baladi Holding Group's strategic marketing plan, driving the "Go Crispy" chicken restaurants and "Tea Time" cafes towards international prominence. The expansion will cover 27 countries, starting with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and several European nations.

Mr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Chairman of Al-Baladi Holding Group, expressed his enthusiasm: "We are thrilled to expand our distinctive Qatari brands globally. 'Go Crispy' restaurants successfully blend delicious fast food with fresh, nutritious chicken, while 'Tea Time' cafes, with over 100 branches, have already established a global footprint. We are poised to compete in major international markets."

He further added, "Our investment partnerships are crucial to our long-term plans for expansion and excellence. Today's partnership is another step in bringing our successes to new markets, demonstrating our ability to surpass the largest international restaurant chains in quality and service."

Mr. Khayal Jibov, Shareholder of Green Capital Management, emphasized the partnership's potential: "Both 'Go Crispy' and 'Tea Time' have shown remarkable success in Qatar and beyond, showcasing their competitiveness and exceptional service quality. We are confident this partnership will lead to significant achievements in global markets, including Asia."

About Go Crispy and Tea Time:

Go Crispy restaurants are celebrated for their high-quality meals and outstanding customer service, offering fresh halal chicken dishes and various fast-food options while maintaining the highest international health standards. The first Go Crispy restaurant, opened in 2019 by Chef Hissa Al Sulaiti, quickly expanded in Doha and earned the Best Fast-Food Restaurant in Qatar award at the 2022 Arabian Best of Best Awards.

Tea Time cafes, the largest Qatari cafe chain, are renowned for their simple, competitive concept and unique products, including the signature saffron tea and the distinctive Karak drink.

This expansion by Al Baladi Holding Group not only accelerates the growth of its brands but also creates pioneering job opportunities in new markets.

For more information, visit Al Baladi Holding.

About Al Baladi Holding Group:

Founded in 1979 by Mr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Attiyah, Al Baladi Holding Group is a prominent Qatari conglomerate with over 7,500 employees and 53 companies spanning various sectors, including food and beverages, retail, agriculture, manufacturing, fashion, e-commerce, and hospitality.

About Green Capital Management Investment Group:

Based in Azerbaijan, Green Capital Management is a strategic investment firm focused on sustainable growth and economic development across multiple sectors.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2470329/Al_Baladi_Holding_Group_1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2470330/Al_Baladi_Holding_Group_2.jpg

SOURCE Al Baladi Holding Group
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Tehran, July 28 : Iranian Caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock have exchanged views on Germany's closure of Islamic centres in the European country in a phone call.

Bagheri Kani on Saturday expressed dissatisfaction with the German government's decision, condemning it as a "completely political" move, including the shutdown of the Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH), Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

He described the action as part of a strategy to "spread Islamophobia and safeguard Israel's interests", and warned that Germany should accept the consequences of its actions.

Baerbock responded by stating that under German law, the Islamic centres could pursue their rights through legal mechanisms. She highlighted the necessity of efforts in resolving the differences that had arisen, expressing hope that the obstacles to bilateral relations would be removed through dialogue and diplomatic channels.

The two ministers also discussed the latest developments in West Asia, the talks on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, the removal of sanctions, and bilateral consular issues, according to the statement.

On Wednesday, the German Interior Ministry said in a statement that it had banned the Hamburg-based IZH and its affiliated organisations throughout Germany, claiming the centre was "an Islamist extremist organisation pursuing anti-constitutional objectives".

The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday summoned German Ambassador to Tehran Hans-udo Muzel and protested the country's move, which it described as a "hostile action contrary to the fundamental principles of human rights."
Sydney, July 28 : A 34-year-old man armed with a knife was shot dead by police in Middleton Grange, a southwestern suburb of Sydney, in Australia's state of New South Wales (NSW).

The NSW Police Force said in a statement on Sunday that emergency services were called to the scene at about 11 p.m. local time following reports that a man was allegedly armed with a knife, Xinhua news agency reported.

Police officers were allegedly confronted and threatened by the man with a knife on arrival, and initial information indicated that a 33-year-old male officer was struck with the knife and was protected by his operational vest. The police officer was not physically injured, according to the statement.

The police said a taser was used and proved ineffective, and the man was shot by police.

The officers conducted CPR until the arrival of NSW Ambulance paramedics, who worked on the man.

However, he could not be revived.
Kinshasa, July 28 : A total of 1,284 inmates at Makala Central Prison in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), will be granted conditional release to ease the prison's overcrowding, DRC State Minister for Justice Constant Mutamba announced.

Kinshasa, July 28 (IANS) A total of 1,284 inmates at Makala Central Prison in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), will be granted conditional release to ease the prison's overcrowding, DRC State Minister for Justice Constant Mutamba announced.

The inmates will be released in groups of about 400 per week, said Mutamba, who approved the release of the first 421 inmates on Saturday from the country's largest prison, located in the DRC's capital Kinshasa, Xinhua news agency reported.

A decongestion commission was set up to examine the cases of prisoners eligible for conditional release. The prisoners, who were arrested for embezzlement of public funds, will not qualify, said the minister.

The first 421 prisoners released had served at least three-quarters of their sentence and were deemed to behave well during their incarceration.

The release is part of a series of measures, aimed at improving detention conditions, and reforming the DRC's prison system.

"We have taken the step of rehabilitating all the toilets in all the pavilions and rehabilitating the health centre," he noted.

"We are looking into drastically decongesting and rehabilitating the prison from top to bottom. We have identified a new site to build a modern prison."

Built for 1,500 prisoners in 1957, Makala Central Prison now holds around 15,000 prisoners in cells, according to local media.
Mumbai, July 28 : Popular television actor Karan Tacker has shared his Sunday "craving," which involves the sun, a daysailer, and perfectly toned muscles.

Taking to Instagram, Karan shared a picture of himself fixing his daysailer.

In the image, he is seen shirtless, flaunting his well-chiseled physique and flexing his strong biceps.

The 38-year-old actor, who has been tagged a 'Popeye The Sailor Man' by a user, captioned the image: "Woke up craving some sun and sail."

The image appears to be from an undisclosed picturesque location during the actoras holiday.

Originally from Punjab, Karan made his debut with a role in the 2008 film 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi', starring Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma.

The actor later landed a major role in the television show 'Love Ne Mila Di Jodi'.

Karan has since appeared in shows such as 'Rang Badalti Odhani', 'Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai', and 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa'. He is also known for his hosting skills.

Karan was last seen in the web show 'Khakee: The Bihar Chapter', a crime thriller set in the Sheikhpura, Nalanda, and Patna districts, directed by Neeraj Pandey.
Cincinnati Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:CINF) just released its latest quarterly results and things are looking bullish. It was overall a positive result, with revenues beating expectations by 3.9% to hit US$2.5b. Cincinnati Financial also reported a statutory profit of US$1.98, which was an impressive 107% above what the analysts had forecast. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. Readers will be glad to know we've aggregated the latest statutory forecasts to see whether the analysts have changed their mind on Cincinnati Financial after the latest results.

View our latest analysis for Cincinnati Financial

Taking into account the latest results, Cincinnati Financial's eight analysts currently expect revenues in 2024 to be US$10.6b, approximately in line with the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are expected to crater 28% to US$9.88 in the same period. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$10.5b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$9.34 in 2024. So the consensus seems to have become somewhat more optimistic on Cincinnati Financial's earnings potential following these results.

The consensus price target was unchanged at US$134, implying that the improved earnings outlook is not expected to have a long term impact on value creation for shareholders. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. There are some variant perceptions on Cincinnati Financial, with the most bullish analyst valuing it at US$151 and the most bearish at US$116 per share. Still, with such a tight range of estimates, it suggeststhe analysts have a pretty good idea of what they think the company is worth.

Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. We would highlight that revenue is expected to reverse, with a forecast 1.2% annualised decline to the end of 2024. That is a notable change from historical growth of 7.9% over the last five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in the same industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 5.1% annually for the foreseeable future. It's pretty clear that Cincinnati Financial's revenues are expected to perform substantially worse than the wider industry.

Story continues

The Bottom Line

The most important thing here is that the analysts upgraded their earnings per share estimates, suggesting that there has been a clear increase in optimism towards Cincinnati Financial following these results. Fortunately, the analysts also reconfirmed their revenue estimates, suggesting that it's tracking in line with expectations. Although our data does suggest that Cincinnati Financial's revenue is expected to perform worse than the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at US$134, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.

With that in mind, we wouldn't be too quick to come to a conclusion on Cincinnati Financial. Long-term earnings power is much more important than next year's profits. We have estimates - from multiple Cincinnati Financial analysts - going out to 2025, and you can see them free on our platform here.

Even so, be aware that Cincinnati Financial is showing 1 warning sign in our investment analysis , you should know about...

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Los Angeles, July 28 : Actress Minnie Driver is set to take on the role of the iconic villain Penguin, but with a twist, in the upcoming animated series 'Batman: Caped Crusader'.

The actress will lend her voice to a female interpretation of The Penguin Oswald Cobblepot in Prime Video's upcoming animated series 'Batman: Caped Crusader'. This revelation was made during the San Diego Comic-Con panel.

The panel began with a video message from executive producer Bruce Timm, who welcomed fans before the world premiere screening of the first episode, where Driver's Penguin was unveiled for the first time, reports Variety.com.

Following the screening, executive producer Matt Reeves and the voice cast, including Driver, Hamish Linklater as Batman, and Jamie Chung as Harley Quinn, had a conversation about the show and their roles.

Driver acknowledged that some purists might have issues with a female Cobblepot but emphasised that the character retains the essence of The Penguin.

"If we're lucky enough to be invited onto the stage to inhabit these characters that already exist in the ether, we just sort of rise up to meet them," she said.

Driver added, "This was such a beautiful retelling of that villain. It was joyful. And, I mean, she's dreadful."

The series is a reimagining of Batman mythology.
Thiruvananthapuram, July 28 : Maoist leader Soman, an accused in several UAPA cases, has been arrested in Kerala's Palakkad, said officials on Sunday.

He was arrested on Saturday night by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Kerala Police and was being interrogated at Ernakulam.

Soman is a leader of the Kabani Dalam of the Western Ghats Special Zone Committee of the proscribed Communist Party of India (Maoist).

Maoist senior leader Manoj Soman was arrested a few days ago from Kochi. Sources in Kerala Police told IANS that a detailed interrogation of Manoj Soman led to the arrest of Soman who hails from Kalpetta in the Wayanad district of Kerala.

Soman, according to police sources, has been with the Maoist movement since 2011 and has been part of the, Kabani Dalam and Nadukani Dalam of the Maoist groups.

It may be recalled that the Maoist groups have been active in many areas of Kerala adjoining forest areas.

Since the Left Front led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan assumed office in the state, eight Maoists have been shot dead.

Kuppu Devarajan and Ajith alias Kaveri, both natives of Tamil Nadu, were killed in a clash between police and Maoists in Malappuram on November 24, 2016.

On March 6, 2019, C.P. Jaleel was killed in a clash between Maoists and Thunderbolt troops at a private resort in Lakkidi. Maoists Sreemathi, Suresh, Karthi and Manivasam, hailing from Chikkamagaluru were killed during an encounter with Thunderbolt troops on October 28, 2019.

Another Maoist leader Velmurukan from Tamil Nadu was killed on November 3, 2020, in Wayanad.
Thiruvananthapuram, July 28 : A woman was injured and admitted to the government hospital here after she was fired at allegedly by a masked female attacker.

The injured was identified as Shiny (39) of Vanchiyoor in the state capital city.

According to Bhaskaran Nair, father-in-law of the victim, a woman, who was wearing a hood and had her face covered, arrived at their residence here on Sunday morning and enquired about Shiny.

The woman informed Nair that there was a courier for Shiny and that it could be handed over only to her after getting her signature.

Shiny came out and when she was about to receive the courier, the woman fired at her and in a reflex she put out her right hand and was injured in the palm. The masked woman immediately fled from the spot.

Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner Sparjan Kumar, who reached the spot, told mediapersons that the firing was done with an air gun. He said that the police have commenced a detailed investigation.

Shiny is working as a Public Relations Officer with a government body. Her husband is working in the Maldives.
Tokyo, July 28 : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Tokyo on Sunday ahead of the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting.

EAM Jaishankar and US Secretary Blinken hold talks in Tokyo

"Great to catch up with Antony Blinken in Tokyo today. Our bilateral agenda progresses steadily. Also had a wide ranging discussion on regional and global issues," the EAM posted on X after the meeting.

"Look forward to attending the Quad FMM tomorrow," he added.

Just before arriving in Tokyo, both Blinken and EAM Jaishankar were in Laos for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meetings.

The foreign ministers of the four Quad countries  India, the US, Japan and Australia  will hold their eighth meeting in Tokyo on July 29 to review and build on continuing initiatives and announce deliverable outcomes.

"The foreign ministers meeting will be an opportunity for the Quad partners to reaffirm our commitment to delivering concrete benefits to the Indo Pacific region," said Camille Dawson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the US State Department, earlier this week.

"Quad partners are deeply invested in the success of the people of the region and that is reflected in the initiative that the quad is promoting by listening to the priorities our regional partners and harnessing the considerable resources of our four countries," she said.

The Quad is a diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient.
New Delhi, July 28 : In a joint Gaganyaan mission, ISRO and NASA have partnered with the US-base private space habitat company Axiom Space to send one Gaganyatri soon to the International Space Station (ISS), Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Gaganyaan is India's first human spaceflight mission, slated for launch in 2025, aims to send a manned three-day mission to space, which will orbit 400 km above Earth and will return.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a visit to ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Station in February, had announced the names of the four astronauts -- three Group Captains and one Wing Commander from the Indian Air Force -- chosen for the historic Gaganyaan mission.

"ISRO is pursuing an ISRO-NASA joint mission to the International Space Station (ISS) wherein one Gaganyaatri from ISRO will undertake space travel to ISS," said Dr Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology.

"This is a collaborative effort of ISRO, NASA, and NASA-identified private entity, i.e., Axiom Space. Recently, ISRO has signed a Space Flight Agreement with Axiom Space for this joint mission to the ISS," he added.

The selected astronauts -- Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Ajit Krishnan, and Angad Pratap, and wing commander Shubanshu Shukla -- are currently going through intense training for the country's first crewed flight.

The astronauts have successfully undergone training on spaceflight basic modules in Russia. Currently, they are being trained at the ISRO's Astronauts Training Facility (ATF) in Bengaluru.

Dr Singh said, "Two out of three semesters of the training programme is completed. Independent training simulator and static mockup simulators realised".

Further, sharing an update on the mission, the MoS Science said ground testing of propulsion systems stages, including solid, liquid, and cryogenic engine, towards the human rating of the launch vehicle has been completed.

The design and realisation of five types of crew escape system solid motors have also been completed.

The Union Minister said static testing of all five types of solid motors too has been completed. Also, the first Test Vehicle mission (TV-D1) for performance validation of the crew escape system and parachute deployment has been accomplished.
Tokyo, July 28 : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar began his Japan visit by unveiling a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Tokyo's Edogawa, on Sunday.

"Bapu's achievements continue to inspire us to this day and his message of peace and non-violence is timeless. His principles are even more relevant today when the world sees so much conflict, tension and polarization," the EAM said at the unveiling ceremony.

Edogawa Mayor Takeshi Saito, Japan's Parliamentary Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Masahiro Komura, Member of Parliament Hideo Onishi and several members of the Indian community also attended the event.

"Happy to learn from the Mayor that the park, close to the heart of Indian community in Tokyo, would also be soon named as the Gandhi Park," said Jaishankar.

"I was told this is a place, somebody called it Little India, I hope it becomes bigger, but this is a place where the Indian community in Tokyo lives and gathers in large numbers. And I cannot think of a more appropriate occasion and a better way of strengthening bonds between India and Japan than by this event," he added.

The EAM is in Tokyo to attend the eighth meeting of the Quad foreign ministers on Monday where the grouping - comprising of India, Japan, Australia and the United States - will review and build on continuing initiatives and announce deliverable outcomes.
Bengaluru, July 28 : Union Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman has rejected the allegations of the Congress government in Karnataka that the Centre gave a rough deal to the state in the Union Budget 2024-25, terming them as "false".

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here on Sunday, FM Sitharaman presented figures to prove that Karnataka has been given its due in terms of allocation of funds. She said, "The current government is giving wrong information which is not helping anyone. Even the people of Karnataka are not getting factual information...I want to put the facts before the public. In 10 years of UPA government between 2004 and 2014, Karnataka received Rs 81,791 crore. Between 2014 and 2024, in 10 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Karnataka received Rs 2,95,818 crore."

"If you look at tax devolution where it was Rs 8,179 crore per year, now this one year under Prime Minister Narendra Modi 3.0 rule, Karnataka gets Rs 45,485 crore. There is just no comparison and therefore, I request media friends to look at the data and ask questions where they need to be asked. Why is this propaganda going on?" The FM underlined.

"Under UPA the 'Grants in aids' for Karnataka was Rs 60,779 crore. Under NDA it is Rs 2,36, 955 crore. Under the UPA, Karnataka got Rs 6,779 crore per annum. Now, under Grants in aid this year Rs 15,300 crore are given," she informed.

"The Finance Commission has not given directions to the Central government to provide funds for states to build infrastructure. But, after Covid Prime Minister Modi said we should give money for states to recover fast. Karnataka beginning 2020-2021 till 2023-24 received a total Rs 8,312 crore interest-free loan. This year, Rs 2,006 crore with no conditions attached we are giving. In total Karnataka by the end of this year would have received Rs 10,041 crore for 50 years and interest-free from the Government of India," The Union Minister stated.

Kalaburagi in Karnataka will get Mega Textile Park under the PM Mithra Mega Textile Park project and it will get Rs 200 crore fund exclusively. "The numbers will shock in terms of railway allocations. Allocation between 2009 and 2014 under the UPA was Rs 835 crore for Karnataka. In the 2024-25 Budget the allocation is Rs 7,559 crore for Karnataka for the railways alone," FM Sitharaman said.

"Thirty-one projects of laying railway lanes are ongoing and 3,840 km of railway lanes are being laid. The value of ongoing projects is Rs 47,016 crore only for railway projects in Karnataka. Since 2014, a total of 638 railway flyovers have been built, seven Vande Bharat trains are operationalised," she said.

"IIT Dharwad was set up with the Central funds in March 2023. The first industrial corridor for South India was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi in Tumakuru because that is a part of the Chennai-Bengaluru corridor. Seven cities in Karnataka have been selected under the smart city project. More than Rs 6,428 crore was released to the state for the smart city mission. 904 projects worth Rs 15,000 crore work orders are already issued," The FM said.

"What is given to Karnataka? Work is given, orders are issued, and it is moving on the ground. Because of the favourable environment we tried to create in the Centre and state also, in January 2024, Boeing India Engineering and Technology Centre built its biggest centre outside the US in Bengaluru. They did not go to China, they came here. That is an investment of Rs 1,600 crore," the Union Minister said.

She further added, "4,600 km of roads have been constructed already. The NDA government has invested more than Rs one lakh crore for highway-related projects in Karnataka only. Many green field corridors are being built under Bharat Mala Pari Yojana Phase 1."
Moscow, July 28 : The deployment of US nuclear weapons in Southeast Asia would heighten regional security risks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, following his visit to Malaysia.

According to Russian media reports, Lavrov stated the United States has long been sharing nuclear weapons with its NATO partners in what it calls "joint nuclear missions," in which non-nuclear states can train their soldiers to use nuclear weapons. That practice is now shifting to Asia, Xinhua news agency reported.

"If this sad and rather risky experience (the deployment of US nuclear weapons in other countries) is brought to Southeast Asia, I think no one will benefit from it; the risks will increase," he said.

The United States is "impudently" pushing its military infrastructure, including strategic weapons, into the region, militarising Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific, Lavrov said.

He mentioned AUKUS, a project to build nuclear-powered submarines involving the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

AUKUS aims to instill "tolerance in the Asian region concerning the deployment of nuclear weapons components," Lavrov said. It "must be put under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency" for "full transparency."

Lavrov also said the recent agreement between the United States and South Korea on joint nuclear planning is yet another extension of US strategic influence in the region.
New Delhi, July 28 : It's something the US never had since it adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776 -- a 248-year history! A stunning fact about a country that has a strongly propagated image of being very democratic, standing for freedom and equal rights.

Over these 24 decades, several countries, including the underdeveloped, have elected women Presidents or Prime Ministers, but America has never done so.

The first woman elected as Prime Minister of a country was Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka when she led her party to victory in 1960. India elected Indira Gandhi as the Prime Minister in 1966. Golda Meir became Israel's Prime Minister in 1969. In the UK, Margaret Thatcher was the PM from 1979 to 1990. She also was Europe's first female prime minister. Corazon Aquino became President of the Philippines in 1986.

Even Islamic countries like Pakistan had a woman PM when Benazir Bhutto took the top job in 1988. Tansu Ciller was Turkey's first female PM (199396).

Finland and New Zealand have elected women top leaders thrice each. Poland, Ireland, Lithuania, France, Finland and Canada have also had women in lead roles. Angela Merkel became Chancellor of Germany in 2005 and was the longest-serving woman leader of her country. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became president of Liberia in 2006 and ruled till 2018.

More recently, Giorgia Meloni became the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, the first female PM for her country.

The world has seen over 55 countries being led by women at various points in time since 1960. And the US stands with countries like China, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia and others who never had a female leader in all these decades.

If even underdeveloped countries can elect women to top jobs, why hasn't the US had a female head of state? This question may be baffling, but the answers are not difficult to find.

The answers lie in the various surveys and research conducted over the years during election periods that highlight the gender bias existing in American society.

In the 2020 US presidential campaign, several women senators were vying for the top job, but one by one, they dropped out of the race. One of the dropped-out candidates, Senator Elizabeth Warren was later asked whether gender affected the race, she told the media that if she acknowledged that sexism was there then everyone would say that she was a "whiner" and if she mentioned otherwise then many women would say she was not right.

Various research over the years has found that voters rank male candidates as more effective than their female counterparts who may even be similarly qualified. Most voters also feel that men make superior political leaders. And if women are of colour, they are likely to be targeted with misinformation and disinformation.

Nikki Haley, who was aspiring to be the Republican presidential nominee, however, suspended her bid in March 2024 for various reasons. Apart from several electoral factors contributing to her dropping out of the race, she also faced intense personal scrutiny. Her qualifications were questioned, comments on her appearance were made and was mocked for having an absentee husband, who is deployed overseas.

The challenges faced by women candidates were best described by Hillary Clinton in 2016 after losing the presidential bid. She became the first woman to secure the backing of a party in the race for the US President's post. During the campaign, she frequently faced sexist remarks. After losing the election to Donald Trump then, Clinton said in an interview with TIME magazine, "But we face what is a pernicious double standard that is aided and abetted by the idea of perfectionism."

Is this double standard the real cause of -- why the US has not elected a female head of state?

After much struggle, women in America were given the right to vote in 1920. Since then, women have fought elections successfully but have not reached the top level.

From Victoria Woodhull, the first-ever woman candidate to run for the presidential race in 1872 to Kamala Harris in 2024, the women in the US have had one of the most difficult journeys to reach the positions they are in today.

The American dream, first mentioned in the 1931 book 'The Epic of America' by James Truslow Adams, talks about "a dream of a social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable".

A woman's dream to become the US President has remained unfulfilled so far. But, this time, overcoming all odds, including sexism and racism, the US may as well see its first woman President in Kamala Harris, who has a strong India connect.

(Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepika.b@ians.in)
New Delhi, July 28 : Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor and noted entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath, in a rare conversation, have opened up about their personal lives and also shared the complexities of their disparate professions. The accomplished duo also talked about politics and reminisced about their association and close interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a free-wheeling conversation on 'People by WTF', a YouTube channel run by Nikhil Kamath, he and Ranbir Kapoor both shared anecdotes about their meeting with PM Modi and how the experience left them highly enamoured and inspired.

Ranbir Kapoor, recalling his meeting with PM Modi four to five years ago, said that all the actors and filmmakers including him got captivated by his magnetic aura and charm, the moment he walked in.

To a question 'What do you think about politics?', Ranbir replied that he doesn't think much about politics but vividly remembers his meeting with PM Modi.

"PM Modi spoke to every actor and filmmaker and connected with everyone on a very personal level. He asked me how my father's treatment was going on. He spoke with everyone, ranging from film veterans like Karan Johar to starlets like Alia Bhatt," Ranbir Kapoor said.

The actor, hailing PM Modi's magnetic charm, said that he has an ability to instantly connect with every individual because of his understanding of human behaviour and feelings.

When the actor posed a similar question to host Nikhil Kamath, the latter narrated an incident from Washington and shared how that one experience with PM Modi left him motivated for life.

He said that he had the privilege of being around him, at a couple of events. However, at one such event in the US, he got to see him from close quarters.

"I was in Washington, a year ago, along with three-four of us. Prime Minister used to have packed schedules from morning till late evening. In the morning at around 8 a.m., he would be holding sessions with us along with American businessmen. At around 11 a.m., he would be giving speeches. At around 1 p.m., he would be holding meetings with business heads. This continued till night," said Kamath, recalling his stay in the US.

"While we would be exhausted by the evening, Prime Minister would be brimming with energy and would be heading on to the next assignment," he said while saluting his energy levels.

He further stated that there is a lot to learn from him and also he feels privileged to have seen him from close quarters.

Notably, Ranbir Kapoor, hailing from Raj Kapoor's family is an acclaimed and accomplished actor with many blockbuster films to his kitty, with Animal being the latest.

Nikhil Kamath is a leading entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist. He is the founder of Zerodha, India's leading retail brokerage firm.
Amid a backdrop of fluctuating global markets, the Hong Kong stock market presents unique opportunities for investors looking to diversify their portfolios. As small-cap stocks show resilience and potential growth in uncertain times, exploring lesser-known companies in this vibrant market could uncover valuable prospects. In such an environment, a good stock often combines robust fundamentals with the potential to benefit from current economic conditions or sectoral trends.

Top 10 Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals In Hong Kong

Name Debt To Equity Revenue Growth Earnings Growth Health Rating COSCO SHIPPING International (Hong Kong) NA -12.97% 12.59%  China Leon Inspection Holding 17.06% 24.06% 27.08%  Tianyun International Holdings 10.09% -5.59% -9.92%  JiaXing Gas Group 17.72% 26.04% 22.07%  Xin Point Holdings 2.03% 9.80% 15.04%  Changjiu Holdings 14.09% 12.87% -4.74%  Mulsanne Group Holding 186.88% -12.02% -43.54%  Laopu Gold 8.43% 26.56% 36.28%  Time Interconnect Technology 212.50% 27.21% 15.01%  Pizu Group Holdings 48.34% -4.53% -19.78% 

Click here to see the full list of 178 stocks from our SEHK Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals screener.

We'll examine a selection from our screener results.

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Xiamen Yan Palace Bird's Nest Industry Co., Ltd. is a company that focuses on the research, development, production, and marketing of edible birds nest products within the Peoples Republic of China, with a market capitalization of HK$6.68 billion.

Operations: The company primarily generates revenue through direct sales to online customers, offline customers, and e-commerce platforms, supplemented by distribution channels both online and offline. It has experienced a steady increase in revenue from CN724.22 million in 2018 to CN1964.24 million in recent years, with a significant portion of costs attributed to cost of goods sold (COGS), which was CN969.32 million as of the latest report.

Xiamen Yan Palace Bird's Nest Industry, despite a challenging first half of 2024, projects a revenue increase between 10% to 15% year-over-year, reaching up to RMB 1.09 billion. However, net profit is anticipated to drop by about 40% to 50%, settling between RMB 50 million and RMB 60 million for the same period. The company remains debt-free and has showcased earnings growth of approximately 5% last year, outpacing the industry average. This performance is underpinned by robust online sales growth and operational adjustments reflected in recent corporate governance updates.

SEHK:1497 Debt to Equity as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Bank of Tianjin Co., Ltd. offers various banking and financial services mainly in the Peoples Republic of China, with a market capitalization of HK$10.68 billion.

Operations: Bank of Tianjin operates primarily in the financial sector, generating revenue through diverse banking services. The company consistently achieves a high gross profit margin of 100%, indicating that its revenue is effectively managed without the cost of goods sold. Over recent years, it has maintained a net income margin around 47% to 49%, reflecting efficient operational management and profitability.

Bank of Tianjin, with its total assets reaching CN871.1B and total equity of CN66.5B, presents a compelling case as an overlooked gem in Hong Kong's financial sector. The bank has demonstrated robust financial health with a bad loans ratio at a mere 1.7%, well below the industry standard, and an impressive earnings growth of 22.5% over the past yearsurpassing the industry average significantly. This performance is underpinned by a prudent bad loan allowance covering 168% of total loans, ensuring stability amidst market fluctuations.

SEHK:1578 Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Tenfu (Cayman) Holdings Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, specializes in the production and sale of traditional Chinese tea products, boasting a market capitalization of HK$4.87 billion.

Operations: The company generates its primary revenue from the sale of tea leaves, contributing CN1.25 billion, supplemented by tea snacks and tea ware, which add CN244.52 million and CN175.24 million respectively. It operates with a gross profit margin that has shown variations but was recorded at 54.23% as of the latest data point in 2023, reflecting the costs associated with goods sold and operational expenses tied to sales and marketing efforts among other administrative activities.

Tenfu (Cayman) Holdings, a notable player in Hong Kong's market, trades at 65.9% below its estimated fair value, signaling potential undervaluation. Despite a 3.3% earnings growth lagging behind the industry's 4.1%, its financial health remains robust with a satisfactory net debt to equity ratio of 13.6%. The company recently initiated a share repurchase program, enhancing shareholder value while maintaining strong interest coverage at 14.6 times EBIT and positive free cash flow.

SEHK:6868 Debt to Equity as at Jul 2024

Seize The Opportunity

Click here to access our complete index of 178 SEHK Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals.

Already own these companies? Link your portfolio to Simply Wall St and get alerts on any new warning signs to your stocks.

Streamline your investment strategy with Simply Wall St's app for free and benefit from extensive research on stocks across all corners of the world.

Seeking Other Investments?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include SEHK:1497 SEHK:1578 and SEHK:6868.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Yangon, July 28 : Three people, including a three-year-old child, drowned amid flooding in southern Myanmar's Kayin state.

The incident occurred in the Myawaddy township of Kayin state, an official from the Alin Thit Rescue Organisation told Xinhua on Sunday.

The three victims included a child who accidentally fell into the water and was washed away, a disabled elderly man and another man who was unable to run when the water rose, he added, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Alin Thit Rescue Organisation helped about 20 people reach safe areas in Myawaddy and some residents from low-lying areas were relocated to safer locations in advance, he said.

The water levels in the township have receded, he added.

The flooding began in the Myawaddy township on June 26.
Kolkata, July 28 : Trinamool Congress will move a motion in the Assembly seeking discussion on the river treaties with Bangladesh.

"Since the Union government is going ahead with the important decision regarding crucial treaties about water sharing without consulting the state government, we have to object to such an approach of the Centre," a senior member of the state cabinet said.

He said that moving a motion on this issue on the floor of the house and initiating a detailed discussion on the matter is the best way forward.

The Business Advisory Committee meeting of the Assembly is scheduled for August 2, where a decision is likely to be taken on which date of the ongoing monsoon session of the Assembly the proposed motion will be moved.

On June 24, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee forwarded a communique to the Prime Minister requesting the latter not to take important bilateral decisions with neighbouring Bangladesh especially on the Teesta River water sharing and Indo-Bangladesh Farakka treaties without discussing and involving the state government.

In the letter, the Chief Minister referred to the recent visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India and her meeting with Modi.

"It seems that water-sharing issues relating to the Ganges and Teesta Rivers have been discussed during the meeting. Such unilateral deliberations and discussions without consultations and opinion of the state government are neither acceptable nor desirable," the letter from the Chief Minister to the Prime Minister read.

Earlier, this month, the Chief Minister said that the renewal of the Indo-Bangladesh Farakka Treaty (1996) which is set to expire in 2026, will not only impact West Bengal but also the neighbouring state of Bihar.
New Delhi, July 28 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 112th 'Mann Ki Baat' address, called upon all Indians to participate in the 'Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan' in celebration of Independence Day.

Emphasising the importance of this initiative, PM Modi said, "My dear countrymen, the day of August 15 is not far away. And now another campaign has been added to the 15th of August, 'Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan'."

Reflecting on the widespread enthusiasm for the campaign in recent years, he noted, "For the last few years, everyone's fervour for the 'Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan' remains high in the entire country. Be it the poor, the rich, small households, or big households, everyone feels proud waving the Tricolour."

The PM highlighted the growing trend of taking selfies with the national flag and sharing them on social media. He observed, "There is also a craze for taking selfies with the Tricolour and posting them on social media. You must have noticed that when the Tricolour flutters atop each house of the colony or society, within no time, the Tricolour starts appearing on other houses as well. That is, 'Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan' -- has become a unique festival in upholding the glory of the Tricolour."

He also mentioned various kinds of innovations related to the campaign, including products displaying the Tricolour in homes, offices and cars, and how people distribute the 'Tricolour' to their friends and neighbours, thereby highlighting the "enthusiasm".

Encouraging participation, he urged citizens to upload selfies with the Tricolour on 'harghartiranga.com'.

The Prime Minister also invited people to send their suggestions for the upcoming Independence Day address via the MyGov or NaMo App, stating, "Every year before the 15th of August, you send me a lot of your suggestions. You must send me your suggestions this year as well. I will try to cover as many suggestions as possible in the 15th August address."

PM Modi concluded his address with a message of unity and anticipation for future achievements, saying, "My dear countrymen, it was very nice to connect with you in this episode of 'Mann Ki Baat'... Many festivals are also on their way in the near future. Best wishes to you for all the festivals. Enjoy the festivals with your family. Keep up the energy to do something new for the country. Thank you very much. Namaskar."
New Delhi, July 28 : Delhi has been seeing a significant surge in Hepatitis A cases in the past two months, doctors said on Sunday.

Hepatitis is an infection that primarily affects the liver, with the most common viruses being hepatitis A, B, C, and E.

Hepatitis A is caused by the Hepatitis A virus, which is transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food or water, poor personal hygiene, inadequate sanitation, or through direct contact with an infected individual.

"In the last two months, we have observed a significant increase in Hepatitis A cases. From January to May this year, we recorded an average of three cases per month. However, in June, this number surged to 22 cases, and in July, we have already seen 20 cases," Dr. Harpreet Kaur, Medical Superintendent & Head Lab Services and Blood Center, Aakash Healthcare told IANS

Experts noted that the inflammation of the liver caused by hepatitis can also affect the brain, kidneys, and brain cells.

"While the brain is not always affected by hepatitis, the prevalence of neurological complications is significant among patients with severe or chronic liver disease. This condition arises when the liver fails to filter toxins from the blood, leading to their accumulation and eventual damage to brain cells. Symptoms can range from mild cognitive impairments to severe neurological deficits," Dr Anaita Hegde, Sr Consultant Paediatric Neurology, Narayana Health SRCC Children's Hospital told IANS.

Regular monitoring and medical intervention can reduce risks, the experts said.

Hepatitis's impact on the brain can lead to hepatic encephalopathy, cognitive impairments, and motor dysfunction. Prevention involves vaccination, infection prevention, and regular medical check-ups.

"When hepatitis impacts the brain, it can lead to a condition known as hepatic encephalopathy. Prevention is key, involving vaccination, safe practices to avoid infection, and regular medical check-ups. Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly reduce the risk," Dr. Raghvendra Ramdasi, Consultant Neurosurgeon, at Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai told IANS.
St Petersburg, July 28 : Indian Navy's frontline frigate, INS Tabar arrived at Saint Petersburg to participate in the 328th Russian Navy Day celebration, on Sunday.

The ship, part of the Indian Navy's Western Fleet which is based at Mumbai under the Western Naval Command, was given a "warm welcome" by the Russian Federation Navy (RuFN).

Professional interactions and conduct of passing exercise (PASSEX) between both navies will also take place during INS Tabar's visit to Russia.

According to the Russian Defence Ministry, around 200 ships and boats of various classes are involved in the Naval Parade being held in St. Petersburg.

"This visit further strengthens maritime cooperation between the two nations, underpinned by the interoperability between the navies and is aligned to GoI's policy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," the Indian Navy posted on X.

INS Tabar, is a stealth frigate built for the Indian Navy in Russia. The ship is commanded by Captain MR Harish and has a complement of 280 personnel. It is equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors and is among the earliest stealth frigates of the Indian Navy.

Earlier this month, the Indian Naval Ship visited Casablanca in Morocco on a three-day visit.
Seoul, July 28 : The defence chiefs of South Korea, the United States and Japan signed a document on the Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework (TSCF) on Sunday, Seoul's defence ministry said, in a move solidifying their continued commitment to three-way security cooperation against North Korean threats.

South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik and his US and Japanese counterparts, Lloyd Austin and Minoru Kihara, respectively, inked a Memorandum of Cooperation on the framework in Tokyo amid their deepening security cooperation in response to the North's persistent nuclear and missile threats and growing military alignment with Russia, Yonhap news agency reported.

As the first document that institutionalises joint efforts for trilateral security cooperation among defence authorities, it provides the direction and policy principle for areas of high-level policy consultations, information sharing and trilateral drills, according to the ministry.

"Accordingly, the ministers of the three nations reaffirmed the unwavering nature of the new era of trilateral cooperation," it said in a joint press statement.

A ministry official said the document is meant to ensure the conditions for trilateral security cooperation are continuously pursued amid a fluid international security environment.

Under the agreement, the three nations are expected to step up cooperation for the effective operation of their real-time sharing of North Korean missile data and regularly carry out joint drills, including the multidomain Freedom Edge exercise, based on a multiyear plan.

The document's signing came after South Korea proposed drawing up a joint document during a trilateral security meeting in February, followed by a meeting of the defence chiefs on the sidelines of the Shangri-la Dialogue in June, where they agreed on inking the document within this year.

In what marked their first-ever gathering in Tokyo, the three defence chiefs also voiced concerns over growing military and economic cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, emboldened by signing the "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty that includes a mutual defence clause.

They also denounced the North's diversification of nuclear delivery systems and test launches of multiple ballistic missiles, as well as other tension-escalating acts on the Korean Peninsula.

Speaking to South Korean correspondents after the signing, Shin pointed out that it should not be connected to the timing of the upcoming US presidential elections but said that it was swiftly carried out due to other political situations that could easily change.

Still, Shin said he believes trilateral security cooperation will likely endure regardless of who wins in the November election.

"It remains unchanged that North Korea's nuclear and missile threats threaten the security of the three countries, and there are a lot of regional challenges," Shin said. "I believe it will continue to be pursued in an unwavering nature since it is aligned with the respective national interests of the three countries."

The TSCF is not only the first such document between the three nations but also serves as a "benchmark document" that institutionalises their security cooperation, according to Shin.

The defence chiefs plan to meet in Seoul next year for their trilateral ministerial meeting.
Bengaluru, July 28 : Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday dismissed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's allegation of her mike being muted during a NITI Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as "completely false".

Bengaluru, July 28 (IANS) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday dismissed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's allegation of her mike being muted during a NITI Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as "completely false".

Answering a question posed by media in this regard in Bengaluru, Sitharaman stated, "It was good that West Bengal CM came and voiced her view. She said she is talking on behalf of all opposition which is also very well. For the allotted time, we heard her. If she wanted more time, like other CMs, she would have got it."

"But, she went outside and said 'my mike was put off and I walked out of the meeting' which was wrong. It is completely false. CM from Karnataka and the opposition didn't attend it. It's sad. They always say our voice is not heard. This was the forum to come and speak. To an extent Mamata Banerjee Ji was right. She came but afterwards, she said something different," the Finance Minister stated. "I wished all opposition leaders would have come and voiced their opinion," she underlined.

On objections raised by Karnataka Congress leaders to the ED action, she stated, "If ED goes and finds black money, can we say the Congress will get unhappy, don't do it. That's what they did when they were in rule. Not allowed CBI to take action as their ministers would become targets. Actually, wherever they are going to search, they come with wall-level cash and a suitcase full of gold. Black money has to be searched and brought out."

When asked if her budget was a copy of Congress manifesto, she said, "Congress can never come up with a well thought out plan. It always believes in tokenism. Throw money and finish it off. How can we copy a poorly made scheme from them?"
New Delhi, July 28 : It's not only women, but men can also be at risk of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations, typically associated with breast and ovarian cancers, according to research calling for increasing screening guidelines for males.

A growing body of research emphasises that BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations, typically associated with breast and ovarian cancers in women, also pose significant cancer risks to men.

According to a review article published in JAMA Oncology by experts from the Fred Hutch Cancer Center and the University of Washington, new national screening guidelines aim to identify these risks in men through genetic testing and specialised cancer screening.

Heather Cheng, the director of the Fred Hutch's Prostate Cancer Genetics Clinic said men are not getting enough genetic testing to see if they carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variant.

While those who know they are carriers "get tested for their daughters, but don't always know why it's important for their own health", he added.

The review outlines updated screening and treatment guidelines for men with inherited damaging variants in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

It highlights the increased risks of prostate, pancreatic, and breast cancers for male carriers, who represent 50 per cent of all BRCA1/2 mutation carriers.

However, the current testing rate for men is only one-tenth of that for women.

The team also urged men to discuss their family's cancer history with healthcare providers.

Cheng noted that increasing screening among men will boost aresearch, early detection, and ultimately reduce the burden of BRCA-related cancers.
Hyderabad, July 28 : The Hare Rama-Hare Krishna Charitable Foundation will maintain a centralised kitchen to provide breakfast and lunch to 28,000 school students in Kodangal, the Assembly constituency of Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.

The Chief Minister on Sunday discussed the establishment of a semi-residential school as a pilot project in Kodangal in Mahabubnagar district with the representatives of the Hare Rama-Hare Krishna Charitable Foundation.

According to the Chief Ministeras Office, the construction work of the centralised kitchen has already started in Kodangal town. The kitchen will be maintained by the charitable foundation with CSR funds.

The Chief Minister will launch the pilot project in Kodangal soon after the completion of the construction of the centralised kitchen.

He suggested a detailed study be undertaken to implement the same project across the state. The objective of the government is to provide quality education and nutritious food to the poor students, Revanth Reddy added.

The state government plans to establish one integrated residential school in each constituency.

Residential schools for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and Minorities will be brought together in one place. One integrated residential school is proposed in each of the 119 Assembly constituencies.

As a pilot project, integrated residential schools will be established in Kodangal and Madhira constituencies, represented by Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, respectively. The government has already acquired 20 acres of land each in Kodangal and Madhira for establishing integrated residential schools.
Tokyo, July 28 : A Japanese civil group held a rally, demanding that the government return the Chinese cultural relics looted during the Japanese war of aggression against China.

Takakage Fujita, co-representative of the group, which aims to promote the return of Chinese cultural properties, said that many developed countries that invaded other countries and looted cultural relics in the past are gradually returning them, Xinhua news agency reported.

The first step to reconciliation is to correct the wrongs of the past, and it is not right to keep the cultural relics looted in one's own country as a matter of course, Fujita said.

The Japanese government's reluctance to return cultural relics looted in the past shows that its reflection on the war is still "not enough", Fujita said, noting, "I hope Japan can reflect on its past from the bottom of its heart and change its current practices. This is also the reason we started this campaign."

According to the group, the University Museum of the University of Tokyo has collected and partially exhibited cultural relics of the Shangjing Longquan Prefecture Site of the Bohai Kingdom during the Tang Dynasty that were plundered by Japan in "Manchukuo," a puppet state established by Japanese invaders to control Northeast China.

The group requires the University of Tokyo to disclose all cultural relics that were obtained by improper means and collected to this day, including the abovementioned ones, and to disclose their sources.

About 50 people from all over Japan attended the rally on the day. A Tokyo University student told Xinhua, "I really want to know about the situation of Tokyo University's possession of Chinese cultural relics. After listening to today's speech, I think we need to understand history and return the cultural relics."

The founding purpose of the civil group is to encourage Japan to return Chinese cultural relics, achieve "historical reconciliation" between the two countries, and further promote the development of bilateral relations.
Viewing insider transactions for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's (NASDAQ:GT ) over the last year, we see that insiders were net buyers. This means that a larger number of shares were purchased by insiders in relation to shares sold.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

View our latest analysis for Goodyear Tire & Rubber

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Director Max Mitchell for US$510k worth of shares, at about US$12.15 per share. That means that even when the share price was higher than US$12.10 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when an insider has purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price. Max Mitchell was the only individual insider to buy shares in the last twelve months.

The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

Goodyear Tire & Rubber is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find small cap companies at attractive valuations, this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insider Ownership

I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. It appears that Goodyear Tire & Rubber insiders own 0.8% of the company, worth about US$26m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

So What Do The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Insider Transactions Indicate?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Goodyear Tire & Rubber shares in the last quarter. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. Insiders own shares in Goodyear Tire & Rubber and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Goodyear Tire & Rubber. For example - Goodyear Tire & Rubber has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Gaza, July 28 : Nearly 200 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) workers have been killed in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, the head of the UN agency said.

"This is by far the largest loss of personnel killed in a single conflict or natural disaster since the creation of the United Nations -- a reality the world must never accept," the Commissioner-General of the UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, said on social media platform X on Saturday.

Lazzarini said that when the conflict started nearly ten months ago, "no one thought we would reach this grim milestone," Xinhua news agency reported.

"These are not numbers. These are our colleagues and our friends. They are teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers, support staff, technicians who spent their life supporting the community."

Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 39,258, Gaza-based health authorities said on Saturday.
Nairobi, July 28 : Two al-Shabab militants were killed in eastern Kenya's Garissa County near the border with Somalia, police said.

The police said that its multi-agency security team, acting on intelligence, foiled the planned attack in Alango, along the Garissa-Dadaab road.

"The militants were at an advanced stage of the attack at a hideout in a forested area south of Alango, waiting for an opportune moment to strike," the police said in the report.

The police said its security forces disrupted their plans, killing two al-Shabab militants on the spot while others escaped with injuries, Xinhua news agency reported.

Among the items recovered from the hideout were two AK-47 rifles, seven magazines, and improvised explosive devices making materials and assorted food items.

Security teams are on the trail of the fleeing militants in the border region, which has since suffered a series of terrorist attacks, the police said.

The police called on public members to share information with the security officers about the injured suspects.

Kenya's northeastern region has borne the brunt of grenade and gun attacks in the last several years since Kenya took its troops to Somalia in 2011 to fight the al-Shabab militia group.

Many people, the majority of them non-locals, have, as a result, lost their lives, with others left with permanent injuries.

The extremist group has since changed tactics and resorted to abductions and using improvised explosive devices to carry out attacks in parts of the Coast and northeastern regions, according to police.
Chateauroux: India's bronze medalist Manu Bhaker poses with her medal after the women?s 10m air pistol final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Chateauroux, France, on July 28, 2024.. Image Source: IANS/@realmanubhaker

Mumbai, July 28 : After Manu Bhaker opened India's account at the Paris Olympics by winning the bronze medal in the 10m air pistol event, Bollywood celebs congratulated the country's shooter for making the country proud.

Preity Zinta shared Manu Bhaker's photo and wrote, "Congratulations @bhakermanu on winning the first medal for India in #olympics2024 #bronzemedal #shooting #parisolympics #JaiHind #ting."

Kriti Kharbanda also shared the news snippet of Manu Bhaker winning bronze and expressed her happiness with the caption "Oh yeahhhh."

Rajkumar Rao shared an Insta story and wrote, "Congratulations @bhakermanu. We all are so proud of you."

Jackie Shroff commented on the success and wrote "Account openedManu Bhaker wins Bronze in 10 mt air pistol event. India's first medal in Paris Olympics."

The last time India won medals in shooting was at the London Olympics in 2012. Rapid-fire pistol shooter Vijay Kumar won silver and Gangan Narang won bronze.

In the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Manu Bhaker was disqualified due to a pistol malfunction but her hard work and determination paid off with her winning a bronze in Paris.

Manu Bhaker became India's first women's shooter to win an Olympic medal.
Chamba, July 28 : Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Sunday inaugurated the weeklong International Minjar fair by hoisting the Minjar flag, amidst melodious Kunjdi-Malhar songs, on the banks of the Ravi river.

The historical festival symbolises the blossoming of maize.

The Governor, who was accompanied by his wife Janaki Shukla, said the Minjar Fair, renowned for its rich folk culture, showcases the state's unique culture, promoting brotherhood and fraternity. He also stressed the importance of preserving these unique identities for future generations.

He hailed the Minjar fair as a remarkable example of deep-rooted connections with ancient folk traditions, beliefs, and faiths.

Highlighting a grave concern about the rising drug addiction in the state, the Governor emphasized the need for collective awareness and action against this evil.

"The preservation of culture and traditions is vital in countering anti-social elements trying to harm society," he said.

Himachal Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania was also present on the occasion.

The Governor also honoured the ex-servicemen for their exemplary services and the veterans on the occasion.

Deputy Commissioner and president of the fair organising committee, Mukesh Repaswal, detailed the historical background of the festival. He said the first cultural night of Minjar Fair would be dedicated to martyrs who made supreme sacrifices for the nation.

Earlier, the Governor visited the ancient Lakshmi Narayan temple and sought blessings by presenting a minjar. The fair opened with the hoisting of the 'minjar', depicting the silk tassels that glow like maize blossoms in the sun, the flag at the Chowgan, or the public promenade in the historic town. The locals, mainly farmers, gather at the historic Lakshmi Narayan and Raghuvira temples during the festival and offer holy 'minjars'.

These are exchanged among friends and relatives before they are finally immersed in the river as an offering to Lord Varuna.
Tehran, July 28 : Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei formally endorsed Masoud Pezeshkian as Iran's ninth president on Sunday.

During a ceremony held in the Iranian capital, Khamenei endorsed a decree issued by Interim President Mohammad Mokhber and handed it over to Pezeshkian, officially approving him as the country's next president.

Pezeshkian was announced as Iran's next president on July 6 following his victory in a runoff against Saeed Jalili, a former chief nuclear negotiator.

Speaking at the ceremony, Iran's leader said Iran successfully passed the "important test" of the 14th presidential election and has done arduous tasks to uphold a healthy and competitive democratic system, Xinhua news agency reported.

Khamenei called on the new administration to use Iran's rich natural resources and human resources to do great things, calling for greater unity and cooperation among different pillars of the country, including the administration, judiciary, parliament, and armed forces.

The leader described the resolution of the economic problems as the country's present top priority, calling for increasing the national currency's value and domestic production, attracting investments, and improving the business atmosphere.

He urged for greater reliance on domestic capabilities and the use of international interactions and capacities while warning against tying the fate of domestic problems to foreign issues.

As to the country's foreign policy priorities, he called for strengthening ties with supportive states, improving relations with the neighbors, Asian and African countries, as well as taking an active approach towards global and regional developments.

Speaking at the ceremony after receiving his decree, Pezeshkian stressed that serving the country's people should be a priority and high on the agenda of his administration.

He added that the Iranian people, by voting in favor of a "change," had assigned a heavy responsibility to him, which had practically begun as of "today."

Pezeshkian reaffirmed his commitment to implement general policies introduced by the supreme leader and realize goals set by the country's Islamic establishment and the seventh cultural, social, and economic development plan.

He highlighted the necessity to achieve national unity and promote a law-abiding society.

Following the endorsement, a swearing-in ceremony was scheduled for the new president on Tuesday.
Ankara, July 28 : The Turkish military has neutralized a total of 16 "terrorists" in operations in northern Iraq and northern Syria, the country's Defence Ministry said Sunday.

The Turkish forces killed 11 members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Hakurk, Gara and Asos regions in northern Iraq, said the ministry in a statement, without specifying the time frame of the operations.

Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" in their statements to imply the "terrorists" in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

In a separate operation in northern Syria, the Turkish forces "neutralized" five members of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the ministry said in a statement.

The Turkish army launched Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016, Operation Olive Branch in 2018, Operation Peace Spring in 2019, and Operation Spring Shield in 2020 in northern Syria to create a YPG-free zone along its border with the neighboring country.

Turkey sees the YPG group as the PKK's Syrian branch.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades.
Dambulla : , July 28 (IANS) Harshitha Samarawickrama hammered 69 not out after skipper Chamari Athapaththu made a brilliant half-century(61 off 43 ) to help Sri Lanka Women beat seven-time champions Indian Women by eight wickets in the final to clinch their maiden Women's Asia Cup title at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Sunday.

After India posted 165/6 thanks to a half-century by opener Smriti Mandhana (60 off 47) and a cameo by Richa Ghosh (30 off 14), the hosts raced to 167/2 in 18.4 overs thanks to the superb innings by Samarawickrama and Athapaththu.

Sri Lanka's run chase started on a shaky note as Vishmi Gunaratne was run out early. However, the experienced Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama steadied the ship with a crucial 87-run partnership for the second wicket. Athapaththu, who accumulated over 300 runs in the tournament, played a captainas knock, reaching her half-century off just 32 balls. Her aggressive innings of 61 off 43 balls, which included nine fours and two sixes, laid the foundation for the successful chase.

Deepti Sharma gave India a breakthrough by bowling Athapaththu around her legs, but the Sri Lankan skipper had already set the tone for the match. With 72 runs needed off the last eight overs, Harshitha took charge, crafting an unbeaten 69-run knock that guided Sri Lanka to victory. Her composure under pressure was complemented by Kavisha Dilhari, who contributed a quickfire 30 off 16 balls, ensuring the hosts reached the target comfortably with eight balls remaining.

India, electing to bat first, posted a solid 165/6 in their 20 overs. Smriti Mandhana led the way with a scintillating knock of 60 off 47 balls, featuring 10 fours. Despite setbacks in the middle order with Uma Chetry and Harmanpreet Kaur failing to capitalize, Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh ensured India maintained momentum. Rodrigues scored 29 off 16 balls, while Ghoshas explosive 30 off 14 balls provided the necessary late surge.

Among the Sri Lankan bowlers, Kavisha Dilhari was the standout performer with figures of 4-0-36-2. Udeshika Prabodhani, Sachini Nisansala, and Chamari Athapaththu each claimed a wicket, keeping Indiaas powerful batting lineup in check.

Brief scores:

India Women 165/6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhan 60, Richa Ghosh 30; Kavisha Dilhari 2-36, Sachini Nisansala 1-20) lost to Sri Lanka Women 167/2 in 18.4 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 69 not out, Chamari Athapaththu 61; Deepti Sharma 1-30) by eight wickets.
Mysuru, July 28 : Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday said that the 'conflict' with the Centre would not resolve the issues of the state.

Kumaraswamy criticised the state government for "unnecessary" complaints against the Centre and also questioned why the state government always accuses Union ministers and MPs, representing the state.

"Expecting issues to be resolved through conflict is wrong. The state government should present the actual situation of the state to the Centre effectively," the Union Minister told media persons.

He asked how the state can progress if the government restricts Union ministers from visiting regions like Mandya.

"The state government to honestly communicate with the Prime Minister and maintain cordial relations with the Centre for the sake of state's development," Kumaraswamy said.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally called to assure all necessary support during the Kodagu floods," he said.

He asked why the state government has not created a cooperative atmosphere with the Centre. "Karnataka has not been wronged in the current Union Budget. The Budget has given priority to all states," he said.

He said that Congress is misleading by naming specific states like Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. "The current Union Budget includes the Polavaram project for Andhra Pradesh, initiated during Chandrababu Naidu's tenure as Chief Minister. Similarly, Bihar receives special packages due to flooding caused by rains in Nepal," he said.

Referring to the Cauvery issue, Kumaraswamy said that he along with his father and Deve Gowda have discussed the Mekedatu project with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Hyderabad, July 28 : The Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau and Cyberabad police have arrested four persons and seized 90 grams of MDMA from them.

The arrests were made from a house in Friends Colony under the limits of Mailardevpally police station of the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate.

A police officer said on Sunday that four mobile phones were also seized from the possession of the four, identified as Salman Shah of Jogeshwari, Mumbai, and Mohammed Ateeq, Rizwan Ali and Mohammed Yaseen, all from Hyderabad.

Six other accused, including three from Mumbai, were absconding.

Acting on credible information, TGNAB and Mailardevpally police conducted a joint operation to make the arrests from a house. A police officer said 90 grams of MDMA was seized from them. They were all consuming MDMA by mixing it with pan masala.

According to police, main accused Salman Shah, came from Mumbai, to deliver 50 grams of MDMA drug to Ateeq. Rizwan picked up Shah to bring him to Ateeqas house where Ateeq and Yaseen were waiting.

Police found during the investigation that the four accused were frequently purchasing the drug from Shahed, Wajid, and Neetha, the absconding accused from Mumbai.

A case was registered under Sections 8(c), 22(c), 27(a), and 29 of the NDPS Act and an investigation was launched.
Moscow, July 28 : Former Russian Prime Minister and President Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday that Moscow will not interfere in the US presidential election and will "give a chance" to the next occupant of the White House to fix relationship between the two countries which remains at the lowest point since the Cold War due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

"We will definitely not interfere with the internal affairs of this country. The question is for voters, who will be elected. Although preliminary information about intellectual abilities of the potential female successor to old [Joe] Biden leaves little room for illusions," Medvedev, currently the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, told Russian state-owned news agency Tass.

Medvedev stated that the US President Joe Biden has become a "lame duck" till his replacement is elected and "can do anything" when dictated by his entourage with his successor assured of suffering a blowback.

"We are doing everything to secure our citizens against the most dangerous threats exponentially growing now. Certainly, we will give a chance to the new US President to move nevertheless away from the abyss, to which the West is now pushing the entire world. However, the current situation is not highly optimistic," Medvedev was quoted as saying by Tass.

He mentioned that either Joe Biden or Kamala Harris cannot be responsible global leaders.

"Nobody among them can indeed be a responsible global leader even holding the main post in one of the nuclear powers of the world," said Medvedev.

Russia, he asserted, hopes of getting full support from "friendly countries" to prevent "reckless politicians in Washington from staging a global catastrophe".

"We will do everything to this end. We rely upon the support of our partners and all sober-minded people making decisions within the global community framework, including our friends in the Global South," Medvedev added.
Gorman-Rupp (NYSE:GRC) Second Quarter 2024 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: US$169.5m (flat on 2Q 2023).

Net income: US$8.34m (down 20% from 2Q 2023).

Profit margin: 4.9% (down from 6.1% in 2Q 2023).

EPS: US$0.32 (down from US$0.40 in 2Q 2023).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Gorman-Rupp Revenues and Earnings Miss Expectations

Revenue missed analyst estimates by 3.8%. Earnings per share (EPS) also missed analyst estimates by 4.5%.

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 3.4% p.a. on average during the next 2 years, compared to a 3.5% growth forecast for the Machinery industry in the US.

Performance of the American Machinery industry.

The company's shares are up 3.9% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

It's still necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Gorman-Rupp, and understanding this should be part of your investment process.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Damascus, July 28 : Pro-Iranian groups and Hezbollah forces on Sunday evacuated known positions they hold in Damascus and its surrounding areas, anticipating potential Israeli air strikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Damascus, July 28 (IANS) Pro-Iranian groups and Hezbollah forces on Sunday evacuated known positions they hold in Damascus and its surrounding areas, anticipating potential Israeli air strikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Observatory reported that pro-Iranian groups, comprising both Syrian and non-Syrian nationals, withdrew from their posts in the Sayyida Zaynab area south of Damascus and areas southwest of Damascus and the southern province of Quneitra.

Concurrently, Hezbollah forces implemented the same measures in the western Qalamoun region in the northwestern countryside of Damascus close to Lebanon, Xinhua news agency reported.

The pro-Iran militias have restricted the movement of their personnel and military leaders to avoid detection and have re-positioned themselves, the Observatory said, noting that the groups are no longer visible in the areas following these preventive actions.

The recent evacuation and reposition of pro-Iranian groups and Hezbollah forces come against the backdrop of the attack on the Israeli-occupied Majdal Shams area in the occupied Golan Heights on Saturday when as many as 12 people were killed in an attack Israel blamed on Hezbollah.

Hezbollah denied responsibility for the attack, which signaled a new rising tension and opened the door wide for speculations about a potential showdown between Israel and Hezbollah.
Bengaluru, July 28 : Karnataka BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra on Sunday announced a padayatra (foot march) from Bengaluru to Mysuru on August 3 against the MUDA case.

"The padayatra from Bengaluru to Mysuru will take seven days in which leaders of the BJP and JD-S will participate in it. Senior leaders B.S. Yediyurappa and H.D. Kumaraswamy will also participate in the padayatra and will inaugurate the event," Vijayendra said.

He said that the concluding ceremony will take place on August 10 and the leaders from the Union government will also be present on that day.

Earlier, a meeting headed by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and Union Minister Kumaraswamy was held regarding the padayatra.

Former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who was also part of the meeting, urged people to join the fight to oust the "corrupt" state government.

"Both parties (BJP and JD-S) would unite and conduct the protest in which thousands of people would participate. The protest would not stop until the Chief Minister resigns. If the Chief Minister has any sense of honour, he should admit to the crimes committed and resign," Yediyurappa said.

Pralhad Joshi said that the state is being governed by a corrupt government. "Siddaramaiah has earned the title of being 100 per cent corrupt. We will continue to strongly pursue both public awareness campaigns and legal battles," he said.
New Delhi, July 28 : The state of press freedom serves as a key indicator of a society's democratic health. Journalists' capacity to report without restraint on pertinent issues viz, governance, national concerns, plight of the marginalised, integrity and transparency of the social structure, promoting accountability and progress, etc.

These ideals are particularly relevant in well-established democracies, unlike in authoritarian states such as China, military-dominated hybrid regimes like Pakistan, or few monarchies.

In Pakistan's military-dominated hybrid political system, the environment for journalists remains hazardous and filled with countless challenges. Pakistani journalists navigate a precarious landscape of daily uncertainty, contending not only with threats from non-state actors but also with persistent suppression by state forces, particularly the Pakistan Army and its clandestine intelligence agencies like the ISI.

Despite these dire conditions, international press watchdogs frequently understate the gravity of the situation.

Despite the ongoing killings of numerous journalists due to their work,

Pakistan's press index ratings from organisations such as Freedom House and Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) surprisingly rank the country ahead of some established democracies, like India, which boasts strong press freedom credentials.

In recent months, Pakistan has seen the murder of over half a dozen journalists across its four provinces.

These politically motivated killings highlight a precarious situation where the state is either complicit or failing to protect vulnerable reporters, particularly in the country's rural areas.

On July 14, journalist Malik Hassan Zaib, associated with the local Urdu newspaper Daily Aaj, was killed in his car by unidentified armed assailants in Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

This incident prompted the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) to accuse the Pakistani government of maintaining "continued impunity for those who attack journalists".

The journalism watchdog demanded that Pakistani authorities "immediately end this horrifying wave of violence and hold the perpetrators to account".

Pertinently, this was the third journalist killing within three months in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Previously, unidentified armed assailants had killed Khalil Jibran of Khyber News TV channel on 18 June in Landi Kotal and Kamran Dawar on 21 May at his home in Tappi village, Miramshah district.

Dawar, an independent journalist who also ran a popular social media news channel called Waziristan TV with hundreds of thousands of subscribers, was a vocal critic of the Pakistan Army's oppression in the tribal regions.

He frequently exposed issues such as custodial killings and enforced disappearances disguised as anti-militancy campaigns.

His murder raised direct suspicions of Army involvement, particularly given the highly fortified nature of Tappi village, as reported by News Intervention.

It is worth noting that Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, has a history of targeted killings of military critics, lending credibility to accusations by the victims' families.

According to the 2024 report by Reporters Sans Frontieres, Pakistan ranked 152nd out of 180 countries in the global press index.

RSF, also known as Reporters Without Borders, described Pakistan as "one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists".

The report further indicates that any journalist who dares to breach the boundaries set by the Pakistan Army risks becoming the target of intense surveillance, potentially leading to abduction and detention in either state prisons or unofficial jails.

Moreover, the country's notorious ISI is always prepared to permanently 'silence' any critic.

Interestingly, while Pakistan adopted the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act in 2021, ostensibly to create a safe environment for journalists, the legislation conditions journalists' safety on adhering to a specific 'conduct.' Consequently, both military and civilian authorities have exploited this ambiguity to enforce their own restrictions and penalize those who defy them. For example, Pakistani authorities arrested independent journalist Asad Ali Toor earlier this year for demanding accountability from state institutions, particularly judicial authorities, following the controversial 8 February elections. Additionally, 45 other journalists received notices from authorities for criticising the government and were warned to amend their conduct.

The sole 'offence' of these journalists was reporting on court proceedings during the hearings of election irregularities cases.

Similarly, Freedom House's 2024 report underscores that journalists perceived as anti-state or anti-military continue to face "enforced" disappearances and other abuses.

Ahmad Farhad, a Kashmiri poet from Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK), was recently abducted by Pakistani intelligence agencies for criticising the government and military establishment through his poetry following the Army's killing of POJK civilian protestors.

Farhad poignantly captures this sentiment: "Ye puchta hai amn-e-aamah ka masla kyun? Ye amn-e-aamah ka masla hai, isse uthalo (He is asking why there is public disorder? He is a public disorder, pick him up!)"

Pakistan's military establishment has essentially adopted this modus operandi to abduct and arrest anyone who questions their control over the country's political and governance affairs, with media professionals being the first casualties.

Given the hazardous working conditions for journalists in Pakistan, it is perplexing that the country often ranks higher than a democracy like India in press freedom indices published by Western organisations.

Although Pakistanas ranking is still not commendable, it remains surprising. One must question what prompts these organisations to obscure the reality. Is there not a stark duality in their assessments of the two countries?

For example, RSF's Global Press Index ranks India at 159th, while Pakistan, despite over a dozen journalist killings in 2023, is positioned at 152nd. Additionally, Pakistani authorities recorded 248 cases against journalists during 2022-23 to silence them, as reported by the Freedom Network in 2023.

Similarly, Freedom House's annual Global Freedom Score awarded India and Pakistan scores of 66 and 35 (out of 100), respectively, yet surprisingly describes both countries as 'partly free'.

This categorisation appears to undermine the democratic credentials of the world's largest democracy, India.

It is quite perplexing that India, with its strong traditions of press freedom enshrined in its constitution (Article 19 and supported by RTI), is often criticised by these organisations.

This perceived duality does not truly reflect the country's press freedoms but rather reveals the biases inherent in these institutions, which are often leveraged by their sponsors and host countries for geopolitical purposes.

While Pakistani journalists continue to face severe threats and state oppression, the nuanced challenges in India's media landscape seem to be disproportionately amplified, raising questions about the fairness and objectivity of these international evaluations.

While journalists in India freely report on government activities and all state institutions without fear of persecution, the situation in Pakistan is starkly different.

There, even laws meant to protect journalists impose conditions that effectively require the press to stop criticising the state, particularly the military. This clear disparity further highlights the inconsistencies and potential biases in the global press freedom rankings.

Regardless of the extent to which international journalism watchdogs spotlight the perilous conditions for journalists in Pakistan, the stark reality persists.

The media remains under severe duress from both the government and the military, frequently being compelled to comply, while journalists suffer for challenging authority.

Rights organisations may ignore their struggles but the few voices of truth persist, articulating the silence of the populace.
Hyderabad, July 28 : Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Sunday stated that after the formation of the BJP government in Telangana, the Bhagyalakshmi temple at Charminar will be converted into a 'golden temple'.

Bhagyalakshmi temple abutting historic Charminar has been the focus of BJP's politics since the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections in 2020.

It was from here that Sanjay Kumar launched 'Praja Sangrama Yatra' in 2021 against the then BRS government.

Since then, the BJP made repeated attempts to project the temple as the epicentre of Hindutva politics. Several BJP leaders including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have prayed at the temple.

The communally sensitive old city had witnessed tension in the past over the nature of the temple. Alleged attempts to expand the temple had sparked trouble in 2012.

The Archaeological Survey of India, which is the custodian of Charminar, had described the temple as "unauthorised construction" in response to Right to Information requests filed by activists and heritage enthusiasts.

The Union government agency had stated that the temple did not exist at the time of Hyderabad State's accession to the Indian Union. However, Hindu groups dispute this stand.

Bandi Sanjay also slammed the Congress government for neglecting Bonalu celebrations by allocating only Rs 5 lakh while sanctioning Rs 33 crore for Ramdan.

He said although there is a committee of 24 temples in the old city for Bonalu celebrations, the government allocated only Rs 5 lakh for eight temples.

"How much the government has given for Ramsan, Rs 33 crore. Did we say anything? How much they gave for Bonalu, Rs 5 lakh. Are they treating Hindu samaj like beggars," he asked.

He also alleged that Bonalu celebrations are not allowed in some parts of the old city. Exuding confidence that the BJP will come to power in Telangana, he said it would create an environment where the festival can be celebrated fearlessly.

"Our government is coming. There will be Bonalu celebrations in every street. We need a government which cares for Hindu samaj, which treats all equally," he said.

The Union Minister also slammed the Congress government for sanctioning Rs 2.40 crore for Tabligi Jamat. He said the government announced this in the state budget presented in the Assembly. He asked if Tabligi Jamaat helped poor Muslims in Telangana. "This organisation is banned in other countries," he said.

Sanjay reminded Congress leaders of the fate of previous rulers who neglected temples and insulted Sanathan Dharma. He appealed to Hindu society to ponder over this and decide.

--IANS

ms/dan
New Delhi, July 28 : Youth must embrace the responsibility to contribute towards the betterment of the country and help it realise the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Labour and Employment, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, said on Sunday.

Chairing a session with a youth delegation that represented India at the BRICS Youth Summit held in Ulyanovsk, Russia, he highlighted the importance of aligning the aMy Bharata platform with activities that resonate with youth.

The minister stressed that these activities should be featured prominently on the My Bharat platform to maximise their impact. He informed the participants that the views and suggestions they shared would play a crucial role in improving the My Bharat portal.

"These contributions are vital for enhancing its outreach among the youth, ensuring the platform effectively addresses their needs and encourages greater engagement in national development initiatives," Mandaviya emphasised. The portal provides a unique opportunity for young people to explore various volunteering, experiential learning, and skill-building opportunities, establish new connections and create a positive impact in the communities.
Lucknow, July 28 : The Samajwadi Party on Sunday named veteran leader and former Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey as the new Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

Pandey, 81, who hails from the Brahmin community, is a seven-time legislator and served as the Speaker of the Assembly twice - in 2004-07 and 2012-17.

Presently the legislator from Itwa constituency in Siddarthnagar district, he is considered close to party President Akhilesh Yadav, who he succeeds as the Leader of the Opposition. Akhilesh Yadav was elected from the Kannauj Lok Sabha constituency in the recent polls and decided to retain the parliamentary seat, resigning his Assembly seat.

First elected to the UP Assembly in 1980, Pandey was re-elected in the 1985, 1989, 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2022 polls. He served as Minister of Health in the first Mulayam Singh Yadav government in 1991, and as Labour and Employment Minister in his third government (2003-07).

In his remarks after being made Leader of Opposition, Pandey said his priority will be to corner the government. He said that they had appealed to the government the extend the duration of the Assembly session, which begins on Monday. "Our efforts will be to get the session extended so we can raise issues of public interest," he said, accusing the Yogi Adityanath government of bringing the state to near ruin. "We will seek to pin down the government on issues like corruption and other matters," he said.

Apart from Pandey, the Samajwadi Party, in a meeting chaired by Akhilesh Yadav, named Amroha MLA Mehboob Ali as President of the party legislative board, Kamal Akhtar as Chief Whip and Rakesh Kumar aka R.K Verma as the Deputy Whip.

Several names for the posts were discussed at length during the meeting of Samajwadi Party legislators and in the end, they left the final decision to Akhilesh Yadav. Subsequently, Pandey was chosen as the Leader of the Opposition.
Bengaluru, July 28 : Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy, who was admitted to the hospital after suffering nosebleed earlier on Sunday, has returned to his residence in J.P. Nagar after receiving treatment at a hospital.

Speaking to the media after being discharged from the hospital and returning to his residence, the Union Minister said: "I have undergone heart valve replacement surgery thrice and I take blood thinner medication to prevent clotting. It is common for me to experience nose bleeding when I am under stress and do not get enough rest. The doctors have advised me to reduce my workload."

He, however, assured that there was no need for anyone to worry, and also requested his party workers and supporters to remain calm. "As long as I have your good wishes, God's grace, and my parents' blessings, there is no danger," the Union Minister said.

"The people have sent me to Delhi with their trust. I will not betray that trust. This is just a temporary issue. No one needs to worry. I need to take some rest," he stated, adding: "Ninety-two-year-old, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda (his father) will raise the Cauvery issue in Parliament tomorrow. The DMK and other members will try to disrupt. I need to be there with him."

"I will monitor my condition overnight and decide on my Delhi trip. I will inform the doctors about it. My health is not completely ruined, so I can still participate in the 'padayatra'. There is still a week left for it. If I cannot participate, Nikhil Kumaraswamy will join our MLAs in the padayatra. There is no need for party workers to worry," H.D. Kumaraswamy said.

After attending a coordination committee meeting with JD-S and BJP leaders at a hotel here, the minister suffered nosebleed while addressing the media alongside former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and state unit BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra.

H.D. Kumaraswamy was immediately rushed to a hospital and was kept under observation for a few hours. After receiving appropriate treatment, he was discharged.

The Union Minister was taken to Apollo Hospital in the Jayanagar locality here. His son, actor-turned-politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy, and other senior leaders of the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) rushed him to the hospital.

H.D. Kumaraswamy has participated in a series of programmes since morning.

He visited a temple in Nanjangud town, then arrived in Mysuru to hold meetings and address the media.

In the afternoon, he arrived in Bengaluru and took part in the BJP and the JD-S leaders' meeting.

While H.D. Kumaraswamy was addressing the media along with Yediyurappa, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Vijayendra, and Opposition leader R. Ashoka, he suddenly suffered a nosebleed.

The blood was seen splattered all over his white shirt.

Despite this, H.D. Kumaraswamy did not panic and asked Yediyurappa to address the media, then stepped aside while pressing a hand towel to his nose.
Agartala, July 28 : With 28 more Bangladesh nationals, including a tout, and two Rohingyas being arrested by security personnel, the influx of illegal entrants from the neighbouring trouble-torn country into Tripura continues unabated, officials said on Sunday.

Officials said that the Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel arrested the Bangladeshi nationals at the Agartala railway station on Saturday night as they were trying to board a train to travel to other Indian states via Guwahati.

The Bangladeshis, aged between 19 years to 40 years and residents of Bangladesh's Chapainawabganj district in Rajshahi Division, told the security personnel that they came to India in search of jobs. One of Bangladesh's eight divisions, Rajshahi Division, located in the north-western part of Bangladesh, has no border with Tripura but in the recent past, many nationals of the region entered Tripura, a senior official said.

Tripura shares an 856 km border with Bangladeshas Chittagong and Sylhet divisions.

Meanwhile, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, accompanied by Tripura Police, arrested five Bangladeshi nationals including a woman and two Rohingyas from two different places in West Tripura and North Tripura districts.

A BSF spokesman said that the paramilitary forces are cracking down heavily on the illegal migration by Bangladeshi nationals and have stepped up the vigil in close coordination with sister agencies in the border area.

Following the direction of Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, the BSF has stepped up its drive against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and all field formations are actively breaking down the nexus of touts in the bordering areas.

BSF's Inspector General, Tripura Frontier, Patel Piyush Purushottam Das said that 95 per cent of the 856 km India-Bangladesh border with Tripura has already been fenced, while fencing work is going on in the remaining 27.5 km.

Over the last two-and-a-half months, more than 150 Bangladeshi nationals and 32 Rohingyas were arrested by the GRP, BSF, and Tripura Police from the Agartala railway station and various other places in Tripura after they illegally entered India. Officials said that all the Bangladeshis and Rohingyas illegally entered Tripura to board trains or buses to go to other states in India "in search of jobs".

During the past few weeks, Bangladesh witnessed waves of deadly violence and clashes during the quota reform protests claiming the lives of over 170 people and injuring over a thousand.
Silchar : , July 29 (IANS) The police in Assam have seized highly addictive methamphetamine tablets valued at Rs 9 crore and arrested a drug peddler from the state's Cachar district, an official said on Sunday.

Acting on secret information, police conducted a special operation on Saturday night in Katakhal area and apprehended Abdul Alim (42) with 30,000 methamphetamine tablets, also known as Yaba tablets.

A two-wheeler, used for transportation of the drugs, was also seized.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in a social media post appreciated the police for their continued efforts for a drugs-free Assam.

Police suspect that the drugs were smuggled from Myanmar and being sent to other parts of the country through Assam.
Beijing, July 29 : A dike breach occurred in the Juanshui River in central China's Hunan Province at about 8 p.m. on Sunday, local authorities said.

By 9:40 p.m., the breach in Yisuhe Township of Xiangtan County had widened to about 50 metres, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the flood control and drought relief headquarters of Xiangtan City.

More than 3,100 people have been evacuated, and no casualties have been reported.

China's Ministry of Emergency Management urged efforts to evacuate the affected people, mobilise professional personnel, materials and equipment, and ensure the safety of the local people and rescuers.

An emergency rescue centre under the ministry has dispatched over 200 rescuers and 110 units of equipment to provide emergency support. Local firefighting authorities have sent 266 rescuers, 47 vehicles and 37 boats to the scene.

On Sunday, another dike breach occurred in a section of the Juanshui River in Huashi Township, Xiangtan County, authorities said. The river flows into the Xiangjiang River, a major tributary of the Yangtze.

Evacuation and emergency response efforts are underway.

The ministry said on Saturday that Hunan would experience heavy rainstorms and parts of the province would see "extremely heavy rainstorms from Saturday evening to Monday" due to the impact of Typhoon Gaemi.
If youre looking to build wealth, whats the best path to success? Perhaps its starting an online business or launching new products.

According to real estate mogul Grant Cardone, however, its none of the above.

You dont want to be an entrepreneur, you do not want to be an influencer, you do not want to be a boss, he said during an episode of Neel Dhingras marketing podcast, the neelhome show. Skip to the good stuff: be an investor.

Grant Cardone says being an investor is better than being CEO  claims Warren Buffett made $508M on Coca-Cola in 2023

Don't miss

Commercial real estate has beaten the stock market for 25 years  but only the super rich could buy in. Here's how even ordinary investors can become the landlord of Walmart, Whole Foods or Kroger

Car insurance premiums in America are through the roof  and only getting worse. But 5 minutes could have you paying as little as $29/month

These 5 magic money moves will boost you up America's net worth ladder in 2024  and you can complete each step within minutes. Here's how

Cardone uses Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett as an example. He claims the investing legend  who has had a stake in Coca-Cola since 1988  earned $508 million in dividends from the soft drink company last year, while the top guy made $58 million by comparison.

However, its unclear where Cardone sourced his numbers as Berkshire Hathaway actually received closer to $736 million in dividends from its stake in Coca-Cola in 2023, according to reports.

Meanwhile, Coca-Cola CEO James Robert Quincey, who is presumably the "top guy that Cardone made reference to, made around $25 million in total compensation last year.

Nevertheless, Cardones theory that investing is generally an easier and more lucrative path for accumulating wealth seems somewhat justified. Buffett himself has called investing a simple game in the past.

Heres how long it might take to replace your income with consistent investing.

Replacing your income by investing

Lets say you earn $50,000 a year and set aside 10% of it to invest in a low-cost index fund and switch to a high-yield dividend stock to generate passive income. How long would it take for your dividends to surpass income?

Vanguards S&P 500 index fund has delivered a compounded annual growth rate of around 15% over the past five years. If future returns are similar, it would take roughly 25 years to accumulate $1.06 million in net assets.

The S&P 500 offers a relatively low dividend yield of 1.3%, so this index fund could generate around $13,000 in annual dividend income.

However, if this capital can be rotated into a robust dividend stock you could achieve higher passive income.

Story continues

Read more: Car insurance rates have spiked in the US to a stunning $2,150/year  but you can be smarter than that. Here's how you can save yourself as much as $820 annually in minutes (it's 100% free)

StockStory aims to help individual investors beat the market.

Dividend stocks

Some stocks offer better dividend payouts than the market average. Coca-Cola is a good example. This Buffett-backed beverage maker offers a dividend yield of 2.95% at current market price.

At the time of this writing, United Parcel Service (UPS) offers a better yield of 5.11%. Shifting your million-dollar portfolio into this stock could deliver annual passive income of roughly $54,000.

Caveats

It is possible to skip to the good stuff as Cardone says. Being an investor is significantly easier than working your way up the corporate ladder to become CEO, or starting a successful business from scratch.

However, the caveat is time. It takes decades of consistent and disciplined investing to replace your income from a standard day job.

If you want to reach financial freedom sooner, you may need to work harder to boost income, create a strict budget, cut underutilized expenses, or consider a side hustle.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Beirut, July 29 : Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib has called for an investigation into the July 27 attack on the Druze town of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, which claimed the lives of 12 people.

Bou Habib on Sunday said that the Majdal Shams strike must have been "carried out by other organisations, or it must have been an Israeli mistake, or a mistake by Hezbollah", calling for "an international investigation or a meeting of the tripartite committee through the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to find out the truth on this matter", Xinhua news agency reported.

Previously, Hezbollah denied responsibility for the attack.

According to the National News Agency, Bou Habib stressed Lebanon's rejection of targeting civilians anywhere in the world, whether in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon or Israel, and its condemnation of any party that targets civilians.

Bou Habib warned that a major Israeli attack on Lebanon would lead to "the outbreak of a regional war."

Bou Habib called for "the full and comprehensive implementation of UN Resolution 1701 from both sides", stressing that "a major attack by Israel on Lebanon will lead to a deterioration of the situation in the region and the outbreak of a regional war".

After the issuance of UN Resolution 1701, which put an end to the war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, tripartite meetings have been held regularly under the leadership of the UNIFIL at its headquarters in southern Lebanon between Lebanese and Israeli officials, an essential mechanism for managing the conflict.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on October 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas's attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.
The United States is in a global competition with other nations for leadership in critical and emerging technologies. To succeed, we must protect the national treasures that will ensure America leads the world in such fields as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, advanced communications and biotechnology.

In this race to the top of innovation dominance, the United States has key strengths. A strong system of laws protecting property rights and private contract, a democratized system in which patent awards are based on merit, and penalties against intellectual property infringement together have helped make America a global innovation leader.

The legal apparatus in place to protect innovators, from rough sketch to patent to finished product to licensing deals, coupled with holding patent thieves accountable, are paramount for protecting America's culture of innovation and its place at the forefront in creating new technologies.

The democratization of U.S. patents ensures anyones bonafide invention can get a patent regardless of who the inventor is. This is how the little guy can attract investors and compete with established firms.

Our merit-based patent system is far superior to and more just than systems in which patent grants depend on some aspect of the applicants status. Recall that before women had the right to vote, American women could patent their inventions. Merit is central to our innovation framework.

Democratized patenting is bolstered by our democratic principles, embodied in the rule of law, property rights, economic freedom, ordered liberty and right to private contract.

These democratic foundation stones dont exist everywhere. Chinese national champion companies like Huawei enjoy decided advantages. The Chinese government subsidizes or owns such companies, sparing them from having to succeed in market competition.

Chinas judiciary and competition agencies tip the scales against Western firms. University of Southern California law professor Jonathan Barnett explains , Unconstrained by separation-of-powers or rule-of-law principles, [Peoples Republic of China} courts and regulators have implemented policies that tend to depress the royalty rates owed by local device producers to foreign chip suppliers and other holders of wireless technologies. . . . [This] distort[s] pricing in a global market representing billions of dollars annually in IP payment flows. This is mercantilism in the guise of competition law.

Both China and the European Union are pursuing government rate-setting regimes. These will strip value from cutting-edge innovationthe kind in which American innovators excel.

Last year, the EU proposed a government program to determine which patents are essential to a technological standard and to set an aggregate royalty rate that would supplant market-based rates. The EUs plan would harm all innovators, including European firms such as Ericsson and Nokia. Some European Commissioners have urged China to set up a patent price regulation program.

Chinese courts willingly sacrifice justice, the rule of law and fairness to benefit Chinese technology implementers. Late in 2023, a Chinese court set a royalty rate for standard-essential patent (SEP) owner Nokia in a case involving Chinese device maker Oppo. The Chinese-set royalty was lower than Nokia had won in an EU court. The Chinese court dictated its royalty rate would apply worldwide.

Some Americans favor weakening our patent system, SEPs and important U.S. institutions as the solution to our innovation competition challenges. That is short-sighted. They fail to understand the interrelations of Americas core democratic principles with the various facets of the patent system.

Worse, its government picking winners and loserssiding with those who implement cutting-edge innovations in their products over the risk-taking innovators who created those innovations and whose technological success the free market rewards.

Our innovation model incorporates American strengthsproperty rights, economic freedom, the rule of law and right of contractto foster the technological achievements that create wealth, new markets and economic opportunity for Americans.

By achieving such economic gains, our merit- and market-based, democratic innovation model is the key to our national security.

Changing the U.S. patent system from its merit and market basis to a government-run, anti-IP system would undermine the American model and erode our core strengths. This would not deter Chinese patent infringement or help America out-innovate Chinas favored firms; it would hinder American innovators and fetter American competitiveness.

Moreover, this foolhardy change would seriously risk U.S. economic security and our national security, both of which rely on innovation. Without maintaining our global technological leadership, which depends on our patent system, the United States would be hard pressed to compete technologically, economically or militarily.

In order to maintain U.S. leadership with innovation and patents, including SEPs, it is critical that we preserve our systems strengths: fairness, democratization and reliability.

Ed Martin is president of Phyllis Schlafly Eagles and of Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund.

James Edwards is executive director of Conservatives for Property Rights and patent policy advisor to Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund.
BRATTLEBORO  In response to a new state law, the town amended its billing policy just 23 days after it went into effect.

H.622 or Act 157, signed by the governor last month, includes an increase in reimbursement rates for EMS providers. Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland called the legislation "very important."

"Specifically, it affects people who are covered by Vermont Medicaid in particular instances where they are treated by EMS staff but not transported to the hospital," he said at the Select Board meeting last week.

Brattleboro developed its own EMS policy in February after the board decided on implementing a fire/EMS model. Brattleboro firefighters had worked alongside Golden Cross Ambulance personnel from July 2022 to June 2024 after contract disputes led the town to end its 56-year relationship with Rescue Inc., which prompted an exploration of different ways to proceed with the service.

Brattleboro is expected to respond to about 3,000 calls a year. About 2,000 tend to involve a transport, Moreland said.

Before the Select Board amended the town's policy in an unanimous vote last week, the non-transport billing rate stood at $110. Now, Brattleboro will charge $300 for the service.

Moreland said the move will allow the town to "take full advantage of this new legislation and increase the revenue within the department."

EMS billing policy established in Brattleboro BRATTLEBORO  As the fire department prepares to become fully responsible for emergency medi

According to the policy, the town will send out letters to patients for billing monthly for nine months.

"If it's a Brattleboro resident, we're going to consider their taxes to have paid the difference and we are going to write that off," Moreland said. "If it's somebody outside of Brattleboro who doesn't own property in town, we're going to send it to collections."

Board Chairman Daniel Quipp described the change as "fair and sensible," and one that will help taxpayers fund the service.
GARISSA, Kenya, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan security forces killed two al-Shabab militants while others escaped with injuries Saturday in a thwarted terrorist attack in eastern Kenya's Garissa County near the border with Somalia.

The police said in a security report released Saturday evening that its multi-agency security team acting on intelligence foiled the planned attack in Alango, along the Garissa-Dadaab road.

"The militants were at an advanced stage of the attack at a hideout in a forested area south of Alango waiting for an opportune moment to strike," the police said in the report.

The police said its security forces disrupted their plans, killing two al-Shabab militants on the spot while others escaped with injuries.

Among the items recovered from the hideout were two AK-47 rifles, seven magazines, and improvised explosive devices making materials and assorted food items.

Security teams are on the trail of the fleeing militants in the border region which has since suffered a series of terrorist attacks, the police said.

The police called on members of the public to share information with security officers on the injured suspects.

Kenya's northeastern region has borne the brunt of grenade and gun attacks in the last several years since Kenya took its troops to Somalia in 2011 to fight the al-Shabab militia group.

Many people, the majority of them non-locals, have as a result lost their lives with others left with permanent injuries.

The extremist group has since changed tactics and resorted to abductions and using improvised explosive devices to carry out attacks in parts of the Coast and northeastern regions, according to police. 
Sandy Garossino, the mother of Grimes, said in a series of unconfirmed social-media posts Saturday that Tesla CEO Elon Musk is "withholding" their children and didn't let them visit their ailing great-grandmother.

Musk and Grimes have been in a custody battle involving their three children. Representatives for Musk, Grimes and Garossino didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. For now, the details of the situation come from Garossino.

Writing on X, she said she had no other way to reach Musk other than posting on his platform, noting that her 93-year-old mother is at end-of-life care and wants to see her great-grandchildren one last time.

To celebrate their great-grandmother's birthday, the kids were supposed to visit her in Canada this weekend, but the trip was canceled, Garossino added.

"I am alarmed to learn that the children cannot come as you are withholding them and their needed passport documents from Claire," she wrote, referring to Grimes' given name. "It was even more troubling to see you and X on television at the Olympics in Paris yesterday, after your DC trip earlier in the week."

Garossino also asked Musk to "honour your agreement, return the children, and provide the documents they need to see their great grandmother before she passes."

She concluded her message by saying, "Please Elon, I beg you. This is so painful for my mother, and concerning for the kids. Time is of the essence now."

In addition to his three children with Grimes, Musk has nine other kids with other women, including ex-wife Justine Wilson and Shivon Zilis.

His estranged daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson highlighted Garossino's plea on her Threads account and blasted Musk for "keeping their children, her children, away from their mother during the most important developmental period in a childs life."

Days earlier, Wilson, who is transgender, described the billionaire as a cruel absentee parent in an interview with NBC News after her father said she was killed by the woke mind virus.

He was there, I want to say, maybe 10% of the time. Thats generous, she said, adding that during these periods, hed pressure her to appear more masculine.

I was in fourth grade. We went on this road trip that I didnt know was actually just an advertisement for one of the carsI dont remember which oneand he was constantly yelling at me viciously because my voice was too high, Wilson said. It was cruel.

After the interview, Grimes offered support for Wilson, tweeting on Thursday that "I love and am forever endlessly proud of Vivian."

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Tibetans say the demolition is another example of disregard for their culture and religion.

Two satellite images, one from Google Maxar on January 24, 2015, and another from Planet Labs on July 21, 2024, show the destruction of Atsok Gon Dechen Choekhorling Monastery in Dragkar county, Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in western China's Qinghai province.

Authorities have demolished a 19th-century Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the Tibetan area of Qinghai province to make way for a hydropower dam project, three sources with knowledge of the situation said.

A video shared exclusively with Radio Free Asia by a source who recorded it in early July shows that nothing remains of the religious structure, with the monasterys main prayer halls and the many stupas that surround it completely razed to the ground. RFA was able to independently verify the authenticity of the video with two sources from Tibet and in exile.

Authorities began relocating the Atsok Gon Dechen Choekhorling Monastery in Dragkar county, or Xinghai in Chinese, in April because they expect it to be submerged under water after the completion of the worlds tallest 3D-printed hydropower dam, two sources from the region told Radio Free Asia in a previous report.

The expansion of the Yangqu hydropower station on the Yellow River  known as the Machu River among Tibetans  was started in the province in 2022 and will be completed later this year.

The dams construction, Tibetans say, is yet another example of Beijings disregard for their culture, religion and environment, especially when it comes to Chinese government infrastructure projects.

The monasterys 160 monks now live in makeshift tin huts, though authorities said earlier that they would be relocated to alternative housing in Khokar Naglo near Palkha township, said the sources, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution.

But no such accommodation arrangements have been made, the sources said.

Though the monasterys three shrines are being housed in a nearby village, the government said it would take two to three years to rebuild the monastery, said one of the three sources.

However, only a few tens of thousands of Chinese yuan have been allocated for the reconstruction, with no additional funds planned, the same source said.

Authorities prohibited Tibetans from taking photos or recording videos of the destruction, which left no trace of the monasterys main hall made of rare and valuable slate, he added.

RELATED STORIES

Historic Tibetan Buddhist monastery is being moved to make way for dam

Tibetans forced to move to make way for Chinese power plant

China arrests more than 1,000 Tibetans protesting dam project

Tibetans believe that the monastery is sacred and has been made holier over 135 years of prayers and practice by generations.

The monks previously petitioned authorities to rescind relocation orders issued by Chinas National Development and Reform Commission, or NDRC, a Tibetan source told RFA in the earlier story.

But in April 2023 the governments Department of National Heritage declared that the artifacts and murals inside the monastery were of no significant value or importance and that the relocation would proceed, he said.

A view of the site of the former Atsok Gon Dechen Choekhorling Monastery, demolished to make way for a hydropower project in Dragkar county, Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in western China's Qinghai province, July 2024. (Image from citizen video)

Lu Gang, secretary of the State Party Committee of Qinghai provinces Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, called Hainan in Chinese, visited the Yangqu hydropower station site for an inspection on July 25, Chinese state media reported.

Lu said the station was a major project for the prefecture to build a national clean energy industry highland and told local authorities to ensure its gate closed completely when built to store water as scheduled for power generation.

With that work in the early stages, the construction of the relocated Atsok Monastery downstream and subsequent industrial development was still heavy and complicated, Lu said.

The focus of the work of Atsok [Monastery] should be shifted from demolition and relocation to construction and management, and a strong grassroots battle fortress should be built, he said.

We should take the initiative to move forward and coordinate to solve difficult problems, ensure that production and life are in order, and that Buddhist activities are carried out normally.

Additional reporting by Lobsang for RFA Tibetan. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi and edited by Tenzin Pema for RFA Tibetan. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Matt Reed.
BOR, Serbia -- For Suzana Jovanovic, a resident living near the edge of an old surface mine, life hasnt improved since a Chinese company took over the massive copper mining and smelting complex in 2018.

Thats when the state-owned Zijin Mining Group became a key partner in the mining venture on a pledge to invest $1.26 billion and improve environmental measures in return for a 63 percent stake.

The mining operation has grappled with concerns about its environmental impact and the health of nearby residents since it was operated by a state-run enterprise in Yugoslavia, and the promises by Zijin offered hope that things could change.

But Jovanovic says the situation hasnt improved and Zijin has opened new sites in the area on the back of an additional $3.8 billion investment announced in September 2023.

Theres so much dust everywhere, Jovanovic told RFE/RLs Balkan Service. We can barely go outside and we can barely open a window.

Jovanovic says that Sever, the neighborhood in Bor where shes lived since 1987, is one of the areas most affected by the mining operation. She says noise can be heard every day from a nearby strip of mines as clouds of dust spread over nearby settlements and pollute the air, something that a growing number of residents say is affecting their health and quality of life.

I have had three operations so far. I live on medication, says 86-year-old Roksanda Tasic, Jovanovics neighbor who believes that decades of pollution have endangered her health.

The complaints about pollution are the latest episode in the saga around the Bor mining operation since Zijin revived the venture six years ago with its ownership stake.

Since then, Zijin has been repeatedly fined by Serbian officials for pollution violations.

In April 2021, Zijin was ordered to temporarily halt work at the copper mine after it failed to comply with environmental standards and was ordered to build a wastewater treatment plant. The mining giant has also faced protests over its poor environmental record and accusations that it has been involved in untransparent deals to exploit Serbias comparatively weaker environmental laws.

Environmental groups have also accused Serbian authorities of turning a blind eye to pollution and health concerns stemming from the copper mine, which is boosting its output and expanding operations rapidly as value for the metal rises amid increased demand for the role it plays in the global energy transition away from fossil fuels.

Hearts, Minds, And Dirty Air

In the face of criticism from residents in Bor and other areas close to the mining complex, Zijin has defended its record.

In response to questions from RFE/RL about pollution concerns, the company said it has steadily reduced any harmful emissions from the mine and taken specific measures to better protect the environment.

A Zijin spokesperson also cited official data from the Serbian government on air quality from six measuring stations based in Bor that compare the concentration of arsenic in the air from 2016 to 2017 and 2023 and 2024.

The reports show that, compared to the measurements from 2016-17 before Zijin took over, the data from 2023-24 shows significant improvement.

After the smelter was equipped with the latest environmental protection technology and a major cleanup effort was carried out in 2023 and 2024, heavy metals in the air were significantly reduced," the spokesperson told RFE/RL.

Its unfair to expect Zijin copper to solve all the environmental problems that have accumulated over more than a century in just five years, the spokesperson added, noting that other factors such as continuous fires at city landfills and exhaust from vehicles contribute to the polluted air.

Zijin has been active in improving its reputation in Serbian media and within local communities.

In comments to the media, the Serbian government has praised the Chinese companys role in rejuvenating the country's mining industry and creating jobs. Zijin has also moved to repair its damaged image with disaffected communities by funding local sporting teams and tournaments.

The companys PR strategy has also become more assertive and forward-leaning by investing in cultural and educational outreach activities in recent years in the face of attempts by local activists and residents to block access roads to mining sites.

Zijin also says it has invested more than $100 million in upgrading the equipment to improve air pollution caused by excessive sulfur dioxide.

Serbias Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) did not respond to RFE/RL's questions about air quality in Bor, but the organization said in a June 22 press release that air quality has improved in 2024 compared to last year.

In the same statement, SEPA said the Serbian government has invested more than 500 million euros ($542 million) over the last six years to improve the air quality around the country and announced new plans to launch 40 related projects across Serbia.

Local Pushback And Cancer Fears

Despite the data cited by Zijin and Serbian government agencies, some residents in Bor remain unconvinced.

Toplica Marjanovic, who has been regularly monitoring official data on the level of air pollution in Bor for years through his role in heading the local chapter of the Society of Young Researchers, warns that toxins are still being emitted at the mining operation.

Marjanovic says that -- while sulfur-dioxide levels in the air are dropping due to a new smelter plant and a factory that uses sulfuric acid as part of the refining process -- this change has resulted in new harmful chemicals being put into the environment.

He adds that there has been a significant increase in the concentration of arsenic and other heavy metals, especially cadmium, in Bor since April 2023 around the time the new factory began operations.

Marjanovic says he bases these claims on official reports on local air-quality monitoring, which are published every month on the city of Bor's website.

In 2023, we had two days that exceeded lead concentration at one of the measuring points in the city, Marjanovic told RFE/RL. The average annual concentration of cadmium was almost double the permissible values at one measuring point, while arsenic at the same location increased as much as six times.

Arsenic, cadmium, and other heavy metals are known to cause cancer and pose other serious health risks, according to the World Health Organization.

Marjanovic also claims that Zijin is selectively picking data to provide a better snapshot of the air quality situation than is really the case, noting that the company did not share data from 2018 to 2021 when it was using a reconstructed smelter at the mining complex.

He adds that Zijin also did not mention the concentration of cadmium in its public comments. According to official figures, the concentration of that heavy metal is increasing and has even hit double the acceptable limit at one of the citys six measuring stations.

With the increase in the capacity of the smelter and the import of more concentrate, the level of arsenic has been increasing since 2018, Marjanovic said. And there is especially a large increase in the concentration of cadmium at all measuring points.

Written by Reid Standish in Prague based on reporting by RFE/RL Balkan Service correspondent Branko Pesic in Bor.
One year ago, Hamas -- the U.S.- and EU-designated Palestinian terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip -- carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel, the deadliest in the countrys history.

In response, Israel launched an aerial bombardment and ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave to destroy Hamas and rescue the 251 hostages taken by the group.

Israel has expanded its war in recent weeks by invading Lebanon and launching air strikes targeting Hezbollah, the armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon.

RFE/RL spoke to Lior Yohanani, manager of quantitative research at the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based independent research center, which on October 7 released a wide-ranging survey of Israeli public opinion after one year of war.

RFE/RL: Can you explain what your study found as to how Israelis view the past year since Hamas's October 7 attack?



Lior Yohanani: Well, I think Israelis still don't see October 7 as an event that's over. Sure, the actual horrific events of that day ended, but Israelis are still living with the consequences.

There are two main aspects to this. First, since October 7, Israel has been in this multifront war that doesn't seem to have an end in sight. And then, of course, there is the issue of the hostages still being held in Gaza. So, we're seeing a sharp drop in people's sense of personal security. Almost three quarters of the public feel less safe compared to before October 7, and that's despite a year of war and some significant military achievements. On the flip side, we're also seeing that most people say their lives have returned to normal when it comes to things like work, media consumption, and family and social gatherings.

Another thing we're noticing is that the Israeli public is giving pretty low marks to all the political and military leaders for the performance since October 7. For example, almost two-thirds of Israelis are rating Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu's performance since then as poor or not good.

RFE/RL: How has Israel's involvement in a two-front conflict, in both Gaza and Lebanon, as well as a confrontation with Iran affected public opinion among Israelis?



Yohanani: It's tough to answer that question, because we're at the point where things could go in a few different directions. In the last few weeks, we've seen a major escalation in the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and just last week, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, which Israel is expected to respond to. In a survey we just did recently, we asked whether Israeli society and the military could handle fighting on two or more fronts for an extended period of time, and the results were pretty striking. Over 70 percent believe that yes, both Israeli society and the military can handle that kind of prolonged fighting. So, while the situation is complex and evolving, there seems to be a strong sense of resilience and capability among Israelis, even in the face of these multiple threats. But of course, public opinion could shift depending on how events unfold in the coming weeks or months.



RFE/RL: Is there support for Netanyahus response to October 7? Is there debate in Israeli society, as well as political circles, over Netanyahus strategic choices?



Yohanani: First of all, it's important to say that the Israeli public has largely supported significant military operation against Hamas in Gaza. That said, the Israeli discourse around the October 7 events, the ongoing war, and especially toward Prime Minister Netanyahu, is very polarized between right-wing supporters on the one hand and left and center supporters on the other.

People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term."

So, on the left and the center, there is a high level of distrust and suspicion toward Netanyahu and his government. For instance, Netanyahu's apparent reluctance to pursue a deal for returning the hostages in exchange for ending the fighting in Gaza is seen by large parts of the public, even on the right, as resulting from Netanyahu's dependence on far-right, ultranationalist members of his government who refuse any compromise or ceasefire.

Now for a long time, Netanyahu and his ministers argued that only significant military force would lead Hamas to compromise and release the hostages. Now, with military attention and resources shifting to the north, people are asking, where is this massive military force that was supposed to bring the hostages home?

One question we have asked several times since October 7 in our polls is what should be the main goal in Gaza: Dismantling Hamas or bringing back the hostages? And as time goes on, public opinion is increasingly supporting the return of hostages. In our current survey, 62 percent saw bringing the bringing back the hostages as Israel's main goal, while only 29 percent pointed to dismantling Hamas as the primary objective.

RFE/RL: How do ordinary Israelis see the question of the remaining hostages amid the continued protests by the hostages' families?



Yohanani: As I mentioned before, most of the public supports a deal to release the hostages, even if it means ending the war and withdrawing the military forces from Gaza. There's this widespread feeling that we've left the hostages behind, and that's really hitting at our sense of solidarity, which is a deep and fundamental value, I think, in Jewish history in general and in Israel society in particular.

At the same time, the campaign run by the Hostages And Missing Families Forum has become very politicized. Many right-wing supporters see it as weakening Israel. As time goes on, we're seeing more and more harassment of protesters who support bringing the hostages back. There are cases of passersby cursing, even hitting and throwing eggs, at hostages' families. In our latest survey, we asked about the effectiveness of the protests and actions taken by the hostages' families.

Despite most of the public feeling empathetic toward the hostage issue, only less than a third think these actions are actually helping to advance a deal for the hostages' release, while almost 40 percent think they're actually hurting the cause. So, you've got this complex situation where people want the hostages back, but there is disagreement and some backlash about how to make that happen.

RFE/RL: Can you explain the reasons behind the apparent contradiction in views regarding prioritizing a negotiated return of the hostages, or destroying Hamas?

Yohanani: You're right to point out that apparent contradiction. Let me break it down a bit. As I mentioned earlier, a clear majority of the public sees a deal to release the hostages as the main goal. But there is a big gap between political camps on this issue. In the center and left, about 80 percent support the deal for the hostages' release, while the opinions on the right are evenly split. So, for most of the left and center, the fighting in Gaza has run its course. They feel most military objectives have been achieved, and Hamas's military power has been significantly weakened. From their perspective, continuing the fight now only puts the hostages at greater risk.

It's important to know that about half of the right-wing also shares this view of prioritizing the hostages' release, but the other half of those on the far-right thinks dismantling Hamas is more important.

Why? For a couple of reasons.

First, there's a security stance that Hamas must be wiped out and not allowed to recover. There is also a very strong sentiment of revenge, with minimal consideration for the cost, whether it's the lives of the hostages, soldiers, let alone innocent civilians in Gaza. Another significant component openly discussed in religious nationalist circles is the return of Jewish settlement to the Gaza Strip after Israel evacuated Jewish settlements from there in 2005.

RFE/RL: Is there public confidence that Israel will ultimately be able to remove the threat of Hamas and Hezbollah and come out of this conflict with greater prospects for a peaceful and stable near-term future?



Yohanani: Right now, the Israeli public isn't showing a lot of optimism. In our current survey, when we asked people if they're optimistic or pessimistic about Israel's future, we found more pessimists, 48 percent, than optimists, 45 percent.

I also think it's important to note that a peaceful future, as you put it, or peace in general, isn't really a common concept in the current Israeli discourse. I would say the hope of Israelis is that the military actions against Hezbollah and Iran will lead to a situation where Israel's existence isn't in question, and that Israeli military superiority will prevent events like October 7 from happening again. So, it's less about peace in the traditional sense, and more about security and deterrence. People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term.
Israel has claimed that the successor to slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has likely been "eliminated," while U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris called Tehran the greatest adversary of the United States.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on October 8 said that Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon, was an "organization without a head."

"Nasrallah was eliminated -- his replacement was probably also eliminated," Gallant told officers at the military's northern command center without providing details.

"There's no one to make decisions, no one to act," he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later echoed those comments, saying, "We've degraded Hezbollah's capabilities."

"We took out thousands of terrorists, including Nasrallah himself and Nasrallah's replacement, and the replacement of the replacement," Netanyahu said.

Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union blacklists its armed wing but not its political party. Hezbollahs political party has seats in the Lebanese parliament.

Hashem Safieddine, a top Hezbollah official and a cousin of Nasrallah, was widely expected to be named to the group's top position, but his whereabouts and condition are a mystery since an Israeli strike hit a suspected Hezbollah leadership meeting on October 2.

Hezbollah has not commented on Safieddine's fate, although unidentified members have told various media that the group had lost contact with him since the attack.

Safieddine has been declared a global terrorist by the United States.

Meanwhile, Harris told CBS TV's 60 Minutes program in an interview that she considered Iran to be the greatest adversary of the United States.

"Iran has American blood on their hands," she said. "And what we saw in terms of just this attack on Israel, 200 ballistic missiles, what we need to do to ensure that Iran never achieves the ability to be a nuclear power -- that is one of my highest priorities."

Harris -- the Democratic presidential nominee who will face Republican Donald Trump in the November 5 election -- declined to speculate on whether the United States would take military action itself should proof be uncovered that Iran is building a nuclear weapon.

Tehran has denied it is building such weapons and says its nuclear program is for civilian purposes.

The comments came as the battered and bloodied leadership of Hezbollah suggested it might be ready to negotiate a cease-fire with Israel

Deputy leader Naim Qassem, in a televised speech, for the first time did not suggest that ending the war in Gaza was a precondition to reaching a truce with Israel in Lebanon.

Qassem said the group backed an effort by Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, to reach a deal to halt the fighting.

Late on October 8, the Syrian government said that seven civilians were killed in an Israeli air strike in Damascus. A war monitor said the strike targeted a building used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah.

Israel did not immediately comment and the reports could not be verified.



The Israeli military said earlier on October 8 that it had killed another senior Hezbollah commander, a day after marking the somber anniversary of a Hamas attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people.

Suhail Husseini, who was responsible for overseeing the logistics, budget, and management of Hezbollah, was killed in a targeted attack on October 7, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.

"Husseini played a crucial role in weapon transfers between Iran and Hezbollah," the statement said, adding that he was also in charge of distributing advanced weapons to the group's members and for its "most sensitive projects" that included operations against Israel.

The IDF said Husseini was also a member of the Jihad Council, the supreme military body of Hezbollah.

There was no immediate confirmation from Hezbollah.

The Israeli announcement came after Palestinian militants in Gaza fired a barrage of rockets on October 7 into Israel, where President Isaac Herzog led a national moment of silence to mark the start of last year's Hamas attack, which started at Kibbutz Reim in the south of the country.

Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union.

In Washington on October 7, President Joe Biden condemned Hamas on the anniversary, while also stating again the U.S. administration's commitment to reaching cease-fire agreements to end fighting in both Gaza and Lebanon.

"On this solemn anniversary, let us bear witness to the unspeakable brutality of the October 7 attacks but also to the beauty of the lives that were stolen that day," Biden said in a statement.

In Jerusalem, relatives of the some 100 hostages still in Hamas captivity, out of a total of 250, gathered outside Netanyahu's residence and stood in silence as a siren wailed in a gesture of protest against what relatives say is the failure of the government to secure their loved ones' release.

The conflict in Gaza is still raging while Israel is now fighting on a second front in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah.



Following the October 7 attack, Israel launched a military assault on Gaza that has killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas. Some 90 percent of the population of Gaza has been displaced and large areas have been destroyed by Israeli bombardments.



The Israeli military said on October 7 that over the past year it has bombed more than 40,000 targets in Gaza, found 4,700 tunnel shafts and destroyed 1,000 rocket launcher sites.

Israel in recent weeks has been carrying out air strikes across Lebanon, including Beirut, and has staged a ground invasion into south Lebanon in its drive to wipe out Hezbollah's capabilities and leadership.

In the attacks, Israel killed Hezbollah leader Nasrallah and dozens of other leaders of the group.

On October 6, two senior Iranian security officials told Reuters that Ismail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force -- the overseas arm of the IRGC -- had also not been heard from in recent days since traveling to Lebanon.

Tel Avivs campaign against Hezbollah prompted Iran to respond by attacking Israel with a large wave of rockets that were largely shot down by Israeli air defenses without causing substantial damage, but the attack renewed fears of a larger regional conflict.

Gallant on October 6 threatened Iran that it might eventually find itself looking like Beirut or Gaza -- which has also been battered over the past year -- if Tehran attempts to further harm Israel.

With reporting by CBS and AP
Armed groups in Malis predominantly Tuareg north say they have killed or wounded dozens of government soldiers and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group in two days of fighting near the border with Algeria.

The rebel movement, the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development (CSP-PSD), said in a statement on July 27 that it had seized armored vehicles, trucks and tankers in the fighting in Tinzaouaten, a border town, on July 25 and 26.

The Malian Army said in statements that two soldiers had been killed and 10 injured in a rebel attack, which also disabled two armored vehicles and two pickup trucks. The army claimed its troops killed approximately 20 rebels and destroyed several vehicles.

On social media, amateur videos showed the lifeless bodies of several white men and Malian soldiers scattered on the ground alongside destroyed vehicles.

Several Russian military bloggers said on July 28 that at least 20 from the Wagner group were killed in an ambush near the Algerian border.

"Employees of the Wagner PMC (Group), who were moving in a convoy with government troops, were killed in Mali...Some were captured," said a prominent Russian military blogger Semyon Pegov, who uses the name War Gonzo.

The Baza Telegram news channel, which has links to Russia's security structures, reported that at least 20 Wagner fighters have been killed.

Wagner was involved in some of the fiercest fighting of Russia's war in Ukraine, but its fate was put into question when its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash in August 2023, two months after leading a brief mutiny against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mali, where military authorities seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, is battling a years-long Islamist insurgency. It has said Russian forces there are not Wagner mercenaries but trainers helping local troops with equipment bought from Russia.

With reporting by AP and Reuters
THE US Navys newest battleship was officially christened on Saturday in honour of a young man who received his early education in West Roscommon.

The US navy named its latest battleship after Lance Cpl Patrick Gallagher who was educated at Granlahan NS. The naming ceremony was shown live at the school on Saturday last.

The naming of USS Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127) was marked by the attendance of Patrick Gallagher's sisters Teresa Gallagher Keegan, Rosemarie Gallagher and Pauline Gallagher, who broke their bottles of sparkling wine on the ship. They were accompanied in the bottle break by their brother Peter Gallagher.

The US Naval warship has been named after Lance Cpl Patrick Gallagher.

The US Navy said that the USS Patrick Gallagher will serve, protect and inspire her sailors long into the future as she carries out DDG 127's motto: "Life is for living, be brave and be bold."

The naming ceremony took place in dry dock at the Bath Iron Works shipyard in Maine, US.

Patrick Bob Gallagher grew up on the Mayo/Roscommon border near Ballyhaunis and was killed while serving in the US Marine Corps at the age of 23.

The ceremony heard tributes from senior US military officers and the Gallagher family to Lance Corporal Patrick Bob Gallagher, who was described as a "a true Marine" who exemplifies the highest ideals of both America and Ireland.

Born in 1944, Patrick attended national school in Granlahan and later Ballyhaunis Vocational School before emigrating to the United States in 1962.

Patrick Gallagher's family were present for the naming ceremony in the US on Saturday. Pic. USS Patrick Gallagher - DDG 127

He initially stayed with his aunt, May, and began working in real estate before enlisting in the US Marine Corps.

He was deployed to Vietnam, where he was awarded the Navy Cross for kicking away an enemy grenade and jumping on another during an ambush. The grenade detonated after he tossed it a safe distance away, sparing the lives of his fellow troops.

On March 13th, 1967, just days before his tour of Vietnam was to finish, Lance Cpl Gallagher was killed along with several other Marines during a patrol for which he had volunteered.

His story later appeared in the Irish Times, which inspired a petition to the US Navy to have a ship named after him to honour his legacy.

Following support from US Senator Chuck Schumer among others, US Secretary of the Navy, Richard Spencer, confirmed in March 2018 that the new DDG-127 would be named the USS Patrick Gallagher in his honour.

Members of the Gallagher family, serving members of the US Navy and veterans were among the large crowd who gathered to witness Patricks sisters perform the christening of the ship named in his honour.

The huge attendance at the naming ceremony. Pic. Pic.USS Patrick Gallagher - DDG 127

Addressing the ceremony, Patricks sister, Teresa, described her brother as a kind, loving, fun-loving person that I looked up to.

She told the gathering that it was very clear that Bob was born to be a marine and was extremely proud of his adopted country.

When I think of Bob, I dont think of the war hero that we are celebrating here today, although I am very, very proud of my brother. I think of my older brother as a kind, loving, fun-loving person that I looked up to, said Teresa.

I think of all the things he could have done, the person he would have been today. I think of all he has missed out and how much the world has missed him.

While living in the US, Patrick regularly wrote home to Ireland inquiring about his family, but initially kept his military service from them.

In March 1966, he returned home for three weeks before returning to the US and travelling directly to Vietnam. It was the last time he would ever see his family.

I often think how it must feel for him to travel two and a half hours from Ballyhaunis to Shannon knowing where he was going and what he was facing and that he may never see his beloved Mayo again, added Teresa.

Assistant Commandant Of The Marine Corps, General Christopher Mahoney, described Lance Cpl Gallagher as a true Marine.

Minister Sean Fleming TD, who is Irelands Minister for the Diaspora and Overseas Development, who attended on behalf of the Irish government, thanked the family of Lance Cpl Gallagher and all those who had campaigned to have the new ship named in his honour.

Minister Fleming described Lance Cpl Gallagher as an extraordinary Irish American who exemplified the values of the Irish diaspora.

Pauline Gallagher, another sister of Lance Cpl Gallagher, said she hoped that the USS Patrick Gallagher would one day visit Ireland.

On that day we will gather on that western shore, with all those people who have kept Patricks memory alive, and when we see this fine vessel on the horizon, a loud cheer will be heard as the Patrick Gallagher will be coming home, she said.

Patrick, who was born at Derrigtogher, near Ballyhaunis was the second eldest of a family of nine children. He emigrated to America in 1962.

He joined the American military, and he was shipped out to Vietnam  where he served as a lance corporal with the H Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 4th Marine Regiment.

At the age of 22, he was awarded the prestigious Navy Cross medal for his extreme selflessness and bravery when his position near Cam Lo was attacked by North Vietnamese troops on July 18th, 1966.

Early that morning, a North Vietnamese soldier lobbed a grenade in his defensive position.

Gallagher kicked it out and it exploded a safe distance away, not wounding him or his comrades.

However, seconds later another grenade was thrown into his trench, this time landing right between two of his comrades.

Without hesitation, the young Gallagher threw himself on the grenade.

Incredibly, the grenade didnt detonate. Afterwards his squad leader ordered him to throw it into a barrel of water where it immediately went off. Again, it was a miracle that nobody was injured or killed.

Patrick died the following year when he was killed during a firefight with enemy troops near De Nang.

The citation announcing the naming of the new guided missile destroyer read: Lance Corporal Gallagher is an American hero. His exemplary service in defence of our nation, his strength, and his sacrifice, leaves an example for all servicemen and women to emulate His legacy will live on in the future USS Gallagher, and his heroic actions will continue to inspire future sailors and marines.
Home Depot (NYSE: HD) might be seen as one of the most mundane stocks out there today. Unlike more exciting opportunities in technology or healthcare, Home Depot is mostly viewed as a brick-and-mortar retail outlet specializing in home improvement products.

Despite its humble profile, however, investors might be shocked to learn that owning Home Depot stock has helped many attain generational wealth. An investment of just $1,000 at the time of Home Depot's initial public offering (IPO) in 1981 would now be worth $17.5 million.

The trade-off here is that in order to reap these gains, you'd have been required to hold onto Home Depot stock for about four decades.

I recently listened to an episode of a podcast called American Optimist, hosted by Palantir co-founder and venture capitalist Joe Lonsdale.

During the podcast, Lonsdale interviewed one of Home Depot's co-founders, Ken Langone. Today, Langone is primarily known for his charitable contributions. However, during his discussion on American Optimist, Langone revealed some eye-opening insights into his investment philosophy.

Let's take a look at Langone's outlooks on investing, and explore ways that even the smallest of investors can mimic his success and build long-term, sustainable wealth.

Loyalty and patience

One of Langone's largest investments is in pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. Lilly has a rich history of drug development, including medicines such as Cialis, Prozac, and Verzenio.

Today, Lilly is a major player in the diabetes and obesity care markets through its treatments Mounjaro and Zepbound. Moreover, the company recently gained approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Alzheimer's treatment, donanemab.

Langone has a long and detailed history with Eli Lilly. Before Home Depot, Langone had been involved with a medical devices company called IVAC Corp. In 1977, he sold IVAC to Eli Lilly and took stock as part of the negotiation. Some 47 years later, he's still a shareholder.

The big question is, how did he exercise such supreme patience over this time duration?

Langone shared that two qualities that work well for him in investing are loyalty and patience. Specifically, Langone believes in getting to know management teams on a personal level and understanding leadership's vision.

While most investors don't have the same access to corporate executives as Langone, a good proxy to getting to know a management team is to watch interviews of C-suite executives, listen to earnings calls, and even email investor relations personnel if you have a question.

Story continues

If you're able to get a concrete idea of how management thinks and where they want to take the company over the long run, it becomes a lot easier to hold onto a stock for many years as opposed to panic selling at the first sign of turbulence.

For this reason, it's not difficult to see why Langone's average holding period for an investment is 42 years. He's constantly thinking about the long run, and his belief in getting to know management on a personal level and assessing their loyalty to shareholders and employees has clearly been a benefit over time.

Image source: Getty Images.

Pay it forward

Another aspect that Langone spoke about was the idea of paying it forward in an effort to build employee morale.

Ken co-founded Home Depot and helped grow it into a $400B company. But he's most proud of the 3,000 employees who started pushing shopping carts and are now multimillionaires.



Only in America, as Ken would say.



Full episode: https://t.co/HAWolTat1r pic.twitter.com/lgjC1Jkys1 -- American Optimist (@AmOptimistShow) July 3, 2024

These words might sound like common sense in the era of Glassdoor ratings and stock-based compensation. But many people still feel unenthused about their job or employer.

Langone makes it clear that when Home Depot was founded, he made sure to spread the equity around to the employee base -- regardless of their seniority.

It's not always easy to tell how management is sharing the wealth. But there is a way to see if top executives are getting paid even if shareholders aren't. When assessing an investment opportunity, it's probably a good idea to review a company's SEC filings, particularly the proxy statement (SEC form 14A). That will show you much the management team and board of directors are compensated.

If executive salaries and equity packages continue to rise in the face of consistent negative shareholder returns or highly publicized negative media coverage, it's likely that management's interests aren't aligned with their shareholders or employees. In the long run, these dynamics can lead to brand deterioration and a waning investor base.

The bottom line

The big takeaway from Langone's philosophies is that intangible qualities such as patience, loyalty, and employee morale are just as important as more tangible or measurable items such as financial metrics and key performance indicators.

I think investors looking to build wealth ought to give some thought into the people they are investing in, and not just the individual stocks.

Should you invest $1,000 in Home Depot right now?

Before you buy stock in Home Depot, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Home Depot wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $692,784!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of July 22, 2024

Adam Spatacco has positions in Eli Lilly. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Home Depot. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Home Depot Stock Turned $1,000 Into $17.5 Million, and One of Its Founders Just Revealed His Investing Secrets to Achieve Generational Wealth was originally published by The Motley Fool
If youre at a loose end this summer, searching for something to do or a place to take visitors, I highly recommend the National Museum of Ireland at Turlough, just a few miles outside Castlebar. This museum, dedicated to country life, offers a fascinating glimpse into how we Irish lived "in the olden days." I recently paid a visit and was once again impressed by its engaging exhibitions.

Ive been to the museum a few times and always find the exhibits captivating. Previously, I explored the "Preserving the Peace" exhibition, which delved into the history of policing in Ireland over the past 200 years, and another that highlighted the transformative impact of rural electrification. This time, I visited the "Murmur of Bees" exhibition, which focused on the critical role of bees and their historical significance in Ireland.

I dont know if Ive mentioned my beekeeping hobby in this column before, but its something Ive been doing for a few years now. I got into it about four years ago. When I say "got into it," I mean I bought a hive and some bees and jumped right into the world of beekeeping. I suppose you could call me a bee farmer.

Beekeeping is, without a doubt, one of the most relaxing pastimes Ive ever experienced. Theres something incredibly soothing about the gentle hum of bees and their numbers, which seems to melt away the stresses of everyday life. Its no surprise that Yeats wrote, Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee, And live alone in the bee-loud glade. And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow. Even in Yeats' time, the presence of bees was associated with tranquillity, though their sting, of course, tells a different tale.

So, what inspired me to start beekeeping? About 16 or 17 years ago, Roscommon VEC offered a course at the Vocational School in Lisnamult in collaboration with the Suck Valley Beekeepers. I attended the course, learned the basics of beekeeping, built a hive and a super, and prepared myself. However, it wasnt until about 12 years later that I took the plunge.

Currently, I have four hives. Unfortunately, this year doesnt seem to be a bumper one for my honey production. One hive appears to be thriving, but the others are less productive. I plan to leave whatever honey theyve produced for their use over the winter, hoping to have four strong hives ready for 2025.

In recent years, there has been much discussion about the importance of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Their crucial role in our ecosystem is well-documented, and I decided to give beekeeping a try. As Ive delved deeper into the world of bees, Ive learned more about their historical significance in Irish life over the past two to three thousand years.

Did you know theres a patron saint of bees and beekeepers? St. Gobnait of Ballyvourney, County Cork, is celebrated in Irish folklore for her interactions with bees. One tale recounts how an invading chief and his army planned to plunder Ballyvourney. Gobnait, wielding a beehive, prayed for assistance and released the bees. The bees stung the marauders so severely that they fled, and Gobnaits hive returned to making honey. Interestingly, the name Gobnait is believed to derive from the Hebrew Deborah, which means honey-bee.

In Irish, the word for honey is "meala," and "Mi na meala," or "the month of honey," refers to the period following a wedding. Newlyweds traditionally celebrate with mead, a fermented honey brew, and are given enough to last for a month, along with special goblets. This tradition, where the term "honeymoon" originates, is thought to ensure a good start to the marriage and enhance fertility and virility.

The great thing about bees is the amount of good they do. Theyre the most important pollinator of crops and native plant species in Ireland. They are a key component of our wildlife and one of the busiest, least appreciated workforces we have. Additionally, they give us the sweetest, most natural food that exists, and they charge us nothing for itbar maybe an odd sting!

Bees also have a rich cultural and historical significance. In ancient Irish society, honey was more than just a sweet treat; it was a symbol of abundance and prosperity. Mead, made from fermented honey, was a popular beverage in medieval Ireland, enjoyed during feasts and celebrations. It was believed to have healing properties and was often used in rituals and ceremonies.

So, the next time you find yourself with some free time, consider a trip to the National Museum of Ireland in Turlough. Youll discover more than just the history of country lifeyoull uncover the stories of the bees that have been an essential part of our world for centuries. And who knows? You might just be inspired to become a bee farmer yourself.
Armaan Malik and Sai Ketan Rao believe 'Shivani Kumari evicted because of Sana Makbul'

Shivani Kumari was announced as the first evicted

The latest episode of Bigg Boss OTT3 on July 27 was an emotional rollercoaster for the housemates as the episode featured a double eviction that took everyone by surprise. Bollywood diva Janhvi Kapoor made a special appearance to promote the show, and she interacted with the housemates, giving them a fun task. Janhvi asked the housemates which contestant theyd least like to meet outside the house. Naezy impressed her with an impromptu rap, which left Janhvi thoroughly impressed. She wished the contestants well before departing.

Later, Anil Kapoor took to the stage and asked Ranvir Shorey to bring out the ballot and count the votes. After tallying the votes from the housemates, Shivani Kumari was announced as the first evictee. She left the house in tears, apologizing to everyone if she had done anything wrong.

Advertisement

Anil Kapoor returned to reveal that Shivani wasnt the only one leaving; there was a double eviction. Vishal Pandey was also evicted, which sent Lovekesh into a fit of tears he couldn't control. Sana Makbul also broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

After Vishal's departure, the housemates tried to comfort Sana and Lovekesh. Sana expressed her guilt over Shivani's eviction and was further distressed by Vishal's departure.

Armaan Malik and Sai Ketan Rao discussed Sanas role in Shivani's eviction. While Armaan went to console Sana, Sai remained distant, with Kritika urging him to join the others. Sai, however, expressed his distrust of Sana, saying, "I dont trust her at all."
Centre to buy all masur, urad, tur dal produced by farmers

He added that the government will handle the procurement through the e-Samridhi platform,

Shivraj Singh Chouhan News: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday said that the Central Government will buy the entire output of tur, urad, and masur dal produced by the farmers.

He added that the government will handle the procurement through the e-Samridhi platform, which requires farmers to register.

Advertisement

In response to a supplementary question in the Rajya Sabha, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the government will purchase all tur, urad, and masur dal produced by farmers.

The minister further noted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the government has achieved the highest level of procurement from farmers under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme.

Chouhan referred to data from the previous UPA government, stating that between 2003-04 and 2013-14, only 45 crore metric tonnes were procured under the Minimum Support Price (MSP). In contrast, the current NDA government has purchased a total of 69.18 crore metric tonnes from 2014-15 to 2023-24, he said.

Advertisement

He accused the opposition of engaging in politics and noted that the Swaminathan Committee had recommended a 50 percent profit margin for farmers over their costs. However, he claimed that it was the UPA government that chose to ignore this recommendation.

Citing a cabinet note from the previous Manmohan Singh government, Chouhan highlighted that it rejected the Swaminathan Commission's suggestions, arguing that linking MSP directly to the cost of production would distort the market.

(For more news apart from Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
From Independence Day, to Rakshabandhan, Here's Full List of Bank Holidays in August 2024

As we enter the last week of July, lets have a look at the bank holidays for August 2024

Bank Holidays in August 2024 Full list: As we enter the last week of July, lets have a look at the bank holidays for August 2024. Heres a list of the bank holidays in the coming month.

In addition to festivals and national holidays, August will also include two Saturdays and four Sundays as non-working days, along with various regional and religious celebrations.

Advertisement

Customers should be aware that bank holidays can vary from state to state in India. Its advisable to check with your local bank branch for their specific holiday schedule to stay informed.

August 2024 has at least nine non-working days, including weekends. Notably, there is a long weekend at the end of the month, so be sure to plan your bank visits accordingly. Below is the full list of holidays for both public and private banks:

Full List of Bank Holidays in August 2024

Advertisement

August 4 - Sunday - National

August 10 - second Saturday - National

August 11 - Sunday - National

August 15 - Independence Day / Parsi New Year - National

August 18 - Sunday - National

August 19 - Rakhi - Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana

August 24 - fourth Saturday - National

August 25 - Sunday - National

August 26 - Krishna Janmabhoomi - Most States

(For more news apart from Full List of Bank Holidays in August 2024, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Thailand is on Monday scheduled to release June figures for industrial production, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

Industrial production is expected to slip 1.35 percent on year after slumping 1.54 percent in the previous month.

Indonesia will see June results for foreign direct investment; in May, FDI was up 15.50 percent on year.

Finally, the in Thailand are closed on Monday in honor of King Maha's birthday and will re-open on Tuesday.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
BENGALURU (Reuters) - India's markets regulator on Friday barred business tycoon Vijay Mallya from trading in the country's securities market and from associating with any listed company for three years.

The Indian government has been trying to extradite Mallya, 68, who lives in Britain, to face charges of fraud resulting from the collapse of his defunct company Kingfisher Airlines.

Mallya, who also co-owned the Formula One motor racing team Force India until 2019, has denied all wrongdoing.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India said on Friday that the tycoon's "existing holding of securities including the holding of units of mutual funds... shall remain frozen".

Mallya owns an 8.1% stake in Kingfisher beer-maker United Breweries, per exchange data, and is the company's chairman. He also owns a 0.01% stake in Smirnoff vodka-maker United Spirits.

(Reporting by Varun Hebbalalu in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)
Amidst a backdrop of mixed global market performances, Hong Kong's small-cap sector presents unique opportunities. As broader indices like the Russell 2000 show modest gains, understanding the intrinsic qualities that contribute to a stock being undervalued becomes crucial in todays dynamic economic environment.

Top 10 Undervalued Small Caps With Insider Buying In Hong Kong

Name PE PS Discount to Fair Value Value Rating Ferretti 11.1x 0.8x 46.23%  Ever Sunshine Services Group 5.7x 0.4x 21.25%  Wasion Holdings 10.8x 0.8x 35.45%  Kinetic Development Group 3.9x 1.7x 21.88%  Nissin Foods 14.3x 1.3x 41.66%  China Leon Inspection Holding 9.9x 0.7x 27.19%  Transport International Holdings 11.6x 0.6x 44.07%  Skyworth Group 5.6x 0.1x -308.43%  Shenzhen International Holdings 8.0x 0.7x 14.72%  Jinke Smart Services Group NA 0.8x 37.52% 

Click here to see the full list of 16 stocks from our Undervalued SEHK Small Caps With Insider Buying screener.

Let's take a closer look at a couple of our picks from the screened companies.

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Shenzhen International Holdings operates in logistics, including parks and services, port-related services, toll roads, and environmental protection businesses.

Operations: The company's gross profit margin has shown variability over the observed periods, ranging from 26.70% to 39.76%, reflecting changes in cost of goods sold and revenue dynamics. Notably, the net income margin also fluctuated, indicating shifts in operational efficiency and non-operating expenses influence.

PE: 8.0x

Shenzhen International Holdings, often spotlighted for its potential in the Hong Kong small-cap sector, recently underscored insider confidence with a significant purchase by Zhengyu Liu, who acquired 693,000 shares. This move in July 2024 reflects a robust belief in the company's prospects amidst financial challenges like debt not being well covered by operating cash flow. Additionally, recent board changes and strategic investments hint at a dynamic approach to governance and expansion. The company's decision to pay dividends partially via Scrip Shares also suggests an innovative financial strategy aimed at maintaining liquidity while rewarding shareholders.

SEHK:152 Share price vs Value as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Wasion Holdings is a company engaged in the manufacturing and sale of advanced metering products, with operations spanning power, communication, and fluid metering infrastructure, boasting a market capitalization of approximately CN4.37 billion.

Story continues

Operations: Advanced Distribution Operations, Power Advanced Metering Infrastructure, and Communication and Fluid Advanced Metering Infrastructure collectively generated revenues of CN7.37 billion. The company's gross profit margin has shown a gradual increase over the periods reviewed, reaching 35.59% by the end of the last reported period.

PE: 10.8x

Recently, Wasion Holdings demonstrated insider confidence as Wei Ji acquired 500,000 shares on May 10, 2024, signaling a strong belief in the company's prospects. This move coincides with a dividend increase to HK$0.28 per share and an anticipated annual earnings growth of 25.8%. Despite relying solely on external borrowinga higher risk funding sourceWasion remains a compelling watch for those seeking overlooked opportunities in Hong Kongs market landscape.

SEHK:3393 Share price vs Value as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Ferretti specializes in the design, construction, and marketing of yachts and recreational boats.

Operations: The company generates revenue primarily from the design, construction, and marketing of yachts and recreational boats, achieving 1.23 billion in its latest reporting period. It has seen a gross profit margin increase to 37.08% recently, reflecting improved operational efficiency or pricing strategies in its core business activities.

PE: 11.1x

Ferretti, recently spotlighted at the UniCredit Italian Investment Conference, has confirmed robust 2024 revenue forecasts between 1.22 billion and 1.24 billion, reflecting growth up to 11.6%. With earnings expected to surge by approximately 12% annually and a funding strategy reliant solely on external borrowingindicating a higher risk profilethe firm exhibits strong non-cash earnings quality. Insider confidence is evident as they recently purchased shares, underscoring their belief in the company's financial health and future prospects.

SEHK:9638 Share price vs Value as at Jul 2024

Turning Ideas Into Actions

Unlock our comprehensive list of 16 Undervalued SEHK Small Caps With Insider Buying by clicking here.

Have a stake in these businesses? Integrate your holdings into Simply Wall St's portfolio for notifications and detailed stock reports.

Simply Wall St is a revolutionary app designed for long-term stock investors, it's free and covers every market in the world.

Ready For A Different Approach?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include SEHK:152 SEHK:3393 and SEHK:9638.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
bennymarty / iStock.com

For many people, Hawaii is the perfect summer getaway. For the roughly 1.44 million people who live there, its home  now and forever for many. But for some, even those who used to live there, its not a place theyd want to go when they retire.

Explore More: How Long $1 Million in Retirement Will Last in Every State

Find Out: The Surprising Way You Can Get Guaranteed Retirement Income for Life

The latter is the case for Rinal Patel, a licensed real estate agent and the founder of We Buy Philly Home. While retirement isnt yet in the cards for Patel, she has no true desire to go back to Hawaii to retire  despite being a former resident there.

Ive always been in awe of Hawaiis beauty and culture because I used to live there. This tropical paradise has so much to offer, from the breathtaking beaches to the mouthwatering cuisine, she said.

I have to say, though, that I would not want to live in Hawaii after I retired, she continued. Im not sure Id want to live there permanently, even though it would seem like everyones ideal retirement location, for a variety of financial reasons.

Patel isnt alone in not wanting to retire in the Aloha State either. According to a SmartAsset study, Hawaii ranks only 26th in terms of popularity for retirement. The latest data found that approximately 6,313 retirees (ages 60 and up) moved into the state, while 6,051 moved out.

While Hawaii is still quite the popular destination, heres why Patel said she wouldnt want to go back permanently.

Retirement Planning: Whether you're planning for retirement, dealing with a significant life event or simply looking to make smarter financial decisions, a financial advisor can offer the expertise and guidance you need. Here are some compelling reasons why you should consider a financial advisor -- even if you're not wealthy.

High Overall Cost of Living

The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) found that Hawaii is the most expensive place in the country to live in  right up there with the District of Columbia, Alaska and California. The overall cost of living (COL) index is 186.2 (weighed against a national average of 100). Heres how it breaks down:

Grocery COL: 124.1

Housing COL: 313.2

Utilities COL: 176.4

Transportation COL: 138.8

Health COL: 122

Miscellaneous COL: 133.5

Despite loving the state, the high cost of living there is a major turnoff for Patel.

Hawaii is known for having exorbitant living expenses, she said. Due to the island states need to import a large number of goods and services, prices have increased. When it comes to grocery expenses, this is particularly clear.

Story continues

In her experience, basic necessities like milk, bread and vegetables are much more expensive in Hawaii than they are in other states.

According to Numbeo, grocery prices in Honolulu are 6.6% higher than they are in New York City  another U.S. location known for its excessively high prices. Here are some prices of common groceries:

$7.64 for a gallon of milk

$6.02 for a loaf of bread

$9.03 for a pound of cheese

$4.05 for a head of lettuce

$2.73 for a 1.5-liter bottle of water

Learn More: Im Planning My Retirement: 5 Expenses I Wish I Had Cut Sooner

Expensive Utilities

Not only are costs already on the higher side in Hawaii, but the weather is another consideration for Patel  specifically its impact on the utility bill.

Since most households require air conditioning, the warm and muggy weather [can] result in higher utility costs, she said.

Basic utilities for a 915-square-foot apartment cost over $304 a month in Honolulu. However, the cost of utilities can go up to about $600 a month  a significant expense for anyone, much less those living on a fixed income.

High Costs and Lower Incomes

Using 2022 data, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the average retiree brings in around $47,815 a year after taxes. While many retirees do earn more than that through a variety of means  from Social Security to retirement plans  its not always enough to offset the higher costs in Hawaii.

The BLS also found that the average household in Honolulu spent around $74,965 in 2021-22. While this does account for all types of households, including those with kids and a mortgage payment, theres still a clear discrepancy between income and costs.

For Patel, this is a major concern. The increased costs in Hawaii can quickly pile up, particularly for those on a fixed income.

Even though I adore Hawaii, I would prefer to retire in a less expensive place that yet has all the same benefits like a warm climate and a vibrant local community, she said.

Expensive Healthcare

As MERIC found, the cost of healthcare is higher than the national average. While the state does boast high-quality healthcare in many areas, Patels main concern is getting quick access to it in an emergency situation  something many older retirees have to consider when choosing where to settle.

Expensive To Travel

Being such a remote location, at least as far as the mainland is concerned, is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it can be quite peaceful. On the other, having to fly to and from the mainland can be pricey. For Patel, this is something to avoid.

That said, she does see the appeal in the state for other retirees.

Hawaii does have certain appealing retirement characteristics, she said. This includes a calm and easygoing lifestyle, beautiful scenery and a strong feeling of community.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I Lived in Hawaii: 5 Financial Reasons I Wont Retire There
STATEN ISLAND,N.Y. -- Its been more than a year since Aldi announced its intentions to open a Staten Island outpost, causing a major shift in retail operations at the Greenridge Plaza shopping center and a months-long construction push. And now that the green fencing has come down and a marquis sign has been posted, borough shoppers want to know: When will the discount grocer officially open its doors?

We are excited to share that we are expecting to open our new Staten Island store in September, Chris Daniels, Aldis South Windsor division vice president, said in a statement, noting that details about the stores opening would be available in the coming months.

In November, Daniels confirmed that the store will be located at 3275 Richmond Ave., where Dollar Tree, Ralphs Ices, G&S Pools Inc. and several other retailers used to reside. He also estimated the store would open in the spring of 2024, before eventually pushing that date back to summer. No further information was given about the delayed start.

Kimco Realty is excited to welcome Aldi Grocery to our Greenridge Plaza on Staten Island, Joshua Weinkranz, president of the Northern Region of Kimco, a real estate investment firm that is in charge of leasing at the location, previously told the Advance/SILive.

It is the centerpiece of the centers re-positioning that began one year ago, Weinkranz continued. Aldis addition will greatly bolster Greenridge Plaza, one of five shopping centers Kimco owns and operates on Staten Island .

According to Kimco Realty, Aldi Grocery will be the "centerpiece" of the Greenridge Plaza re-positioning. (Staten Island Advance/Jessica Jones-Gorman)(Staten Island Advance/Jessica J

Operating more than 2,000 locations throughout 36 states, mostly concentrated in the eastern half of the country, Aldi is well-known in Europe -- especially in Germany, where the company was founded in the 1940s by Karl and Theo Albrecht.

According to Aldis corporate website, the store branched out to the United States in 1976, opening its first U.S. store in Iowa. Now headquartered in Batavia, Illinois, the company employs more than 25,000 people. The Staten Island store will be the 123rd Aldi location in New York state. All other NYC boroughs currently have at least one Aldi store.

Not to be confused with Lidl, another German-based discount supermarket chain that opened a New Springville location at the Staten Island Mall in 2018, Aldi is a completely separate entity known for its smaller layout and highly curated selection of goods.

We are private-label trailblazers, the company noted on the New York portion of its site. And our company is built on these basic principles: simplicity matters, we sell the best food at low prices, and everything we do is purposefully designed to save people money.

The opening of the Staten Island store is in line with the grocers recent announcement of a $9 billion investment to open 800 new U.S. locations over the next five years.

With this commitment to add 800 stores in the next five years, well be where our shoppers need us while positively impacting the communities we serve, said Aldi CEO Jason Hart in a press release.

The expansion will strengthen the companys presence in the Northeast and Midwest, adding nearly 330 locations across both regions. The company also plans to add more locations in Southern California, Phoenix and Las Vegas, among others, by the end of 2028.

Stay tuned for more updates about the brand.
This article is part of Pamelas Food Service Diary, a Sunday column that started in the covid pandemic.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  To illustrate the newest venues on Staten Island in a general roundup, we highlighted Patrizias Taverna, a new concept to The Boulevard in New Dorp. Frankly, it was tough to pick which Taverna photo to use in that overview because the food and restaurant were that beautiful.

Here's the pic we used in that other story with pizza and bread chef Pietro Somma. He's crafted a stuffed bread with broccoli rabe, mortadella and burrata with olives. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

I would like you to appreciate this restaurant, too. The place is unusual on many levels, primarily in that it was built from scratch with all new equipment. Normally, new eateries are retrofitted from their prior iterations, sometimes with bric-a-brac from the former business at the address, for better or worse. So, its nice to see a perfectly fresh kitchen, dining room and bar.

Here we announce that footprint as the model for future Tavernas. The Taverna idea comes to us as the more casual brand of Patrizias of Brooklyn which has branched out across the region, to Eltingville, Redbank, Florida and even Aruba.

Locally, the Patrizias concept will come to 4916 Arthur Kill Rd., an eatery previously known as Lava. Going forward, it will be called Patrizias of Tottenville. As the owners put it, This will have all of your favorite dishes from Lava blended with Tavernas New Dorp goodness, and that of Patrizias in Eltingville.

And, although its about seven months out, a restaurant called Patrizias Kitchen will come to 1817 Victory Blvd., formerly Goodfellas, as a classic Italian American venue.

These places are brought to you by fellow Staten Islanders, Giacamo Alaio and Vincent Romano.

So here are the images that didnt make the cut for the first article about the New Dorp Patrizias Taverna. While the images certainly speak for themselves, theyre annotated, nonetheless.

Patrizias Taverna is located at 2636 Hylan Blvd., New Dorp in The Boulevard. It can be reached 347-855-2026.

There's a little outdoor section here which isn't set up in the photo as it was too early in the day. But it's their idea of sidewalk dining at The Boulevard. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

When you step into the restaurant, there's a lot to take in  lighting, that jazzy floor with Italian tile, the tan butcher block tabletops amidst the black and white color scheme. And the flatscreens add some color as well. Plus, there's an open kitchen. The color scheme also appears lightly in the backdrop as a nod to the Mediterranean theme. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

The main dining area seats about 260 guests. But the place is broken into three arenas  lounge, the main dining and side section for private/semi-private parties. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Here's what the side room looks like, separated from the main dining area by a partition. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

This is what a feast looks like, set with cloth napkins and white buffalo-style china. Simple, but pretty  and clean, appetizing, organized...all the elements of a place that pays attention to detail. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Every dish is a little event. This delectable rotini is roasted with sauteed ground lamb and generous parmesan shaves. It comes in a copper handled pot that stays hot in its metal container. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Here's a Mediterranean platter with pristine tomatoes trimmed in half for a bite-sized portion. All the elements are carefully arranged with exacting knife skills and an unabashed presentation of things that are truly fresh  farro, quinoa, chick peas (soaked, not from a can) orzo and fork-ready greens. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Whole fish like branzino bass is a daily feature. Check out the even spacing of beets on the plate (made fresh) and that every item on the menu basically "owns" its unique presentation. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Here's that whole branzino served with roasted fennel, blistered tomatoes, pepperoncino peppers and a light broth hit with a little wine. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Floured and fried zucchini chips are presented in a mint tzatziki sauce and garnished with microgreens and smoked paprika  lovely, fragrant and an explosion of great flavor with contrasting textures. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Steak was perfectly cooked, served with a basket of hand-cut truffle fries (really truffle-ly which bespeaks of good quality truffle-ness.) Gotta love the onion rings made from fresh Collossal Spanish onions. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Another good use for that mint tzatziki sauce  a gooseneck served with spinach in puff pastry. The restaurant says the puff is made in house. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

This octopus is grilled but served over a delightful harissa hummus, a blend of Mediterranean concepts. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Now, we get into the desserts. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Strawberry and cherry cheesecakes are made from scratch by a pastry chef at the restaurant. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Varieties are bright with citrus, ripe strawberry and blackberries, plus French cream piped on top  pretty, elegant and as good as they all look. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Tidy squares of tiramisu and carrot cake are standing alongside a blueberry turnover tart. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

This is an orange cake made with olive oil. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Chocolate is delightful with a good quality cocoa. This is an Oreo mini-cheesecake. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

And here we have the pizzeria which has its own entrance. Still, guests can order pizzas to the table. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

The kitchen features new equipment and tidy, organized stations set up for volume. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Here's the pizza and bead chef, Pietro Somma. Pies come in a variety of shapes and sizes  pretty exciting to see the dough crafted in lovely images like trees, leaves and stars. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Crusts appeal to a variety of tastes  cauliflower, gluten-free and flour. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Breads stuffed with chicken parm and other fillings sport a very tasty dough. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Sausage and pepper stuffed breads. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

An organically shaped personal pie with a dollop of fresh mozzarella and a basil leaf.(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Nicely appointed toppings include julienne of red bell pepper, sausage crumbles and a careful dressing of arugula. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Chicken Caesar salad pie (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Working the ovens in the back kitchen. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Francisco presents lobster. It's one of the seafood items served daily at the restaurant. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Pamela Silvestri is Advance/Silive.com food editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.
The New Jersey father whose daughter died after he left her in a hot car in a synagogue parking lot for more than four hours mistakenly thought he had dropped her off at day care earlier that morning, authorities said.

Details about Avraham Chaitovskys actions on the day his infant daughter died are described in an affidavit of probable cause and criminal complaint outlining a second-degree endangering the welfare of a child charge against the 28-year-old Jackson resident.

Before arriving at Kollel Cheshek Shlomo on New Egypt Road in Lakewood at 9:19 a.m. on July 15, Chaitovsky dropped off another child at nearby Positive Beginnings Day Care on Old Whitesville Road, the complaint said, citing surveillance footage at both locations.

Chaitovsky then continued with the baby to the synagogue, where he parked and entered the building.

Hours later, Chaitovsky made two calls to the day care from the synagogue  one at 1:12 p.m. that was dropped and another at 1:37 p.m. that lasted for 31 seconds, the charging document said.

Less than a minute later, Chaitovsky went to the car and removed the baby from the vehicle. The infant had been in a car seat in the rear of the vehicle on the drivers side.

Hatzolah Medical Services  a private ambulance service  was called and arrived less than a minute later. Medics were administering aid to the baby on a table in the synagogue lobby before Lakewood police arrived.

The girl was pronounced dead at 1:59 p.m.

The temperature in the vehicle was more than 117 degrees when checked by investigators a short time later, according to the complaint.

Chaitovsky was briefly held in the Ocean County jail following his arrest before being released.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Staten Island residents were able to learn about opportunities to attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) while also having a family day of fun that included arts and crafts, step performances, and a book reading during the first-ever HBCU Family Day in New Brighton on Saturday.

Held at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) at Richmond Terrace, the event was hosted by the Staten Island HBCU Experience and HBCU Night Inc. It included hands-on workshops on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), college applications and admissions, and college essay writing.

Andres Martin, founder and executive director for HBCU Night Inc., led a read-aloud of his novel HBCU Night. There were performances by the National Pan-Hellenic Council, a collaborative umbrella council composed of historically Black fraternities and sororities, commonly called the Divine Nine, for youth and families to enjoy. Some were able to learn how to step dance.

There was also food, music, giveaways, arts and crafts, education, sports, and more.

Desiree Scott, program outreach coordinator at the JCC at Richmond Terrace Cornerstone, explained that Saturdays event is complimentary to the annual college fair event that the Staten Island HBCU Experience hosts each year  but for all ages to enjoy.

Having book read-alongs, were having step presentations by the Divine 9 fraternities and sororities. Theyre also going to be teaching the kids how to step. We have a DJ. We are having an arts and crafts class for the kids. Going to be getting workshops on college resume writing, college application process and college essay writing. There is a FAFSA workshop, said Scott.

Its also a way to educate and bring awareness to Black and brown students  especially in marginalized communities  to know HBCUs exist and are an option for them when it comes to pursuing higher education, Scott said.

The reason being is because Black students do not have the same cultivation in schools as their white counterparts, said Tammy Greer, founder and executive director of the Staten Island HBCU Experience. And seeing someone in college from an HBCU is an inspiration  Ive seen it happen at our Black college fair. Kids who did not want to go to college decided they wanted to go to college with a Black representative from an HBCU. So if we start early, cultivating the beauty of an HBCU and getting them interested in HBCUs and even if they dont go to an HBCU, if we get started with them, it also brings about the opportunity for them to be able to start thinking along those terms.

Its why performances by the Divine 9 are important  as they serve as representatives for their own HBCUs. The Divine 9 are also at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs), as well  as the oldest Black Greek-lettered organization, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, started at Cornell in 1906.

Additionally, youth are able to talk to these students to learn about their experiences.

Kiani Foster, from New Brighton, is heading into her sophomore year at Spelman College, an all-girls HBCU in Atlanta, Ga. Going to an HBCU was always the goal, she explained, as her older sister attended Morgan State University.

I think the opportunities you get from attending Spellman is different than any other HBCU because is has a curriculum thats based around women  Black women specifically  and tailored to me. Im enjoying my time there because its a school full of people that look just like me going through the same things and experiencing the same stuff, Foster explained.

The event was hosted with partners from the New York Center for Interpersonal Development (NYCID), P.A.T.H. Forward, Staten Island Urban Center, Friends Who Think Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness, Eric Initiative Foundation, the New York City Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, the Staten Island Foundation, the NAACP Staten Island Youth Council and more partners. Additionally, Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn) attended the event to show her support.

Mike DeVito, executive director for NYCID, said the non-profit does everything it can to support the Staten Island HBCU Experience and what it offers to engage young Black and brown youth on the borough and what it means to attend an HBCU. He said NYCID has a responsibility to help with resources and be able to support in whatever way it can  like helping at events like Saturdays.
In recent trading sessions, the Australian market has shown resilience, with the ASX200 recovering from earlier losses and closing up by 0.76%. Notably, sectors such as Materials have outperformed, indicating a robust appetite for specific industries which could be beneficial for investors exploring opportunities in lesser-known small-cap stocks. In this context, identifying promising small-cap stocks requires an understanding of market trends and sectoral strengths that align with current economic indicators.

Top 10 Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals In Australia

Name Debt To Equity Revenue Growth Earnings Growth Health Rating Fiducian Group NA 9.94% 6.00%  Lycopodium NA 15.62% 29.55%  K&S 15.24% -1.53% 26.68%  Sugar Terminals NA 2.34% 2.64%  Plato Income Maximiser NA 11.43% 14.26%  SKS Technologies Group NA 31.29% 43.27%  Hearts and Minds Investments NA 18.39% -3.93%  A2B Australia 15.83% -7.78% 25.44%  Paragon Care 340.88% 28.05% 68.37%  Boart Longyear Group 71.20% 9.71% 39.19% 

Click here to see the full list of 52 stocks from our ASX Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals screener.

Let's review some notable picks from our screened stocks.

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Macmahon Holdings Limited offers surface mining, underground mining, and civil infrastructure services to clients in Australia and Southeast Asia, with a market capitalization of A$598.99 million.

Operations: The entity primarily operates in the mining sector, generating a revenue of A$1.89 billion as of the latest reporting period. It has demonstrated an increasing gross profit margin trend over recent years, reaching 75.19% by the end of 2023, indicating efficient management in controlling direct costs relative to its revenue generation.

Macmahon Holdings, a notable player in the Metals and Mining sector, has demonstrated robust financial health with a 49.7% earnings growth over the past year, outpacing its industry's decline of 22%. The company trades at 33.9% below its estimated fair value, presenting a compelling valuation relative to peers. With a satisfactory net debt to equity ratio of 5.9%, and interest payments well-covered by EBIT (5.4 times), Macmahon shows promise for steady future growth with an expected earnings increase of 5.19% per annum.

ASX:MAH Debt to Equity as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Ricegrowers Limited is an Australian-based rice food company with operations spanning across Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, the Middle East, and the United States, boasting a market capitalization of A$529.06 million.

Operations: Ricegrowers operates in diverse segments including branded retail products under Riviana, bulk rice sales through Rice Pool, and international rice trading. The company generates significant revenue from these operations, with International Rice contributing A$894.03 million and Rice Pool adding A$498.11 million to the total revenue stream.

Ricegrowers Limited, trading significantly below its estimated fair value, presents a compelling case with a net debt to equity ratio at 34% and interest payments well-covered by EBIT (6.2x). Over the past five years, earnings have surged by 20.5% annually. Despite not outpacing the industry's rapid growth of 263.9%, Ricegrowers' high-quality earnings suggest robust fundamentals. Recently, management expressed readiness to strategically pursue both domestic and international acquisitions, leveraging their solid balance sheet position from FY2024 resultssales rose to A$1,874 million from A$1,634 million year-over-year with net income up to A$63 million from A$53 million.

ASX:SGLLV Debt to Equity as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Supply Network Limited specializes in distributing aftermarket parts for the commercial vehicle sector across Australia and New Zealand, with a market capitalization of A$1.02 billion.

Operations: The entity specializes in the provision of aftermarket parts for the commercial vehicle market, generating revenue from sales amounting to A$278.41 million. Its business model involves maintaining a gross profit margin around 42%, indicating consistent value capture from its cost of goods sold and operational activities over recent periods.

Supply Network, an emerging player in the Retail Distributors sector, has shown robust performance with a 27.9% earnings growth over the past year, outpacing its industry average of 2.9%. The company's net debt to equity ratio stands at a healthy 6%, reflecting sound financial management. With earnings projected to grow by approximately 14% annually and strong interest coverage at 23 times EBIT, Supply Network appears well-positioned for sustained growth.

ASX:SNL Debt to Equity as at Jul 2024

Summing It All Up

Click this link to deep-dive into the 52 companies within our ASX Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals screener.

Are these companies part of your investment strategy? Use Simply Wall St to consolidate your holdings into a portfolio and gain insights with our comprehensive analysis tools.

Maximize your investment potential with Simply Wall St, the comprehensive app that offers global market insights for free.

Seeking Other Investments?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include ASX:MAH ASX:SGLLV and ASX:SNL.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A helicopter made an emergency landing in an empty parking lot on Staten Island on Saturday afternoon, according to preliminary information provided by police.

A private charter helicopter with a pilot and two passengers landed around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday in an empty parking lot at 1 Nassau Place in Tottenville, according to preliminary information from a spokeswoman for the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

The aircraft was traveling from New Jersey to New York City for sightseeing, according to police.

The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) stated that the Robinson R44 helicopter landed in a parking lot after the pilot reported an unusual noise. The FAA will investigate.

14 1 / 14 Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing in Tottenville

The helicopter company is Platinum Helicopters, police said. Platinum Helicopters is a helicopter charter company and flight school based out of Princeton Airport in Princeton, N.J.

There were no injuries or property damage reported, according to the NYPD spokeswoman.

The small red helicopter could be seen in the empty parking lot on Nassau Place on Saturday, which resulted in a large NYPD presence in the area.

***

Want to stay up to date on breaking news or submit tips to our breaking news team if you see an emergency response on Staten Island?

-- Sign up for free breaking news text messages

-- Follow our Crime and Public Safety Facebook page

-- Email our breaking news team at breaking@siadvance.com.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Wondering why everyone is talking about the looming Real ID deadline?

Well, if youre one of the millions of Americans who flies at least once a year, you may need to transition to a new form of identification to board future flights, even those that arent leaving the country.

Starting May 7, 2025, the federal government will require those boarding domestic flights to carry a drivers license or other identification card that is Real ID compliant.

The deadline for Real ID requirements on domestic air travel was initially set for Oct. 1, 2020, but has been delayed thrice in recent years due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Now, more than three and half years after the initial deadline, Americans can still board domestic flights with their standard IDs, but that will soon change, meaning frequent fliers should make the switch before getting turned away at the airport gates.

Its important to note that valid U.S. Passports are already Real ID compliant and can continue to be used to board flights, meaning those who dont want to swap out their state-issued ID cards can simply travel with their passports.

But if you dont want to carry your passport every time you board a domestic flight, heres how you can obtain a Real ID card in New York.

GETTING A REAL ID IN NEW YORK

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offers residents two options: a standard Real ID or an Enhanced ID.

Both the Real ID and Enhanced ID will allow travelers to board domestic flights and enter some federal buildings.

However, Enhanced IDs will also allow residents to cross United States land and sea borders from Canada, Mexico and some Caribbean countries, without the need for a passport.

Enhanced IDs do not authorize air travel between these countries, strictly land and sea travel. Passports are still required for all international flights.

Real IDs are marked with a star logo in the top-right corner, with Enhanced IDs featuring a banner that reads Enhanced, along with an American flag in the bottom-right corner.

Standard ID cards, which are still valid for all other purposes outside of domestic flights and entering federal buildings, now feature the phrase Not For Federal Purposes in the top-right corner.

Those who wish to obtain a Real ID must go to a DMV office. You cannot get a Real ID online, by phone, or through mail.

There is no additional cost to get a Real ID. However, all normal transaction fees still apply. An Enhanced ID will cost an extra $30, in addition to the normal transaction fees.

The DMV lists the following documents needed to obtain a Real ID or Enhanced ID:

Proof of identity, such as valid license, birth certificate or passport, with your full first, middle (if applicable) and last name. This name will be displayed on your card as required by federal law.

Proof of Social Security Number or Social Security Number ineligibility. If you have a valid N.Y. license, permit or ID card, you must bring your original Social Security card or W-2 with full SSN. If you do not have a New York State driver license or identification card, you must bring your Social Security Card or a letter from the Social Security Administration proving your ineligibility to have a social security number.

Proof of your date of birth.

Proof of U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency or temporary lawful status in the United States.

Two different proofs of New York state residence, such as utility bill, bank statement or mortgage statement (a P.O. Box not acceptable).

If the name on your license, permit, or non-driver ID application does not match the name on your proof of identity, lawful status and Social Security, you must bring in court- or government-issued proof documenting the event causing your name change(s), such as a marriage license, divorce decree, adoption or court-order document.

For more information on obtaining a Real ID or Enhanced ID, visit the DMV website.
A 15-year-old boy who was found dead Friday, on the tracks at a subway station in Queens, likely perished in a subway surfing incident, according to The Gothamist.

Responding officers arrived to the Beach 90th Street Station in Rockaway Beach around 5:30 p.m., when they found the teenager, the Gothamist reported.

The teen was unresponsive with head trauma. EMS pronounced him dead at the scene, according to the report.

Police said to the outlet that the investigation is ongoing and the teens identity will be revealed once the family has been notified.

Ride Inside, Stay Alive

Last September, the city launched a public information campaign to combat the fatal trend of subway surfing as adolescents continue to lose their lives in New York City.

In acknowledging this persisting threat, city officials have taken to the development of innovative methods to combat instances of subway surfing across the city, the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com previously reported.

The popular hazardous activity amongst teens, touched Staten Island directly after the loss of Gregory Jantzen, 15, who died after suffering a horrific accident in May of 2023. Gregory was fatally struck by a passenger walkway while riding on top of a St. George-bound Staten Island Railway train in Annadale.

The campaign, launched in partnership with the NYPD, New York City Public Schools, and the New York City Department of Youth & Community Development, focuses on and is designed by teens. The peer-to-peer effort was created in the hopes of deterring such dangerous behavior, as reported by the MTA.
Its early one morning in a suburb north of Brisbane, and not only has a six-year-old boy woken up before his parents, dressed himself and started making avocado on toast for breakfast, but hes desperate to get out the door to travel to school.

Mindy Robinsons grassroots joyful bike bus has children riding their bikes to school again, like they used to 40 years ago before the taxi of mum and dad became the norm.

Like a regular bus, a bike bus transports children to school, except everyone rides a bicycle, and the bus driver, or drivers, are adult volunteers who guide the group along a set route to school.

Mindy Robinson leads the volunteer Eatons Hill bike bus.

Riding in a group ensures safety on roads, opposed to one or two children riding alone.
Tokyo: Japans population has plummeted for the 15th year in a row, falling by more than 861,000 people, in a relentless decline that has policymakers grasping at unprecedented measures to encourage women to have more children.

The countrys population crisis was laid bare by fresh data showing that 2023 marked the biggest single-year decline as the number of Japanese nationals hit 121.6 million people - a decrease of 861,237 people, or 0.7 per cent, from a year before, according to the Japans Internal Affairs Ministry.

Japans population has declined for the 15th year in a row, as fewer women decided to have children. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae

The decline, shown in the data released last week, was not offset by an 11 per cent increase in foreign residents, which peaked at 3.3 million in 2023, also marking a record since the ministry began collecting data on this demographic factor in 2013.

Japans shrinking population is being driven by a stubbornly low birth rate - a challenge that many advanced economies are grappling with - and one frequently attributed to changing attitudes among women toward economic independence, the rising cost of living, and limited child support measures that see women forced to choose between having careers or a family.
Key Insights

Mettler-Toledo International's estimated fair value is US$1,155 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Mettler-Toledo International is estimated to be 26% overvalued based on current share price of US$1,450

The US$1,366 analyst price target for MTD is 18% more than our estimate of fair value

In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

View our latest analysis for Mettler-Toledo International

What's The Estimated Valuation?

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$944.6m US$1.03b US$1.08b US$1.12b US$1.16b US$1.20b US$1.23b US$1.27b US$1.30b US$1.34b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 4.82% Est @ 4.09% Est @ 3.58% Est @ 3.22% Est @ 2.97% Est @ 2.79% Est @ 2.67% Est @ 2.58% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 6.7% US$885 US$903 US$887 US$865 US$840 US$812 US$784 US$755 US$726 US$698

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$8.2b

Story continues

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.4%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.7%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2034  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$1.3b (1 + 2.4%)  (6.7% 2.4%) = US$32b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$32b ( 1 + 6.7%)10= US$17b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$25b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$1.5k, the company appears slightly overvalued at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

Important Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Mettler-Toledo International as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.7%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.941. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Mettler-Toledo International

Strength

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years.

Threat

Total liabilities exceed total assets, which raises the risk of financial distress.

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the American market.

Next Steps:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Why is the intrinsic value lower than the current share price? For Mettler-Toledo International, there are three important factors you should explore:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Mettler-Toledo International that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does MTD's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every American stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Blinken in Japan for 2+2 security talks, Quad



Tokyo, July 27 (AFP) Jul 27, 2024



US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Japan on Sunday as part of an Asia-Pacific tour aimed at shoring up alliances in the face of an increasingly assertive China.

The visit comes three months after President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced what they called a new era in Japanese-US relations at a summit at the White House.

Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin were due later Sunday to hold "2+2" talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defence Minister Minoru Kihara.

Then on Monday Blinken and Kamikawa will meet Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Australia's Penny Wong, their counterparts in the Quad, an alliance seen as a bulwark against Beijing.

Prompted by unease about China and alarm about North Korea, Japan has in recent years been shedding its strict pacifist stance, ramping up defence spending and moving to obtain "counterstrike" capabilities.

This month Japan and the Philippines -- Blinken and Austin's next stop for a "2+2" -- signed a defence pact that will allow the deployment of troops on each other's territory.

This followed the first trilateral summit in April between the leaders of Japan, the Philippines and the United States in Washington.

Like with Manila, Japan and South Korea have also moved to bury the hatchet over World War II, with Biden hosting both countries' leaders at Camp David last August.

Due to join the talks in Tokyo this weekend was Shin Won-sik, the first South Korean defence minister to visit Japan in 15 years.

As part of the April announcement, Washington and Tokyo plan to upgrade their command structures -- at present the 54,000 US troops in Japan report back to Hawaii -- and improve the interoperability of their militaries to "deter and defend against threats".

On Sunday Austin will announce that the US will upgrade the current US Forces Japan headquarters, which is largely an administrative office, to an all-service or "Joint Force" headquarters led by a three-star commander, the Washington Post reported.

Sunday's talks were also set to cover enhancing Washington's "extended deterrence" commitment to use its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to protect Japan.

China's military modernisation, North Korea's nuclear and missile work and nuclear sabre-rattling in the Ukraine war have unsettled Japan, said Naoko Aoki, political scientist at the RAND think-tank.

"(It) is important for the United States to reassure Japan of its commitment and signal to potential adversaries that the alliance remains strong and that the United States is committed to using nuclear weapons if necessary to defend Japan," she told AFP.
US to upgrade military command structure in Japan



Tokyo, July 28 (AFP) Jul 28, 2024



US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was set to announce Sunday an upgrade to US command structures in Japan, as Washington and Tokyo overhaul military cooperation in the face of an increasingly assertive China.

The United States has around 54,000 military personnel in Japan who currently report back to Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, around 6,500 kilometres (4,000 miles) away and 19 hours behind.

But Austin, who on Sunday joined US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for "2+2" talks with their counterparts in Tokyo, will announce a new Joint Force Headquarters headed by a three-star commander, a US military official said.

This will serve as a counterpart to Japan's planned Joint Operations Command for all its armed forces, making the two militaries more nimble in the case of a crisis over Taiwan or the Korean peninsula.

Prompted by unease about China and alarm about North Korea, Japan has in recent years been shedding its strict pacifist stance, ramping up defence spending and moving to obtain "counterstrike" capabilities.

In April President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced a "new era" in cooperation at a summit at the White House.

This month Japan and the Philippines -- Blinken and Austin's next stop for a "2+2" -- signed a defence pact that will allow the deployment of troops on each other's territory.

This followed the first trilateral summit in April between the leaders of Japan, the Philippines and the United States in Washington.

As with Manila, Japan and South Korea have also moved to bury the hatchet over World War II, with Biden hosting both countries' leaders at Camp David last August.

Due to join the talks with Austin and Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara was Shin Won-sik, the first South Korean defence minister to visit Japan in 15 years.



- Extended deterrence -



The discussions between Japan and the US were also set to cover enhancing Washington's "extended deterrence" commitment to use its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to protect Japan.

China's military modernisation, North Korea's nuclear and missile work, and nuclear sabre-rattling in the Ukraine war have unsettled Japan, said Naoko Aoki, political scientist at the RAND think-tank.

"(It) is important for the United States to reassure Japan of its commitment and signal to potential adversaries that the alliance remains strong and that the United States is committed to using nuclear weapons if necessary to defend Japan," she told AFP.

On Monday, Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa will meet S. Jaishankar and Penny Wong, their Indian and Australian counterparts in the Quad, an alliance seen as a bulwark against Beijing.

In Laos on Saturday Blinken and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi sparred over what the top US diplomat had criticised as Beijing's "escalatory and unlawful actions" in the South China Sea.

The US should "refrain from fanning the flames, stirring up trouble and undermining stability at sea", Wang said at the meeting, according to a foreign ministry statement.

Blinken also raised "US concerns about provocative actions" by China, including a simulated blockade of Taiwan following the May inauguration of President Lai Ching-te.

China claims the democratic island as its territory and slammed Lai's inauguration speech as a "confession of independence".

Blinken also raised US concerns over China's support for Russia as it wages war in Ukraine.
US to upgrade military command structure in Japan



Tokyo, July 28 (AFP) Jul 28, 2024



US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was set to announce Sunday an upgrade to US command structures in Japan, as Washington and Tokyo overhaul military cooperation in the face of an increasingly assertive China.

The United States has around 54,000 military personnel in Japan who currently report back to Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, around 6,500 kilometres (4,000 miles) away and 19 hours behind.

But Austin, who on Sunday joined US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for "2+2" talks with their counterparts in Tokyo, will announce a new Joint Force Headquarters headed by a three-star commander, a US military official said.

This will serve as a counterpart to Japan's planned Joint Operations Command for all its armed forces, making the two militaries more nimble in the case of a crisis over Taiwan or the Korean peninsula.

Prompted by unease about China and alarm about North Korea, Japan has in recent years been shedding its strict pacifist stance, ramping up defence spending and moving to obtain "counterstrike" capabilities.

In April President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced a "new era" in cooperation at a summit at the White House.

This month Japan and the Philippines -- Blinken and Austin's next stop for a "2+2" -- signed a defence pact that will allow the deployment of troops on each other's territory.

This followed the first trilateral summit in April between the leaders of Japan, the Philippines and the United States in Washington.

As with Manila, Japan and South Korea have also moved to bury the hatchet over World War II, with Biden hosting both countries' leaders at Camp David last August.

Ahead of the Japan-US "2+2" meeting, Austin and Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara held trilateral talks with Shin Won-sik, the first South Korean defence minister to visit Japan in 15 years.

They signed a memorandum of cooperation to further tighten ties, including on information sharing and trilateral exercises.

"Trilateral cooperation among Japan, the United States and South Korea has become stronger and unshakable even under various changes in the international situation," Kihara told reporters after the meeting.



- Extended deterrence -



The discussions between Japan and the US were also set to cover enhancing Washington's "extended deterrence" commitment to use its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to protect Japan.

China's military modernisation, North Korea's nuclear and missile work, and nuclear sabre-rattling in the Ukraine war have unsettled Japan, said Naoko Aoki, political scientist at the RAND think-tank.

"(It) is important for the United States to reassure Japan of its commitment and signal to potential adversaries that the alliance remains strong and that the United States is committed to using nuclear weapons if necessary to defend Japan," she told AFP.

On Monday, Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa will meet S. Jaishankar and Penny Wong, their Indian and Australian counterparts in the Quad, an alliance seen as a bulwark against Beijing.

In Laos on Saturday Blinken and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi sparred over what the top US diplomat had criticised as Beijing's "escalatory and unlawful actions" in the South China Sea.

The US should "refrain from fanning the flames, stirring up trouble and undermining stability at sea", Wang said at the meeting, according to a foreign ministry statement.

Blinken also raised "US concerns about provocative actions" by China, including a simulated blockade of Taiwan following the May inauguration of President Lai Ching-te.

China claims the democratic island as its territory and slammed Lai's inauguration speech as a "confession of independence".

Blinken also raised US concerns over China's support for Russia as it wages war in Ukraine.
US, Japan hit out at China and Russia



Tokyo, July 28 (AFP) Jul 28, 2024



The United States and Japan hit out Sunday at Beijing's "destabilizing actions" in the South China Sea while also condemning Russia's growing military cooperation with China and North Korea, following high-level talks in Tokyo.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and their Japanese counterparts "reiterated their strong objections to the PRC's unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea," a joint statement said.

China's "destabilizing actions in this region include unsafe encounters at sea and in the air, efforts to disrupt other countries' offshore resources exploitation, as well as the dangerous use of Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels," the communique added.

They accused China of "intensifying attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea" and that Chinese "foreign policy seeks to reshape the international order for its own benefit at the expense of others".

In addition they expressed concern about China's "ongoing and rapid expansion of its nuclear weapons arsenal, which continues without any transparency regarding its intent and which the PRC (People's Republic of China) refuses to acknowledge, despite publicly available evidence."

The statement also "highlighted with concern Russia's growing and provocative strategic military cooperation with the PRC, including through joint operations and drills in the vicinity of Japan, and the PRC's support for Russia's defense industrial base."

They also "strongly condemned deepening Russia-North Korea cooperation, exemplified by Russia's procurement of ballistic missiles and other materiel from North Korea in direct violation of UNSCRs (UN Security Council resolutions) for use against Ukraine."

Blinken and Austin's talks involving Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defence Minister Minoru Kihara were aimed at boosting military cooperation between Tokyo and Washington in response to concern about China's growing assertiveness in the region.
Putin threatens to restart production of mid-range nuclear weapons



Moscow, July 28 (AFP) Jul 28, 2024



Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday threatened to relaunch production of intermediate-range nuclear weapons if the United States confirmed its intention to deploy missiles to Germany or elsewhere in Europe.

"If the United States carries out such plans, we will consider ourselves liberated from the unilateral moratorium previously adopted on the deployment of medium- and short-range strike capabilities," Putin said during a naval parade in Saint Petersburg.

Putin added that now in Russia "the development of a number of such systems is in the final stages".

"We will take mirror measures in deploying them, taking into account the actions of the US, its satellites in Europe and in other regions of the world," the Russian president warned.

Such missiles, which can travel between 500 and 5,500 kilometres (300-3,400 miles), were the subject of an arms control treaty signed by the US and the Soviet Union in 1987.

But both Washington and Moscow withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, each accusing the other of violations.

Russia subsequently said it would not restart production of such missiles as long as the United States did not deploy missiles abroad.

In early July, Washington and Berlin announced that the "episodic deployments" of long-range US missiles, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, to Germany would begin in 2026.

Putin said that "important Russian administrative and military sites" would fall within the range of such missiles that "could in the future be equipped with nuclear warheads, such that our territories would be within around 10 minutes" of a strike being launched.

The Russian president also mentioned that the US has deployed Typhon mid-range missile systems in Denmark and the Philippines in recent exercises.

- 'Cold War' reminder -

"This situation reminds us of the events of the Cold War linked to the deployment of American Pershing medium-range missiles in Europe," said Putin.

The US deployed US Pershing ballistic missiles in West Germany in the 1980s at the height of the Cold War.

US missiles continued to be stationed through the reunification of Germany and into the 1990s.

But following the end of the Cold War, the United States significantly reduced the numbers of missiles stationed in Europe as the threat from Moscow receded.

The Kremlin had already warned in mid July that the proposed US deployment would mean that European capitals would become a target for Russian missiles.

"We are taking steady steps towards the Cold War. All the attributes of the Cold War with the direct confrontation are returning," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a state TV reporter.
Russia claims two new villages in Donetsk region



Moscow, July 28 (AFP) Jul 28, 2024



Russia said on Sunday its forces had captured two villages in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, as they push towards the city of Pokrovsk, northwest of the regional capital.

The Russian defence ministry said troops had taken control of the neighbouring villages of Progres and Yevgenivka, a few kilometres apart.

On Saturday Russia claimed the nearby village of Lozuvatske, one of nearly a dozen it says it has captured in the Donetsk region this month.

The Kremlin has recently centred its offensive capabilities on the region, which it claimed to have annexed months after launching its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukraine's General Staff said on Sunday morning its forces had repelled 29 attacks in the area, where Russia was trying to dislodge its units.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday reiterated calls for allies to provide the country with air defence systems, saying it has been bombarded by nearly 700 guided bombs and more than 100 Shahed drones this week alone.

"Every concrete decision of our partners to strengthen our force can save lives," he wrote on Telegram.
Disha Spath and her husband went from $750,000 in debt to a net worth of over $1 million. Disha Spath

Disha Spath and her husband went from $750,000 in debt to an over $1 million net worth in a few years.

They embraced the FIRE movement, cut spending, invested aggressively, and paid off loans.

Spath and her husband are on pace to retire in their mid-40s, though she's unsure if she will.

Disha Spath, 38, and her husband were about $750,000 in debt a few years ago and were spending above their means. Now, they have a net worth of over $1 million and are set to be able to retire by their mid-40s.

Spath, who runs the blog The Frugal Physician, said she wasn't a natural saver, noting she made financial errors like taking out too many student loans or being quick to make large purchases. But after having two kids and shifting between jobs, she realized she needed to turn her finances around.

She and her husband absorbed as much information about the FIRE  financial independence, retire early  movement as they could, cut back spending on daily purchases, invested more aggressively, and paid off her student loans through savings and work bonuses. She and her husband paid off their debt by 2021, and they're now slowing down their journey toward retirement so they can enjoy time with their kids without making huge financial sacrifices.

"I just want a balanced life and to not feel like I'm tied to my job," Spath said. "Instead of racing to financial independence, we're trying to get more balance."

"Overdoing" purchases

Spath said she grew up in a financially strained family. She moved to the US with her mom and sister at 10 with almost nothing to her family's name. Money was always short, but her mom encouraged her to work as hard as possible and save whatever she could. She grew up thinking that investing was something only rich people did.

She received scholarships for her undergraduate degree and got into medical school. She eventually landed a job in primary care and internal medicine, which she acknowledged wasn't the highest-earning medical specialty but was still a good salary. She was the sole breadwinner for a few years while her husband was still in school.

"I thought that that salary would be enough to create a very comfortable life for us," Spath said. "But I quickly found out that it's very easy to feel like you're living paycheck to paycheck, no matter what amount you're making, if you inflate your lifestyle too quickly."

Her student loans from medical school were $191,000, according to financial documents shared with BI. While a medical resident, Spath and her husband  an Army first lieutenant  moved to Nashville and bought a home for about $142,000 using a VA loan.

Story continues

They eventually converted the home into a rental property for passive income, which allowed her to pay off her student loans quicker. Her first job out of residency paid over $200,000 a year, but Spath said she made another potential financial mistake  they bought a $350,000 home in an upscale gated community in Savannah, Georgia, which she thought they "overdid."

"We bought into the idea of the kind of lifestyle we were supposed to have at the income that I was making, but that lifestyle felt very uncomfortable," Spath said. "It felt like we couldn't afford it, and I was really worried we weren't going to be able to make progress on our retirement or our savings."

Her student loan total grew to $237,000 with interest, factoring in the $25,000 she paid after tutoring during her residency. She and her husband also had $40,000 in car loans, $335,000 in house loans for the Savannah home, and $130,000 in loans for the Nashville home, according to documents shared with BI. Even though her job paid well, she had to take unpaid maternity leave for a few weeks when their first child was born.

Joining the FIRE movement

In May 2017, when their net worth was negative $250,000, she discovered the FIRE movement, which gave them advice on how to better budget and invest in the future. However, Spath discovered that not all FIRE strategies were "sensational investment strategies."

"It's not stuff that's bringing 30% returns or anything like that," Spath said. "It's slow and steady investing in time-proven strategies  get rich slowly, basically."

She and her husband started increasing the amount going toward loans, then backfilled maxing out their retirement accounts.

The family moved from Savannah to upstate New York  where the cost of living was slightly higher, she acknowledged  to be closer to family who could help them with their young kids. Instead of purchasing a home, they rented at first to "deflate" their lifestyle and avoid taking out more debt. Eventually, they moved to a home near the hospital where Spath worked for $100 a month less than their Savannah mortgage with no maintenance costs.

She said her kids, ages 9 and 7, motivated her to improve her financial situation. She set them up with savings and checking accounts, investment accounts, a Roth IRA, and a 529. She's taught them how to invest money they earn through chores, and she said her son just saved enough to buy an iPad.

They prioritized a high savings rate as their kids got older. For their family of four, they spent about $800 a month on groceries and rarely ate out. Changing their lifestyle was initially frightening and "somewhat invalidating," she said, though she knew she couldn't compromise on costs like daycare for her kids, which ran over $2,000 a month.

"Especially for physicians, the stability of our jobs is quickly disappearing, so it's very important in medicine to have a financial cushion and some sort of financial independence," Spath said.

The couple adopted strategies such as eating out less and cutting hair at home. They increased their student loan payments to $7,000 a month, and she put her productivity bonuses and extra income from a new job to pay off her loans. They paid off over $100,000 in six months by July 2018 while also moving to a nicer home.

Two years ago, once their debt was quashed, they accelerated their investments, including in real estate. She said they became much less afraid of investing their money for the long term.

"I've been able to cut back my work hours, and I've taken pay cuts to do so," Spath said. "It has empowered me to feel comfortable doing that, and every time, my total income doesn't change because usually, I fill up my time with other things that end up making money."

Their net worth is now over $1 million, and she said they're both on track to retire by their mid-40s  though Spath may not want to, as she's had her love for medicine reignited. They have become less frugal over the last two years.

"When I first got into the FIRE movement, I was working so much and feeling so burnt out that the retire early portion seemed very attractive," Spath said. "But we've been able to take our foot off the gas a little as far as frugality goes and become more balanced in our life."

Are you part of the FIRE movement or living by some of its principles? Reach out to this reporter at nsheidlower@businessinsider.com .

Read the original article on Business Insider
US, Japan take a swipe at China and deepen defence ties



Tokyo, July 28 (AFP) Jul 28, 2024



The United States and Japan issued scathing verbal attacks on China and Russia on Sunday after high-level discussions on enhancing already close defence collaboration between Tokyo and Washington in an increasingly unstable region.

A joint statement issued after "2+2" talks in Tokyo between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and their Japanese counterparts said China's "foreign policy seeks to reshape the international order for its own benefit at the expense of others".

They also reiterated their "strong objections" to China's "unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea".

The communique also criticised Russia's "growing and provocative strategic military cooperation" with China, as well as Moscow's procurement of ballistic missiles and other materiel from North Korea "for use against Ukraine". It also expressed alarm at China's "ongoing and rapid expansion of its nuclear weapons arsenal".

Blinken said US alliances were all "defensive in nature".

"They have no ambitions toward anyone else, and never have been or ever will be offensive in nature," he told a news conference.

"But at a time when unfortunately these threats are increasing, our alliances, our partnerships, they're getting deeper, they're getting stronger, they're getting more effective," he said.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said: "We are at an historic turning point."

"Developments that shake the very foundation of free and open international order based on rule of law are continuing."

"We must deepen and develop the US-Japan alliance to safeguard the international order and enhance deterrence," she said.

China claims the South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars of trade passes annually, almost in its entirety, while Tokyo and Beijing are also at loggerheads over disputed Japan-controlled islands in the East China Sea.



- Three-star general -



The statement also confirmed US plans to establish in Japan a new Joint Force Headquarters, headed by a three-star US commander, for the 54,000 US military personnel stationed there.

It will serve as a counterpart to Japan's planned Joint Operations Command for all its armed forces, making the two militaries more nimble in the case of a crisis over Taiwan or the Korean peninsula.

US forces in Japan currently report back to Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, around 6,500 kilometres (4,000 miles) away and 19 hours behind Tokyo.

Japan and the United States also agreed to enhance planning for contingencies and "improve and expand" the scope of joint training and exercises.

Japan has been shedding its strict pacifist stance in recent years, ramping up defence spending and moving to obtain "counterstrike" capabilities.

President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced a "new era" in cooperation at a summit at the White House in April.

Japan and the Philippines -- Blinken's and Austin's next stop for a "2+2" -- signed a defence pact this month that will allow the deployment of troops on each other's territory.

That followed the first trilateral summit between the leaders of Japan, the Philippines and the United States in Washington in April.



- Camp David -



Japan and South Korea, like the Philippines, have also moved to bury the hatchet over World War II, with Biden hosting both countries' leaders at Camp David last August.

Austin and Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara held talks with Shin Won-sik, the first South Korean defence minister to visit Japan in 15 years, ahead of the Japan-US "2+2" meeting.

They signed a memorandum of cooperation to further tighten ties, including information sharing and trilateral exercises.

"Trilateral cooperation among Japan, the United States and South Korea has become stronger and unshakable even under various changes in the international situation," Kihara told reporters.

The discussions between Japan and the United States also covered enhancing Washington's "extended deterrence" commitment to use its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to protect Japan.

China's military modernisation, North Korea's nuclear and missile work, and nuclear sabre-rattling in the Ukraine war have unsettled Japan, said Naoko Aoki, a political scientist at the RAND think tank.

"(It) is important for the United States to reassure Japan of its commitment and signal to potential adversaries that the alliance remains strong and that the United States is committed to using nuclear weapons if necessary to defend Japan," she told AFP.

On Monday, Blinken and Kamikawa will meet S. Jaishankar and Penny Wong, their Indian and Australian counterparts in the Quad, an alliance seen as a bulwark against China.
Russia claims two new villages in Donetsk region



Moscow, July 28 (AFP) Jul 28, 2024



Russia said on Sunday its forces had captured two villages in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, as they push towards the city of Pokrovsk, northwest of the regional capital.

The Russian defence ministry said troops had taken control of the neighbouring villages of Progres and Yevgenivka, a few kilometres apart.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged Kyiv's forces were under pressure in the region during his evening address on Sunday.

"It is extremely challenging in the Donetsk directions, and it is in the Pokrovsk direction that there have been the biggest number of Russian assaults these weeks - the most intense enemy attacks are precisely there," he said.

"Everyone who stops these Russian strikes and destroys this Russian offensive potential is performing one of the most important missions in this war."

On Saturday Russia claimed the nearby village of Lozuvatske, one of nearly a dozen it says it has captured in the Donetsk region this month.

The Kremlin has recently centred its offensive capabilities on the region, which it claimed to have annexed months after launching its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukraine's General Staff said on Sunday morning its forces had repelled 29 attacks in the area, where Russia was trying to dislodge its units.

Zelensky on Sunday reiterated calls for allies to provide the country with air defence systems, saying Ukraine has been bombarded by nearly 700 guided bombs and more than 100 Shahed drones this week alone.

"Every concrete decision of our partners to strengthen our force can save lives," he wrote on Telegram.
* FIRST NAME

* LAST NAME

* EMAIL Your email address

* PASSWORD Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Show

* YEAR OF BIRTH You must be at least 18 years old to create an account 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906

* Required fields

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice

CREATE ACCOUNT

I'LL TRY LATER

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Although stock-split euphoria has taken hold in 2024, there isn't a bigger trend on Wall Street than the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).

The loose definition of AI involves the use of software and systems in place of humans for specified tasks. What gives this technology such broad-reaching potential spanning virtually every sector and industry of the global economy is the ability for AI-driven software and systems to learn without human intervention. Becoming more proficient at existing tasks over time, perhaps even learning new skills, gives AI the potential to add an estimated $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, according to analysts at PwC.

No company has benefited more directly from this game-changing innovation than semiconductor colossus Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA).

Image source: Getty Images.

Nvidia has scaled at a truly phenomenal pace

Since 2023 began, Nvidia's stock has gained more than $2.4 trillion in market value, or 668% on a percentage basis, as of the closing bell on July 25, 2024. Nvidia also completed a 10-for-1 stock split in June to make its shares more nominally affordable for everyday investors.

This historic scaling of Nvidia's valuation has everything to do with its graphics processing units (GPUs) being the preferred choice by businesses operating AI-driven data centers. Though estimates vary, the analysts at TechInsights pegged Nvidia as being responsible for all but 90,000 of the 3.85 million GPUs shipped for use in data centers last year.

To build on this point, Wall Street's AI darling isn't anywhere close to meeting enterprise demand for its chips. When demand for a good or service handily outweighs its supply, it's normal for the price of said good or service to rise. Nvidia's phenomenal pricing power helped lift its adjusted gross margin by close to 14 percentage points over a period of five quarters (ended April 28).

There's also a lot of excitement surrounding Nvidia's next-generation data center hardware. The company's Blackwell platform, which accelerates computing in a half-dozen key areas, including generative AI solutions, is expected to be rolled out to customers later this year. By 2026, the Rubin GPU architecture, slated to run on a brand-new processor ("Vera"), should hit the market. In other words, Nvidia's lineup suggests it can retain its competitive edge, at least in terms of compute capabilities.

Despite this textbook expansion for Nvidia, shares of the company have recently hit the skids.

Image source: Getty Images.

Nvidia is in correction territory: Here's how far history suggests it could fall

When the closing bell tolled on July 25, Nvidia's stock clocked in at $112.28 per share. While this is, as noted, a 668% gain from where it was on Jan. 1, 2023, shares are down 20.2% from the $140.76 all-time intra-day high reached on June 20. In other words, Nvidia's stock is in a full-blown correction.

Story continues

Although there isn't a predictive tool or metric that can forecast where Nvidia's stock will find its bottom with 100% accuracy, 25 years' worth of history does offer clear clues of what might await this AI leader in the months and quarters to come.

Over the last quarter of a century, we've witnessed no shortage of buzzy technologies and trends come and go. While some of these innovations and trends have gone on to make investors considerably richer over the long run, one of the key consistencies of next-big-thing innovations is the early-stage overestimation of their adoption and utility by the investing community.

While it's easy to be swept away by grandiose addressable market figures (e.g., AI adding $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030), it's important to recognize that all new technologies and trends need time to mature. Though there's no way to know ahead of time how long it'll take for an innovation to mature, the simple fact that most businesses lack a clear game plan with their AI investments suggests we're witnessing the next in a long line of bubbles.

AMZN Chart

More specifically, 25 years of next-big-thing innovations have shown that market leaders within these trends tend to be hit the hardest:

When the dot-com bubble burst, leading e-commerce player Amazon and networking giant Cisco Systems each lost in the neighborhood of 90% of their value on a peak-to-trough basis.

Although genome decoding stocks like Celera and Human Genome Sciences are no longer around -- they were both acquired many years back -- both companies followed in Amazon's and Cisco's footsteps and shed most of their value after the euphoria surrounding genome decoding faded.

Whereas e-commerce and networking have been long-term winning investments, the excitement surrounding 3D printing has evaporated. Following their peak, both 3D Systems and Stratasys lost well over 90% of their respective value.

Though cannabis isn't a new technology, its legalization in Canada was viewed as a generational moneymaking opportunity. Unfortunately, Canadian licensed producer Canopy Growth eventually plunged 99% from its peak valuation.

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase Global has served as the stock-based face of the crypto revolution. When the buzz surrounding crypto and blockchain technology ebbed, shares of the company plummeted by close to 90%.

Meta Platforms spearheaded the rise of the metaverse -- the virtual 3D environment where people can interact with each other and create an entirely new ecosystem. However, with this technology needing time to mature, Meta's stock ultimately fell by around 80% before rebounding to new highs.

Based on what we've witnessed from next-big-thing innovations and trends over the last 25 years, market leaders tend to shed 80% or more of their peak market value once the bubble bursts.

The good news for Nvidia is that it had multiple well-established sales channels before artificial intelligence became its primary growth driver. These channels include its GPUs used for gaming and cryptocurrency mining, as well as its professional visualization and automotive/robotics solutions. If the AI bubble were to burst, just like every other next-big-thing trend over the prior 30 years, Nvidia would likely find more downside support than many of the pummeled market leaders that came before it.

Nevertheless, there's a precedent that market-leading stocks plummet once the realization sets in that a buzzy technology needs time to mature. At the very least, history points to Nvidia losing a minimum of half its value on a peak-to-trough basis. This would bring its share price down to $70 and imply significant downside.

But if Nvidia isn't the exception to the rule, history suggests it could plummet below a $1 trillion market cap in the years to come.

Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now?

Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Nvidia wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $692,784!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of July 22, 2024

Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Sean Williams has positions in Amazon and Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Cisco Systems, Coinbase Global, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends 3d Systems. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Nvidia Stock Correction: 25 Years of History Offers Its Take on How Far the Leading Artificial Intelligence (AI) Company Might Plummet was originally published by The Motley Fool
With shares up by almost 28,000% in just 10 years, Nvidia's (NASDAQ: NVDA) rally will go down in history. A $2,000 investment made in 2014 would be worth $560,000 today  more than enough to buy a medium-priced home in cash. But returns like that probably won't continue forever.

New investors must decide whether the risks of holding Nvidia stock today justify the potential rewards. Let's discuss two reasons why it might be time to sell the stock, and one reason to consider buying more.

Experts are beginning to sound the alarm

After almost two years of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven growth, Nvidia's future is now intimately linked to the future of this one industry. Most retail investors are not fluent in this highly technical field, so we must rely on experts to crunch the numbers. Some of their perspectives are alarming.

According to MIT Professor Daron Acemoglu, only around a quarter of AI tasks may be cost-effective in the next 10 years. He believes large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Alphabet's Bard will need higher-quality data to improve  more so than better hardware. And it is unclear where this data will come from, considering that many quality sources have already been tapped.

Acemoglu's concerns echo remarks from analysts at investment bank Goldman Sachs, who claim tech companies may struggle to monetize the $1 trillion they will pour into AI investment over the coming years.

As a picks-and-shovels AI company, Nvidia can make money even when its customers lose. But this situation can't last forever. Eventually, consumer-facing AI algorithms will need to become profitable, or clients will stop buying the expensive Nvidia chips to run and train them. This risky situation could lead to a decline in the company's growth rate and, by extension, it's valuation. So now might be the best time for investors to take profits.

Nvidia's valuation isn't that great anymore

With a market cap of roughly $3 trillion, Nvidia is the third-biggest company in the world  trading for 47 times forward earnings.

At first glance, this looks reasonable, if not downright cheap, because of the company's explosive growth rate. Second-quarter revenue doubled to $13.51 billion, while net income surged 843% to $6.2 billion. But the situation is a little more complicated than it appears on the surface.

Image source: Getty Images.

Nvidia's valuation prices in future growth, which means the market expects the company to continue expanding past its already massive size. The cracks forming on the consumer-facing side of the AI industry will make this harder to pull off. Nvidia will also face challenging comps as it seeks to exceed this year's spectacular performance.

Story continues

It is risky for investors to hold stock in an overvalued company because they are betting on growth that hasn't occurred yet. And it might make more sense to offload shares before market sentiment sours.

Nvidia has some long-term advantages

Nvidia stock is in a challenging place. The AI industry faces an uncertain future in monetizing LLMs, and the company's valuation looks too high, considering its undiversified revenue base and the challenging comps it will face next year and beyond. With all that said, long term investing is the key to sustainable returns in the stock market because it allows investors to wait out near-term challenges in order for a company's long-term value to shine through.

For buyers, Nvidia still represents the best way to bet on the future of AI technology because of its picks and shovels business model and technological lead over rivals bolstered through its software solutions like CUDA, designed to work specifically with Nvidia hardware and make clients less likely to switch to rival chipmakers. Investors who buy the stock now are betting on its ability to navigate near term headwinds as the AI industry matures over the coming decades.

Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now?

Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Nvidia wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $692,784!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of July 22, 2024

Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Will Ebiefung has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Will Nvidia Stock Crash? 2 Reasons to Sell (and 1 to Buy) was originally published by The Motley Fool
Former President Donald Trump on Saturday endorsed all three front-runners for the Republican nomination for Missouri governor.

Missouri has three great people running for Governor  Jay Ashcroft, Mike Kehoe, and Bill Eigel, Trump wrote on his social media site, Truth Social. All have had excellent careers, and have been with me from the beginning. They are MAGA and America First all the way!

I cant hurt two of them by Endorsing one so, therefore, Im going to Endorse, for Governor of the Great State of Missouri, Jay Ashcroft, Mike Kehoe, and Bill Eigel. Choose any one of them  You cant go wrong!

All three candidates immediately thanked Trump for his endorsement without mentioning he was also backing their rivals.

Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe wrote on X: I was incredibly excited tonight to receive President Trumps endorsement to be the next governor of Missouri. I want to ask you to join President Trump in supporting our campaign, and help us Make America Great Again!

I was incredibly excited tonight to receive President Trumps endorsement to be the next governor of Missouri.



I want to ask you to join President Trump in supporting our campaign, and help us Make America Great Again! https://t.co/np2Q7eom0b pic.twitter.com/EbL9PMf60x  Mike Kehoe (@MikeLKehoe) July 28, 2024

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft wrote: Im proud to be the only candidate for Governor endorsed by Missouri Right to Life PAC and by President Donald Trump.

Im proud to be the only candidate for Governor endorsed by @MORight2LifePAC and by President @realDonaldTrump!



Join President Trump and Missouri Right to Life in supporting my campaign at https://t.co/aeq8jW0JSH



Lets engineer a better Missouri! pic.twitter.com/mjuDFIPTKo  Jay Ashcroft (@JayAshcroftMO) July 28, 2024

And state Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, wrote: Grateful for the kind words and endorsement, President Trump! As Governor, I will deport every illegal in the state, eliminate the personal property tax, and secure our elections. Lets Go Missouri!

Grateful for the kind words and endorsement, President Trump! As Governor, I will deport every illegal in the state, eliminate the personal property tax, and secure our elections. Lets Go Missouri!  Bill Eigel (@BillEigel) July 28, 2024

For Eigel, who has trailed Kehoe and Ashcroft in the polls, the endorsement could validate his claim that the GOP contest is now a three-way race.

This isnt the first time Trump hedged his bets.

In 2022, when Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and former Gov. Eric Greitens were among candidates for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, Trump held off on endorsing in the race until the day before the primary, then threw his support to ERIC.

Schmitt won the nomination and the general election.

Scott Charton, a political consultant and former journalist, on social media compared the Trump endorsement in the GOP governors contest to kissing your sweetie through a screen door  a bit less than satisfying.
The search for Staff Sgt. Joseph Miele, a radar tech at Aviano Air Base in Italy who was reported missing four days ago, ended Saturday with his rescue. Here he is seen climbing the radar tower at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, in 2017. (Alan Quevy/U.S. Air Force)

AVIANO, Italy  The American airman who went missing four days ago from Aviano Air Base was found alive and unhurt Saturday, ending an intensive search in the Alps.

Details of the rescue of Staff Sgt. Joseph Charles Miele were scarce Saturday, but according to Italian news service Ansa, Miele was found by his brother, who had arrived in Italy the day before to help with the search.

Mieles brother went into the woods on his own and found the airman, then hailed Italian rescuers, Ansa reported.

Miele, 32, is a radar tech assigned to the 606th Air Control Squadron, which specializes in air surveillance, control and communications. He didnt show up for work Tuesday and was reported missing by his unit that night.

Searchers found Mieles Opel Astra in Andreis, a mountain town north of Aviano. They believe he went hiking on the area trails with his dog, which was also rescued Saturday.

Italian firefighters heard the dog barking at the bottom of a canyon and airlifted the canine into a helicopter using a special harness, according to Italian news service PordenoneToday.

On Friday, rescuers found a towel belonging to Miele, allowing them to focus their efforts on a specific area of Andreis, Messagero Veneto reported.

An undated photo from social media of Staff Sgt. Joseph Miele, who went missing from Aviano Air Base in Italy on July 23, 2024. Miele was found alive and uninjured Saturday after an intensive four-day search. (Facebook)

I want to thank the local Italian authorities and our base community for the combined search and rescue effort to bring Joseph home, Col. Beau Diers, deputy commander of the 31st Fighter Wing, said in a statement Saturday. The unwavering support of the local community has been invaluable during this challenging time.

The wing did not immediately respond Saturday to questions seeking additional information.

Miele was flown to base camp in a helicopter and taken to a local hospital, and his dog was examined by a veterinarian, Italian media reports said.
A serious crisis is brewing in the Diocese of Lahore of the Anglican Church of Pakistan after four directors of the Lahore Diocesan Trust Association (LDTA), which oversees missionary properties worth billions of rupees in Pakistan, moved the high court in Punjab Province alleging financial corruption and fraudulent practices in the organisation.

In an apparent retaliatory move, the Bishop of Lahore Rt Reverend Nadeem Kamran has issued the transfer order of one of the four petitioners to a rural district, resulting in a standoff between the two sides.

The allegations surfaced in a petition filed in the Lahore High Court by LDTA Director and Vice President of the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of Lahore Rev Emmanuel Lorraine, Rev Irshad John, Rev Samuel Barkat and Dr Zeerak Asher Samuel under Sections 286 and 287 of the Companies Act 2017, seeking interim injunction and appointment of an administrator to supervise the affairs of the LDTA.

The Lahore High Court admitted the petition for a hearing on July 22 and issued notices to the respondents, including LDTA Treasurer Wilson Massey and the Registrar of the Joint Stock Companies (JSC) for October 7, 2024.

The petition, which has been reviewed by Christian Daily International, states that the LDTA was established to hold and manage the properties previously managed by the Missionary Trust Association Limited.

Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up

Before the Partition of India in 1947, the Church Missionary Society for Africa and the East owned several properties in what now constitutes Pakistan. The Lahore Diocese Trust Association was incorporated in 1942 and all 67 properties owned by Church Missionary Society for Africa and Asia and Missionary Trust Association Limited were transferred to the LDTA through a transfer deed on April 12, 1956, the petition states.

The objectives of the LDTA were to maintain the amenities for the Christian community, including schools, hospitals, burial grounds, churchyards, chapels, boarding houses, stipends for clergy as well as pension and provident funds for families and widows.

Accusing the LDTA management of conducting the organizational affairs in a deceitful manner and in violation of its Articles of Association, the petitioners have alleged that no annual general meeting of the LDTA had been held in the last 20 years and the members, including the petitioners, have been kept in the dark about the utilisation of the income generated from the church properties, among other issues.

It is apprehended that the LDTA creates sham documents of such meetings and submits them to the Registrar JSC [at the time of annual filings for renewal of registration with the authority], they claimed.

The petitioners have also alleged that rather than being duly elected, the executive committee of the LDTA is handpicked, which was a violation of Clause 8 of the Articles of Association pertaining to the conduct of elections. They have also questioned the appointment of the same auditor since 1984, accusing him of conniving with the LDTA management to conceal the alleged fraudulent activities.

Only few of the properties generating rental income are mentioned in the audit reports while theres no mention of the total number of properties and their status. Moreover, the rental income of these properties is way less than the current market rates, the petitioners said.

They have also questioned the exorbitant salaries of two unnamed directors amounting to 7.2 million Pakistani Rupees [26,000 USD], adding that the appointment and salaries of these directors were fixed without consulting the general body members.

Furthermore, the petitioners accuse the executive committee of financial misappropriation in the term deposit receipts (TDRs) amounting to 38 million Pakistani Rupees [136,740 USD].

The audited accounts of LDTA do not state where the amount obtained from the encashment of the TDRs was utilized, they said.

Putting the spotlight on LDTA Treasurer Wilson Massey, the petitioners went on to allege that Massey had a monopoly over the affairs of the LDTA for years.

The secretary of the LDTA passed away on December 15, 2022, and the position has been lying vacant ever since. Similarly, the term of the chairman, former Bishop of Lahore Irfan Jameel expired after his retirement on August 1, 2022, but to date the position has not been filled yet he continues to be a signatory to the bank accounts. For years the affairs of the LDTA are being run by its treasurer, Wilson Massey, alone.

When no executive committee practically exists in the absence of the secretary and chairman and no annual meeting of the general body is held for years, the treasurer has a monopoly over the affairs of the LDTA resulting into conduct of such affairs in fraudulent manner. Furthermore, the Articles of Association of LDTA do not provide anywhere that the treasurer can solely exercise powers to operate affairs of the organization, the petitioners said.

The petition further expressed alarm over the increase in assets of the treasurer, saying that despite bringing the alleged fraudulent activities in the LDTA to the attention of the community and the respective authority, their concerns remained unaddressed.

The petitioners have demanded the high court to direct the LDTA to submit the correct number of properties transferred to it in 1956; submit details of all bank accounts maintained and operated by the LDTA; present all documents depicting arrangement of utilization of the properties; conduct the annual general meeting and share details of officers appointed, salaries paid and income and expenditure of the LDTA with the general body; and organize elections of the executive committee without delay.

The petition concluded with a request to the court to order amendments in the Articles and Memorandum of Association of LDTA to make the executive committee accountable before the general body.

Christian Daily International made repeated attempts to contact LDTA Treasurer Massey for comment on the allegations made in the petition, but he remained unavailable.

A rubber stamp board

Meanwhile, the lead petitioner, Rev Emmanuel Lorraine told Christian Daily International that they felt forced to move the high court in the larger interest of the Christian community.

Religious organisations are institutions of public trust and church members as well as the community reasonably expect church officials to fulfill their religious calling and apply church funds on religious purposes. However, in LDTAs case, there is no transparency in its financial matters. The board is only given a quick overview of the financial reports verbally without handing them anything in black and white, said Rev Lorraine, who has been a member of the Diocese of Lahore for over four decades.

The senior priest alleged that a majority of the LDTA board members were handpicked to ensure that no one questioned the treasurer about the financial matters.

The board meetings are mere eyewash as no member has ever dared to question the treasurer. Also, several board members are related to the treasurer which in itself is a conflict of interest and hinders financial transparency, he said.

He also claimed that the management had never presented any document related to rent or lease agreements of LDTA properties or legal matters before the board. Mr Massey just verbally informs the board about the property matters and thats it. None of us have ever seen any relevant document, he claimed.

Elaborating on their accusation of financial misappropriation against the treasurer, the church leader said neither the board nor the diocesan council had information about the approval of the unusually high salary for the treasurer.

The salaries, perks and incentives of the diocesan bishop, treasurer and the coordinator of the Lahore Diocesan Board of Education (LDBE) have never been discussed in the board or executive council meetings. We dont know who approves the salaries of these big three, he added.

Rev Lorraine said that suspicions of financial embezzlement in LDTA surfaced when tax details of the treasurer were leaked on social media in 2023.

The leaked documents showed that Mr Massey bought multiple expensive properties between 2020-22, while on the other hand, the pensions of clergy were abruptly stopped in 2016-17 citing financial constraints, he said.

Similar concerns have been raised against the LDTA by four bishops of the Anglican Church of Pakistan in an application filed with the office of the Registrar JSC on Nov 20, 2023.

After the union of the Church of Pakistan on Nov 1, 1970, the Church of Pakistan was formally declared to be the legal and spiritual heir and successor of each and all of the churches. But fraudulently, with malafide intentions and concealments of facts, the Diocese of Lahore re-registered LDTA with a new constitution vide Registration No. RP/C-82 based on the submission of a photocopy certificate No. 105 of 1942-43 without the approval of the CoP and authority of the predecessors/real owners and excluding the CoP as members and Board of Directors of the LDTA, the bishops complaint stated.

The church leaders alleged that the illegal and unconstitutional action of the Diocese of Lahore was only carried out to misuse the properties and funds of the LDTA comprising billions of rupees.

Transfering bishop away from Lahore seen as retaliatory action

In what is perceived as retaliation against one of the four petitioners, the Bishop of the Diocese of Lahore Rev Nadeem Kamran issued a transfer order of Rev Irshad John on July 28.

Rev John is currently serving as the pastor-in-charge and vicar of the Saint Andrews Church, Empress Road in Lahore. He has been ordered to take charge as the vicar of the All Saints Church in Pattoki Tehsil of Kasur District, a rural area about two hours away from the city.

However, the senior priest has refused to accept the transfer, claiming that he was being victimized for demanding transparency and accountability in the LDTA.

I will not surrender to this order by an illegally-appointed bishop. We hope that the high court will take notice of his malafide and grant me an injunction against it, he told Christian Daily International.

Rev John said the Diocese of Lahore was already suffering due to the hegemonic attitude of a handful of people who were destroying the diocesan institutions for their vested interests.

The diocesan bishop, however, has denied any malice behind the transfer order.

Such transfers are a matter of routine in every diocese, Rev Nadeem told Christian Daily International in a short comment. He refused to speak on the allegations made against the LDTA in the petition, asking Christian Daily International to contact the treasurer. When told that the treasurer was not responding to requests for an interview, the bishop cut the line.

'Illegal' and 'unconstitutional' election remains under review

Rev Kamrans controversial election and subsequent consecration as the Bishop of the Diocese of Lahore on January 17, 2023, by three retired bishops of the Church of Pakistan is under litigation in the Lahore High Court.

On Aug 18, 2023, Lahore High Court Justice Raheel Kamran dismissed a petition filed by the Diocese of Lahore challenging the order of the Registrar Joint Stock Companies, Lahore wherein it had declared the election of Rev Nadeem Kamran as Bishop of Lahore illegal and unconstitutional.

The Diocese of Lahore has filed an intra-court appeal in the Lahore High Court but the matter is pending to date. While Rev Nadeem is continuing to work as the Bishop of Lahore and in this capacity is also ex officio the chairman of the LDTA, the signatory authority in LDTA continues to remain with his predecessor, former Bishop Irfan Jameel.

The Synod of the Church of Pakistan refused to accept the election of Rev Kamran from the onset. This standoff has isolated the diocese from the other seven dioceses  Diocese of Peshawar, Diocese of Multan, Diocese of Sialkot, Diocese of Karachi & Balochistan, Diocese of Hyderabad, Diocese of Faisalabad and Diocese of Raiwand.

The Synod, which is the supreme legislative body of the Church of Pakistan, believes that certain individuals in the Diocese of Lahore had conducted the bishops election in violation of the constitution and rules of the Church of Pakistan to perpetuate their hold over the LDTA.

The Church of Pakistan is among the 42 members of the global Anglican Communion but is considered as an independent province. The archbishop of Canterbury in England acts as a focus of unity, recognised as primus inter pares ("first among equals"), but does not exercise authority in Anglican provinces outside of the Church of England.
Pantech Group Holdings Berhad's (KLSE:PANTECH) investors are due to receive a payment of MYR0.015 per share on 13th of September. The dividend yield will be 5.5% based on this payment which is still above the industry average.

See our latest analysis for Pantech Group Holdings Berhad

Pantech Group Holdings Berhad's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage

A big dividend yield for a few years doesn't mean much if it can't be sustained. The last dividend was quite easily covered by Pantech Group Holdings Berhad's earnings. This means that a large portion of its earnings are being retained to grow the business.

Looking forward, earnings per share is forecast to rise by 2.8% over the next year. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 50% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.

Dividend Volatility

The company's dividend history has been marked by instability, with at least one cut in the last 10 years. The annual payment during the last 10 years was MYR0.04 in 2014, and the most recent fiscal year payment was MYR0.06. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 4.1% over that duration. It's encouraging to see some dividend growth, but the dividend has been cut at least once, and the size of the cut would eliminate most of the growth anyway, which makes this less attractive as an income investment.

The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. It's encouraging to see that Pantech Group Holdings Berhad has been growing its earnings per share at 15% a year over the past five years. Since earnings per share is growing at an acceptable rate, and the payout policy is balanced, we think the company is positioning itself well to grow earnings and dividends in the future.

We Really Like Pantech Group Holdings Berhad's Dividend

Overall, we like to see the dividend staying consistent, and we think Pantech Group Holdings Berhad might even raise payments in the future. Earnings are easily covering distributions, and the company is generating plenty of cash. All in all, this checks a lot of the boxes we look for when choosing an income stock.

Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. For example, we've picked out 1 warning sign for Pantech Group Holdings Berhad that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.

Story continues

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Ryan ODriscoll, who is related to a Kinahan foot soldier, avoids more jail time after being caught dealing

Ciaran ODriscoll was jailed for his part in the move against Patsy Hutch Snr

A man who was jailed after being caught with a single bullet has avoided more prison time after receiving a suspended sentence for drug dealing.

Ryan ODriscoll (28), of Patrick Heaney Crescent, Summerhill, Dublin, was dealing various drugs out of his home which had been under garda surveillance before it was raided.

ODriscoll is a cousin of Kinahan cartel foot-soldier Ciaran ODriscoll (30) who was involved in a failed plot to kill Patsy Hutch.

Dublin Circuit Court heard this week that gardai watched numerous people coming and going from Ryan ODriscolls house as part of a surveillance operation. They raided the home and found 2,700 worth of drugs and 2,555 in cash.

ODriscoll was charged with possession of drugs for sale or supply and money laundering.

Ciaran ODriscoll was jailed for his part in the move against Patsy Hutch Snr

He pleaded guilty to the drugs offences, while the money laundering offences were taken into consideration.

Judge Martin Nolan sentenced ODriscoll to three years in prison but fully suspended the sentence.

ODriscoll, who has 131 previous convictions, appeared in court earlier this month over a single bullet which was found in his pocket.

He claimed it arrived in the post to his mothers home as a threat but gardai said they did not accept this.

ODriscoll had the round of ammunition on him when officers were at the address separately and the prosecuting garda did not believe the reason he gave, a court heard.

Patsy Hutch Snr

Judge John Hughes jailed ODriscoll for three months, suspending a further seven months imprisonment to foster rehabilitation.

ODriscoll pleaded guilty to possession of one round of ammunition without being authorised by a firearms certificate.

Dublin District Court heard the accused was at his mothers home at Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, on June 8, 2021, when he was in possession of a round of 9mm Luger calibre, M.K.E brand ammunition.

He told gardai it had been received in the post as a threat.

The prosecution garda agreed the accused was under threat at the time but he did not accept that was the reason ODriscoll had the bullet.

However, he could not prove otherwise, he said.

The bullet arrived in an envelope and ODriscoll took possession of it, his lawyer said. He then arrived back on the same day that gardai were at his mothers home and told them how he came into possession of it, he said.

Judge Hughes said ODriscoll had pleaded guilty to a serious offence.

Sentencing him to 10 months in prison, he said he would suspend seven months of that for two years.

Conditions are that he completes a drug treatment course and education.

ODriscolls cousin Ciaran ODriscoll (29), from Avondale House was sentenced to five years behind bars in 2020 for his role in the conspiracy to kill Patrick Patsy Hutch, older brother of Gerry The Monk Hutch. Ryan ODriscoll has no involvement in the Hutch-Kinahan feud.
The oficer was removed over his relationship with partner who had family links to now-dead criminals

A detective garda who said he was removed from a special taskforce due to his relationship with a woman whose deceased family members were involved in serious criminality has settled his legal action against the force.

Det Gda Joseph Kavanagh also received a declaration from the High Court, agreed upon by all parties involved in the case, stating that his removal from a Special Crime Task Force (SCTF) should not have been authorised.

Seen by this newspaper, it states: A declaration that the plaintiffs removal by An Garda Siochana from the SCTF on December 5, 2016, was not in accordance with fair procedures and due process.

Det Gda Kavanaghs case against An Garda Siochana was settled almost two weeks ago on July 16, court records show.

It is understood the detective received a six-figure sum from the force as well as the declaration as part of the settlement.

Det Gda Kavanagh declined to comment to the Sunday Independent.

The specialist taskforce was set up to tackle gangland feuding between the Hutch and Kinahan crime gangs in the aftermath of the Regency hotel attack

The officer initiated his case against An Garda Siochana not long after he was removed from the specialist taskforce, which was set up to tackle gangland feuding between the Hutch and Kinahan crime gangs in the aftermath of the Regency hotel attack.

In 2017, Det Gda Kavanaghs High Court hearing was told he felt he had been wrongfully removed from the SCTF organised-crime taskforce due to his relationship with a woman whose family members were involved in serious criminality.

Represented by Paul McGarry SC, appearing with Breffni Gordon BL in March 2017, the detectives affidavit said the actions taken against him were unjustifiable and unfair and he feared these would have adverse consequences for his career as a garda.

The detective garda said he was removed from SCTF on December 5, 2016, hours after gardai attended at, and searched, his partners apartment where he had spent the night.

Det Gda Kavanagh said in his sworn statement he had been seeing the woman for four years and she has no connection whatsoever with any person involved in criminality.

She is a respected member of the community, deplores crime and criminality and is a law-abiding citizen, he said.

Two members of her immediate family, who are now deceased, were involved in criminal activity.

He has been a member of the force since 2007, has an unblemished record and has received numerous commendations

Det Gda Kavanagh said nothing illegal or illicit was discovered in the search, which had happened in the morning.

Hours later he was called to a meeting with his superiors where he was told he needed time away from SCTF because of what happened that morning. That decision, he was told, was made by an assistant commissioner of the force.

During the meeting reference was made to his relationship with the woman, which he said was offered as a reason for his removal from the SCTF.

He said nobody could impugn his partners reputation and the events amount to an unjustified interference with his personal life and his career.

Det Gda Kavanagh said he was then transferred to Ballyfermot to perform uniform duties.

His 2017 affidavit said that after he was taken off the taskforce, he became the subject of extremely derogatory terms on social media. One example was a message on WhatsApp that said member of SCTF caught in the scratcher with a major criminal.

He has been a member of the force since 2007, has an unblemished record and has received numerous commendations.

In his 2017 proceedings, Det Kavanagh requested the Garda Commissioner restore him to the taskforce.
Jailing Toms killers wont bring him back, says Siobhan Dooley

Siobhan Dooley (centre) with her daughter Siobhan (right) and Noreen (left) and Noreens husband Jamie Harty at the Central Criminal Court in Cork

The grieving widow of murder victim Thomas Dooley who was slaughtered in front of her and their children in a horror graveyard attack has told the Sunday World: No children should ever witness what mine did.

Speaking outside the family home in Killarney on Friday, Siobhan Dooley also welcomed the guilty verdicts handed down to the six men charged with her husbands brutal murder.

I am happy justice was done, said Siobhan, who was herself badly wounded by her husbands killers, but its still not going to change things.

Its not going to bring him back.

Thomas (42), a devoted family man and father-of-seven, was set upon in a violent and savage attack in which his assailants used machetes and knives as he, Siobhan and four of their children attended a funeral at New Rath Cemetery Tralee on October 5, 2022.

Prosecutors claimed during the trial that Thomas was murdered in an honour killing.

The premeditated blood-feud killing was sparked when a relationship between murdered Thomas daughter Rose and one of the accused men, a cousin Thomas Dooley Jnr, broke down.

Among the killers were his own brother Patrick, an act prosecutors labelled a biblical atrocity,, his brother in-law Thomas Dooley Snr, a second cousin Thomas Dooley Jnr and cousins Daniel and Michael Dooley.

Siobhan Dooley with her late husband Thomas

The sixth killer cannot be identified as he is a juvenile.

Five of the six men, including slain Thomas brother Patrick, are due to be sentenced to mandatory life sentences on Tuesday.

The juvenile will be sentenced on October 29.

Siobhan  who is herself lucky to be alive having sustained a foot-long cut from her right shoulder to her armpit during the attack, told the Sunday World she will give a full statement, outlining the devastating effects of her husbands shocking murder, during this hearing.

The Sunday World also attempted to speak with murdered Thomas and killer Patricks parents at their home in Killarney on Friday.

However, their mother Nora declined to comment.

A daughter of Thomass, posting on social media in the wake of Thursdays verdict, said: Yes daddy, we got the justice you deserve today. Our king you are, I love you daddy.

Another daughter posted on the six-month anniversary of Thomass death: Daddy, its been the worst six months of my life.

Ill never forget this day six months ago, I got the worst phone call of my life.

One that changed all our lives forever.

Siobhan Dooley (centre) with her daughter Siobhan (right) and Noreen (left) and Noreens husband Jamie Harty at the Central Criminal Court in Cork

I never thought wed ever go through something like this.

I never thought Id be writing something like this about my daddy.

You didnt deserve none of this.

You were meant to be with us until you were old  not a young man with his life still ahead of him.

Murdered Thomas was known within the Traveller community to be extremely proud of and loyal to his children.

In a video posted by his daughter Rose, he can be heard joking with her ahead of a planned wedding: You know I love you.

Why you doing this to me Rosie?

Every one of my children going getting married like that  its taking away a piece of my heart.

Every one of ye thats going one by one  its breaking my heart.

During the trial of her husbands killers, Siobhan Dooley said she and her husband and their four youngest children had travelled from their home in Killarney to attend the funeral of their friend Bridget OBrien in Tralee, where her husband was attacked by a group of six armed men.

She said that Michael and Daniel Dooley were actually grinning during the attack. She stated that her husbands brother-in-law, Thomas Dooley Snr, was carrying two weapons as he approached her husband.

One was shiny and looked to be new, the other had a bit of rust on it  one had a round top, the other was a big chunk of a yoke  I had never seen weapons like them before. I said to my husband run and he turned to me and said Run? Run for what  I had nothing to run for.

Patrick Dooley, brother of Thomas, being brought to court

She said that Thomas Dooley Jnr was standing behind one of her sons and was about to swing a weapon at him, but she pushed her son out of the way, and he ended up hitting her and cutting her under the arm.

I knew they were going to do harm when I saw the weapons. I tried to squeeze in between them and my husband, but there was no hope  all I could do was start scraping Toms (Thomas Dooley Snrs) face and eyes with my nails to get him away from my husband.

Mrs Dooley said that she ran out of the cemetery and saw a Garda car in a garage across the road. She ran to a garda and started roaring and shouting that her husband was being killed by the men.

Mrs Dooley sustained serious injuries in the incident.

The trial heard that she suffered a foot-long wound to her shoulder which required 45 stitches and 30 staples.

She was informed of the death of her husband Thomas while she was undergoing hospital treatment.

Slain Thomas Dooleys brother Patrick claimed in court that he was innocent of the killing and that he had tried to help when he saw men jump on his brother in the graveyard.

However, Siobhan told the court that she saw Patrick grin and produce a knife before her husband was set upon.

She said that the attack on her husband was like something you would see in a movie.

The men were hitting him with weapons and there was blood everywhere.
She had been in custody at a garda station in Dublin under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

A woman in her 30s who was arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of Jordan Ronan (aka Pakenham) in Tallaght has been released without charge.

She had been in custody at a garda station in Dublin under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

A garda spokesperson said: A female in her 30s, who was arrested in connection with this investigation and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Dublin Garda Station, has been released without charge. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Investigations are ongoing.

20-year-old Jordan was fatally wounded when he sustained a fatal knife wound during an incident which occurred in the early hours of Friday morning in the Drumcairn Estate in Tallaght.

He was the eldest of four children in a family from the Rossfield area of Tallaght, around a kilometre from the scene of the stabbing.

Patrick Murphy (36) of Drumcairn Parade, Tallaght appeared before Judge Michael Ramsey on Saturday where he was charged with the murder of the deceased at Drumcairn Avenue.

Det Garda Stephen Neilan of Tallaght Garda station told yesterdays court sitting he had arrested Patrick Murphy for the purpose of charge at 3.22pm.

He said the defendant was cautioned that he didnt have to say anything but that anything he did say could be used against him in evidence.

In response to caution, the defendant said: Im real sorry that he died. I didnt mean for this to happen.

Judge Ramsey remanded the defendant in custody to be produced again on July 31.

Gardai continue to appeal for witnesses to come forward, particularly those who were in the Drumcairn Estate area of Tallaght in Dublin 24, between 3am and 4am on Friday.

Additionally, individuals with video recordings, including motorists with dash cam footage, from the area within the time frame are asked to provide this footage to investigating Gardai.

Anyone with any information that can assist Gardai with this investigation is asked to contact Tallaght Garda station on 01 666 6000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
The pair were arrested in El Paso, Texas this week.

Sinaloa cartel boss Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada Garcia was tricked into boarding a plane to the US by El Chapo's son Joaquin Guzman Lopez after he blamed him for the capture of his father, leading to the arrests of both men.

A leader of the powerful Sinaloa cartel for decades alongside Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, Zambada is one of the most notorious drug traffickers in the world and is known for running the cartel's smuggling operations while keeping a lower profile.

He was lured onto a private plane by El Chapo's son Joaquin Guzman Lopez to inspect airfields for drug planes, sources told DailyMail.com.

The pair were arrested in El Paso, Texas this week after getting off a private plane that was flown in from Mexico by undercover FBI agents as part of a joint operation by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI.

The publication reports that Zambada was under the impression that the plane was flying further south into Mexico, but instead went north and landed in Texas, where he and Lopez were arrested.

A Mexican federal official had previously told reporters that Zambada and Guzman Lopez arrived in the United States on a private plane and turned themselves into authorities.

The US Government had offered a reward of up to 15 million for information leading to Zambada's capture.

Its understood that Lopez had made a deal with American law enforcement to turn himself and Zambada in because he blamed Mayo for the capture of his father, DailyMail.com writes.

Lopez is expected to appear before the Federal District Court in Chicago in the coming days, while Zambada will go to New York.

Zambada and Guzman Lopez, who have eluded authorities for decades, oversaw the alleged trafficking of "tens of thousands of pounds of drugs into the United States, along with related violence", FBI director Christopher Wray said, adding that now they will "face justice in the United States".

"Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, and the Justice Department will not rest until every single cartel leader, member, and associate responsible for poisoning our communities is held accountable," attorney general Merrick Garland said in a statement.

Mexican authorities did not immediately comment on the arrests.

US officials have been seeking Zambada's capture for years, and he has been charged in several US cases. He was charged in February in the Eastern District of New York with conspiring to manufacture and distribute the synthetic opioid.

Prosecutors said he was continuing to lead the Sinaloa cartel, "one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world".

Zambada, one of the longest-surviving capos in Mexico, was considered the cartel's strategist, more involved in day-to-day operations than his flashier and better-known boss, "El Chapo" Guzman, who was sentenced to life in prison in the US in 2019 and is the father of Guzman Lopez.

Zambada is an old-fashioned capo in an era of younger kingpins known for their flamboyant lifestyles of club-hopping and brutal tactics of beheading, dismembering, and even skinning their rivals.

While Zambada has fought those who challenged him, he is known for concentrating on the business side of trafficking and avoiding gruesome cartel violence that would draw attention.

In an April 2010 interview with the Mexican magazine Proceso, he acknowledged that he lived in constant fear of going to prison and would contemplate suicide rather than be captured.

"I'm terrified of being incarcerated," Zambada said. "I'd like to think that, yes, I would kill myself."

Zambada's detention follows some important arrests of other Sinaloa cartel figures, including one of his sons and another son of "El Chapo" Guzman, Ovidio Guzman Lopez.

In recent years, Guzman's sons have led a faction of the cartel known as the little Chapos, or "Chapitos", that has been identified as a main exporter of fentanyl to the US market.

They were seen as more violent and flamboyant than Zambada. Their security chief was arrested by Mexican authorities in November.

Ovidio Guzman Lopez was arrested and extradited to the US last year.

He pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges in Chicago in September.
Beata Kunicka was wrongly discharged from the hospital after presenting to Cork University Hospitals emergency department on September 25, 2021.

A 33-year-old woman died after Cork University Hospital (CUH) failed to detect that she swallowed her denture, the High Court has heard.

Beata Kunicka, from Kanturk, County Cork, Ireland, was wrongly discharged from the hospital after presenting to its emergency department on September 25, 2021.

She had been complaining of chest pain and believed she had swallowed her denture, which included two front teeth, a supportive pallet, and wiring.

An X-ray of her chest was arranged and she consumed a test meal to monitor her swallowing as well as taking painkillers for her chest pain.

However, no foreign body was detected in the X-ray results and Ms Kunicka, who was able to eat and drink, was sent home.

The young mother returned to hospital 17 days later after collapsing at her home and vomiting blood.

She died less than 24 hours later on October 12, 2021 after the denture, which was stuck in her oesophagus, was finally removed.

The familys counsel, Gabriel Gavigan SC, instructed by Tracey Solicitors, told the court that the HSE did not contest liability and the proceedings brought by Beatas partner Kamil Jarzembski, was settled for 450,000 following mediation.

In a letter to Jarzembski, CEO David Donegan of CUH said an external review into the care of Ms Kunicka makes clear that we failed to identify that her dental plate had indeed been swallowed and as such wrongly discharged her when she first presented to ED.

The letter also stated that medical staff were unaware that some denture plates might not show up on X-rays and mistakenly decided that because she was able to eat and drink it was safe to discharge her".

It added that CUH has since highlighted these risks to regulators and the HSE on a national level and has made improvements to its clinical training.

The court heard Ms Kunicka returned to CUH in the early hours of October 12 but was not assessed in the emergency department until six hours after her arrival and had started vomiting blood at this stage.

A CT scan was ordered, and she was given blood but collapsed again and underwent surgery to remove the denture.

However, she suffered severe bleeding and required further stabilisation.

Ms Kunickas condition then worsened, haemorrhaging from her ear, nose and mouth.

She continued to deteriorate and went into shock before eventually dying from cardiac arrest despite resuscitation efforts.

The court heard there were delays in treatment due to disagreements over the diagnosis and prolonged discussions about her case.

The letter from CUHs CEO acknowledged that it is "clear that a number of elements for care were not delivered promptly enough, although it was a complex and challenging case.

Furthermore, clinical differences of opinion about the source for continued bleeding, the right course of corrective action and the availability of the necessary expertise to deliver it, all delayed her receiving the care she needed, it added.

Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds extended her condolences to Mr Jarzemnski and their young daughter Julia over "the very tragic series of events" and said she hoped they took some comfort from the steps taken to ensure such an incident like this does not happen in an Irish hospital again.
The couple wed at the Edinburgh Central Registrars Office last weekend.

Actors Saoirse Ronan and Jack Lowden have tied the knot at a secret ceremony in Scotland.

The Sunday Independent exclusively revealed today that the couple wed at the Edinburgh Central Registrars Office last weekend with a small number of friends and family present, according to the register of Scottish civil marriages records.

The pair, who keep their romance private, met in 2018 while filming Mary Queen of Scots with Ronan playing Mary and Scotsman Lowden playing her second husband Darnley.

Wedding rumours began to fly last year when the couple refused to deny that Lowden proposed during a hiking holiday in Scotland in July 2023.

The 34-year-old had shared a photo taken at the summit of Ben Vrackie in Perthshire which showed a hand wearing a diamond ring and fans speculated that it may be Ronans.

Lowden has previously sung Ronans praises and said that working with her on their upcoming project The Outrun was a remarkable experience.

The woman is a force of nature, on- and off-screen, and utterly fearless and a brilliant leader as well, he told i News last year.

My first love is actors, and when youre given a Ferrari like her, its all about how you make everything good for the Ferrari to show off, he added.

Dont make a Ferrari do what a Renault Clio does. Its a dreadful analogy, but theyre like gold dust, good actors.

Unlike most famous couples in the industry, the pair maintain a low profile, and there is rarely much of an insight given to the public. According to Lowden, that is not something they take for granted.

Were hugely appreciative of the level of scrutiny we have, he told i News.

Were treated well but we dont seek it either. People have got it far worse. Its also obviously of our own making.

And despite the occasionally prying eyes, it seems Lowden is happy with his lot.

Whatever  as long as weve got each other, were alright with any of that, he said.
Having two books on the go is part of Dr Trevor Bentleys usual work process, knocking out a book every two years on average.

With each themed historical tome also taking around two years of research, the Papamoa author and historian has been able to dig up some of the most interesting and important events in Taurangas past, many of which took place before its occupation by British and colonial forces.

His latest book, Early Maritime Tauranga, number nine in his body of work, has 370 pages, eight sections, and 42 chapters. And this is just the first of two volumes, richly illustrated with old sketches, paintings, and photographs.

For hundreds of years, daring Polynesian migrant-settlers and resident iwi plied the harbour waters and seas of Tauranga Moana in a variety of waka.

Starting with the voyaging canoes and then the Maori wakas, Trevors book covers a history of the vessels, visitors, residents and events in Taurangas early maritime period from the 1200s to the1860s.

He provides a colourful account of the voyaging, war, utility and dugout canoes, before diving into the first interactions with Pakeha from 1760 to 1827. The book brings to life shipwrecks and castaways, raids and boat building.

Tauranga had a reputation of no ships being attacked. It was a busy whaling port from 1790  1840s. No one was living here then, and missionaries didnt want anything to do with whalers.

Pirates and the old whaling days, Captain Cook, Dumont dUrvilles Astrolabe, and then the turbulent 1820s, are all covered in 10 fascinating chapters.

The 1830s arrive and with that decade we read about the intertribal musket warfare, the missionary peacemakers and the resident traders.

Following this is a section titled The Treaty Decade, with the book ending with a section on the shipping trade from the 1840s to 1864.

We had lots of pirates hiding here, says Trevor, a long-term member of the NZ Military Historical Society.

He recounts the tale of Australian convicts stealing a ship and the musket wars effect on locals.

Taurangas seas and harbour waters are central in any historical account of its past  the zones where much of its history has been made and remade.

To support this, Trevor, who has a PhD in New Zealand history, has donated 20 books to Papamoa College.

A former secondary teacher, Trevor taught history for 25 years and was head of a social studies department.

I love teaching history and finally got a chance to write full time.

Early Maritime Tauranga is a fascinating history that not only covers the period of Polynesian migrants but also is the story of visiting European explorers, whaling skippers, pirates, sea traders, hydrographers, shipwreck survivors, fugitive convicts and sailors.

Describing Taurangas seas, seagoing vessels and seafarers, it reflects the courage and seamanship of the captains and crews of Taurangas trading fleets.

His next book, volume two in this series, is titled Maori sailors on Euro-American whalers 1790  1900.

After that, hes writing a book covering the Pacific slave trade in the 1860s and 70s.

Early Maritime Tauranga is a must-read and provides a well-researched record of Taurangas pre-colonial, seafaring past.
Police have arrested three people over foreign exchange scams, and warn that fraudsters are continuing to target the Chinese community.

Police say they arrested two men and one woman in Auckland on July 19 and charged them with obtaining by deception and money laundering.

"The individuals charged are believed to have defrauded at least six victims in June 2024 through a sophisticated foreign exchange scheme, resulting in a combined loss of over $200,000," a spokesperson for the Police Ethnic Liaison Team says in a statement.

Police have previously warned about these scams, saying that fraudsters posing as individuals urgently needing New Zealand dollars post in WeChat groups and other Chinese social media platforms.

The posts claim that they will buy New Zealand dollars with Chinese yuan at slightly more favourable rates than those offered by banks.

However, after taking cash from the victims and depositing money in their Chinese bank accounts, the suspects report the transfer as fraud, causing their victims' bank accounts to be frozen.

"This scam leaves victims financially compromised and embroiled in complex legal issues," police said.

Police warn the community to be wary of foreign exchange scams.

People should avoid informal exchanges, use registered financial institutions, be wary of unrealistic promises and report suspicious activity.

To report scams to police, ring 105.

-RNZ.
On July 19, The Wall Street Journal reported that activist investment firm Elliott Investment Management had purchased a sizeable (but unspecified) stake in coffee giant Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX). Over the last five years, Starbucks stock is down almost 16%. This lackluster performance is something that Elliott hopes to help correct.

Investors may wonder what to expect from Elliott next. While there's no way to be certain what its involvement will look like, investors can look to what it has done in the past with other companies it took stakes in. And one recent success story is image-centric social media platform Pinterest (NYSE: PINS).

In July 2022, Elliott took a 9% stake in Pinterest. At the time, its stock was worth less than $20 per share. Today, it trades at more than $40 per share.

Elliott has been a player in Pinterest's story, and it shows what investors might expect from its reported investment in Starbucks.

How activist investing can help

There's a classic business story about Intel and its late CEO, Andy Grove. The company was at the time a leader in memory products, but microprocessors were a budding global opportunity. Grove reportedly asked his management team, "If we got kicked out and the board brought in a new CEO, what do you think he would do?" Grove ultimately repositioned Intel in the microprocessor space because the team concluded that's what a new CEO would do.

This anecdote highlights how an outside perspective can bring clarity. And activist investors such as Elliott can bring such perspectives to the table.

Typically, these activists publicly propose the changes they'd like to see shortly after they make their investments. And Elliott did publicly comment on Pinterest early on. But the firm appeared content with the company's direction under then-new CEO Bill Ready. Later that year, Elliott got seats on Pinterest's board, but again appeared to agree with management's new vision on how to create shareholder value.

One of the biggest changes that Pinterest made in the last two years was to open up its platform to third-party ads, such as with its partnership with Amazon. This move helped it start to reaccelerate its revenue growth rate in the early part of 2023, which is a big reason the stock has more than doubled.

PINS Revenue (Quarterly YoY Growth) Chart

How this relates to Starbucks

In the session after Starbucks reported its fiscal 2024 second-quarter results on April 30, the stock slumped by nearly 20%. Those results showed slumping sales trends and a step back in profitability. Management blamed value-conscious consumers, but that explanation rang hollow considering that smaller competitor Dutch Bros wasn't having the same problems.

Story continues

Starbucks needs to course correct, and an outside perspective might just be what the doctor ordered. This is why Elliott's position could be material news for investors.

For what it's worth, former CEO Howard Schultz has already weighed in on the situation, publicly encouraging management to focus on the Starbucks experience. Schultz believes that elevating the experience for both workers and customers will start "reinforcing the company's premium position," as opposed to highlighting its value proposition.

Schultz is a good combination of an insider and an outsider. He's very familiar with the business from his years running it. But he's also retired, so his view isn't clouded by daily operations at the moment, which gives him some outsider-like clarity. He seems to disagree with the approach being taken by current management. It's likely that Elliott also believes a different approach is needed.

Elliott is reportedly communicating with Starbucks' management behind the scenes. If the two parties can agree on what the best course of action is, things could go smoothly -- as they did with Pinterest. But attempted interventions by activist firms don't always play out that way.

Sometimes companies push back against the input of those outsiders -- sometimes to their own detriment. To be clear, the general public still doesn't know what suggestions Elliott would make or if those would even be any good. But it's clear some changes need to be made at Starbucks, and this effort could force the issue.

Elliott agreed with Pinterest's management regarding the changes it made with advertising. And so far, that's been a good move for that business. Hopefully, his perspective on what would be best for Starbucks will prove similarly accurate. And hopefully, the company will be open to his input.

Should you invest $1,000 in Starbucks right now?

Before you buy stock in Starbucks, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Starbucks wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $692,784!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of July 22, 2024

John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Jon Quast has positions in Pinterest and Starbucks. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Pinterest, and Starbucks. The Motley Fool recommends Intel and recommends the following options: long January 2025 $45 calls on Intel and short August 2024 $35 calls on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Pinterest Stock Is Up Over 100% Since an Activist Firm Took a Large Stake. That Same Activist Reportedly Now Has a Large Stake in Starbucks. was originally published by The Motley Fool
In true Search and Rescue fashion, a carabiner and rope took the place of a ribbon for cutting at the launch of the new Central Plateau Emergency Management Facility, Te Whare Whakaora o Waimarino.

After almost seven years of planning and fundraising by the Ruapehu Emergency Services Charitable Trust, the centre was officially opened on Thursday, July 18, by the Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery, and Police Minister, Mark Mitchell.

The sun was shining as community members and invited guests, including Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton, were warmly welcomed to the launch of the new 288 sq m facility located at National Park Village, opposite the local police station.

The facility is a result of collaboration between local iwi, Te Korowai o Wainuiarua, and various emergency response organisations including Police, Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation (RARO) and Ruapehu Civil Defence.

It represents a significant enhancement in emergency response capabilities throughout Ruapehu district, acting as an incident control point, training space, equipment storage and staging area.

Aiden Gilbert, Chairman of Te Korowai o Wainuiarua Trust, opened the ceremony.

The launch ceremony was opened by Aiden Gilbert, Chairman of Te Korowai o Wainuiarua Trust.

Speeches highlighting the community support and transformative impact of the facility on emergency management followed from Mayor Kirton, Minister Mitchell and National Park Senior Constable and RESCT Chair Conrad Smith.

The launch of this awesome new facility marks a milestone in collectively enhancing emergency response capabilities in the Ruapehu, says Conrad.

Ive had the privilege of being the Chair of the Trust for the past five years, and we have run emergency operations from 17 different locations.

Now we have a home and a base and we can speed up our response, along with coming together to train in a fit for purpose facility.

National Park Senior Constable Conrad Smith addresses the audience.

The soil for the facility was first turned in November 2022 and, while there have been challenges along the way with building material costs, the centre was completed in February this year.

The Trust has also started a management support unit for community members who want to volunteer their time and skills to support responses.

This facility has been a dream for so many and we couldnt have done it without all the community buy-in and support from organisations and, of course, sponsors and individuals both locally and from out of district, says Conrad.

It provides vital Emergency Management infrastructure to one of the busiest Search and Rescue sectors in the country, and an area prone to significant natural disasters.

We are grateful for the support of the local school on whose field the facility is located, and mana whenua Te Korowai o Wainuiarua whose support has been invaluable.

Minister Mitchell and Aiden Gilbert greet each other with hongi.

Both Mayor Kirton and Minister Mitchell spoke about how it was an important day for the district, especially for its resilience and infrastructure.

Its more than just a community facility - it stands as a testament to the wellbeing of all who come here," said Mayor Kirton. "Our first responders will be better equipped to do their job.

-Police Ten One Magazine.
It was 65 years ago that the kiwifruit was born.

Brought to New Zealand in the early 20th century, before 1959 it was known as the Chinese gooseberry.

In the 1950s, New Zealand started exporting the fruit to the United States. But this was the time of the Cold War and the name was proving to be a marketing nightmare for Turners and Growers.

During a Turners and Growers management meeting in 1959, Jack Turner, who was part of the management team, suggested a name change to kiwifruit.

The name has been used ever since and next month, as the Kiwifruit Capital of the World, Te Puke will celebrate with a gala event.
Another very large area of low pressure is growing just west of New Zealand and will bring some severe weather to NZ next week.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says this weather will mainly affect the South Island, but there are more localised risks for the North Island too.

"The low itself isn't a "storm" - it's large and fairly 'lazy' and surrounded by two controlling high pressure zones," says the weather organisation in its latest update.

"High pressure to the east of NZ is holding this low up and helping to encourage warmer/moisture filled air over the country, whilst the high pressure zone south of NZ is injecting the subantarctic portion of wintry air into this low (and into southern NZ).

"The southern high pressure is also creating a "squash zone" of South-East gales as we go into Tuesday for the lower South Island, as it interacts with the low over the Tasman Sea."

Main weather risks look to be from Monday evening to Thursday morning, with coldest air arriving on Tuesday/Wednesday in the South Island, says WeatherWatch.

"Many other places are warmer than usual further north, thanks to the northerly flow. Some places are several degrees above normal for this time of year, especially with overnight temperatures.

"The mixture of milder than usual, wet/humid, air from the north will combine with colder air south of NZ moving in - this process can create heavy snow over parts of the South Island (mostly coming into Otago and South Canterbury for the hills and ranges). The low will also bring heavy rain to other areas further up the country."

WeatherWacth says snow may be heavy for some farms at higher elevation (above 300 or 400m).

WeatherWatch.co.nz is not currently expecting snow to sea level, or in any of the main centres in any major way - but some places are borderline for rain to turn to snow and it doesn't take much for this to suddenly happen, including around Dunedin.

WeatherWatch.co.nz's main concern for the past week has been for farms/livestock and those travelling (especially roads and flights).

"With early lambing season already underway in parts of NZ, the wet, windy and cold weather can be deadly.

"Our latest App and RuralWeather.co.nz both have wind chill graphs, hourly, for 10 days out - for all NZ locations. If it's raining with windchill near 0 that is a tough set-up for newborn animals."

WeatherWatch says a number of places in Southland, Otago and Canterbury will have windchill of 0 degrees, or below, in the 'warmest' part of the day in the coming week (ie, early afternoon).

"With rain on top of that this is miserable weather for livestock, especially newborn animals. While lambing peaks in September it starts as early as July.

"Strong to severe gale winds are also possible in exposed parts of the lower South Island, making conditions tougher for animals."

TRAVEL

Flights and highways are also likely to be impacted this week - again especially around the lower half of the South Island and alpine areas, but this could spread into other regions, warns WeatherWatch.

"Snow at higher elevations is the main concern for highways, while heavy rain and low cloud/poor visibility and maybe even gales at lower elevations are the concerns for airports/flights.

"There are a lot of moving parts to all this - as our Friday weather video alluded to - but severe weather watches are now being issued by MetService and are likely to ramp up later on Sunday and across Monday and Tuesday."

WeatherWatch.co.nz will have more details in its weather video out around lunchtime Monday.

"Not every region has sever weather risks, some are just wet, mild and cloudy this coming week - the main risk is for the South Island but parts of the North Island will be caught up in this too."

Weather maps below show the current path of the system and what people can expect.
Syracuse, N.Y.  An Oswego County man who was repeatedly caught and arrested for having and distributing child pornography has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, federal officials said.

Austin Tennant, 29, of Oswego County, was charged with distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography from September of 2022 to January of 2023, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of New York.

He gathered hundreds of videos and thousands of images from the Internet and directly from child victims, prosecutors said.

He would go on to redistribute the pornography to others, including to other children, prosecutors said. He would do this in effort get the children to send him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves, they said.

In January 2022, child abuse material was found on Tennants phone during a search of his home in Schroeppel, deputies said. It was determined that he had accessed accounts on Snapchat that were linked to sharing the material, they said.

A day later one of Tennants Instagram accounts was used to message underage users asking for explicit images, deputies said.

As investigators were working to identify the users, more material was being uploaded from Tennants address, deputies said.

He was arrested in August after more images were found on his phone and he weas charged with promoting a sexual performance by a child, they said.

He was arraigned and was ordered held in jail on $20,000 bail or $40,000 bond. Tennant was released days later without having to make bail, deputies said. Deputies did not say why he was released.

In January 2023, more images were found on a tablet he owned, prosecutors said. He was arrested again for promoting a sexual performance by a child and disseminating indecent material to a minor and use of a child in a sexual performance, they said.

After Tennants 15 prison sentence, he will also be supervised for a15-year term and register as a sex offender, prosecutors said.

Staff writer Timia Cobb covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at tcobb@syracuse.com.
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS) just released its second-quarter report and things are looking bullish. It was overall a positive result, with revenues beating expectations by 5.5% to hit US$995m. Hasbro also reported a statutory profit of US$0.99, which was an impressive 48% above what the analysts had forecast. The analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. So we collected the latest post-earnings statutory consensus estimates to see what could be in store for next year.

View our latest analysis for Hasbro

After the latest results, the consensus from Hasbro's eleven analysts is for revenues of US$4.16b in 2024, which would reflect a not inconsiderable 8.5% decline in revenue compared to the last year of performance. Hasbro is also expected to turn profitable, with statutory earnings of US$3.34 per share. In the lead-up to this report, the analysts had been modelling revenues of US$4.13b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$3.16 in 2024. The analysts seems to have become more bullish on the business, judging by their new earnings per share estimates.

There's been no major changes to the consensus price target of US$74.50, suggesting that the improved earnings per share outlook is not enough to have a long-term positive impact on the stock's valuation. The consensus price target is just an average of individual analyst targets, so - it could be handy to see how wide the range of underlying estimates is. The most optimistic Hasbro analyst has a price target of US$85.00 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at US$59.00. As you can see, analysts are not all in agreement on the stock's future, but the range of estimates is still reasonably narrow, which could suggest that the outcome is not totally unpredictable.

Of course, another way to look at these forecasts is to place them into context against the industry itself. We would highlight that revenue is expected to reverse, with a forecast 16% annualised decline to the end of 2024. That is a notable change from historical growth of 1.4% over the last five years. Compare this with our data, which suggests that other companies in the same industry are, in aggregate, expected to see their revenue grow 3.0% per year. So although its revenues are forecast to shrink, this cloud does not come with a silver lining - Hasbro is expected to lag the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing here is that the analysts upgraded their earnings per share estimates, suggesting that there has been a clear increase in optimism towards Hasbro following these results. Fortunately, the analysts also reconfirmed their revenue estimates, suggesting that it's tracking in line with expectations. Although our data does suggest that Hasbro's revenue is expected to perform worse than the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at US$74.50, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.

Following on from that line of thought, we think that the long-term prospects of the business are much more relevant than next year's earnings. We have estimates - from multiple Hasbro analysts - going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here.

You still need to take note of risks, for example - Hasbro has 3 warning signs we think you should be aware of.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Spain's competition authority, the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC), has initiated an investigation into Apple's App Store. The probe centers on allegations of anti-competitive practices that may have disadvantaged app developers.

Concerns Over Unfair Trading Conditions

As initially reported by Reuters, CNMC suspects Apple of imposing unfair trading conditions on developers distributing apps through the App Store. This was the most common allegation to the Cupertino giant which was often accused of monopolizing the gaming store.

It's important to note that the commission's decision to launch an ex officio investigation highlights the significant economic influence of app stores and the potential for abuse of dominant market positions.

Potential for Hefty Fines

If found guilty of anti-competitive behavior, Apple could face substantial penalties, with fines potentially reaching up to 10% of its global annual turnover.

With the recent case, the investigation only adds to a growing list of regulatory challenges for the tech giant, reflecting a popular trend of increased scrutiny over the practices of large tech companies.

Wider Regulatory Landscape in Europe

Spain's action follows similar investigations by the European Commission into Apple's App Store practices. The company has already faced significant fines for anti-steering practices related to music streaming apps. Furthermore, the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA) poses additional regulatory hurdles for Apple, with potential penalties for non-compliance.

Apple Denies Wrongdoing

Apple has maintained that its App Store policies are fair and competitive, emphasizing the revenue generated for developers. The company has pledged to cooperate with the Spanish authorities while asserting its position, per MacRumors.

As regulatory pressure intensifies, the Cupertino giant faces a complex challenge in balancing its business interests with the need to comply with increasingly stringent antitrust laws.

The outcome of the Spanish investigation could have far-reaching impacts on the tech industry and the broader digital economy.

Back in May, a Tech Times report said that the iPhone maker was found guilty of interrogating New York City retail employees. According to the US Labor Board, this was deemed illegal. The report mentioned that illegal interrogation was related to the unionization of workers.

For the latest news, Apple is rumored to be using its 5G modem tech next year. The proprietary modem will be used in some of its 2025 models.

The information that the company will replace its standard Qualcomm technology came from Ming-Chi Kuo, a prominent analyst in the tech industry.

It was rumored that the iPhone SE 4 and the iPhone 17 "Ultra Slim" model will receive this upgrade since they are set to be released in 2025. If this is true, this could be a game-changer between the existing and the future iPhone models. A slight improvement in 5G modem could spell a big difference in connectivity.
The recent Bitcoin Conference held in Nashville, Tennessee, saw Presidential nominee, Donald J. Trump, make an appearance, but not only that, there were also promises made regarding the future. To be more precise, it is a future where cryptocurrency will be a massive focus of his administration, and not only that, it will also focus on digital currencies.

A different kind of future for America is dawning, more particularly, with this massive focus on cryptocurrency that Trump will add to his list of focuses once in office.

Trump Promises a US Crypto Focus in Recent Bitcoin Conference

Donald Trump spoke at the recent Bitcoin Conference in Nashville, and he made massive promises for the future of America should he be in power, and that centers on a massive focus on cryptocurrency, according to NBCNews. One of his many claims during the weekend event is making America "the crypto capital" of the world, and not only that, he will also put a spotlight on Bitcoin.

Trump's claim of making Bitcoin a "superpower," one that sets him apart from the opposition as a "crypto advocate."

The Bitcoin Conference saw Trump's room packed with supporters, now banking on a future where cryptocurrency would be a massive priority.

Read Also : Trump2024 Campaign Sparks Controversy with Unauthorized AP Photo Use on X

Donald Trump and What He Will Bring with Cryptocurrency

There are massive claims from Trump apart from his crypto future promise, as he also regarded that once he is in office, one of the first orders of business is to fire SEC Chair Gary Gensler, best known for the strict regulations in the industry.

It was also revealed by Trump that there will be a Bitcoin "stockpile" for America in the future, with a previous report speculating on BTC strategic reserves for the US.

Cryptocurrency and Donald Trump

The Trump era and Bitcoin's first all-time high in the $60,000 mark were regarded to be synonymous, particularly as it was during Donald Trump's term as the US President when BTC reached $64,800 in April 2021. This was the previous highest valuation of the top cryptocurrency, and during this time, the cryptocurrency saw a bullish run but did not have a direct connection.

It was believed that Trump supported the crypto market before, with many considering this because of the many events and happenings, as well as its reign during this time. Back when former POTUS Trump first started in office in 2017, Bitcoin grew to a $2,200 valuation, its highest during that time.

On the other hand, Trump is also known for having an NFT Trading Card collection but sold it in 2022.

Now, it is election season again, and Trump is gunning for America's highest power, with many believing that if he takes the seat, there would be a significant future for crypto. This was confirmed in the most recent Bitcoin Conference where Trump took the stage and revealed the cryptocurrency future for the country, making the US a 'crypto capital' soon.
RgStudio / Getty Images

According to a recent survey from CNBC, 53% of Americans feel theyre lagging when it comes to retirement planning and savings. With the median balance of a retirement savings account at around $87,00, per data from the Federal Reserve, the idea of retiring early may seem like a fantasy. However, we spoke with someone who retired early, and well be sharing tips on how you could do so as well.

What are general money tricks that can help you retire early as a millionaire?

Check Out: Im a Self-Made Millionaire: 6 Steps I Took To Become Rich on an Average Salary

Read Next: 6 Subtly Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them.

Advice on How You Can Retire Early

Since retiring early is a goal that many people have on their minds, we want to help you create a plan to make this a reality.

Run the Numbers

Paul Gabrail, the founder and host of Everything Money, left a traditional job to focus his energy on projects that hes interested in. He considers himself retired because he has the cash flow to cover his expenses and can spend his time as he wishes without needing to find employment. He was able to leave his job and live life on his own terms at the age of 43 by focusing on the math involved with retirement planning.

There are no silver bullets when it comes to early retirement, noted Gabrail. Spend less and save more is timeless, tried and true.

You should do your best to determine how much money youll need to live comfortably in retirement. Your retirement number will vary depending on your lifestyle and housing costs. However, the goal is to run the numbers so that you can figure out how much money youre going to need to save or have invested in assets so that you can leave your job 10-plus years earlier. In many cases, youre going to have to focus on being a self-made millionaire so that you can be wealthy enough to leave your job so soon.

Once you determine the amount you need, youll want to find a wealth-building strategy to accelerate the process.

Money Expert: I Followed Mark Cubans Genius Advice and Am on Track To Become a Millionaire

Build a Real Estate Portfolio

One tactical investment tip that can help contribute to increased revenue (and more opportunity to save) is through building a real estate rental portfolio, shared Gabrial. While there are various options for building wealth, like starting a business or pursuing a well-paying career, Gabriel chose to focus on building a real estate portfolio.

He warned that investing in real estate isnt free money and that it still requires a lot of work, but it can be worth it if you want to leave your job earlier. Investing in rental properties allowed Gabrial to build up a passive income stream that helped him cover his expenses so that he didnt have to rely on his job. Now, he gets to spend his time working on projects that he cares about.

Story continues

Gabrial added, By building a rental portfolio and starting early (buying one rental a year starting in your mid-20s), you can get a lot closer to retirement sooner.

Expert Advice for What You Can Do To Retire Earlier

If you want to start planning an early retirement, heres some expert advice on what you can do to begin the process.

Set a Target Date

First things first  you need to decide what your target retirement date is, said Erika Kullberg, an attorney, personal finance expert and founder of Erika.com. You have flexibility here if your financial goals or plans change over the years, but you need to know what year youre going to try to work toward.

If you want to retire 10 years early, youll have to choose a rough timeline and work backward to develop a plan for getting there.

Work With the Numbers You Calculated

The next step involves crunching the numbers and making sense of the finances to figure out what it would take to leave your job sooner. This will also require figuring out how much money you can pull out from your investment accounts.

Instead of thinking of yourself as rich, focus on the amount of income your portfolio can safely generate over time, said Katherine Fox, certified financial planner and founder of Sunnybranch Wealth. If youre in your 30s or 40s, youre going to want to use an especially conservative estimate in the early years of your retirement. As time goes on and you get more comfortable living on a fixed income from your portfolio, you can adjust as necessary.

The goal is to work with your numbers and timeline to figure out how you can become a millionaire and retire early. If youre going to invest in real estate, this will include figuring out how many properties you have to invest in or what kind of cash flow you have to create to leave your job.

Once you know how much you need to save to retire, you can divide that number by the number of years left until the deadline to determine how much you need to save each year.

Take Advantage of Retirement Accounts

Simply maxing out your companys 401(k) likely isnt enough to get the job done, although that is a great place to start, remarked Kullberg. Maxing out your 401(k) will help you enjoy the most tax benefits which can stretch your retirement savings further. 

Once you do this, youll want to consider contributing extra money to an IRA to save money on taxes today or in the future, depending on which account you go with.

Evaluate Your Lifestyle Choices

For most people, saving enough money to retire early will take a lot of sacrifices in the here and now, so you may have to reconsider your current lifestyle choices, said Kullberg.

Its worth pointing out that these sacrifices may be worth it when you get to enjoy a longer retirement than most. However, you have to commit by making some serious lifestyle changes while youre still working.

Kullberg concluded, Life is expensive and when you retire early you not only end up on a fixed income sooner than most people, you have less time to earn the money you need to build out your retirement savings. To be able to retire early and live comfortably, you must have a savings plan in place and be ready to be very disciplined.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I Retired a Millionaire 10 Years Early: Try These 6 Money Tricks To Help You Get Rich, Too
Bearded fireworm stalks shallows as Mediterranean warms



Marzamemi, Italy, July 28 (AFP) Jul 28, 2024



The fish in Alfonso Barone's net are hauled aboard off Sicily half- eaten, ravaged by bearded fireworms, a voracious predator flourishing in the increasingly warm Mediterranean sea.

The centipede-like creatures, around 15 to 30 centimetres (6-12 inches) long, devour everything from coral to the dying or dead catch in fishing nets -- and rising sea temperatures caused by climate change are drastically boosting their numbers.

Barone pulls a long, wriggling red worm off a headless mackerel in his boat. Its venomous white bristles come off at the slightest touch and the 34-year-old says he has been stung several times, once even in the eye.

The fish are attacked as soon as they get caught in the net.

"They eat the head, the whole body, they gut it," Barone said as he pulled up a mangled sea bream while fishing off the village of Marzamemi, on the southeastern tip of Sicily.

Fireworms are native to the Mediterranean but used to be fewer in number and spotted only off Sicily in summer.

"With global warming the waters are heating up and becoming an ideal habitat for them, and they are growing in number, year on year... the whole year round," said Barone, who has fished since boyhood.

Gnawed fish cannot be sold, so fishermen reduce the time the nets are down in a bid to stop a feeding frenzy -- resulting in a smaller catch, bits of which come adorned anyway with brown, green or red fireworms.

"They used to eat around 30 percent of the catch... Now that's gone up to 70 percent," Barone said.



- Scavenger and predator -



The worms are also migrating north. Francesco Tiralongo, a zoologist who heads a University of Catania project to study the fireworm, has recorded cases in Calabria, southern Italy.

The bearded fireworm "is an opportunistic species that behaves both as predator and scavenger" and "there are impressive quantities of them... in very shallow waters," Tiralongo told AFP.

On Marzamemi's beach, many nervous bathers don masks or water shoes before diving in.

Fabiana Davanzo, a 56-year-old tourist from Milan, said she refused to "let it ruin my holiday, but I do always go in with my mask on so I can see the sea floor".

As he gingerly dipped his toes in the water, holidaymaker Salvatore Lazzaro, 51, said he was stung by an unidentified creature the previous day, but was braving the water once more under a sweltering sun.

Spooked swimmers and frustrated fishers are not the only problem.

"Climate warming is provoking several changes in the Mediterranean which will probably be exacerbated in the coming years," according to Federico Betti, an expert in invasive species at the University of Genoa.

The average temperature of the Mediterranean has increased by around 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) in the last 40 years, he said.



- 'Profound changes' -



Warmer seas mean fewer seasonal variations in species, damage to deep water communities and loss of habitat, leading to more homogeneous environments unable to support rich and diverse ecosystems.

The heat can also provoke mass mortality events in which vast numbers of a certain species die, Betti said.

Other species relish it: There has been an increase in tropical, non-native species in the Mediterranean that "cause profound changes in marine ecosystems", Tiralongo said.

Those include the blue crab, which is devastating shellfish production in the Po delta in northern Italy.

The crabs have no natural predators, though Italians are attempting to turn them into a resource by harvesting them to eat.

But bearded fireworm spaghetti is not an option. And while more research needs to be done into possible solutions, Tiralongo has already made a disconcerting discovery.

"You can't kill a fireworm by cutting it in half, it has excellent regeneration capabilities," he said.

"If you slice it in two, not only does the part with the head regenerate a back half, but the back half manages in about 22 days to regenerate a head."
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Rite Aid closed another 40 stores last week  27 in Michigan and 13 in Ohio  bringing the total number of stores it has closed since filing for bankruptcy in October 2023 to 694.

That total, based on an abc27 News analysis of court filings and ScrapeHero data, is just six stores shy of the worst-case scenario of 700 stores forecast by one analyst shortly before the bankruptcy filing  a forecast which, in turn, was higher than those of other analysts, some of whom said the chain could close as few as 200 to 300 stores.

The 694 closed stores represent 34% of the 2,063 stores Rite Aid operated when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The newly-announced closures  exclusively in Michigan and Ohio, as has been the case with round after round of stores closures for about two months  mean Rite Aid will have soon closed 75% of its Michigan stores and 74% of its Ohio stores.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

This Week in Pennsylvania

Before the chain filed for bankruptcy, Michigan and Ohio were, respectively, Rite Aids fourth and fifth biggest state markets. Now Rite Aids five biggest markets, by stores in each state, are Pennsylvania (351 stores), California (351 stores), New York (182 stores), Washington state (99 stores) and New Jersey (61 stores). Rite Aid is headquartered in Philadelphia, where it moved in 2021 from Camp Hill.

In its three biggest markets, Rite Aid has closed 20% of its Pennsylvania stores, 22% of its California stores and 24% of its New York stores.

The company hasnt responded to questions about whether it is withdrawing entirely from Michigan and Ohio.

After the recently-announced closures, Rite Aid will operates 58 stores in Michigan and 48 stores in Ohio, based on the abc27 analysis of court filings and ScrapeHero data. If it were to continue closing all stores in those two states and no stores in other states, as has been its recent practice, that would bring its total number of bankruptcy-era store closures to 800, or 39% of the 2,063 stores it operated when it filed for bankruptcy.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
California fire rapidly reaches state's top 10 biggest ever



Chico, United States, July 28 (AFP) Jul 28, 2024



A fire raging out of control in northern California has rapidly become among the biggest ever in the western US state, authorities said Saturday.

The so-called Park Fire burned more than 350,000 acres (142,000 hectares) as of Saturday evening, making it the seventh-largest ever recorded in California history, the state agency Cal Fire said.

The fire, which prompted orders for more than 4,000 people to flee their homes, was burning through a largely rural, mountainous area near the city of Chico, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) north of state capital Sacramento.

"Extreme fire conditions continue to challenge firefighters," Cal Fire said in a post on X.

The fire was just 10 percent controlled, despite the efforts of more than 3,700 personnel with over a dozen helicopters and several planes, according to an agency update.

"Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the State are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow," it said.

"Lower temperatures and higher humidity have reduced fire activity," the agency said, while adding that fire was still spreading.

The Park Fire started Wednesday near Chico, in Butte County, and within hours had devastated a wide area there and in neighboring Tehama County.

Cal Fire's latest update said 20 structures were confirmed destroyed by the fire, lowering an earlier estimate of 134.

The agency said the numbers were expected to fluctuate as officials assess the damage on the ground.

The blaze has generated an enormous column of dense gray smoke which has also been blown over nearby states.

On Thursday, police detained a 42-year-old man on suspicion of having started the fire by pushing a burning car into a ravine.

Chico is only about 15 miles from Paradise, a city devastated by a 2018 fire that ranked as California's most deadly ever, claiming 85 lives.

The explosive growth of the Park Fire has again placed Paradise under evacuation warning, unleashing painful memories for its residents.

Ava Elsner, who lived through the 2018 fire, told CNN she worries about her neighbors as the Park Fire blazes.

"I don't want anyone else to experience this. It's the most traumatizing, terrifying, and saddening thing to have a whole community go up in flames," she told the broadcaster.

Experts say climate change, accelerated by human action, is leading to more extreme weather events.

In Oregon, the Durkee Fire, which started earlier this month, has consumed nearly 290,000 acres and was about 50 percent contained, the state's wildfire response and recovery agency said.
As global markets exhibit mixed signals with ongoing adjustments in major indices, the Hong Kong market remains a focal point for investors seeking growth opportunities. In this context, identifying SEHK-listed growth companies with high insider ownership and robust earnings growth becomes particularly compelling, offering potential resilience and alignment of interests between shareholders and management.

Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In Hong Kong

Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth iDreamSky Technology Holdings (SEHK:1119) 20.2% 104.1% Tian Tu Capital (SEHK:1973) 34% 70.5% Fenbi (SEHK:2469) 30.6% 42.8% Adicon Holdings (SEHK:9860) 22.4% 28.3% Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology (SEHK:9863) 15% 73% DPC Dash (SEHK:1405) 38.2% 90.5% Zylox-Tonbridge Medical Technology (SEHK:2190) 18.7% 79.3% Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) (SEHK:2315) 13.9% 100.1% Ocumension Therapeutics (SEHK:1477) 23.3% 93.7% Beijing Airdoc Technology (SEHK:2251) 28.7% 83.9%

Click here to see the full list of 54 stocks from our Fast Growing SEHK Companies With High Insider Ownership screener.

We're going to check out a few of the best picks from our screener tool.

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Meitu, Inc. is an investment holding company that specializes in developing products for image, video, and design enhancement to promote digitalization in the beauty industry, operating both in the Peoples Republic of China and internationally, with a market cap of HK$11.20 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue primarily through its Internet Business segment, which amounted to CN2.70 billion.

Insider Ownership: 36.6%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 28.6% p.a.

Meitu, Inc. has shown robust growth with earnings up by 301.8% last year and expected to grow at 28.58% annually. Despite trading at 76.8% below its estimated fair value, its revenue growth forecast of 17.7% per year lags behind the significant benchmark of 20%. Insider activity is mixed with more buying than selling in recent months but no substantial purchases in the last quarter, reflecting cautious optimism among those closest to company operations. Recent corporate governance changes include board reshuffles and dividend declarations, enhancing shareholder engagement and potentially stabilizing governance structures.

SEHK:1357 Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: DPC Dash Ltd operates a chain of fast-food restaurants in the Peoples Republic of China and has a market capitalization of approximately HK$9.05 billion.

Story continues

Operations: The company generates CN3.05 billion in revenue from its fast-food restaurant operations across China.

Insider Ownership: 38.2%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 90.5% p.a.

DPC Dash Ltd., a growth-oriented firm in Hong Kong, recently celebrated the opening of its 900th store, underscoring a rapid expansion strategy with plans to open 240 new stores this year. Despite trading at 62.4% below its fair value, DPC Dash is expected to become profitable within three years with earnings forecasted to grow by 90.46% annually and revenue increasing at 24.8% per yearsubstantially outpacing the market average of 7.4%. Insider buying activity has been positive, though not in large volumes, indicating cautious yet optimistic insider sentiment towards the company's growth trajectory.

SEHK:1405 Ownership Breakdown as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Xiamen Yan Palace Bird's Nest Industry Co., Ltd. focuses on the research, development, production, and marketing of edible birds nest products in China, with a market capitalization of HK$6.68 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue through various segments, including sales to online distributors (CN16.75 million), offline distributors (CN509.04 million), direct sales to online customers (CN824.40 million), offline customers (CN351.17 million), and e-commerce platforms (CN262.89 million).

Insider Ownership: 26.7%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 14.8% p.a.

Xiamen Yan Palace Bird's Nest Industry, despite a projected net profit decline of 40% to 50% for the first half of 2024, continues to see revenue growth, expected between RMB 1.05 billion and RMB 1.09 billionan increase of about 10% to 15%. This growth is supported by robust online sales despite a tough operating environment. The companys earnings are set to outpace the Hong Kong market with an annual forecast growth rate of approximately 14.8%, while its revenue growth also surpasses local market averages at about 12.5% annually. However, there has been no significant insider buying or selling in the past three months, and recent amendments to company bylaws could indicate strategic shifts or stabilization efforts.

SEHK:1497 Ownership Breakdown as at Jul 2024

Make It Happen

Click through to start exploring the rest of the 51 Fast Growing SEHK Companies With High Insider Ownership now.

Are these companies part of your investment strategy? Use Simply Wall St to consolidate your holdings into a portfolio and gain insights with our comprehensive analysis tools.

Simply Wall St is your key to unlocking global market trends, a free user-friendly app for forward-thinking investors.

Ready To Venture Into Other Investment Styles?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years.

Companies discussed in this article include SEHK:1357 SEHK:1405 and SEHK:1497.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Even where holdings dont influence ministerial decisions, they create a perception of a conflict of interest which can damage public confidence in our political system, says Johnson. In America, scrutiny of politicians share trades is nothing new, and rightly so, with numerous suspicious trades occurring before large market moves. Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Credit: Getty Nancy Pelosi, a senior Democrat and former speaker, is satirically regarded as one of the best traders of all time. She reportedly returned a portfolio gain of 65 per cent in 2023, easily beating the S&P 500s gain of 24 per cent, as well as the returns of every hedge fund on Wall Street.

With an estimated net worth of $US250 million ($381.7 million), she famously bought $US5 million of Nvidia shares in July 2023, before the chipmaker rocketed 180 per cent in the following 6 months. Last year, while studying a journalism degree in New York, I briefly managed the Nancy Pelosi Stock Tracker Twitter account, which tracks unusual trades made by American politicians. I documented multiple trades by politicians shortly before the Silicon Valley Bank crisis, in which several politicians sold millions of dollars of banking shares days before the prices of regional banks plummeted. One of the most bizarre I uncovered, and one that was run by the Wall Street Journal, was a New York congresswoman who purchased shares in one of the failing banks a day before they were taken over, jumping 30 per cent the next day. These trades were only uncovered thanks to independently created registers, such as the Capitol Trades website, that tracks the disclosures, the size and date of congressional trades. We have no such tool in Australia, other than the parliamentary register of interests, which provides scant information, only requiring parliamentarians interests be declared.

While we dont have any Nancy Pelosis (that we know of), we do have a Barnaby Joyce, who appears to be taking a liking to meme stocks. Barnaby Joyce has declared interests in various mining shares, Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Recently, a most curious disclosure from Barnaby Joyces register of interests is the purchases in the defunct Bougainville Copper in March of this year. In the same filing, Joyce discloses the opening of Superhero and Spaceship trading accounts. Bougainville Copper is a Papua New Guinean company that has not undertaken any operations since 1989 but from February to March became a meme stock, jumping over 100 per cent on multiple days following an announcement relating to an exploration permit. Joyce has also declared a purchase of Lynas shares, the largest rare earths producer outside of China, for one of his children a month before Gina Rinehart, to whom he has had much to do with, also took a substantial holding in.

Other notable recent trades included those of Keith Pitt, the former resources minister who, earlier this month, purchased shares in several fossil fuel companies  Stanmore Resources, Woodside, Whitehaven Coal, and Coronado Global Resources. Also not afraid of coal is Pauline Hanson, who has a declared an investment in Queensland coal company Bowen Coking Coal. Then there is Assistant Health Minister Ged Kearneys spouse Leigh Hubbard, who appears to be a lithium and rare earths speculator. In Kearneys 2022 declaration of interests, she reveals his holdings in Vulcan Energy, Syrah Resources, Galan Lithium, Lake Resources, Arafura Rare Earths (which received $840 million from Labor in March) and Northern Minerals, which was recently the subject of forced divestment from Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Ged Kearneys husband Leigh Hubbard has 36 shareholdings across various regulated and subsidised companies. Its not a good look, says Johnson.

To be clear, I am not suggesting any insider trading or anything untoward has or is occurring in our politics, but rather there is a perception that it could occur under the existing system. Loading Family and staff purchases should be considered the same as purchases made by the members of parliament and be subject to equal levels of restrictions and scrutiny in any new legislation. At the very least, the public should have access to information regarding the size and exact date of transactions as they do in the US. From my experience as a trader, I can tell you the ASX is already as leaky as a sieve when it comes to share prices moving significantly before market-sensitive announcements such as contract wins or drilling results. If America is moving to ban politicians from trading shares, we should trump them and go one better in banning backbenchers, their immediate family and staffers too.
Working closely with young children and their families is essential to promoting positive paths rather than a life of crime, he insists. Loading Lack of intervention is also incredibly stupid in terms of policy planning, Homel says, as the cost of instead reacting to youth crime is far greater. The cheapest way of stopping kids getting into trouble and also exhibiting mental health problems and a whole range of other negative outcomes, is to work with families and the kids themselves when theyre young, he says. A University of Queensland study last week found children with access to quality early education - in the first five years of life - are more likely to thrive.

Researcher Karen Thorpe says key contributors to developmental outcomes are educators relationships with kids, educational programs and physical environments. Educational excellence also includes a safe, calm environment and sufficient staff to encourage kids to develop a love of learning, but she fears there is currently is not enough workforce investment to help keep kids off the streets. The workforce crisis looks like not enough people attracted in the first place and people leaving or moving between centres to get more money, says Ms Thorpe, who is also a spokeswoman for Mindaroo Foundation campaign Thrive by Five. The economic, social and neuroscience evidence is this is the most important place to invest and yet we pay staff in this area the least. Thorpe says disadvantaged areas require most staffing investment although the national standard may not fit every early childhood centre.

More disadvantaged areas have kids with more complexities so having the same number of staff (as advantaged areas) is not equitable. Loading Both major Queensland political parties have made strong promises around youth crime in the lead-up to polling day and as voters seemingly grow more frustrated. Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows the states young offender population increased six per cent to 10,878 last year. Serious repeat offenders increased from 465 to 482 kids since 2022. However, the latest data reportedly suggests the Queensland governments youth justice policy is making inroads.

A youth co-responder program has led to 12 per cent fewer kids reoffending six months after connecting with the scheme, a government-commissioned review reveals. Serious repeat offenders - which represent one fifth of youth crime and half the offences committed - have recorded the most significant decrease in criminal behaviour. Nearly three quarters have committed fewer offences in the six months after engaging with the program. The Liberal National opposition isnt buying it, insisting that young people are continuing to transgress despite intermittent changes to rates of offending. Leader David Crisafulli has instead laid down a hard-line adult-time-for-adult-crime policy where child offenders would receive longer sentences.

The LNP also wants to remove detention as a last resort entirely from legislation. Loading In contrast, Premier Steven Miles government recently replaced the phrase detention as a last resort with detention where necessary in a bid to appease voters demanding a crackdown. Homel says current policies around youth detention are a sham. Here we are in 2024 with the human rights atrocities and the horrors that both sides of politics in Queensland are inflicting on the most disadvantaged, most vulnerable kids in our community, he says.

Throwing money and policy into treatment is difficult to achieve when kids are already entrenched in a life of crime, while overcrowding in Queenslands detention system only makes it more difficult. The state has the highest number of detained kids in the country, according to the government-commissioned Child Death Review report released in March. First Nations children are significantly over-represented, with 64 per cent of 10- to 17-year-olds under youth justice supervision and 66 per cent in detention identified as Indigenous in 2021-22. Thorpe says the policies being announced by both parties are short-term and reactive. Were not saying we put all our money into one thing and ignore the fact there is a crime problem and a youth crime problem but the evidence is that punitive responses dont work in the long term, she says.
Prahran Market chief executive Noel Dempsey said the market and its tenants needed to evolve to meet the needs of shoppers and a shifting demographic, tilting towards more young professionals under 40 with no kids. Loading The expiry of any lease is a chance to review and evaluate every offer we have in the market and ensure it is both in line with our vision and also has an appropriate level of investment to look fresh, he said. A City of Stonnington spokeswoman said the council had appointed management to run the centre and make independent decisions about tenancies. The entire Prahran retail precinct has continued to be impacted by a change in customer behaviours since the pandemic, and council expects the markets management to improve the Prahran Market as a valuable community-owned asset by ensuring its commercial success, she said.

Manny Jardim, owner of Cheese Shop Deli, is being evicted from early September. Jardim and his wife bought the business for $240,000 when his family migrated to Australia in 2017. His lease is also not being renewed, and Jardim said he was never given an option to stay by renovating the store. His shop will be taken over by a Gippsland-based provedore. Prahran market traders and owners of The Cheese Shop Deli Manny and Maria Jardim say theyre being forced out. Credit: Penny Stephens Ive invested a lot of time and money in the store, about $300,000 if not more, and it took me seven years to build a customer base  and basically, Im getting kicked out, he said. They just took my store and gave it to somebody else just like that.

Jardim said the eviction had destroyed his familys plans. Were disappointed and upset, he said. Ive never missed a month of rent. Ive tried my best and hardest. Me and my wife will be unemployed from September. We had a bit of money saved up so we could buy a house this year. Now everything is gone. Im walking away with nothing. Other long-time traders also no longer operate at the market after being offered terms they were not comfortable with. Jardim fears the market is becoming too fancy and feeling more like a shopping centre.

Loading Shoppers have been rallying to support traders by writing to the council and market management to oppose recent evictions. One shopper, Claudia, told The Age: I am not in favour of the market going too upmarket, it is gradually losing its identity. The Cheese Shop Deli has some of the lowest prices in the market. We wonder if this is why they are being forced out. Dempsey said the market generally wanted to be supportive of traders and insisted management had behaved appropriately and fairly.

That doesnt mean that there arent difficult decisions that need to be made over time to ensure we have the right mix of products and traders, he said. Dempsey said anyone purchasing a business knew that there was no guarantee a lease would be extended and it was normal to expect traders to refresh their shop at the end of a lease. Were not picking on tenants, he said. Dempsey said foot traffic at the market was down 2.7 per cent last financial year, partly due to disruption from construction at the site. The council is about halfway through $12 million in renewal works. Dempsey said the market ran at a small operating surplus and to attract more people and stay relevant, it needed to offer interesting experiences and products.

Loading Markets are definitely changing, he said. Dempsey said he had heard from customers disappointed to be losing certain traders. Once we have explained the circumstances and the need to continue to evolve our retail mix, most of the customers I have communicated with understand, he said. Hus shop will be combined with its neighbouring stall and leased to a pet supplies business.
His attempt to conflate housing affordability and development with Victorias cultural heritage laws is an attempt to appease and throw some red meat towards the extremist right wing in his party. Concern about the cultural heritage regime was one of the main reasons given for the oppositions dumping last year of its support for a treaty with Victorias First Nations peoples. At the time, Indigenous groups blasted the move as dog-whistling. On Sunday, Pesutto rejected that characterisation. This does not in any way detract from the substantive cultural heritage processes in place. What we want to do, though, is put some certainty around the process ... people dont know what theyre dealing with once the process commences, he said. A lot of investors and builders are saying that the costs have to be passed on and they are substantial extra costs that homebuyers are paying because of the delays, and the delays in some cases that Ive been made aware of are years-long delays.

Now, were facing a housing crisis in Victoria the Labor governments doing nothing to address it. Were coming up with a fairly sensible and reasonable approach. Pesutto said similar expectations would be placed on Melbourne Water which he said often took an unreasonable period to make straightforward decisions. Stewart said any proper examination of housing red tape would examine the role of local councils. If [Pesutto] was serious about tackling the housing issues he could start by looking at local councils. He could then address the alarming delays in local government approvals which is causing 90 per cent of the issues, not playing punch down politics towards traditional owners, he said. Nira illim bulluk man of the Taungurung Nation and inaugural Co-Chair of the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria, Marcus Stewart. Credit: Chris Hopkins

Andy Gargett, who finished a four-year term as chief executive of the First Peoples Assembly in June and is now a director at Labor-linked consultancy Hawker Britton, said the policy was a dog-whistle that would cost the Liberal Party votes in inner-Melbourne seats which voted strongly in favour of the Voice to Parliament in last years referendum. Loading This nonsense might protect his leadership from the far right internally but will cost him his seat, said Gargett. He is on a margin of (772) votes in his seat, while 60 per cent of his electorate voted yes. Former Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council director Matthew Storey said it would be difficult to put set time limits on a cultural heritage process because so much depended on the scale of a proposal and its particular location. That is no different from environmental approvals, he said.

Why is Mr Pesutto picking on Aboriginal cultural heritage as the impediment to development? For some reason he is calling out Aboriginal cultural heritage ... he is dog-whistling to racists. Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins said the policy could have only a marginal impact with around just 1 per cent of developments requiring a cultural heritage management plan. John Pesutto claims to be a moderate but he and his Liberals have once again failed to consult with traditional owners or Aboriginal communities, she said. An Urban Development Institute of Australia Victoria spokesperson said the states planning system was notoriously inefficient. Long delays associated with utility authorities, heritage assessment and conservation management are also major barriers to growth area development. All of which are blowing out the cost to deliver new housing, they said.

Indigenous groups have also previously complained that they do not have the resources to handle the quantity of applications they need to assess. Asked if he agreed the groups might need greater resourcing, Pesutto said the opposition would look at resourcing issues. We want to make sure that the cultural heritage process can work effectively for Indigenous communities obviously, but also where we can reduce unnecessary delay, of course, we will get extra resourcing but were not hearing that thats necessarily the case, he said. What a lot of builders are saying is they simply cant get information, even sometimes to basic questions. So were just trying to iron out some of those problems, which shouldnt be about really resourcing. Pesuttos leadership received a boost on the weekend after moderates aligned with his faction swept the election to key posts in the partys administration.
On the islands northern tip in tranquil Pollonia is boutique hotel Delmar Apartments & Suites. Spacious and bo-ho chic, the distinctly cycladic rooms are tactile with wooden and linen materials, whitewashed walls and balcony daybeds that receive a sea breeze. A highlight is its Greek breakfast of fresh fruit, feta omelettes and yoghurt smoothies, doorstep-delivered each morning. Then its just a stroll to the beach or the cluster of sand-side tavernas such as farm-to-fork Enalion restaurant and Greek designer-centric clothing store Vanilla Gold. See delmar.gr The boat tour Kleftiko is one of the best swimming spots and can be reached via a hire boat. Credit: iStock Some of the best swimming spots here are accessible only by water. Eschew the large tour boats and splash out on a five-hour self-drive speedboat  even better, invest an extra 50 ($80) for a skipper. So instead of driving, you can simply soak up the south coast and dive into Kleftiko, a dazzling aqua world with clear water, white cliffs and caves featuring purple and gold tints. Explore the surreal abandoned sulphur mine at Paliorema beach, studded with yellow pebbles, and drop anchor at remote Gerakas Beach. See asteriasboats.gr The restaurant

Milos signature sight: the Syrmt, or picturesque fishermen cottages of Klima. Credit: Getty Images At Astakas restaurant cafe, you can happily kill two birds with one stone. The freshest grilled octopus and squid, fava hummus, shrimp pasta or sea bass comes with a free side of Milos signature sight: the syrmt, or picturesque fishermen cottages of Klima. The yellow, green, red and blue painted buildings were identifiable beacons for homeward seafarers and are mid-meal eye candy. Pick your fish from the fresh-catch fridge, and for a waterside seat, go at lunch or book ahead for a sunset dinner. No website, see Facebook. The village If you close your eyes for a moment and imagine what a traditional Greek chora (main town) should look like, its (mostly) car-free Plaka. The clifftop streets of Plaka, the original island capital, are a labyrinth of lanes where felines slink, the buildings are meticulously white-washed, the shutters painted blue and the bougainvillea seemingly always in bloom. Its the perfect place to get lost at dusk when the restaurants and bars spring to life. The sunset viewpoint

Sunset from Milos main town of Plaka. Credit: iStock In this part of the world, sunsets are an event  fiery magma explosions with the impact of a Zeus thunderbolt. Hordes head to Plakas Panagia Korfiatissa church with a to-go cocktail from nearby Utopia cafe in hand. But if selfie-sticks in the face isnt your thing, find sunset solitude at the tiny Prophet Elias holy chapel. A 10-minute hike through an ancient olive grove near the delightful village of Tripiti and up a rocky staircase to a cliffside perch will offer a box seat for Mother Natures big show. Same sunset, no crowds. Loading The archaeological site The islands most famous archaeological treasure is on a permanent holiday in Paris  Venus de Milo, also known as Aphrodite of Melos, resides in the Louvre  but showstoppers such as the Roman Theatre remain. The ancient world seems a finger-click away as you roam the stage or orchestra pit with sparkling Milos Bay as a backdrop, or sit among the rows of carefully restored marble. Recently renovated, it holds 700 people (the original held 7000) and the incredible acoustics can be appreciated during summer performances.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size When his book, Hillbilly Elegy, was published in 2016, J.D. Vance sent an email apologising to a close friend from his Yale Law School days. The friend identified as transgender, but Vance referred to them in the book as a lesbian. Hey Sofes, heres an excerpt from my book, Vance wrote to his friend, Sofia Nelson. I send this to you not just to brag, but because Im sure if you read it youll notice reference to an extremely progressive lesbian. I recognise now that this may not accurately reflect how you think of yourself, and for that I am really sorry, he wrote. I hope youre not offended, but if you are, Im sorry! Love you, J.D. Nelson wrote back the same day, calling Vance buddy and thanking him for being sweet, adding, If you had written gender queer radical pragmatist, nobody would know what you mean. Nelson asked for an autographed copy, then signed off with, Love, Sofia. Senator J.D. Vance speaks during a a campaign stop at a high school in his hometown of Middletown, Ohio. Credit: Jamie Kelter Davis/The New York Times That exchange is from a series of emails between two friends, part of a close-knit group of 16 students who remained together throughout their first law school semester in the fall of 2010. As now-Senator Vance seeks the vice presidency, Nelson has shared about 90 of their emails and text messages, primarily from 2014 through 2017, with The New York Times. The emails, in which Vance criticises former president Donald Trump both for racism and as a morally reprehensible human being, add to an existing body of evidence showing Vances ideological pivot from Never Trumper to Trumps running mate.

Advertisement

And they reflect a young man quite different from the hard-right culture warrior of today who back then brought homemade baked goods to his friend after Nelson underwent transition-related surgery. The visit cemented their bond. The content of the conversation was, Nelson said in an interview with the Times, I dont understand what youre doing, but I support you. And that meant a lot to me at the time, because I think that was the foundation of our friendship. The political views of the two were sharply divergent, but their friendship would continue for a decade, strengthened by their shared Midwestern roots  Nelson grew up in western Michigan and Vance in Ohio  and cynical views of Ivy League elitism. Sofia Nelson, a public defender, outside a courthouse in Detroit. Credit: Sylvia Jarrus/The New York Times Nelson, a Tufts University graduate, had received a prestigious Truman scholarship for law school, indicating a desire to work in public service. At times, they exchanged messages infrequently. At other times, they would have energetic back-and-forths several times a week. And their talks reflected the history playing out around them  protests against police violence in Ferguson, Missouri, the massacre of Black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, and the 2016 campaign between Trump and Hillary Clinton. Their conversations were notable not only for Vances harsh comments about Trump, but also for the tenderness and thoughtful tone in the messages. They provide what may be a textbook example of respectful discourse, revealing a cultural willingness by Vance to accept Nelsons gender identity, which sharply differs from the anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments evident at the Republican National Convention.

Advertisement

Nelson, now a public defender in Detroit, said they visited each others homes, talked on Zoom during the pandemic and exchanged long emails discussing a range of subjects, from the minutiae of daily life to weighty discussions of current events and public policy issues. Nelson attended Vances wedding in Kentucky in 2014. They pondered doing a podcast together  he suggested they call it The Lunatic Fringe. But Nelson and Vance had a falling out in 2021, when Vance said publicly he supported an Arkansas ban on gender-affirming care for minors, leading to a bitter exchange that deeply hurt Nelson. He achieved great success and became very rich by being a Never Trumper who explained the white working class to the liberal elite, Nelson said, referring to Vances successful 2016 book. Now hes amassing even more power by expressing the exact opposite. Then senate candidate J.D. Vance signs a copy of his memoir Hillbilly Elegy during a campaign event in Portsmouth, Ohio in 2022. Credit: Brian Kaiser/The New York Times Now, Nelson, who opposes the Trump/Vance ticket, hopes the emails inform the opinion of voters about Vance. Responding to a request for comment on the emails, Luke Schroeder, a spokesperson for the Vance campaign, issued a statement: Its unfortunate this individual chose to leak decade-old private conversations between friends to The New York Times. Senator Vance values his friendships with individuals across the political spectrum. He has been open about the fact that some of his views from a decade ago began to change after becoming a dad and starting a family, and he has thoroughly explained why he changed his mind on President Trump. Despite their disagreements, Senator Vance cares for Sofia and wishes Sofia the very best.

Advertisement

Charting his own path In 2014, they were both near the beginning of their careers, about a year out of law school. Vance shared that he was planning to buy a house in Washington, DC, with his wife, Usha, whom he also met at Yale. The Vances could afford a house in Washingtons highly-priced market partly because Vance was starting a job in Big Law. Blech, he wrote then, indicating his distaste for a career he had already decided against. He would remain with the white-shoe firm Sidley Austin for less than two years. Loading In the same exchange, Vance also wrote about his wifes interviews with justices of the Supreme Court, where she was seeking a clerkship. Vance worried that her seeming politically neutral, or lack of ideological chops, could harm her chances. Scalia and Kagan moved very quickly, Vance wrote, referring to Antonin Scalia, the conservative justice who died in 2016, and Elena Kagan, one of the courts current three liberal justices, but she was just not going to work out for Scalia.

Advertisement

Nelson wrote back, His homophobic screeds are hard to believe in 2014. Hes become a very shrill old man, Vance responded. I used to really like him, and I used to believe all of his stuff about judicial minimalism was sincere. Now I see it as a political charade. Usha Vance would end up clerking for Chief Justice John Roberts. On cops, body cams and Pride Day Like their conversations, Vance could be surprising. In October 2014, after the killing of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old Black man, by a white police officer in Ferguson, Nelson raised the idea of requiring that police officers wear body cameras.

Advertisement




Image source: Getty Images

Costco differs from other stores in that you need to be a paid member to be able to walk in the door. At a regular supermarket or big-box retailer, that concept doesn't apply.

But even if it doesn't make sense for you to pay for a membership, that doesn't mean shopping at Costco is off the table. Non-members are allowed to place orders on Costco.com.

While certain online items are designated as members only (meaning, you can't buy them as a non-member), the bulk of Costco's online inventory is available to anyone willing to pay -- member or not.

But shopping at Costco.com without a membership will cost you extra money. If you're placing online orders frequently, it could make sense to spring for a membership.

You're going to pay up as a non-member

Costco uses the revenue it collects in membership fees to offset its costs. As a non-member, you're not contributing there, so Costco's policy is to allow non-members to place orders online, but add a 5% surcharge to anything purchased on its website (other than prescription drugs).

Here's what that might mean. Let's say you buy $100 worth of products on Costco.com. You'll be charged $105 if you aren't a paid member.

If you place a $100 order three times a year, then it makes financial sense to pay for those 5% surcharges. Your total cost there is $15, compared to having to spend $60 for a basic membership. Also, the cost of a basic membership is increasing to $65 starting Sept. 1.

But once your online spending reaches a certain threshold, it makes more financial sense to spring for an annual membership than to keep paying extra for your orders. Since we're getting pretty close to Sept. 1, we'll use $65 as our basic membership cost.

This means that if you order more than $1,300 worth of products from Costco.com in a single year, you'll spend more on surcharges than a basic membership. So you'll need to figure out which option makes the most sense.

Costco benefits beyond online savings

You might assume that it makes sense to save your money and shop at Costco.com as a non-member, even if that means incurring surcharges. But keep in mind that joining Costco offers benefits beyond lower prices online.

First, Costco's in-store prices are typically even less expensive than the deals you'll see online, because Costco builds the cost of shipping and handling into its online prices. So the difference between what you're paying as a non-member on the site versus a member using the store may be more significant than you'd think.

Story continues

Imagine you buy a $20 case of popcorn bags online as a non-member. When we add in the surcharge, your cost rises to $21. But that same case of popcorn bags at an actual Costco store might cost you only $17.

Now, multiply that bigger price difference across 40, 50, or 90 items that you might buy over a year. When you think about it that way, getting a membership could pay off.

Plus, Costco members can benefit from lower-cost gas, food court access for cheap meals (non-members can no longer access the store's food courts), and an auto center that sells affordable tires that basically come with free lifetime maintenance. And these are just a few examples.

Before you assume that you're better off sticking to Costco.com and paying surcharges as they come up, consider all of the perks you might be missing out on by not having a membership.

Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)

If youre shopping with a debit card, you could be missing out on hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year. These versatile credit cards offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco, and are rated the best cards of 2024 by our experts because they offer hefty sign-up bonuses and outstanding cash rewards. Plus, youll save on credit card interest because all of these recommendations include a competitive 0% interest period.

Click here to read our expert recommendations for free!

We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Shopping at Costco.com Without a Membership? Here's Exactly What It Might Cost You was originally published by The Motley Fool
Gentle parenting brings a new dilemma for modern parents





National Parents Day

By Pallavi Borkar-Patil :

Parenting is the easiest thing in the world to have an opinion about, but the hardest thing in the world to do.  Matt Walsh, author. IN THIS era of advanced technologies, parenting has become an increasingly daunting task. Though gentle or positive parenting is influencing the modern era, more often than not it overwhelms the parents. Although the concept of gentle parenting is decades old, the term was popularised by British author Sarah Ockwell-Smith through her 2014 book Gentle parenting - How to raise calmer, happier children from birth to seven. Since then, countless psychologists, experts, and influencers have adopted and professed this approach. Gentle parenting emphasises validating a childs emotions, understanding, empathy and communication rather than punishment. In theory, it seems perfect for the Gen Z but parents across the globe are finding it difficult to practise it in real life. Many parents struggle and face confusion as they navigate conflicting advice, differing parenting approaches or personal uncertainties about the best way to raise their children. With this issue, The Hitavada approached noted Clinical Psychologist from Delhi Dr Mala Vohra Khanna; Developmental Paediatrician and Child/adolescent Psychologist Dr Jaya Shiwalkar; and Dr Hina Khan, Head, Post Graduate Teaching Department of Psychology at Nagpur University.

Dr Vohra and Dr Shiwalkar agree that adopting gentle parenting in practical life was a difficult task. Dr Vohra though suggests parents to focus on connecting with children rather than always correcting them. Dr Hina Khan adds, parents should answer the why for the children. They must know why their demand is being refused. If they know the reason, they would surely come around and understand the situation. Dr Shiwalkar affirms that gentle parenting imposes pressure on parents for two key reasons. First, Indian parents are not used to these methods and secondly, its not natural for everyone to be gentle all the time and in all circumstances. However, all three psychologists advise, We need a combination of gentle and disciplined parenting. Dr Vohra and Dr Shiwalkar acknowledge that parents are individuals with their own set of emotions and problems but they firmly counsel parents to regulate their own behaviour. Parents need to regulate their emotions. They must work on their stress and adopt a positive approach so that they are happy enough to deal with the kids, adds Dr Vohra. Seconding these thoughts, Dr Shiwalkar advises, If a parent is frustrated, one must take out a few minutes to regulate emotions, practise deep breathing and then enter the house. Never be very harsh with the kids. However, Dr Shiwalkar clears that most parents approaching her are not aware of any parenting style. There are just a few educated parents who know gentle parenting style but they rarely apply it in practice. Gentle parenting is more popular on social media than in real life, she feels. The senior doctor, however, warns parents not to apologise to their children.

They must confront the child after some time and make children understand that although they had overreacted in the situation, the childs behaviour was not acceptable either, she explains. Dr Khan, however, partially disapproves with this approach. If parents vent ire on children without the childs fault then they must apologise to them. By saying sorry, a parent teaches the child to accept his/her mistakes, she feels. Dr Khan stresses on effective parenting as against other parenting approaches. In effective parenting, there is a chance of trials and errors. Parents feel guilty many times, especially working parents and experience stress and anxiety, she says and suggests, Parents should take life positively. Supportive parenting can come to the rescue in this situation. Husband and wife can exchange their work load, thus helping each other navigate through this phase. Validating a childs emotions is essential but regulating and understanding ones own emotions is paramount to achieve parental well-being and happy family.
Citys Shubhan retains full marks in NEET revaluation





Shubhan (left) with his parents Dr Shantanu, Dr Rajasi Sengupta, and younger brother Shahan.

Staff Reporter :

Among 17 AIR 1 holders, Shubhan Sengupta is only one from Vidarbha

Shubhan Sengupta and his family heaved a sigh of relief as he could retain his score of full marks in the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for admissions to Under Graduate course of health sciences, after the revaluation result was declared on Friday. The number of students who scored full marks and secured All India Rank (AIR) 1 has gone down from 61 to 17. Among 17, Shubhan is the only topper from Vidarbha. On June 4, 2024, the National Testing Agency (NTA) that had conducted the NEET, declared its result, then the score of Shubhan Sengupta read 720/720. After the revaluation ordered by Supreme Court, his result remained the same. the Sengupta family has rejoiced over Shubhans fantastic achievement.

I did not expect full marks in the NEET, but I was confident that I would score above 700. When I checked the answer keys, I realised, I havent committed a single mistake. My happiness knew no bounds when I found myself among the top scorers, said Shubhan. Dr Shantanu Sengupta, noted cardiologist and Vice-President of Indian Academy of Echocardiography and noted gynaecologist Dr Rajasi Sengupta are the proud parents of Shubhan. Belonging to a family of doctors, Shubhans grandparents also were medicos, while his uncle Partho also is a noted cardiologist. Shubhan had made up his mind early in life to become doctor. Obviously he knew that he had to study tirelessly to achieve his goal. Accordingly, he pursued his goal. A student of Bhavans Bhagawandas Purohit Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, Shubhan had scored 98.6 in Class X. He started preparing for the NEET when he was in Class XI (St Paul School). Shubhan and the like-minded students had to undergo trauma of uncertainty. The result was out but admission process was in limbo. Parents, students were not keen as to how the fiasco did take place.

They wanted to know the future course of action. Many students who appeared for the NEET (UG) and came with flying colours were experiencing anxiety whether the Government would cancel the exam. Why should our wards suffer, if a handful of students have committed a crime, questioned a parent with an anguish. Students have prepared for four years for the examination and then they appear with a particular mindset, write the examination and crack it. Those who appeared in this years NEET feel that it would be difficult for them to appear again with the same tempo and score the marks. The period between June 4, 2024 (the result was declared first) and July 26, 2024 (when the result of revaluation was out) was full of stress for the students and parents. Dr Sengupta said, We made it a point that Shubhan gets engaged in discussions with his friends. At home, too, we did not discuss much on the issue but kept talking with him. I and my friends we discussed the issued and we counseled ourselves. We convinced each other that we have to keep quiet and wait for the result. Our family and friends supported us fully. I was aware that I had to be ready to face any situation. Had there been re-test I would have wrote it and come with flying colours. Now, bygone is bygone. I shall get admission in All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi which is the best institute that imparts medical education, a firm Shubhan said. An exhilarated Dr Shantanu Sengupta expressed, My both children Shubhan and Shahan (now in Class X) are sincere and I and my wife we never had to push them for study. They do it on their own. For us, Shubhans achievement made our dream a reality. I am learning from him, the way he maintained himself throughout this period of trouble.

Make NEET on-line, suggests Shubhan

According to Shubhan Sengupta, the NEET should be held on-line. Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for the admissions to courses of technical education is conducted on-line and we never heard any issue created in JEE. On the same line NEET too should be made on-line, he suggested Supporting Shubhan, a Physics teacher Panini Telang also felt that no separate criteria should be applied to two entrance tests. If we conduct JEE on-line, why cant we apply the same mode for NEET? We will have to conduct it for some more days as the number of students writing the examination is more. The issue of paper leakage ends. Transparancy can be introduced. There should be perfect method to calculate percentile. Right now the student scoring 60 per cent also can be treated as 100 per centile. This aspect should be streamlined. This is the responsibility of NTA to let students know that due to normalisation, the score has reduced and the percentile has come down. This communication is totally absent, explained Panini Telang.
PM Modi calls for ZEROPOVERTY at NITI meet





NEW DELHI :

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for setting zero poverty targets starting at village level and aimed to make India a developed nation by 2047 at a meeting of NITI Aayog Governing Council that witnessed high drama withWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee walking out in a huff alleging her mic was switched off. In his address to the ninth Governing Council meeting, Modi emphasised the need to tackle poverty on an individual basis rather than just at a programme level. We must target zero poverty as a priority for a Viksit Bharat starting at village level, Modi said, adding it would bring about a transformational effect in our country. As many as 10 States and UTs did not participate in the Governing Council meeting of the NITI Aayog. The absentees were Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Puducherry, said CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam while briefing the media about the meeting. It is their loss if they did not participate, he added.

The NITI Aayog meeting held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre witnessed a walkout by the West Bengal Chief Minister, who claimed that she was unfairly stopped midway in her speech, despite being the sole representative of the Opposition. The Government, however, rejected her claim and said Banerjees speaking time was over. About Bihar, Subrahmanyam said Chief MinisterNitishKumar could not attend the meeting as he was busy with an Assembly session in the State. During the meeting, Modi encouragedStatestoprovide an investor-friendly environment and directed the NITI Aayog to prepare an Investment-friendlyCharter of parameters which would include policies, programmes and processes to be put in place for attracting investments. NITIAayogViceChairman Suman Bery said that Modi wanted the States to compete for FDI so that investments could reach all the states, especially those that are less successful.

The Prime Minister also underscoredtheimportance of law and order, good governance and infrastructure as vital for attracting investments,ratherthanjustincentives.Healsoencouragedthe creationofriver gridsat state level for effective utilisation of water resources. The Prime Minister emphasised on cooperation and collective effort of all statesandtheCentre to work together in order to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. Modi encouraged States to initiate Demographic Management Plans toaddress theissuesof population ageing in future. Modi observed that the visionofViksitBharat canbe realisedthroughViksitStates, and that the aspiration of Viksit Bharat should reach thegrassrootleveli.Etoeach district, block, and village. For this, each State and districtshouldcreateavision for 2047 soas torealiseViksit Bharat @ 2047, he said. HeobservedthatIndiahas achieved steady growth in the past ten years. Indian economy,whichwasthe10th largesteconomyintheworld in 2014, has risen to become the 5th largest economy by 2024.Modi saidthatnow the collective aim of the Government and all citizens is tobecomethethird largest economy in the world.
Rokde Jewellers offers special discount underMangalsutra and Chain Mahotsav till July 31





 Business Reporter :

ROKDE Jewellers, one of the leading and renowned jewellers of the region,has recently announced Mangalsutra and Chain Mahotsav. The mega eventwas recently inaugurated with the traditional lighting of lamp at Rokde Jewellers branches in Laxminagar, Mahal, Itwari, Koradi, and Hingna. A large number of customers, guests and staff members attended the opening ceremony. The jewelleris offering more than1,500 new designs matching the taste and demand of the customers.The festival will remain open tillJuly 3ss1, says a press release. It is important to note that the jewllers is also offer a special discount of 50% on making charges for diamond mangalsutra pendants and up to 25% off on making charges for gold mangalsutras.

Additionally, there are other attractive discounts offers available for the customers at all the showrooms. RokdeJewellers, established in1920 and decorated with the title of the Jewel of Nagpur, continues to hold a significant position in the bullion industry of Vidarbha. The Mangalsutra and Chain Mahatsav features an extensive collectionoflight weight to heavyweight mangalsutras, showcasing unparalleled crafts manship.
Contractors for Southeast Toyota Distributors, the worlds largest independent distributor of Toyotas, continue to make significant progress on a new 340,000-square-foot state-of-the-art auto processing facility currently under construction at JAXPORTs Blount Island Marine Terminal.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The projects contractor, J.E. Dunn Construction, has completed the foundations and is now beginning construction of the concrete walls in preparation for the installation of structural steel framing in late July.

Planned for completion in summer 2025, the $145 million public-private partnership modernizes the companys operations, incorporating additional on-site rail connections and truck loading areas. The total project is funded by a combination of Southeast Toyota Distributors funding and a $19.78 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to assist with terminal development.

We are excited to continue our long-term commitment to growth in Jacksonville, a city that has always been at the heart of our operations, said Eric Carter, group vice president of operations, Southeast Toyota Distributors. We are in the midst of the largest investment in our history. With Toyotas continued development and success within our five-state footprint, this new facility will expand our vehicle processing capacity while increasing our agility and capacity to receive vehicles by both rail and sea. Designed with efficiency in mind, this new facility will address capacity and logistical needs to better enhance the prompt dealer service that Southeast Toyota Distributors strives to continue providing to our dealer partners.

We are proud of the partnership we have built with Southeast Toyota Distributors over the past five decades and grateful for their commitment to bringing this world-class facility to Jacksonville, said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green. This public-private partnership, supported by our partners at FDOT, provides quality jobs for our community while enhancing our position as the global gateway for Toyotas bound for the growing Southeast U.S. market.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

When construction is complete, Southeast Toyota Distributors will relocate operations from its 50-acre facility at JAXPORTs Talleyrand Marine Terminal and an adjacent 23-acre private facility into a single 88-acre property at Blount Island. Combining operations at Blount Island creates operational efficiencies and additional space for Southeast Toyota Distributors to accommodate more vehicles.

Story continues

To further enhance capabilities for vehicle processors at Blount Island, JAXPORT in partnership with FDOT, has two berth enhancement projects currently underway. One vehicle berth is being expanded to accommodate two vehicles instead of one, and a second berth is being widened to accommodate larger ships calling the terminal more efficiently.

Southeast Toyota Distributors has been operating at JAXPORT for more than 50 years and is one of the ports longest-standing tenants. The company processes Toyota vehicles manufactured in North America and Japan at JAXPORT for distribution across the Southeast U.S.

In 2023, Southeast Toyota Distributors moved more than 120,000 vehicles through JAXPORT. The companys Jacksonville operations support more than 800 jobs, including processing, parts and distribution, and technical support and training.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Southwest Airlines passengers are in for big changes, with the low-cost carrier ending its signature policy of no assigned seating. Some customers arent thrilled with the change. - (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

On the last leg of their return from the Caribbean, Kevin Priger and his wife landed in a self-inflicted travel snafu.

The Atlanta couple had forgotten to do the check-in for their Southwest Airlines LUV flight home after celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary.

Most Read from MarketWatch

Priger explained his mistake to the gate agent, bracing to wait until all other passengers had boarded the plane.

But thanks to the airlines open-seating policy, the gate agent was able to work some magic and allow early boarding for the couple trying to avoid a rough end to a great trip.

Pulling off the feat would have been much more difficult with pre-assigned seating said Priger, a hospitality sector sales professional. It sealed his allegiance to the carrier  even after the airlines 2023 Christmas holiday meltdown upended his daughters flight plans.

But now Priger, 56, is scratching his head on the news Southwest will move to assigned seats next year and introduce premium seating. I dont really know what to think. I like the situation as it stands, he said.

So do others, who say they like the carriers sit-wherever flexibility. They like the idea that a tickets price is the same for anywhere on the plane. Passengers can however get a leg up on prime seats by paying to be in the first boarding group, and just by showing up early, they note.

Its been a very egalitarian view of travel that Southwest has touted all these years. We want travel to be accessible for everyone, so sit where you like, said Katy Nastro, spokesperson for Going, a website tracking flight deals. I think for the true loyalists out there for Southwest, this is a true blow.

Put Drew Ayling in that crowd. Open seating lets people efficiently spread out or lets families easily travel together, he said. It also allowed passengers to sit next to perfect strangers if they wanted to.

Striking up a good connection with a fellow passenger while waiting to board could enable you both to sit next to each other if youre getting along well and both flying alone, Ayling said.

Story continues

Southwest hinted months ago that changes were coming. On Thursday, the carrier said it didnt make the decision lightly. Its research showed that 80% of customers wanted assigned seating and 86% of potential Southwest passengers wanted it too. When these would-be fliers skipped Southwest, the current open-seating model was the top reason, according to the airline.

Its clear the open seat model that served us well for so many years is no longer optimal for todays customer, Chief Executive Bob Jordan told analysts Thursday. Jordan said on the earnings call he was surprised by the depth of the customer support for assigned seats.

More details are coming on Southwests new cabin configurations and premium seats, he said. But Southwest is sticking with its popular policy of allowing two free checked bags, Jordan emphasized. Just to be real clear on bags fly free as a policy, were not looking at this point to change that policy, Jordan said.

Now what for Southwest passengers?

Southwest Airlines shares finished the day 5.5% higher Thursday, though they are down 2.7% for the year. The new seating model is clearly the right thing to do for our customers, for our employees and our shareholders, Jordan said on the earnings call.

Others have questions. I think it will impact some of the repeat customers opinions on the airline and they could lose some of their loyal customers, said Zachary Warring, equity analyst at CFRA Research.

Nashville International Airport is one hub for Southwest Airlines, so Nashville resident Buck Patton uses the carrier most of the time he travels. As a Southwest regular, hes got the hang of showing up at the gate early and sitting where he likes, or making a quick decision to take the middle seat if the passengers in the row and aisle seem friendly.

He knows some people who call Southwests current arrangement stupid and are ecstatic with the news. But he also has friends who think the seating policy change is a terrible idea, said Patton, 31, who works in financial services.

Patton is somewhere in the middle. Im skeptical. Im hopeful they know what they are doing, but I am slightly disappointed, Patton told MarketWatch. Its what set Southwest apart. You are paying one price for a seat anywhere on the plane.

If Patton doesnt like how the airline carries out the changes, he said he may have to be more choosy in picking who he flies with.

Back in Atlanta, Priger is wondering what the assigned-seating change means for the Southwest brand. For him, its a big change  and maybe not in a great way.

Its almost like New Coke, he said, alluding to the ill-fated 1985 overhaul of Coca-Colas KO classic soft drink, before the company quickly returned to its original formula.

For now, Prigers flying on Southwest in a couple of weeks. Im looking forward to still-open seating.

What personal-finance issues would you like to see covered in MarketWatch? We would like to hear from readers about their financial decisions and money-related questions. You can fill out or write to us at . A reporter may be in touch to learn more. MarketWatch will not attribute your answers to you by name without your permission.

Most Read from MarketWatch
Many investors define successful investing as beating the market average over the long term. But its virtually certain that sometimes you will buy stocks that fall short of the market average returns. We regret to report that long term Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW) shareholders have had that experience, with the share price dropping 44% in three years, versus a market return of about 19%. And over the last year the share price fell 26%, so we doubt many shareholders are delighted. Even worse, it's down 32% in about a month, which isn't fun at all. This could be related to the recent financial results - you can catch up on the most recent data by reading our company report.

With the stock having lost 28% in the past week, it's worth taking a look at business performance and seeing if there's any red flags.

Check out our latest analysis for Edwards Lifesciences

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

Although the share price is down over three years, Edwards Lifesciences actually managed to grow EPS by 2.9% per year in that time. Given the share price reaction, one might suspect that EPS is not a good guide to the business performance during the period (perhaps due to a one-off loss or gain). Or else the company was over-hyped in the past, and so its growth has disappointed.

After considering the numbers, we'd posit that the the market had higher expectations of EPS growth, three years back. Looking to other metrics might better explain the share price change.

Revenue is actually up 7.2% over the three years, so the share price drop doesn't seem to hinge on revenue, either. It's probably worth investigating Edwards Lifesciences further; while we may be missing something on this analysis, there might also be an opportunity.

The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

Edwards Lifesciences is well known by investors, and plenty of clever analysts have tried to predict the future profit levels. If you are thinking of buying or selling Edwards Lifesciences stock, you should check out this free report showing analyst consensus estimates for future profits.

A Different Perspective

Edwards Lifesciences shareholders are down 26% for the year, but the market itself is up 19%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 2% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. If you would like to research Edwards Lifesciences in more detail then you might want to take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in the company.

Story continues

If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of undervalued small caps that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro threatened a bloodbath if the loses the presidential election today, July 28. While some take the warning seriously, others believe it is just meant to instill fear and suppress his rival's voters as finally, after quarter of a century of socialist rule, there seems to be hope for change.

Maduro's comments were meant as a slap in the face for his opponents, especially to Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia but also Maria Corina Machado, the candidate who had emerged victorious in the primary elections but whom the government disqualified, so she could not continue in the race in the Presidential election.

The threat by the Bolivarian leader was also picked up by international media and quickly spread around the world raising alarm. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he was scared by such a statement.



I have told Maduro that the only chance for Venezuela to return to normality is to have a widely respected electoral process," Lula told international news agencies as reported by Reuters. I was scared by Maduro's remarks that Venezuela could face bloodshed if he loses. Maduro needs to learn that when you win, you stay; when you lose, you leave, he said.

At this point, there is already a risk of a crisis breaking out tonight if Maduro fails to recognize his rival's victory.



Many analysts are anxiously looking at the barracks. When Maduro spoke of a civil war in a working-class neighborhood of Caracas on July 17, he did nothing more than remind the people that the political problem also concerns the Armed Forces. They play an important role as de facto co-government as they control and manage different sectors of the economy, both publicly and at times shrouded in secrecy.

Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily Internationals Spanish edition,spokewith a political activist from the opposition, Elio Herrera. The Christian politician and member of the political organization Nueva Vision para mi Pais (NUVIPA) said that those statements from any other opposition candidate, or any other opposition figure, would have been enough to implement the hate speech law and thus deprive anyone who uttered them of their freedom. There we see the imbalance in the application of the law here in the country. Now, I cannot say, one hopes that an event like the one announced by a leader of the ruling party like this will not become reality.

Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up

However, we must know that the people know that this is a peaceful election. We must advocate for peace, to maintain the call that is being made to all sectors to participate in the vote. A call to remain calm, to always maintain sanity, to not fall into provocations. To comply with what the legal regulations say, and to recognize the results that must ultimately be announced, he added.

Maduro, however, emphasized that the military structures are increasingly deeply pro-Chavez and will not allow the opposition to reach Miraflores Palace by means of voting.

I ask simply to analyze scenarios, what would happen in Venezuela if the oligarchy of the Caracas surnames came to political power by accident? () What would happen with all the social, cultural, political, spiritual, moral and military power that the revolution has? he said, adding later: Could there be new February 27ths? Could there be new February 4ths? Could there be a great April 13th again? The candidate of the Unified Socialist Party (PSUV) referred to the 'Caracazo', as the social uprising against the social-democratic president, Carlos Andres Perez, was known, and the subsequent uprising of Hugo Chavez against that government.

You cannot fool all the people all the time

Asked if he thought it was a real threat or just an intimidation tactic, Herrera said that if there is a different result than the one expected by the government, it will not be able to announce anything other than the reality of the facts. He believes it is a psychological factor and a factor to intimidate, to remove the incentive for the person who is going to exercise their right to vote. People are not going to vote out of fear, just the opposite. People are emboldened and will go to vote because they understand that it is the opportunity to exercise such an important right.

Asked, however, if there is fear, Herrera said, People know how important this historic moment is for the country. And many people, far from being afraid, feel rather brave to go and exercise their right. A right that belongs to all Venezuelans, and that in reality a change is sought. It has been 25 years under the same policy, under the same system of government, and people, well, are tired. Someone said something very true at some point, and that is that you can fool part of the people all the time, or you can fool all the people part of the time. What you cannot do is fool all the people all the time.

And I think that is what is happening here. People have woken up. There is a lot of discontent in sectors, even in government sectors. Many public officials with whom we have had the opportunity to talk, from the lowest to the highest levels, are dissatisfied with the way public policies and economic policies have been carried out, and there is a need for a change in the direction and management of all these policies in the country, he added.

Among the governments strategies, one was focused on those who emigrated from the country and of whom a minority could vote and support the change promoted by the opposition. Herrera commented that certainly not all those who are abroad will be able to exercise their right to vote. But those who can do so, those who are authorized to vote, well, I think this is the best time to be able to capitalize on that need or desire for change on this coming July 28.

And for the compatriots who are in the country, Herrera had words of encouragement. Those of us who are here and have the right to vote here, well, it is also an opportunity. The call is not only for those who are abroad, but also here. Let no one stay at home. Let those people who can go to vote, but who perhaps do not have the means [], let us make ourselves available to be mobilizers that day. Let us take all the people who cannot go by their own means to some electoral center, let them go and exercise their rights, because it is our family, it is so many years of struggle.

Herreras wish, which reflects the hope of many people in Venezuela and abroad, is to "make the dream of many mothers and fathers come true, wanting their children to return to the country, to return home. That our brothers and sisters who also have relatives abroad can return. And that we can be with our family again, as it should always have been."

The opposition candidate: a retired diplomat who had no political aspirations

As many Venezuelans hope for changes, all the attention is now on the chances that the majority opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, will have to become president of the country. The The New York Times earlier reported that Gonzalez Urrutia had emerged as the candidate that the government will not try to block and that the opposition would support.

Until recently, Gonzalez, 74, was a retired diplomat with four grandchildren and no political aspirations. He kept himself busy writing academic essays, speaking at conferences and taking his grandchildren to the barbershop and music lessons. Few in his native Venezuela knew his name, the Times noted.

Gonzalez Urrutia was already registered as a provisional option in the National Electoral Council (CNE) after neither Maria Corina Machado, winner of the opposition primaries in October, nor Corina Yoris - whom Machado appointed as his substitute - could register. Thus, the retired diplomat became the definitive candidate without receiving any objections.

As presidential candidate for the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), the alliance that brings together the main opposition parties and leaders in Venezuela, Gonzalez Urrutia is supported by the parties Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) and Mesa de la Unidad Democratica (MUD).

He is a career diplomat and international analyst. He was a member of the international editorial board of the newspaper El Nacional and was part of the MUD, the alliance that brought together the most important opposition parties before the formation of the PUD, as president of its board of directors. He was also director of the Coordination and Strategic Planning Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He became ambassador to Algeria during the mandates of Carlos Andres Perez and Ramon Jose Velasquez. Later he served as general director of international policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was then ambassador to Argentina, appointed by then-president Rafael Caldera, and held the position for the first three years during the government of Hugo Chavez.

The election pits him against authoritarian ruler Nicolas Maduro who has seen record levels of poverty and emigration from the country. Gonzalez Urrutia projects himself as a quiet politician who has won strong support despite being the opposition's third choice after its two preferred candidates were barred from running.

Diario Cristiano spoke with some Christian leaders to find out what they think and feel about the candidate whose victory could mark the dawn of a great change in Venezuela.

Opposition activist Elio Herrera said that for the first time in all these years in the last twenty-five years, we have achieved everything as the opposition. We have been revolving around a united candidacy, something that had not been possible before. [] So, this is a sign of significant progress. It is a single expression, there is a national sentiment that for the first time in all these years has a fairly certain chance of coming to power.

Carlos Vielma, a pastor, political activist, and evangelist on the streets of Caracas, has a positive view of the opposition candidate. He said that Maria Corinas disqualification gave way to Edmundo [Gonzalez Urrutia] who, because of his personality and his diplomatic career, has a much less violent discourse. I think that is the discourse that the country needs. If Edmundo wins, he will have to form a transitional government, and a transitional government needs firmness, but with a silk hand.

The week leading up to the presidential elections has seen tensions rise, fueled by the possibility that Maduro will not be reelected. Gonzalez Urrutia indicated that the polls give him a wide lead. We are confident of our victory, which could be an overwhelming victory, the main opponent of the Maduro regime reportedly said. The polls project him winning with up to 60% and Maduro receiving only around a tenth of the popular vote.

Candidate Edmundo is a character that history and circumstances have placed at this moment in a fundamental and very important role in Venezuela, Herrera commented. That role is that of presidential candidate who has awakened many feelings at a national level where one can gather from the day-to-day conversations in the community, in society, that he is a candidate who has more favor than the current President, he added.

As the Venezuelan people prepare to exercise their right to vote, the world watches with expectation and concern, aware that these elections could mark a historic turning point.

Gonzalez Urrutia's promise of a firm but peaceful transition resonates like an echo of hope in a nation hungry for stability and progress. Today, many Venezuelans believe, will be the opportunity to write a new chapter in their nations history, one where the voice of the people prevails and where democracy flourishes again on fertile ground.

Original reporting by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.
As the ASX200 shows signs of recovery, with sectors like Materials and Real Estate posting gains, investors might find it an opportune time to look for value in the market. Amidst these fluctuations, identifying stocks that appear undervalued could be a strategic move for those looking to potentially capitalize on market adjustments.

Top 10 Undervalued Stocks Based On Cash Flows In Australia

Name Current Price Fair Value (Est) Discount (Est) MaxiPARTS (ASX:MXI) A$2.00 A$3.94 49.3% Ansell (ASX:ANN) A$27.00 A$51.43 47.5% Count (ASX:CUP) A$0.615 A$1.17 47.6% ReadyTech Holdings (ASX:RDY) A$3.20 A$6.19 48.3% IPH (ASX:IPH) A$5.96 A$11.72 49.1% hipages Group Holdings (ASX:HPG) A$1.055 A$2.06 48.7% VEEM (ASX:VEE) A$1.825 A$3.54 48.5% Red 5 (ASX:RED) A$0.375 A$0.74 49.6% Millennium Services Group (ASX:MIL) A$1.145 A$2.24 48.9% EVT (ASX:EVT) A$11.03 A$21.20 48%

Click here to see the full list of 45 stocks from our Undervalued ASX Stocks Based On Cash Flows screener.

Here's a peek at a few of the choices from the screener.

Overview: Elders Limited is a company that offers agricultural products and services mainly to rural and regional areas in Australia, with a market capitalization of approximately A$1.46 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue through its Branch Network (A$2.54 billion), Wholesale Products (A$341.19 million), and Feed and Processing Services (A$120.14 million).

Estimated Discount To Fair Value: 43.3%

Elders Limited, currently trading at A$9.24, is valued below our estimated fair value of A$16.28, indicating a potential undervaluation based on discounted cash flow analysis. Despite this, challenges persist as the dividend yield of 3.9% is poorly supported by earnings, and profit margins have decreased from last year's 3.4% to 2.1%. Nevertheless, Elders anticipates significant earnings growth over the next three years at an annual rate of 22.8%, outpacing the Australian market forecast of 13.2%.

ASX:ELD Discounted Cash Flow as at Jul 2024

Overview: Kelsian Group Limited operates in the provision of land and marine transport and tourism services across Australia, the United States, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, with a market capitalization of approximately A$1.35 billion.

Operations: The company's revenue is divided into three primary segments: Australian Bus operations generating A$934.76 million, International Bus services contributing A$448.87 million, and Marine and Tourism activities accounting for A$337.90 million.

Story continues

Estimated Discount To Fair Value: 22.6%

Kelsian Group Limited, priced at A$5.01, is trading significantly below our fair value estimate of A$6.47, reflecting a notable undervaluation based on discounted cash flow metrics. Despite this potential for price appreciation, the company's financial health raises concerns; interest payments are poorly covered by earnings and its dividend yield of 3.49% is similarly unsupported by free cash flows. Additionally, while Kelsian's revenue growth projections are modest at 5.6% annually, its earnings are expected to surge by 25.53% per year over the next three years, outperforming the broader Australian market forecast of 13.2%. However, current profit margins have declined to 1.7%, down from last years 3.8%.

ASX:KLS Discounted Cash Flow as at Jul 2024

Overview: Nanosonics Limited, along with its subsidiaries, is an infection prevention company operating both in Australia and internationally, with a market capitalization of approximately A$909 million.

Operations: The company generates its revenue primarily from the healthcare equipment segment, totaling A$164.07 million.

Estimated Discount To Fair Value: 42.5%

Nanosonics, currently priced at A$3, is valued below our calculated fair value of A$5.21, indicating a potential undervaluation based on discounted cash flow analysis. The company's earnings have increased by 53.2% over the past year and are projected to grow by 22.6% annually over the next three years, outpacing the Australian market's forecast growth. Despite these positives, significant insider selling in recent months and a forecasted low return on equity of 12.4% in three years may raise concerns for potential investors.

ASX:NAN Discounted Cash Flow as at Jul 2024

Turning Ideas Into Actions

Unlock our comprehensive list of 45 Undervalued ASX Stocks Based On Cash Flows by clicking here.

Are these companies part of your investment strategy? Use Simply Wall St to consolidate your holdings into a portfolio and gain insights with our comprehensive analysis tools.

Discover a world of investment opportunities with Simply Wall St's free app and access unparalleled stock analysis across all markets.

Want To Explore Some Alternatives?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include ASX:ELD ASX:KLS and ASX:NAN.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Amidst a challenging week for Japan's stock markets, with significant losses noted in key indices such as the Nikkei 225 and TOPIX, investors may find solace in dividend stocks, known for their potential to offer steady returns in turbulent times. In light of the yen's strengthening and its impact on exporters, dividend-yielding stocks could provide a more stable investment avenue during periods of market volatility and economic uncertainty.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In Japan

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Yamato Kogyo (TSE:5444) 3.91%  Tsubakimoto Chain (TSE:6371) 3.89%  Business Brain Showa-Ota (TSE:9658) 3.66%  Mitsubishi Shokuhin (TSE:7451) 3.58%  Globeride (TSE:7990) 3.88%  FALCO HOLDINGS (TSE:4671) 6.59%  KurimotoLtd (TSE:5602) 4.43%  E J Holdings (TSE:2153) 3.67%  DoshishaLtd (TSE:7483) 3.62%  Innotech (TSE:9880) 4.36% 

Click here to see the full list of 416 stocks from our Top Japanese Dividend Stocks screener.

Let's explore several standout options from the results in the screener.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Canon Inc. operates globally, producing and selling office multifunction devices, printers, cameras, medical equipment, and lithography equipment with a market capitalization of 4.48 trillion.

Operations: Canon Inc.'s primary revenue streams include 2.45 billion from printing, 0.87 billion from imaging, 0.57 billion from medical equipment, and 0.34 billion from industrial products.

Dividend Yield: 3.2%

Canon's recent strategic moves, including a significant share buyback of 99.99 billion and product launches like the EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II cameras, underscore its commitment to maintaining market leadership and shareholder value. Despite a low dividend yield of 3.25% compared to the top quartile of Japanese dividend payers at 3.55%, Canon's dividends appear sustainable with a modest payout ratio of 23.6% from earnings and 51.1% from cash flows, suggesting financial prudence in returning profits to shareholders amidst volatile historical payments over the last decade.

TSE:7751 Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Step Co., Ltd., operating cram schools in Japan, has a market capitalization of approximately 32.40 billion.

Operations: Step Co., Ltd. primarily generates its revenues from operating cram schools across Japan.

Dividend Yield: 3.7%

StepLtd, trading at 37.9% below its estimated fair value, offers a promising valuation for investors. With a dividend yield of 3.66%, it ranks in the top 25% of Japanese dividend payers. The company's dividends are well-supported by both earnings and cash flows, with payout ratios of 58.4% and 45.5%, respectively, indicating sustainability despite its relatively short dividend history of less than ten years. Recent activities include repurchasing shares worth 574.84 million, enhancing shareholder value but reflecting an unstable dividend track record over its brief history.

Story continues

TSE:9795 Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Nihon Denkei Co., Ltd. operates in the trading of electronic measuring instruments both in Japan and internationally, with a market capitalization of 23.58 billion.

Operations: Nihon Denkei Co., Ltd. generates revenue primarily from trading electronic measuring instruments, with 90.25 billion from Japan and 16.27 billion from China.

Dividend Yield: 4%

Nihon Denkei Ltd. maintains a stable dividend history over the past decade, with a current yield of 3.96%, placing it among the top 25% of Japanese dividend payers. The company's dividends are securely funded by both earnings and cash flows, evidenced by low payout ratios of 29.1% and 29.8% respectively. Additionally, its price-to-earnings ratio stands at a competitive 8x against the broader Japanese market average of 14.2x, indicating good value relative to peers despite modest annual earnings growth projections of around 4.55%. Recent share buybacks totaling 424.3 million underline commitment to shareholder returns but conclude its latest repurchase plan.

TSE:9908 Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Seize The Opportunity

Dive into all 416 of the Top Japanese Dividend Stocks we have identified here.

Already own these companies? Link your portfolio to Simply Wall St and get alerts on any new warning signs to your stocks.

Discover a world of investment opportunities with Simply Wall St's free app and access unparalleled stock analysis across all markets.

Interested In Other Possibilities?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include TSE:7751 TSE:9795 and TSE:9908.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Donald Trump said he would create a bitcoin federal reserve if re-elected. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Donald Trump says he'll turn the US into the global capital for crypto.

Trump delivered the promise at Bitcoin 2024, an annual cryptocurrency conference.

Trump also said he'd fire the SEC chief, Gary Gensler, and eliminate federal crypto regulations.

Former President Donald Trump wants you to know he loves Bitcoin now.

Trump spoke at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville on Saturday, calling cryptocurrency "the steel industry of 100 years ago."

"I think you're just in your infancy," Trump told the meeting of crypto industry leaders. "I can see it happening. In just 15 years, bitcoin has gone from merely an idea posted anonymously on an internet message board to being the ninth most valuable asset anywhere in the world."

Trump said he'd lay out a plan "to ensure that the United States will be the crypto capital of the planet and the bitcoin superpower of the world."

This plan, he said, would include firing the US Securities and Exchange Commission chair, Gary Gensler, creating a crypto presidential advisory council, blocking the creation of a central digital currency bank, and eliminating federal regulations on crypto known as "Checkpoint 2.0."

Trump also pledged to keep 100% of all bitcoin owned by the federal government  most of which was confiscated by law enforcement  to keep as a "strategic national bitcoin stockpile."

Trump's opinion of bitcoin appears to have come full circle. During his presidency in 2019, Trump called bitcoin "highly volatile and based on thin air."

"We have only one real currency in the USA, and it is stronger than ever," Trump wrote on what was then known as Twitter. "It is called the United States Dollar!"

But Trump is now a bonafide crypto stan as he courts support from leading crypto investors. Earlier this month, Gemini co-founders and crypto investors Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss donated $250,000 to a pro-Trump super PAC.

Bitcoin prices surged after the assassination attempt on Trump earlier this month rallied his base. The currency reached a high of $62,000 as investors started betting on Trump's return to power in November.

One of Trump's opponents, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., also spoke at the conference on Friday, teasing Trump's stockpile plans.

"I understand that tomorrow President Trump may announce his plan to build a bitcoin Fort Knox and authorize the US government to buy a million bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset," Kennedy said. "And I applaud that announcement."

Story continues

But Kennedy said he'd go even further. The candidate would immediately sign an executive order directing the US Treasury to buy bitcoin daily and add it to the government's current tokens until the country builds a reserve of four million bitcoin, he said.

One million bitcoin is about $69 billion, according to Coinbase. Four billion bitcoin is about $276 billion.

Trump also took the opportunity to attack the crypto position of his likely Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. "She's very against it," he said. But Harris's stance on cryptocurrency actually remains unknown. She has made no clear public comments on the issue.

The former president also promised to commute the prison sentence of Ross Ulbricht during his speech at the conference. Ulbricht is serving a life sentence for operating the Silk Road site on the dark web, which was used to sell drugs and other black market products from 2011 to 2013.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Bing Guan / UPI / Shutterstock.com

During his presidential term, Trump instated various tax cuts, such as lowering individual and business rates, increasing the standard deduction and expanding family tax credits. Many of these provisions were found in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which is set to expire in 2025.

Learn More: Trump Wants To Eliminate Income Taxes: Heres What That Would Mean for the Economy and Your Wallet

Try This: 6 Money Moves You Must Make if You Want to Be Like the Wealthy

Its important to note that Trump does not claim any correlation to Project 2025. Trump himself has discussed the proposed policies listed in this article. Proposed Trump tax policies will directly impact the average millennial, making it important for you to understand whats potentially in store.

Earning passive income doesn't need to be difficult. You can start this week.

Trumps Income Tax Elimination Plan

Trumps plans follow the thought that lowering taxes stimulates economic activity and federal revenue, taking on an inverse relationship. For one, Trump plans to cut the corporate tax rate from the current 21% to 20% or even 15%. This might incentivize many small businesses to change entity classifications. Even if the corporate tax rate doesnt drop below 20%, Trump plans to preserve many of the existing provisions found in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Moreover, many of the policies of Trumps tax elimination plan relate to the middle class. In a recent campaign stop, Trump advocated for eliminating taxes on tips generated by service workers. Data from 2018 shows that 6.1 million taxpayers reported over $38 billion in taxable tip income, equating to around $6,250 in taxes paid per taxpayer.

Trump has also suggested the replacement of personal income taxes with tariff increases. Although its still uncertain if payroll taxes would also be eliminated, no personal income tax at the federal level would profoundly impact millennials and the middle class.

Read Next: Should Trump Eliminate Income Taxes? Heres What Tax Experts Say

The Impact on Millennials Wallets

One of the most impactful proposed tax cuts is the elimination of personal income taxes. Heres a look at some data to see the impact of the possible elimination of income taxes.

The median weekly earnings for full-time workers aged 25 to 34 years old is $1,103. The 35- to 44-year-old age group reports a slightly higher median weekly earnings at $1,247. Taking the average weekly earnings of these two age groups gives us a rate of $1,175 per week for millennials. Multiplying this on an annual scale results in a gross income of $61,100.

Story continues

Assuming the 2024 standard deduction of $14,600 is taken for a single filer, that leaves a taxable income of $46,500. Using the 2024 tax brackets, you would have a tax liability of $5,348. Trumps proposed tax plan would eliminate this tax liability, putting over $5,000 back into the average millennials pocket! What could you do with an additional $5,000? How about save for a house, take your dream vacation or add to your rainy-day fund?

Solutions To Make Up the Revenue Deficit

The proposed elimination of service provider tips and personal income tax does not come without tradeoffs. Trump plans to subsidize the drop in income tax revenue with increased international import tariffs, specifically a 60% tariff on imports from China. In addition, Trump has suggested increasing tariff revenue by implementing a universal baseline tariff on all U.S. imports.

The impact of these increased tariffs could be price hikes on goods imported from countries outside of the U.S. These price adjustments may be passed down to consumers in the form of increased prices or added taxes. However, the goal of increasing tariffs is to stimulate domestic purchasing. This could create new small business opportunities within the United States and increase the amount of local goods available at a more affordable price.

In addition, many millennials would be saving money each year through the elimination of income taxes. But would the price of imported goods increase more than the amount saved from no personal income tax?

Say that you import about $10,000 worth of goods each year. If prices were to increase by 20%, you would pay an extra $2,000 annually. If you remember the example above, you are saving over $5,000 per year from eliminating personal income tax, resulting in a $3,000 net benefit.

Of course, this is a complicated situation and many factors play a part  so dont count too much on that $3,000 before its in your bank account.

The Bottom Line

These proposed tax adjustments are still in their infancy. If Trump is elected, both parties will tweak and adjust, making it unclear what the future holds for income tax elimination. Nevertheless, there are bound to be some tax adjustments, regardless of which party is in office after Novembers election.

Editors note on election coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. You can find more coverage of this topic on GOBankingRates.com.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Trump Wants To Eliminate Income Taxes: Heres How Much the Average Millennial Would Take Home Annually
Charting out roadmap to normalcy Make position of CM clear

|

All that we have to do is bring both sides (Meiteis and Kuki-Zos) to the table for discussions, it shouldnt be about a new State, not about driving out people. It has to be about co-existence and the Chief Minister will have to do it, is the line reported by NDTV, while quoting an unnamed BJP leader. Sounds logical but how far would the words, shouldnt be about a new State, not about driving out people, in the face of the Separate Administration call issued by the ten Kuki-Zo MLAs and fully backed by Kuki CSOs such as the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) and Kuki Inpi, Manipur (KIM) and the stand of the State Assembly to enforce the National Register of Citizens (NRC), a demand first raised by the different CSOs of Manipur particularly the Co-ordination Committee on Manipur Integrity, go with the points raised from either side of the clash divide ? Moreover how acceptable would the Chief Minister be to the Kuki-Zo community, given the fact that the Peace Committee named in the early part of the clash was a non-starter as the Kuki-Zos had opposed it on the ground that they cannot be a party to any group which has the Chief Minister ? This poser should be seen in the context of the line, The Chief Minister will have to do it. These are some points which need serious deliberations and while the input from the unnamed BJP leader is welcome, the ground realities will have to be taken into consideration. The bring both sides to the (Meiteis and Kuki-Zos) to the table for discussion, should be also viewed and studied in the context of the line, Solution First, Peace Later maintained and championed by the ITLF and CoTU. And moreover the observation of the BJP leader seems to hand over the responsibility of negotiating the peace process entirely to Manipur, bypassing Delhi, particularly the Prime Minister. It is not yet clear whether the line that came from the BJP leader has been presented to the Chief Minister and leaders of the Kuki-Zo community but it should be clear that initiatives for any process to start the dialogue ball rolling need to come from Delhi. And who is better placed than the Prime Minister ? This is a question which Delhi has been avoiding ever since Manipur went up in flames on May 3, 2023 and the tragedy is Imphal too seems to be satisfied with toeing the line that the Prime Minister has spoken on the Manipur issue at least three times, twice in Parliament and the other on August 15 in 2023. The BJP leader was also quoted as stating that the PM has categorically communicated to the State party leaders that he does not want any blame game, but time-bound peace agenda.

If one goes by what the unnamed BJP leader has had to say then Delhi has conveyed what it wants in no uncertain terms. The only point is whether Imphal has taken it up from there and started putting in efforts to work towards peace and normalcy. So far nothing towards this has been made public from the side of the State Government, but a rough path has been laid down and this is where one is left wondering when this instruction will be put into action. Or better still is whether this instruction is another indication that Delhi prefers to keep aloof and let the State Government do the spadework for it to come on board only when it thinks the time is right ? One may look at this in two ways. One is, the matter is something which the State Government can handle but when the onus is put on the Chief Minister to make the move, then shouldnt his position be also made clear ? Indications in the last few months say something different. For instance in many of the cases, one gets to see concerned parties focusing on meeting the Governor to address their plight, most notably the recent stand off at DM University or when parents of the two missing youths, Linthoingambi Hijam and Phijam Hemanjit put forward their demands and positions before the Governor and not the Chief Minister. Yet here is a BJP leader making it known, It has to be about co-existence and the Chief Minister will have to do it. This is where it becomes necessary for Delhi to put its card on the table and see how things proceed. Saying something and doing something else does not exactly give confidence to the people and in such a climate of uncertainty, doubt and confusion, peace will continue to be illusionary.
A programme focused on legal awareness was held at Surya Sen College in Siliguri today.

The programme was a collaboration between the Internal Complaint Committee (ICC), Womens Cell, and IQAC.

Two experts, Susmita Bose Maitra and Ananya Ghosh, were invited to speak at the event. Susmita Bose Maitra is an advocate and special public prosecutor (POCSO), while Ananya Ghosh is a practicing junior advocate, who specializes in criminal law.

Advertisement

The main goal of the programme was to educate participants about the importance of having an ICC in every institution, as well as the responsibilities of its members. Additionally, the programme aimed to raise awareness about taking legal action in cases of violence, abuse, and harassment against women. Dr Suphal Biswas, the principal-in-charge, highlighted the role played by women in society and emphasized the need to protect their dignity in workplaces and establishments.

Dr Bablee Mandal, the IQAC coordinator of the college, discussed the benefits of having an Internal Complaint Committee for both students and staff members. She stressed the importance of legal awareness and encouraged participants to speak up and seek legal help when needed.

During their presentations, both Susmita Bose Maitra and Ananya Ghosh shared various ways in which women face violence, harassment, and discrimination in society. They also provided helpline numbers for emergency situations. The audience actively engaged with them during a question-and-answer session.

Prof Sutapa Saha, convener of ICC and Womens Cell, emphasized the importance of addressing grievances related to abuse or harassment through proper reporting procedures. She also reiterated the institutes commitment to promoting a gender-equal environment.

The programme was conducted by Atasi Ghosh Kundu from ICC, and Prof Prajna Paramita Sarkar from Womens Cell.
The chief medical officer health (CMOH) of Purulia district has visited the primary health centres of the district after 166 people have been detected with malaria throughout the district since the past few days.

With the monsoon season having just arrived and a long way to go, the spurt in diseases like malaria has set an early alarm bell for the district civil and health department officials.

Maximum cases have been reported from Balarampur block which has been a matter of concern for the district health department.

Advertisement

Dr Ashok Biswas, chief medical officer health of Purulia visited the primary health centres of the district and assessed the situation and gave instructions.

At Bansgarh Primary Health Centre, where about 50 patients, including children and women have been admitted suffering from malaria, the CMOH has talked with the health department officials and also with the patients.

The health department staff, along with Asha workers, has been visiting the villages and creating awareness campaigns about this mosquito-borne disease and have been urging people suffering with fever to undergo blood tests.

Few students of Lalmati Girls School in balarampur block arrived today for blood tests suffering from fever today at the Block Primary Health Centre (BPHC).

The villagers complained that the patients are suffering from headache and fever.

Talking to the media, Dr Ashok Biswas, CMOH of Purulia has informed that there is an increase in the number of malaria patients in the district this year compared to last year.

Most of the malaria cases have been reported from Balarampur, Jhadah, Bagmundi blocks. I have directed to increase the number of beds in the primary health centre and also keep all medicines available in the stock. The health department will also set up special health check-up camps in these areas. Though at present the situation is still under control, the CMOH added.
After the Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharamans reaction against the walkout by Bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjee from the Niti Ayog meeting in Delhi, The Trinamul Congress has reacted sharply against the FMs statements to the media.

The ruling party in Bengal in its official X-handle posted: NDA 3.0: Mic Bandh Sarkar! Despite being the sole Opposition voice, Smt. @MamataOfficial was not allowed to raise her concerns at todays Niti Aayog meeting in Delhi.

This is yet another example of how the Jomidars of Delhi want to silence Bengal  at every step. As if withholding Bengals funds and depriving us in the Budget wasnt enough.

Advertisement

The people of Bengal are watching.

Bengal finance minister and senior leader Chandrima Bhattacharya hit back at Nirmala Sitharaman saying, Mamata Banerjee had gone to attend on behalf of all the opposition parties. She was not allowed to speak and not allowed to tell the central government about the deprivation of Bengal by the government. She came out and through the media expressed her views. Surprisingly, we find that the Union finance minister spoke against Mamata and used unparliamentary language. Can she say that the Bengal CM was making false statements, she should ask herself if she can use such words against a chief minister, who has been thrice been elected to the post. She has also said that the CM was searching for reasons to leave the meeting of Niti Ayog. May I remind the Union finance minister that our CM knows what to say, where to say and how to say. She need not find excuses. In fact, the FM is finding excuses because Bengal has been deprived. Mamata wanted to speak about this and she was stopped from speaking the facts. We strongly protest the FMs statements.

Trinamuls spokesperson Dr Riju Dutta wrote on his X-handle: Malware has awakenedand with it, a harsh reality that the BJPs masquerade is over!

How many more broken promises and failed budgets will it take to reveal the BJPs true face? They have shown time and again that they are unequivocally ANTI-POOR.

Youve starved the poor, youve shattered our nation, and youve obstructed our rightful funds. And now, with shameless arrogance, you dare to label our demand for the rightful dues as unfair.

SHAME ON YOU!
The medical officer of Jadavpur University today submitted a report to the authorities in the alleged torture of a student in the main hostel of the university, allegedly in connection with theft of a laptop.

The findings of the report revealed that the first-year student of the postgraduate computer science engineering department was allegedly forced into giving a written undertaking and was allegedly prevented from rushing him to a hospital after he was taken ill.

The report was also sent to the anti-ragging squad and to the super of the main hostel.

Advertisement

The report pertained to an alleged theft of a laptop of a student, which happened on Wednesday, for which the student in question, was allegedly subjected to a mental torture as a section of students had allegedly mobbed him and allegedly put him under a Kangaroo court trial for the alleged theft till he fell indisposed.

The authorities, however, stopped short of calling the incident as ragging so far.
Afghanistan exported and imported commercial goods valued at $5.24 billion from January to June 2024, said the countrys Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Afghanistan shipped exported products worth nearly 700 million to various countries, with 58 million value of exports going to Central Asian countries within the first six months of 2024, the ministrys spokesman Akundzada Abdul Salam Jawad told local media outlet TOLOnews, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Afghan products were mostly exported to Pakistan, India and Iran, and the major sources of imports included Iran, Pakistan and China, the countrys National Statistics and Information Authority reported in July.

Advertisement

Fresh and dry fruits including pistachio, pine nut, fig, pomegranate, grape, raisin, melon and watermelon are the most popular products for export in Afghanistan.
Government-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) on Saturday reported a 159 per cent surge in its net profit to Rs 3,252 crore for the April-June quarter of 2024.25 compared to the corresponding figure of Rs 1,255 crore in the same quarter of 2023-24.

The public sector banks net interest income (NII) during the quarter rose by 10.23 per cent to Rs 10,476 crore from Rs 9,504 crore in the same period last year, according to a filing with the stock exchanges.

PNB also recorded an improvement in its asset quality with gross non-performing assets (NPA) declining to 4.98 per cent of total loans as on June 30, 2024 from 7.73 per cent as in June 2023.

Advertisement

As part of its strategy to improve profitability, PNB has been focusing on expanding retail, agriculture, MSME (RAM) portfolio, extending good corporate loans, controlling slippages and improving recovery, a senior official said.

The Delhi-headquartered bank also has plans to add another 150 branches to its network of 10,136 branches across the country. PNB also has plans of opening an office in Dubai during the current financial year.

Currently, the bank has overseas operations in the UK, Bhutan and Nepal. The bank also has a branch in IFSC GIFT City Gandhinagar as the bank is focusing on improving its foreign exchange income.

PNB had also signed an MoU with Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) for a collaboration in the field of lending in the Renewable Energy sector.

With this step, both institutions will lend to those companies who are engaged in promoting green energy solutions in the country which would also enable India to achieve its global commitments to fight climate change.
The newly elected body of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) has decided to hold dance and acting classes for the youth.

We have decided to hold dance and acting classes for the youth. We have a responsibility towards the future of the youth. We will conduct workshops for those interested in acting and dancing, said one of the actors associated with the body.

He said that a preliminary selection will be done and those selected will be invited to participate in the workshop that seasoned actors will handle.

Advertisement

Even if any actor also wishes to learn dancing they too can join these workshops, the actor said.

The body has also decided to honour the long-standing commitment of the Late AMMA President, Innocent.

Innocent had committed to the Producers Association that AMMA will join hands with them and hold a stage show which will then be broadcast on a leading Malayalam TV channel, said the actor.

He said that the proceeds of the show will be shared between the Producers Association and AMMA.

Producers are facing a tough time and going through a bad phase. So, Innocent had committed to the producers that AMMA would do a stage show to raise funds, added the star.

All the leading lights of AMMA including Mammootty, Mohanlal, MoS Suresh Gopi and others will be rehearsing for the stage show which will be held next month.

One of the actors told IANS that four days of rehearsals will be held at Kochi and then the show will be staged, which will be telecast by Mazhavil Manorama TV in September during the Onam festival season.

Meanwhile, superstar Mohanlal won a successive third term and was elected unopposed as AMMA President while hugely popular actor Siddique was appointed as the new General Secretary of the body.
Reacting to the reports about his proposed visit to Ukraine, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modis priorities seeking to know if he would also visit Manipur.

Ramesh demanded to know whether the prime minister had engaged in a one-on-one discussion with Chief Minister of Manipur N Biren Singh regarding the dire situation in Manipur when he was in New Delhi to attend the NITI Aayog meeting presided over by him.

In a post on X, the senior Congress leader said, The simple question that the people of Manipur are asking is this: Did Shri N. Biren Singh meet with Shri Narendra Modi separately one-on-one and discuss the situation in Manipur, which started burning on the night of May 3rd, 2023?

Advertisement

He also wanted to know if the Manipur chief minister invited Modi to the violence-hit state and if he plans to visit the state before or after his trip to war-torn Ukraine. Did Shri Biren Singh invite Shri Narendra Modi to visit Manipur, either before or after His trip to Ukraine, Ramesh asked.

The ethnic clashes between Meitei and Kuki Zomi communities in Manipur began on the night of May 3, 2023. The state has since seen sporadic violence and unrest resulting in the death of nearly 200 people.

The Congress leaders remarks came in the wake of the reports of Modis proposed visit to Ukraine on August 23, 2024. The likely visit, the first since the Ukraine war broke out, comes days after Modi visited Russia and discussed the Ukraine war with President Vladimir Putin.
Originally penned on July 8, 2015, this reflection reminds us of the impact that universities have on local economies. Little has changed since that time regarding these insights.

Universities impact regional economies. In rural areas where economic diversity is scant, the impact is greatest. Economic growth follows four forces.

A Labor Force

Universities require workers of every stripe, and the jobs needed are one aspect of economic development. However, this does not distinguish between a university and a grocery store. While missions may differ, both produce jobs simply because to achieve their mission workers are required. According to the Fourth Economy, colleges and universities have added 341,000 new jobs nationally in the past decade despite contracting college enrollments. If this phenomenon results from a genuine need to accomplish the mission, it is positive. However, if it is driven by political manipulation and patronage it is a double whammy, driving up costs and diminishing institutional effectiveness.

Some regions have high numbers of students per employee. The state of Wyoming posts an impossible-to-believe ratio of 250 students per employee. Washington D.C., by comparison, provides only 3.4 students per employee. Differences are so drastic, that reason is defied. However, even with flawed data the inextricable relationship between the needs of students and the numbers of employees required to satisfy those needs contributes to labor force development and regional economic growth.

Dr. Walter Wendler, President of West Texas A&M University

Forceful New Ideas

Economic contributions by universities are realized through the generation and innovation of new ideas creating enterprise associated with the knowledge work of research and scholarship. Good students and faculty power the process. Over the past few decades, the idea of the Market University has become a staple in Statehouse discussions regarding the value of public research universities.

In North Carolina, before 1962, its universities were largely local, focused on tradition and not future-oriented. The Research Triangle Park, the nations first such enterprise, was established to increase the economic impact of the University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University and Duke. Terry Stanford president of Duke, and William Friday president of the UNC System, built a powerhouse that attracted Nobel Prize winners and an array of industries for the partnership and vision of universities and the business community. These big ideas helped create economic activity and reversed a brain drain that plagued North Carolina for a generation.

Story continues

An Educated Workforce

In Southeast Michigan, The City Observatory, reported the number of 25-to-34-yearolds with a college degree decreased as the Detroit metropolitan area economic growth fizzled. More degree holders, produced locally, will not necessarily create economic growth. But, economic growth without a capable workforce is very difficult, maybe impossible, to achieve. Detroit is working with regional colleges and universities to increase the number of graduates as a means to influence economic development in Motowns recovery from crime, mismanagement and bankruptcy. Detroit was a bright light, a charter member of the Arsenal of Democracy during World War Two, and home to U.S. automobile manufacturing, and the genius and productivity that came with it. To recover, a capable workforce is essential, even in our internet-flattened and shrinking world.

In Illinois, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos held a series of meetings in Rockford, the Quad Cities and Peoria as part of an effort dubbed, partnering for Illinois economic future. The marriage of manufacturer economic development groups, universities and community colleges generates ideas and insights that couple higher education with working economies.

The Force of Teamwork

University groups recognize economic engagement as an important part of campus life. Economic growth is teamwork-driven. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and the Commission on Innovation, Competitiveness and Economic Prosperity identified several institutions this year for their contribution to innovation and economic development in their home locales. Many excellent Midwestern universities achieved the designation this year including the University of Kansas, the University of Louisville, Ohio University and the University of Nebraska Lincoln. The four forces of economic development create and sustain growth and productivity. In every instance, from Silicon Valley in California to Route 128, Americas Technology Highway in Massachusetts, the most powerful and lasting growth comes when universities and enterprises that share both geography and purpose work in tandem. Universities make profound contributions when guided by academic excellence in service to students. When they serve other interests, they falter. All else, especially economic results follow up or down.

Walter V. Wendler is President of West Texas A&M University. His weekly columns, with hyperlinks, are available at https://walterwendler.com/.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Wendler commentary: The university and the economy
Expressing its strong displeasure over the infighting in Uttar Pradesh BJP, the partys top leadership instructed all ministers and MLAs of the ruling party to desist from issuing statements that could cause a situation detrimental to the party.

On behalf of the party high command, all the leaders have been asked to curb the habit of public display of discord and differences of opinion. They should concentrate on their own work and should not interfere in anyone elses work, they further instructed.

According to sources here on Sunday, before the start of a two-day chief ministers meeting convened at the BJPs Central office on Saturday, Deputy Chief Ministers, Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak reached the party office. Both the leaders met Amit Shah.

Advertisement

It has been reported that Amit Shah first talked to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath before meeting both the deputy CMs. After this, the situation in UP was discussed in the presence of partys national president JP Nadda, and the national general secretary organization BL Santosh.

Sources said after the Deputy CMs presented their respective views, they were asked to work together and dedicate themselves to the by-elections for 10 assembly constituencies.

Though Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath did not meet any leader of the top leadership in private, sources say on reaching Delhi on Friday, BJPs National General Secretary Organization BL Santosh met CM Yogi for about an hour at UP Bhawan.

It is believed that the latest political situation in UP was discussed by the two leaders.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday strongly condemned the state governments decision to increase the minimum bus fare from Rs 5 to Rs 12, raise school bus fares by 50 per cent, and increase the rates for concessional yellow cards, smart cards, and Samman cards.

The party demanded that the government immediately withdraw the decision.

Otherwise, the party will mobilise the people and protest against the governments decision to impose an economic burden on the general public, cautioned former Shimla Mayor Sanjay Chauhan.

Advertisement

Due to the lack of railway lines in the state, bus service is the only means of transport. The public in both rural and urban areas can travel only by bus. Therefore, if the bus fare is increased, people, especially farmers, labourers, students, employees, women, and youth, will be severely affected, he reasoned.

The government, he said, is claiming that the fare hike is intended to bring Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) out of financial losses.

The reality is different, and the state governments policy of privatisation in the transport sector is mainly responsible for this. It has resulted in a reduction in the number of buses and routes in the public sector. Permits are being issued to private bus operators for most of the profitable routes, he said.

As a result, HRTC is left with only 2,573 routes and 3,150 buses, while private operators manage most bus routes with around 8,300 buses. Additionally, profitable routes are being given to private operators, forcing HRTC to bear the losses, he added.

Chauhan said that the significant increase in minimum and school bus fares will have a very adverse effect in urban areas, especially in cities like the capital, Shimla, which are already facing severe traffic problems.

Due to this bus fare increase, people will prefer private vehicles for school, office, and other needs. This will exacerbate traffic congestion and pollution in the city. The party demands that the government, in fulfilling its responsibility as a welfare state, immediately withdraw this decision to increase bus fares. Additionally, the government should strengthen public sectors like HRTC and provide better transport facilities to the public, Chauhan said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded the inclusion of Charaideo Maidam of Assam in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and said that now more tourists would visit this place.

Have you heard the name Charaideo Maidam? If not, you will now hear this name again and again, and will tell others with great enthusiasm. Charaideo Maidam of Assam is being included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In this list, it will be the 43rd site of India, but the first site from the Northeast, Modi said during the 112th episode of his monthly broadcast Mann Ki Baat on All India Radio (AIR).

Elaborating further about this site, the prime minister said Charaideo means a shining city on the hills. This was the first capital of the Ahom dynasty. The people of the Ahom dynasty traditionally kept the mortal remains of their ancestors and their valuables in the Maidam, he said.

Advertisement

Modi said a Maidam is a mound-like structure covered with soil on top and has one or more rooms underneath. This Maidam is a symbol of reverence for the departed kings and dignitaries of the Ahom Empire. This way of showing respect to ones ancestors is very unique. Community worshipping was also performed at this place, he said.

The prime minister further said, Other data about the Ahom Empire will surprise you even more. Starting from the 13th century, this empire lasted till the beginning of the 19th century. It is a great feat for an empire to sustain for such a long period.

He said perhaps the principles and beliefs of the Ahom Empire were so strong that it kept this dynasty alive for so long. I remember that on March 9 this year, I had the privilege of unveiling the tallest statue of the great Ahom warrior Lasit Borphukan, a symbol of indomitable courage and bravery. During this programme, I had a distinct experience while following the spiritual tradition of the Ahom community. It is indeed a great feeling for me to have the privilege of paying respect to the ancestors of the Ahom community at Lasit Maidam, the prime minister pointed out.

He further said that Charaideo Madam becoming a World Heritage Site would mean more tourists would visit the place.

The prime minister urged the people to include this site in their future travel plans.
More than 60 protesters including at least 12 women, from Tamil Nadu were made to deboard a train at Narmadapuram railway station in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday while they were enroute to New Delhi to protest there over the Cauvery waters dispute of Tamil Nadu with Karnataka.

According to officials, the protesters are mainly farmers who were traveling in the Grand Trunk (GT) Express.

Sources said the police searched the train for an hour and then took the protesters to a holding area in the city.

Advertisement

National South Indian River Interlinking Farmers Association Tamil Nadu State President Ayyakannu told some media persons at the railway station that they had bought 100 tickets to travel to New Delhi.

The authorities detained them at Narmadapuram and prevented them from travelling further.

The protesters had boarded the 12615 GT Express to Delhi on Sunday, and following inputs, the police detained them at Narmadapuram.
Union Steel Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy slammed Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for skipping the NITI Aayog meeting held in the national capital on Saturday, saying that the conflict with the Centre and lack of trust is not good for the state.

Speaking to media persons after attending the NITI Aayog meeting in New Delhi, Kumaraswamy said, Such a lack of trust will damage the federal system. This will bring difficulties to the state. If there was a genuine intention to do good for the state, the Chief Minister would have attended the meeting and presented his views.

The Union Minister held the Congress directly responsible for this lack of trust.

Advertisement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the NITI Aayog meeting to discuss the goal of Developed India. He presented his vision at the meeting and in my opinion, all states, including Karnataka, should have participated in the meeting, Kumaraswamy said.

He said that the absence of CMs of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Jharkhand in the meeting was not a good development.

It is not good from the perspective of development and the welfare of the people of these states. What do they achieve by this? If there was any injustice, it should have been discussed in the meeting. What is the point of speaking from the streets? he said.
Eight people were killed while five others were injured after a vehicle crashed into pedestrians in Changsha City, the capital of central Chinas Hunan Province, in the wee hours of Saturday, the municipal public security bureau said.

The injured people have been sent to a nearby hospital for treatment, Xinhua news agency reported.

Among the wounded, two are in serious condition, while three have suffered minor injuries.

Advertisement

The suspect has been identified as Su, aged 55, who is being questioned by the police.

An investigation into the case is underway. Further details are awaited.
Flooding has disrupted traffic on a major highway in southern Myanmar on Saturday, posing challenges for travellers, the state-run media said on Saturday.

The flooding was caused by heavy rains in Thaton and Belin townships of Mon state, Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) reported.

A road section of the Yangon-Mawlamyine highway in Thaton township has been submerged by about two feet of water since the early hours of Saturday due to continuous heavy rains, the report said, Xinhua news agency reported.

Advertisement

Another section of the same highway in Belin township was submerged on Friday with about two feet of water and up to four feet in some places. This was caused by the Belin River rising above its danger level, the report said.

Local authorities, traffic police, fire service personnel and rescuers participated in efforts to ensure the safety of travelers on the highway, the report said.
The Turkish parliament has passed a motion for the deployment of Turkish Armed Forces elements to Somalia, including the maritime jurisdiction areas of the country.

Elements of the Turkish Armed Forces will be deployed in Somalia for two years to support Somalias security activities against terrorism and other threats, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the motion passed on Saturday.

The move came after a defence and economic cooperation deal between Turkey and Somalia signed in February, aiming at bolstering Somalias maritime defence capabilities, said the motion.

Advertisement

Our friendship with Somalia will be strengthened, as well as our countrys support to the efforts against terrorism, maritime banditry, and armed robbery in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and adjacent regions, which endanger international peace and stability and negatively affect our national interests, it added.

In mid-July, the Turkish Energy Ministry announced that Turkey would send an oil and gas exploration vessel off the coast of Somalia later this year as part of a hydrocarbon cooperation deal between the two countries.
WSJ money guru, 61, preached saving enough to retire past 90  then he got a devastating cancer diagnosis

Writing more than 1,000 columns over 20-plus years, Jonathan Clements dispensed personal finance advice in the Wall Street Journal typical of this 1999 shot across the pecuniary bow: I am the nag who uses this column to advocate trading little, diversifying broadly and looking to the long term.

Clements practiced what he preached. To him, long term meant beyond age 90, a goal he seemingly approached with the expectation he would continue to work part-time. Meanwhile, he prepped through a mix of savings, deferred Social Security payouts and immediate fixed annuities that would yield monthly checks to last a lifetime.

Don't miss

Commercial real estate has beaten the stock market for 25 years  but only the super rich could buy in. Here's how even ordinary investors can become the landlord of Walmart, Whole Foods or Kroger

Car insurance premiums in America are through the roof  and only getting worse. But 5 minutes could have you paying as little as $29/month

These 5 magic money moves will boost you up America's net worth ladder in 2024  and you can complete each step within minutes. Here's how

Except that in Clements case, a lifetime is so short  truly and tragically. And whatever funds he has amassed, he will in all likelihood never get to spend.

Not even close.

As he revealed on his personal website, the money guru may have just a dozen okay months to live, the result of a devastating cancer diagnosis he only received in May.

Despite it all, he has maintained his trademark wit and focus on dollars and cents. When recounting the day of his diagnosis, Clements admitted that, at first, he suspected he had an ear infection, and thus faced a frugal decision.

It was going to be a busy week, and I figured that it would be smart to get some antibiotics inside me, even if visiting the urgent care clinic on Sunday might be more expensive than contacting my primary care physician on Monday."

Would he take his advice back?

Clements spent much of the ink at his disposal dispensing a cautious financial approach to readers, which is the same one he used to prepare for a comfortable retirement. Does he now regret giving any of his advice?

In a July 6 post on his website, Clements, confronted the realities this way: That money I diligently amassed over the past four decades? Almost all of it will end up with my heirs. My carefully considered plans  have gone out the window.

Yet that has absolutely nothing to do with boneheaded mistakes. Clements didnt gamble or sink his fortune into an overhyped IPO (also gambling, you could argue). He didnt indulge in luxury cars or lavish homes. Rather, his financial misfortune reflects a stark reality many have faced, even if theyre not as brave to discuss it as openly as he has: his terminal illness remained undiagnosed until an otherwise routine doctors visit, as he otherwise seemed to be healthy.

Story continues

And even through his illness, he continues to operate his website and dole out advice.

Read more: Car insurance rates have spiked in the US to a stunning $2,150/year  but you can be smarter than that. Here's how you can save yourself as much as $820 annually in minutes (it's 100% free)

Less time and a longer time horizon

Would he spend more freely now? Clements did discuss a planned trip to Europe; he had to nix a second due to his condition. Its not the expense that bothers him so much as where some of the money went.

When I made changes to our flights, the airlines dinged me for a few hundred dollars. Supposedly, I no longer need to worry about how much I spend, and yet I couldnt help but be irked, he wrote. Yes, even now, my frugality still lingers.

Clements situation highlights a sobering reality. Many of us wont get nearly as many years on the planet as wed like, time being a precious commodity in its own right. Life expectancy in the U.S. is 77.5 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That may not be 90, but that's still a healthy stretch. Meanwhile, the number of people in the country aged 90-94 increased by nearly 70% between 2000 and 2020 from about 1.1 million to 1.8 million, according to the Census Bureau.

And yet, Clements asserts that his portfolios time horizon is getting longer. Hes thinking now about his wife and two kids.

At this point theyre the ones Im investing for. And so, more than 90% of his portfolio rests in stocks because thats the asset allocation that makes sense for them, given where they are in their career and what other investments they hold.

Employing the Rule of 72, Clements believes they could see the money double in slightly more than 10 years, assuming a 7% annual return.

Thus even with not much time left, nothing has stopped Clements from sharing with readers and loved ones the fruits of his wisdom and prudence: abundance of another kind.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Narendra Modi is faced in Nepal with a failure of policy as Kathmandu looks increasingly to China and turns more and more resentful of India. Indeed, the political mood in Nepal is such that it is the current state of India-Nepal relations that is the principal reason behind Khadga Prasad Sharma Olis return to office as prime minister in coalition with a party that had hitherto been regarded as our most reliable friend, the Nepali Congress led by the veteran Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Reports from Kathmandu indicate that this churning in Nepal is principally on account of the supine way in which Olis immediate predecessor, Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, had surrendered to the virtually imperial demands made by the Modi government on Prachandas official visit to Delhi in June 2023. On that visit, Prachanda eschewed the opportunity to pursue Nepals principal concerns with Modi saying that it would have ruin(ed) the atmosphere. His opponents, both within the alliance he had forged to become PM and among the commentariat and opposition in parliament, deplored such appeasement of a bullying big brother.

Imaging: Deni Lal

Among the fierce reactions, the sharpest retort came from a former minister who described Prachanda and his cohort as lampasarbadisspineless cowards, crawling when they were only asked to bend! Others said India had reduced Nepals sovereignty to the third stratum, below even the provincial establishments in India. Indeed, Modis hauteur and ill-treatment of Nepalese leaders, going back to the Modi sarkars economic boycott of Nepal in 2015 because they had dared proclaim a constitution for Nepal without incorporating the amendments Delhi had suggested, has led even to our staunchest friend in that country, the Nepali Congress, joining in the chorus against Prachandas pusillanimous failure to advance Nepals interests against an India that seems determined to unilaterally and even whimsically trample on them. Finally, the Nepalese are not unaware of the BJP desire to see the Republic of Nepal revert to a monarchy that had proclaimed a Hindu Rashtra in Nepal and has had intimate ancestral links with Yogi Adityanaths ashram in Gorakhpur. Muddying the waters further is the sangh parivars angry rejection of Olis assertion that the Ayodhya of Lord Ram lies in Nepal and not India!

Principal among Nepals current grievances is the Modi governments refusal to cooperate with Nepal in operationalising their Chinese-built international airports at Bhairahawa and Pokhara on the sole ground that China had helped build them. There is also burgeoning anger at India refusing to buy power from Chinese-assisted hydroelectric plants, despite China winning the contracts in international bidding.

Hypocrisy is what Nepalese commentators describe these prohibitions as, given the massive and growing imports and investments that India makes from China to keep its own economy chugging. There is also the simmering issue of whether the Lipulk-Limpiyadhura-Kalapani triangle belongs to India or Nepal. Moreover, the Modi government refuses to release the report of the joint India-Nepal Eminent Persons Group that reviewed the gamut of India-Nepal relations at the behest of both governments, only because the constructive recommendations made by the group in the common interest of the two countries are not in accord with the Modi governments colonial approach to Nepal. Nepal also resents India forcing into cold storage the multilateral SAARC initiative for bilateral Indo-Pak reasons. That is a formidable agenda which requires attention at the highest level, and not, as Prachanda had done, to be kept off the table for New Delhi to feel comfortable as he put it with Kathmandu.

It was the image of the Ugly American that fundamentally caused the undoing of the US in Vietnam. We should never forget that Nepali sovereignty deserves respect as it occupies the central sector of the Himalayan chain that separates both countries from China.

Aiyar is a former Union minister and social commentator.
I have to admit I absolutely loved the Reliance wedding. Oops, I meant to say the Ambani wedding. The youngest son of the legendary Mukesh Ambani, Anant, married an heiress, Radhika Merchant, in the wedding of the century, thanks to its pomp and ceremony. We were treated to possibly minute by minute updates thanks to their multiple and very buzzy social media accounts.

I think the Freudian slip of calling it a Reliance wedding was thanks to its very public nature. The entire world was invited to watch. If you did not know or care who the Ambanis were, you would certainly be interested in what Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry were up to. It is a great way to launch yourself as an international brand, Reliance or the Ambanis, whichever.

I also love the fact that we were educated in multitudinous Indian crafts. Right from the finest embroideries to the most exquisitely made jewels to a lehenga hand-painted by a celebrated artist. Coincidentally, Reliance Retail launched Swadesh, a craft-first clothing label less than a year ago, which promises to take the mickey out of Fabindia, Anokhi and other textile enterprises. The more the merrier, I say, making the consumer a certain queen.

From Sheins family fits | Courtesy Instagram@sheinofficial

But last months announcement of Reliance Retails tie-up with Shein is vexing. It makes one believe that come what may, fashion cannot escape its dependence on fast fashion. With this partnership, Chinese fast fashion behemoth Shein is looking to re-enter the Indian market after it was thrown out, along with TikTok, by the Modi government in 2020, thanks to Chinas transgressions on Indias Himalayan borders.

The Indian fast fashion market (ethnic labels as well as European ones like Zara and H&M) is estimated to be at $10 billion currently, and expected to reach $50 billion by 2031, according to a report by Redseer Strategy Consultants. Shein is the worlds largest fashion ecommerce retailer with an estimated revenue of $27 billion, according to Statista.

In this new partnership, Shein, which cannot be back in India independently, will be sold via Reliances ecommerce apps as well as in Reliances physical multi-brand stores. They will receive a licence fee for profit sharing from the India market. Indias large demographic also helps Shein reduce its dependence on the Chinese market for numbers. While Reliance can learn how to better its supply chain network, as Shein has the lowest-ever turnaround time for manufacturing (they take one week, whereas other fast fashion companies take one month). Shein is sold in 150 countries and has a social media following of 250 million.

Moreover, Shein is possibly the cheapest fast fashion manufacturer, with items costing as low as $3. Its CEO is the 40-year-old Xu Yangtian who does not give interviews and is completely shrouded in secrecy.

According to a report in Financial Times, Shein has kept its pricing minimal to make use of de minimis rules, where low-priced items are exempted from customs duties while shipping to the EU, US and UK. The EUs allowance is 150, while the US has a $800 ceiling. Shein has also faced allegations of unethical labour practices in its supply chain, which the company has denied. With their new announcement of listing in Londons IPO, all of this will be open to more scrutiny.

Fast fashion in India is a new and post-mall culture beast. It is fast catching up with the rest of the world. Reliance Retail must find a way to keep its commitment to slower practices of artisanal crafts.

X@namratazakaria
Remember the guns of Navarone that threatened all the Allied shipping that passed though a narrow strait, in the Alistaire Maclean novel and film? It needed a team of the toughest British, Greek and American commandos to sneak in and destroy the guns and secure the seas. Maybe fiction, but it showed us the kind of threat that a force in control of a choke point can project in sea warfare.

A choke point is to sea warfare (there are choke points on terra firma martia, too) what a high ground is to land warfare. Military Machiavellis say, you need eight-to-twenty times the force to dislodge an enemy sitting on high ground with a machine-gun, a pair of binoculars and a good dog.

More, I would day. Look at Siachen. With all their snow-trained Northern Light Infantrymen and Frontiersmen, the Pakistan generals havent dislodged about a brigade of our boys sitting like frozen colossuses on the Saltoro heights for the last 40 years. For two reasons. One, our boys are tougher and braver, as we would like to believe. Two, our commanders are smarter. They knew way back in 1984 that the only way to hold Siachen was to occupy the higher peaks.

Imaging: Deni Lal

Flip the coin, and you get Kargil. It took more than two infantry divisions, several score batteries of Bofors guns spewing thousands of 155-mm shells, and several squadrons of MiGs, Mirages and Mi-17s to evict a few hundred unwashed insurgents and uniformless Pakistani troops sitting in a few sangars of rubble atop the Kargil, Dras and Batalik heights, exactly a quarter century ago. That wasnt 1:8 or even 1:20.

Not much different is a choke point in sea warfare. With a few long-range guns and missile batteries, anyone sitting at a choke point can threaten all the shipping that falls within his firing range. And believe me, the seas around us are dotted with such Navarones. None with the kind of craggy hills for a Captain Mallory to climb (thank God!), but there are scores of chapati-flat islets that offer ideal gun positions and pirate hideouts.

Many of the people-less islands of Lakshadweep and the Maldives could turn into mini Navarones if somebody holds them with force. Our bombers and destroyers may take them out, but they can still bring global commerce to a standstill for a few days.

Exaggerated? No, if you get an idea of the kind of commercial shipping that passes though just one choke point that lies amidst our sovereign territories. All the ships carrying all the cargo and crude that are being traded between Europe, Africa and the Middle-East on the one side and South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Far East on the other, pass between two India-owned islands. I am talking of the 200-km wide Nine Degree Channel that separates our Kalpeni and Suheli Par from our Minicoy and through which 12 ships pass every minute.

The Nine Degree Channel is one of the nine choke points spotted by maritime strategists in the Indian Ocean, the others being the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb and the Horn of Africa, the Malacca Strait, the Lombok Strait, the Sunda Strait, the Six Degree Channel, and the Cape of Good Hope.

We cant take chances. Mohamed Muizzu may have kicked out about a hundred of our boys from the Maldives. But we are positioning more of them just 50 miles off. Last week the government gave the go-ahead to build a military airbase in Minicoy and to extend the airfield on Agatti.

prasannan@theweek.in
India's environmental journey is currently at a turning point. An increasing ecological imbalance is being observed as we are making rapid strides in our infrastructural and technological developments. For a country whose 60 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture, land degradation is found to be one of the main reasons for decreasing biodiversity and increasing social inequalities. As we observe World Nature Conservation Day, it is important to understand the need to integrate human communities with land conservation efforts while leveraging digital technologies for efficient use of our resources.



What it takes to make conservation efforts successful?

Effective conservation depends largely on support from local communities particularly from women and indigenous populations. This combined with technological interventions helps in creating a perfect fusion of traditional knowledge with contemporary techniques which allows preservation of flora and fauna of a particular area.

To understand this better, take the case of the Indian Rhino Vision initiative where with the help of technological support and community participation helped in restoring the population of rhinos in Assam. With the help of digital tools such as sophisticated sensors along with AI-powered picture recognition the local rhino population thrived from just a few hundred to about 3,000. Moreover, involvement of indigenous population has helped restore acres of vital land that was crucial for the habitat of these animals.

Similarly, in the Western Ghats, coffee growers are embracing the power of smartphone apps to protect biodiversity through shade-grown coffee practices. These innovative apps offer crucial guidance on sustainable farming methods and create direct links to markets that appreciate eco-friendly practices. In addition to improving the lives of these committed farmers, this digital assistance is essential to maintain the region's abundant biodiversity.

With apps like India Biodiversity Portal, the public can now take part in the documentation of biodiversity. Anybody with a smartphone may record and share observations of plants and animals which can help build a massive, crowdsourced database on biodiversity in India.

Furthermore, online marketplaces are facilitating the selling of forest goods that have been responsibly collected, supporting livelihoods that are friendly to conservation, and linking rural communities with metropolitan markets.

Promising advancements in agroforestry have been made possible by public-private partnerships, which give farmers access to current market pricing, weather forecasts, and sustainable farming methods. Online platforms are revolutionising knowledge sharing by facilitating the spread of traditional knowledge and best practices in conservation and agriculture among various communities and locations.

Stakeholders roles in preserving biodiversity

Any conservation effort usually involves a coordinated involvement of multiple stakeholders. While government plays a vital role in policy making, private sectors, local communities and social organisations help decide the correct and a balanced approach in utilising the resources of an area.

Government initiatives such as the National Mission for Green India and National Forest Policy have seen the government join forces with the NGOs and civil society groups to make great progress in ecological conservation as well as community capacity building. Digital tools are now being used to improve these activities, making monitoring and execution easier.

The involvement of the private sector is equally significant, especially when it comes to creating and implementing digital solutions. Companies are now individually financing ideas that help use of different digital platforms to link communities with conservation efforts. This enables the assessment of forest cover, species monitoring, and community engagement.

In Uttarakhand, the forest department is piloting an innovative mobile app to connect directly to communities and fire-fighting volunteers when it comes to the critical and time-sensitive issue of forest fires. The app allows vulnerable communities to both capture and report incidents to the department as well as receive real-time details of forest fire incidents, including the proximity of the fire to their location.

Apart from forming meaningful partnerships, its important to incentivise the local communities for their efforts. This can be done by setting up community-based tourisms, markets, or providing logistics support that can help run facilities that aid in conservation models. Moreover, ideas that provide an alternative to the consumption of conventional fuel and energy must also be encouraged so that the burden on natural resources can be reduced.

The road ahead

Presently, India is at the centre of the digital and economic revolution. While the world looks up to us for creative and unique solutions in technological progress, we have a lot more to offer. Gifted with a diverse and culturally rich background, our efforts should aim to produce ideas that are an amalgamation of traditional approaches and contemporary interventions.

With an agrarian society, Indias conservation of its land and biodiversity needs to coexist alongside technical advancement and community empowerment. We can create a model of sustainable improvement that preserves our natural heritage at the same time as constructing resilient, digitally empowered communities for a more egalitarian future.

The current boom in startups can also be a key driver of innovation in wildlife conservation. The government must promote innovations that focus on conservation technologies by providing support and incentives for startups. This includes fostering public-private partnerships and creating a conducive ecosystem for these startups to thrive and contribute to wildlife preservation.

We must keep in mind that technological innovation is a precious tool in our conservation toolbox. It needs to be used carefully, considering local circumstances, and work in tandem with traditional, community-centric conservation techniques. We can create a comprehensive and long-lasting conservation strategy by combining cutting-edge technology with time-tested conservation techniques and encouraging partnerships between governments, social organisations and startups.

This strategy will safeguard a greener future for future generations, empower local communities, and preserve our natural heritage.

(Shweta Rawat is the founder and chairperson of The Hans Foundation)
Fans of Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Avengers are in a frenzy as Hollywood actor Robert Downey Jr., known for his portrayal of the Avengers character Iron Man, announced his return to the franchise as a villain in their upcoming film. Robert Downey Jr. Revealed Dr Doom during the San Diego Comic-Con.



Downey played Iron Man in nine films, but on Saturday, he appeared wearing Dr. Doom's mask and a green cloak. "I like playing complicated characters," said the actor after revealing his new mask at San Diego Comic-Con. Robert Downey Jr. will play the villain Victor Von Doom, or Doctor Doom, in the upcoming Avengers film Avengers Doomsday. It also marks the return of iconic directors duo Russo Brothers to Marvel and they will be directing the upcoming two Avengers films.

New mask, same task.



Robert Downey Jr. surprises Hall H to announce his return to the MCU as Doctor Doom. pic.twitter.com/j1SEjzse3p  Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige revealed the titles of upcoming two Avengers films - Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday at the Comic-Con on Saturday and they will be directed by Joe and Anthony Russo. Interestingly, iron Man, the character portrayed by Downey, died in the 2019 Avengers film Avengers: Endgame.

New mask, same task, said Downey sharing a moment with his new mask, similar to the one with his Iron Mans mask, on social media on Saturday.
The Congress took a dig at Bharatiya Janata Party and Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, and asked has the latter invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the violence-ridden state before or after his Ukraine visit.



Congress Communications Secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Manipur CM met with the prime minister twice and the people of Manipur would like to know whether Biren Singh invited Narendra Modi to Manipur.

Ramesh tweeted, The Chief Minister of Manipur attends the NITI Aayog meeting in New Delhi presided over by the self-anointed non-biological PM. Then the Manipur CM attends a meeting of BJP CMs and Deputy CMs presided over by the same deity. The simple question that the people of Manipur are asking is this: Did Shri N. Biren Singh meet with Shri Narendra Modi separately one-on-one and discuss the situation in Manipur, which started burning on the night of May 3rd 2023? Did Shri Biren Singh invite Shri Narendra Modi to visit Manipur, either before or after His trip to Ukraine?

Biren Singh, who reached Delhi on Thursday met with the prime minister for the first time since the ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023. Before departing to Delhi, Singh told reporters at Imphal, My visit to Delhi is for the NITI Aayog meeting. Following this, there will be a chief ministers' conclave where we will discuss various issues. I will address the current situation in the state and seek immediate solutions to the ongoing crisis. I am optimistic that positive outcomes will result. Singh had said there would be a one-to-one meeting between him and the prime minister.

At least 200 people lost their lives and more than 60,000 people were displaced in the violence that broke out between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. Most of those displaced are still living in relief camps.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held extensive talks on Sunday with American counterpart Antony Blinken in Tokyo amid US expressing 'unease' over PM Narendra Modi's recent visit to Russia.

Both Jaishankar and Blinken were in Tokyo to attend a meeting of foreign ministers of the four-nation grouping Quadrilateral coalition on Monday.

Taking to X, Jaishankar said it was great to catch up with Blinken in Tokyo.

Great to catch up with @SecBlinken in Tokyo today.



Our bilateral agenda progresses steadily. Also had a wide ranging discussion on regional and global issues.



Look forward to attending the Quad FMM tomorrow.



  pic.twitter.com/TMGwHKHciT  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 28, 2024

"Our bilateral agenda progresses steadily. Also had a wide-ranging discussion on regional and global issues," Jaishankar added.

However, it is unclear whether the duo discussed PM Modi's recent visit to Russia.

Modi visited Moscow from July 8 to 9 as it coincided with the NATO summit in Washington. It was his first bilateral trip after securing the third term as PM.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu told a US Congressional hearing on Tuesday that the US was disappointed by the "symbolism" and "timing" of Modi's visit to Russia.

However, India rejected Lu's comments and said that all countries have the "freedom of choice" in a multipolar world.

Meanwhile, PM Modi is planning to visit Ukraine in August.

In November last year, US federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun in New York.

Pannun, wanted in India on terror charges, holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada.

Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic in June last year, was extradited to the US last month.

Following the allegations by the US, India appointed a high-level inquiry committee to look into the inputs provided by the US on the plot.
In a surprise move, President Droupadi Murmu has appointed former Karnataka minister C.H. Vijayashankar, 67, as the Governor of Meghalaya. The two-time MP from Mysuru has had a chequered political career, having represented both the BJP and the Congress.

Vijayashankar, a Kuruba leader from Mysuru, helped BJP make inroads into the Congress bastion of Mysuru-Kodagu constituency in 1998 and 2004 Lok Sabha elections. But he lost the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Hassan constituency against JDS patriarch and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.

Vijayashankar who quit the BJP in 2017 joined the Congress the following year. He was fielded as the Congress-JDS coalition candidate in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Mysuru on a Congress ticket. But he lost to BJP's Hindutva poster boy Pratap Simha by over 1.38 lakh votes.

He returned to the BJP in November 2019 stating that he was being sidelined in the Congress party which is entangled in the "original" versus "migrant" Congressmen. He had also claimed that fellow Kuruba, the incumbent Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, was also being treated as an "outsider" even after his first stint as the chief minister (2013-2018) within the party. In 2023, Vijayashankar contested and lost the Periyapatna (Mysuru) seat in the Assembly polls.

A former cabinet minister, Vijayashankar has held various portfolios, including forest department, ecology and environment department, and small scale industries. He was also a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council from 2010 to 2016.

An arts graduate, Vijayashankar was born in Ranebennur in Haveri district and in his latest election affidavit, he has declared assets worth Rs 6 crore.

Vijayashankar's appointment comes as a surprise, given his recent electoral losses and party hopping. However, his experience and seniority in politics may have contributed to his selection for the prestigious post.
By David Lawder

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Friday that emerging markets, including some G20 countries, share her concerns about China's excess industrial capacity and should press Beijing to change its economic model.

THE TAKE:

Yellen told Reuters in an interview that the concerns about China overinvesting in factories and flooding the world with cheap goods extends well beyond the wealthy G7 democracies to countries including G20 host Brazil, which has raised tariffs on Chinese steel and electric vehicles.

Yellen said that China is not taking advice from other countries and the International Monetary Fund to revive its economy with measures to increase consumer spending and demand for services.

Instead, Beijing was channeling too much of its GDP into investment in advanced manufacturing that is flooding the world with cheap Chinese goods, adding that China's economy was now too large to grow through that model.

KEY QUOTE:

"There are a lot of countries around the world that are not willing to say, "Well, China, you want to dominate manufacturing, so all of our manufacturing sectors can just go out of business because you want to be the world's factory. We're not willing to do that,'" Yellen said. "And that's the fundamental thing that unites us, and that should be a message that we're sending."

(Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Sandra Maler)
United Nations, Jul 28 (AP) Whether it's Gaza, Ukraine, Syria or a new world order, it's been Russia versus the United States and the West during Moscow's presidency of the Security Council this month, with the growing divide on vivid display.

The tension was hardly new.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 in violation of the UN Charter, which stresses the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all 193 members of the world organisation, the West has been lashing out at Moscow.

But this month, with Russia in charge of the Security Council agenda, the animosity was more public, even down to how frosty the formalities were.

The US deputy ambassador, Robert Wood, has refused to call the Russian foreign minister or any other Russian diplomat Mr. President, as is standard for any man presiding over the council  a further sign of the icy state of US-Russian relations.

In return, Russian diplomats have added an edge to the customary response to speakers with whom Russia is at odds, especially Americans.

As the president of the Security Council, I am compelled to thank the United States for his statement, a clearly angry Dmitry Polyansky, Russia's deputy ambassador, said in response to critical remarks from Wood about Russia at a meeting Monday on Syria.

The teeth-clenching has reinforced the sense of a Security Council that's often been at cross-purposes in recent years, but is able to be somewhat diplomatic and adopt resolutions on some world hot spots.

It has been a month of petty diplomatic point-scoring rather than any really major meltdowns, said Richard Gowan, UN director of the International Crisis Group, a think tank.

The verbal clashes between Russian and Western diplomats have been a feature of almost every council meeting.

When Russia used its signature meeting, chaired by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, to push for a more democratic world order with many centres of power, outraged Western ambassadors pushed back, saying Moscow had no standing to raise the issue after invading Ukraine and flouting international law.

Lavrov started the meeting by criticizing the United States for declaring its own exceptionalism. He went on to cite George Orwell's famed novel Animal Farm, saying, All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. Lavrov then denounced NATO's expansion in Europe.

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield countered by accusing Russia of willfully and flagrantly violating the core tenets of the United Nations Charter: territorial integrity, respect for human rights, international cooperation.

Britain's Ambassador Barbara Woodward was equally tough: While you tell us how you believe the world order can become more just, democratic and sustainable, your military is systematically bombing civilians in Ukraine in an unprovoked war of aggression, and in flagrant violation of the UN Charter.

France's top UN diplomat, Nicolas de Riviere, compared Russia to a pyromaniac firefighter.

It calls for a more just world order but is multiplying its violations of the Charter and jeopardising our collective security, de Riviere said.

When Russia called a meeting on Thursday to denounce Western weapons supplies to Ukraine, Western diplomats accused Russia of getting arms from North Korea and Iran in violation of UN sanctions, and accused China of supplying material to prop up Russia's defense industrial base  which Beijing's envoy denied.

At the council meeting on Syria, Russia accused the United States and its allies of attempting to destabilise the country with their illegal presence". Wood accused Russia and its close ally Syria of obstructing efforts to end the country's 13-year civil war.

Early in the month, Russia's ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, invited his 14 Security Council counterparts to a retreat at his country's Long Island estate. One of the topics was the qualifications of the people Moscow had invited to brief members at the numerous meetings it has called on Ukraine, according to a council diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was private.

Russia's briefers on Ukraine have included peace activists, political commentators and freelance journalists. At a recent Russian-organized news conference, one speaker was the international secretary of the Communist Party who had visited Russian-occupied areas of eastern Ukraine.

At Thursday's Ukraine meeting, Russia had former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissel brief the council, which Western diplomats saw as a noted improvement, though they strongly disagreed with her view that supplying Western weapons to Ukraine will spur an uncontrolled arms market in Eastern and Central Europe, increasing crime and terrorism.

In perhaps Russia's most difficult moment, Nebenzia chaired an emergency meeting of the council called by France and Ecuador on July 9 after a missile strike destroyed part of Ukraine's largest children's hospital. The US and many others blamed Russia, which denied responsibility.

Nebenzia told The Associated Press on Thursday he thinks Russia's presidency has been smooth and made some news.

Wood, the US envoy, disagreed.

Russia wants to give the impression through its Security Council presidency that everything is business as usual. It is not, he told AP on Friday. As long as Russia continues its war of aggression against Ukraine, in clear violation of the UN Charter, any effort to portray itself as a responsible permanent member of the council will be viewed with the utmost of scepticism.

The Crisis Group's Gowan said the Russians "are specialists at both delivering incendiary speeches and pulling diplomatic stunts in the Security Council, and have delivered both this month.

He pointed to Lavrov's often repeated denunciations of US global dominance and Russia's stunt of inviting Austria's Kneissel to brief, which has caused some mischief.

Gowan said Russia likes to signal that it will not let its struggles with the US and its European allies disrupt council business.

That normally, in itself, frustrates Western diplomats  they feel Russia is avoiding any real penalty for its behaviour in Ukraine, he said.

When asked about clashes with the US and its allies, Nebenzia replied; That happens, presidency or no presidency. (AP) PY

PY
New Delhi, Jul 28 (PTI) The Congress on Sunday termed the proposed Great Nicobar infrastructure project an "environmental and humanitarian disaster" and called for its thorough impartial review, including by the parliamentary committees concerned.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared a media report on X which claimed that a high-powered committee (HPC), appointed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and tasked with revisiting the green clearance for the Great Nicobar infrastructure project, has concluded that a proposed transshipment port does not fall in the Island Coastal Regulation Zone-IA (ICRZ-IA), where ports are prohibited, but is in ICRZ-IB where these are permitted.

In a post on X, Ramesh said, "These are simply games being played at the behest of the Sutradhar, who is pushing for this environmental and humanitarian disaster that the Great Nicobar Mega Infra Project is."

"Several questions arise -- How can land categorisation change like this? Surely, some sanctity must be given to the local authority -- the Andaman and Nicobar Coastal Management Authority, which knows more of ground-level realities -- than to some 'expert' body that can be manipulated?" he said.

What is the new information available to Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO) and to the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) that they have managed to overturn everything that was said thus far and change the categorization of the land, Ramesh asked.

He asked about the due process for such recategorisation.

"More details need to be made available about the activities of the NCSCM. When did they visit the Nicobar Islands? What methods did they employ to gather their information? When will the NSCSM report be made public?" he said.

Ramesh asked when the HPC report to the National Green Tribunal will be made public.

"There needs to be a thorough impartial review of this proposed project, including by the Parliamentary committees concerned," the Congress leader said.
New Delhi, Jul 28 (PTI) The Congress Sunday said the people of Manipur are asking whether Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who attended two meetings chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here the day before, also met him one-on-one to discuss the situation in the violence-hit state and invite him there.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the Manipur chief minister attends the NITI Aayog meeting in New Delhi on Saturday presided over by "the self-anointed non-biological PM".

"Then the Manipur CM attends a meeting of BJP CMs and Deputy CMs presided over by the same deity," he said.

"The simple question that the people of Manipur are asking is this: Did Shri N. Biren Singh meet with Shri Narendra Modi separately one-on-one and discuss the situation in Manipur, which started burning on the night of May 3rd 2023?" he said.

Did Biren Singh invite Modi to visit Manipur, either before or after his trip to Ukraine, Ramesh asked.

Manipur plunged into violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities in May, 2023. Since then some 200 people have been killed and thousands displaced.

Biren Singh, who was here to attend a conference of CMs from BJP-ruled states on Saturday, said he reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to serve the nation by strengthening the party and upholding its core values and ideology.

Singh had also attended the ninth NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting during the day, and said it deliberated on various strategies aimed at expediting the nation's progress and addressing the obstacles faced by different regions.
New Delhi, Jul 28 (PTI) A 22-year-old woman was stabbed to death while her mother suffered stab wounds after they were attacked allegedly by her father over money issues in the Dwarka area on Sunday, police said.

According to the police, the victims were identified as Rashmina Khatoon (22) and her mother, Sufia. The incident occurred in the Najafgarh area.

"On Sunday, a PCR call regarding murder was received at Najafgarh police station. Police reached the spot and found a 13-year-old girl, who took the support of her neighbour to make a PCR call," said a senior police officer.

The officer further said that she stated that on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, an argument broke out between her mother, Sufia and father, Abas Ali, over money.

"Her father took a knife and stabbed her mother's head. When her sister Rashmina Khatoon came to her rescue, he father stabbed her in her head, due to which she fell unconscious," said the police officer.

According to the police, the team reached the RTRM Hospital in Jaffarpur, where injured Rashmina Khatoon was declared dead, and Sufia was injured.

"An FIR has been registered, and an investigation has been taken up," the officer said. Multiple teams have been formed to arrest the accused.
Noida, Jul 29 (PTI) Despite a ban on people walking on the Yamuna Expressway, there has been a rise in pedestrian deaths in road crashes on the route over the years, with 41 per cent of the fatalities taking place in 2023 alone, according to data procured through RTI Act.

Altogether 39 pedestrians lost their lives along the 165-km Yamuna Expressway since 2012, when it was opened for commuters. Of these, 16 fatalities were recorded in 2023 -- the highest any year, the date showed.

Supreme Court lawyer and road safety activist Kishan Chand Jain had sought year-wise details on accidents, injuries and fatalities involving pedestrians from the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) under the Right to Information Act, 2005.

The RTI reply stated that Yamuna Expressway, built by Jaypee Infratech, is an "access controlled expressway" where pedestrians are not allowed to move or cross it.

The total number of pedestrian-related accidents on the expressway from 2012 to 2023 stood at 103 while the number of fatalities during this period was recorded at 39 and injuries at 41.

Annually, the accidents were recorded at three 2012, 10 in 2013, eight each in 2014, 2015 and 2016, 13 in 2017 (13), 11 in 2018, two in 2019, four in 2020, five in 2021, eight in 2022 and 23 in 2023, according to the information.

Similarly, the pedestrian deaths were recorded at zero in 2012, three each in 2013, 2014 and 2015, two in 2016, one in 2017, two each in 2018, 2019 and 2020, one in 2021, four in 2022 and 16 in 2023, the information showed.

The number of injured stood at two in 2012, three in 2013, six in 2014, three in 2015, two in 2016, three in 2017, two each in 2018, 2019 and 2020, one in 2021, four in 2022 and nine in 2023, it added.

"The pedestrian-related accidents and fatalities on the access-controlled Yamuna Expressway highlight a serious lapse by the police administration and YEIDA. There is an urgent need to strictly prevent pedestrians from entering the expressway," Jain told PTI.

"Furthermore, the problem of unauthorised bus stops along the route must be effectively resolved. Every human life is invaluable, and such accidents must be taken seriously," the Agra-based lawyer added.

Between 2012 and 2023, the Yamuna Expressway has recorded 7,625 road crash incidents, resulting in loss of 1,320 human lives and injuries to another 11,168 people, according to official figures.

In its RTI reply, Ashok Khera, the authorised signatory for Jaypee Infratech, said pedestrians are strictly not allowed to move or cross the expressway and the company's patrolling staff instructs pedestrians regularly.

"For this, whenever our corridor control team sees any pedestrian moving on the expressway, he is asked to move from the expressway. Firstly, if a pedestrian walks on the expressway, the corridor control team removes him from the expressway and also guides the pedestrians," Khera said.

"Unauthorised stops have been made at certain places on the Yamuna Expressway where buses and other passenger vehicles stop and passengers are picked or dropped. For this, information is continuously sent to the concerned police stations," he said.

Further, at such places, patrolling vehicles take action to remove those vehicles and if they do not comply, their information is also shared with the police, he added.

Built at a cost of Rs 12,839 crore by Jaypee Infratech, the 165-km-long Yamuna Expressway was opened for commercial operations in August 2012. The expressway passes through Gautam Buddh Nagar, Aligarh, Mathura and Agra districts.

The land along it is managed by the UP government body Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA).
Lucknow, Jul 28 (PTI) A woman from Delhi has claimed that the land earmarked for the construction of a mosque in Ayodhya after the Supreme Court order in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case belongs to her family, and she will move the apex court to get its possession.

However, Rani Punjabi's claims were denied by Zufar Farooqui, who is the head of the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation Trust which has been formed for the construction of the mosque, saying her claims were already rejected by the Allahabad High Court in 2021.

Farooqui, who is also the chairperson of the Sunni Central Waqf Board, said work on the entire project, including the construction of the mosque, will start from October this year.

Rani Punjabi, a resident of Delhi, claims that the five acres of land given by the administration to the Sunni Central Waqf Board in Dhannipur village of Ayodhya after the 2019 order of the Supreme Court is a part of 28.35 acres of land owned by her family.

Rani told PTI they have all the documents of ownership and she will approach the Supreme Court to get it.

According to Rani, her father Gyan Chand Punjabi had to leave the Punajb on Pakistan side after Partition, and he moved to Faizabad (now Ayodhya district) where he was allotted the 28.35 acre of lans in lieu of the land he had to leave behind.

She said her family used the land for farming until 1983, when her father's health deteriorated and the family settled in Delhi for his treatment.

Since then, the land was progressively encroached upon, she claimed.

Rani says she has no objection to the construction of the mosque but she wants the administration to do justice to her.

It is not permissible to build a mosque on any disputed land in Islam.

However, Farooqui said, "There is no obstacle in the project. As far as the woman's claim on the land is concerned, the Allahabad High Court has already rejected it in 2021. There are some minor issues which are being resolved and it is expected that work on the project will start by October."

Asked about the board's previous statement that the construction of the mosque and other buildings would start from May this year, Farooqui said, "Yes, there has been some delay because the design of the entire project is being prepared afresh."

Also, the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) certificate for raising funds has also not been received yet, he said.

A senior official of the project construction committee said on the condition of anonymity that he has met Rani Punjabi several times over her claim and told her that in Islam it is not permissible to build a mosque on a disputed land. "If she has solid evidence in support of her claim, she should present it, but she could not do so."

In a historic verdict delivered on November 9, 2019, the Supreme Court had ordered the construction of Ram Temple at the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid

site, while giving five acres land to Muslims at a prominent place in Ayodhya for the construction of a mosque.

On the orders of the government, the Sunni Central Waqf Board was allotted the land in Dhannipur village in Raunahi of Ayodhya district.

The Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation Trust formed for the construction of the mosque has also announced to build a hospital, community kitchen, library and research institute along with the mosque on the given land.

It was expected that the construction of the mosque would be completed along with that of the Ram Temple.

The consecration ceremony of the Ram temple was done in January, but the construction of the mosque is yet to start.

Those associated with the project attribute the delay to problems in getting the map approved, lack of funds and other issues.
Chennai, Jul 28 (PTI) Three more persons have been arrested in connection with BSP leader K Armstrong's killing, police said on Sunday.

The arrested were identified as 21-year-old N Vijayakumar, V Mukilan (32) and N Vignesh, aged 27 years, police said.

They were produced before a local court on Sunday and remanded to 15 days custody.

The latest arrest takes the number of persons under police custody in the high-profile murder case to 20. K Thiruvengadam, an accused in the case, was shot dead here on July 14 by police.

Following his arrest, Thiruvengadam was taken to a spot in the city, as part of the investigation to recover weapons. A key accused in the case, he allegedly opened fire at police personnel and attempted to flee from their custody. Police had said that in an act of self-defence they fired at him and he was dead.

On July 5, Armstrong, the state president of the Bahujan Samaj Party was hacked to death here by a gang and the murder led to widespread outrage. Opposition parties, including the AIADMK, alleged there has been a deterioration of law and order in the state.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami had batted for a CBI investigation into the Armstrong murder case. BSP supremo and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati, among many other leaders, had also made a similar plea.
Bengaluru, Jul 28 (PTI) In order to mount pressure on the ruling Congress against the scams in the state, the BJP and its ally JD(S) in Karnataka will hold a march from Bengaluru to Mysuru on August 3 and conclude on August 10.





The weeklong march has been planned to highlight the scams that have taken place in the state, such as the misappropriation of Rs 187 crore of the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation and another scam in the Mysuru Urban Development Corporation, BJP state President B Y Vijayendra told reporters.





The BJP and the JD(S) leaders, led by former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, union ministers H D Kumaraswamy and Pralhad Joshi, and Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka took part in the meeting to chalk out a strategy, he added.





Our march from Bengaluru will start from August 3. It will require a week to complete the march. It will conclude on August 10, Vijayendra said.





Yediyurappa and Kumaraswamy will kickstart the march, while central BJP leaders will take part in the concluding ceremony, Vijayendra said.
A district court judge on Friday granted the Colorado Republican Party's request for a temporary restraining order blocking Republicans critical of the state party from holding a meeting the next day to consider whether to fire state GOP Chairman Dave Williams and other members of his leadership team.
Donald Trump has again slammed Jewish voters who support Vice President Kamala Harris, suggesting that they should have their head examined.

Following discussions on Friday with Israeli PM Netanyahu, Trump posted on Truth Social, criticizing Harris for skipping Netanyahus recent Congressional address and said that Netanyahu had a terrible and insulting encounter with Harris in Washington, D.C.

P.M. Netanyahu of Israel had a terrible and insulting meeting in D.C. with Kamala Harris, who also refused to preside over Congress during his speech, which is an obligation of the V.P. Rarely has such a thing happened, Trump wrote.

Trump further criticized Harriss competence, asserting that her actions would prolong the conflict and hinder hostage negotiations. Her ineptness will greatly prolong the war and delay the hostage release. The same people that embarrassed us in AFGHANISTAN with their gross incompetence, are the ones who are telling Israel not to fight any longer with Hamas. Forget October 7th, they say! he added.

In a direct appeal to Jewish Americans, Trump remarked that any Jewish person voting for Harris or the Democratic Party should immediately have their head examined. He also addressed Catholics, urging them not to support what he termed the Radical Left Kamala.

Any Jewish person that votes for Kamala, or a Democrat, should immediately have their head examined. Likewise Catholics, who are being persecuted by this Administration, should not be voting for Radical Left Kamala. VOTE TRUMP 2024. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! Trump concluded.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Three Russian warships arrived in Cuban waters on Saturday, Moscows second such maritime voyage in as many months in a reflection of deepening ties between Russia and Cuba.

The naval group, consisting of a training ship, patrol frigate and refueling tanker, are expected to remain docked in Cubas port of Havana until July 30. The arrival of the vessels comes mere weeks after another squadron of Russian warships, including a powerful nuclear-powered submarine, visited Havana as part of planned military exercises last month.

American officials closely tracked the mid-June military exercises, saying that the four-vessel group posed no real threat. At the time, experts described the warships Caribbean tour as a symbolic show of strength in response to continued U.S. and Western support for Ukraine.

Cuban defense officials announced the latest port call earlier this week, calling the arrival of the Russian warships a historical practice and show of friendship and collaboration. But neither government elaborated on the purpose of this latest deployment.

Cuba greeted the Baltic fleet on Saturday with a booming cannon salute. The docking of the flotilla has sparked a flurry of excitement among the general public, with Cubans strolling the port avenue to get a better glimpse of the warships Saturday and authorities saying interested visitors would be admitted on board the Russian training ship, called Smolniy, on Sunday and Monday.

Its a friendly thing. A bond between Russia and the Cubans, said 29-year-old onlooker Maydelis Perez, pointing the hulking warships out to her three children. Im taking a family outing.

Russia is a longtime ally of Venezuela and Cuba, and its warships and aircraft have periodically made forays into the Caribbean and docked in Havana. Though Cuba is not a key player in Russian foreign policy, experts say that Russia sees Cuba  with its port less than 100 miles (160 km) from Florida  as strategically important given its continued clout among developing nations.

Cuba and Russia  Cold War allies now both under severe U.S. sanctions  have strengthened their political and economic ties in recent years, particularly as Moscow aims to boost diplomatic support for its war in Ukraine and Havana seeks whatever economic assistance it can get.

Cuba has consistently abstained on U.N. resolutions on the invasion of Ukraine and avoided criticism of Moscows war. Russia has sold significant volumes of oil to Cuba, which has struggled with regular power outages under Washingtons economic embargo.

(AP)
A new era is coming for Mexicos powerful Sinaloa cartel in the wake of the capture by U.S. authorities of Ismael El Mayo Zambada, the last of the grand old Mexican drug traffickers.

Experts believe his arrest will usher in a new wave of violence in Mexico even as Zambada could potentially provide loads of information for U.S. prosecutors.

Zambada, who had eluded authorities for decades and had never set foot in prison, was known for being an astute operator, skilled at corrupting officials and having an ability to negotiate with everyone, including rivals.

Removing him from the criminal landscape could set off an internal war for control of the cartel that has a global reach  as has occurred with the arrest or killings of other kingpins  and open the door to the more violent inclinations of a younger generation of Sinaloa traffickers, experts say.

With that in mind, the Mexican government deployed 200 members of its special forces Friday to Culiacan, Sinaloa states capital.

There is significant potential for high escalation of violence across Mexico, said Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow in the Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy and Technology at the Brookings Institution. That is bad for Mexico, its bad for the United States, as well as the possibility that the even more vicious (Jalisco New Generation cartel) will rise to even greater importance.

For that reason, Zambadas arrest could be considered a great tactical success, but strategically problematic, Felbab-Brown said.

While details remain scarce, a United States official who spoke on condition of anonymity said Zambada was tricked into flying to the U.S., where he was arrested along with Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of the infamous Sinaloa leader Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. The elder Guzman is serving a life sentence in the United States.

A small plane left Hermosillo in northern Mexico on Thursday morning with only an American pilot aboard, bound for the airport in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, near El Paso, Texas. Mexican Security Secretary Rosa Icela Rodriguez said Friday that while one person left Hermosillo, three people arrived in New Mexico.

The flight tracking site Flight Aware showed the plane stopped transmitting its elevation and speed for about half an hour over the mountains of northern Mexico before resuming its course to the U.S.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a vocal critic of the strategy of taking down drug kingpins, said Friday that Mexico had not participated or known about the U.S. operation, but said he considered the arrests an advance.

Later, Lopez Obrador, while talking about where the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels are battling for control of smuggling routes along the Guatemala border on Friday, downplayed the violence that had driven nearly 600 Mexicans to seek refuge in Guatemala this week.

He said, as he often has, that its his political adversaries who are trying to make Mexicos violence appear to be out of control. But those cartels were already fighting each other in many locations throughout Mexico before Zambadas arrest.

Frank Perez, a lawyer for Zambada, told The Associated Press that his client did not come to the U.S. voluntarily.

It appeared the sons of El Chapo Guzman were somehow in on the trap for Zambada, said Jose Reveles, author of a number of books about the cartels. The so-called Chapitos, or Little Chapos, make up a faction within the Sinaloa cartel that was often at odds with Zambada even while trafficking drugs.

Guzman Lopez, who was also arrested Thursday, is not his friend nor his collaborator, Reveles said.

He is considered to be the least influential of the four brothers who make up the Chapitos, who are considered among the main exporters of the synthetic opioid fentanyl to the United States. Joaquin Guzman Lopez is now the second of them to land in U.S. custody. Their chief of security was arrested by Mexican authorities in November.

Guzman Lopez has been accused of being the cartels link for importing the precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl from Asia and for setting up the labs that produce the drug, Reveles said.

Anne Milgram, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration chief, said that Zambadas arrest strikes at the heart of the cartel that is responsible for the majority of drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, killing Americans from coast to coast.

During the current Mexican administration, which ends Sept. 30, Mexico has been unable to control the countrys violence. Lopez Obradors decision to focus on alleviating what he sees as the root causes of violence instead of head-on confrontation with the cartels has caused tensions with the U.S. authorities, in particular the DEA.

Felbab-Brown said it has also allowed the cartels to accumulate power that is unprecedented in Mexicos history.

Zambada could now offer reams of information about the cartels operations if he decides to cooperate. He faces charges in multiple U.S. federal courts.

He was the cartels most skilled agent of corruption and the most influential trafficker who has been running extensive corruption networks across many administrations in Mexico, across vast geographic spaces, from the top of the Mexican government to municipal institutions, Felbab-Brown said.

The most important thing to watch is how much intelligence El Mayo will now provide and how much evidence in exchange for better terms, she said.

(AP)
A former classmate of JD Vance, Trumps running mate, has shared emails and messages from 2014 to 2017 with the New York Times, revealing Vances hatred for police and past stance on Donald Trump, whom he called a morally reprehensible human being.

In 2014, Vance expressed his hatred for the police after the killing of Michael Brown, stating, I hate the police. Given the number of negative experiences Ive had in the past few years, I cant imagine what a black guy goes through.

Vance also referred to Trump as a demagogue in 2015, saying, Im obviously outraged at Trumps rhetoric, and I worry most of all about how welcome Muslim citizens feel in their own country But I also think that people have always believed crazy [stuff] and there have always been demagogues willing to exploit the people who believe crazy [stuff].

In the lead-up to the 2016 election, Vance wrote, The more white people feel like voting for Trump, the more black people will suffer. I really believe that, and later called Trump a bad man. A morally reprehensible human being.

Vances classmate, Sofia Nelson, shared the messages to inform the opinion of voters about Mr. Vance. Vance has since changed his stance on Trump, admitting he was wrong and now supports him as a great president.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Wildfires across the western United States and Canada put millions of people under air quality alerts Sunday as thousands of firefighters battled the flames, including the largest wildfire in California this year.

The so-called Park Fire had scorched more than 550 square miles (1,430 square kilometers) of land in inland Northern California as of Sunday morning, darkening the sky with smoke and haze and contributing to poor air quality in a large swath of the Northwestern U.S. and western Canada.

Although the sprawling blaze was only 12% contained as of Sunday, cooler temperatures and increased humidity could help crews battle the fire, which has drawn comparisons to the 2018 Camp Fire that tore through the nearby community of Paradise, killing 85 people and torching 11,000 homes. Paradise and several other Butte County communities were under an evacuation warning Sunday.

With the Park Fire, the initial effort by first responders was to save lives and property, but that has has shifted to confronting the fire head-on, Jay Tracy, a spokesperson at the Park Fire headquarters, told The Associated Press by phone Sunday. He said reinforcements would give much-needed rest to local firefighters, some of whom have been working nonstop since the fire started Wednesday.

This fire is surprising a lot of people with its explosive growth, he said. It is kind of unparalleled.

Although the area near the Park Fire is expecting cooler-than-average temperatures through the middle of this week, that doesnt mean that fires that are existing will go away, said Marc Chenard, a meteorologist at the National Weather Services Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.

The Park Fire, which started Wednesday when authorities say a man pushed a burning car into a gully in Chico and then fled, has destroyed at least 134 structures, fire officials said. About 3,400 firefighters, aided by numerous helicopters and air tankers, are battling the blaze.

A Chico man accused of setting the fire was arrested Thursday and is due in court Monday.

The Park Fire was one of more than 100 blazes burning in the U.S. on Sunday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Some were sparked by the weather, with climate change increasing the frequency of lightning strikes as the Western U.S. endures blistering heat and bone-dry conditions.

Despite the improved fire weather in Northern California, conditions remained ripe for even more blazes to ignite, with the National Weather Service warning of red flag conditions on Sunday across wide swaths of Utah, Colorado and Wyoming, in addition to parts of California.

In Southern California, a fire in the Sequoia National Forest swept through the community of Havilah after burning more than 48 square miles (124 square kilometers) in less than three days. The town of roughly 250 people had been under an evacuation order.

Fires were also burning across eastern Oregon and eastern Idaho, where officials were assessing damage from a group of blazes referred to as the Gwen Fire, which was estimated at 41 square miles (106 square kilometers) in size as of Sunday.

(AP)
IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said on Motzei Shabbos that the Hezbollah rocket launched at Majdal Shams, killing 12 children and injuring dozens, was a Falaq rocket with a 53-kilogram warhead. Hezbollah is the only terror organization that has access to the Iranian-manufactured rocket.

We know exactly where the rocket was launched from, Halevi said. We examined the shrapnel. This is a Hezbollah rocket and whoever fires such a rocket into a built-up area wants to kill civilians, wants to kill children.

IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee identified the Hezbollah commander who directed the strike as Ali Muhammad Yahya, who heads a rocket launching site in southern Lebanon.

The IDF launched an investigation into the circumstances of the strike. Initial findings show that there were no failures in the systems identifying the rockets and a siren was sounded 20 seconds before the rocket hit. Due to the short distance, it wasnt possible to activate the siren earlier.

According to the IDF, the rocket was not intercepted due to the complex topography (the rocket crossed Har Chermon) as well as the fact that the rocket flew at a low altitude.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The heartbreaking sight of multiple child-sized coffins and thousands of mourners filled the streets of Majdal Shams as the funeral of 10 of the 12 children killed by Hezbollah took place on Sunday.

The 10 children identified on Sunday morning ranged in age from 10 to 16. Four of the children are members of the same family.

Before the mass funeral, the IDF, Fire and Rescue Services, MDA, and Israel Police coordinated with the local authorities to establish a command room to ensure the security of Majdal Shams residents.

Paramedics at the funeral had to provide medical assistance to a number of relatives of the victims who fainted due to grief.

In the videos below, the mourners are heard chanting traditional mourning statements said at the funeral of a child: Mother cries out: Where is my child? Tell me that hes not among the dead.'

With deep sorrow and grief, and with calm and complete submission to the will of G-d, Majdal Shams mourns the loss of its finest children and youths who were struck in the village stadium attack, the village community said in a statement.

Ynet reported that dozens of Arabic-speaking social workers were sent to the town to support the families and the witnesses of the horrific attack.

Several members of the government attended the funeral and some mourners verbally attacked them, yelling: Our children died and now youre here? Why does Beirut still exist?

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The Hezbollah terror group is on high alert following its attack on Majdal Shams, which killed 12 children and injured dozens, including four critically.

According to a Reuters report, the terror group evacuated its facilities in eastern and southern Lebanon in preparation for an escalation.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday that Israels response to the attack will be forceful and Hezbollah will pay for the massacre of children.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu landed at Ben-Gurion Airport and began a meeting with his security cabinet at 4 p.m.

Haifa and other cities in the north are preparing for an escalation. The University of Haifa announced on Sunday morning that it is canceling ceremonies and events planned this week and it also ordered employees who work above the fifth floor in its Eshkol Tower building to work from home.

Following the serious incident that occurred at Majdal Shams, and in light of the uncertainty currently prevailing in our region, the university administration has decided to exercise caution and switch to a work-from-home format for all those who work in the Eshkol Tower above the 5th floor, the university stated.

The university added that for the same reason, it was decided to postpone the graduation ceremonies that were supposed to take place today. Unfortunately, these days do not allow us time for ceremonies and happy events.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Students who live in a household that makes $90,000 or less a year are now eligible for a Colorado tax credit that will help pay for the first two years of college.

State leaders say accessing that credit for the first time should be an easy process for students attending school this year. Colleges or universities will track which students are eligible and then notify them. But students will still have to file their own tax return to get the money.

The new credit works as a rebate and was approved during this years legislative session. The program received wide support from lawmakers, in part because it will cost the state less than paying for tuition and fees upfront.

Many Colorado public universities and colleges have their own programs to pay upfront costs for students, often called Promise programs  Pikes Peak State College included. Each schools program has its own eligibility rules. There is no statewide program.

Leaders say the new tax credit will help even more students than the existing school-specific Promise programs. This is especially important, as in-state students face some of the highest tuition rates and fees in the country.

Featured Local Savings

Just under 50% of our high school graduates are going to postsecondary in Colorado, said Angie Paccione, Colorado Department of Higher Education executive director. We want to change that, and were hoping that this creates an incentive and some motivation for students to say, It is truly affordable. I could actually do this.

Paccione said studies showed the state would have needed $40 million to $140 million a year to cover tuition and fees for eligible students if it paid them upfront. The new tax credit is expected to cost about $39 million a year in refunds.

With the eligibility threshold at $90,000 in household income  higher than many of the college-run programs  more middle-income students will be eligible for aid. Paccione hopes the state can eventually raise that income threshold even higher, possibly to $120,000 a year.

Imagine the relief for families who are really trying to make it in our economy and contend with the rising cost of college, she said.

Jason Gonzales is a reporter covering higher education and the Colorado legislature. Chalkbeat Colorado partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Contact Jason at jgonzales@chalkbeat.org.
Four months after the unprecedented Iranian attack on Israel, the seven-year-old girl who was critically injured in the attack was released from the hospital on Sunday for rehabilitation.

Amina Al-Housani, the only seriously injured victim of the attack, sustained a serious head injury when shrapnel hit her home in a Bedouin town in the Negev.

She was evacuated to Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva in serious condition with a severe head injury. There, she underwent emergency neurosurgery to save her life. Since then, she endured a series of neurosurgical procedures in collaboration with other departments at the hospital, a spokesperson said.

One of her neurosurgeons, Dr. Mickey Gideon, the head of the pediatric neurosurgical department at Soroka, said that from a personal point of view, as someone who emigrated from Iran in his youth and now takes care of Amina who was injured in the criminal Iranian attack, this is the closing of a circle.

Dr. Tzachi Lazar, director of the pediatric intensive care unit at Saban Childrens Hospital in Soroka, said: When Amina was admitted to the unit that Motzei Shabbat, it was hard to believe that the small and fragile girl actually survived her severe injury. Much thanks to the multi-professional team that treated her with great dedication and professionalism, but mostly thanks to Aminas strength, her desire to live and recover, and her family members, who never left her bed during the long and difficult days of hospitalization. We were privileged to see Amina recover and get stronger and reach the day of transferring to a rehabilitation setting.

Amina, whose injury was so severe that there was great doubt whether she would survive it, taught us what it means to fight for life. Her mother, her father, and her brothers who didnt give up, stayed by her side day and night and continued to talk, hug and demand that she get better  they had the privilege of welcoming Amina back. I feel proud to be part of Sorokas multi-professional team that contributed to Aminas recovery and to her embarkment on a new path of rehabilitation. All of us in the pediatric intensive care unit wish her and her family much health and success in the future.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Hamas preemptively rejected the terms of an Israeli proposal for a hostage-ceasefire deal on Thursday night, in a move a senior Israeli official described as bizarre since Hamas had not yet seen the proposal.

The proposal, which was expected to be sent to Hamas in the coming hours, aims to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a ceasefire and other concessions. However, Hamas reportedly objected to Israels demand to screen Palestinians returning to the north of the Gaza Strip and the presence of Israeli military control over the Philadelphi Corridor.

Families of American-Israeli hostages who met with US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Thursday were told that Israel would submit an updated deal proposal to Hamas within days. The proposal is part of a three-stage deal framework announced by President Biden in May.

The negotiations have been facilitated by Arab intermediaries, and Egypts foreign ministry has been involved in the talks. However, the issue of Israeli military control over the Philadelphi Corridor has emerged as a sticking point, with Egyptian sources citing it as a major obstacle.

The Israeli government has agreed to allow civilians to return home but seeks to prevent Hamas fighters from returning with them. Prime Minister Netanyahu has listed this as a nonnegotiable demand. The US has been leading trilateral discussions with Israel and Egypt about the creation of an underground wall along the corridor and the installation of a surveillance system to thwart weapons smuggling into Gaza.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
All change: Chancellor Rachel Reeves

Rachel Reeves is expected to produce a report tomorrow into the catastrophic mess she wants us to believe the Conservatives made of the economy. It is of course a transparent fig leaf for her plans for a multi-billion pound tax raid.

There are widespread fears that this will include pensions tax relief.

Labour has form: Gordon Brown's shameful attack on retirement fund dividends was the death knell for final salary schemes in the private sector, which once were the envy of the world.

Reeves has ruled out increases in the so-called Big Three  income tax, National Insurance and VAT. Her revenue-raising options are therefore limited and pensions look like a sitting duck.

Ask anyone in the pensions industry and they will tell you Treasury officials have a long-standing dislike of tax reliefs on pensions which benefit higher earners the most. Scrapping them has a knee-jerk socialist appeal.

Under the current system, people receive tax relief on pension contributions at their highest marginal rate. For someone earning a six-figure salary and paying 45 per cent income tax, each 1 contribution into their pension plan would cost them just 55p. For a lower earner on basic rate tax, a contribution of 1 would cost 80p.

It does on the face of it seem unfair.

But one suspects those Treasury officials hate higher-rate pension relief for reasons of cost rather than equity. Maybe it is urban legend, but they are said to have put a plan to get rid of higher-rate pension reliefs on the desk of every chancellor since George Osborne.

One option likely to be proffered to Reeves is a flat 30 per cent rate of relief across the board. She has in the past advocated the idea herself. Before the election, she shied away from it, but didn't definitively rule it out. She should.

It would not only be vindictive, hurting around six million voters earning more than 50,000, but also counterproductive.

Any issues with tax relief are dwarfed by a far bigger pensions problem: the fact that nearly four in ten of us are not saving anywhere near enough.

Eroding the tax incentives is likely to make that situation even worse.

This would be a particularly bad moment to curb pensions relief, as millions of moderate earners are being dragged into higher tax brackets because of a multi-year freeze put on thresholds and allowances.

Attempts to clamp down on pension tax breaks for the better-off have perverse consequences.

We saw that with the lifetime limit on pension pots, with a super-tax of 55 per cent on savings above the ceiling, which was abolished by Jeremy Hunt. Rather than raise loads of lovely tax revenue, it encouraged valuable employees such as senior doctors and head teachers to retire.

Labour has sensibly backed away, for now, from plans to re-instate it. Attacking higher rates of relief on contributions could have a similar effect.

If less is going into people's pensions, it will hamper Reeves in her mission to use the nation's retirement funds to invest in much-needed infrastructure.

One irony is that the often-criticised complexity of pensions may thwart any plans to abolish higher rate reliefs.

And Labour would face a big backlash if NHS staff and civil servants were confronted with big tax bills on their own and their employers' contributions. Let's hope this acts as a deterrent.

A pension pickpocket in Number 11 is the last thing the country needs.
It's taken a few years for English sparkling wine to win over snooty foreign sommeliers who liked to joke our tipples were as bad as our food.

But our vintners in Kent, Sussex and further afield are taking the industry by storm. At the leading Decanter World Wine Awards last month Chapel Down's Rose was crowned the best in show.

Chapel Down and fellow Kent rival Gusbourne, both listed companies, are now exploring options including selling up.

Drinking to success: British vintners in Kent and Sussex are taking the industry by storm

After years of hard graft to build up a homegrown industry to rival Champagne, Whispers hears on the (literal) grapevine that there are concerns French luxury houses might be looking to swoop.

Taittinger  which will launch its first English sparkling wine in September  got in early when it bought up vineyard land here several years ago.

No doubt other Continental groups have their eye on our increasingly mature vines. We'll try to take it as a compliment.

Wages docked

It's become a bit of a summer ritual for Whispers to trawl through the annual reports of FTSE 100 firms.

There will be red faces at student housing group Unite, as its boardroom pay committee chairman had her wages docked.

Nicky Dulieu was overpaid in 2022, Unite's accounts reveal, and the firm said her 63,000 wage last year reflects the deducted amount. Whoops!

Hvivo share sale boost

Usually when a director sells off a chunk of shares it's a bad sign.

But at Hvivo, which tests jabs for diseases using human trials, chairman Cathal Friel sold 6.1million of stock for the best possible reason.

Friel's sale of more than 21million shares was to satisfy demand from institutional funds who were impressed by Hvivo's pitch at a capital markets day.

He has a big holding in the group as his old firm, Open Orphan, merged with Hvivo in 2020.

It was a good time to sell, as the firm's stock has risen by around a quarter so far this year.

CEO Yamin Khan has made it clear he wants Hvivo to buy smaller rivals. Watch this space.

'Fulham lifejacket' in fashion

Until now the sleeveless slightly-padded bodywarmer garment worn at work and play by City types has been known as the 'finance bro gilet'.

But now it has another name 'the Fulham lifejacket'. This refers to the garment's ubiquity during this chilly summer in this expensive west London suburb.

'It's kind of my comfort blanket,' said one resident rarely seen without his Crew Clothing green padded number.

'I think it looks a bit Succession, but I realise that Instagram thinks it's just a bit sad.' A tragic plight, fellas. There's always next year.

Contributors: Patrick Tooher and Anne Ashworth
Profitable move: Early backers of Revolut include Michael Sherwood

A string of City grandees are set to pocket millions as Revolut eyes a bumper flotation on the London Stock Exchange.

Revolut last week finally received a British banking licence from regulators after three years, paving the way for a blockbuster listing. This could take place next year and value the firm at 35 billion, according to reports.

Early backers of the firm include Michael Sherwood, ex-head of Goldman Sachs International, who chairs Revolut's remuneration committee. One of the most skilled traders of his day, he holds 42,660 shares and could pocket 25 million from the listing.

Another City veteran in line for a payout is Martin Gilbert, who chairs the firm and holds 1,183 shares worth 700,000. He founded Aberdeen Asset Management in 1983 and joined Revolut's board in 2020 to help it manage its relationship with regulators.

But Revolut's most controversial backer is Ian Hannam, a former chairman of global markets at JP Morgan. Hannam first invested in the company in 2017 and has 49,257 shares worth 29 million.

At JPMorgan, he was dubbed the 'king of mining M&A' after bringing a string of companies to the London market. In 2012, the Financial Services Authority fined him 450,000 for disclosing inside information about a potential takeover of a firm he was advising called Heritage Oil and Gas.

Despite this blow, he has gone on to have success with his advisory business Hannam & Partners.

Russ Shaw at Tech London Advocate said: 'There is a lot riding on the Revolut float. It is set to make a lot of well-known City figures rich indeed. They will be jumping for joy over the banking licence.'

Revolut's Russian-born founder and chief executive Nikolay Storonsky could make a 5 billion fortune. Ukrainian co-founder and chief technology officer Vladyslav Yatsenko could bag 900million.

The firm has faced a string of regulatory and compliance issues. The National Crime Agency last year reviewed how up to 1.7 million was released by Revolut from accounts flagged as suspicious due to potential links to money laundering and other financial crimes.

The fintech firm has more than nine million UK customers. Its app allows young, tech-savvy users to budget and save more easily, spend and transfer money abroad and buy and sell cryptocurrency.

A Revolut spokesman said of the flotation: 'Our focus is not on if, when or where we will. Right now, we are focused on continuing to strengthen our governance framework, profitability, building new products, and providing better and cheaper services to serve our growing global customer base.'

Revolut's banking licence means it can now take deposits from customers. It is also free to offer other services such as home loans.

It says there are 'a range of other core banking features' in its 'product roadmap' that include 'mortgages and refinancing loans'. It has announced plans to move into the Irish mortgage market next year.
Keir Starmer's eagerness to 'reset' relations with the European Union could open the door to collaboration between the UK-led Tempest fighter jet project and a rival scheme on the Continent, according to senior executives at Airbus, the European aerospace giant.

The Prime Minister is keen to seek better trade terms with the EU bloc. Mike Schoellhorn, head of defence and space at Airbus, said that 'very early, encouraging statements' from the new Labour Government suggested talks may be able to go ahead.

Collaboration between the two schemes would not only enable them to share innovative technology beyond the new jets  for example with drones  it could also save costs for Starmer and his team.

There has been speculation over whether the Government can afford the multi-billion pound Tempest project amid deepening budget pressures.

High flying: Tempest is part of the Global Combat Air Programme, a partnership between Britain, Italy and Japan

Tempest is part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a partnership between Britain, Italy and Japan.

It is led by Britain's BAE Systems and the consortium includes Rolls-Royce, Italy's Leonardo and Mitsubishi of Japan.

The UK has ploughed 2 billion into funding Tempest and claims it could contribute at least 25 billion to the economy over 30 years.

Some estimates put the economic contribution as high as 37 billion.

Airbus, which is based in France but also has significant operations in the UK, is part of a French, German and Spanish project being developed in parallel, called the Future Combat Air System (FCAS).

Jean-Brice Dumont, head of Air Power at Airbus, told The Mail on Sunday: 'We appreciate, if we do a bit of history, that Tempest was launched in the aftermath of Brexit.'

However, the new Government, he said, 'looks to be much more leaning towards Europe, which offers the opportunity to define projects together'.

Bringing the two programmes together could mean that, while each would still build their own fighter jet, the two sides could share some of the wider technological elements such as weapons and so-called 'system of systems' that link all of these together.

That could be tempting for the new Labour Government desperate to save cash.

Schoellhorn said: 'I'm hearing very early encouraging statements from the new British Government in terms of reaching back out to the Continent that might enable discussions.'

Both projects aim to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon  which was developed by the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy and introduced in 2003  and there has long been talk of the two sides coming together in some way.

Schoellhorn's comments suggested that prospect had been encouraged by the election of the Labour Government.

However, such a move could be politically fraught. It may involve having to disentangle Japan from the project and would also be likely to see the proposed involvement of Saudi Arabia in Tempest ruled out, according to senior industry sources.

But Dumont said it need not 'contradict' the current organisation of the two projects.

'Does it strengthen us in working together? Yes, I think so,' he said.

GCAP open to collaboration

It comes after early discussions about an Anglo-French programme foundered in the aftermath of Brexit.

'Tempest was a necessary project for the UK post-Brexit,' said Dumont. But he added that in both programmes there were 'very good ideas, very good technologies, very good projects'.

He said the question was how the projects could be brought as close as possible while allowing countries involved to protect the 'sovereignty of their know how'.

'One of the key messages we have passed to the British Government is 'the future starts today'.'

At the Farnborough Air Show last week, a headline get-together for the aerospace industry, companies involved on the GCAP side also expressed openness to the idea of collaboration.

Herman Claesen, leading the project for BAE, said: 'There is always opportunity there. We design the core platform [fighter] but there is also the opportunity to work with others on the system of systems'.

The future of Tempest  with a host of other military projects  has become the subject of renewed speculation after the PM launched a strategic defence review, led by former defence secretary Lord Robertson, this month. Reports have suggested the jet programme was at risk of being axed.

BAE responded to those reports by saying that Tempest would 'enable the UK to retain control over its own security, support important international relationships and meet future threats, whilst contributing to economic growth and prosperity'.

It said the programme was already generating more than 3,500 jobs across the country.

Speaking at Farnborough, Starmer stopped short of giving any guarantees on the future of Tempest, noting that it was 'important' but that there was 'of course a review going on'.

BAE chief executive Charles Woodburn said at the air show in Hampshire: 'For us, it's the future of the UK military air capability and we think there's an incredibly strong case.'
Direct Line is plotting to take on the AA and RAC by creating hundreds of jobs at its Green Flag roadside rescue business.

The insurer will hire as many as 350 new staff under plans to increase its fleet of patrol cars from 37 to 350 over the next few years.

Revving up Green Flag will be a key focus for chief executive Adam Winslow, who is attempting to revive the struggling group with an ambitious turnaround strategy.

Green Flag is currently the third biggest breakdown cover provider in the UK, serving some two million customers.

But the sector is dominated by the AA and RAC, which have more than 80 per cent of the market between them.

Ambitious strategy: Revving up Green Flag will be key focus for chief executive Adam Winslow

Winslow took over at Direct Line in March, just days after it received a 3.1 billion takeover offer from Belgian rival Ageas. He successfully fought off Ageas but was forced to put together a new strategy for the company within weeks.

Winslow's blueprint for Direct Line, revealed in detail this month, includes cutting costs by 100 million by focusing on motor, home, commercial and rescue cover and moving out of other sectors.

Direct Line's policies will also be available on price comparison websites for the first time. The firm must, Winslow says, focus on its existing strengths, including home and motor insurance.

He told The Mail on Sunday: 'The size of the opportunity for Green Flag is huge. At the moment the AA and RAC dominate with 83 per cent of the market between them.

'It is important to our business plan that Green Flag becomes a true "challenger brand" by growing the number of patrols, staffed by our own trained technicians, and that we have the scale to be able to respond quickly no matter where a customer breaks down.'

By 2027 Green Flag expects to be doing up to 40 per cent of callouts by its own patrols, up from 5 per cent now.

Green Flag was launched in 1971 as the National Breakdown Recovery Club by friends Bob Slicer and Jeffery Pittock in a pub in Bradford. Instead of running its own fleet, like the AA and RAC, it offered the services of a network of garages and mechanics.

It was bought by Direct Line in 1999 for 220 million. Winslow said investors had been supportive of his plan, which follows years of struggles to grow motor insurance policy sales.

Insurance tycoon Sir Peter Wood set up Direct Line in 1985, when it was the UK's first telephone-only insurer. But it has failed to keep up with technology and does not even have an app.

Direct Line had a hard year before Winslow joined. It lost 45 million in 2022 after being caught out by severe winter weather claims  such as burst pipes  and a fall in the value of its commercial property investments.

This led it to scrap its final dividend. Within weeks of announcing results it parted ways with chief executive Penny James.

It was then forced to pay 30 million to customers who were charged more than they should have been to renew home and car insurance policies.

The company returned to profit in 2023.
Decision maker: Co-op Bank boss Bob Dench

Bob Dench is almost certainly the only senior executive of a bank who has crawled along a sewage pipe to apprehend a felon.

At the time Dench, now chairman of Co-op Bank, was a junior policeman. But he was already showing the determination that has guided him through subsequent tough situations in the financial services industry.

The criminal was overcome by the mix of noxious gases in the pipe and Dench was forced to drag him to safety.

In recognition of this deed, the 22-year-old copper was awarded the British Empire Medal for gallantry in 1972. The late Queen bestowed the honour.

Dench says: 'Her Majesty asked if my police dog had survived the experience and I was able to tell her that was so.'

The investiture was filmed for a BBC show which featured on the cover of the Radio Times.

You do not win medals in the banking industry, otherwise 74-year-old Dench could be said to merit gongs for his role in the turnaround of two extremely troubled lenders.

Thanks to his efforts, the once imperilled Co-op Bank will return to its traditional mutual status through a takeover by Coventry Building Society.

Dench honed his rescue skills at Paragon Bank, the specialist finance provider. As chairman of from 2006 to 2018, Dench, a skilled yachtsman, steered the organisation through the damaging impact of the global financial crisis to profitability.

As Dench relates, he began taking on inordinately-challenging chairman roles in 2004, aged 54.

He says: 'I was finding myself bored, having retired 12 months earlier, following a 27-year stint at Barclays. I was on the bank's board, but knew that I wasn't going to be chief executive, so I decided to call it a day.'

They were a weak board, so I sacked them

Dench regards resilience, rather than decisiveness as his main attribute, but his career suggests otherwise. At Paragon, he was unimpressed by fellow directors' lack of faith in the bank's future.

He comments: 'They were a weak board, so I sacked them.'

It is evident that Dench prefers courageous, plain-speaking colleagues. 'I've tended to pick people on board who can tell me when I am being a bit of a prat.'

He pays tribute to the people who have helped him en route, including colleagues at Barclays, Co-op Bank and other businesses, as well as his infant school teacher who appears to have spotted his potential to achieve great things. His wife of 52 years is top of the list, of course.

Turning around the Co-op Bank crisis

When Dench joined Co-op Bank in 2018, it was in an existential crisis, largely caused by the ill-fated purchase in 2009 of the Britannia Building Society which resulted in a 1.5billion shortfall.

This plight was compounded by the incompetence and venality of the bank's chairman at the time  Paul Flowers.

This Methodist minister combined a liking for cocaine, crystal meth and male sex workers with a lack of numeracy. Flowers didn't even know how big the bank was.

These alarming facts came to light in a Mail on Sunday report in 2013 which led to Flowers being dubbed the 'crystal Methodist'.

The revelations caused huge public shock and disappointment. As part of the upstanding Co-operative Group, Co-op Bank had always emphasised its ethical stance.

Such was the bank's parlous state that the US hedge funds who had invested in bonds were forced to take over ownership in 2017.

This deal split off the business from the Co-operative Group, so cutting its links to mutuality. For many account holders, this status was the principal appeal of the bank, established in 1872 to embody community-minded principles.

Unlike some top bosses, Dench does not try to suggest the turnaround of the bank's operations and its return to profit in 2021 was entirely his own achievement. He pays tribute to his executives such as CEO Nick Slape and chief financial officer Louise Britnell.

Paul Flowers: Was dubbed 'crystal Methodist'

He also acknowledges the key role of the hedge funds which are usually seen as the villains in the case. But Dench has seen only the best side of the Co-op Bank's hedge fund investors: Anchorage, Bain Capital, Cyrus, Golden Tree, JC Flower and Silver Point Capital.

He says: 'Hedge funds have a reputation that's worse that they deserve.'

It also taught him a lesson about what matters to people. The bank has 2.6million customers, about 90,000 business account holders and 50 branches. He comments: 'I thought that the customers would be preoccupied with Flowers. But they were focused on what was going to happen to their branch.'

This connection suggests that Coventry, which is the UK's third largest mutual lender, would be well advised to retain the Co-op Bank logo above its branches.

Dench's entertaining way of relating the events of his career  I could practically smell the foul gases in that sewer pipe  make you wonder what would've happened if he stayed in his first job as a cub reporter at the Daily Mail.

The family GP on the disadvantaged New Addington estate, near Croydon, had suggested that the 16-year-old school leaver could thrive in journalism. Dench says: 'I couldn't survive on the money in journalism, so I went into the police which paid a bit better.'

The rescue was not the only colourful episode during his time in the police between 1969 and 1976.

He also closed a prison, as he explains. 'In the early 1970s, the IRA was funding its activities through bank card fraud, using cards that they had stolen from the hallways of flats.'

On the beat: Bob, centre, after receiving a British Empire Medal at Buckingham Palace in 1972 for his work as a police officer

'One of the members of the gang turned police informant, but when he was let out of prison, he fled to Scotland where he was imprisoned for another offence. The jail's conditions were medieval and I used those as a pretext to have him freed.

'This led to the prison being shut which didn't make me very popular, but people had been trying to shut the place for decades.'

The lessons on how to limit card fraud he learnt in the constabulary resulted in a job at Barclaycard. From 1976 to 1984, he introduced credit and behavioural scoring and set up the UK's first volume telephone lending business.

His subsequent posts included CEO of Barclays Australia and five years in New York as head of Barclays Global Visa Travellers Cheque business.

Dench was chairman of the bank's retail arm during the takeover of the Woolwich Building Society which transformed Barclays into a major force in mortgages.

Dench is staying at Co-op during the transition but he is also a director of the Charities Aid Foundation, the UK's fourth largest charity.

He also intends to spend time sailing. As I left our interview, I pondered how he could share his knowledge of how to get out of tight spots, literal or otherwise.

A series of Instagram or YouTube videos would be essential viewing in the banking industry  and any other line of work.
The Government could unlock billions in economic growth by helping small companies to upgrade their technology and IT systems, according to Sage Group.

Tax breaks are offered to companies for investments in factories and equipment.

But these do not extend to spending on crucial areas such as new software.

Sage, which is one of the biggest accountancy software providers, is calling for tax breaks to be extended to investments in technology.

Innovation: Sage is calling for tax breaks to be extended to investments in technology

The company warned the UK is particularly at risk of 'missing out' on using innovative artificial intelligence to improve their businesses.

Writing for The Mail on Sunday, Aaron Harris, Sage's chief technology officer, said this would 'hamper growth, competitiveness and ultimately the UK's ability to become a science and technology superpower'.

> Government can unlock 2 billion in growth by championing digital economy, says Sage's AARON HARRIS

Sage's research found that over the next three years the accountancy sector alone could contribute an additional 2billion to GDP and create 19,000 new jobs if it adopted AI.

Harris said the Government 'should give businesses greater confidence to invest in future growth.'
Tearing up red tape: Nikhil Rathi

Britain's financial enforcer will today unveil plans to end bureaucratic box ticking in the City making it much easier for consumers to access investment services.

The plans to tear up the consumer rulebook and place new emphasis on outcomes, such as value for money, are designed to unleash a new risk-taking culture and improve Britain's competitiveness with rival markets in New York.

The reforms proposed by Financial Services chief executive Nikhil Rathi were signed off by the Treasury late last week and will be presented to the Commons today.

Rathi told the Daily Mail that the changes are intended to end the roadblocks which have held back riskier investment in Britain, hindered the London Stock Exchange's ability to gain investor support for initial public offerings and made it harder for UK firms to do international deals and raise funds on the secondary markets.

'There's been a huge amount of reform here at the FCA,' Rathi said. 'I think we have really moved to be operationally different. We have shifted the dial quite significantly in terms of consumer protection with outcomes-based regulation,' he added.

And he believes it is now time to give consumer groups the opportunity to provide their views on how they feel about the easing of protections.

Among other things, Rathi has not given up on his controversial proposal to 'name and shame' individuals and firms under regulatory scrutiny. The proposal led to noisy criticism of the FCA when it was unveiled before the election campaign.

The FCA expects to report on its proposal in the autumn after studying responses from the City, Whitehall and consumers.

'We are moving to a more disclosure-based system. That will allow investors to decide whether they wish to support founders and companies which is the predominant approach in other markets.

'There will be more onus on the stewardship of investors and their engagement with investors and boards,' Rathi said.

The FCA introduced a consumer duty, a requirement for firms to be upfront about potential pitfalls for products on sale, last July.
As the COVID-19 pandemic becomes a distant memory to public schools, access to the one-time federal funding stemming from it will soon follow.

After four years of historic funding into public education, the Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) are set to expire this fall.

Districts throughout Colorado Springs have kept what has been referred to as the ESSER cliff in mind almost as much as the funds themselves to avoid any financial fallout in the years ahead.

We knew it was one-time funding, Harrison District 2 Superintendent Wendy Birhanzel said.

In total, Colorado has received $1.8 billion from ESSER to support students, families and educators following the pandemic in three separate installments. The first two, commonly referred to as ESSER I and ESSER II, were distributed in March and December 2020 and focused on reopening schools with safety precautions enacted to continue instruction.

ESSER III, which totaled over $1 billion of the states funds, is intended for learning loss recovery and is set to expire Sept. 30 this year.

Learning loss refers specifically to the school instruction time that was lost due to the pandemic. ESSER III requires all local districts to spend at least 20% of funds they receive toward learning loss recovery.

Within these broad parameters, ESSER funds have been used for everything from adding staff and mental health professionals at schools to increasing wages along with replacing air conditioning units and creating new summer and afterschool programs and online academies.

Across the Pikes Peak region, urban and rural districts identified both immediate and ongoing needs that could now be addressed through the one-time federal funding.

This allowed us to meet student needs, Birhanzel said. And if it werent for this funding, we would not be able to do what we needed to do with students. It would have drained our budget.

But the seismic investment into public education has also created concerns of an equally seismic downturn once the funding is gone. Across the country, districts are grappling with eliminating positions that were created and sustained through ESSER while many of the summer programs developed in recent years are likely to get consolidated, if not cut completely.

Along with reopening schools and developing programs, the funding shakeup has retooled how districts use their funding going forward.

What I thought was brilliant about this was that they recognized its not just an immediate crisis and they accounted for the ongoing learning losses, Birhanzel said.

New additions through one-time funds

According to the Colorado Department of Education, 45.71% of its ESSER III funds have been distributed as of March 30, 2024.

Fund allocation was determined by district population and their specific needs identified based off the existing Title 1 formula and previous fiscal years.

Throughout El Paso County, districts addressed learning losses by establishing summer and afterschool programs for students and adding staff, resources and training opportunities.

Colorado Springs School District 11, which received the most ESSER III funding in El Paso County at $59.9 million, opted to utilize funds predominantly to expand its summer bridge learning recovery program, with additional interventionists and paraprofessionals.

D-11 Chief Resource Officer Brandan Comfort said the district adjusted its approach to ESSER spending, moving to a more proactive plan that addressed student and staff needs unique to them.

We spent these funds in a way that was exactly what it was intended to do, he said.

Specific examples include the introduction of dyslexia curriculum throughout the district and bathroom renova-tions at all of its middle schools to address some privacy and safe-ty concerns.

Featured Local Savings

Comfort said the bathroom investments specifically came after they heard loud and clear from numerous parents, students and faculty.

To hear students say, I dont go to the bathroom while Im at school because its not safe for me, thats a problem, he said.

Harrison D-2, which received the second-most funding at $38 million, invested in a new online school in 2021, licensed social workers for every school in the district, new technology and updated curriculum for the district going forward.

Birhanzel noted that they would have also likely invested in infrastructure if they hadnt just passed a bond vote in 2018 ahead of the ESSER funding.

Elsewhere, rural districts that received significantly less federal funding opted to similarly use it toward instructional interventionists, afterschool tutoring and stipends for existing staff and salaries for paraprofessionals as needed.

Nationwide, efforts and initiatives on local levels appear to be yielding their own success. Chalkbeat reported that two independent studies found the various initiatives enacted by school districts have improved test scores in reading and math overall.

Preliminary test results released last month by the Colorado Department of Education, however, showed mixed results in closing the gaps created by COVID-19, with some grades meeting or exceeding goals in various subjects and others remaining behind. The CMAS test results for grades 3-8 reported students continuing to demonstrate increased math and English language arts (ELA) achievement, with grades 3-6 at or above 2019 scores. That said, 4th and 8th graders remain behind in ELA scores.

Also, SAT/PSAT scores in math reportedly decreased from last year, though the transition to all-digital testing is suspected to have played a role in this dip.

Birhanzel said D-2s ESSER investments have been successful in the efforts to recover learning loss in some areas, but not all. She pointed to student scores in ELA recovering immediately and math scores recovering this past year. She added that the kindergarten and 1st grade have continued to struggle in some subjects while acknowledging that reading and writing is inherently difficult to learn online.

Comfort echoed optimism in his districts learning recovery, citing its spring test results that have yet to been released to the public.

Going forward

With all the success districts have experienced through ESSER-financed initiatives, the looming question has been what will happen after the funding is gone.

Across the nation, concerns have arisen over cutting positions completely tied to ESSER funding or cutting other programs in order to keep staff, sustain wage increases and other resources.

In D-11, Comfort admitted that the district will likely consolidate its Summer Bridge program to a handful of options once ESSER is gone and that the funding helped them fill most of the 140 vacancies through the funding.

He added that the administrative cuts recently approved in their budget for the upcoming school year were agreed upon in large part to maintain staff and benefits going forward.

We built our budget this year in a pretty creative way to protect our staff, he said. And we feel like weve effectively navigated that ESSER cliff.

Similarly, D-2 spent the majority of its funds in a way that emphasized one-time needs like new curriculum, teacher training and technology investments. Birhanzel said that other ongoing expenses started from ESSER will be redirected to the districts general fund, Title 1 funding and other grant programming.

D-2 is also preparing a ballot measure for the November elections that would increase local taxes to go towards teacher salaries and benefits along with its scholarship program D-2 Promise.

Birhanzel said she has heard from staff and administrators from other local districts that positions will have to be cut along with other downsizing measures to absorb funding losses, but that the 46 positions in D-2 that are currently ESSER funded will be continuing next year.

We benefited immensely from the ESSER funds and feel like were in a good place going forward.
The Russian army killed two civilians in Ukraine's southern Kherson region on Saturday, July 27.

Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, said this in a post on the Telegram messaging app, Ukrinform reports.

"Russian soldiers killed a civilian resident of the village of Lvove. The 87-year-old man died from his injuries at the scene," Prokudin said.

In another post, he wrote: "An hour ago, the Russian army struck the Korabelnyi district of Kherson. A projectile hit a high-rise building. Unfortunately, a 64-year-old woman was fatally wounded."

On July 27, the Russian army shelled the village of Antonivka, Kherson region, killing a 37-year-old woman.
On Sunday, 28 July, Russian warships took part in a naval parade in honour of the Ukrainian Navy, but none of the ships reported by Ukraine to have been destroyed or damaged were present.

According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the Russian service of the BBC.

Only two ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet were shown during the broadcast of the main naval parade in honour of the Navy Day.

They were the corvette Mercury, which has been performing tasks at the Russian military base in Tartus, Syria, since 2024, and the frigate Admiral Grigorovich.

It is noted that this year, for the first time, the broadcast combined parades in St. Petersburg (the traditional part of it in Kronstadt was cancelled this year), Baltic, Vladivostok, Severomorsk, Caspian Sea and at the Russian base in Tartus, Syria.

In St Petersburg, the parade was hosted by Russian leader Putin.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet was mentioned twice during the reports of the fleet commanders to the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.

Read also: Russia keeps one Kalibr carrier in Black Sea

At the same time, none of the ships that were damaged or destroyed in the Black Sea over the past year, including those provided by forces from other navies, were shown.

As reported by Ukrinform, a few days ago, the British Ministry of Defence said in its review that due to the inability to guarantee the safety of ships, the Russians cancelled the naval parade in Kronstadt.

Photo: ERA
While navigating the competitive landscape together, the partnership between Pikes Peak State College and University of Colorado Colorado Springs has proven fruitful, and they aim to make it even better.

In a partnership that has been going on for years, Pikes Peak State College and the UCCS have been working together to make it easier for students looking to transfer to the four-year university.

UCCS spokesman Chris Valentine said PPSC is the top source of transfer students for UCCS. To make it easier to transfer, the colleges have built pathways for a number of degree programs over the years. Valentine said its been a win-win for everyone, especially the students.

The idea is that Pikes Peak is a little less expensive, so it doesnt cost you as much in your first two years, and then you can finish getting your bachelors degree at UCCS, Valentine said.

While the system in place is working, the colleges are looking for ways to make it better.

Talk of possible dual enrollment at both colleges and letting PPSC students use UCCS amenities has been put on the table, officials said. The colleges have stalked about making their engineering programs a pilot for dual enrollment.

It would help make it a less intimidating place and an easier place for students to think about doing that transfer, said PPSC President Lance Bolton.

The colleges are also figuring out a way to streamline the transfer process to UCCS by sharing data between institutions and then automating the process.

We want our students to move on. For those who aspire to this, we want to make sure that works really smoothly: that they get full credit for all the classes theyve taken at Pikes Peak, (and) that the process is really seamless, Bolton said.

UCCS recruits their students through degree programs and unique setting

Outside of their collaboration, the colleges have been navigating the current higher education market by utilizing their unique draws.

Chris Beiswanger, executive director of enrollment management for UCCS, said there are at least 60 out-of-state colleges that heavily recruit in Colorado, some even have a physical location in Colorado, so its critical that UCCS plays to its strengths.

The university is constantly refining and adding to programs, such as a new bachelors in visual arts that was recently approved, so that students are prepared for the workforce.

In addition to their degree programs and affordable costs, Beiswanger said the colleges draw is their location.

When were working with students, we tell them that the three things that will keep you busy, will be the campus, will be the city and will be the mountains. And there are not many schools that can say that, he said.

The college caters to the on-campus lifestyle through its Student Life Department, which oversees campus events and student clubs and organizations.

One of the biggest challenges for the department has been reconnecting students after the pandemic, according to Brad Bayer, senior director of Student Life leadership.

Featured Local Savings

To help students, Bayer said the college introduced a student engagement leader program last year, which pairs a UCCS student with an incoming freshman.

Bayer said the goal is to help students develop a network of friends and understand the types of events and programs the campus offers.

He emphasized the importance of campus life.

Theres a lot of collaboration. So, its not just Student Life. Its the Rec. Center. Its undergraduate research opportunities for our students. It can be student employment, and they develop cohorts and connections through that. Its a holistic approach, Bayer said.

PPSC recruits students through affordability and a fast-track into the workforce

Bolton said PPSC attracts potential students through its affordable education that allows them to quickly enter the workforce after they finish.

To cater to these needs, PPSC provides degree paths that take about two years to complete and programs that help cancel out costs for those who cant afford college.

One of these programs is the Dakota Promise Program, which is a scholarship that covers the cost for students in Harrison District 2 who want to attend PPSC and have a GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Bolton said the program, which started in 2020, has increased the college-going rate in the district by 76% and has become something the district wants to self sustain.

Funding for the first three years of the program was through the Dakota Foundation, Legacy Institute and the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, but D-2 created its own foundation after the funding ran out and is also creating its own ballot measure for November that would provide consistent funding for the scholarship during the next decade.

Bolton said the school is extending the scholarship to District 11 this upcoming fall semester, and he is expecting similar success that could be even bigger considering its a much larger district.

Outside of scholarships, PPSC provides degree programs that quickly translate into well-paying jobs, Bolton said. Health care programs for nursing, physical therapy, surgical technology and more were touted by PPSCs president.

We have the Delta Dental Center opening here in August, which will probably be one of the finest community college dental-assisted hygiene facilities in the whole country, he said.

The college also offers degrees, like its new associate of applied science in behavioral health degree, that lets students earn certificates as they complete their coursework.

In addition to tutoring centers offered at their campuses, the college changed the way it taught math courses through a co-requisite model that puts students directly into college level math courses and support labs alongside them.

PPSC data shows the model increased the number of students who passed math courses: 64 out of every 100 students enrolled in the courses completed a college-level career and technical education or non-STEM math course within a year. Comparatively, only 25% of students enrolled in the traditional prerequisite model completed college algebra within a year.

For the next academic year, UCCS raised tuition for resident students by 3% by 4% for nonresident students, which is consistent throughout the entire CU system, Valentine said.

PPSC and other Colorado community colleges have also had to increase tuition throughout the years.

Despite the challenges, both campuses said they are staying relevant in the industry by catering to their unique draws and putting students first.
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jul, 2024) Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Chief Executive Officer Mian Kashif Ashfaq said on Sunday that modern designing was essential for capturing global furniture markets as it meets the evolving needs and preferences of buyers. By focusing on functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability, modern designs could successfully attract a diverse and discerning international market, he added.

Talking to a delegation of furniture designers and manufacturers, led by Muhammad Araib Arain, he said in today's fast-paced world, buyers increasingly prefer furniture that offers both functionality and aesthetic appeal. Modern designs emphasize simplicity, clean lines, and innovative use of materials, catering to a wide range of tastes and spaces.

He said the global furniture market is highly competitive, with buyers having access to diverse products from around the world. Modern designs stand out by offering unique features that traditional furniture often lacks. Additionally, the integration of technology in modern furniture, such as smart storage solutions and ergonomic designs, meets the demands of tech-savvy buyers, he added.

Furthermore, sustainability is a significant concern for contemporary buyers . Modern furniture designs often incorporate eco-friendly materials and production processes, attracting environmentally conscious buyers. Brands that embrace these values can differentiate themselves in the global market, he concluded.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jul, 2024) The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has said that August 5 is another exploitation, mourning and a black day for the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir which has now turned into a big open-air prison.

The Modi regime, in gross violation of the United Nations resolutions and international law, repealed the special status of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and imposed an unprecedented military siege in the territory on August 5, 2019.

APHC spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas in a statement in Srinagar said the BJP/RSS Indian government has usurped the political, social and religious rights of the Kashmiris and the 5th August 2019 action was a direct attack on Kashmirs unique identity, culture, employment, demography, and basic fundamental rights.

He said the 5th August is one of the most tragic, painful, and catastrophic days in the modern history of occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He appealed to the oppressed Kashmiri people to observe a complete strike and mark August 05 as Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir and Black Day.

On the completion of five years of Indian siege in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, he said that it was the day when Hindutva forces in flagrant violation of the international law and United Nations resolutions scrapped the special status of IIOJK and deprived its people of all political, social, cultural, economic and religious rights.

Terming the 5th August as Day of Mourning for Kashmiris, he said that the tragedy of scrapping special status was the worst dacoity, biggest robbery and attack on the identity, culture and basic rights of the Kashmiris.

He appealed to the people to observe strikes in all regions of IIOJK.

He further said that 5th August was the day when the New Delhi-controlled Hindutva regime, with its all military might, resources and institutions, attacked Kashmir and usurped the basic rights of the Kashmiri people.

Abdul Rashid Minhas also urged Kashmiris living on both sides of the Line of Control and the world over to organize protests and rallies and arrange other programmes to draw the attention of the world community towards unabated Hindutva terrorism in Kashmir.

Terming Kashmir a gigantic prison and the worlds largest torture cell, he said every inch of Kashmir is dotted with trigger-happy troops and Kashmir has been reeling under constant siege for the past four years.

He said since 5th August 2019 occupation forces have butchered hundreds of Kashmiris and thousands have been arrested and are languishing in IIOJK and Indian jails under different concocted cases.
Like many U.S. schools working to expand college and career options for their students when they graduate, several El Paso County school districts have either adopted new Career and Technical Education programs or expanded their existing programs for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Calhan School District RJ-1 recently completed work on a new 14,000 square-foot addition to its CTE facilities, according to district superintendent Donovan Mitchell.

We wanted to offer as much opportunity as possible for our students to test out what skills, interests or talents that they might not even know they have, said Mitchell, a 2003 Calhan graduate.

At the time I graduated, the sentiment as I understood it was that if you were graduating high school you should go on to college. I think weve come to realize that thats not necessarily the case. Going to college right out of high school is not the path for everybody.

In November 2022, Calhan voters said yes to a bond proposal of more than $7.5 million to expand and improve their CTE offerings.

The new facility includes metal and woodworking shops, space for agriculture and Future Farmers of America programs, and a Family and Consumer Science space with seven student workstations that include operational ovens and sinks.

Our ultimate goal as a district is to set our students up for success after high school, and the path to success doesnt always include college. If college is the path, then great. But for a lot of these students, its not. We believe our CTE facilities will give a lot of students a head start on a career without taking on a lot of stu- dent debt.

Ellicott School District 22 will also open a new facility in August, district officials said. The vocational education building will feature a STEM room and culinary arts space.

Featured Local Savings

The culinary arts program is a new program that begins this school year, said Ellicott representative Christina Vetromile.

The new building also offers space for its construction program, which operates in partnership with local nonprofit Careers in Construction and the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs.

The district has also partnered with local plumbers, pipefitters and HVAC technicians for pre-apprenticeship programs that teach students plumbing, welding and sheet metal fabrication skills.

District 49 will open its newly-completed CTE wing at Vista Ridge High School in the fall, according to spokesman David Nancarrow. The campus expansion will contain 18 classrooms and increase capacity by about 450 students.

The new facility is the latest addition to District 49s burgeoning CTE programs, which are offered at six high schools and four middle schools, according to the district website. Offerings include agriculture, automotive service, web design, biomedical technology, business management, culinary arts, engineering and fashion design, officials said.

More and more students and families are exploring opportunities to pursue lucrative careers that dont necessarily require a college degree, Mitchell said.

Were not discouraging college by any means if thats the path you need to take to pursue the career you want, he said. But there are so many career paths that pay well and dont require a college degree. Were looking to expose our students to those opportunities.
RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jul, 2024) Commissioner Rawalpindi Division, Engineer Aamir Khattak has directed the authorities concerned to complete a new feasibility study of the Metro Bus Service in the first week of August.

The Commissioner said that Metro Bus Service was providing world-class travel facilities to the citizens.

According to a Commissioner Office spokesman, the Commissioner while chairing a high-level meeting regarding a new feasibility study of the Metro Bus Service said that in proportion to the population of the city, it has become necessary to increase the frequency of buses and routes.

The Commissioner in a briefing was informed that Metro Bus Service was providing travel facilities on six routes.

NESPAK representatives briefed the Commissioner regarding the new feasibility study of metro bus service.

Work is in progress regarding the new feasibility study of the Metro Bus Service in proportion to the growing population.

Work is being done to increase the number of buses from 100 to 150. Increasing the number of metro bus service routes from 6 to 10 is being considered, the meeting was briefed.

The Commissioner directed NESPAK representatives to complete a new feasibility study of the Metro Bus Service in the first week of August.

Metro Bus Service was providing quality travel facilities to the citizens, the Commissioner said.

After the new feasibility report comes out, the public would have better-travelling facilities through the Metro Bus Service, Aamir Khattak said adding, that the fixed fare of the Metro bus service is a great convenience for the citizens.
MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jul, 2024) Once an indispensable part of every rural household in South Punjab, the hand pump, lovingly referred to as "Nalka," has seen a precipitous decline in popularity.

This cultural shift, while marked by the march of modernization, has brought with it a host of unintended consequences, underscoring the enduring value of this simple yet effective technology.

For generations, the "Nalka" was more than just a water source as it was a symbol of self-reliance and community spirit. Its operation provided essential physical exercise, contributing to the overall health and well-being of rural inhabitants, said Riaz Ahmed Lodhi, a government employee. Recalling past, he stated, it was a champion of water conservation, encouraging judicious use of this precious resource. In an era when electricity bills are soaring and load shedding is a regular ordeal, the economic and practical advantages of the "Nalka" are more apparent than ever.

Beyond the household, the Nalka played a crucial role in community welfare, he hinted. It was a common sight at public places, graveyards, and along highways, offering respite to weary travelers and quenching the thirst of countless souls. These water points were not just physical necessities but also acts of selfless service, reflecting the region's rich tradition of hospitality.

However, he maintained , the allure of modern conveniences has gradually eroded the significance of the Nalka. Electric pumps have replaced the manual ones, and the younger generation is increasingly unfamiliar with the art of drawing water from the depths of the earth. As a result, we are witnessing a decline in physical activity, a rise in water wastage, and a growing dependence on electricity, he remarked.

Nasir Bagga, a plumber, believe that reviving the use of Nalkas could be a significant step towards addressing multiple challenges. By promoting water conservation, reducing electricity consumption, and improving public health, this simple technology can contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future. It can serve as a powerful tool for preserving cultural heritage and developing a sense of community.

It is high time to recognize the value of the Nalka and initiate efforts to bring it back to its rightful place in our lives. Nasir however stated that Nalka price is Rs 80, 000 so people preferred electric pumps. He further informed that some cattle farmers have Nalka at their farms for emergency like situation to quench thirst of cattle during loadshedding.
(@FahadShabbir)

MUZAFARGARH, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jul, 2024) Punjab Food Authority (PFA) raided against the adulteration mafia, recovered 1120 kg of red chilli powder and 880 kg of black chillies which were destroyed later.

The operation was conducted at the grinding unit near Muhammad Musa shrine.

The adulteration of color and dye color was found in chillies. The peppers were to be supplied to various grocery stores.

The food authority disposed off hundreds of kilos of chillies by taking timely action.

Director General PFA Muhammad Asim Javed said that operations were being made against elements hostile to health on a large scale.

APP/shn-sak
RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jul, 2024) Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Rawalpindi has kicked off the Monsoon plantation drive 2024, said Director General (DG) PHA Ahmed Hasan Ranjha.

He informed that the plantation campaign has been started by PHA Rawalpindi in collaboration with Punjab Forest Department.

The DG said PHA was striving to make Rawalpindi city clean and green. Despite financial constraints, PHA was working hard to make the city green, he added.

He said that the authority had set up a grand nursery to provide different plants to the citizens at affordable rates and generate more revenue for the department.

The grand nursery was set up on an area of 1000 kanals in Gorakhpur Town with objectives to promote plantation and to contain the consequences of global climate change. Punjab government had provided the land for nurseries to promote plantation in the country, he said.

The DG said that Gorakhpur Nursery would prove to be very important in the ongoing initiatives of the Punjab government regarding Green Pakistan from where large-scale planting of trees would be done.

The plants and saplings would be supplied in the coming months from the Gorakhpur Nursery as a variety of plants and grasses were produced there.

He said that less than five percent of Pakistans total land area consists of forests, which is a matter of concern and the growth of forests in Pakistan could be ensured only by measures like continuous plantation.

He informed that a large number of saplings were planted at Takhtpari to restore the historic forest.

The employees of PHA Rawalpindi and the Forest Department Rawalpindi Division participated in the campaign.

He said, Green Punjab is the destination of all of us and civil society, students and youngsters should actively participate in this plantation drive and make it successful.

The DG said that severe weather effects could be controlled only with the help of the forests. Due to rapidly expanding housing societies, the natural forests and trees are being lost and that is why a sharp temperature rise was recorded during the last few years.

He further said that PHA Rawalpindi is well aware of its responsibilities and playing its due role in providing a green environment to the citizens.

Monsoon tree plantation campaign organized by PHA Rawalpindi would continue for two months and saplings would also be distributed among the citizens to make the tree plantation campaign a success, he added.

PHA would plant more ornamental plants in Murree to enhance the beauty of the hill station, he said and informed that colorful plants would also be planted in Murree.

\395
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jul, 2024) The Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) has announced several initiatives for the month August, including the hoisting of the national flag at seminaries and mosques from August 1 to August 30.

The council would also observe 'Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir' on August 5 and host a series of seminars focused on Pakistan's stability throughout the month.

Addressing a press conference at Jamia Manzurl Islamia Lahore, PUC Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, emphasized the need to prevent political instability in the country. He asserted that national unity is essential in the current situation, and that the 'Azm-e-Istehkam Pakistan' (Resolve for Pakistan's Stability) initiative is a crucial component of the National Action Plan. He stressed that peace could only be achieved if this plan is fully implemented.

Regarding the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) issue, Ashrafi urged the government to reassess its policy, citing the burden of increasing electricity bills on the public and the difficulties faced by seminaries and mosques in managing these costs.

He requested a 50 percent reduction in electricity bills for these institutions and the removal of additional taxes.

The PUC chairman underscored that the dignity of islam and the homeland are non-negotiable, and any attempt to undermine national security or compromise the integrity of Pakistan's armed forces should be firmly opposed. He expressed support for the armed forces and reaffirmed that seminaries would stand united in protecting Pakistan's stability. He also mentioned that a convention on Pakistan's stability would be held in Gujranwala on August 4 and a seminar in Lahore on August 11.

In response to questions, Ashrafi noted hopeful progress in negotiations between Jamaat-e-Islami and the government regarding electricity bills and urged for a broader review of IPP policies.

Maulana Pir Zubair Abid, Maulana Asadullah Farooq, Qari Mubashar Raheemi, Mufti Naseemul Islam, and other prominent ulema were present.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jul, 2024) Pakistan Railways has accelerated the efforts to retrieve the major portion of around 13,972 acres of land worth billions of rupees found under the illegal occupation of private individuals and different government departments across the country.

Around 5,809 acres were occupied in Punjab, 1,181 acres are under encroachment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 5,948 acres in Sindh and 1,034 acres land occupied in Balochistan, an official in the Ministry told APP here Sunday.

He said the category of land under illegal occupations included commercial, residential, agricultural and various persons or departments.

Giving details of the land, the official said that around 769 acres were commercial in all the provinces, 3,309 residential, 5,512 acres agricultural and 4382 were under encroachment of various persons or departments.

The official said that the department had also decided to accelerate its ongoing anti-encroachment operation against land grabbers across the country to recoup its land from different individuals, groups and even business organizations which were using it for residential, commercial and agriculture purposes for decades.

The joint procedure orders have been issued to all Divisional Superintendents of Pakistan Railways to retrieve the railway land from encroachers, the official added.

Accordingly, he said the anti-encroachment operations for retrieval of encroached Railway land all over the Railway network are being initiated by the concerned divisions and notices are issued to encroachers under the Possession Ordinance 1965 for vacation of Railway land/structure within 14 days.

The official said that Pakistan Railway Police, District Administration and law enforcement agencies are informed of necessary assistance in anti-encroachment operations.

He Pakistan Railways owned 167,690 acres of land across the country, of which 90,326-acre was in Punjab, 39,428-acre in Sindh, 28,228-acre in Balochistan, and 9,708-acre in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jul, 2024) Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) had deputed additional sanitary workers to clean and dredge major drains to avoid urban flooding.

According to the RWMC spokesman, the RWMC carried out the cleanliness of nullahs and choked drains during heavy rainfall on Sunday wee hours to ensure sanitation in several city areas and tehsils of the district. He said that additional staff had been assigned duties to ensure cleanliness round the clock so that some sanitation-related problems could not become hurdles in the smooth water flow.

He informed that RWMC workers removed hundreds of tons of waste in the Rawalpindi city areas.

At the same time, he said that drains blocked during the rain had been opened immediately to prevent problems with drainage in the city.

He said that complaints received on social media platforms were also being addressed promptly. In case of any complaint, citizens were asked to register their complaints on helpline number 1139, which would be resolved immediately, he added.

RWMC has appealed to the citizens not to throw garbage and plastic bags in nullahs and drains, which cause obstruction.
SARGODHA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jul, 2024) The Sargodha Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SWCCI) executive committee held a meeting here on Sunday to discuss in detail escalating energy crisis in the country.

According to a press release issued here, the meeting, held via Zoom and presided over by SWCCI President Mrs. Shameem Aftab, resulted in a unanimous resolution, urging the government to immediately review the capacity payment agreements with the independent power producers (IPPs).

All meeting participants strongly supported the resolution, including Senior Vice President Sadia Khan, Vice President Tanzeela Riaz, Executive Member and MD Khan Medicare 32 Block Sargodha Dr. Humaira Azhar, Dr. Nusrat Javid Awan, Ms Shazia Bangish, Ms Robina Mukhtar, Tehseen Fatima, Dr.

Atika Lohani, and SWCCI Secretary Ms Saira Rehan.

Highlighting the devastating impact of the energy crisis, Dr. Humaira Azhar emphasised that it posed a significant challenge to businesses, particularly women entrepreneurs, following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Nusrat Manzoor underscored the critical role of energy in business operations, asserting that controlling energy prices was essential for establishment and growth of enterprises.

The SWCCI's resolution carries a stark message: the government must choose between saving 40 IPPs or the livelihoods of 240 million Pakistanis. The chamber called for immediate action to address the crisis and protect the interests of the business community.
Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jul, 2024) The 100-day sprint to the US election began Sunday, the final act of a campaign transformed by an assassination attempt and the stunning exit of President Joe Biden.

After weeks of infighting and despondency over Biden's candidacy, Democrats have consolidated behind Vice President Kamala Harris, radically reshaping the race to November 5 that was fast becoming Republican nominee Donald Trump's to lose.

Harris's candidacy has clearly reinvigorated the Democratic campaign, which said Sunday it had raised $200 million -- mostly from first-time donors -- since Biden dropped out and endorsed his vice president a week ago.

A new Wall Street Journal poll showed Harris had closed Biden's six-point deficit with Trump to just two points -- well within the margin of error -- with boosted support from Black, Latino and young voters.

But Republican pollster David Lee, who conducted the Journal survey, cautioned Democrats not to get carried away by the race tightening.

"Donald Trump is in a far better position in this election when compared to a similar time in the 2020 election," Lee said.

If the race is at a dead heat nationally, the advantage still lies with Trump given the mathematics of the Electoral College system for electing the president.

Trump's 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton came despite losing the country-wide popular vote by nearly three million ballots.

- 'We are the underdogs' -

"We are the underdogs in this race," Harris acknowledged at a fundraising event on Saturday.

"But this is a people-powered campaign and we have momentum," she added.

The Democratic convention in mid-August will seek to keep that momentum going with a jubilant celebration of Harris's candidacy.

It all looked so different just a month ago.

Dogged by voters' concerns about his age and mental acuity, the 81-year-old Biden was an outside bet at best, trailing his predecessor in the first presidential rematch since Dwight Eisenhower trounced Adlai Stevenson in 1956.

Biden's dismal June 27 debate showing ignited alarm and panic within his party.

The flames were fanned by a flawless show of unity behind 78-year-old Trump at the Republican national convention -- an event galvanized by the failed bid, just days earlier, to assassinate the former president at a rally in Pennsylvania.

After an initial show of defiance, Biden bowed to the inevitable and dropped out last weekend.

Harris, a generation younger at 59, threw her hat in the ring -- turning what had been a stale contest between two unpopular, aging, white male candidates into a dynamic and unpredictable showdown.

The final result on November 5 will likely be determined by around 100,000 independent, undecided voters in a handful of battleground states that both campaigns will target exhaustively over the coming three months.

- The Harris honeymoon -

The challenge for Harris is substantial. Once the Republicans have adapted to her candidacy and honed their attack lines, they are set to hammer her over key voter issues such as immigration and rising prices.

Democratic strategist James Carville told MSNBC that Democrats needed to cut the happy talk and prepare for the coming storm.

"They're coming at us and they're going to keep coming. And this kind of giddy elation is not going to be very helpful much longer because that's now what we're going to be faced with," he said.

Even former president Barack Obama has cautioned against hubris, underlining Harris's underdog status and the need for her to earn the trust of voters.

Trump, who has seen his favorability ratings tick upward since the July 13 attempt on his life and the successful Republican convention, made his attack priorities clear at a rally Saturday in the traditionally Democratic state of Minnesota.

Labelling Harris a "crazy liberal" and a "radical left lunatic," Trump lied to make her sound like an extremist on abortion and made fun of her laugh.

"We have a brand-new victim," he told his cheering supporters.

ft/gh/bfm
Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Jul, 2024) France has made a key gesture of remembrance for the dozens of African troops shot dead on French army orders in Senegal during World War II, a government official said Sunday, as Paris seeks to ease tensions with former colonies over historical memory.

Six of the African soldiers -- four from Senegal, one from Ivory Coast and one from what is now Burkina Faso -- have been posthumously honoured for having "died for France" ("morts pour la France").

An official from France's veterans and remembrance ministry told AFP that the decision had been taken ahead of the 80th anniversary of the events in Thiaroye in Senegal in 1944.

It was in line with the "desire of President Emmanuel Macron to look history in the face", added the official. "It is now time to look at this history, our history, as it was."

The decision was taken on June 18 just days before the first meeting in Paris between Macron and the new Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

Macron has during his seven years in power sought to address the most painful historical scars over France's relationship with Africa, notably relating to the 1954-1962 Algerian War of Independence and the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi minority in Rwanda.

However critics have often said that the gestures, while welcome, do not go far enough and often stop short of a full apology.

The official described the decision concerning the six African soldiers as an initial one which would be followed up once the "exact identity of the other victims has been established".

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko reacted sharply to the news.

In a lengthy post on X, formerly Twitter, he said this "tragic story" was not France's to tell alone.

It was not up to Paris to determine how many Africans were "betrayed and murdered" after having fought to save France, nor what reparations they deserved, he wrote.

He signed the post as leader of his party, Pastef, and not as head of the government.

- 'Big step' -

Colonial troops and French gendarmes had on the orders of French army officers shot at the African troops on the morning of December 1, 1944 at the military camp of Thiaroye outside the Senegalese capital Dakar.

The soldiers, repatriated after being held as prisoners of war in Germany, had been demanding their back pay.

According to the report drawn up by the French authorities at the time, at least 35 soldiers died on the spot or from their injuries.

The figure remains disputed, with some historians estimating the toll to be much higher. The place of burial of the soldiers is also a matter of debate.

Ending years of denial, former president Francois Hollande 10 years ago became the first French leader to pay tribute to the massacred soldiers.

African troops from then French colonies played key roles in modern wars including World War I, World War II and the wars of independence of French colonies.

Aissata Seck, head of an association that seeks to keep alive the memory of the African "tirailleurs" who fought for France, praised the move as "a big step".

She said it was now "important" to carry out digging work at the burial grounds "to have the real number of victims".
Dakar, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jul, 2024) A mainly Tuareg separatist coalition on Sunday claimed a major victory over Mali's army and its Russian allies following three days of intense fighting in a district on the Algerian border.

"Our forces decisively obliterated these enemy columns on Saturday," said a statement by Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, spokesman for the CSP-DPA alliance.

"A large amount of equipment and weapons were seized or damaged" and prisoners taken, he added.

The statement said seven separatist fighters were killed and 12 wounded in the fighting in Tinzaouatene district.

The West African nation's military leaders who seized power in a 2020 coup have made it a priority to retake all of the country from separatist forces, particularly in Kidal, a pro-independence bastion in the north.

Large-scale fighting broke out Thursday between the army and separatists in Tinzaouatene, after the army announced it had retaken control of several districts. The district is almost surrounded by Algerian territory and has been at the heart of other battles between separatist forces and the national army over the pat decade.

No overall toll was available for the Malian army and its Russian allies, but the separatist spokesman shared videos with AFP showing several bodies lying on the ground believed to be from their side.

In some of the videos, white soldiers are visible among the prisoners.

A local official and a former worker with the UN mission in Kidal told AFP the Malian army had retreated with at least 15 fighters from Russia's Wagner mercenary group killed or arrested.

Mossa Ag Inzoma, a member of the separatist movement, claimed that "dozens" of Wagner fighters and soldiers had been killed or taken prisoner.

But the army said its units that had been on patrol in Tinzaouatene district for three days had begun rearguard action between Friday and Saturday.

The army rarely communicates its losses and pressure from the ruling junta along with armed groups has silenced most independent sources of information in the areas of fighting.

Separatist groups lost control of several districts in 2023 after a military offensive that saw junta forces take Kidal.

There have been several accusations of rights abuses of the civilian population by the army and Wagner forces. Malian authorities have denied the allegations.
(@FahadShabbir)

Lille, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jul, 2024) A migrant died trying to cross the Channel from northern France to Britain in an overcrowded dinghy, the seventh such death since mid-July, French maritime authority Premar said on Sunday.

The victim was found aboard a "very crowded" boat after some of its passengers issued a cry for help, Premar told AFP, pointing to a "new phenomenon of people dying at sea not by drowning (but) by illness or in a crush".

Around 75 people were aboard the vessel, Premar said, of whom 35 were rescued, including the dead person. The others continued their journey.

The dinghy was in the sea off the northern French port of Calais when it was reported overnight to the regional surveillance and Rescue Center (CROSS).

The center dispatched a police vessel and a border guard patrol boat to the area at around 5:30 am after "some of the people aboard called for help".

While they were being transferred to the police and border guard vessels, officials noticed an "unconscious person" aboard the migrant boat. He was taken to hospital by helicopter but subsequently died, Premar said.

Six would-be asylum seekers died in three separate boat disasters in the Channel between July 12 and 19.
Japanese and U.S. defense chiefs and top diplomats will meet in Tokyo on Sunday for talks aimed at further bolstering their military cooperation, including by upgrading the command and control of U.S. forces and strengthening American-licensed missile production in Japan, amid a rising threat from China.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will join their Japanese counterparts, Yoko Kamikawa and Minoru Kihara, at the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee, known as "2+2" security talks, to reaffirm their alliance following President Joe Biden 's withdrawal from the November presidential race.

For the first time, the ministers will hold separate talks to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to "extended deterrence," which includes atomic weapons  a shift from Japan's earlier reluctance to openly discuss the sensitive issue in the world's only country to have suffered nuclear attacks  amid growing nuclear threats from Russia and China.

The ministers are expected to discuss plans to upgrade command and control structures for U.S. forces in Japan by bringing in higher-ranked officers with commanding authority to create a U.S. counterpart for Japan's unified command currently set for inauguration in March.

Japan is home to more than 50,000 U.S. troops, but a commander for the U.S. Forces Japan headquartered in Yokota in the western suburbs of Tokyo, tasked with managing their bases, has no commanding authority. Instead that comes from the Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii. The plan to upgrade USFJ's command and control capability is designed to help smooth joint exercises and operations, officials say.

Ahead of the 2+2 talks, Kihara met with Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik for their first trilateral defense talks hosted by Tokyo and signed a memorandum based on their June agreement in Singapore that institutionalizes their regular high-level talks, joint exercises and other exchanges.

Defense officials said the memorandum serves as the basis for future defense cooperation among the three countries despite possible changes of leadership, while showcasing their unity.

"The signing of this memorandum makes our trilateral cooperation unwavering even under changing global environments," Kihara told reporters.

Kihara also met Shin, who is the first South Korean defense chief to visit Japan in 15 years, and they agreed to take concrete steps to deepen their bilateral defense ties.

Japan has been accelerating its military buildup and has increased joint operations with the U.S., as well as with South Korea, while trying to strengthen its largely domestic defense industry.

Japan has significantly eased its arms export restrictions and in December accommodated a U.S. request for shipment of surface-to-air PAC-3 missile interceptors produced in Japan under an American license to replenish U.S. inventories, which have decreased due to its support for Ukraine.

The ministers are also expected to discuss increased Japanese production of PAC-3 interceptors for export to the United States.

Japan and the U.S. have been accelerating arms industry cooperation following an April agreement between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Biden. The two sides have set up working groups for missile co-production and for the maintenance and repair of U.S. Navy ships and Air Force aircraft in the region.

While Japan's role is largely designed to help U.S. weapons supply and keep its deterrence credible in the Indo-Pacific amid continuing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, Japanese officials say it will help strengthen the Japanese defense industry.
Three of the world's top auction houses are racing to expand in Hong Kong, eager to woo young Asian buyers even as the global art market retreats from pandemic-era highs.

In the span of two months, Sotheby's, Christie's and Bonhams will each see the culmination of yearslong efforts to upgrade their regional headquarters in the southern Chinese city.

Sotheby's on Thursday unveiled showrooms at an upscale mall in Hong Kong's finance district, a two-story space previously occupied by fashion label Giorgio Armani.

"We envision for this state-of-the-art space in Hong Kong to be the epicenter of culture for global visitors," managing director of Asia Nathan Drahi said at the opening.

"We are very confident in the prospect of Hong Kong because it possesses some strong fundamentals for our industry," he told AFP, pointing to the favorable tax framework.

Nearby, Christie's is gearing up for a September opening at a new skyscraper designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, with its total floor space doubling to 4,600 square meters.

"Asia has been the pillar of the company," said Francis Belin, president of Christie's Asia Pacific.

"But we didn't have the physical tool, the infrastructure ... to actually be at the level of our ambitions."

The firms are "putting their bets down and saying Hong Kong is the center for Asia, according to art adviser Patti Wong -- but she said the expansions come with risk.

'An ideal base'

Hong Kong's biggest auctions of the year are held every spring and autumn at the city's convention and exhibition center -- an intense four months that build hype and draw visitors.

With new in-house venues, events will be more spread out.

"This is a big test for Hong Kong and whether we can develop into a more mature auction market [with] visitors throughout the year," Wong said.

Global art sales have slowed since Christie's and Sotheby's first announced their Hong Kong expansion plans in the heady days of 2021 and 2022.

This year, Christie's reported $2.1 billion in sales in the first six months -- the second consecutive year of decline -- down from its 2022 peak of $4.1 billion.

Wendy Goldsmith, a London-based art adviser and former Christie's auctioneer, cited China's real estate crisis as a major factor.

"[Asian collectors] are currently taking a bit of a breath buyingwise but the interest and appetite to collect is still there," Goldsmith told AFP.

"Auction houses know that they'll be back ... and probably stronger than ever."

Bonhams, which will move to a 1,765-square-meter location at a new office building in September, said it found success targeting transactions under 10 million Hong Kong dollars ($1.3 million).

"This segment has proven resilient despite broader economic uncertainties and represents a huge opportunity in Asia," said Julia Hu, Bonhams' managing director for Asia.

Hong Kong remained "an ideal base for tapping into other major Asian cities," Hu added, citing its strategic location, efficient logistics, collector base, and tax and legal frameworks.

Young buyers

New York-based Phillips, another auction house, opened its regional headquarters next to Hong Kong's museum of visual culture in 2023.

The companies are unfazed by Hong Kong's political environment, even as critics say a crackdown by Beijing has chilled artistic freedoms, said cultural policy scholar Patrick Mok.

"The companies that operate in Hong Kong's art market are rather apolitical ... they know those [political] works can't fetch good prices here," Mok said.

Auction houses are now competing for younger buyers and embracing online bidding -- a shift accelerated by the pandemic.

Christie's said 29% of buyers in the first half of 2024 were millennials or Gen Z.

"Auction houses turned on a dime during COVID ... [They] are marketing machines now," said Goldsmith, adding that auctions have been spiced up to resemble Hollywood productions.

"[They] are more than willing to provide these events, lectures, dinners, viewings ... all to conjure up the next bid."

The opportunity -- and challenge -- of the Hong Kong venues will be to bring internet-native buyers into the real world.

But Hu from Bonhams was confident, saying that showroom auctions are irreplaceable.

"Our clients still crave the sheer thrill and excitement of being physically present," she said.
A wildfire that has destroyed hundreds of structures in the town of Jasper is the largest blaze recorded in Jasper National Park in a century and could still be burning months from now, a Parks Canada official said Saturday.

"We're going to be working on this wildfire, we expect, over the next three months at least," Landon Shepherd, a deputy incident commander, said at a news conference in the nearby community of Hinton. "What the last five years has taught us is that the fire season in Jasper tends to last well into the fall."

The region received about 1.2 centimeters of rain over about a day and a half but there were still active hot spots near the community.

More than 20,000 people in and around the town nestled in the Rocky Mountains in Alberta province were ordered to evacuate late Monday because of fast-moving wildfires. Parks Canada has said 358 of the town's 1,113 structures were destroyed.

In an online update, Parks Canada said fire suppression has been progressing well in the town.

The federal agency said power is being restored to parts of the downtown core and to critical infrastructure, which it said would help to speed up further damage assessment and recovery.

Residents to see aftermath by bus

Earlier Saturday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she would see bus tours organized for evacuated residents of Jasper so they can see the damage for themselves and know what to expect when they can return home.

Christine Nadon, the incident commander with the municipality of Jasper, said is it not safe yet for any tours because of the chemicals released from burned structures and because the fire is still burning on the edge of town.

"That is a plan we're working on and will have available as soon as we can," she said.

Nadon said her own home was among the many destroyed.

Smith, along with Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland and other dignitaries, toured the evacuated town on Friday.

157 wildfires across Alberta

The premier told listeners to her radio show on Saturday that she expected it would be about 28 days before Jasper residents would be allowed to return to their town. She said it took a similar amount of time for Fort McMurray residents to be allowed to go home after it was hit by a ferocious fire in 2016.

Provincial wildfire officials said an estimated 17,100 Albertans are evacuated because of wildfires as of Saturday.

The province said there were 157 wildfires burning across Alberta, with 44 classified as out of control, 45 being held, and 68 under control.

More support from Ontario, Quebec, Australia, and South Africa is expected to arrive Sunday, the province said.

Meanwhile, officials in British Columbia say the fire risk is improving in the province thanks to rain and cooler temperatures.
France renewed a commitment to help defend freedom of navigation and overflight in the Asia-Pacific Sunday and said that its supersonic fighter jets  a pair of which landed for the first time in the Philippines  and advance military power would enable it to respond rapidly to any humanitarian or security crisis in the region.

France is also working to quickly conclude a defense pact that would allow it to deploy a larger number of forces for joint exercises to the Philippines, French Ambassador to Manila Marie Fontanel said.

France has moved to broaden its defense engagements in the Indo-Pacific region, including with the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations.

That dovetails with the effort of the administration of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to boost his countrys territorial defense by allowing a larger U.S. military presence in the Philippines under a 2014 defense agreement and by building security alliances with Asian and Western nations as it deals with Chinas increasingly assertive actions in the disputed South China Sea.

An annual French air force mission called Pegase, which showcases its combat power and travels to friendly countries to deepen defense relations, arrived over the weekend at Clark air base, a part of the former U.S. Air Force base, north of Manila, with two French-made Rafale fighter jets and air force cargo and transport aircraft.



The French air force flew a small group of journalists, including from The Associated Press, aboard an Airbus A400M cargo aircraft over Philippine waters facing the South China Sea Sunday to demonstrate its crucial capability to undertake aerial refueling. But pockets of turbulence prompted the French military to abort the maneuver for safety reasons.

Philippine air force personnel will also get the chance to fly onboard the Rafale jets and familiarize themselves with the aircraft. The fighter jets have been a game changer," French air force Brig. Gen. Guillaume Thomas, who was heading the air force mission, told a news conference.

They enable us to go very far and very fast and to be able to react very quickly in case of a humanitarian crisis or even security crisis, Thomas said. We are able to deploy forces from France to be in this area in the Pacific in a very short notice.

The French air force mission is not designed to target any specific country or any specific situation and does not aim to escalate regional tensions, Fontanel said.

France and the Philippines have begun preliminary talks on a status-of-forces agreement that would provide a legal framework and enable troops from each country to hold exercises in the others territory. France has been tasked to finish an initial draft of the agreement by September that would be the basis of future talks, Fontanel said.

Aside from France, the Philippines has been holding separate talks with Canada and New Zealand for such agreements. It signed a similar pact with Japan earlier this month.

China has strongly criticized such alliance-building and large-scale U.S. military exercises in the Philippines, saying the Philippines is ganging up with countries from outside Asia, and warned that military drills could instigate a confrontation and undermine regional stability.

Philippine military officials have dismissed Chinas criticism, saying the drills and alliances are aimed at boosting Manilas territorial defense and are not directed at any country.
On a vast farm in Kenya's Rift Valley, a veterinarian carefully takes aim before shooting a tranquilizer dart and sending another giraffe sinking slowly to the ground before it is roped and blindfolded.

It is the first stage of a delicate operation by the Kenya Wildlife Service to move a group of the endangered animals to a conservancy around 140 kilometers to the east.

The subdued giraffe is kept at the farm in Sergoit along with seven others for an acclimatization period of about 10 days, before being transported to their new home.

The Rothschild's giraffes, a distinct subspecies, are being resettled in the Ruko Conservancy in Baringo County as part of a long-running initiative to ease communal tensions there.

While the East African nation is renowned for its spectacular wildlife, its northern counties such as Baringo are more often in the news for banditry and ethnic clashes.

The rival Pokot and Ilchamus communities in Baringo had been at odds for decades, their feuds sometimes escalating into armed clashes.

In the mid-2000s, Pokot and Ilchamus elders took matters into their own hands, launching an initiative to resettle the Rothschild's, or Nubian, giraffes into the Ruko conservancy around 280 kilometers north of the capital, Nairobi.

The goal was twofold: reintroduce an endangered species to a region it had previously deserted, and restore peace to the two communities.

The elders hoped the world's tallest mammals would attract tourists and income, quelling tensions in the neglected region by providing employment in an area where many young people -- like elsewhere in Kenya -- struggle to find jobs.

And, said 34-year-old reserve manager Rebby Sebei, it seems to have worked.

"Back 20 years before, Pokot and Ilchamus had a conflict that erupted because of livestock theft and resulted in loss of life, loss of livestock and pushing people to move away from their homeland," she told AFP.

"This place became deserted, where we are now today was a battleground for the bandits."

But now, she said, the gentle creatures are helping to "ensure that there is peace between the two communities."

'One community'

Giraffes have seen a dramatic decline in numbers in Kenya in recent decades, as a result of poaching and human encroachment on their habitats.

As the Sergoit giraffes -- securely trussed in the back of trucks -- made their way slowly towards the reserve, people from the Pokot and Ilchamus communities held welcome celebrations.

Sixteen hours after their departure from Sergoit, having navigated hazardous bridges and low-hanging electrical wires, the giraffes finally arrived at their new home.

The group was to be acclimatized in a small pen before being released into the Ruko reserve, now home to nearly 20 giraffes, both Rothschild's and Masai.

As people sang and danced in celebration while awaiting the new arrivals, Douglas Longomo, a 27-year-old farmer, said he believed that his Pokot community had changed.

"It took time to understand that the conservancy is important to bring people together," Longomo said.

Many could not see the point of ending the clashes that have scarred the Rift Valley area for decades, he added.

"Now we are seeing we are living as one community, we can move freely without any fear."

Longomo's views were echoed by 28-year-old James Parkitore from the Ilchamus community.

"I think (the conflict) is over now because we are interacting," he said.

"I hope those giraffes will (create) great jobs for the communities," said Parkitore, a view shared by Longomo.

Sebei added a note of caution, however, saying that while an increase in tourism had helped, there were still some lingering disputes between the two ethnic groups.

But, she said, "there is peace, and we need to bring more giraffes."
Vice President Kamala Harris used her first fundraiser since becoming the Democrats' likely White House nominee to excoriate the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump as determined to roll back Americans' freedoms.

Harris traveled to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday where she was expected to raise more than $1.4 million, her campaign announced, from an audience of hundreds at the Colonial Theatre. That would be $1 million more than the original goal set for the event.

She told an excited group of supporters that she entered the race as an underdog, while expressing confidence that her surging campaign could defeat Trump.

"I will fight to move our nation forward," Harris said. "Donald Trump intends to take our country backwards."

Harris also poked at Trump, and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, for lobbing peculiar attacks at her and other Democrats. The vice president appeared to be referring to a 2021 interview with Vance in which he slammed some prominent Democrats without biological children, including Harris, as "childless cat ladies" with "no direct stake" in America.

"You may have noticed Donald Trump has been resorting to some wild lies about my record and some of what he and his running mate are saying, it is just plain weird," Harris said. "I mean that's the box you put that in, right?"

Harris' branding the Republican ticket as "weird" appears to be part of a concerted effort by her campaign to spotlight some of Trump and Vance's rhetoric as questionable. Earlier this week, the Harris campaign on the social media site X called Vance "weird and creepy" for some of his stances on women's reproductive rights. Trump, meanwhile, has raised the fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter from the film Silence of the Lambs in stump speeches.

"These guys are just weird," Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat who is on Harris' shortlist for vice president, said in an MSNBC interview earlier this week. "They're running for He-Man Women-Haters Club or something."

Supporters for the fundraiser included musician James Taylor and many of the state's Democratic heavyweights, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, former Gov. Deval Patrick and Rep. Richie Neal.

Harris took in more than $100 million in donations in the first 48 hours after Biden quit the race, a presidential record, and aides said she has continued to raise money at a steady clip.

"This is a people-powered campaign," Harris said. "And we have momentum."

Harris, a former prosecutor in her home state of California, also derided Trump for his legal troubles. She noted his recent conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records in New York, a jury finding the former president of being liable for sexual abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996, and a $25 million settlement paid to attendees of the now-defunct real estate seminar called Trump University.

"I've been dealing with people like him my entire career," Harris said. She added, "So in this campaign, and I say in all seriousness, I will proudly put my record against his any day."

Harris began her remarks with praise for Biden, who opted to end his reelection bid and endorse Harris last weekend after his campaign fell into a tailspin following his disastrous June 27 debate performance against Trump.

She called Biden's legacy of accomplishment over the past three and a half years "unmatched in modern history."

The vice president told the fundraiser crowd that her economic agenda would sharply contrast with Trump's, who she claimed is squarely focused on lowering tax rates for wealthy Americans and improving the bottom lines of corporations.

"Building up the middle class will be the defining goal of my presidency," Harris said. She added, "Let us make no mistake, this campaign is not just about us versus Donald Trump. Our campaign has always been about two very different visions for our nation."
When a group of military officers appeared on state television in Niger one year ago to make a dramatic announcement of a coup, they said they deposed the West African nation's elected government for two key reasons: its security, and economic crises.

But those challenges have persisted, even worsened. The country's 26 million people  among the world's youngest and poorest  are struggling after the junta severed ties with key international partners, who have imposed sanctions and suspended security and development support affecting close to half of Niger's budget.

The coup was the latest and perhaps most significant of the recent military takeovers in Africa's Sahel, the vast, arid expanse south of the Sahara Desert that has become a global hot spot for extremist violence. Niger had been the West's last reliable partner in the region in battling jihadists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

Now, a crucial U.S. drone base is going, along with U.S. forces vacating ahead of a September deadline. More than 1,000 French troops also pulled out after being told to leave. A key China-backed pipeline once meant to turn Niger into an oil exporter has stalled with the insecurity and uncertainty.

Support from international partners, notably the European Union, had made up close to 40% of Niger's budget. With that gone, "we are only looking for something to live on," said one resident in the capital, Niamey, Ibrahim Amani. Everything has become more expensive, he said.

On the streets, where thousands of mostly young people cheered the coup in its early dramatic days, there is growing frustration. But there are no public protests amid concerns about possible retaliation by the junta, which still holds deposed President Mohamed Bazoum in detention. The junta has said he will be charged with treason, to widespread criticism abroad.

There's a "real depressing effect on the ability of the government to provide services and on the ability of businesses to thrive," said Daniel Eizenga, a research fellow with the African Center for Strategic Studies.

As Niger's military leaders consolidated their grip on power, they promised a three-year transition period to civilian rule. Analysts now say that is unlikely to happen on time.

The junta, along with those in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, is breaking away even from longtime West African allies.

The three countries, after expelling the forces of former colonizer France, have "completely changed the geopolitical dynamics" of the region and are forming their own anti-Western, pro-Russian alliance, said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

Russia is a new force in the Sahel, but its ability to make up for Niger's lost security support is limited. "Niger's army is running out of material with the retreat of Western forces which the Russians  which has sent troops to Niger as its new security partner  can only partly compensate," Laessing said.

On the ground, insecurity has worsened. Niger has quickly become the new target for extremists. Violent killings by rebels and militia groups more than doubled, from 770 people killed in the year before the coup to 1,599 in the year that followed, according to the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, or ACLED.

Extremists carried out nearly five times as many large-scale attacks  involving at least 10 deaths  in the year after the coup, ACLED data shows.

"Al-Qaida and IS militants have ... consolidated control over more territory since the junta took power by taking advantage of security force limitations that the withdrawal of Western support has contributed to," the American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project said in a new report.

That follows the trend in Mali and Burkina Faso, even after military juntas have invoked insecurity to justify taking power, experts have said.

"The coming years are likely to be difficult and violent in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, given the absence of clear inclusive strategies," Alexander Thurston, an associate professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati, said in the new report.

Niger's junta leader, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, outlined his goals for the country in a government document published last week: for it to be a sovereign nation that controls its resources, for good governance and justice to reign and for the citizens to be able to work.

However, the military rulers are "tightening their grip on opposition, civil society, and independent media," Samira Daoud, Amnesty International's regional director for West and Central Africa, said Thursday in a statement that condemned dozens of "arbitrary arrests" in the last year in Niger.

For refusing to resign as president after being deposed, Bazoum has no public access apart from a doctor's visit twice a week and the conditions of his detention are "becoming increasingly severe," said Reed Brody, one of his lawyers.

On the business front, Niger's already import-dependent economy is reeling from sanctions and the impact of border closures in the early days after the coup.

The status of hundreds of millions of euros in support from the European Union, one of Niger's biggest donors, remains unclear. That affects agriculture, education, security, businesses and humanitarian activities along with work addressing migration.

Neither Russia nor other countries like Iran that Niger's junta is seeking closer ties with is likely to step up and fill such gaps, said Eizenga with the African Center for Strategic Studies.

"Russia is ultimately acting in the interest of Russia," he said. "And none of these other countries has the resources to provide the assistance that former partners did."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will visit China from Friday to Tuesday for a trip that analysts say aims to repair the rift caused by Rome's withdrawal last year from China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global infrastructure and transportation plan sometimes called the New Silk Road.

China's foreign ministry said Thursday that during her trip, Meloni would hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee Zhao Leji.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella plans to visit China in October. Analysts say the trips show that Rome hopes to repair relations damaged when Italy became the first country to pull out of the BRI since it was launched in 2013.

Meloni has long been critical of the partnership, calling the decision to join the BRI a "serious mistake" that had not delivered promised economic benefits to Italy.

Italy is China's fourth-largest trading partner in the European Union, and China is Italy's largest trading partner in Asia, with bilateral trade at $80 billion, mostly Chinese exports to Italy.

Italian data show exports to China reached nearly $18 billion in 2022 from $14 billion in 2019, while Chinese exports to Italy nearly doubled during that same period from more than $34 billion to more than $62 billion.

Despite Meloni's criticism of the BRI, China's state media Global Times on Thursday suggested that the withdrawal from BRI did not reflect her own views.

It quoted Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of European Studies researcher Zhao Junjie saying: "This visit once again demonstrates that Italy's withdrawal from the BRI was not due to a reluctance to cooperate with China or Meloni's own political beliefs, but rather due to the huge pressure from the US and other major Western powers at the time."

Under some pressure from the European Union and the United States, Meloni's new government in December made a low-key exit from the BRI, which was seen as a major blow to Xi's global ambitions and the failure of the BRI in Europe. The Chinese side also kept a low profile and didn't publicly criticize Italy's withdrawal.

Francesco Galietti, adjunct professor of political risk analysis at Rome's Luiss University and co-founder and CEO of consulting agency Policy Sonar, told VOA, "It's unclear whether she's taken note of this and thought about her own 'hedging' strategy. She should have. For while Italy is world famous for geopolitical yo-yoing, she's the current G7 chair. Moreover, it's only been a few months since Italy opted out of China's BRI, so by all accounts, relations should be delicate right now. And yet, reading the tea leaves is all but simple."

Emanuele Scimia, an Italian foreign affairs journalist and analyst and contributing foreign policy writer for the South China Morning Post, says the visit is more an attempt to balance the Meloni administration's concerns about China's market distortions and support for Russia's war against Ukraine with Italy's need to attract Chinese investments, especially in new technologies such as electric vehicles.

"Italy is a trade-oriented country and does not want an economic and geopolitical confrontation with China," Scimia told VOA. "They see China as a key export market but at the same time are worried by the flow of Chinese-dumped and -subsidized goods.

"The majority of Italy's companies are small- and medium-sized, which are less equipped to resist Chinese unfair competition. And the signing of the BRI MoU [memorandum of understanding] in 2019 has not substantially improved Italy's trade deficit with China," Scimia said. "The reality is that the BRI agreement only benefited Beijing in political terms, creating friction between Rome and Washington."

The visit underscores the fact that China remains a key geopolitical actor, said Beatrice Nicolini, a history professor at the Catholic University of Sacred Heart in Milan.

"Despite exiting the BRI, Italy aims to keep an open dialogue with Beijing," she told VOA. "Meloni is navigating a delicate balance, seeking to avoid aligning too closely with either the United States or China. This strategy of 'equidistance' reflects Italy's geographical position at the heart of the Mediterranean."

But Beijing's increasingly close relations with Moscow after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine have made improving ties with China trickier for EU nations like Italy, which are supporting Kyiv and its defense, said Christopher Lamont, a professor of international relations at Tokyo International University.

"It is also important to keep in mind that Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues to complicate China's relationships with European capitals, and Meloni's visit could also be seen from Beijing as an opportunity to foster greater influence in this context," he told VOA.

Earlier this month, NATO, of which Italy is a founding member, accused China of being a "decisive enabler" of Russia's war in Ukraine.

China has consistently denied supplying weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine and says it has strict controls on dual-use technology that could be put to military purposes.

Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report. Some information came from Reuters.
Lawmakers from at least six countries said Chinese diplomats were pressuring them not to attend a China-focused conference in Taiwan, in what they described as efforts to isolate the self-governed island.

Politicians in Bolivia, Colombia, Slovakia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and one Asian country that declined to be named said they were getting texts, calls and urgent requests for meetings that would conflict with their plans to travel to Taipei. China vehemently defends its claim to Taiwan and views it as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary.

The conference begins Tuesday and is being held by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, or IPAC, a group of hundreds of lawmakers from 35 countries concerned about how democracies approach Beijing. IPAC has long faced pressure from the Chinese government: Some members have been sanctioned by Beijing, and in 2021 the group was targeted by Chinese state-sponsored hackers, according to a U.S. indictment unsealed earlier this year.

But Luke de Pulford, the alliance's director, said the pressure from Chinese officials the past few days has been unprecedented. During past IPAC meetings in other locations, lawmakers were approached by Chinese diplomats only after they concluded. This year, the first in which IPAC's annual meeting is taking place in Taiwan, there appeared to be a coordinated attempt to stop participants from attending.

The Associated Press spoke to three lawmakers and reviewed texts and emails sent by Chinese diplomats asking whether they were planning to participate in the meeting.

"I'm Wu, from Chinese Embassy," read a message sent to Antonio Miloshoski, a member of parliament in North Macedonia. "We heard that you got an invitation from IPAC, will you attend the Conference which will be held next week in Taiwan?"

In some cases, lawmakers described vague inquiries about their plans to travel to Taiwan. In other cases, the contact was more menacing: One lawmaker told AP that Chinese diplomats messaged the head of her party with a demand to stop her from going.

"They contacted president of my political party, they ask him to stop me to travel to Taiwan," said Sanela Klaric, a member of parliament in Bosnia. "They're trying, in my country, to stop me from traveling ... This is really not OK."

China routinely threatens retaliation against politicians and countries that show support for Taiwan, which has only informal relations with most countries due to Chinese diplomatic pressure. Klaric said the pressure was unpleasant but only steeled her determination to go on the trip.

"I really am fighting against countries or societies where the tool to manipulate and control peoples is fear," said Klaric, adding that it reminded her of threats and intimidation she faced while suffering through wars in Bosnia in the 1990s. "I really hate the feeling when somebody is frightening you."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

De Pulford called the pressure "gross foreign interference."

"How would PRC officials would feel if we tried to tell them about their travel plans, where they could and could not go?" de Pulford said, using the acronym for China's official name, the People's Republic of China. "It's absolutely outrageous that they think that they can interfere in the travel plans of foreign legislators."

Lawmakers from 25 countries were expected to attend this year's meeting, including Japan, India and the U.K., and IPAC said in a statement that some would meet with high-level Taiwanese officials. The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Last week, Beijing criticized Taiwan for its annual Han Kuang military drills, saying that Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party was "carrying out provocations to seek independence."

"Any attempt to whip up tensions and use force to seek independence or reject reunification is doomed to failure," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters.

China has been peeling off the island's diplomatic allies, often with promises of development aid, in a long-running competition between the two that has swung in Beijing's favor in recent years. The Pacific Island nation of Nauru switched recognition to Beijing earlier this year, a move that reduced Taiwan's dwindling number of diplomatic allies to 12.

But China's at-times heavy-handed approach has also alienated other countries.

In 2021, Beijing downgraded relations and blocked imports from Lithuania, a member of both the EU and NATO, after the Baltic nation broke with diplomatic custom by agreeing that a Taiwanese representative office in its capital of Vilnius would bear the name Taiwan instead of Chinese Taipei, which other countries use to avoid offending Beijing. The following year, the EU adopted a resolution criticizing Beijing's behavior toward Taiwan and took action against China at the World Trade Organization over the import restrictions.

The pressure over the IPAC meeting was also triggering backlash.

Bolivian Senator Centa Rek said she submitted a letter of protest after a Chinese diplomat called her and told not to go to Taiwan, saying the island was run by an "imposter president" and that the meeting was hosted by an organization "not accepted within the terms of the policy of mainland China." When Rek refused, the diplomat said he would report her decision to his embassy, which Rek interpreted as a "veiled threat."

"I told him that it was an unacceptable intrusion, that I would not accept an order or intrusion from any government," Rek said. "These were personal decisions and that it seemed to me that he had gone beyond all international political norms."

Most of the lawmakers targeted appear to be from smaller countries, which de Pulford, the alliance's director, said was likely because Beijing "feels that they can get away with it." But he added that the coercive tactics have only made participants more determined to take part in the summit.

Miriam Lexmann, a Slovakian member of the European Parliament whose party head was approached by Chinese diplomats, said the pressure underscored her reason for coming to Taiwan.

We want to "exchange information, ways how to deal with those challenges and threats which China represents to the democratic part of the world, and of course, to support Taiwan," she said.
When Benson Wanjala started farming in his western Kenya village two and a half decades ago, his 10-acre farm could produce a bountiful harvest of 200 bags of maize. That has dwindled to 30. He says his once fertile soil has become a nearly lifeless field that no longer earns him a living.

Like many other farmers, he blames acidifying fertilizers pushed in Kenya and other African countries in recent years. He said he started using the fertilizers to boost his yield and it worked  until it didn't. Kenya's government first introduced a fertilizer subsidy in 2008, making chemical fertilizers more accessible for smaller-scale farmers.

About 63% of arable land in Kenya is now acidic, according to the agriculture ministry, which has been recording a decline in the production of staples such as maize and leading exports of horticulture and tea. The production of maize declined by 4% to 44 million tons in 2022, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, which didn't say why.

The agriculture ministry didn't respond to questions, especially after a scandal over fake fertilizer in April. The fertilizer was found to be quarry dirt in misleadingly labeled bags that were distributed to farmers through a national subsidy program. President William Ruto said about 7,000 farmers bought the fake fertilizer and would be compensated with the correct product.

Problems with soil health are growing as the African continent struggles to feed itself. Africa has 65% of the world's remaining uncultivated arable land but has spent about $60 billion annually to import food, according to the African Development Bank. The spending is estimated to jump to $110 billion by 2025 due to increased demand and changing consumption habits.

In May, Kenya hosted an Africa-wide soil health summit to discuss declining production, climate change and other issues that have increased food security concerns. Agriculture is a key part of the economy in Kenya, making up more than a quarter of the GDP.

At the summit, Stephen Muchiri, executive director of the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation, advocated for a return to traditional farming practices to replenish lifeless soils, including planting a variety of crops and doing as little as possible to disturb the land.

"Inorganic fertilizers were never meant to be the foundation of crop production," he said, later adding that because of "commercially inclined farming, our soils are now poor, acidic, and low in biomass resources, and without life!"

He said farmers should rotate crops on their land and source compost material from livestock such as goats: "There must be some kind of transition and adaptation for our soils to revert back to fertility."

Experts say soil acidity causes land degradation by decreasing the availability of plant and essential nutrients, making soil more vulnerable to structure decline and erosion.

The program coordinator for the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa, Bridget Mugambe, advised the phasing out of chemical fertilizers.

"Soil health goes beyond the quick fixes provided by chemical fertilizers. In fact, chemical fertilizers have extensively damaged our soils in Africa. We need to think of our soils in a more holistic way," she said.

The soil health summit by the African Union  which in 2006 recommended that members use more chemical fertilizers  adopted a 10-year plan that calls for increased investment to produce both organic and chemical fertilizers locally and triple their use for increased production.

During the summit, AU Commissioner for Agriculture Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko asserted that the continent was "losing over $4 billion worth of soil nutrients each year."

Kenya heavily relies on imported fertilizer due to low local production. The main supplier is the European Union, followed by Saudi Arabia and Russia.

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa's Kenya manager, John Macharia, said Kenya's recent fertilizer scandal should not discourage farmers.

"It's still imperative that we are able to work with the government to actually ensure that we have the right fertilizers coming to our stores," Macharia said. He recommended both chemical and organic ones as long as they address the specific issue in the soil, and said soil analysis would guide farmers.

Declining soil quality is a food security concern across Africa.

In Zimbabwe, once a regional breadbasket, about 70% of soils are acidic, according to the government. The government in the past introduced chemical fertilizers in an attempt to strengthen soils, but wrong usage caused a decline in organic matter.

"Before the introduction of mineral fertilizers, our forefathers had the knowledge and understanding that if you add organic manure, the soil becomes fertile, and crops perform better," said Wonder Ngezimana, a crop science associate professor at Zimbabwe's Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. "That has been a traditional norm in Zimbabwe and elsewhere in Africa where people scavenge for any kind of organic matter to add to the soil."

That includes animal manure, grass, leaves and twigs, crop residue, ash and compost. But many farmers in Zimbabwe no longer have cattle because of recent drought, Ngezimana said: "Farmers are struggling to maintain soil health because they can't generate enough quantities of organic matter."

AGRA recommended that farmers test their soil's acidity and apply lime to reverse high acidity.

But farmers say both are limited and costly. Soil testing services are available in government agricultural agencies, public universities and private organizations at prices ranging from $20 to $40.

Wanjala, the farmer, said he cannot even find the money cattle for manure, and barely for seeds.

"I cannot afford more expenses," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday warned the United States that if Washington deployed long-range missiles in Germany, then Russia would station similar missiles in striking distance of the West.

The United States said on July 10 that it would start deploying long-range missiles in Germany from 2026 in preparation for a longer-term deployment that will include SM-6, Tomahawk cruise missiles and developmental hypersonic weapons.

In a speech to sailors from Russia, China, Algeria and India to mark Russian navy day in the former imperial capital of St. Petersburg, Putin warned the United States that it risked triggering a Cold War-style missile crisis with the move.

"The flight time to targets on our territory of such missiles, which in the future may be equipped with nuclear warheads, will be about 10 minutes," Putin said.

"We will take mirror measures to deploy, taking into account the actions of the United States, its satellites in Europe and in other regions of the world."

Watch related report by Arash Arabasadi:

Putin, who sent his army into Ukraine in 2022, casts the war as part of a historic struggle with the West, which he says humiliated Russia after Soviet Union fell in 1991 by encroaching on what he considers Moscow's sphere of influence.

Ukraine and the West say Putin is engaged in an imperial-style land grab. They have vowed to defeat Russia, which currently controls about 18% of Ukraine, including Crimea, and parts of four regions in eastern Ukraine.

Russia says the lands, once part of the Russian empire, are now again part of Russia and that they will never be given back.

Cold War?

Russian and U.S. diplomats say their diplomatic relations are worse even that during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and both Moscow and Washington have urged de-escalation while both have made steps toward escalation.

Putin said that the United States was stoking tensions and had transferred Typhon missile systems to Denmark and the Philippines, and compared the U.S. plans to the NATO decision to deploy Pershing II launchers in Western Europe in 1979.

The Soviet leadership, including General Secretary Yuri Andropov, feared Pershing II deployments were part of an elaborate U.S.-led plan to decapitate the Soviet Union by taking out its political and military leadership.

"This situation is reminiscent of the events of the Cold War related to the deployment of American mediumrange Pershing missiles in Europe," Putin said.

The Pershing II, designed to deliver a variable-yield nuclear warhead, was deployed to West Germany in 1983.

In 1983, the ailing Andropov and the KGB interpreted a series of U.S. moves including the Pershing II deployment and a major NATO exercise as signs the West was about to launch a preemptive strike on the Soviet Union.

Putin repeated an earlier warning that Russia could resume production of intermediate and shorter range nuclear-capable missiles and then consider where to deploy them after the United States brought similar missiles to Europe and Asia.
Suspected Ukrainian military drones have struck an oil storage depot in Russias Kursk region, a regional Russian official said Sunday, with video posted online showing a huge blaze lighting up the early morning sky.

Three storage tanks caught fire as a result of the drone strike, acting regional Governor Aleksei Smirnov said in a post on the Telegram messaging app. He said one of the fires was quickly extinguished, but firefighters were trying to put out the two other blazes. Smirnov said 82 firefighters and 32 units of equipment were involved.

Russian Telegram channels led by Baza, which is linked to Russian security services, posted video showing what were described as the tanks on fire.

Smirnov said the drones also damaged a couple of residential buildings in the region, injuring one person.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram that its air defense systems had destroyed two drones over the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine.

Ukraine considers Russian oil infrastructure a legitimate military target and began targeting it early this year. Ukraine makes extensive use of long-range drones, which are virtually the only weapons that can hit military facilities deep inside Russia.

Russian oil refineries and military facilities are regularly targeted by Ukrainian drones. Ukrayinska Pravda reported Saturday that Ukrainian drones had hit an oil refinery in Russias Ryazan region.
At least seven members of Beninese security forces and five rangers working with a conservation nonprofit have been killed in an attack by an armed group in Benin's National Park W that is overrun by militants, according to the conservation group.

The attack Wednesday happened not far from the Mekrou River in the 10,000-square-kilometer (3,800-square-miles) park which straddles the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger, the African Parks group said in a statement Saturday.

Authorities in Benin have not yet spoken about the attack, which is common with the government and the military.

It is the latest in a surge in violence in which jihadis from the conflict-battered Sahel region that is south of the Sahara Desert have spread farther into West Africa, targeting coastal states like Benin.

It was not clear which jihadi group carried out the attack in Park W, into which militants from troubled neighbors Burkina Faso and Niger have recently moved, raising fears they could use its vast protected area as a base for infiltrating other West African countries.

The al-Qaida linked JNIM group has been the most active in the Sahel and most recently in coastal West African states like Benin and Togo.

Although they were once believed to be spreading to the coastal states for better cover to recuperate, get financing and gather weapons to launch more attacks on Sahel governments, their fighters have started to attack communities and security forces as militancy begins to take root.


The United States announced plans Sunday for a major revamp of its military command in Japan to deepen coordination with its ally's forces, as the two countries labeled China the "greatest strategic challenge" facing the region.

The announcement followed security talks in Tokyo between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and their respective Japanese counterparts, Yoko Kamikawa and Minoru Kihara.

"The United States will upgrade the U.S. Forces Japan to a joint force headquarters with expanded missions and operational responsibilities," Austin told reporters after the so-called "2+2" talks.

"This will be the most significant change to U.S Forces Japan since its creation and one of the strongest improvements in our military ties with Japan in 70 years."

The ministers said in a joint statement that the new command structure would be implemented in parallel with Tokyo's own plans to establish a joint command for its forces by March 2025.

The overhaul is among several measures taken to address what the countries said was an "evolving security environment," noting various threats from superpower China.

The statement criticized what it called Beijing's "provocative" behavior in the South and East China Seas, joint military exercises with Russia and the rapid expansion of its nuclear weapons arsenal.

Beijing's "foreign policy seeks to reshape the international order for its own benefit at the expense of others," the ministers said in their statement.

"Such behavior is a serious concern to the alliance and the entire international community and represents the greatest strategic challenge in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond."

China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

Austin told reporters the command upgrade was "not based on any threat from China" but reflected the allies' desire to work more closely and effectively.

Japan provides a base for the U.S. to project military power in Asia, hosting 54,000 American troops, hundreds of U.S. aircraft and Washington's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier strike group.

Prompted by China's growing military might and regular missile tests by nuclear-armed North Korea, Japan has in recent years shifted dramatically from decades of postwar pacifism. In 2022 it unveiled a plan to double defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product.

The new U.S. command in Japan will be headed by a three-star general, a U.S. official said, however Austin said the U.S. would not rule out appointing a four-star commander to Japan in the future as it has in neighboring South Korea.

Nuclear umbrella

For the first time, the ministers also discussed "extended deterrence," a term used to describe the U.S. commitment to use its nuclear forces to deter attacks on allies.

It is sensitive subject in Japan, which has pushed for non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and is the only country to have suffered atomic bomb attacks.

The countries discussed reinforcing extended deterrence to promote regional stability and deter the outbreak of conflict, according to an official readout that was scant in detail.

"Amidst increasingly severe nuclear threats in the vicinity of Japan, it is important to further strengthen extended deterrence. I welcome the continuously deepening discussion on this matter," Japan's Kamikawa told reporters at the outset of the talks.

The allies also expressed deep concern about Russia's procurement of ballistic missiles from North Korea to aid its war in Ukraine and the potential for Moscow to transfer weapons of mass destruction or missile-related technology to Pyongyang.

North Korea has vowed to "totally destroy" its enemies in case of war, North Korean state media KCNA reported Sunday.

Austin and Kihara also met South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, signing an agreement to "institutionalize" trilateral cooperation through efforts like real-time sharing of North Korean missile warning data and joint military exercises.

The Biden administration has been pushing for deeper cooperation between Tokyo and Seoul, whose strained relations date back to Japan's 1910-1945 occupation of Korea.

"This memorandum strengthens the cooperation between Japan, the United States and South Korea, making our partnership unshakable, no matter how the international situation changes," Japan's Kihara told reporters after the trilateral meeting.

Washington also wants to tap Japanese industry to help ease pressure on U.S. weapons makers stretched by demand generated by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Tokyo and Washington are pursuing various collaborations in this field, including advancing missile co-production efforts as well as building supply chain resilience and facilitating ship and aircraft repair.

However, one flagship project  a plan to use Japanese factories to boost production of Patriot air defense missiles  is being delayed by a shortage of a critical component manufactured by Boeing, Reuters reported this month.

After leaving Tokyo, Blinken and Austin will hold security talks with another Asian ally, the Philippines, as the Biden administration seeks to counter an increasingly bold China.

Blinken met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Laos on Saturday and repeated that Washington and its partners want to maintain a "free and open Indo-Pacific," according to a U.S. readout of the meeting.
Editor's note: Here is a look at immigration-related news around the U.S. this week. Questions? Tips? Comments? Email the VOA immigration team: ImmigrationUnit@voanews.com.

Harris was never 'border czar,' experts say, despite Republican claims

After President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the Democratic nominee, Republicans quickly focused on Harris and her work on immigration issues, calling her a "border czar." But was Harris appointed as border czar? Immigration experts say no. VOA's immigration correspondent Aline Barros has the story.

US defers removal of some Lebanese, citing Israel-Hezbollah tensions

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security. Reuters reports.

Hundreds of migrants in new caravan headed for US border

Hundreds of migrants from around a dozen countries left from Mexico's southern border on foot Sunday, as they attempt to make it to the U.S. border. Some of the members of the group said they hoped to make it to the U.S. border before elections are held in November, because they fear that if Donald Trump wins, he will follow through on a promise to close the border to asylum-seekers. The Associated Press reports.

VOA DAY IN PHOTO:

A migrant holds her baby on a small boat during a rescue by the Geo Barents migrant rescue ship, operated by Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), in international waters between Tunisia and Lampedusa, in the central Mediterranean Sea, July 20, 2024.

Immigration around the world

Rights groups criticize efforts to displace migrants ahead of Paris Olympics

Rights groups accuse French authorities of "social cleansing" ahead of the Paris Olympics by uprooting migrants, sex workers and others around the capital  undermining promises of making these Games the most inclusive ever. The government says it's simply trying to address a longstanding problem. Lisa Bryant has more from the French capital.

Rights advocates cite uptick in Uyghur refugee detentions in Turkey

Over the past three weeks, Shirali Abdurehim, a 39-year-old Uyghur honey seller in Istanbul, has been detained in an immigration detention center. Abdurehim, a father of nine children, has lived in Turkey with his wife since 2013 as a refugee after fleeing repression in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China. He is one of at least a dozen Uyghurs who have been detained in recent weeks, according to detainees, lawyers and rights advocates. VOA has also seen at least four posts on the social media site Facebook calling for the release of family members since last weekend. Kasim Kashgar reports.

News Brief

The presidential proclamation that suspends the entry of certain noncitizens across the southern border  including both the southwest land and southern coastal borders  has been in effect for seven weeks. These measures, according to the U.S. government, have helped reduce the number of encounters at the southwest border by 55%.
Sharon Peters is the former executive editor of The Gazette, author of the nonfiction book "Trusting Calvin: How a Dog Helped Heal a Holocaust Survivors Heart", and founder of a local nonprofit.
When Donald Trump suggested during the 2016 presidential campaign that he might not honor a U.S. commitment to defend other NATO countries if they were attacked, it triggered alarm throughout the trans-Atlantic alliance.

With Trump's "America First" rhetoric drawing cheers from fervent supporters, the future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is once again on the agenda. But this time, European leaders acknowledge the alliance must evolve to meet the challenges of the 21st century and say they are ready to shoulder more responsibility for their own defense.

A lot has changed in eight years.

First, Trump's presidency forced Europe to recognize that U.S. military support was no longer guaranteed, then Russia's invasion of Ukraine underscored the threat on its eastern border. Meanwhile, the U.S. has increasingly focused on China's expansion in the Asia-Pacific, as well as Iran and North Korea.

"Confronted with powers such as Russia and China, and a United States whose pivot to Asia seems inevitable, no matter who wins the next election, we Europeans need to do more to ensure our own security," Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, wrote last weekend in The Times of London.

After relying on U.S. leadership of NATO to protect them with overwhelming nuclear and conventional capability for the past 75 years, European nations must take on a larger role in funding and leading the 32-nation alliance because their interests are increasingly diverging from those of the United States.

"We are talking about a NATO which the United States is still part of, but which the United States is no longer the indispensable leader (of)," said Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director-general of the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank focused on defense and security. "I mean, that is what JD Vance and Donald Trump are talking about. They're talking about a NATO that is transformed and one in which the Europeans take the greatest share of the burden."

NATO grew out of secret talks among U.S. officials after World War II about how to supply military equipment to Western Europe and ensure a coordinated response to any attack by the Soviet Union. The 12 founding members signed the North Atlantic Treaty on April 4, 1949.

NATO's military structure is headed by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, who is also the commander-in-chief of American forces in Europe. The U.S. is expected to spend almost twice as much on its military this year as all the other alliance members combined, according to NATO statistics.

Trump's skepticism about NATO was underlined last week when he named Vance as his running mate. Vance has opposed U.S. support for Ukraine, has criticized European nations for slashing defense spending since the Cold War, and said it's time for "Europe to stand on its own feet."

Europe got another wakeup call on Sunday when President Joe Biden, whose strong support for NATO was cemented during standoffs with the Soviet Union in the 1970s, said he would not seek reelection. Vice President Kamala Harris, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, has backed the administration's position on NATO and aid to Ukraine, but she entered politics long after the Cold War and is better known for her work on domestic issues.

"The question is whether she will have that same strong trans-Atlantic view that's kind of part of her blood in the way that Biden had it," said Armida van Rij, an expert on European security policy at the Chatham House think tank in London.

Trump's threat to renege on NATO's collective security guarantee, a cornerstone of the alliance, is based on his belief that member states aren't living up to their funding commitments, forcing U.S. taxpayers to subsidize Europe's defense.

That argument has weakened since 2016.

Twenty-three of the alliance's 31 non-U.S. members will meet or exceed their commitment to spend at least 2% of economic output on defense this year, up from just three 10 years ago, according to figures compiled by NATO. Overall, the non-U.S. members now spend 2.02% of gross domestic product on defense, compared with 3.4% by the U.S.

Besides that, the European Union has ambitious plans to boost its defense industry in response to the threat posed by Russia's war on Ukraine. France's President Emmanuel Macron has urged European nations to seek more independence on airspace defense and relocate production to the continent rather than purchasing material off the shelf from American arms merchants.

The EU plans center on streamlining arms procurement and to increasingly produce them within the 27-state bloc in a multibillion-dollar pivot away from the United States.

The risks for Europe, as well as the United States, are evolving. It's not just about Russian tanks on Europe's borders. NATO, as a defensive alliance, must also consider the threats posed by Iran, China and North Korea and be prepared for cyber warfare and foreign interference in elections, as well as conventional military attacks, van Rij said.

That means European nations need to increase troop numbers, upgrade equipment such as tanks, fighter planes and transport aircraft, and improve their ability to counter technological threats, she said. "We need to look at this not as Trump-proofing, but as future-proofing European security and the NATO alliance as a whole,'' van Rij said. "Because yes, while there are concerns about U.S. engagements in Europe ...  and the JD Vance appointment as Trump's running mate has only accelerated concerns  there is a bipartisan focus on China, which in the medium- to longer-term could mean that we see resources being reallocated elsewhere.''

One model may be NATO's newest members, Finland and Sweden, which joined the alliance to bolster their security in the face of Russian aggression.

As historically non-aligned nations, they were forced to develop strategies to fight off any Russian incursion largely on their own, equipping their militaries with a full range of capabilities sometimes missing in NATO countries that are used to relying on the U.S. for commanders and battle plans. Both have military service, important weapons industries and large standing armies.

"The Finnish defense people would say  we planned up to now to fight Russia by ourselves, now NATO is definitely a bonus...,'' Chalmers said. "NATO countries have the opposite problem. They're so used to thinking about fighting with others and particularly fighting with the Americans, they sometimes get out of the habit of thinking about fighting for themselves."

The risks of over-reliance on the U.S. were highlighted this year when the House of Representatives blocked $61 billion of military aid for Ukraine for months while conservative Republicans argued the government should focus on domestic border security and the nation's rising debt.

While the funding was eventually approved, the delay left Ukraine short of ammunition and hardware as Russia launched a brutal spring offensive.

A second Trump presidency would bring that mindset to the White House.

"Today  we peer apprehensively across the Atlantic at a worst case in which an erratic, ignorant, self-obsessed prospective U.S. president might cut us loose,'' historian Max Hastings wrote in The Times. "Trump is right about one big thing: behind an American shield, since the 1950s Europeans have enjoyed an almost free ride. This is now over, and Vladimir Putin is licking his lips.''
The world's largest platypus conservation center has welcomed its first residents as part of a project to protect the semi-aquatic mammal found only in Australia amid threats to its habitat from extreme weather and humans.

The four platypuses  two females and two males  were released over the last two weeks into a custom-built research facility at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, about 400 kilometers (250 miles), northwest of Sydney.

Featuring multi-tiered streams, waterfalls, pools and earth banks for burrowing, the facility will help researchers understand more about the species, Taronga Conservation Society Australia official Phoebe Meagher told Reuters.

"This facility will allow us to not only save the species from the immediate threats of climate change, but also in the long term, be able to repopulate those populations," she said.

"We would love to see some puggles or baby platypus in the facility and understand what led to that reproductive success."

The facility was formed as a partnership between the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, the University of New South Wales, the New South Wales state government and wildlife rescue organization WIRES.

Boasting the bill of a duck, webbed feet and a beaver-like tail, the platypus is unique to Australia. The nocturnal mammals lay eggs and live mostly across the eastern seaboard, from the far north of Queensland to the island state of Tasmania, close to rivers and streams whose beds and banks they forage for food.

Platypus numbers may have more than halved over several decades, research models show, but figures are hard to pinpoint. Environment groups estimate the total population between 30,000 and 300,000.

"Sadly, we're not leaving many places left in the wild for platypus," Meagher said. "So these platypus that we have here ... will really fill those knowledge gaps and allow us to help save this species."
The lawyer of a powerful Mexican drug cartel leader who is now in U.S. custody pushed back Sunday against claims that his client was tricked into flying into the country, saying he was forcibly kidnapped by the son of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman.



Ismael El Mayo Zambada had eluded authorities for decades and had never set foot in prison until a plane carrying him and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of notorious drug kingpin El Chapo, landed at an airport in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, near El Paso, Texas, on Thursday. Both men, who face various U.S. drug charges, were arrested and remain jailed.



Frank Perez, Zambadas attorney, said his client did not end up at the New Mexico airport of his own free will.



My client neither surrendered nor negotiated any terms with the U.S. government," Perez said in a statement. Joaquin Guzmn Lopez forcibly kidnapped my client. He was ambushed, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed by six men in military uniforms and Joaquin. His legs were tied, and a black bag was placed over his head. Perez went on to say that Zambada, 76, was thrown in the back of a pickup truck, forced onto a plane and tied to the seat by Guzman Lopez.



Known as an astute operator skilled at corrupting officials, Zambada has a reputation for being able to negotiate with everyone, including rivals. He is charged in a number of U.S. cases, including in New York and California. Prosecutors brought a new indictment against him in New York in February, describing him as the principal leader of the criminal enterprise responsible for importing enormous quantities of narcotics into the United States.



Removing him from the criminal landscape could set off a turbulent internal war for control over the cartel, as has occurred with the arrest or killings of other kingpins. Experts say it could also open the door for a more violent, younger generation of Sinaloa traffickers to move up.



Perez declined to offer much more comment beyond his Sunday statement, saying only that his client had been traveling with a light security detail and was set up after being called to a meeting with Guzman Lopez.



Perezs comments were first reported by the Los Angeles Times.



A spokesperson for the U.S. Justice Department did not immediately return an email seeking comment Sunday on Perez's claims. Court records did not list an attorney for Guzman Lopez, whose father is serving a life sentence in a U.S. prison.



According to a U.S. law enforcement official familiar with the matter, Zambada was duped into flying into the U.S.



The cartel leader got on an airplane believing he was going somewhere else, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter. The official did not provide details such as who persuaded Zambada to get on the plane or where exactly he thought he was going.



Zambada appeared in federal court in El Paso on Friday morning, where a judge read the charges against him and informed him of his rights. He is being held without bond and has pleaded not guilty to various drug trafficking charges, court records show. His next court hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Perez said.
The URL has been copied to your clipboard

The code has been copied to your clipboard.

During his recent visit to Washington, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu faced tough criticism for the death of journalists during the Gaza war. News media members pointed fingers at him as the brutal war claimed dozens of journalists' lives. #Israel #PressFreedom #GazaWar
The ongoing work on a community playground in County Waterford has been described as "huge" by some of those involved.

A lot of work took place over the last couple of weeks at the the Panda Playground project at Ballymacarbry Community Centre with great progress being made on the overall construction of the project.

A real community effort, the playground equipment is now in place and it's expected the soft surface floor of the amenity will be laid out in the coming week.

Work is progressing very well on the playground

Following that, work will take place on finishing touches ahead of safety inspections. However, it's the work of the team of local volunteers from within the community that has made progress on the project possible as local people worked on things like perimeter fencing, footpaths, powerwashing and general groundworks over the last number of weeks.

As one local commented: "We will be eternally grateful to these generous people who have done a remarkable job. In the next week or so we plan a general clean up of the community centre grounds ahead of opening the playground."

It's expected that locals will also be involved in that clean-up project at the centre.

There was also a surprise in store for the community because one aspect of the playground, a central climbing net that will form a centre-piece of the amenity, was unveiled.

There is great excitement surrounding the impending opening of the playground

"This impressive feature has already generated huge interest from onlookers and promises to be a star attraction when we open the gates in the coming weeks," said one of those involved with the project.

The project received massive support locally, especially through fundraising initiatives, however, those behind the project are still hoping to add to the fundraising in the hope of acquiring the 170,000 required. Anyone in a position to donate to the project can still do so by contacting the community centre at 086 032 8467 and donation details are also contained on the centre's social media channels.
Irish Youth Baroque Orchestra

City Hall: Large Room

The Irish Youth Baroque Orchestra presented a superb performance of Handels (1685-1759), 'Water Music', in the Large Room as part of the Symphony Club of Waterfords summer season.

The IYBO orchestras performance is the culmination of a week long course in baroque music and instruments that is overseen by the National Irish Youth Orchestra under the direction of Claire Duff who is not only an inspirational leader, but a fountain of enthusiasm and information regarding the players, the instruments and the history of the composition.

For this years Performance Course the IYBO introduced brass instruments with natural horns and trumpets included for the first time making this years IYBO orchestra the most ambitious band thus far.

Claire Duff explains: "This years course was packed full with fun and inspiring baroque dance sessions, engaging and stimulating rehearsals and relaxing Feldenkrais sessions.

"There is an intense amount of learning in just a few days and the level of improvement from the first day to the two concerts at the end of the week is always quite amazing.

The Water Music is a collection of orchestral movements, often published as three suites, composed by George Frideric Handel.

It premiered on 17 July 1717, in response to King George I's request for a concert on the River Thames.

In 1710, Handel was appointed music master for Prince George, Elector of Hanover.

However, the composer got the heave-ho from Prince George for spending too much time in London where the lolly was just flowing in. However, on the death of Queen Anne, George of Hanover  Annes nearest relative  became King of England and Handel, despite his fears to the contrary, was now back in favour.

The first performance of the Water Music took place on the Thames about 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17, when King George I and several aristocrats boarded a royal barge at Whitehall Palace, for a boat trip to Chelsea.

Another barge, provided by the City of London, transported about 50 musicians who performed Handel's music.

The composition broke new ground (water???) with the introduction of horns, trumpets and timpani to boost the work of the woodwind and strings.

Was this where the inspiration for the Paris Olympics opening ceremony originated? I wonder?

Many other Londoners also took to the river to hear the concert.

London newspaper, The Courant, reported that 'the whole River in a manner was covered with boats and barges.

'On arriving at Chelsea, the king left his barge, then returned to it at about 11 p.m. for the return trip.

'The king was so pleased with Water Music that he ordered it to be repeated at least three times, both on the trip upstream to Chelsea and on the return, until he landed again at Whitehall.'

Tonights performance is full of the joy and fun of Handels composition.

Baroque dancers perform a variety of dances from Menuet, Bourree, Sarabande and of course the lively Hornpipe that all feature in the Water Music.

The young players are polished with a rich and rounded sound and play with an enthusiasm that is a joy to hear.

Baroque music is never dull or slow but vibrant and alive with the joy of living.

The entire performance sounds full of life  music fit for a king, really.
You have permission to edit this article.

Edit Close
Over that same period, the number of non-Aboriginal people on remand stayed pretty flat  up just 2 per cent.

The above graph shows the number of Aboriginal people in jail who have been refused bail but not sentenced, also known as the remand population. Its up 47 per cent over five years.

One of the main goals was to work with other parts of government to stop so many Aboriginal people from ending up in the criminal justice system.

In 2018, NSW Police launched its five-year blueprint for improving its relationship with Aboriginal communities.

Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.

In other words, the problem worsened during NSW Polices last attempt to help fix it.

Over time, the number of people serving jail sentences has fallen. But the overall number of people in custody is climbing because more Aboriginal people are being charged by police and refused bail.

And for young people who arent Aboriginal? Their numbers went down 41 per cent.

Here are the remand numbers for those aged 1017, which rose 26 per cent.

Another main goal of the polices Aboriginal Strategic Direction 201823 was to help young Aboriginal people by improving their safety and wellbeing.

NSW Police has rejected recommendations to review its approach to bail decisions and proactive police procedures.

But NSW Police is at odds with its independent watchdog over how much police themselves can do to combat the problem  and whether the force should be held responsible for helping to Close the Gap in the first place.

In doing so, a NSW Police spokesperson said, it raised the importance of a whole-of-government approach to address the underlying causes.

The police force says its trying to understand whats behind these trends and recently completed a research project, which highlighted the complex intersection between intergenerational trauma, low socioeconomic outcomes and vulnerability to both victimisation and offending.

Were really moving further and further away from the Closing the Gap targets [to reduce over-representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system].

The numbers are shocking, says Jackie Fitzgerald, executive director of the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

In the last plan, we were effectively invited on board and invited to provide that accountability and oversight, LECC commissioner Anina Johnson says.

After receiving preliminary findings, NSW Police chose not to include LECC as the monitoring body for the new 2024 Aboriginal Strategic Direction.

However, the LECC found the logic of the police framework was unclear and the strategy had failed to achieve its goals.

In findings released in October, the LECC praised the difficult work carried out by Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers within the force and noted efforts police have made to build better relationships with Aboriginal communities, especially during times of natural disasters and the pandemic.

Anina Johnson, a commissioner of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, says police have a high level of discretion when it comes to decisions about charges and bail. Credit: Nikki Short

Under the previous plan, the police had asked the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) to review their progress.

And under its latest Aboriginal Strategic Direction, it decided to reduce outside scrutiny.

And while remand figures have worsened since 2018, if you look at the numbers over the past decade, the situation is even bleaker. In that time, the number of Aboriginal adults on remand is up 143 per cent.

Compared to population numbers, Aboriginal people living near CBDs are more likely to be charged and put in jail.

If the average prison reflected NSW society, 3 per cent of inmates would be Aboriginal, not 31 per cent.

NSW Police did not respond to questions about this decision. A spokesperson said the new policy, developed by Aboriginal staff, addresses many of the concerns raised by the LECC report.

We have not been included in the plan on this occasion.

The people of NSW should be furious that the gap is widening under our governments watch, said Lauren Stefanou, a principal solicitor with the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT.

Closing the Gap is everyones responsibility, and NSW Police have a critical role to play.

Along with the rest of the states and territories and the Commonwealth government, the NSW government signed up to new Closing the Gap targets in 2020.

The agreement struck with the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations included Targets 10 and 11  to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal adults and young people in the criminal justice system.

NSW Polices new action plan contains multiple references to the agreement.

Under Commissioner Karen Webb, NSW Police opposes being held responsible under Closing the Gap targets. Credit: James Brickwood

But NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has warned that the force should not be held responsible for meeting targets.

The primary role of the NSWPF is law enforcement, and suggesting NSWPF is responsible for achieving Closing the Gap outcomes 10 and 11 would lead to competing duties, the commissioner wrote in a letter to the watchdog last year.

Webb declined to elaborate on what she meant.

Johnson, the LECC commissioner, says interactions with police are the critical entry point for the justice system.

I dont think its helpful to say we just enforce the law because its not a uniform approach, Johnson says. Police have enormous discretion in the way in which they choose to enforce the law, and that, at the moment, is statistically disadvantaging Aboriginal people.

NSW Police says it cannot influence the complex social issues that lead to crime. Credit: Edwina Pickles

The watchdog wants the government to officially list NSW Police as an agency responsible for meeting targets 10 and 11.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Harris has said the government was working on its next Closing the Gap delivery plan, which would capture agreed actions for and the responsibilities of NSW Police.

The force itself says it plays an important role and has made significant progress with a number of strategies and initiatives to support the targets.

At the same time, it continues to oppose any responsibility for meeting targets.

The NSWPF cannot influence the systemic social issues that is the predominant driver of over-representation in the criminal justice system and is reliant upon other agencies who have lead roles in this area, police told the LECC.

No jurisdiction in Australia has their Police Force or Service as a responsible (or accountable) agency, because of the primary responsibility it has to protect victims and community in a law enforcement role.

In recommending police review their training and procedures, the LECC pointed to initiatives that some police commands have already taken.

Loading

At Richmond, low-level offenders no longer need to meet bail reporting conditions. And where an Aboriginal person is detained for a minor offence, a supervising officer needs to check if the person can be diverted to a service rather than charged.

There are levers that they can pull; there are strategies that they can implement that could reduce the number of Aboriginal people being remanded in custody, Johnson says.

NSW Police told the LECC that while it was trialling some localised initiatives, the Bail Act was prescriptive.

It said it already trained police to be inclusive, fair and to work with Aboriginal communities to achieve better outcomes.

The office of constable cannot be influenced by policies based on race or other factors, NSW Police said.

Learning from Canada

Earlier this year, a group of officers travelled to Canada to learn about that countrys approach to policing and working with First Nations people.

However, NSW Police has been criticised for not collaborating more with Aboriginal organisations.

The Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT says it was not consulted on the latest police strategy, even after the government said the plan would be devised with input from Aboriginal organisations and aligned with the national Closing the Gap agreement.

The NSWPF cannot influence the systemic social issues that is the predominant driver of over representation in the Criminal Justice System NSW Police

Geoff Scott, chief executive of Just Reinvest, a not-for-profit focused on community solutions to over-representation, says hes concerned by the police commissioners comment about competing duties and the message it sends to officers on the beat.

Its not about just enforcing the law, Scott, a Wiradjuri man, says.

Its about the safety of the community. The police are a fundamental player in our society. If the police do a good job, it makes it a much better society.

Scott says a change in approach at Bourke in western NSW in the previous decade helped Aboriginal people see police as part of the social safety net, not solely as strict enforcers of the law.

Under Operation Solidarity at Bourke, police and members of the Aboriginal community together made regular visits to homes where domestic violence had occurred to check what support was available to those who lived there.

The town achieved a 23 per cent reduction in domestic violence incidents between 2016 and 2017, according to a report by KPMG.

Scott says too many good programs are trialled and then never rolled out statewide.

Across NSW, domestic violence charges, including assault and stalking-intimidation, are some of the biggest contributors to the Aboriginal remand population.

The police are in a real quandary, says Fitzgerald, the head of the crime statistics bureau, referring to another Closing the Gap target to reduce domestic violence. But we cant just put all of our eggs in the criminal justice basket. We need to look at alternatives.

Controversial program abolished

When it comes to Aboriginal children, many of those ending up in custody are not accused of violent offences.

Theft is the biggest most serious offence category.

James Beaufils, a senior research fellow with the University of Technology Sydney, wants a change in philosophy from NSW Police. Credit: Monique Lovelock

One of the big issues within that  especially in our First Nations kids getting in trouble and charged  is racial profiling, and that hasnt improved, says James Beaufils, a Gundungurra man and senior research fellow with the University of Technology Sydneys law faculty.

I think it has to be a complete restructure of the philosophy and ideas behind what [police] are doing.

Last year, the LECC found Aboriginal young people were grossly over-represented in the police forces Suspect Target Management Plan program, which created lists of high-risk individuals who would be policed more heavily.

In November, after police decided to no longer target children using the program and to review its use on adults, Commissioner Karen Webb told parliament police had been working on the development of something that might replace it.

Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson told the same hearing, There wont be significant changes and that while the old program had been misapplied, I dont think there was too much wrong with the policy.

Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson defended the now-abolished Suspect Target Management Plan policy. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

NSW Police has since abolished the scheme entirely and a police spokesperson said it would not be replaced.

The NSWPF will build on existing processes regarding prevention, disruption and response to address crime problems and recidivism, the spokesperson said.

Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Washington: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told Christians that if they vote for him this November, in four years, you dont have to vote again. Well have it fixed so good, youre not gonna have to vote.

It was not clear what the former president meant by his remarks, in an election campaign where his Democratic opponents accuse him of being a threat to democracy, and after his attempt to overturn his 2020 defeat to President Joe Biden, an effort that led to the deadly insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures on stage at the Turning Point Believers Summit. Credit: AP

Trump was speaking at an event organised by the conservative group Turning Point Action in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump said: Christians, get out and vote, just this time. You wont have to do it anymore. Four more years, you know what, it will be fixed, it will be fine, you wont have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians.
Paul J. Batura is a local writer and host of the podcast, WHAT A LIFE! Lessons from Legends. He can be reached via email at Paul@PaulBatura.com or on X @PaulBatura.
Kenneth Fox

Immigrants will soon be asked to pay for state-provided services in a further tightening of supports for asylum-seekers and refugees, Taoiseach Simon Harris has told the Sunday Independent.

The Government previously considered plans to charge immigrants rent.

Now, it has emerged that senior ministers will look at proposals to charge for other state-provided services in the coming months as part of efforts to bring Ireland in line with other EU countries.

Asylum-seekers are currently entitled to medical cards, which has been questioned by opposition politicians. Sinn Fein has stated in recent months that the granting of medical cards should be means-tested.

"I do think there is a broader question around the supports we offer that we need to consider as we get into the autumn, said Mr Harris in an interview in Paris, where he is attending the Olympic Games.

Elaborating on what that broader question is, he said it relates to "the level of contribution somebody may be asked to make in relation to something that the State may provide.

When asked if the new plans would include rent charges, he said: "That's one thing that we could give consideration to.

"Anything we do will have to be legal and in line with our humanitarian obligations, because people do have a legal and humanitarian entitlement to shelter, too.

The Government is not yet "finished with its review of the supports given to asylum-seekers and refugees, he said.

"I think we need to continue to monitor it. We need to make sure the system is sustainable and grounded in common sense and not out of kilter with any other country, too.

He said the "first phase of the welfare review for asylum-seekers and refugees has taken place. This led to thousands of Ukrainians who live in Ireland having their welfare cut. A means test was also introduced for asylum-seekers.

"I'm eager that we continue that conversation, he said.

Mr Harris said the new plans will be considered in either September or October.

Thousands of asylum-seekers had their welfare cut in recent weeks after Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys put a means test in place.

The Taoiseach said the immigration system has developed in "real time, with the annual number of asylum-seekers going from 3,000 to over 20,000.

"When I became Taoiseach, I made it very clear I wanted two things in place when it came to migration  compassion and common sense. People are compassionate, it's not a nasty country.

"We're a welcoming country, we want to help, we want to be decent, we want to be humanitarian. But we also want to make sure there is common sense.
A man could have died after he was attacked by his friend following a drinking session.

Eddie Cleary, aged 24, of Headford Road, Galway, admitted a charge of assault causing harm when he appeared before a sitting of Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court last week.

The court heard that Cleary and the injured party, Richard Ryan, aged 32, were friends at the time and spent most of the day drinking together in Ballyhaunis on February 10, 2020.

After consuming alcohol at a number of locations around the town, the accused bought a slab (24 cans) of Budweiser and the men drank the beer behind the local branch of the Credit Union.

The injured party decided to leave and said good night to Cleary before he was followed and attacked by his drinking partner on Barrack Street.

Mr Ryan told Gardai he was tripped up and Cleary got on top of him. He said the accused told him Die, you bastard, die!

The victim believed he was attacked with a blade but the prosecution accepted that the weapon may also have been a broken bottle.

Mr Ryan received a number of lacerations to his facial area and thumb. He sustained cuts to his ear, temple, and neck and was covered in blood when he made his way to the home of his parents-in-law. The victim was taken to Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar where he was treated for his injuries.

Following the attack, Cleary fled the scene and used the bathroom of the local Supermacs takeaway to clean himself up. There was blood found in the basin of the toilet by staff who alerted Gardai.

The accused left the jurisdiction for Northern Ireland but on June 10, 2020, was discovered hiding in the back of a car that was stopped in the Ballyhaunis area.

A medical report noted that Mr Ryan was fortunate to have escaped with his life following the attack. He sustained permanent facial scarring in the incident.

In a victim impact statement that was read out in court, Mr Ryan said he thought he was going to die that night.

Cleary, a father of two, has 12 previous convictions for motoring offences.

Defending barrister Niall Flynn said his client witnessed his father die in a road accident and this has had a profound impact on him.

Cleary told the Probation Service that he had been taunted before the attack but now accepts his actions were unprovoked.

Judge Eoin Garavan said this was a most serious and savage assault". He jailed Cleary for four years with the final year suspended.
Saturday was a poignant day for the Gallagher family as General Dynamics Bath Iron Works christened the U. Navys newest guided missile destroyer, the future USS Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127) in honour of the Mayo man who died in the Vietnam War.

The christening ceremony took place at Bath Iron Works shipyard. Speakers included Minister of State for the Department of Foreign Affairs Sean Fleming, Senator Susan Collins, General Christopher Mahoney, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Hon. Sean Coffey, General Counsel of the Navy and Vice Admiral Darse Crandall, Judge Advocate General of the Navy. Gallaghers sisters Teresa Gallagher Keegan, Rosemarie Gallagher and Pauline Gallagher are the ships sponsors. All three sisters, as well as Patricks brother Peter, were in attendance for the ceremony in Maine.

Charles F. Krugh, president of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, welcomed the gathering of more than 2,000 shipbuilders, family members and invited guests, telling them that Cpl. Patrick Gallaghers bravery and sacrifice are an inspiration to the shipbuilders responsible for building DDG 127 and delivering it to the U.S. Navy.

Today at Bath Iron Works, we are building the ships that our nations Sailors will rely on to protect our country and our families, Krugh said. It is our commitment and our privilege to ensure they are best built so the men and women of our Armed Forces can fulfill their duty on behalf of all of us.

Born in 1944 in Derrintogher, Ballyhaunis, Patrick Bob Gallagher was a student in Granlahan National School and Ballyhaunis Vocational School before he emigrated to Long Island, New York in 1962.

Living with relatives, he worked in real estate before later enlisting with the US Marines during the Vietnam War.

Gallagher received one of the highest accolades in 1966 when he was awarded the Navy Cross medal, the second highest honour in the US military, after saving the lives of his comrades during a grenade attack, where he kicked a grenade away before jumping on another.

Just days before his tour of duty was due to end, Cpl. Gallagher was killed in action at the age of 23 during an ambush in Danang. He was later buried in Ballyhaunis with full US military honours.

After a petition by US Senator Chuck Schumer, it was announced that the 2.1 billion DDG-127 US naval destroyer will be named the USS Patrick Gallagher.

Many tributes were paid to Mr Gallagher. Maine Senator Susan Collins described him as a man who exemplifies the highest ideals of both America and Ireland. Wherever the Patrick Gallagher sails, the spirit of this valiant marine, this true hero will go with (the ship).

Assistant Commandant Of The Marine Corps, General Christopher Mahoney, said: Pat Gallagher was a protector. Pat Gallaghers spirit will be in this ship. His spirit will protect the crew, his spirit will live on in each day, in every sailor that sails in her.

Sean Fleming, Irelands Minister of State for the Department of Foreign Affairs, was the principal speaker for the event and spoke of the historic ties between the United States and Ireland. He noted that 16 percent of Maines population can trace its roots to Ireland. The sponsors of the future USS Patrick Gallagher are the namesakes sisters: from left, Rosemarie Gallagher, Teresa Gallagher Keegan and Pauline Gallagher.

Minister Fleming said: The naming of this vessel in Patricks honour is a fitting tribute to a young man who showed tremendous valor, with enormity and in testing circumstances. I want to offer my sincere congratulations to the entire Gallagher family on todays important recognition of his life.

With 16 percent of Maine residents identifying as having Irish heritage, the emigration wave still resonates in Ireland today. It is, perhaps, therefore, fitting that we honour a young man from Mayo in the west of Ireland with this christening today.

The sisters of Patrick Gallagher  Teresa Gallagher Keegan, Pauline Gallagher and Rosemarie Gallagher  are the sponsors of DDG 51. The three sisters  who traveled to Maine from Ireland this week, simultaneously broke bottles of sparkling wine over the ships bow, an ancient maritime tradition, while blessing the ship and all who sail in her.

Speaking to all in attendance at the ceremony, Patricks sister Teresa said: When I think of Bob, I dont think of the war hero that we are celebrating here today, although I am very, very proud of my brother. I think of my older brother as a kind, loving, fun-loving person that I looked up to.

I think of all the things he could have done, the person he wouldve been today. I think of all he has missed out and how much the world has missed him, but I see his face in his nieces, nephews, his grandnieces and his great-grandnieces and nephews.

Pauline, another sister of Mr Gallagher, hoped that the USS Patrick Gallagher will visit Ireland one day.

As James Joyce once said 'A man of genius makes no mistakes; his errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery.' Patricks bravery and the dedication of all those who have honoured his memory have led us to this moment of discovery and pride.

Be brave a be bold, a motto of the Gallagher family, has been etched onto the ship.
I was fortunate enough to visit Uganda on a few occasions. I was excited to land at Entebbe Airport, made famous in the days of Idi Amin. Amin was a military officer who served as president of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. He ruled as a military dictator and is considered one of the most brutal despots in modern world history. Reports of his exploits filled the news during my childhood.

While in Uganda, I also got to see the source of the river Nile but the thing that brought me the most joy was seeing swallows in their winter homeland. I am convinced one or two of them had come from a cow house in the Ox Mountains.

Identification

The swallow and his cousins, the house martin and the swift, are common summer visitors throughout Ireland from mid-March to late September. Birdwatch Ireland helps us to identify and distinguish.

Swallows, a common and easy-to-see species. Adults are instantly recognisable by their glossy black wings and back, long tail streamers and contrasting white undersides. At close range, the red face-patch can be seen, as well as a narrow black breastband. In juveniles, the face-patch is a pale orange, while the tail streamers are appreciably shorter than on adults.

Despite the cousin reference, swallows are not related to swifts. They do look similar and have evolved the same traits to help them efficiently catch airborne prey. Swifts are extremely fast high fliers. They are known for their unrivalled aerial abilities. They often spend their entire lives on the wing including sleeping, mating, and drinking. On the other hand, the house martin is smaller than swifts or swallows. These are the lads who build in the apex of your gable or under your eave.

Baby swallows greet their mother on her arrival back to the nest with insects. Picture: Dan Linehan

Breeding

Swallows construct bowl-shaped nests out of mud in suitable spots in barns and other outbuildings. While house martins build on your house, swallows build in your rafters. In fact, they are sometimes referred to as barn swallows. Wildbirdwatching.com takes up the story.

Mating habits of Barn swallows include engaging in aerial displays during courtship, which can include diving, swooping, and chirping. Pairs are formed quickly once they've reached the breeding grounds. Within two weeks of arriving, pair bonds will have been made. Swallows are generally monogamous, with males mating with a single female.

Swallow nesting occurs primarily in June and July. Both the male and female build the nest. Working in the morning, swallows will make up to 1,000 trips to collect mud and grasses before nest completion. This is one of the few times you can see them on the ground collecting mud and feathers for their nest.

The female lays three to eight white eggs that are spotted with reddish brown, beginning a few days after the nest is finished. The eggs are incubated by both adults with the female incubating longer because only females have a brood patch. The eggs will hatch after 14 to 16 days of incubation and the young will leave the nest 18 to 23 days after that. Two broods a season may be attempted. Swallows return to the same nest site each season and will sometimes repair their old nest for reuse.

Cow House

When I was a child, around home, the swallows used our cow house as their main nesting site. I am not sure where they built before 1958 but after that, successive generations of them started their lives high in the rafters over our small congregation of cows.

As well as building the perfect cow house, my father had inadvertently created a cathedral; the perfect nesting place for the swallow. The rafters were high and safe, the atmosphere in the house was moist and warm and all around the trees and the manure heap outside was an endless food supply of midges and flies.

Despite this apparent state of perfection, there remained one major problem. My fathers dislike of cats was matched only by his dislike of swallows. The perfect nest location for a swallow in our cow house was often directly above an unsuspecting cows feed trough, sometimes over my fathers head or worst of all, over an open-mouthed milking bucket. While my father loved to sing to the cows at milking time, he was not at all impressed when the out-of-tune swallows from Uganda joined in. An unspoken arrangement seemed to emerge each summer; as my father entered the cow house, the swallows met him at the door on their way out. It took a very agile swallow indeed to get past him as he often approached the door with weapon in hand.

Wintering

The swallows that were reared in our cow house had a definite advantage in life. Firstly, they had the ideal nesting site. Secondly, they had an endless supply of rich food, and finally, they had survived my fathers best efforts to discourage their very existence. As they prepared for their flight to Africa, they were better prepared than any other swallow reared in the Ox Mountains region.

Discover Wildlife, the BBC wildlife magazine, says that faced with the prospect of little or no food, swallows start to head south during September and October.

Its no walk in the park for our departing swallows as their extreme migration takes them south through Europe and across the Sahara Desert. They cover approximately 200 miles a day, generally at about 20mph  the maximum flight speed recorded was a whopping 35mph.

In addition to their epic journey, swallows also run the risk of starvation, exhaustion and must cope with extreme weather. Although they fatten up before they leave it is difficult for them to avoid the hazards they will encounter en route. Therefore, swallow populations do fluctuate year on year.

One Swallow

One swallow never made a summer.

What a lovely phrase to suggest to people not to get their hopes up. Mind you, this summer I have seen precious few swallows. The ones that built their nests in my open shed over the past few years have not returned this year. Some say it is because of the colder than usual early summer, others say it is because we have fewer midges. One way or another, things are changing and the beleaguered swallow seems to be a kind of barometer for it all.

They say it is lucky for a swallow to build in your barn or for a house martin to stick her nest to your gable wall. If you can put up with their poo on your lawnmower or on your footpath, please do. You can always move your mower or make a little shelf to protect your surroundings. In other words, do what you can to make your visitors welcome  they have come a long way to bestow their blessing.

My father is gone now and so is his houseful of cows but that old cow house still stands. I must go there some evening soon to see if the descendants of that ancient tribe of swallows still nest in the rafters, to see if they have survived all the changes and the passage of time, to see if the survival instinct, imposed on them by my father, has served them well.
James Cox

Here, we have a look at the issue likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come.

McDonald labels questioning of immigration policy 'extremely rude'

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald attempted to present her party's new immigration policy, but the RTE interview raised more questions than answers.

She accused RTE's Philip Boucher Hayes has of being "extremely rude" in his questioning, but the reasonable questions simply asked about how the proposed policy would be funded.

It is largely seen as Sinn Fein's attempt to bring back former supporters who aren't happy with their migration policy.

Sinn Fein has proposed tripling the numbers of International Protection officers. When asked by the presenter about the costs, Ms McDonald said it would not be "enormous", but that she did not have the exact figures.

When he asked how 1,000 new civil servants is not an enormous cost, Ms McDonald replied: Are you actually interested in hearing the policy or simply nit-picking with me? Whatever it costs it needs to be done.

As the exhange went on, a clearly annoyed Ms McDonald said: "I have to say your tone with me in this interview is extremely rude. But be that as it may. Im less interested, and I would have thought that as a journalist and a broadcaster, you would be far more inquisitive around what the Government is saying which youre very happy to repeat ad nauseam."

Afterwards, both Ms McDonald and her colleague Pearse Doherty accused RTE of taking a harder stance with them than Government politicians, despite providing no examples.

The central recommendation in Sinn Fein's proposed policy is that disadvantaged areas should not be asked to accommodate asylum seekers, with better-off areas taking in more refugees.

It also suggests faster processing times, and designating certain areas of war-torn countries like Ukraine safe, so that migrants can be returned if they are denied asylum in Ireland. It is unclear how these designations would be made.

Sinn Fein's policy was aimed at gaining back some of the support lost in the local and European elections, but it highlights the difficulties surrounding migration.

It has been a huge issue for Government, and will be central to the next general election.

Ongoing protests at a site earmarked for refugees in Coolock, Dublin, are just the latest issue and they are showing no signs of slowing down despite a strong Garda presence.

Drones may have been used to deliver unlit petrol bombs to the former Crown Paints warehouse in Coolock, the High Court heard this week.

Since Simon Harris became Taoiseach, Government has attempted a more hands on approach with the migration issue but the results haven't arrived.

Moving the tent encampment at the International Protection Office on Dublin's Mount Street only saw tents spring up on the Grand Canal, and the ugly fencing at the canal where these people were moved on is just a reminder of the problem.

Rising homeless figures

The number of homeless people in Ireland exceeds the capacity of Hill 16 in Croke Park, after a record number of people living in emergency accommodation was recorded yet again.

According to the Department of Housing, 14,303 people were living in emergency accommodation in June, including 9,899 adults and 4,404 children.

The number is 13 per cent higher than a year ago, and is an increase of 144 people since May.

This is likely to be highlighted by opposition politicians.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has pointed to increases in social housing, but this will do little to reassure people amid the stark homeless figures.

Ireland heading for clash with von der Leyen?

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has insisted she wants a male and female candidate from each member state for a European commissioner role.

This is a headache for Government as Michael McGrath stood down from Cabinet to be nominated, with Jack Chambers replacing him as Minister for Finance.

Mr Harris was asked about the issue at the Paris Olympics, and insisted Mr McGrath would be Ireland's only nominee.

Abroad

In the UK, Keir Starmer's government got off to a rocky start as the new prime minster suspended seven MPs from his Labour party after they voted to scrap the two-child benefit cap in Britain.

In the US, all eyes are on November 5th with Kamala Harris now set to go up against Donald Trump in the presidential election after Joe Biden withdrew from the race.

In an interview with BreakingNews.ie this week, former Irish Ambassador to the US Daniel Mulhall said Mr Trump will still be the favourite, but that Ms Harris gives the Democratic Party a much better chance in the November vote.

"It's still a 50/50 call I would say. In fact, if the election were held tomorrow, Donald Trump would almost certainly win. But the election is not being held for three and a half months and in that time Kamala Harris has to convince people that the vice president, not very highly regarded by the public at times, that Kamala Harris has been replaced by a much more vigorous, dynamic and forceful person.

"Kamala Harris the presidential candidate. I still think this campaign will come down to Kamala Harris persuading people, particularly suburban Republican-leaning people who voted for Joe Biden last time. She needs them to vote for her this time, and we will see if she has the ability to convince these people to vote for her as they did for Joe Biden four years ago.

"It's going to also be a case of her persuading people that Donald Trump is too big of a risk, a threat to the republic, reproductive healthcare. All these things are vulnerabilities for Trump."
The HSE warning of disciplinary action against UHL over the death of Aoife Johnston, and a 3 billion payout for AIB and Bank of Ireland shareholders are among the stories that feature on Sunday's front pages.

AIB and Bank of Ireland shareholders will receive payouts worth over 3 billion combined, the Business Post reports.

Our front page today. Pick up a copy in stores or subscribe at https://t.co/LyVcHklEWC for these stories plus:



 RTEs Kevin Bakhurst on #Paris2024 coverage



 Why retail sector needs to embrace change



 Celtic Tiger hotspot in Dublin set to reopen pic.twitter.com/YraUGMA3eh  Business Post (@businessposthq) July 28, 2024

University Hospital Limerick will face disciplinary action over the death of Aoife Johnston, the Sunday Independent reports.

The Sunday World leads with an interview with the widow of Tom Dooley.

In the North, the Sunday Life leads with a story on the car of a prominent loyalist figure being burnt.

Labours big plans for Britain take centre stage on Sundays UK front pages.

UK chancellor Rachel Reeves will accuse the Tories of covering up the dire state of public finances as Labour prepares to respond to a 20bn black hole, the Sunday Times reports.

The Sunday Times: 20bn black hole 'covered up by Tories'#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/GhPGqwAm7E  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) July 27, 2024

Meanwhile, the Sunday Mirror leads with a new council and affordable housing initiative, touted as the biggest in decades, set to be announced by Labour.

The Sunday Telegraph reports Sir Keir Starmer discussed a free movement deal for young people with the Spanish prime minister earlier this month.

 The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:



PM talks to Spain over youth free movement'#TomorrowsPapersToday



Sign up for the Front Page newsletter https://t.co/JIMevXrNiU pic.twitter.com/1L4C0MoIGj  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) July 27, 2024

In news from across the political aisle, the Sunday Express reveals former home secretary Priti Patel has entered the Tory leadership race, pledging to end the soap opera within her party.

The Mail on Sunday says new CCTV footage reportedly reveals the moments before a police officer was captured kicking a mans head in Manchester.

The Mail on Sunday: CCTV reveals vile attack on airport row police#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/y7VxexLdyS  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) July 27, 2024

Lastly, the Daily Star Sunday says Mafia bosses have gotten into farming, buying hundreds of cows.

The New York Times leads with a story on lobbyists ramping up fundraising efforts for Kamala Harris' presidential campaign.
Bunuel

In the shipping industry, the amount of time it takes for most of a worker's occupational knowledge and skills to become obsolete has been declining because of the introduction of wearable computing devices, such as smart watches and smart glasses. Given the rate at which wearable computing devices are currently being introduced into shipping, the average worker's old skills become obsolete and new skills are required within as little as two years.



Which of the following plans, if feasible, would allow a company to prepare most effectively for the rapid obsolescence of skills described above?



A. The company will develop a program to offer selected employees the opportunity to receive training for three years after they were originally hired.



B. The company will increase its investment in wearable computing devices every year for a period of at least two years.



C. The company will periodically survey its employees to determine how the introduction of wearable computing devices has affected them.



D. Before the introduction of wearable computing devices, the company will institute a training program to inform its employees of the probable consequences of the introduction of wearable computing devices.



E. The company will ensure that it can offer its employees any training necessary to meet the requirements of their particular jobs.



OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

The correct answer is (E).

Reading the question: This may be a question in which you find it natural to skip back and forth between the prompt and the stem. Regardless, we'll take our time and read everything before moving on. There is going to be an "obsolescence of skills." How can the company prepare for it? That's going to depend on how exactly it's going to happen. There are two critical details: wearable devices and two years. The answer will be related to or at least accommodate those points. If you identify one or more details that are critical to the argument or question at hand, you can immediately make those details your filter to evaluate the answer choices.Applying our filter to the answer choices, we see that (A) and (B) both have time frames, and hence are at least vaguely connected to "two years." In (A), the training comes too late, so that's wrong. Choice (B) mentions two years, which sounds nice, but the actual measure taken just adds fuel to the fire by getting more wearable devices; there's no remedy offered for the obsolescence of skills. So (B) is out. In (C), a survey might determine the extent of the problem, but it doesn't provide a solution to the problem. Choice (D) sounds fancier but amounts to the same problem as (C). Finally, (E) gives a rather broad promise: any training necessary. Rather unrealistic. But the stem says, "If feasible." If (E) were feasible, it would be able to solve this problem and all kinds of problems._________________
BEIJING, July 26 (Xinhua)  Chinese leader Xi Jinping introduced a new package of reforms to propel the country's modernization at a key policy meeting held last week, listing over 300 reform measures and a timeline to complete reform tasks by 2029.

The reform-minded leader excels not only in designing reforms but also in making them work.

A story emerged this week about how he helped a fledgling airline, born in a pivotal aviation reform 40 years ago, grow from the ground up into a major player in the industry.

In 1985, 32-year-old Xi was appointed vice mayor of Xiamen, a city designated as a special economic zone in east China's Fujian Province. The zone was established by late leader Deng Xiaoping to test market reform policies during the early stages of China's sweeping reform and opening up drive.

The city had an airline established in 1984 as part of a reform process in the civil aviation industry aimed at separating the regulator from operators. At that time, China had no airline companies, with the civil aviation authorities directly operating all air services.

Xiamen Airlines became China's first air carrier to operate under a modern corporate system. However, it faced a tough start: no aircraft, no crew, and no funds.

"We were unsure how an airline company would be operated," recalled Du Hongying, one of the first seven employees. "We didn't even have a proper office back then."

As vice mayor, Xi was tasked with overseeing Xiamen Airlines' development. He visited the company many times and sat down with its management team to find solutions to its pressing difficulties.

A retired airline manager recalled that Xi often went to Beijing to seek help from central authorities, the Air Force and the civil aviation administration for the company.

With Xi's efforts, the airline managed to rent two Boeing 737 planes and recruit 23 veteran pilots from the Air Force, thereby settling the most imminent problems of the startup.

In November 1986, the first Xiamen Airlines flight took to the sky.

But a new problem soon emerged: the city's airport needed to be expanded, and there wasn't enough money. Xi spearheaded a government task force to borrow funds from Kuwait and personally led teams to negotiate and secure a loan.

He also helped with efforts to tackle other challenges ranging from fuel to recruitment.

"Your approach is correct, and your responsibility is great. As long as you persist, you will surely succeed," Xi once told company employees.

While helping the company grow, Xi also laid down tasks for it. He made clear the need for it to serve institutional reforms, boost economic and social development, and facilitate exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.

Xi's connection with the airline did not end with his three-year tenure in Xiamen. While serving in higher positions in the province, Xi referred a top-tier pilot to the airline upon retiring from the Air Force. He also intervened when the airline risked losing its license as an independent carrier amid a sweeping industry restructuring initiative at the turn of the century.

Xi did this with a keen eye on the airline's status as a state-owned company reform model and its strategic potential in boosting exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.

Later developments proved Xi's foresight. In 2005, Xiamen Airlines was chosen as one of the first airlines to operate groundbreaking direct cross-Strait charter flights. It later became a key carrier for regular cross-Strait flights.

As Fujian governor, Xi once lauded the airline's progress by borrowing a widely-quoted verse from Deng, saying it was the result of "crossing the river by feeling the stone."

Reform and innovation were the recipes for the airline's success, according to Xi.

Today, Xiamen Airlines, celebrating its 40th founding anniversary this year, has become an industry heavyweight with a fleet of 213 planes and air routes reaching 192 cities in 43 countries and regions, serving nearly 40 million passengers annually.

Among the more than 270 members of the International Air Transport Association, Xiamen Airlines ranks among the top 13 when it comes to passenger turnover.

In a reply letter to airline staff made public this week, Xi said he was pleased to have seen Xiamen Airlines achieve a great leap in development over the past 40 years.

He called on the airline to remain committed to reform and innovation, enhance its core competitiveness, and contribute more to advancing the high-quality development of civil aviation and boosting China's strength in transportation.

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Wang Shasha
The opening ceremony is an excellent opportunity to play E! fashion critic and judge what every country wore for their opening ceremony outfits.

David Davies - Pa Images / PA Images via Getty Images

This year, Mongolia had a cool fit.

Martin Bernetti / AFP via Getty Images

South Sudan had another good one.

south sudan really put that shit on  pic.twitter.com/AA977phuPY  Travonne Edwards (@Travonne) July 27, 2024

Twitter: @Travonne

And there's something intriguing to me about the Czech Republic's blotchy cow-like trench coat...

Esa Alexander / POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The USA... now that's another story.

Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images

The US was styled by Ralph Lauren, and here's what they wore:

Brad Smith / Getty Images

Here's another view:

Pool / Getty Images

And another:

Ashley Landis / POOL/AFP via Getty Images

People have a whole lot of feelings about it.

Those Team USA denim jeans piss me off everytime I see it  Use Logic or Leave  (@UseLogicOrLeave) July 27, 2024

Twitter: @UseLogicOrLeave

Especially the jeans.

Am I the only one that thinks those team USA polo blazer & jeans is whack   Playa T Thats Me (@PlayaTThatsMe) July 27, 2024

Twitter: @PlayaTThatsMe

"Team USAs uniforms make them look like bullies from a very expensive private school. Whichaccurate," one person said.

Team USAs uniforms make them look like bullies from a very expensive private school. Whichaccurate.  Ashley (@ashleyeleigh) July 26, 2024

Twitter: @ashleyeleigh

"Why does team USA look like theyre about to perform an a cappella performance of 'Teenage Dream' at a private high school in Ohio?" another person asked.

Why does team USA look like theyre about to perform an a cappella performance of Teenage Dream at a private high school in Ohio  Ouah! (@svvior) July 26, 2024

Twitter: @svvior

And here's my favorite comment of them all because it really does take me back to the time when people wore casual wear to the club.

this look like a 2010 club picture https://t.co/HqtyViFPWG  dee. (@LeciJ_) July 26, 2024

Twitter: @LeciJ_

Not eveyrone hated it, though!

You want a really hot take?I *like* the Ralph Lauren Team USA outfits.Sorry, haters.  Hail to Purple (@hailtopurple) July 26, 2024

Twitter: @hailtopurple

Some people thought it was cute.

USAs outfit is pretty cute ngl pic.twitter.com/ZqldCbByp7   (@Twxcccx_) July 26, 2024

Twitter: @Twxcccx_

As this person explained, it's kind of Ralph Lauren's signature look, so that's what you're gonna get!

Everyone in an uproar over team USA wearing blazers and jeans do not know that that is Papa Ralphs signature look and its breaking my heart pic.twitter.com/DR4weuITQ4   (@nahtia__) July 27, 2024

Twitter: @nahtia__

I find this discourse funny, so here are my favorite reactions to the jeans/blazer combo:

why does team USA look like they are going to a private school to sing show tunes https://t.co/wH7IoUEoib  anna  (@berzattto) July 27, 2024

Twitter: @berzattto

Every other country is dropped out for the Olympics and team USA looks like private school kids.  Kourt (@JustCallMeKourt) July 26, 2024

Twitter: @JustCallMeKourt

Team USA really needs to ditch Ralph Lauren because it looks like they're coming up the Potomac on January 6  Chris Perfett (@chrisperfett) July 26, 2024

Twitter: @chrisperfett

Why does this picture look like it was taken in 2007 https://t.co/uHKwSUh2Gs  Yung K (@AxelrodAaron) July 27, 2024

Twitter: @AxelrodAaron

If you told me that this was an old LeBron IG post from the 2010s, I'd believe you https://t.co/4Lv1WjVM2S  Ron  (@Ronvstypos) July 27, 2024

Twitter: @Ronvstypos

how do i commit a hate crime against the team usa opening ceremony outfit  alyssa corinne smith (@_alyssacsmith) July 27, 2024

Twitter: @_alyssacsmith
Democrats and a complicit media are already building a cult of personality around Kamala Harris, circling the wagons to protect her from expected Republican attacks.

Whether its planting memes on the Internet or stories in the media, the Harris campaign is riding a wave of favorable publicity, painting the vice president as a hip and likable figure and preparing to label any attacks against Harris as racist or misogynist.

Their first attempt, however, has already backfired. Liberals circulated on social media that conservative Fox host Brian Kilmeade said Harris planned to speak to a colored sorority when in fact Kilmeade said college sorority.

The media and Democrats, including DNC chair Jaime Harrison, circulated the false claim anyway.

It shows what the public is going to see for the next four months.

Harris supporters have also been trying to make Harris seem hip by showing videos of her dancing and calling her brat  a term of endearment from a Charli XCX song.

Its an attempt to reintroduce and rebrand the unpopular Harris, but its a persona that Harris doesnt possess. And to voters, its questionable whether it will work.

Democrats tried the same thing with Hillary Clinton eight years ago  remember the Im with Her t-shirts?  and Donald Trump clobbered her on Election Day anyway.

The Boston Globe claimed in a story that Democrats are bracing for a perfect storm of the Godzilla of racial and misogynistic campaigning in the next few months.

They based it on the fact that Trump made fun of Hillary Clintons appearance in 2016 and circulated the claim that Barack Obama was not born in the U.S.

Trump has also made fun of Harriss cackling laugh.

Hear me when I say I know Donald Trumps type, Harris said at a campaign event. And in this campaign, I promise you, I will proudly put my record against his any day of the week.

Harriss record is fair game in this election, despite what Democrats may say.

She has an abysmal record on immigration, and can get defensive when criticized  like she did when Republicans blasted her for not going to the U.S.-Mexico border.

And I havent been to Europe, Harris retorted snidely.

On a trip to Mexico and Central America, Harris told migrants do not come to the U.S.  a clip that was widely panned by immigration advocates and liberals.

Harris could ride the wave of feel-good stories to close on Trump in the polls in the coming weeks, especially after the Democratic convention coronates her.

But so far theres little evidence Democrats have gotten a big boost. Harris in fact has a much different image to moderate and young voters especially.

A poll conducted by Quinnipiac University in the last few days showed Trump actually crushing Harris among younger voters.

In the 18-34 age group, Trump got 58% of voters while Harris trailed with just 39%.

The poll was surprising because most pundits have assumed the younger Harris would fare much better than 81-year-old Joe Biden among voters in that age group.

The dramatic reset at the top of the Democratic ticket does little to move the race as Vice President Harris enters the fray with numbers similar to President Biden, polling analyst Tim Malloy said.
This photo provided by Heritage Auctions shows the gold bikini-style costume that Carrie Fisher wore as Princess Leia while making Return of the Jedi in the Star War franchise, which was sold for $175,000 during an auction Friday, July 26, 2024. (Heritage Auctions via AP)

HOUSTON (AP)  The gold bikini-style costume that Carrie Fisher wore as Princess Leia while making Return of the Jedi" in the Star Wars franchise has sold for $175,000, according to the auction house that handled the sale.

The costume was made famous when Fisher wore it at the start of the 1983 film when Leia was captured by Jabba the Hutt at his palace on Tatooine and forced to be a slave.

The costume, one of the most memorable in the  Star Wars  movies, was sold on Friday by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions.

Joe Maddalena, Heritages executive vice president, said the costume that was sold was one that was screen tested and worn by Fisher on the movies set but ultimately did not make it onto the final version of the film as it was switched out for one that was more comfortable.

The auction house said the costume sparked a bidding war among collectors.

Maddalena said he wasnt surprised by the attention bidders gave to the costume as well as to a model of a Y-wing fighter that took on the Death Star in the original Star Wars film that sold for $1.55 million. He said Star Wars and Star Trek have very avid fan bases.

The power of Star Wars proves itself again. These movies are just so impactful, Maddalena said.

In a November 2016 interview with NPRs Fresh Air, Fisher said wearing the costume was not her choice.

When (director George Lucas) showed me the outfit, I thought he was kidding and it made me very nervous. I had to sit very straight because I couldnt have lines on my sides, like little creases. No creases were allowed, so I had to sit very, very rigid straight, said Fisher, who died about a month after the interview.

Richard Miller, who created the costume, said in an interview thats included in a Star Wars box set that he used soft material to build the costume so that Fisher could move around more freely.

However, she still didnt like it. I dont blame her," said Miller, who was the chief sculptor for Industrial Light & Magic, the visual effects company founded by Star Wars creator George Lucas. "I did put leather on the back of it to help it feel better."

The costume had its share of critics, who thought it sexualized Fisher for the franchises male fan base.

In Interview magazine in 2015, Fisher told actor Daisy Ridley, who starred in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Youre going to have people have fantasies about you. That will make you uncomfortable, Im guessing. She pushed back against the idea of being a sex symbol and told Ridley to fight for your outfit.

___

Follow Juan A. Lozano on X: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70
When most people think of a hearty and decadent meal, they think of something involving steak. It's one of the most beloved proteins worldwide, thanks to its rich taste and versatility. Moreover, there are many ways to prepare and serve steak, with different countries and cultures using a wide variety of cuts, spices, and cooking techniques to showcase the meat. If you're looking to incorporate some international flair into your steak routine, this article is for you. In an effort to expand our repertoire of steak recipes, we decided to do a deep dive into some of the most popular steak dishes from around the world.

To accomplish this, we spoke with chefs, foodies, and travel experts to find out what their favorite international steak dishes are and how they're prepared. We grilled the experts (pun intended) on what types of steak, seasonings, and methods elevate a simple piece of beef into a world-renowned meal. Their answers are fascinating. The next time you're craving red meat, consider trying one of these global steak dishes. You may just find that you have a new favorite meal.

Read more: Cuts Of Steak, Ranked Worst To Best

Tasso Beef, Haiti

Haitian beef tasso in a bowl - savorythoughts/Instagram

Tasso beef may not be very well known outside of Haiti, but it's a street food staple and a popular party dish in its island home. Chef Nickenford Joseph of New York City's Vinyl Steakhouse was born and raised in Port-de-Paix, Haiti, and he has fond memories of the dish. He said, "Haitian tasso beef ... consists of steak bites marinated in a blend of spices and then fried. The bold, aromatic spices and crispy texture made it a standout dish in my childhood."

It's relatively easy to make tasso beef at home. To start, you need tender cuts of steak that cook quickly, like sirloin or tenderloin, cut into cubes. Then you marinate the meat in a mixture of orange and lime juice and a flavorful paste called epis, which typically consists of blended or mashed chili peppers, bell peppers, onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar, and fresh herbs like thyme and parsley. Once the beef has marinated long enough to absorb the flavors, the cubes are fried until crispy. Tasso beef is often served with fried plantains or rice and beans.

Churrasco, Brazil

Person slicing Brazilian churrasco steak - rocharibeiro/Shutterstock

If there's one steak dish worth jumping on a plane for, many experts agree it's Brazilian churrasco. Churrasco simply refers to any meat cooked on skewers over flames. More than a few of the experts we spoke to said picanha is their favorite cut for churrasco. Also called a sirloin cap, this cut comes from the rump of the cow and contains a fat cap. Sebastian Garrido of Vibe Adventures, a travel agency based out of Mexico City, said, "I love that picanha has a layer of fat that adds a lot of flavor, leaving you with a cut of meat that's juicy, tender, and buttery."

Chef David Rose of Omaha Steaks said that even modest cuts of meat like skirt, flank, and flap steaks can be truly delicious when cooked churrasco style over an open flame. "These working man/woman steaks are transformed into something phenomenal, juicy, and tasty when cooked correctly," he remarked. "A lot of people are unaware of how to properly cook these cuts, so they shy away from them. Cooked medium-rare and sliced against the grain is the way to go with these steaks!" A bright, tangy chimichurri sauce can also take your churrasco to the next level.

Beef Wellington, U.K.

Beef Wellington sliced on cutting board - sutulastock/Shutterstock

It's hard to think of a more classic British dish than beef Wellington. Named after the Duke of Wellington, it consists of beef tenderloin covered in minced mushrooms and pate, wrapped in puff pastry, and cooked in the oven. Dagan Lynn, executive chef of Beef. It's What's For Dinner, said, "Beef Wellington is always a standout for me. Steak paired with delectable ingredients like foie gras and foraged mushrooms all wrapped up in a flaky delicious dough layered with butter is a knockout combination."

Although beef Wellington can be complicated to make, many experts agree it's worth the effort. Jason Kennedy, in-house meat expert at Verde Farms, offered a few tips for home cooks. He said, "Make sure to get a good sealing sear on the tenderloin (also known as filet mignon) and allow the steak to cool before encasing it in the puff pastry. Also, try rolling the steak into a crepe before the puff pastry to help with crispness and hold in any juice (helps to avoid the pastry from getting wet)." He also noted that with any steak dish (international or otherwise), it's crucial to allow the steak to rest before serving.

Yakiniku, Japan

Chopsticks holding yakiniku steak - studioUP/Shutterstock

The word yakiniku translates to "grilled meat" in Japanese, but this style of cooking is so much more than just that. Yakiniku is a dining experience that involves cooking meat, seafood, and vegetables on a grill or griddle over fire. Diners typically cook the meat themselves. Beef is often the star of the show, with cuts like sirloin, brisket, and short ribs on offer. It get a further kick of flavor from yakiniku dipping sauce made with soy sauce, mirin, and sesame seeds.

"There's something about the combination of the tender, rich beef with the sweet and savory yakiniku sauce that just melts in your mouth," said Gabrielle Marie Yap, senior editor at Carnivore Style. "I also love the interactive experience of grilling the steak yourself at the table, which adds a fun and social element to the meal. The way the chef carefully selects the finest cuts of meat and presents them with a flourish, the sizzle and aroma of the grill, and the joy of sharing the experience with friends and family -- it all comes together to create a truly unforgettable experience." Yap is right: Yakiniku is delicious on its own, but the communal aspect truly takes it to the next level. This makes this style of cooking ideally suited for a celebratory dinner.

Aguja Nortena, Mexico

Aguja Nortena steaks on grill - arturosotofc/Instagram

Steak is an integral part of Mexican cuisine, especially in the northern states, where there are vast open spaces ideal for raising cattle. You may have heard of carne asada, which translates to "grilled meat." Carne asada can be made with any cut of steak, including arrachera (skirt steak), flap steak, and flank steak. However, if you're in the northeastern state of Nuevo Leon, aguja nortena is the way to go. The direct translation is "northern needle."

Aguja nortena is a chuck cut that usually contains a thin strip of bone. It's often compared to chuck eye steaks in the States. Sebastian Garrido explained, "It's a thin part of the beef, kind of like a rib but way more soft." These tender cuts are cooked over fire and flipped often to retain the juices. Garrido added, "The preparation is similar to other steaks, but I always use something we call "tomillo," which would be thyme, when marinating it." Like many Mexican meats, aguja nortena is often served with tortillas, salsa, and beans.

Steak Au Poivre, France

Steak au poivre with french fries - Bhofack2/Getty Images

Steak au poivre is an iconic French dish, so it should come as no surprise that many classically trained chefs have a soft spot for it. Chef Nickenford Joseph said, "Lately, steak au poivre has been my favorite international steak dish to prepare. This French classic features a steak coated in crushed peppercorns, seared, and then served with a luscious cognac green peppercorn sauce. The sauce's creaminess, combined with the spicy peppercorns and the rich cognac, creates a symphony of flavors that pairs beautifully with a high-quality steak."

Home cooks also love the dish because it's not too complicated to prepare, but offers loads of flavor. The ideal cut of beef for steak au poivre is filet mignon, because it's very tender. However, you can also experiment with other cuts like New York strip or boneless ribeye. The sauce is also key. Many chefs saute shallots, butter, and peppercorns in the pan the steak was cooked in, then deglaze with cognac or brandy and add the cream at the end. This results in a truly heavenly dish bursting with many different flavors.

Beef Pie, Australia

Aussie beef pies on cutting board - niindo/Shutterstock

Ask Aussies what dish they consider quintessentially Australian, and many will tell you it's a good old-fashioned meat pie. As Jason Kennedy said, "Beef pie -- reminds me of home in Australia: slow-cooked, tender and flavorful meat and gravy with flaky pastry ... hard to beat!" British settlers brought recipes for meat pies to Australia over 200 years ago, and it's easy to see why they're still popular today. The delicate pastry encases the tender meat and gravy, creating a dish full of delicious texture and flavor. Plus, it's hearty, portable, and easy to eat.

Of course, you can fill an Aussie pie with pretty much anything you desire, like chicken, fish, beef, vegetables, or cheese. However, steak is one of the most common fillings. A classic meat pie could include steak and mushrooms, steak and kidney, or minced beef. The key is to use quality ingredients like a rich, buttery shortcrust for the pastry, slow-cooked cuts like chuck roast for a chunky meat filling, and flavorful ingredients for the gravy like garlic, onions, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste.

Asado, Argentina

Argentinian asado beef on grill - Panchogiordano/Getty Images

Argentina has a long history of cattle ranching, so it should come as no surprise that steak is an integral part of Argentinean culture. Asado was specifically born out of gaucho traditions that date back to the 18th century. At that time, cowboys and ranchers would cook beef with whatever was on hand -- mainly salt and fire. The tradition continues today: The term asado refers to the activity of barbecuing meat, the social gathering, and the food itself.

Kylian Goussot, executive chef at Miami's Lafayette Steakhouse, said, "Asado in Argentina is a unique culinary experience where the ritual of preparation and cooking is as important as the meal itself." A traditional asado starts with a fire made with wood. Often, only one person is appointed as the asador, or grill master. That person is responsible for cooking meats like tira de asado (short ribs), flank steak, and tenderloin. Daniel Yohai-Cruz, head of product at Wild Fork, expounded, "Beef is really at the center of everything and minimal seasoning is needed for such flavorful cuts of meat. It's all about selecting the right cuts that are high quality, and cooking [them] to perfection."

Philly Cheesesteak, U.S.A.

Philly cheesesteak and crinkle fries - Chas53/Getty Images

The Philly cheesesteak combines two things Americans love: steak and sandwiches. The dish was invented in the 1930s by a man named Pat Olivieri who ran a hot dog stand close to Philadelphia's Italian Market. One day, Olivieri decided to switch things up and add chopped beef and grilled onions to a hot dog bun instead of a frank. Once cheese got added to this new type of sandwich, the Philly cheesesteak was born. Pat's King of Steaks still serves these iconic sandwiches today.

Anybody can add steak and cheese to a sandwich and call it a cheesesteak. However, the real reason Philly makes the best cheesesteaks comes down to the ingredients. First, you need a roll that is crusty on the outside, but soft and pillowy inside. The steak is also key -- only ribeye steak will do, nicely marbled and thinly sliced against the grain. The final touches include chopped onions cooked on the grill and either Cheese Whiz or provolone. Optional ingredients include green bell peppers, mushrooms, and hot cherry peppers.

Bistecca Alla Fiorentina, Italy

Bistecca alla fiorentina lettuce lemon - Lapa Smile/Shutterstock

If you're dining at an Italian restaurant and happen to see bistecca alla fiorentina on the menu, many experts say you'd be remiss not to try it. Just ask Gabrielle Marie Yap: She said, "A steak dish that I think deserves more recognition is the bistecca alla fiorentina from Tuscany, Italy." Also known as Florentine steak, the dish is essentially steak grilled over flames and seasoned very simply. What makes it so special, then?

Yap explained, "This dish features a T-bone steak from the Chianina cattle breed, one of the oldest cattle breeds in the world. It's traditionally cooked over a wood or charcoal fire and seasoned with just salt, black pepper, and a squeeze of lemon. The result is a steak that's crispy on the outside, but tender and juicy on the inside." Thanks to the lean meat and fine marbling of Chianina beef, this steak is indeed complete without any kind of fancy sauce. Plus, cooking it over fire imparts a unique flavor. Kylian Goussot said, "It's simple but delicious, with grilling that highlights the quality of the meat."

Bulgogi, Korea

Korean bulgogi with scallions - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

Korean barbecue may have only recently taken North America by storm, but the culinary tradition dates back about 2,000 years. Many dishes have evolved from this distant origin point, but one of the most popular is definitely bulgogi. A typical bulgogi recipe consists of thinly sliced beef that is marinated in a sweet and savory soy-based sauce. The meat is then either grilled over charcoal or sauteed in a skillet. Additions can include sesame seeds and scallions. Bulgogi is often eaten with rice or rolled up in a lettuce leaf.

The trick for making supremely tasty bulgogi is choosing the right cut of steak. You want something that is tender and has a good balance of fat and lean meat, like ribeye or sirloin. The beef should be sliced as thin as possible so that it soaks up all the marinade and cooks evenly on the grill or skillet. A typical bulgogi marinade contains sweet, salty, and savory elements like soy sauce, ginger, sugar, and sesame oil. It may also contain fruit juices from pears or kiwis to help tenderize the meat. The result is a dish that's beautifully textured and packed with flavor.

Ropa Vieja, Cuba

Ropa vieja with rice and plantains - Veselovaelena/Getty Images

The national dish of Cuba has an interesting name that belies its bold flavors. Ropa vieja translates to "old clothes." Legend has it that the dish was born when a poor man was so hungry, he cooked his own tattered clothes. As he cooked, he prayed, and the clothes miraculously transformed into a rich meat stew. The reality is, the name probably comes from the way the shredded beef in the dish looks. Either way, it's a supremely tasty meal that originated in Spain, but got its uniquely Caribbean flavors from Cuba.

Ropa vieja typically consists of a tougher cut of beef, like flank steak. The meat is slow-cooked with a colorful mix of bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and beef broth, as well as spices like cumin and oregano. Everything is simmered together until the beef is tender enough to shred with a fork. It's typically served with rice and beans and fried plantains, with lime wedges on the side. Chef-in-residence of ButcherBox Ashley Lonsdale says, "A good ropa vieja is irresistible and while maybe more popular in Cuba, you can find it all across the Caribbean. The braised beef melds with sweetness from peppers and onions -- it's really magical."

Goulash, Hungary

Hungarian goulash in a bowl - Yingko/Getty Images

Tons of people can't get enough of Hungarian goulash. As Jason Kennedy said, "I get hungry thinking about it!" Historians believe the dish dates back to the 9th century, and that we have Magyar shepherds to thank for it. They cooked their beef in cauldrons with ingredients they had on hand, like onions, lard, and paprika. Over the centuries, the peasant dish made it into the kitchens of nobility and eventually across the world.

Goulash typically consists of tougher cuts of beef that are slow-cooked with bright ingredients that give it vibrant flavor. These could include tomatoes, bell peppers, garlic, and beef broth. However, goulash also has a touch of smokiness and slight heat from the paprika. A classic Hungarian goulash recipe might also call for caraway seeds, carrots, red wine, and potatoes. Unlike many similar dishes, goulash is typically served in its broth rather than cooked down until it becomes ultra thick. It can be eaten on its own or with crusty bread to sop up the liquid goodness.

Pepper Steak, China

Chinese pepper steak on a plate - gontabunta/Shutterstock

Pepper steak is the perfect stir-fry dish, packed with tasty strips of marinated steak and bright veggies. As Nickenford Joseph said, "This dish is a delightful blend of savory flavors, incorporating ingredients like soy sauce, honey, and garlic. The peppers add a colorful, crunchy element that compliments the tender beef perfectly. It's a well-balanced dish that brings together sweet, salty, and umami flavors, making it a favorite in my kitchen."

Chinese pepper steak is pretty easy to make at home. To start, you'll need a tender cut of beef like flank steak, cut into strips. There are many different recipes for the marinade, but most include soy sauce and cornstarch (which thickens the marinade up). You can also add ingredients like black pepper, sesame oil, ginger, Shaoxing cooking wine, and honey for extra flavor. Let the meat absorb the flavors, then saute it with onions and bell peppers. You can also use a slow cooker pepper steak recipe to save time. Pepper steak is often served with rice, which acts as the perfect canvas for its vibrant flavors.

Read the original article on Mashed.
At the end of a memorable visit to the Dominican Republic, Robert Gerstner decided to commission a souvenir. Hed been fascinated by the aromas of cigars being rolled and boxed during a factory tour, so he asked his friend and traveling companion, the perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour, if he could bottle the scent.

I didnt really think there were any great tobacco fragrances out there, Gerstner says, and he would know. For nearly 30 years hes run Aedes, a New York City perfume shop that offers exclusive scents, including an in-house collection called Aedes de Venustas. The newest, Cafe Tabac, debuted in December and is the product of Duchaufours efforts. Its named for the Big Apples long-shuttered supermodel hangout, but the scent is redolent of the DRs key export.

More from Robb Report

Since then, a raft of houses have launched scents that are either directly evocative of, or otherwise inspired by, specific destinationsa trend that makes sense given our near insatiable thirst for visiting new places. Locations are one of the main things fragrances stir up in you, Gerstner says. It just happens that you get inspired by traveling.

Best of Robb Report

Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.

Arquiste A Grove by the Sea: Lopud, Croatia

Arquiste A Grove by the Sea: Lopud, Croatia

This small island in the Adriatic Sea has forests of pine, cypress, and some of the tallest palms in Europe. The scent, created with perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux, captures the sea air that blows through their leaves and fronds to combine with the crisp aroma of locally grown thyme, rosemary, and figs.

Buy Now on Arquiste: $205

Louis Vuitton Lovers: Virginia, U.S.A

Louis Vuitton Lovers: Virginia, U.S.A

Pharrell Williams asked Vuittons in-house master perfumer, Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud, to capture the energy of sunshine. The resultnamed in reference to Williamss home state, Virginia (which, they say, is for lovers)is a bright, lively blend of galbanum, cedarwood, sandalwood, and ginger.

Buy Now on Louis Vuitton: $320

Perfumehead La La Love: Los Angeles, Calif.

Perfumehead La La Love: Los Angeles, Calif.

Consider this an olfactory ode to the City of Angels creatives who work as hard as they play. Perfumer Constance Georges-Picots gourmand concoction smells like a cocktail you could easily have one too many of, with boozy Cognac notes mixing it up with vanilla absolute, incense, sandalwood, and musk.

Buy Now on Perfumehead: $425

Memo Paris Cappadocia: Cappadocia, Turkey

Memo Paris Cappadocia: Cappadocia, Turkey

Turkey is among the worlds foremost saffron producers, and the spices earthy, tealike scent takes center stage in this effort by nose Gael Montero. He balanced it with sandalwood, benzoin, myrrh, and jasmine to create a warming scent thats especially perfect for fall and winter.

Buy Now on Memo Paris: $310

Krigler Lindauer Lowe 8: Lindau, Germany

Krigler Lindauer Lowe 8: Lindau, Germany

Bavarias answer to Capri, Lindau is a colorful island-resort town on the eastern edge of Lake Constance. Perfumer Albert Krigler loved it here so much that he dedicated a scent to the destination in 1908. His great grandson Ben recently re-released the juicea combination of green tea, geranium, amber, and cedarwoodjust this June.

Buy Now on Krigler: $635
At the end of a memorable visit to the Dominican Republic, Robert Gerstner decided to commission a souvenir. Hed been fascinated by the aromas of cigars being rolled and boxed during a factory tour, so he asked his friend and traveling companion, the perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour, if he could bottle the scent.

I didnt really think there were any great tobacco fragrances out there, Gerstner says, and he would know. For nearly 30 years hes run Aedes, a New York City perfume shop that offers exclusive scents, including an in-house collection called Aedes de Venustas. The newest, Cafe Tabac, debuted in December and is the product of Duchaufours efforts. Its named for the Big Apples long-shuttered supermodel hangout, but the scent is redolent of the DRs key export.

Since then, a raft of houses have launched scents that are either directly evocative of, or otherwise inspired by, specific destinationsa trend that makes sense given our near insatiable thirst for visiting new places. Locations are one of the main things fragrances stir up in you, Gerstner says. It just happens that you get inspired by traveling.

Best of Robb Report
A 'miracle' HIV shot, surprising shingles vaccine benefit and health-threatening wildfires: What to know about this week's health news

Hello, health and wellness readers. My name is Kaitlin, your guide to the latest news you may have missed.

Lets take a look at what our team wrote about this week:

Heres what else to know:

A new HIV drug is very promising

A twice-yearly shot from pharmaceutical company Gilead was 100% effective in preventing HIV infections in women, per new research. The study, which involved 5,338 HIV-free participants in South Africa and Uganda, found that none of the women who received the shots of drug Lenacapavir contracted HIV, while 2% of those using existing daily prevention pills did. This result led researchers to stop the study early and offer the shots to all participants.

Why it matters: Winnie Byanyima, head of UNAIDS, called Lenacapavir a miracle product  and it could make a major difference in the fight against HIV and AIDS, particularly for communities where infection rates are high. Right now, we have tools to prevent HIV, but there are some drawbacks. PrEP (a short term for pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a highly effective preventive option, but it involves taking a daily pill, which may be difficult for some people to stick to and is prohibitively expensive.

The goal now will be to make the drug, which the Associated Press reported will be sold under the name Sunlenca, affordable so it can be easily accessible in developing countries. Gilead has yet to state how much they believe it will cost per patient.

How to stay safe from wildfires

Wildfires burning across California, Oregon, Arizona, Washington and Canada have caused significant smoke and haze. This has led to air quality alerts in many parts of the western United States, with Oregon seeing the most fires of any state. The uncontained Durkee Fire is the largest active fire in the country and is located near the Oregon-Idaho border.

Why it matters: Smoke from fires can cause respiratory problems and worsen existing health conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart disease.

You dont need to see fire  or even smoke  in order to feel the effects on your health. You can check your air quality by going to AirNow.gov and typing in your zip code, which can give you updated information on how to protect yourself depending on reported levels.

In general, you can protect yourself from smoke by staying indoors with windows and doors closed and using air purifiers with HEPA filters. If you must go outdoors, avoid exerting yourself and wear an N95 or P100 mask.

A shingles vaccine may contain a surprising benefit

Research from Oxford University suggests that the shingles vaccine, Shingrix, might delay the onset of dementia by five to nine months. Exactly why this happens is unclear, but researchers think it may have to do with Shingrix reducing the impact of the herpes zoster virus, which is linked to dementia. Its also possible that the vaccine's ingredients may support brain health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults age 50 and older receive two doses of Shingrix.

What it means: Over 50 million people worldwide live with dementia, with this number only expected to increase  possibly to as much as 230 million people by 2050. Delaying the onset of dementia can give people more time to make caretaking plans and critical medical decisions, improving the quality of life for patients and reducing the overall burden on loved ones. However, more research is needed to confirm the potential dementia benefits and determine the best timing for the vaccine.

This news also comes on the heels of new drugs for the treatment of Alzheimers, a type of dementia. Eli Lillys drug Donanemab showed a 35% reduction in progress of the disease in 18 months, in people between 60 and 85.
Along the Way: Leadership Portage County better than ever at 33

Back in 1993, having gone through Leadership Portage Countys second class, I thought its program of fast-tracking its participants on getting to know the community was outstanding.

Now, 31 years later, under its new, accomplished executive director, Andra Polasky, the program looks better than ever. Polasky is in her second year.

I base that conclusion on a report Polasky recently sent out to the hundreds of Leadership Portage County alumni. It shows Leadership Portage County finished its fiscal year comfortably in the black. With the Class of 2025 full at a record 43 members, applications for the Class of 2026 are already being accepted.

Along the Way: Remembering Gregg Floyd, key player in Kent's revival

Polaskys report also had a reminder of an opportunity for LPC alumni to reconnect at a summer party on the patio of Metis Construction Services in Kent. Set for 5 p.m. Aug. 7, the reunion will celebrate a program that is better than ever going into its 33rd year.

I am fiercely proud of Andra and our board, who are giving Leadership Portage County new energy and momentum. We have a top-notch Leadership program here in our own backyard, said Attorney Leighann Fink, board president of Leadership Portage County.

Founded in 1991, Leadership Portage County, funded by tuition and sponsorships, engages those who enroll in interesting day-long sessions that convene once a month from September through May. Participants are exposed to all aspects of life in Portage County in carefully crafted classes with hands-on opportunities. Experts provide a comprehensive look at Portage County. Those enrolled meet leaders working to make our county a better place to live. A new component is leadership training as part of every class day.

Along the Way: Ravenna rescue saved hero's cardiology appointment

When I went through the program, I assumed I already knew most of what I would see and hear. How wrong I was! I saw places in Portage County I would never have otherwise visited, heard impressive community leaders, and came to know wonderful Leadership Portage County classmates I might never have met.

Participants enjoy varied coursework

Currently, all classes are one day except the opening retreat, which begins Sept. 11 with a welcome dinner at the beautiful home of board member Shirley Mars and her husband, Bill.

A two-day retreat follows, starting the next day at Camp James A. Garfield (formerly the Ravenna Arsenal) with Lt. Col. Brian Crock presenting the history of the 22,000-acre site. The class takes a bus tour with Crock narrating, and finishes the day with a DISC presentation that enables class members to better understand their own personalities. The second day is a working day of service at a Portage County Habitat for Humanity home site.

On Oct. 10, classmates enjoy an extensive tour of Portage County. This is followed Nov. 7 by Human Services Day at the Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Class members visit the Center of Hope, Coleman Adult Day Care and the King Kennedy Center. Jobs and Family Services facilitates a powerful two-hour poverty simulation in the afternoon.

On Dec. 5, Economic Growth and Development Day, class members tour various businesses and hear from business leaders regarding workforce development, entrepreneurship and manufacturing.

On Jan. 5, Healthcare Day, the focus is on community and public health. UH Portage Medical Center hosts the class and presents. AxessPointe Community Health and Kent State Universitys College of Public Health will also present at this session. In the afternoon, class members get an insider look at Northeast Ohio Medical University.

On Feb. 6 is Justice System & Citizenship Day. Local judges and office holders will provide insights into our civil and criminal justice systems and other functions of local county government that affect everyone.

On March 6, Education Day begins at Maplewood Career Center with Superintendent Randy Griffith and a tour. The day finishes by showcasing higher education at Kent State University. The April 3Leadership Conference is open to the public to participate.

May 8 is the closing retreat and commencement ceremony. Participants, upon graduation, join the Leadership Portage County Alumni Association, which provides opportunities to reconnect.

David E. Dix is a former publisher of The Record Courier.

David E. Dix

43 students set for Class of 2025

Members of the new class of Leadership Portage County are:

Anamaria Feyervari, Family & Community Services

Angela Kwallek Evans, Burton D. Morgan Foundation

Anh Hoang Phuong Pham, Kent State University

Anna Marie Lavenia, Emerson Group

Annie Zwisler, Portage County District Library

Ashley Louceck, Coleman Health Services

Bethany Campbell, Davey Tree

Brook Anderson, The Church of Aurora

Corrina Dunfee, Portage Metropolitan Housing Authority

Craig Berger, Kent State University

David Dix, Dix 1898

Dennis Campbell, Kent Area Chamber of Commerce

Diane Sperko, Portage Park District

Dr. Amy Lee, Northeast Ohio Medical University

Eric Agyare, Portage County Job & Family Services

Eric Seachrist, Portage Park District

Holly Woods, Brimfield Township

Janice Simmons-Mortimer, Portage Foundation

Jasmine Golden, Portage Developmental Disabilities

Jennifer Bishop, Kent State University

Jeremy Brewer, AxessPointe Community Health Services

Jim Williams, Portage Community Bank

Joe Prada, Hattie Larlham

John E. Brachna, JAACZ Business Growth Services, LLC

Julie Ziga, SoL Harris/Day Architecture

Kristen Brown, Metis Construciton Services

LaKetta Wilson, Kent State University

Marea Ludwig, Independent Contractor

Mariah Blake, Portage Metropolitan Housing Authority

Matthew Hartzler, University Hospitals Portage

Michael Roberto, Aurora City Schools

Mitchell Planey, Bissler & Sons Funeral Home

Olivia King, NEOvations Pharmacy Services, LLC

Patricia Wade, Portage County Job & Family Services

Rachel France, Portage Developmental Disabilities

Rachel Schafer, Kent State University

Randy Thomas, Akron Zoo

Sarah Meduri, Portage County Health District

Shannon Zemba, Over Easy at the Depot

Todd Burdette, Kent State University

Valerie Phillips, Davey Tree

Will Kulis, Wright Heating & Cooling

William Andrew Duck, Portage County Health District

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Leadership Portage County hits 33 with better-than-ever program
The pain au chocolat is an iconic French pastry in contemporary times, but the delicious little treat is thought to have originated not in France but in the nearby country of Austria. Pain au chocolat, which translates as chocolate bread, is a proud member of the pastry family known as Viennoiserie. The most famous example of this category is easily the croissant. You can make the pain au chocolat at home if you're up for a challenge.

The pain au chocolat was introduced to French society by the Austrian baker August Zang through his bakery, the Boulangerie Viennoise. Zang is credited for bringing the croissant to France as well, though the croissant's Austrian origin story likely dates back much farther than the pain au chocolat's. Exactly who invented the pain au chocolat and when they did so is unclear. Some people credit Zang himself for the creation because he sold the pain au chocolat's predecessor, the schokoladencroissant. There are others who question Zang's role in the story, casting doubt not only on Zang being the originator but even that he was the one to introduce the pastry to France. The jury is still out on that one, but generally speaking, Zang receives the credit these days.

A former Viennese officer, Zang was a commoner when he arrived in Paris. His talent as a baker made him incredibly successful, and his impact on French baking practices cannot be understated. He would eventually return to Austria and start another successful business  this time in the Austrian press.

Read more: 25 Chocolate Brands, Ranked Worst To Best

A Complicated History Of Baked Goods

stacked pain au chocolat - Quanthem/Getty Images

The term pain au chocolat itself is actually highly disputed. An outspoken minority concentrated in the southwest region of France prefers the term chocolatine, which is itself likely a transliteration of the schokoladen from Zang's schokoladencroissant. The dispute about terminology speaks to the complicated history of the pain au chocolat. Its origins are wrapped in mystery, and its inherent fusion of Austrian and French culture makes its story all the messier.

Before Zang ever arrived in Paris, the French had a practice of sending their children to school with a bit of bread that had a piece of chocolate hiding in the center, which was also called pain au chocolat. How we ended up with a puff pastry that looks nothing like bread being called chocolate bread is a conundrum, but Zang calling it a chocolate croissant doesn't make much sense either, since the shape isn't a crescent. All of this is to say that the history of pain au chocolat is deeply misunderstood, and there doesn't seem to be any indication that new information will come to light anytime soon. Whether the pastry was invented in Austria by an unknown baker or created by an Austrian expat living in France, we may never know. Even though France has wrongfully received much of the glory for these milestones in baking history, French bakers have played an important role in upgrading the original recipe to the version we know today.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Curacao is more than just a beach destination. It's proud of its culture, too.

Analogous Destinations is a four-part series showcasing comparable, cost-effective options to popular travel destinations. If you'd like to contribute to our future reporting and share your experience as a source, you can click here to fill out this quick form.

If youre looking to take a beach vacation, the Caribbean has plenty of options with sandy beaches, warm water and loads of activities to have fun in the sun. But what if you want more?

If youre looking for a warm-weather getaway thats just as big on culture as it is on frozen cocktails, consider a visit to Curacao.

Curacao is a Dutch Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela. Along with its neighbors Aruba and Bonaire, it remains part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Get more news like this delivered to your inbox by signing up for our Travel newsletter here.

According to Expedia, Curacao is a top travel destination for 2024. It's also a dupe destination for St. Martin, and travelers who like to visit the Dutch side of the island will likely enjoy Curacaos Caribbean-European fusion culture.

I visited Curacao in May for USA TODAY as a guest of Expedia and the Curacao Tourist Board and saw firsthand how the islands residents infuse their multifaceted history into life and leisure there.

Love Mexico? Visit Nicaragua for its beaches and adventure without crowds.

Beaches and adventure

A beach on Curacao's west side.

For all its history and culture, Curacao is still a Caribbean island, which means there are beaches and adventures around every turn.

What sets Curacaos beaches apart, however, is theyre not the huge white, sandy expanses of many of its island neighbors. Many of the beaches on the island are set in coves among sheer volcanic cliffs, leading to a more intimate but no less relaxing beach experience.

Because of their geography, many of the beaches contain great protected spots for snorkeling right as you step into the water, and you wont have to worry about getting overwhelmed by powerful surf on most of the island when you go for a dip.

Curacao has plenty of options for adrenaline junkies as well. Whether you want to beach hop by jetski or go diving in the clear blue waters, all the typical warm-weather vacation activities are at your disposal.

Honoring their history

Street art in the Otrobanda neighborhood of Willemstad, Curacao.

Almost as soon as a visitor lands in Curacao, they can begin to see the islands unique culture. Papiamento, a Portuguese-creole language with strong Dutch and Spanish influences, is the main language spoken at home there, and its used on signs across the island along with a mix of English and Dutch.

Damaris Sambo, an ambassador from the tourist board, said that the island is proud of its history, even the difficult parts.

Curacao was first colonized by the Spanish in 1499, who committed genocide against many of the aboriginal Arawak and Caquetio, Sambo said.

Dutch colonizers took control of the island in 1634, and Curacao became a major depot and trading post on the Atlantic slave trade.

Sambo said Curacaoans recognize the horrors of slavery in their past but are not ashamed of it because they use that history to make the world a better place today.

Curacao, she said, is thankful for the lessons slavery taught, that its horrors cant be repeated.

The Kura Hulanda Museum, which memorializes the islands role in the slave trade, is a centerpiece of its capital.

Today, Willemstad, the capital of Curacao, contains nods to the islands past and bright beacons of hope for its future. Among colorful Dutch colonial architecture, much of which is protected as a Unesco World Heritage site, there are murals by local artists that depict important touchstones of the islands contemporary culture. Many of them feature women, who Sambo said are the backbone of society in Curacao.

Willemstads Otrobanda neighborhood also hosts the Kaya Kaya festival every year in late August or early September. The festival features street art and music, local foods and cocktails, and in my cases, residents open their homes to visitors, making it a great way for visitors to get an authentic taste of Curacaos local culture.

The island is also home to the oldest continuously operating synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. The first synagogue on the island was founded in 1651 by families from Amsterdam who had fled persecution in Spain and Portugal, and the congregation of Mikve Israel-Emanuel currently holds its services in a building that was consecrated in 1732.

Hugo Clarinda, deputy director of the Curacao Tourist Board said Curacao plans to continue growing its tourism sector, but it has no plans to try to compete with its neighbor Aruba or more established destinations like Nassau in the Bahamas. He said part of what makes Curacao special is its smaller-scale industry, which allows visitors to be more immersed in the culture of the island.

Sambo said many international brands that come to the island adapt their offerings to fit the location more than they do in other places. For example, she said, the Marriott in Willemstad uses a color palette for its branding and decor that is unique to that location.

Where to eat

Throughout Willemstad and other parts of the island, food is a central point of interaction for vacationers and locals and a way for them to get to know each other better.

In Willemstad, restaurants like MosaCana Bar & Kitchen, Caleo Crudos & Parilla and Sal the Kitchen blend local flavors and international favorites.

Plasa Bieu, a stall in a downtown food market and Blue View near the islands popular west side beaches offer more local flare, including dishes like iguana stew with polenta.

Sunset cocktail spots like the bar at Saint Tropez Ocean Club and late-night haunts like BKLYN in Willemstad will have visitors feeling like theyre on the French Riviera or a Continental downtown night spot.

How to get there

Willemstad's historic waterfront, the Handelskade.

From the U.S., these are your flight options:

American Airlines, nonstop year-round from Charlotte and Miami

Delta Air Lines, nonstop year-round from Atlanta

JetBlue, nonstop year-round from New York-JFK

United, seasonal nonstop from Newark

Connections to those nonstop flights are, of course, available from other markets.

Where to stay

Curacao has lodging options at price points suitable for almost any traveler and plenty of choice when it comes to location.

Visitors can opt to stay at the all-inclusive Sandals resort, which offers packages with off-property dining as well.

There are many other beachfront hotels as well as more urban options in Willemstad, and a robust vacation rental market across the island.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Visiting Curacao? What to know about flights, lodging and what to do
Dozens of K2 Summits; Still No News About Hiraide and Nakajima

We are still waiting for news about Kazuya Hiraide and Kenro Nakajima. In the meantime, dozens of climbers summited 8,611m K2 this morning. There are also more summits on Broad Peak and Gasherbrum I.

Given all the delays, speed climber Benjamin Vedrines lowered his expectations by suggesting that he might summit K2 in two days instead of one. However, he reached the top today. We are waiting for confirmation about his time and whether or not he paraglided down.

According to Chhang Dawa Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks, a group of SST sherpas and clients summited at around 9 am this morning.

According to Dawa, several teams collaborated with the rope fixing. From Base Camp to Camp 1, the Italian expedition did the work. From Camp 1 to 150m below Camp 3, Seven Summit Treks rope fixers took over. Imagine Nepal continued from there to Camp 3. Then Seven Summit Treks again fixed to lower Camp 4. From lower Camp 4 to the Bottleneck, Madison Mountaineering, 8K Expeditions, Imagine Nepal, Glacier Himalayan, and Seven Summit Treks combined forces.

Finally, from the Bottleneck to the summit, a mixed team led by Mingtemba Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks fixed the ropes. Mingtemba made his fourth successful ascent of K2. Sirbaz Khan of Pakistan also assisted in the fixing work.

Looking toward the summit of K2. Photo: Mingma G

Dozens of summits

Todays summiters included eight clients and 10 sherpas from Imagine Nepal, nine clients and sherpas from 8K Expeditions, Da Dendi Sherpa from Mashabrum Expeditions, and others.

In a glimmer of good news for Japan in what has otherwise been a terrible year for climbers from that country, Naoko Watanabe summited K2 for the third time, thus becoming the first woman to do so three times.

Jean Yves Fredriksen is climbing no-O2 via the Cesen route. It seems he is the only one on that route. According to his tracker, he was at 8,000m this morning, above where the Cesen and Abruzzi routes converge.

Naoko Watanabe. Photo: Seven Summit Treks

Broad Peak

More teams have topped out on Broad Peak. Yesterday, a team that included Abid Baig of Pakistan and climbers from Italy, Peru, Canada, and Romania summited. Today, Jean Descat from France, along with two sherpas and Ricardo Segreste of Mexico, successfully summited at 10:11 am.

Gasherbrum I and II

Dorota Rasinska Sanocko of Poland has summited Gasherbrum I. We are waiting for outfitters to release the names of other climbers who also reached the top.

Lukasz Supergan and Pawel Wikowski from Poland aimed to climb Gasherbrum II without bottled oxygen but had to turn around. They are now back in Base Camp.

The Poles spent the first weeks of the expedition searching for a route through the icefall, which drained a lot of energy at the start. For the past few days, they have hunkered down at Camp 1 near 6,000m, waiting for a weather window.

Each day, the forecast promised a sunny day, and each day, we woke up covered with 20 to 30 cm of snow.

They finally climbed the ridge to Camp 2 but that was as far as they managed. The weather is poor again, and no other window is forecast for the near future, so Supergan and Witkowsi called it quits.

On Gasherbrum. Photo: Lukasz Supergan

The post Dozens of K2 Summits; Still No News About Hiraide and Nakajima appeared first on Explorersweb.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Food enthusiasts had the opportunity to enjoy delicious local flavors, live music and fun activities at the first-ever El Foodie Market on Friday evening, July 26.

Celebrate local food, culinary education at El Foodie Market

The event, which was presented by Southwest University, featured diverse local food trucks and market vendors, culinary educational activities, live music, a food court area, a car show and more.

KTSM spoke with local food trucks owners and market vendors who shared their business experience.

Plant Fire Pizza

O.J. Hernandez is the owner of a pop-up all-vegan pizza business that started back in 2021. Although its specialty is plant-based pizza, Hernandez said they can do pretty much any pizza.

Hernandez said hes been doing this business in El Paso at markets, festivals, concerts, events and more. He also travels to Phoenix for an all-vegan event thats one of the biggest festivals in the US and Tucson, Arizona for another similar event.

The pizzas are made with your typical dough. We dont have gluten-free yet, but we have a lot of requests for that. Originally, we started all plant-based with dairy-free cheese and plant-based meats. Pepperoni, sausage, chicken, all plant-based, Hernandez said. Eventually, I diversified here in El Paso because plant-based, its not as accepted here as it is in other bigger cities.

You can check out Plant Fire Pizzas Instagram here!

Mee Moons Pet Treats

Natalie Oregon is a Californian selling natural ingredient pet treats. Her journey started when she moved back to the U.S. from Germany with her husband in September 2023.

Oregon said she realized it was easier to find better alternatives for single ingredient pet treats or treats that didnt have many additives in Germany, so feeding her dog was not a problem.

When we moved back to the U.S. last year, it was really hard to find natural ingredients treats that didnt have many chemicals fillers and everything. And even the ones at the pet store, they have so many oils and I said, Might as well start my own business.'

You can check out Mee Moons Pet Treats Instagram here!

Papasitas Loaded Fries

Alfredo Frescas, from Juarez, started his business back in 2021, after being inspired during a trip where he got introduced to loaded fries.

Their specialty is french fries with carne asada, pastor and chicken. Topics include guacamole, sour cream, onion, and more.

We go to markets, the citys Downtown Market and the Upper Valley one in West El Paso. We also do events around the city, Frescas said.

You can check out Papasitas Loaded Fries Instagram here!

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
A former HanesBrands Inc. employee is suing the manufacturer, claiming he was fired during the COVID-19 pandemic for not agreeing to a company vaccination mandate.

The lawsuit involving Michael Haley was filed July 19 in the federal Middle District Court of N.C.

Haley was terminated from his job as a costing engineer by HanesBrands on Jan. 3, 2022, after declining to adhere for religious beliefs to a company vaccine mandate in-person policy that began in October 2021.

Haley is not alone in filing a COVID-19 pandemic-related discrimination lawsuit against a North Carolina employer.

There have been at least 83 such lawsuits in N.C. for the period of Jan. 30, 2020, through July 8, 2024, according to the law firm of Fisher Phillips. A total of 27 are vaccine discrimination complaints.

This COVID-19 Employment Litigation Tracker includes cases that were a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and are traditional employee vs. employer cases, according to the law firm.

There have been at least 10,267 pandemic-related discrimination lawsuits filed nationwide, including 9,710 filed by individuals.

Haley filed a religious discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in March 2022. The commission authorized Haleys complaint on April 24, 2024.

The lawsuit claims HanesBrands violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the N.C. Equal Employment Practices Act when he was fired on Jan. 4, 2022.

Haley is requesting a jury trial and a determination that his rights were violated under state and federal law. He is pursuing damages exceeding $100,000 for back pay, front pay, pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, and other relief.

HanesBrands could not be reached for comment on the lawsuit.

N.C. case law

A North Carolina employer can require employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of their employment, according to Kellum Law Firm.

The power to require vaccinations is similar to that for requiring safety helmets at a construction site, or protective clothing at a meatpacking plant; employers can set safety measures deemed necessary to protect employees and the public, according to a law firm post.

A North Carolina employer can decide that Covid-19 vaccines are necessary to protect safety in the businesses operations.

Most N.C. employees have experience with vaccine requirements, the law firm said.

However, employers cannot force employees to get vaccinations. Jobs may depend on getting a vaccination and employees may have to weigh the consequences of refusing a vaccine.

Employers have a strong legal position to make rules that protect the health and safety of workers in the workplace.

Sincerely held Christian beliefs

Haley claims he has suffered emotional and psychological harm from the months of uncertainty and repeated coercion to disregard his bona fide religious beliefs in order to preserve his livelihood and career.

The lawsuit states that Haley alternated between working in a Winston-Salem office and remotely for at least 10 years before the pandemic.

In October 2021  about 19 months after the mid-March 2020 arrival of the pandemic in North Carolina  HanesBrands joined the list of corporations requiring all U.S. office employees to be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.

Hanesbrands said being fully vaccinated was a requirement for office employment. The company offered an incentive of $150 to non-exempt and hourly associates who become fully vaccinated.

The mandate, however, did not apply to the companys production workers.

Like most businesses, HanesBrands said it would consider employee requests to be exempted from vaccination for medical or religious reasons.

Haley said in the lawsuit he submitted a religious exemption request outlining his sincerely held religious beliefs in conflict with the mandate. Haley said his conflicts stem from teachings in the Old and New Testaments.

He requested being allowed to work either remotely or a hybrid schedule, and if the latter, to undergo COVID-19 testing in lieu of having a COVID-19 vaccine if an in-person meeting was necessary.

After prayer and searching the Scriptures, Mr. Haley came under firm conviction that he must not receive a COVID-19 vaccine and that the vaccine contains certain substances that are harmful, unsafe and unclean to the spiritual, physical and mental integrity of his body.

Mr. Haley has strong faith in the immune system that God created for him.

According to the complaint, HanesBrands accepted Haleys claim that he had a sincerely held religious belief qualification in the companys response to the EEOC, but also stated it would not allow an unvaccinated employee into its Winston-Salem offices.

The complaint claims Haley was wrongfully terminated because defendant knew or should have known the vaccines it mandated were incapable of preventing infection and transmission of COVID-19, and at best provided an undefined level of personal protection.

Infectious diseases experts say COVID-19 vaccines are not meant to prevent a vaccinated person for getting the virus, but rather to lessen the severity of the illness if contracted.

If the defendant was truly concerned about workplace safety, it would have mandated regular testing for vaccinated and unvaccinated employees alike, according to the lawsuit. Defendant was motivated to avoid accommodating religious practices it disfavored, like Mr. Haleys.

Haley also considers his firing as discrimination because HanesBrands has ended its COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment.

Top discrimination lawsuit employers

The law firm of Fisher Phillips COVID-19 Employment Litigation Tracker finds healthcare providers are facing by far the most discrimination lawsuits at 23.4%.

The only other employment sector at 10% or higher is government at 12.6%. The rest of the top-5 are: retail at 7.3%; manufacturing at 6.6%; and education at 5.9%, or 590 cases.

Vaccine discrimination cases ranked second in terms of categories at 26.2%. It trailed just employment discrimination at 31.3%.

The law firm of Jackson Lewis PC said in a 2022 report posted by National Law Review that when legal challenges to COVID-19 vaccine mandates began to rise sharply in the fall of 2021, (discrimination) cases were directed mostly at Biden administration executive orders and agency directives, as well as vaccination requirements imposed upon certain industries by state and local governments.

However, the bulk of filings since have mostly targeted employers, public and private, that have adopted policies requiring their employees to get vaccinated. The jump in filings may be attributed in part to the dismissals that the EEOC and state agencies are beginning to issue on some of the thousands of charges that have been filed.

The law firm said that with worker shortages, changing attitudes toward COVID-19, updated CDC guidance and the litigation risks, many employers who are not required to have vaccine mandates have decided to move forward without them.

Local vaccine terminations

In September 2021, Novant Health Inc. let go of 175 employees for not complying with a COVID-19 vaccination mandate. The Novant vaccination mandate was issued in July 2021.

Novant said it considered the employees as having voluntarily resigned from their jobs, meaning they likely wont be eligible for unemployment benefits.

People who are fired or quit their jobs because they refuse to follow their employers vaccine requirement should not expect to receive unemployment benefits, according to the N.C. Commerce Department.

Anyone may apply for benefits, but every claim is different. The Division of Employment Security determines eligibility on a case-by-case basis by considering the facts and circumstances of the claim.

More than 99% of Novants more than 35,000 employees were in compliance at the time that the 175 workers employment was terminated. The system has declined to disclose a breakdown of terminated employees by market, so its unknown how many workers were let go in Forsyth County.

An undisclosed number of employees were granted medical or religious exemptions from being fully vaccinated. Those employees are required to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing and wear N95 respirator masks or other appropriate personal protective equipment and eye wear while working.

Atrium Health said in December 2021 that 0.5% of its 64,750 workforce, or roughly 324, failed to comply with its COVID-19 vaccination mandate. That includes the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist workforce.

Atrium declined to say how many of those employees were fired or how many qualified for a medical or religious exemption from the vaccine mandate.

Cone has about 13,000 employees systemwide. Cone said in October 2021 that more than 99% of its workforce met the vaccine mandate, with 74 opting not to comply.

The common theme in the statements from Cone, Novant and Atrium Wake Forest Baptist is that the mandates are necessary to address the challenge of employees declining or being hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The N.C. Healthcare Association said in a statement last week that it strongly supports health system policies that are science and outcomes based, and that are designed to best protect hospital employees, patients, families, visitors and the community.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, North Carolina hospitals required employees to be vaccinated to protect vital workforce and patients. This is like the requirement for employees to receive the flu vaccine annually. It is important to note that hospitals extend and provide exemptions for staff with certain condition, needs, or religious preference.

Clinical data has shown that COVID vaccines are safe and effective, and our best tool to prevent the spread of the disease.

NCHA cautioned that COVID has not gone away.

As COVID changes, hospitals and health systems will continue to follow infection control measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to keep our patients, staff and visitors safe.

N.C. legislative action

A N.C. House bill that would end COVID-19 vaccine mandates for certain government agencies and political subdivisions has been revived by Senate Republican leadership as the legislature approaches the end of the 2024 session.

House Bill 98, titled Medical Freedom Act, would prohibit city, county and state government agencies and certain political subdivisions from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for employees.

HB98 cleared the House by a 73-41 vote in April 2023, mostly along party lines with the support of three Democrats. HB98 has Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, as a co-primary sponsor.

The bill cleared the Senate Judiciary committee Wednesday, the first of two committee steps before a potential floor vote.

However, HB98 became subject to a gut-and-replacement strategy in the Senate with language from a bill titled Right to Try Individualized Treatments inserted on June 12. That version of the bill cleared both chambers unanimously and Gov. Cooper signed it into law on July 8.

Rep. Brian Biggs, R-Randolph, presented HB98 as a bill that gives voice to the voiceless, particularly individuals and parents who believe or feel the COVID-19 vaccine development has been rushed and remains incomplete.

It wasnt certain whether Cooper would have vetoed the initial version of HB98 given the decrease in COVID-19 cases in recent months and the Republican super-majority in both chambers.

Biggs stressed HB98 is not an anti-vaccine bill, but rather to help individuals not feel like a vaccine, such as COVID-19, is being forced on them.

They want the option, not the mandate, Biggs said.

However, several Democratic committee members questioned why the bill sponsors believe they are more knowledgeable about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines than the public-health officials advocating for them.

Rep. Carla Cunningham, D-Mecklenburg, said during the April 2023 floor debate on HB98 that COVID-19 continues to produce new subvariants with the potential to be harmful to public health.

Its best to be prepared, Cunningham said.
Frances first cheese museum opens in Paris  just in time for Olympics

This will brie a gouda time.

Frances first cheese museum opened in Paris, right in time for the Olympic Games being held in the City of Light.

The Musee du Fromage is billed as an educational and interactive space for discovering Frances cheesemaking heritage and regions, according to its website.

The Musee du Fromage opened its doors in Paris on June 14. Instagram/musee_vivant_du_fromage

Its founder, Pierre Brisson, created it with a purpose of keeping the art of cheesemaking alive in France, which boasts 56 regional varieties made from cow, sheep and goat milk.

Its not an easy job, but a marvelous one, and there is a real risk that it could disappear, he told The Guardian. I wanted to do something so people understand at what point there is an ancestral savoir faire in making cheese.

We hear a lot about wines and how they are made and the subtleties of taste and how they are produced and nothing about cheese. Although people like eating it and the demand for cheese is still high, fewer youngsters want to make a career of it.

The savory museum, where cheese is made daily, is housed in a 17th-century stone building on Ile Saint-Louis, a short walk from Notre Dame Cathedral.

Entry costs about $21.75 for adults, and children 11 and younger get in for $11.96. Admission is free for farmers and agriculture students.

Its founder, Pierre Brisson, created it with a purpose of keeping the art of cheesemaking alive in France. Instagram/musee_vivant_du_fromage

With the admission price, guests can view a cheese-making demonstration, participate in a tasting and learn the history of cheese through the museums interactive displays.

Cheese guides are also available to provide information on things like the history of cheese and its production. Courses and workshops are also offered.

One of the museums cheese experts, Agathe de Saint-Exupery, explained the nuisances in the production of cheese, which is a close to $10 billion dollar industry in the country.

Its a very individual process that depends on so many things, even the humor of the animals whose milk is being used. You can make the same good cheese every day, and every day it will taste different. It just cannot be done industrially, she told the outlet.

Brisson, 38, whose parents are winemakers, planned the museum for a decade, and said his passion for cheese started when he was young.

My father would take me to the cheesemonger every Sunday after mass; I was at the height of the display and would look at all the marvelous cheeses in front of my eyes, he told the outlet.

I became fascinated by where they came from and how they were made.

However, once he moved to Paris, he realized the lack of cheese education in the city, which he is working to change.

I realized there were lots of places promoting wine, its culture and how it is made and lots of shops selling cheese, but nothing showing people how it is made, he told the outlet.

My dream is that in 20 years time, someone will say they decided to become a cheesemaker after visiting the museum.
In the late 1800s, the Holland area was home to many mills. Two became locally famous. Govert Keppel co-owned one; Cornelius De Roo co-owned the other.

Govert Keppel was born in South Holland, the Netherlands. His family left Amsterdam in October 1847, arriving in New Orleans in April 1848. They settled in Zeeland the following May. There, Goverts father Huibert purchased 80 acres of land and hired Zeelanders who cut down trees and converted them to staves and shingles, and transported them by ox cart to Andries Steketee in Groningen for shipment to fast-growing Chicago.

With the money he earned, Huibert bought flour, which he resold to his neighbors.

Govert began working full-time for his father at age 12, and worked with him until he was 25. Then he worked for two years in a store. Next, he purchased an 80-acre farm.

With the trees gone, farmers could grow grain. So, in 1872, at age 33, Govert sold his farm to build, with his father, a mill. In 1877, Govert took on two partners, Jacob Den Herder and Wopke Van Haitsma. Their mill, which incorporated Hungarian roller technology, they apply named Unity Roller Mills. In the 1880s, Keppel became the sole owner, and, in 1885, built a three-story structure on the southeast corner of Main Avenue and Elm Street. One of his employees was Cornelius De Roo.

Unity Mills.

De Roo was born in 1855 in Groningen, Michigan. His fathers name was also Cornelius. His mothers name was Elizabeth. She was the daughter of Rev. Cornelius Van Der Meulen, one of the founders of Zeeland in 1847 (along with Jannes van de Luyster and Jan Steketee). In 1849, Cornelius De Roos father and Jan Rabbers, founder of Groningen, built one of the Holland areas first gristmills.

But when Cornelius De Roo was five months old, his father died. After his death, De Roo and his mother moved in with her parents, who by that time had moved to Grand Rapids where Rev. Van Der Meulen accepted a call from Second Reformed Church.

In 1879, DeRoo married Sarah Van Driele, also the child of a miller. After their marriage, the DeRoos moved to Zeeland and worked for Govert Keppel. In 1882, De Roo formed a business partnership with Heber Walsh, with financial backing from Isaac Cappon.

Although Walsh and De Roo intended to build their mill in Zeeland, The Gilded Hollander, Reindert Werkman, persuaded them to build their roller mill in Holland, which they did at Fifth Street and River Avenue, near both water and a railroad track. With a 400 hundred barrel per day capacity, access to rail and water transportation, and roller technology, Walsh and DeRoo were able to produce a quality product and ship it as far away as England and Scotland.

Walsh and DeRoos mill business got a boost when Keppels mill met with destruction:

"[In 1895], the boiler in [Keppels Mill] blew up and the boiler landed in the show window of the store across the street [at] 113 Main Ave. Mr. DePree indicates that an eight-foot by eight-foot timber (blew) through the windows of the building at 111 E. Main Ave.  operated as a bank by [Jacob] Den Herder. Mae LaHuis, who was a daughter of Albert LaHuis, a very prominent businessman in town [and son-in-law of Jacob Den Herder]  was in the path of the boiler as it passed over her head and left her covered with black mud from head to foot.

"The fire doors of the boiler blew completely over the stores on the opposite side of the street and landed behind them. No one was killed or even hurt except the mill engineer, who was found unconscious hanging over a pump handle. He fully recovered. ... [His] name was Casey Zwagerman." (Dekker, p. 36).

Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage

After the explosion, Keppel continued to operate a flour and feed store on the site. Eventually, that site became home to Zeelands interurban station. Today, it's home to Zeelands Splash Pad.

Main Street after the explosion at Unity Mills in Zeeland.

Meanwhile, Walsh and DeRoo continued to expand. But the financial downturn in the aftermath of the Rich Mans Panic of 1903 helped bring the Walsh-De Roo Milling and Cereal Company to an end.

Iete Muller purchased the abandoned Holland property in 1907 to create Standard Grocer and Milling Company.

Information for this story comes from Robert Swierengas "Holland, Michigan," Donald Van Rekens "The Gilded Hollander," Genealogy on the Web, and Randall Dekkers "Main Street Memoir."

 Steve VanderVeen lives in Holland. You can find his contact information and read more about Holland's entrepreneurial business history at start-upacademeinc.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland History: The story of two famous mills
Each year, the Wilmington Hope Commission Reentry Court graduation includes remarks from graduates, politicians, and professionals in health, corrections and law enforcement. This years graduation took an unexpected and stylish twist.

Models graced an illuminated catwalk for a fashion show. The show unveiled the Hope Commissions new fashion brand designed by one of its recent graduates.

Isaiah Cleveland, a past Hope Commission graduate, founded the Workhorse clothing line. He received a $5,000 small business grant from the Wilmington Hope Commission, funded by Capital One.

"We designed all the polo shirts for the Reentry Court guys," Cleveland said in a statement. #SpreadHope apparel is available at www.workhorseclothingshop.com.

Isaiah Cleveland, a Hope Commission graduate, received a $5,000 small business grant from the Wilmington Hope Commission to help launch his clothing line company.

The Hope Commission provides rehabilitative programs to support high-risk men reentering Delawares most distressed communities after prison. Their services target recidivism factors using research-informed solutions.

The graduation ceremony marked the 10th anniversary of the Reentry Court program. Over the past 18 months, the Hope Commission has expanded throughout Delaware with new initiatives, including the Dover Hope Zone, a womens reentry program at St. Francis Hospital and supportive housing for reentry program participants.

The Reentry Court is a collaboration between the Delaware Department of Correction, the Department of Health and Social Services, Superior Court and the Hope Commission. Together, they provide a comprehensive, evidence-based reentry programs.

You can contact Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Hope Commission's graduation takes stylish turn with fashion show
This column appears every other week in Fosters Daily Democrat and the Tuskegee News. This week Guy Trammell, an African American man from Tuskegee, Ala., and Amy Miller, a white woman from South Berwick, Maine, write about the libraries they have known. .

By Amy Miller

Libraries have brought me many gifts, including a sister city relationship with Tuskegee, Ala. It was in the community room of South Berwick Public Library that we first discussed how our town might play a part in the challenge of race relations in this country.

It was there in the beautifully renovated former Catholic church that we held discussions on How to talk to your child about race and Why race matters in South Berwick.

Public libraries, 17,000 of them across the nation, are filled with books and movies, computers and community rooms, that miraculously open their doors to all of us, without question or cost.

Amy Miller and Guy Trammell Jr.

As a child, I frequented the 67th Street branch of The New York City Public Library, built in 1905 and one of 1609 libraries nationwide ultimately funded by Andrew Carnegie. It was a block and a half from my apartment and at age 9 or 10 I often headed there after school to pick up yet another Beverly Cleary book, which I secretly read by the light of the hallway long past my bedtime.

When I was a kid, heading out to replenish my book supply, students from Julia Richman public high school often were being dismissed. It's been decades since I have passed by the limestone facade of the library that looked out on the public high school, but the New York Public Library website says the 67th Street branch library "continues to serve Manhattans bustling Upper East Side.

As I made my way down Second Avenue and east on 67th Street, I was anxious about getting caught in the outpouring of older students. They were from the Bronx, or Queens or Harlem and they did not look like the kids in my neighborhood. I have often wondered whether I would have been just as afraid of this large group of older kids if they came from the bustling Upper East Side.

I recently researched the history of Julia Richman and learned the school was in fact not doing well then. The building was falling apart, absenteeism was high, ratings were down and teachers reportedly had trouble handling students in the overcrowded classrooms.

All of this history, which ends with new, thriving, specialty schools replacing the old Julia Richman, only slightly eases the discomfort I face with my memories.

Today I go regularly to the library in my Maine town center. It is a big library for a small town, mainly because townspeople agreed it was worth a $2 million investment to convert the former church. The childrens room is in the old sanctuary area and the choir loft serves as a quiet reading nook. The building runs on solar panels and includes community space.

It was in the community space, at the urging of our town librarian, that we hosted discussions on race relations and ultimately reached out to the strangers who are now our friends in Tuskegee, Alabama.

By Guy Trammell Jr.

In 1883, Atlanta University graduate Adella Hunt became a Tuskegee Institute instructor and its first librarian. Hunt added books on broad areas of subjects, including controversial themes like suffrage. Her librarys 1907 designation as a Federal Depository provided the public with access to government information.

By 1913, the campus had Alabamas largest school population, 2,000, and possibly its largest library, 1,371,527 volumes.

In 1904, my great-grandfather Horace Talbert secured $15,000  more than half a million today - from Andrew Carnegie to build Wilberforce Universitys Library in Ohio.

My first library, of course, was our Greenwood family living room bookshelf of illustrated multi-cultural books. Curling up, reading about global folk lore, inspired my love of reading.

As a Chambliss Childrens House student, I experienced a school library with encyclopedias. I could explore a plethora of topics, which led to my own World Book encyclopedia set.

Tuskegee Universitys current library, built in 1932, was designed by Louis Hudson Persley, who with Robert R. Taylor formed the first African American architect firm. Persley was Georgias first registered African American architect, and designed several other Tuskegee campus buildings as well as the Birmingham Masonic Temple.

Persleys library was named for Hampton Institutes second president, Hollis Burke Frissell (1893-1917), and my universe expanded with my first ever library card, to use this college facility.

The Childrens Room, a place of joy and discovery just inside the building, had childrens librarian Mrs. Fannie Harris and a wonderland of volumes, with summer reading programs to earn the Pegasus Flying Horse wooden pin!

As a preteen I combed other areas of the library, including the stacks, on each visit digesting chapters of several books.

Tuskegee High Schools library was simply a study hall location, but on a summer visit with my cousins in Columbus, Ohio, I was introduced to library audio books and just couldnt get enough.

Attending Antioch College, I loved their collections tremendous variety of subjects and spent hours exploring the shelves - and of course, at times was there for my classwork. A special amenity was the audio visual and video production equipment lending service. These were worth thousands of dollars, but were readily available to us as students.

I still love reading, sometimes two or three books at a time. This came from my mother, who in the 1960s created the Learning Resource Center on the fourth floor of the Hollis Frissell library, central Alabamas first college audio-visual center. She also taught Auburn Universitys staff how to start their two centers.

Now, Tuskegee Universitys library is officially known as the Learning Resource Center.

Amy and Guy can be reached at colorusconnected@gmail.com

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Commentary: A lifelong love of libraries
Sarah Cole of Massillon is the owner and creative director of LIFT UP Balloons & Designs in Massillon. She said her goal with her designs is to create "unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime."

Sarah Cole is the owner and creative director of LIFT UP Balloons & Designs in Massillon.

She is a 2002 Northwest High School graduate. She is married to Dennis, her partner in life and business. Together, they are proud parents to two daughters, Raia and Nora. Their family includes Layne, a rescue Bernese mountain dog who adds joy and companionship to their home.

Amidst the uncertainties brought by the pandemic, Dennis encountered a career setback but seized the opportunity to establish his own successful business," Cole said. "This achievement enabled me to transition from my nearly 11-year career to focus on being a devoted full-time mom to our daughters.

Balloon decor is a natural extension of Coles creative endeavors. She has showcased her talent through community involvement, including providing balloon decor for local nonprofits and their church, Perry Christian Church.

5 questions with Vivian Leggett: She helps organize volunteers for Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week

Sarah Cole of Massillon is the owner and creative director of LIFT UP Balloons & Designs in Massillon. She said her goal with her designs is to create "unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime."

What is the LIFT UP Balloons & Design company?

In 2023, I founded LIFT UP Balloons & Designs, a home-based business dedicated to "lift up" any occasion with custom balloon creations.

From colorful balloon arches to intricate sculptures, our services encompass both traditional and organic balloon styles, ensuring a perfect match for every event. Whether it's a festive birthday celebration, a grand wedding affair, or a professional corporate gathering, our team takes pride in delivering one-of-a-kind designs that leave a lasting impact.

I want our clients to discover the endless possibilities that balloons offer and to realize that there's so much more we can create together.

Where do you get your design ideas from?

My design inspiration is sparked by collaborative brainstorming sessions with each of our clients.

By engaging in open dialogue and building strong relationships, I gain insights into our clients' preferences, ensuring that every design is custom-tailored to their specific needs. From color palettes to event locations, I work closely with them to create personalized plans for their event.

At LIFT UP Balloons & Designs, every event holds significance for me, just as it does for clients. The goal is to help them create unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.

What are the biggest events you provided balloons for?

I believe that the significance of an event isn't the size, but in the milestones and memories shared with people.

While Ive had the pleasure of creating balloon decor for various scales  Celebrations of Life, birthdays, corporate events, weddings and showers  what truly matters is the impact made from the balloon designs.

The team has had the privilege of collaborating with Gigi's Playhouse in Canton for its annual "A Night Out With the Keys" fundraiser. Other events include the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce for its Women In Business Summit, and Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital's Wine Women and Shoes event.

Most recently, the team and I were honored to be part of the Akron-Canton Airport's Inaugural Flight with Breeze Airways to Los Angeles where we created a 10-by-15-foot custom balloon pixel wall. For myself and the team, it's the collective journey and the connections we make along the way that truly define the success of the work.

How do you handle life's uncertainties and challenges, especially as a business owner?

I lost my mom to suicide nine years ago. I got pregnant and had our girls shortly after. Losing my mom the way I did before I became a mom didnt hit me until a couple of years ago. I realized I wasnt OK.

I was never OK but until I had time to feel and think, I was putting one foot in front of the other. Before balloons, I loved being a mom and a wife, but I also loved where I worked and my job of over 10 years.

I will forever be grateful for the lessons learned and the many business experiences. They helped plant the seed of my entrepreneurial journey. Yet, I was going through the motions most days. When I started to accept that it was OK to not be OK, and that strength comes from doing hard things like asking for help, I found Light After Loss, literally and figuratively.

Light After Loss is a trauma-focused support system for suicide loss survivors. It is located at the Hope for Healing Center in Canton. There, I found help and hope, faith over fear, and how to take something unbelievably painful and turn it into my creative purpose. I received the encouragement to believe in myself to be the best version of myself.

The name "LIFT UP" embodies more than just balloons floating. Its significance resonates deeply with me. During one of my support group sessions at Light After Loss, a close friend expressed how everyone in the group "lifts her up." The sentiment hit me hard and really stuck.

While I was drawn to the phrase "Lift me up," I intentionally avoided including "me" in the name because I wanted my business to prioritize my clients' needs.

Later that evening, as I scrolled through Facebook, I stumbled upon a post by a friend featuring a quote by Booker T. Washington: "If you want to lift yourself up, lift up others." This quote immediately struck a chord with me and became the guiding principle of my mission.

By bringing joy to others through my talent for creating beautiful balloon decor, I find solace in the healing process of my grieving heart. I hope my story inspires others, letting them know they're not alone, and that even in the darkest moments, there's a way to turn things around for the better.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I'd say I'm more of an "any time" kind of person. With my kids being my top priority, I want to be available for them at any hour, for any event they're involved in.

This means my schedule can be quite flexible, often leading to late-night preparations for upcoming jobs. It's not unusual to find me inflating balloons or designing as late as 3 or 4 a.m.

But it's all part of the plan. My calendar may be packed, but my job allows me to balance my passion for balloon design with my commitment to my family. I'm grateful to have a career that accommodates both my professional and personal responsibilities.

Editor's note: Five questions with ... is a Sunday feature that showcases a member of the Stark County community. If you'd like to recommend someone to participate, send an email to newsroom@cantonrep.com.

Sarah Cole of Massillon is the owner and creative director of LIFT UP Balloons & Designs in Massillon. She said her goal with her designs is to create "unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime."

This article originally appeared on The Repository: 5 questions with Sarah Cole of LIFT UP Balloons & Designs in Massillon
Moose tracks is RI's favorite ice cream? Mark Patinkin gets the scoop on the real choice

Moose Tracks?

The favorite ice cream in Rhode Island?

That's what a national survey said last week.

It named the top flavor in every state, with vanilla the first pick in 20 and chocolate in a dozen.

Two picked Moose Tracks.

Michigan. And, allegedly, us.

I understand Michigan. Thats where the flavor was created  vanilla with crushed peanut butter cups and fudge. Plus, they have a lot of moose there.

We dont.

The survey was done by an outfit called Holiday Calendar, whose purpose is to list every obscure official day. Since Wednesday alone that includes Chicken Finger Day, Drive-Thru Day and  Im not kidding  Thermal Engineers Day.

But it doesnt sound right that Moose Tracks is the favorite ice cream here, so I decided to do some investigative journalism.

Meaning I called some well-known homemade ice cream shops.

So here  forgive me  is the real scoop.

I began with Steve Brophy, of legendary Brickleys Ice Cream in South County, and asked his number one flavor.

Admittedly, he doesnt carry Moose Tracks, but he doubts it would eclipse his top seller.

Which is, drumroll: Coffee Oreo.

Not a surprise here in Rhode Island, said Steve. Anything with coffee is popular.

Kate Peterson shows off a cone stuffed with coffee ice cream at Grays Ice Cream in Tiverton.

He also sells a ton of vanilla, but thats partly because of milkshakes and sundaes.

His real number two flavor is Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, followed by Chocolate Brownie. As for his frozen yogurt, the top pick is Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip.

I asked where he got the idea for Coffee Oreo.

It was a customer suggestion. A friends daughter worked as a teller at Steves bank, and whenever he went in, she asked him to try mixing crushed Oreos with coffee ice cream, so he finally did, and the rest is history.

Steve, by the way, now runs just one Brickleys, in Wakefield, having recently sold his Narragansett location to Brendan Kenny.

So I called there next, and got Brendans brother Kieran, whos the manager. Both brothers worked for Steve Brophy for years.

The Kennys are about to rebrand the Narrangansett Brickleys as Barons, named after Brendans dog, a Chow-Lab mix.

More: With Eastside Marketplace closing, Mark Patinkin finds a replacement. Could it happen?

Kieran confirmed that the local favorite at his shop is also Coffee Oreo.

A pattern was developing.

Forget Moose Tracks  here, the taste of coffee has got to be in there somewhere.

Plenty of states, of course, are into coffee as a beverage, but Rhode Island stands out in culturally embracing the flavor itself. Of course, the biggest sign of that is coffee milk, the official state drink that nobodys heard of beyond our borders. And when they do hear about it, they think its weird.

But not here.

Next, I tracked down Warren Sternberg, who opened Clementines Homemade Ice Cream in East Greenwich in 2017 and now has two more locations, in Portsmouth and Middletown.

Warren Sternberg, owner of Clementines Ice Cream, shows off a cone of cookie dough ice cream, one of the shop's best-selling flavors.

There must be something about ice cream and dogs, because Clementines is also named for one  Warren and his wifes chocolate Lab. Warren used to be a corporate recruiter but also worked for Brickleys while growing up in North Kingstown, so he's returned to the ice cream world.

Clementine's sells a lot of it  about 1,500 gallons a week in the summer.

Warren says the Moose Tracks ranking doesnt sound right.

That one threw me for a loop, he said.

His shop's top flavor is Cookie Dough.

But in keeping with the coffee thing here, Clementines also sells a ton of Coffee Heath Bar, with straight coffee flavor not far behind.

I had a brief call with Three Sisters on Providences East Side, which confirmed my investigation.

A lot of people like Coffee Crunch, said Mariani, a staffer there who answered the phone.

Summer in RI: When it comes to summer, there's no better place to embrace it than Rhode Island

And Coffee Cookie Dough is big, too.

Its biggest seller?

Coffee, said Dawn.

A pattern was also emerging around Black Raspberry  thats often Gray's second top seller.

But not far behind is yet another coffee flavor  Mocha Chip.

I asked if they have many daily regulars.

For sure said Dawn. One notably gets a coffee frappe every day.

Containers are packed with ice cream inside Grays Ice Cream in Tiverton.

I asked Dawn her own favorite flavor.

Youre going to laugh, she said. Coffee.

Finally, I reached Kim Caron, owner of The Ice Cream Machine in Cumberland, which her parents started in 1977.

They also make their own, including a version of Moose Tracks called Cow Tracks.

Its popular.

But you know whats more so?

Their Coffee Oreo.

So is Cookie Dough and Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip. Oh, and once again, Black Raspberry.

I call it the new Strawberry, says Kim.

But as with the other places, The Ice Cream Machine sells a ton of Rhode Islands top flavor.

We love our coffee, said Kim. Thats my favorite.

Many of their 70 flavors include it.

Bite into summer: Here's your guide to summer flavor in RI

Aside from straight coffee, popular choices there are Coffee Heath Bar, Coffee Oreo, Mocha Chip, Coffee Yogurt and Mudslide Crunch  a combo of coffee and Irish Creme.

Why, I asked, is it so big in Rhode Island?

I dont know, Kim said. Coffee syrup and coffee frappes started here. Its just part of the culture.

So take note, national survey people.

You got our ice cream preference wrong.

Moose Tracks may have fans here.

But this being Rhode Island, its all about coffee.

mpatinki@providencejournal.com

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI's favorite ice cream flavor is really coffee, Mark Patinkin finds
CARY, N.C. (WNCN)  As North Carolinas population continues to grow, attracting more people from all over, so does its culinary scene.

The diversity of cuisines and quality of food is not limited to the cities. The towns that make up the suburban areas around Raleigh and Durham are also beginning to create their own culinary reputations.

Cary, which in recent years has become increasingly more diverse and has developed a reputation as one of the best places to live in the state, is one of these towns.

According to Southern Living Magazine, Cary is one of the six underrated food towns in the South that people should visit this year.

Cities like Asheville and Charlotte get lots of love for their constantly-evolving food scenes, but Cary is starting to make a name for itself in North Carolinas culinary landscape, the magazine said. Youll find a surprisingly diverse selection of restaurants here serving food from all over the world: regional Chinese at Taipei 101, Turkish fare at Bosphorus, Ethiopian and Eritrean at Awaze, Mexican dishes and a tequila library at aVerde, and Mediterranean desserts at Asali Cafe. And thats just to name a few.

The magazine also touched on places to go for drinks or special occasions in the town.

There are several local breweries, as well as a champagne bar and a cidery, Southern Living wrote. For a special occasion, Herons, at the elegant Umstead Hotel and Spa, serves beautiful food in an equally lovely dining room.

Joining Cary on Southern Living Magazines list of the six underrated food destinations to visit are Lockhart, Texas; Athens, Ga.; St. Louis, Mo.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Columbia, S.C.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Wondering where to move to in Delaware? Here are the 3 most welcoming towns, survey says

Many people have made the move to Delaware in recent years, with plenty more to come, and a popular question when house hunting is: What area should I move to?

While various factors like accessibility, school districts and recreational offerings play a big part in where you choose to settle down, how friendly a place is can make or break your experience. To give you a head start, three Delaware cities made it on a recent list of the most welcoming towns in the United States.

Delawares most welcoming towns

A survey from ElectricityPrices.com, an energy bill comparison company, asked 3,700 travelers to reveal the most welcoming destinations in the country for out-of-towners. Respondents shared their thoughts about which areas are known for friendly faces and unforgettable hospitality, resulting in a list of the top 150 most welcoming towns for newcomers.

The highest-ranking town for Delaware is Milton at No. 6. Miltons strong sense of community and history propelled it to the near top of the list, with hospitable residents and local events like Milton Theatre performances and the Broadkill River Canoe and Kayak Race adding extra charm.

Lewes clocks in at No. 12, with its rich history and beautiful beaches as notable features.

Crowds fill Bethany Beach July 7, 2024.

At No. 37, Bethany Beach is described as having a relaxed ambiance and friendly community. With plenty of activities like weekly summer concerts and the Bethany Beach Boardwalk Arts Festival, its easy to see why it deserved a shout-out.

Weekend beach fun: Your weekend guide to the Delaware beaches: Weather, fishing, safety and more

The top 5 most welcoming towns in the U.S, according to the study, are:

Stockbridge, Massachusetts Winterset, Iowa Elash, Illinois Fredericksburg, Texas Bandon, Oregon

Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Here are the most welcoming towns in the US; 3 are in Delaware
1 seriously injured after crash in South Denver

DENVER (KDVR)  One person was seriously injured in a crash Saturday night in Denvers Overland neighborhood, according to the Denver Police Department.

The crash happened in the area of South Santa Fe Drive and West Evans Avenue.

Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather

The crash involved a motorist and a motorcyclist.

One person was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Election Day is just 100 days away.

It is now almost certain that Kamala Harris will face Donald Trump in a tight race on November 5.

The 2024 presidential race has seen a huge amount of political upheaval, and it's not over yet.

It is just 100 days until Election Day. And if the last month is any indication, it'll be a chaotic sprint to the finish line between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

The United States has seen upheaval in past presidential races, notably with the incumbent Lyndon B. Johnson standing aside as a Democratic candidate in his party's 1968 primaries amid growing tensions over his handling of the Vietnam War.

But this year's contest has been a race like no other.

President Joe Biden's decision last week to withdraw from the 2024 race risked throwing his party into chaos. Instead, led by Biden, Democrats have quickly rallied around Harris. There's enthusiasm for her historic candidacy and the reality that November won't feature a 2020 rematch that voters had long said they did not want.

Biden's announcement came nearly a month after a disastrous June debate performance that elevated concerns around his age and fitness to campaign effectively in the final months of the campaign. Over the course of weeks, Biden's supporters one-by-one called on him to step aside. Then came the attempted assassination of Trump, rallying his base ahead of the Republican National Convention.

It now seems almost certain that Harris will be the Democratic presidential nominee, but voters won't know for sure until at least early next month when Democrats are set to hold a virtual roll call ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. In the meantime, everyone is waiting to see who she will pick as her running mate.

As for the Trump camp, confidence in a blow-out victory has now suddenly given way to panic since Biden stepped aside and Harris consolidated support among Democratic leaders.

Trump's choice for vice president isn't helping. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, a choice that cast aside any effort to balance the ticket in favor of appointing a MAGA heir apparent, initially fired up the GOP base. But Vance's debut has been so rocky that even some fellow Republicans are nervous about his potential impact on the ticket.

The 2024 campaign has shifted so dramatically so many times recently that there's just no telling what the next few months will bring. Here's a look at where the contest stands and what's to come.

Harris opens up new potential paths to victory

Since entering the race, Harris has shown momentum in early polling.

The latest New York Times/Siena College survey showed the vice president essentially resetting the race and narrowing what had been a growing Biden polling deficit against Trump. In the poll, released last week, Trump led Harris by one point (48% to 47%) among likely voters. The previous Times/Siena poll had Trump ahead of Biden 49% to 43% among likely voters.

A Wall Street Journal poll found the national race too close to call  with Trump leading Harris 49% to 47%  after previously showing Trump with a six-point lead over Biden. A CNN-SSRS poll also showed the race within the margin of error.

But the best news for the vice president is further down in the data.

Harris is eclipsing Biden's performance among Black and Latino voters. This improvement could drastically expand the Democratic Party's path to 270 Electoral College votes.

Kamala Harris is doing SIGNIFICANTLY better than Joe Biden is among Black and Hispanic voters.



Why is that important? It means that while Biden had really one path to win the electoral college, Harris has multiple. Specifically, she can win in the Sun Belt (AZ, GA, NC, & NV). pic.twitter.com/hto4J6PkOw  (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) July 25, 2024

Before Biden dropped out, Democrats' best hope seemed to be to run the table in the so-called "Blue Wall" states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania while holding onto the Omaha-area 2nd congressional district in Nebraska.

That left Biden little room for error. This became worrisome for the Biden campaign as warning signs flashed in states like Virginia and New Hampshire. If the bottom fell out, there were even some concerns that states like Minnesota and New Mexico could move toward Trump.

If Harris can maintain her support among Black voters, a state like North Carolina, where Democrats have wanted to go on the offensive, could become more competitive. Harris could also perform better in Georgia, which Biden narrowly carried in 2020.

Harris' potential strength in the Sun Belt means Democrats may not have to bet it all on the "Blue Wall." There are also early signs of potential relief in New Hampshire, as Harris  in a recent Saint Anselm College survey  held a solid six-point lead over Trump in the state.

Trump's campaign, meanwhile, has tried to get out ahead of the shift.

His campaign is convinced this is only a Harris "honeymoon" period and a temporary high. But with so little time left before Election Day, Harris has several opportunities to generate more enthusiasm. She will likely name a vice president in early August. The Democratic National Convention is on August 19. And then there's a scheduled debate in September, a month before the election.

It's hard to say how much the convention will help Harris. In 2000, Vice President Al Gore received a significant post-convention bounce in his race against then-Gov. George W. Bush. But, in recent years, such a surge in support has been less dramatic. In 2020, neither Biden nor Trump received a major bump after their respective conventions. However, Biden maintained a steady national lead throughout that contest.

The positive early polling is a great sign for the vice president, but it isn't the only metric that shows momentum. Since Biden dropped out, Harris' campaign has raised over $126 million. Over 1.4 million of those donors have given small donations. It's a historic pace that makes certain her campaign will be well-funded down the stretch.

Trump's pick for vice president makes things interesting

Vice presidential picks are far from guaranteed to help a presidential hopeful win a state. But, at the very least, they should avoid damaging their chances.

Vance is off to a rough start. At this point, he's already set a record for the worst polling for a vice presidential nominee.

Trump selected Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his running mate. Win McNamee/Getty Images

The first-term GOP lawmaker has faced a torrent of criticism over old comments criticizing "childless cat ladies." It didn't help matters that he applied this label to Harris, who became a co-parent to two teenagers when she married now-second gentleman Doug Emhoff in 2014.

Trump threw out the traditional playbook by selecting Vance.

Typically, presidential nominees select a running mate who balances the ticket, either regionally or ideologically. Mike Pence, for example, signaled Trump's desire in 2016 to appeal to traditional conservatives. Some Trump advisors also urged the president to tap a more diverse pick. Instead, the former president elevated a like-minded conservative.

Vance, who is 39, would be the first millennial vice president. He is also the first military veteran to be on a ticket since 2008 when then-Sen. John McCain of Arizona was the GOP presidential nominee.

There was hope that Vance could help Trump appeal to white working-class voters in swing states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. But the Ohio Republican has only run a single campaign. And in his 2022 Senate race, Vance vastly underperformed compared to other Ohio Republicans on the ballot that year.

Harris' pick for vice president could further shake things up

Harris is likely to pick a vice president who can help move a swing state into her column, the sort of move that Republicans would fret over given Trump's struggles with suburban voters and the reluctance of many independents to back his third White House bid.

Harris is expected to select her running mate ahead of the Democratic National Convention in August. Jim Vondruska/Getty Images

Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Govs. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Tim Walz of Minnesota appear to be Harris' leading choices, according to Bloomberg.

Other potential running mates include Govs. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, JB Pritzker of Illinois, and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan; as well as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

A wild card pick like former Rep. Cedric Richmond of Louisiana, who has reportedly been vetted as a potential choice, also may be on the table.

Harris will likely prioritize a running mate with an established track record of winning in a battleground state. It may not guarantee her a state's electoral votes, but it could prove essential in helping move undecided voters into her column in a race where every vote will matter.

The top candidates on Harris' shortlist all have unique strengths. Kelly, a former Navy combat pilot and former astronaut, has the sort of appeal that could boost the Democratic ticket in purple Arizona. Shapiro is a highly regarded governor in a must-win state for Democrats. And Walz, a former congressman, could help attract Midwestern voters in key states like Michigan and Wisconsin.

With Biden out of the race, Democrats will likely seek to tie the election  anchored by Harris' candidacy  to the party's future. And in a contest with Trump, Democrats are banking that their ticket will be able to present itself as a mainstream choice in an election race that has at times gone of the rails, seems never-ending, but is just months away from being over.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Sunday marks 100 days until voters head to the polls for what has already been a tumultuous election, raising questions about what the next several months will hold in store.

In a span of less than a month, the presidential race has already been rocked by a series of head-spinning twists, including President Bidens dismal debate performance, the assassination attempt against former President Trump and Bidens decision to withdraw and endorse Vice President Harris.

Now all eyes will be watching how the next three months unfold. Heres what to watch in the last 100 days of the race:

Whom does Harris pick for VP?

With Harris consolidating support from Democratic officials and delegates to likely become the partys nominee, attention has mostly shifted to whom she will select as her running mate.

Vetting materials have been requested from politicians such as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly (D), Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D).

Whoever is chosen will oppose Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), Trumps running mate, on the GOP side, at least indirectly if not at a debate, which has not yet been scheduled.

Beshear has become perhaps one of the most prominent attack dogs since Biden officially stepped aside on Sunday, slamming Vance as a phony who is not one of us, referring to those from Appalachia, the geographic region surrounding the Appalachian Mountains. Kentucky and Ohio neighbor each other.

Kelly has also gone after Vance for his stance on the Russia-Ukraine war and comments Vance made in 2021 that resurfaced in which he said childless cat ladies were running the country.

Democratic strategists said several of the names under consideration would be strong choices who would help expand the map for the party and improve performance in key states like Pennsylvania. The top names seem to comprise more moderate candidates who would potentially bring more of an ideological balance to the ticket.

Each of those candidates is going to bring new voters along with them, whereas Vances selection did the opposite, said Democratic strategist Jeff Rusnak, arguing that Vance only appeals further to extreme conservatives.

Do Trump and Harris debate?

Bidens poor performance at what ended up being one of the most consequential presidential debates in U.S. history sparked a string of developments that caused Biden to step away from the race. While the Biden and Trump campaigns had already agreed to participate in a second debate in September on ABC, plans for that event or any others appear up in the air.

The Biden campaign had earlier said that Harris had accepted an invitation from CBS News for a vice-presidential debate in August. But the Trump campaign refused to commit to a date while it said uncertainty remained as to who would be on the Democratic ticket.

Since the switch from Biden to Harris, Trump has railed against the choice of ABC to host the presidential debate, accusing the network of being biased and not worthy of holding a debate. But he added that he hopes for many debates and suggested that Fox News should host the next one.

Still, the Trump campaign said Thursday that it would not set a debate with Harris until Democrats formally decide on their nominee, which could come as soon as early next month if the Democratic National Committee moves forward with its virtual roll call ahead of its convention.

Harris has responded that she is ready to go and accused Trump of backpedaling after already agreeing to participate.

I have agreed to the previously agreed upon Sept. 10 debate. He agreed to that previously, Harris told reporters. Now, here he is backpedaling, and Im ready, and I think the voters deserve to see the split screen that exists in this race on a debate stage, and so Im ready. Lets go.

Do the polls shift?

Throughout much of the 2024 cycle  until the debate  polling between Trump and Biden remained largely stagnant. Just ahead of the debate, the two candidates were essentially tied in national polling, while Trump led by a few points in the key battleground states that will likely decide the election.

After Biden stepped aside, election models, including the one from Decision Desk HQ and The Hill, went dark to wait for more data to have a better analysis on where the race stands now. The Democrats rallying around Harris came after an assassination attempt on Trump, the Republican National Convention and an incumbent president choosing not to run for reelection closer to Election Day than in any other cycle in modern U.S. history.

As nominating conventions also typically cause a short-term bump in a candidates poll numbers, multiple major events that could affect the race are coalescing at once, with uncertain effects.

This was thought to be a sleepy grudge match between two cranky old men, and now it has become a red-hot race again, said Republican strategist Matthew Bartlett. Nothing has changed, but everything has changed.

Some early polling has shown signs of optimism for Harris and Democrats. Surveys have suggested Harris is making some gains against Trump in key states compared to Biden.

Polling released Friday also showed more comfortable leads in the traditionally blue states of New Hampshire and Maine, which Republicans had begun to target as Biden struggled.

The Trump campaigns pollster released a memo Tuesday arguing that Harris will see a temporary polling bump because of a Harris Honeymoon period where she receives constant coverage in media. He said it will last until the race settles down, and that the fundamentals of the race have not changed.

Democrats say they recognize the race will still be tight but have new optimism after the switch.

I think what weve seen is its going to be an enormously close race, said Democratic strategist Justin Barasky. I dont think thats changed. I dont think anyone, especially with the campaign, would say anything differently, but its clear that Republicans are concerned, and Id rather be us than them.

Are there any more surprises?

As fast as Election Day is approaching, it is still more than three months away. Labor Day, the traditional marker of races reaching their final sprint, hasnt even arrived yet. As chaotic as the past month has been, its not inconceivable that more could still happen to change what defines the 2024 election.

When Biden was still in the race, he and Trump were set to be the two oldest major party nominees in history, meaning both had an at least somewhat higher than normal chance of a health event forcing them from the race. That remains true for Trump, who is now the oldest nominee in history.

Following the Trump rally shooting, members of both parties called for toning down rhetoric to lower the intensity of the political environment. But both sides have lambasted the opposing candidate since then, signaling a return to the environment that both sides seemed to acknowledge could lead to more political violence.

Meanwhile, both campaigns are figuring out how to adjust to the new political reality. Harris was already on the ticket but now is gearing up a presidential run with just 100 days to do so.

Trump has been running for more than a year and a half but now needs to shift messaging to focus on Harris instead of Biden.

Republican strategist Nicole Schlinger said Harris is not an unknown quantity because of her time as vice president, allowing the GOP to use what was already known about her in the campaign.

All of that research was already being done and so we dont start from zero, she said.

Will having Kamala Harris at the top of a ticket, will that change which states are in play, and perhaps where we deploy some of our voter contact resources? she added. So I think some of those decisions will be carefully analyzed, but in terms of the overall message and the direction of the campaign, shes already a known factor.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  With about 100 days left until the November election, Michigan Democrats and Harris for President are launching their first weekend of action.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten spoke Saturday at a canvass launch in Grand Rapids.

Across Michigan and throughout West Michigan, we have tons of canvassing operations happening, Scholten, of Grand Rapids, told News 8. This weekend really launches a significant effort that is going to continue for the next hundred days.

Harris for President says the weekend of action will include 185 events statewide, from news conferences to visits from political figures like former Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords, the Arizona congresswoman who was wounded in a shooting in 2011.

Michigan is considered a swing state and is expected to see increasing attention from both parties ahead of the November election. Last week, former President Donald Trump held a rally in Grand Rapids, the first since the attempt on his life.

Back on campaign trail, Trump talks shooting, trade, more in Grand Rapids

A survey released Thursday morning, conducted by Emerson College Polling, The Hill and WOOD TV8, showed 46% of Michigan voters said they would vote for Trump and 45% for Vice President Kamala Harris. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.4%, making it a statistical dead heat.

Just 1 point separates Trump and Harris in Michigan, new poll shows

We have a strong coordinated effort here in Michigan, where we are working to elect Democrats up and down the ballot, Scholten told News 8. We know that the presidential race is critical, but we also have some huge, high-stakes races here in West Michigan.

Scholten was elected in 2022 to represent Michigans 3rd Congressional District  the first Democrat to represent the area since the 70s, the Associated Press reports. She is up for reelection this year.

The congresswoman said its essential that people get out to vote.

The enthusiasm is so palpable right now, online, in the room, Scholten said. But that has to translate into concrete action and making sure people actually cast their ballot.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Authorities in the Inland Empire were busy on Saturday afternoon as they arrested 13 motorcyclists who led them on a pursuit after blocking traffic.

According to the Riverside County Sheriffs Office, deputies observed a large group of motorcyclists at the intersection of Rancho California and Diaz roads in the city of Temecula just after 1 p.m.

The group blocked vehicle traffic, preventing other motorists from traveling along the roadways, RSO said in a press release. The motorcyclists then proceeded toward the southbound 15 Freeway where they failed to yield against a solid red light and merged onto the freeway.

Deputies attempted a traffic enforcement stop on the group, but they accelerated away, leading to a pursuit on the 15.

All lanes of I-15 opened following dayslong closure that left drivers stranded between L.A. and Las Vegas

The group was eventually stopped on the shoulder of the freeway north of Rainbow Valley Road by deputies, who were assisted by the Murrieta Police Department, CHP and the Riverside County Gang Task Force. Law enforcement officials had to close two lanes of traffic for the safety of the responding officers and motorcyclists.

A total of 13 people were arrested on a slew of charges; the following six were booked for evading:

Travis McQueen, 36, of Bakersfield

William Brucker, 35, of Bakersfield

Paul Mayugba, 49, of Stockton

Joseph Fonseca, 48, of Hanford

Alexander Patterson, 30, of Taft

Frank Pedrones, 30, of Stockton

Two other men  identified as 40-year-old Stockton resident Lewis Forester and 32-year-old Zachary Lancaster of Bakersfield  were booked for possession of a prohibited weapon.

A further two men from Las Vegas, identified as 30-year-old William Crosby III and 33-year-old Yater Felps McGill, were arrested for possession of tear gas.

Dayton Martinez, 28, of Vista was booked for being in possession of a dirk or dagger.

Researchers claim they obtained first-ever video of shark being struck by boat

A 24-year-old man from the San Diego County community of Bonita named Christian Pizarro was arrested for reckless driving and an outstanding misdemeanor warrant, and the thirteenth suspect was identified as Jesse Williamson, 40, of Cedar City, Utah; he was booked for being a convicted felon in possession of a loaded firearm.

Each of the 13 motorcyclists was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center, RSO said.

Anyone with more information on the incident is asked to contact Lieutenant Victor Pierson by calling 951-696-3000.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
KEWEENAW COUNTY, Mich. (WJMN)  For one day a year, a 169-year-old church in Keweenaw County comes alive, and people from around the world come to gather in worship and remembrance of a town history.

The church is Central Mine Methodist, and it officially closed its doors in 1898. Once a year, though, on the last Sunday in July, descendants of those who once frequented the church sit on the same pews their ancestors did.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Its a church full of tradition, says Pastor of Record Larry Molloy. That tradition is being kept alive thanks to volunteers and donors who give their time and money to preserve the historic site.

Kids sing in the choir on the yearly day of worship, and there is always a guest book outside, so those who come can sign their names into history.

In the 1800s, Central Mine church was the center of social life. A yearly Christmas party was held inside its doors, and when the school overflowed because there were so many miners, the church had two classrooms ready for use. It was also the site of the town library.

Pastor Molloy said, Theres a sense that we need to hang on to this. If we just bulldoze this, weve lost who we are. Were Yoopers. Were Keweenaw people. Whether youre born here or not, you want to preserve this and keep this.

After 118 years of annual reunions, it seems clear the town agrees: the Central Mine Methodist Church is a central piece of history.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJMN - UPMatters.com.
NEW YORK  Two bystanders were wounded early Saturday when a gunman blasted away at a rival on a Bronx street, the New York City Police Department said.

The early-morning shooting of a man and a woman capped off a bloody week in the Bronx, where two people were killed and eight others were wounded in separate incidents. Several of the shootings occurred within 12 hours, cops said.

Saturdays victims, a 23-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man, were standing with a group of people outside the Hawaii Lounge and Tapas Bar on East 180th Street near Webster Avenue about 2:45 a.m. when shots were fired.

Two men were arguing with each other near the group when one of them pulled a gun and started shooting.

Cops called to the scene found the woman suffering from a gunshot wound to her right leg. She was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital for treatment.

While cops were there, the 39-year-old man showed up at the hospital, claiming he had been shot in the hand at the same location, cops said.

Both victims were hit by stray bullets, cops said.

The gunman, who was dressed in black, jumped into a black Mercedes-Benz, which was last seen heading east on East 180th Street. No arrests have been made.

The bloodstained week began last Sunday afternoon when a 52-year-old man was fatally shot in the head during a mugging, cops said.

Victim Jose Baez was on Bruckner Boulevard near Pugsley Avenue in Castle Hill about 4:15 p.m. when Julio Ramirez, 28, pulled a gun on him and demanded his property, police said.

During the holdup, Ramirez shot Baez in the head, police said. He also accidentally shot himself, cops said. Investigators arrested him Tuesday after finding him recovering at Lincoln Hospital.

Cops charged Ramirez with murder, robbery and weapon possession. He was ordered held without bail when he was arraigned Wednesday in Bronx Criminal Court.

At around 3 a.m. Tuesday, 28-year-old Idriss Cherif El Farissy was shot in the head during a robbery outside his home on East 176th Street near Mohegan Avenue near Crotona Park, cops said. El Farissy died at the scene. His killer has not been caught.

His slaying was one of four shootings within 12 hours in the Bronx that began about 3:30 p.m. on Monday when two men, ages 18 and 67, were shot near East 145th Street and Third Avenue in Mott Haven.

The two victims were with a group when the gunman ran up and started firing. Both men were hit in the legs. An errant bullet also hit the window of an occupied MTA bus, but no one on the bus was hurt, according to police.

Medics took both men to Lincoln Hospital, where they are expected to recover.

About five hours later in Chief Dennis Devlin Park in Parkchester, a 34-year-old man was shot in the ear during a clash near Olmstead Avenue and the Cross Bronx Expressway.

Both the victim and the 44-year-old gunman were in the park when the younger man accused the shooter of stealing his belongings. During the ensuing fight, the shooter pulled a gun and blasted the victim in the right ear.

Cops responding to the 8:37 p.m. shooting found the victim, who pointed out the shooter as the suspect and a woman ran away.

Police caught up with the alleged shooter, identified as Roderic Cox, and recovered a black 9 mm Glock handgun, police said. Detectives charged Cox with attempted murder, reckless endangerment and weapons possession, officials said.

The victim was treated at Jacobi Medical Center and released.

At about 10:45 p.m., shots rang out on Courtlandt Ave. near East 158th Street in Melrose. A 37-year-old man who suffered a graze wound to the head was taken to Lincoln Hospital. A second victim, a 66-year-old woman shot in the shoulder and hip at that location, arrived at the same hospital by private means.

It was not immediately clear if either victim was the intended target, cops said. Both are expected to survive.

No arrests have been made in that incident.

Before last week, cops were holding on to a 1% drop in shootings in the Bronx, the NYPD said. As of July 21, Bronx cops were investigating 179 shootings, three fewer than the 182 that occurred at the same time a year earlier, according to department statistics.
Two years after an explosion killed at least 54 Ukrainian prisoners of war and injured over 150 more at a penal colony in Russian-occupied Olenivka, Donetsk Oblast on July 28-29, 2022, no one has been held accountable as Russia continues to block investigation efforts.

Russia has not only prevented all efforts by the international community to independently investigate the attack but also contaminated evidence at the site, according to a new report by the United Nations (U.N.) published on July 25.

Prisoners of war are protected under international humanitarian law which requires their humane treatment by the detaining side, the report says. Any abuse should be transparently investigated and prosecuted  a law that the Russian government had systematically broken since the beginning of its full-scale invasion.

Ukrainian authorities have called the Olenivka attack a deliberate Russian war crime, saying Russia either hit the prison with artillery or blew it up from inside.

Kyiv said that days before the attack, Russians deliberately put Ukrainian members of the Azov Regiment, who were captured in Mariupol and were awaiting a prisoner exchange, to a separate part of the prison building that was later destroyed in the explosion.

Russia has accused Ukraine of attacking the prison with HIMARS, a U.S.-made high-precision rocket system first deployed by the Ukrainian army a month before the attack.

The U.N. launched a fact-finding mission to uncover the circumstances of the massacre but disbanded it in January 2023 "in the absence of conditions required for the deployment of the mission to the site."

However, after analyzing the photographic evidence and interviewing over 50 survivors, the U.N. dismissed Russia's claim that the Olenivka prison explosion was caused by a Ukrainian HIMARS rocket in a report released on Oct. 4.

Moreover, the report said that the pattern of structural damage appeared consistent with a projected ordnance having travelled with an east-to-west trajectory.

Those who returned from captivity spoke about the inhumane conditions of detention, hunger, and torture in Olenivka prison. The survivors of the attack said that no effort was made by the Russian captors to rescue and treat the wounded.

As the latest statement by the U.N. said, the lack of accountability for the deaths and injuries at the penal colony in Olenivka fits into the broader context of widespread and routine torture of Ukrainian POWs.

The Russian authorities continue to subject POWs to deplorable conditions of detention, deprive them of healthcare, and allow limited or no contact with family and the outside world, the statement read.

The Azov Regiments press service issued a statement calling to share the information about the tragedy, as the Russians rely on the short memory of the world community, on forgetting its crimes and their own propaganda to avoid punishment.

Wounded Azov men were carrying the bodies of their brothers. Those who could be saved were left to die by the occupiers, the statement said.

Olenivka is a crime against humanity, a violation of all possible rules of warfare and treatment of prisoners of war.

Read also: Olenivka POW camp, where Ukrainians were tortured, was likely supervised by a high-ranking official from Moscow

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
26-year-old man drowns in north GA lake after trying to retrieve kayak

A 26-year-old man drowned in a north Georgia lake on Saturday, according to Dalton police.

Dalton police said that the mans body was recovered from Haig Mill Lake Park late Saturday night after a several-hour search.

An investigation determined the man was with his brother-in-law, using kayaks on the water. Then, the man swam out into the lake to retrieve a kayak that had drifted away.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Police said the man was not wearing a life jacket.

While going after the kayak, the man became tired and began calling for help.

Police said that a man who was fishing on the other side of the lake called 911, but first responders were unable to find the man who drowned.

The mans body was recovered on Saturday night with the help of the Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia State Patrols diving team.

TRENDING STORIES:

Police said there was no evidence of foul play. The man who died has not been identified.

The park will be closed on Sunday.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
3 dead, 2 taken to hospital after boat capsizes on Lake Powell near Utah-Arizona border

PAGE, Ariz. (ABC4)  At least three people have been confirmed deceased after a small pontoon boat capsized on Lake Powell near the Utah-Arizona border on Friday, according to officials.

Two of the deceased individuals were four-year-old boys, and no other information was released about them. The third death was confirmed to be Melissa Bean, 72, according to a joint press release from the Coconino County Sheriffs Office and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

READ NEXT: A blatant mockery: Utah officials react to drag performance at opening ceremony of Paris Olympics

Officials were first informed about the overturned 25-foot pontoon boat just after 3:15 p.m. on Friday, according to the release. The privately owned vessel was being towed by another boater when it capsized near the mouth of Navajo Canyon, which is in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Officials said that waves contributed to the towed vessel capsizing, causing several of the boats 11 passengers to become trapped underneath it.

When Rangers with Glen Canyon responded, they saw one person on top of the overturned boat, while others from the boat were seen in the water, and more members of the party were unaccounted for.

Other boaters in the area helped retrieve victims from the water, and officials provided emergency assistance at the scene. Two people were taken to the hospital for their injuries after the incident.

The press release did not provide further details about the other injuries after the pontoon capsized. Officials did not release the conditions of the individuals who were taken to the hospital.

The National Park Service and Coconino County Sheriffs Office express their condolences to the families, the press release said.

The situation is being investigated by the National Park Service, as well as the Coconino County Sheriffs Office and the Coconino County Medical Examiners Office.

There is no further information at this time.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
CHICAGO  A man and a three-month-old baby were critically injured after two people opened fire on their vehicle Saturday afternoon on the citys West Side.

According to Chicago police, the shooting unfolded just after 4:30 p.m. in the 3100 block of West 26th Street, in Little Village.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

Officers say the two victims, a 21-year-old man and a 3-month-old boy, were inside a car in the area when another vehicle approached and two armed men exited and opened fire.

Police say the baby suffered a gunshot wound to his chest, and the man suffered several gunshot wounds to his body. The man is believed to be the babys father. Both victims were taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Following the shooting, the two gunmen fled the scene in an unknown direction. Police found bullet holes in the windshield and on top of the victims car.

Officers say an investigation into the shooting is now underway, and no arrests have been made. Police have not yet released descriptions of the two suspects or disclosed if they have been able to identify a possible motive.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

A prayer vigil for the victims and their families was held at 5 p.m. Sunday in Little Village, at West 26th and South Whipple Street.

Kristian Armendariz of the Little Village Community Council says the neighborhood is tired of incidents like this one.

Its unfortunate that these situations keep occurring in our neighborhood, he said. We (just) had a peace run, to put an end to this violence and promote peace among our neighborhood members and colleagues.

Its just a call for us to continue and keep pushing for peace.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact CPD Area Four Detectives at 312-746-8251, or dial 911.

Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
WARREN COUNTY, Ky. (WKRN)  Three men from Louisville  one of whom was wanted for murder  were taken into custody after reportedly leading authorities on a pursuit through Southern Kentucky overnight.

According to the Warren County Sheriffs Office, deputies responded to a late night call on Friday, July 26 about an attempted burglary in the 600 block of McIntyre Street.

The caller reported seeing a masked male crouched beside their neighbors home with a rifle, as well as another male walking and a vehicle parked in front of their house. Authorities said there were at least two males on camera, both of whom had firearms.

Kentucky man charged with arson following suspicious fire in Henry County

While some deputies arrived in the area and obtained the video surveillance, others found the vehicle parked at FiveStar on Nashville Road, officials said. However, the vehicle allegedly fled southbound when law enforcement made contact.

The sheriffs office said it helped Kentucky State Police with the pursuit into Franklin, where a suspect jumped from the vehicle and ran off. Meanwhile, the operator drove off road and then fled on foot.

According to deputies, the driver was quickly captured. Then, a Franklin police officer caught the passenger later on. As for the third suspect  who had been left in the neighborhood  law enforcement located and arrested him the morning of Saturday, July 27.

Mt. Juliet Police search for hit-and-run suspect

Over the course of the pursuit, authorities said items were thrown from the vehicle. In addition, a stolen gun was recovered on the side of the road.

Officials identified the driver of the vehicle as 24-year-old Corbett Finley, who was served on a warrant for murder out of Louisville; the passenger found in Franklin as 32-year-old Kenneth Pearson; and the passenger found near the neighborhood as 35-year-old Daniel Vincent.

The sheriffs office said all three Louisville men are being held in the Warren County Detention Center for charges ranging from Convicted Felons in Possession of Firearms and Attempted Burglary, to other various traffic and drug related charges.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

However, the detention center said Vincent was only charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and second-degree criminal trespassing, while Pearson was charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, receiving stolen property (firearm), and first-degree fleeing or evading police (on foot).

As for Finley, the detention center lists his charges as speeding more than 26 mph over the speed limit, first-degree fleeing or evading police (in a motor vehicle), first-degree wanton endangerment, reckless driving, possession of marijuana, buying/possessing drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, receiving stolen property (firearm), and two warrants from a law enforcement agency outside of Warren County.

No additional details have been released about this ongoing investigation.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
3 suspects from out of state scam elderly person in Henry County out of $15,000

The Henry County Police Department warning residents to be wary of scams targeting the elderly.

In department said that in January, it received a report about an elderly person who was scammed out of $15,000 at a local business.

Three different people approached the victim in the parking lot of a business saying one of them needed money to return to his country.

Then, the suspect asked the elderly person to withdraw money from their account and as a result the victim would get a profit in cash.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Now, the Henry County Police Department has issued three arrest warrants for these suspects.

These three men traveled from out of state to target elderly people in the metro Atlanta area, according to police.

Police reminded citizens that criminals are increasingly targeting elderly people to trick them and steal their money.

TRENDING STORIES:

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
32-year-old allegedly tries to hide weed in undergarments while being booked into Georgia jail

A man is facing additional charges after deputies said he tried to enter a Georgia jail with drugs.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

On Thursday, just before 6 p.m., Crisp County deputies conducted a search warrant at an apartment on 17th Avenue West in Cordele.

Deputies also searched the suspect Curtis Harper, 32, silver Chevrolet Tahoe.

During the apartment search, officials found marijuana, a digital scale, packaging material, and a pistol.

He was arrested and taken to the Crisp County Detention Center.

TRENDING STORIES:

According to authorities, while Harper was being processed into the detention center, jailers removed marijuana from his undergarments.

He is facing the following charges:

Possession of marijuana (felony)

Receipt/possession/transfer of firearm by convicted felon

Possession of tools for the commission of a crime

Theft by receiving stolen property

Criminal use of an article with an altered ID mark

Crossing state/county guard lines with drugs

The sheriffs office said citizens can submit tips online or by calling the office at 229-276-2600. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:




Sean Rains lost two classic cars, his home and everything inside it to the Borel fire. He said he stayed to protect his property and, across the street, a historic schoolhouse that still remains. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

For the record:

1:26 p.m. Aug. 7, 2024: An earlier version of this post said that Rains helped firefighters prevent Havilahs town hall from burning down. It was the towns replica schoolhouse that was prevented from burning down and firefighters were not there.



The 38,000-acre Borel fire in Kern County has leveled the tiny, historic mining town of Havilah.

"We lost everything  it's all gone," Havilah resident Sean Rains told The Times on Sunday. "This whole town burned down. Multiple people, friends that I know  everybody lost everything."

The fire ignited Wednesday in the Kern River canyon and spread rapidly as it met with strong winds, officials said. It ran through Havilah on Friday night and razed almost the entire town, appearing to spare only a few buildings.

A museum in Havilah has been reduced to rubble, save for a plaque reading "Historic Havilah: First County Seat for Kern County." (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Standing amid a pungent mixture of smoke and ash, Rains said he helped prevent Havilah's replica schoolhouse from burning. But a nearby historical museum has been reduced to rubble, save for a plaque reading "Historic Havilah: First County Seat for Kern County."

The unincorporated community of roughly 250 people is in the mountains northeast of Bakersfield.

Read more: Jaw-dropping satellite video shows Park fire burning from space

"Our hearts are out to those members of the public in Havilah and the Piute Meadows area," Kern County Fire Department Chief Deputy Dionisio Mitchell said during a news conference Saturday. "We know they took a loss yesterday. It's difficult for them. We currently have teams there assessing the situation."

More than 1,200 firefighters were contending with soaring temperatures and bone-dry conditions on Sunday as they continued to battle the fire, which remains uncontained.

Officials could not immediately confirm the number of structures burned and said assessments are ongoing. Thousands of people in the area remain under evacuation orders as the fire threatens populated areas such as Bodfish and Lake Isabella.

Read more: Park fire flares up as crews scramble to contain 360,000-acre blaze

"We've been under red flag warning conditions, and the fire continues to burn in a very, very intense and erratic way," said Capt. Andrew Freeborn with the Kern County Fire Department. "The flames can be seen from miles away. If you're looking for what extreme fire behavior would be defined as, we're seeing it on this fire."

Officials could not immediately confirm the number of structures burned and said assessments are ongoing. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Havilah was founded in the 1860s and is registered as a California historical landmark. Around the time of its founding, it was an active mining center home to saloons, dance halls, hotels, shops and other establishments, according to the Havilah Museum. The town served as the seat of Kern County from 1866-72, when the government was moved to Bakersfield.

But Havilah is also no stranger to fire, and many residents began to leave the town after several blazes tore through in the early 1870s, according to the museum.

However, the area where the Borel fire is burning hasn't seen much wildfire activity since the early 1990s, which means there is ample unburned vegetation that can act as fuel for flames, officials said.

"And when you align the low [relative humidity], high winds, triple-digit weather we've been dealing with for the last 10 to 12 days, it all lined up for a perfect storm in there," Mitchell said during Saturday's news conference.

Incident commander Jim Snow added that crews are up against "steep, unforgiving country" and hot, sun-baked slopes.

"The weatherman says it's 100 degrees out, but with the heat from the fire, the heat from the slope reflecting off it, and the heat from the general air temperature, you're looking at upwards of 120, 130 degrees at any given time for the firefighters standing out there," he said.

Havilah is an unincorporated community of roughly 250 people in the mountains northeast of Bakersfield. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

On Sunday, Havilah resident Brett Keith returned to find that his home had been destroyed. He dug through the rubble, but the only thing he could find was a small shotgun he's had since he was 7 years old. A large bull belonging to his neighbor was standing in his front yard suffering from some burns.

"I'll have to call my neighbor to come and get his bull," he said.

The Borel fire is being managed with two other fires in Kern and Tulare counties, collectively referred to as the SQF Lightning incident. The other fires are the Trout fire, which has burned 23,369 acres and is 25% contained, and the Long fire, which has burned 9,204 acres and is 35% contained.

They are among about two dozen active wildfires in California, including the 360,000-acre Park fire burning in Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama counties.

"This is going to be a fight for a while," Mitchell said. "The state of California is under fire right now everywhere."

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
4-year-old boy critically injured after falling out of window in West Lawn

CHICAGO  A 4-year-old boy was crtically injured on Saturday afternoon after he fell out of a window on the citys Southwest Side.

According to Chicago police, offices were called to the scene just before 5:30 p.m. following a report of an injured child in the 3700 block of West 63rd Street in West Lawn.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

Once on scene, police say a 29-year-old woman told officers that she had gone to check on the child and noticed that the window screen was torn. She then went outside and found the child with abrasions to his face.

The child was then taken to the hospital where he was listed in critical condition.

Currently, it is unclear how far the child fell and an investigation is now underway.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
64-year-old woman reported missing, last seen on California Ave in Bakersfield

64-year-old woman reported missing, last seen on California Ave in Bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Police are asking for help to find a 64-year-old woman reported missing Saturday out of central Bakersfield.

Officers are looking for Jane Caveney who was last seen July 27 at around 11:15 a.m. in the 800 block of California Avenue, the department said.

VIDEO: Homes in Havilah destroyed by Borel Fire

Jane Caveney, 64 / Photo: Bakersfield Police Department

Caveney is considered at-risk because of unspecified medical conditions.

Caveney is described as 5 feet, 4 inches, weighing 130 pounds, with brown eyes and blonde hair. She was last seen wearing a white sweatshirt, blue jeans and black shoes.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  A 73-year-old man was assaulted while walking around the Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea on Friday morning, police said.

Officers responded to a 911 call for an assault on Seventh Avenue and 23rd Street around 9 a.m. The suspect slapped the victim in the face around 9 a.m. causing a cut to his lip, police said.

More Crime News

The assailant then fled west to the train station on 23rd Street and Seventh Avenue, authorities said.

The victim was taken to Lenox Health Greenwich Village, where he was treated for his injuries.

No arrests have been made. An investigation remains ongoing, authorities said.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Video above: How to report a missing person

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  An 83-year-old man has been missing for a week after his flight from Florida was canceled due to lingering issues from the CrowdStrike outage.

Patrick A. Bailey checked in for his flight out of Orlando International Airport on July 21, but the trip was canceled due to lingering results from the CrowdStrike outage, the Orlando Police Department said.

Elementary school principal arrested for DUI, fleeing Hillsborough deputies, officials say

Bailey spent the night at a local hotel and checked out the following morning. However, he did not take a flight home, police said on X. He hasnt been heard from since.

NBC affiliate WESH spoke with Baileys son who said hes at a loss trying to locate his father.

Photos of Patrick Bailey Sr. courtesy of the Orlando Police Department

We really are at a loss to figure out how to find him, the mans son, Patrick Bailey Jr., said.

Bailey Jr. said his father was flying home to Oregon after visiting his sister in Florida.

He checked in his bags and then his flight got canceled with all the issues with the airlines, his son said. Nobody got any notices about him getting home. Nobody had heard from him.

According to WESH, the 83-year-olds family has also been unable to locate him through his cellphone.

Rays trade All-Star Isaac Paredes to Cubs as trade deadline nears

The problems really started because he forgot his cellphone at the hotel and we really dont have any other ways of communicating with him or finding out where he is at, Bailey Jr. said.

The airline Bailey Jr.s father was supposed to take also said he didnt get on the plane.

He could have possibly taken another airline, he said. But he hasnt shown up at home. Weve had people check his house.

The mans son said his father became a long-haul truck driver after retiring from the Navy, so its possible he couldve rented a car and made the drive home. However, the company the 83-year-old rented a car from while in the Sunshine State said he returned the rental and didnt get a new one.

Additionally, Bailey Jr. said his dad was recently hospitalized with a back injury so hes not sure if he could even manage the drive.

I just dont think hes physically up for the drive of going all the way across the country with his current condition, he said.

Killer Otter removed from Florida lake, report says

Bailey Jr. told WESH that police were checking with other rental car companies to track his fathers whereabouts, but hes hoping someone will spot his dad soon.

Hopefully this is all going to end well and were going to find him but it is a reminder that time is fleeting, he said.

Anyone who sees Patrick Bailey is asked to contact the Orlando Police Department or call 911.

According to WESH, the mans daughter said Louisiana police were trying to follow a lead in his disappearance, but no other details were provided.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
The teens were detained along with a black and red replica firearm," two fake magazines and the victim's iPhone, Boston police said

Getty A stock image of a playground

Two teenagers have been arrested and charged for allegedly robbing a 9-year-old boy on a Boston playground.

The victim was at Childrens Park, a public playground, in the evening of Thursday, July 25, waiting for a cookout to begin when he was approached by two teen boys, according to a police report obtained by PEOPLE.

While brandishing and pointing a replica firearm at the victim, the teens allegedly asked him for his shoes, iPhone and money before fleeing the scene, Boston Police said.

"I was terrified," the victim, whose identity was not released by police, recalled to Boston news outlet WCVB. I was thinking like, 'What if I die right here on the spot, right here?' "

"All he wanted to do is just shoot me right there if I didn't give him my password," the boy added. "I had to get them because I didn't want to get shot."

Officers quickly found two individuals who matched the teens descriptions and successfully stopped them, police said.

After detaining the suspects, officers took custody of the victims iPhone, along with a black and red replica firearm and two fake magazines, police said.

The two teens were charged with armed robbery and threat to commit a crime, according to Boston Police. Like the victim, their identities have not been publicized.

Also speaking with WCVB, the victims mother, whose identity was not publicized, said she feels unsafe following the incident.

"It's scary, she told the outlet. I mean, it's very scary. We're not safe."

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

In a statement provided to CBS News, Essex County District Attorney Kevin Hayden emphasized that the age of the victim makes this incident even more shocking than usual.

"Being robbed at gunpoint is a terrifying experience for anyone, Hayden said. But the age of the victim here, and the ages of the charged juveniles, adds an extra layer of shock and heartbreak.

I commend this young boy and the adults present for providing the information that led to the arrest, he added.

Hayden did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Do MAGA Republicans hear themselves?

Earlier this month, as he speculated on Newsmax about how Vice President Kamala Harris might perform as the Democratic presidential nominee, the reliably noxious Donald Trump supporter Sebastian Gorka dismissed her in the most offensive way, using the abbreviation for "diversity, equity and inclusion" programs.

Shes a DEI hire, right? Shes a woman. Shes colored, he said, adding sarcastically, Therefore, shes got to be good.

Read more: Abcarian: This is among the most consequential lies Trump and Republicans are telling women voters

The 20-year-old chairwoman of Hawaii Young Republicans piled on, suggesting on Instagram that Harris would be more effective in the White House kitchen than in the Oval Office. I can see how some would view my words as misogynistic or sexist, but its simply a joke, explained Rocklin Youngstrom  unaware, perhaps, that her post could be all three without being funny.

"Low IQ Kamala" is how the Official War Room account of the 2024 Trump campaign described Harris on the social media platform X.

And Trump rallies have long featured merch with the slogan Joe and the Ho gotta go.

I assume this outpouring of super-classy behavior is what led Republican leaders to warn GOP members of Congress to refrain from overtly racist and sexist attacks on Harris.

Read more: Abcarian: Who should replace President Biden if he leaves the race? The answer should be obvious

This election will be about policies and not personalities, Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters after a closed-door meeting with House Republicans on Tuesday. This is not personal with regard to Kamala Harris, and her ethnicity or her gender have nothing to do with this whatsoever.

Now, Im just spitballing here, but if you have to instruct your political allies to avoid sexist and racist rhetoric against the first woman of color to head a major presidential ticket, doesn't your party have a sexism and racism problem?

And if you are urging them to forswear only overt attacks, does that mean you are fine with more nuanced ones? Is it overtly sexist or racist when Trump calls Harris a nasty woman, a radical-left lunatic and dumb as a rock"? Or when he constantly butchers her first name (properly pronounced comma-la) and claims she shouldnt even be allowed to run?

Trumps running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, must not have gotten Johnsons memo. Last week, he evoked the despicable Reagan-era caricature of the Black welfare queen to describe Harris, a former San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general and United States senator.

What the hell have you done other than collect a government check for the past 20 years? he demanded of the vice president during his first solo campaign rally.

Former Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway declared on Fox News that Harris does not speak well. She does not work hard.

Its been kind of fun watching Vances missteps in his early outings as Trumps vice presidential nominee, which has led to speculation that Trump must be having a serious case of buyers remorse.

The internet caught fire after Hillary Clinton resurfaced a 2021 clip of Vance telling Tucker Carlson that Democrats such as Harris and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that theyve made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable too. By contrast, he said, those meeting his narrow definition of parents who go home at night and see the face of a smiling kid, whatever their profession, I think theyre happier, I think theyre healthier, and theyre going to be better prepared to actually lead this country.

It takes a special kind of cluelessness to simultaneously slam women who dont have kids and cat lovers. Vance's bizarre fetishization of parenthood  he has suggested parents should have more votes than people who don't have kids  is already backfiring. Once his cat lady comments were out of the bag, a 2023 Time magazine "Person of the Year" cover featuring the childless Taylor Swift with her cat Benjamin Button around her neck went viral. One of Harris' two stepchildren and their mother also rebuked Vance's inaccurate attack on the vice president.

Even the childless Jennifer Aniston, who only occasionally dips into politics, weighed in Wednesday on Instagram. I truly cant believe this is coming from a potential VP of the United States, she wrote. And, alluding to Vances vote against ensuring access to in vitro fertilization, she added, Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day. I hope she will not need to turn to IVF as a second option. Because you are trying to take that away from her, too.

Democratic campaign consultant Tim Hogan described the Trump-Vance campaign on CNN recently as a testosterone ticket that I think is going to explode the gender gap in this election.

Its too early for polls to determine whether that is true. Harris flawless debut as the probable Democratic nominee is bound to give way to a misstep here or there. Thats just how campaigns work.

And the torrent of racism and sexism that has already flowed from Trump and his supporters will surely continue to inundate us between now and election day. We can be grateful at least that the race has just 100 days to go.

@robinkabcarian

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
What is typically a routine approval by the City Council of a new member for the Lincoln City Library Board veered into culture wars territory last week.

Lincoln City Libraries Director Ryan Wieber on Monday introduced Terri Dunlap as the newest Library Board member, a position that requires City Council approval to a seven-year term.

Councilman Tom Duden asked Dunlap how she felt about keeping certain materials in the youth section  an issue thats come up several times in the last year.

Banning books  or at least removing some from the young adult section  has been an issue nationwide, and while its generated less controversy in Lincoln than in other parts of the country, or even the state, its come up.

Last year, the five requests to remove items from the citys library shelves or from the youth sections was the largest number of such requests in at least the past five years, mirroring a record number nationally.

Several of the items dealt with gender identity or sexual orientation, which critics argue are too sexually explicit.

The people who have requested books be removed from the youth section have found a supporter in Duden, who said Monday he thinks there are some inappropriate materials in the youth section of Lincoln libraries, and he believes they should be moved to the adult sections.

Dunlap said she isnt yet familiar with how Lincoln libraries deals with such requests but does feel like its parents role to decide what their children read.

I do believe that not all books are for all people, and I do believe thats the parents job to help discern those decisions, she told the council.

She said shed thought about what her own reaction might be as a parent finding a book like those people have requested be removed. She said she would see it as an opportunity for discussion with her child.

Even if I had the opinion he shouldnt be reading that book, that is my chance to tell him but not necessarily to take that opportunity away from other people.

Councilman James Michael Bowers, who is gay, came to the defense of diverse choices in libraries, saying he didnt come out until his 20s, and libraries provided him the opportunity to find answers to questions he was too afraid to ask  or didnt have anyone to ask.

Access to libraries and making sure people have materials available to them is a form of suicide prevention and a way to protect mental health, he said. As someone who directly benefited from it, as someone who is passionate about making sure we create a safe environment, thanks to Lincoln City Libraries for saving my life in that way.

The council approved Dunlaps appointment on a 6-1 vote, with Duden voting against it.

Creative maneuvering

Speaking of libraries, the citys Urban Development Department decided to try a little creative planning to get the Lincoln City Libraries Bethany Branch the additional parking it needs.

To do so, the city wants to buy the lot just to the south at 1700 N. Cotner Blvd., then find a developer interested in developing a portion of it, with the idea that the city would craft an agreement so that the library would share the parking lot during certain hours.

For years, the library had the first chance to buy the property were it to be for sale, but because of a change in ownership, it was sold on the market to a developer, Urban Development Director Peter Hind told the City Council recently.

Some time later, the developer changed his mind and asked if the city wanted to buy it.

By that time, the library had taken money for the potential purchase out of its budget and the director approached Hind to see if he had any ideas. The library needed parking but had no building expansion plans.

Hind thought he could craft an arrangement similar to the one covering a property just south of the Lincoln Community Playhouse near 56th Street and Normal Boulevard.

The playhouse shares parking with the Gere Library branch just to the north, and a developer bought land to the south. When an oral surgery business opened there, the community playhouse shared parking with that business as well, since it needed parking at different times than the business.

Such an arrangement would accomplish a couple of things, Hind said: getting the library the parking it needs and encouraging infill development in an older part of the city.

It was clear in my mind, we could do the same thing with Bethany, Hind said. We think its important to do this work for the neighborhood, and for the library.

The council approved a change to the capital improvement program that will allow the city to buy the land for $200,000, though Hind said there will likely be some public meetings before the city decides exactly how it would be marketed to developers.

Progress on 98th Street

North 98th Street from Holdrege to Adams streets is now paved.

The section of roadway opened last week, a pretty big deal for Lancaster County Engineer Pam Dingman  and the growing number of motorists who use 98th Street.

The thing that is significant about this stretch of 98th Street is it gives the traveling public an alternate route to 84th Street, which is a dramatic need of our community, Dingman said.

There were already a few sections of 98th Street that are paved: from Holdrege to O streets and from Old Cheney Road to Nebraska Parkway.

With the completion of the Holdrege to Adams section, the county is closer to its ultimate goal of getting the entire road  from Nebraska Parkway to Adams Street paved, Dingman said.

This corridor, with the growth of the city, really needs to get completed, she said.

For years, the road has been a mismatch of conditions: some gravel, some paved roadway, and a few sections not open.

Work on the section from A to Old Cheney is now underway and should be completed by this fall, Dingman said.

Design work on the last section  from A to O streets  should be finished and ready for construction in 18 to 24 months.

The latest stretch cost about $1.2 million, which the county paid for; 80% of the section from A to Old Cheney will be paid with federal funds, and the city is paying for a recently annexed section between Van Dorn and South streets  the first project on which the city and county have partnered on the busy corridor.

Its difficult to maintain gravel roads when more than 300 cars a day travel on them, Dingman said. More than 700 cars traveled the Holdrege to Adams and Old Cheney to A sections before construction started.

Maintaining a mile of gravel on 98th Street under those travel conditions costs $125,000 a year. So having it paved?

Its a game-changer," Dingman said.

Top Journal Star photos for July 2024
An accused serial rape suspect from Johnson City was convicted July 26 of escaping from a prisoner transport van, though he was acquitted of an attempted escape charge.

The jury verdict came following a four-day trial in U.S. District Court in Greeneville last week in which the defendant, Sean Williams, represented himself. Williams, 52, faces a maximum of five years in prison.

The Johnson City businessman made headlines last year when managed to get out of his restraints and bust through the window of a transport van as guards were shuffling him to a court appearance in East Tennessee.

He was a fugitive for over a month before he was captured in November in Florida.

Williams, in messages to The Tennessean from his Blount County jail cell, previously alluded to having help in the escape.

In the trial, he admitted to escaping from the van but denied another alleged attempted escape from his jail cell in the Washington County Detention Center in July 2023.

After a short deliberation on Friday, the jury found insufficient evidence for the attempted escape charge but convicted Williams of the van escape.

Williams is accused of sexually assaulting more than 50 women and children in incidents he captured in pictures and videos, according to police records and lawsuits. He has not yet been charged in the alleged sexual assault cases, but he faces multiple criminal trials.

His next trial is set for Aug. 27, where hell face child pornography charges in East Tennessee. He also faces charges in North Carolina for drugs and child pornography.

His case has been marred in allegations of police corruption and three federal lawsuit against Johnson City alleging that police for years were aware of Williams' alleged crimes but failed to investigate.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Johnson City serial rape suspect convicted of escaping from custody
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN)  Dozens of people in Durham are celebrating Disability Pride Month and capping it off with a parade through downtown. Organizers said Disability Pride events have existed for decades, but Saturdays event is only the second one in Durham.

Organizer Tatum Tricarico said July, Disability Pride Month, commemorates the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990.

We celebrate disability pride as kind of an addition onto that, to celebrate the culture of disabled people and the really powerful history of the disability community that fought for the ADA and the 504 and other laws, Tricario said.

Tricarico said the event celebrates the disabled community.

Disability isnt something to be ashamed of or something to hide or even necessarily to want fixed, she said.

She added it is also an opportunity to help them access resources like housing, health care and voter registration.

Theyre adults just like we are. And theyre still trying to live and thrive, said supporter Denelle Ryan.

Ryan lives with her partner and her partners brother who has Down syndrome.

I live in the North Street Neighborhood, which is a neighborhood in Durham that was redeveloped just for families and people who want to support people with special needs, she said.

Ryan said events like Saturdays can remind people the disabled community exists and has a lot to offer.

Just because they may not have a degree in engineering doesnt mean they can be a really awesome barista, she said. Each one of these people should be proud to be who they are. And if thats disabled, thats disabled. It doesnt make it not hard, but it doesnt make it not beautiful either.

Organizers said they are excited to see how much the Disability Pride Parade has grown in just a year.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Lane County commissioners are scheduled to hold a public hearing where they will revisit the land-use approval of the 'eco-village' Lost Valley Education Center on Tuesday, as well as hold public hearings on Lane County recreational immunity and roads, and Springfield parks and housing.

Lane County Board of Commissioners

To attend: These meetings take place at the Harris Hall at 125 E. Eighth Ave., Eugene. Doors to Harris Hall open at 8:45 a.m.

To watch: County commission meetings stream at bit.ly/LaneCounty-meetings, Lane County's YouTube channel, Comcast channel 21, and the GovHub Media app.

To comment: In-person commenters can sign up at the door. Online commenters should register for the Zoom meeting. To submit written comments, email publiccomment@lanecountyor.gov by noon Monday with the subject line PUBLIC COMMENT FOR MEETING DATE 7/30/2024.

Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6jRzapJyRjqp2GeyVAtqpA

MORNING SESSION

When: 9 a.m., Tuesday, July 30.

What: County commissioners are scheduled to hear public comment, vote on a labor contract with their Parole & Probation officers, hold a public hearing and vote on re-approving the land-use application for the Lost Valley Center, vote on the county's priorities for the 2025 legislative session, and on accepting a grant for the Alderwood Looped Power Transmission project planned near Junction City.

AFTERNOON SESSION

When: 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 25.

What: Commissioners are scheduled to hold public hearings and possibly vote on:

Restoring recreational immunity in Lane County.

Changes to the part of Lane County's code outlining road standards.

Approving Willamalane's new Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan.

Allowing housing in commercial parts of Springfield.

Alan Torres covers local government for the Register-Guard. He can be reached over email at atorres@registerguard.com or on X @alanfryetorres.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Public hearings on recreational immunity, housing
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  An air tanker pilot who died after disappearing in the Malheur National Forest late Thursday night has been identified.

The Grant County Sheriff confirmed Sunday morning that 74-year-old James Bailey Maxwell passed away while fighting a lightning-started fire in the vicinity of the Falls Fire near Seneca, Ore.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the single-engine Air Tractor 802A crashed around 11:30 p.m. Thursday night. Maxwell was the only occupant of the aircraft.

Man disappears in Columbia River, officials unable to recover the body

The plane was located in steep, forested terrain on Friday morning after the search was suspended at nightfall the day before, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

In a statement made on social media, the U.S. Forest Service said Maxwell was an experienced pilot who had spent 54 years flying and had logged approximately 24,000 hours of flight time.

The Maxwell family and firefighters are grateful for the support being expressed throughout the community and online, the statement continued. Services have not been announced at this time and the family asks for privacy while they mourn.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
This article was originally published in Alabama Reflector.

Republicans in the Alabama House of Representatives have refiled a bill that would attach criminal penalties for having some materials in libraries that are accessible to children.

HB 4, sponsored by Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs, would apply certain criminal obscenity laws to public libraries, public school libraries and employees or agents acting on behalf of the legitimate educational purposes of the K-12 public school libraries or public libraries.

The bill, which does not apply to institutions of higher education, does not outline the level of felony or misdemeanor that would be applicable. Other penalties under the Alabama Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act include mostly fines, with some potential imprisonment.

Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter

Mooney did not return messages seeking comment.

The bill, which has nearly 50 co-sponsors including Republican leadership, would add another definition of sexual conduct to the Alabama code: In K-12 public schools or public libraries where minors are expected and known to be present without parental presence or consent, any sexual or gender-oriented conduct, presentation, or activity that knowingly exposes a minor to a person who is dressed in sexually revealing, exaggerated, or provocative clothing or costumes, who is stripping, or who is engaged in lewd or lascivious dancing.

Mooneys legislation provides 15 business days for staff to move material to an age-restricted section; remove material; cease conduct; or make an official determination that the material or conduct does not violate the law.

If the parent, resident or guardian does not receive not receive notice within 25 days, the copies can be taken to law enforcement.

Protecting Alabamas children will always be a top priority, House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, one of the co-sponsors of the legislation, said in a statement.The goal of HB 4 is to ensure that our school and public libraries are an educational resource for children that parents can trust. I look forward to continued conversations and moving this legislation through the process.

The legislation comes amid attacks on public libraries nationwide. A 2024 report from PEN America found that there were more than 4,000 book bans in the first half of the school year.

Mooney filed a similar bill last year but with fewer co-sponsors. The bill passed the House but not the Senate. Last years version of the bill did not allow library staff to make a determination that material did not violate obscenity laws.

Craig Scott, the president of the Alabama Library Association and a library director in Gadsden, said in an interview that the bill does not offer a reasonable timeframe for the material to be removed from the library.

If a book is objectionable, we will review it as a staff and make a decision if whoever the challenging person or persons are, he said. If they dont like our determination to move it or not move it, okay, then they can appeal that and here in Gadsden, it goes to a committee or and then it would go to our library board. In other libraries, it would go straight to the library board to adjudicate, okay? So, its a process, and its going to take a lot longer than 25 days. I sure wish they would have put 60 in there.

He also said he takes great offense to the bill.

My long story short, we have been doing the moving of books, or not ordering books, whatever the case might be as part of our jobs that a librarian has been trained for decades upon decades, and now these extremists and our legislators want to legislate our activities, he said. In other words, they dont trust us.

Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com. Follow Alabama Reflector on Facebook and X.
Alastair Laing, who has died aged 79, spent the vast majority of his professional career at the National Trust, where he was in charge of pictures and sculpture from 1986 to 2013.

It was an ideal employment for his immense  if undersung  gifts as a scholar with a rare capacity for combining an extraordinary breadth of knowledge in the fields of painting, drawing and sculpture across the centuries.

Crucially, his exceptional range was matched by an unrivalled depth of understanding of the work of a single artist, the 18th-century French painter and draughtsman Francois Boucher.

Yet all this might never have happened but for an early change of direction.

Francois Boucher, 1740, Les presents du berger ou Le Nid - Alamy

Alastair David Laing was born in Woking, Surrey, on August 5 1944, the middle child of Malcolm Laing, a civil engineer, and his wife Margaret (known as Clare).

From Bradfield College, Alastair read history at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, graduating in 1966. Oxford would not get round to offering an undergraduate degree in the history of art until the 1990s, but he stayed on at the university to undertake a postgraduate diploma in the subject.

An obvious next step might have been to proceed to the Courtauld Institute of Art, and he did move on there, but only after a year at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which ended unhappily; diplomacys loss was art historys gain.

In those days, the Courtauld was still very much Anthony Blunts kingdom, and it is a mark of his high regard for Laing that he was one of the three younger colleagues Blunt asked to join forces with him to write a substantial volume entitled Baroque & Rococo: Architecture and Decoration, published in 1978.

Anthony Blunt's book to which Laing contributed the section on central and eastern Europe

Laing wrote the section on central and eastern Europe  an impressively authoritative book-length contribution, which was also the focus of his never-completed doctoral thesis on early South-German Rococo stucco (architecture represented yet another string to his bow).

In connection with his studies, he spent time in Munich in 1968, and visited Czechoslovakia, where he met Hana Novotna, a neuropsychologist, who was only able to join him in Britain a decade later. They married in 1979.

After taking various odd jobs to make ends meet, in 1976 Laing joined the Heim Gallery, Jermyn Street, as a researcher and remained there until 1983. He always insisted that it was at the Heim, under the guidance of Andrew Ciechanowiecki  affectionately known in the art world as Mr Chicken-and-whisky  that he truly learnt his trade.

In such an environment, he was inevitably called upon to get to grips with a whole array of works that could not be relied upon to inhabit his comfort zone, but ultimately had the effect of extending it in all sorts of directions.

Thus, within a year he was responsible for the impressively substantial entries on the Italian school in the catalogue of the exhibition, The Finest Drawings from the Museums of Angers, a travelling show that started out at the Heim. Characteristically, he made sure that the fact that he had benefited from the advice of Philip Pouncey was clearly acknowledged.

But Laings big break came when he was asked to join two other eminences, Pierre Rosenberg and Patrice Marandel, in organising a major Boucher exhibition in 1986-87 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Grand Palais, Paris. Crucially, he was given responsibility for writing the entries on paintings, which take up more than 200 pages of the catalogue.

Boucher's La Nymphe Callisto, seduite par Jupiter sous les traits de Diane, 1759 - Alamy

With becoming modesty, in their preface the three authors stated: None of us is an authority on Boucher. But that was nearly 40 years ago, and since then Laings stature as a Boucher scholar grew until he came to be universally recognised as the leading authority on the artist.

The main step on the way was the 2003-04 exhibition The Drawings of Francois Boucher at the Frick Collection, New York, and the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth. The catalogue, with the exception of a foreword by Pierre Rosenberg, was entirely Laings work.

At the time of his death, his long-awaited catalogue raisonne of Bouchers drawings was far advanced, and there is every hope that it will be completed by Laure-Aline Griffith-Jones (Demazure).

His distinction in this field was no doubt a major reason for Laing being made a Chevalier in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1988, and more recently in 2020 being awarded a prize by the Academie Francaise.

In his work for the National Trust, Laings near-omniscience was to prove invaluable, and happily there are two lasting memorials to it. One is the catalogue of the exhibition In Trust for the Nation: Paintings from National Trust Houses, which was held at the National Gallery in 1995-96, and reflected his taste for quirky pictures alongside masterpieces, while the other is represented by the six volumes devoted to Oil Paintings in National Trust Properties, material which is now freely available online via ArtUK.

Laing served on the Acceptance in Lieu Panel (1994-2005) and the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art (1996-2002), and similar bodies too numerous to list. He was also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and of the Society of Dilettanti.

Laing looked, dressed, and behaved much like an old-style Oxbridge don and was notable for his generosity, both as a scholar and as a person. In Whos Who, under Recreations he listed Church- and tomb-crawling.

Alastair Laing is survived by his wife Hana and by their son Sam.

Alastair Laing, born August 5 1944, died June 29 2024

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Memphis Police are looking for a woman they say attempted to steal from a local Target and pepper sprayed an employee when he stopped her.

On July 1 at 5:19 p.m., two women entered Target at 601 Colonial Road. They put over $600 worth of merchandise in their cart. After the suspects passed the last point of sale without paying, they were approached by Target Loss Prevention staff.

MPD: Man points gun at 2 Dixie Queen employees

One woman was wearing a white hat and a grey shirt pulled out a can of pepper spray and sprayed the loss prevention representative.

As the representative was attempting to get away, the woman chased him and continued to spray him. He was able to recover the merchandise.

Memphis Police say that no arrests have been made, but this is an ongoing investigation.

If you have any information that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
GOP U.S. Senate candidates (L-R): Dr. Sherry O'Donnell, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers and former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash | Photos by Kyle Davidson, Lucy Valeski and Nick Manes

Updated, 9:58 a.m., 7/31/24

They are in a race that may well determine control of the U.S. Senate, with Republicans making the case that capturing the seat could be a valuable partner to another Trump administration  or at the very least, serve as check on what they say would be four more years of progressive policies bankrupting the country if Vice President Kamala Harris wins.

On Aug. 6, former U.S Rep. Justin Amash (I-Cascade Twp.), physician and former congressional candidate Dr. Sherry ODonnell and former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake) are facing off in the GOP primary  but the latter has emerged as the favorite thanks to former President Donald Trumps endorsement.

The race is truly Mike Rogers to lose at this point, said GOP political consultant Andrea Bitely. Theres little doubt in my mind that any of his primary challengers could even come close. Rogers is so far ahead in name ID that theres no way anyone could touch him.

But even as Trump has led in most Michigan polls this cycle and the Cook Political Report has rated the open race as a Tossup, the Senate race is still considered an uphill battle for the GOP.

The last time Michigan was represented by a Republican in the U.S. Senate, there was no social media, cell phones and cameras were separate items for most people, while hangings chads was a phrase widely used in both news coverage and the punchlines of late night comedians.

Ever since now-U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) defeated Republican U.S. Sen. Spencer Abraham in 2000, Democrats have had a lock on both Michigan seats in the nations upper chamber. But with Stabenows announcement that she would not seek another term, Republicans are betting that this is the year they can end that dominance.

While at one time no less than a dozen candidates stampeded into the race for the GOP nomination, only four made the cut to appear on the Aug. 6 primary ballot. Yet only three are still in the race. And while the Advance sent a set of three questions to the GOP candidates, only Amash responded.

During former Trumps rally in Grand Rapids, the fourth candidate, Grosse Pointe Park businessman Sandy Pensler, made the surprise announcement that he was suspending his campaign and endorsing Rogers. However, Penslers name will still appear on the ballot.

Mikes going to make a heck of a senator, said Pensler, who previously called Rogers an unprincipled career politician, with a selfish pattern of using political influence to personally profit from partnerships with the Chinese Communist government against the interests of our country.

But that was all forgotten Saturday.

I want you guys to look around the room tonight because everything goes through Michigan, said Pensler. The presidency, the Senate, the House, and the state House. Look around and make a pledge to each other. Were going to fight, fight, fight like hell to save America and elect Donald Trump, Mike Rogers, and the rest of the ticket on the Republican Party.

The endorsement only further solidified Rogers status as the candidate to beat in the primary.

Rogers as the frontrunner

Rogers leaped to the front of the pack when he secured Trumps endorsement in March. Thats made him the main target in the race, with other candidates all attacking Rogers pedigree as a true conservative.

Rogers retired from Congress in 2015 following seven terms representing his mid-Michigan district, serving as chair of the powerful House Intelligence Committee. He also represented Livingston County in the Michigan Senate from 1995 to 2001.

He later became a cyber security adviser and businessman and moved to Florida.

The Howell native, whose purchase of a home in White Lake created questions earlier this year about where he actually was living, came out of the gate last September with a strong bid to attract Trump voters and place himself atop the field of candidates for the GOP nomination.

That was despite his former service as an FBI agent and CNN commentator, neither of which are popular with MAGA voters, many of whom view the federal law enforcement agency as complicit in targeting Trump as well as the cable news outlet that is often a target of his ire.

In 2018, Rogers said Trump was fundamentally wrong in his assessment of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the past, he called Trumps political tactics destructive and flirted with a presidential run of his own, saying he would not commit to supporting Trump for president in 2024 if he is the GOP nominee.

But Rogers was quick to put that record in the rearview mirror and adapt to the political reality of a Trump-dominated Republican Party, essentially echoing Trumps position that his prosecution on dozens of state and federal felony charges in four jurisdictions was a purposeful political persecution and not based on the rule of law.

Trump has since been convicted on 34 felony counts in New York, while the classified documents case against him in Florida was recently dismissed and is being appealed.

Rogers was also on board with Trump when he encouraged Russia to do whatever the hell they want to Americas NATO allies in Europe because some of them arent meeting spending guidelines. Rogers called it campaign rhetoric but essentially backed Trumps view.

I think its ridiculous that we have to continue to beg them to do what they promised to do already when we have real challenges, he said at the time.

Bitely said Rogers change of heart represents the cold, hard calculus of politics.

Mike Rogers has done everything he possibly could to get that Donald Trump endorsement, she said. Hes kissed the ring, if you will, he spoke at the [Republican National] Convention. Hes done everything short of getting a spray tan to reflect Trump as much as possible. Whether you like it or not, thats what it comes down to. He is Trumps candidate here in Michigan.

Concurring with that assessment is GOP strategist Dennis Darnoi.

I think it was Mike Rogers race to lose. He had the endorsements and all of the support in the areas that he needed to, he told the Advance. Obviously, Sandy Pensler had a lot of money. He had the potential to spend as much as he felt was necessary, but I dont think that anyone looking at the polls, looking at where the race stood today, thought that there was going to be that second-place horse catching and passing the leader.

While the 67-year-old Pensler, founder of the private investment firm Pensler Capital Corp., spent $5 million of his fortune in a failed U.S. Senate bid in 2018, that wasnt the case this election.

The latest fundraising filings with the Federal Elections Commission show Rogers with a commanding cash lead. As of June 30, he has more than $2.5 million in cash on hand, while Pensler had a little over $1 million. Amash was next with just over $400,000, and ODonnell with about $46,000.

Darnoi says Pensler saw the writing on the wall and concluded the race in November was going to come down to what most people at the start of the campaign thought it would be: Rogers vs. U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly).

Slotkin, a former CIA analyst who currently represents a congressional seat similar to the one Rogers did, is facing actor Hill Harper of Detroit in the Democratic primary. Like Rogers, she is considered the frontrunner in her race.

And Rogers opponents have often tried to paint him as being similar to Slotkin, even accusing him of being a deep state operative.

It was Pensler who made the greatest effort to try and halt the Rogers machine, making a major ad buy in January that directly attacked the former congressmans tenure leading the House Intelligence Committee.

9/11, 2012. Four Americans killed by terrorists in Benghazi, Hillary Clintons worst scandal. Congressman Mike Rogers helped Hillary [Clinton] cover it up, claimed one Pensler ad which referred to the conclusions of a 2014 report by the committee that there was no evidence that there was either a stand down order or a denial of available air support, during the attack nor was there an intelligence failure prior to the attacks.

That report largely deflated GOP efforts to try and blame Clinton, who served as secretary of state at the time, as well as the Obama administration, as trying to cover up the details of the attack.

Amash runs as an outsider

When former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (I-Cascade Twp.) announced in February that he would seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat he, like Rogers, came into the race with considerable anti-Trump baggage.

Amash, who left the Republican Party in 2019 to become a Libertarian, joined Democrats in voting to impeach former president Donald Trump in the same year. After considering a bid for president, he retired from Congress in 2020 and was succeeded by former U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Grand Rapids). Meijer lost his 2022 reelection bid and had also been seeking the Senate seat before dropping out in April.

When asked what he saw as the main issue facing Republican voters in the primary, Amash said it was a government not working for its citizens.

We have an oligarchy of elites. A few people at the top make all the decisions, and our representatives and senators are sidelined, answered Amash. We need a Congress that fulfills its original mission, to serve as a body of legislative discovery. All representatives and senators must be allowed to read, amend, and debate legislation. Only then can important issues like spending, immigration, foreign policy, and privacy be addressed in a way that reflects, within the bounds of the Constitution, the consensus of the public.

Amash also says he would be the best candidate to defeat the Democratic candidate in November.

My conservative record makes me the clear choice for Republicans, but my principled and transparent approach also appeals to othersand I have a history of outperforming the top of the ticket in general elections, he said. In a matchup with Democratic frontrunner and former CIA analyst Elissa Slotkin, Im uniquely positioned to win votes from liberals, progressives, and independents  and Michigans sizable Arab American community  who are repulsed by Slotkins commitment to endless wars, unconstitutional spying, and weaponized government.

And if elected in November, Amash says his top priority would be to defend liberty, the Constitution, and the Rule of Law.

To do that, Amash says he would use all of his leverage as a senator to fix the broken legislative process that is denying the American people a genuinely representative government that works for them.

Unlike Rogers, Amash has not bothered to court Trump, and instead has focused on attacking Rogers as someone antithetical to small government.

Mike Rogers is what you get if you take [GOP U.S. Sen.] Lindsey Graham but make him even more enthusiastic about huge spending bills, the military-industrial complex, and the surveillance state, Amash posted to social media earlier this month.

My opponent Mike Rogers has always been absolutely clear about his agenda: More endless wars. More warrantless surveillance. More weaponized government, he writes in another post.

While Rogers got the coveted Trump endorsement, ODonnell has racked up a list of far-right personalities endorsing her run, including Trumps former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn, musician Ted Nugent, and former GOP national Committeeman Dave Agema, perhaps best remembered for comparing gays to alcoholics and claiming they want free health care because theyre all dying of AIDS.

ODonnell, a physician and former congressional candidate who is also an ordained pastor in the Assembly of God Church, is the medical director of Herbie Medical Clinic, located in Niles, Michigan inside the Wesley United Methodist Church.

She is a proponent of the medical freedom movement which fought against masks and vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic, something she once referred to as the plandemic, a debunked conspiracy theory that COVID-19 was purposely created by powerful elites to enrich themselves on vaccine profits.

When ODonnell filed her petition signatures in March to appear on the GOP primary ballot, she also took aim at Rogers.

Michigan deserves a senator who will fight for the Americans gotten by Mike Rogers and D.C. elites, ODonnell said.

I look forward to beating Mike Rogers on the debate stage proving that I, as an accomplished female physician, I am the only candidate that will beat Elissa Slotkin in November, ODonnell said.

However, while there have been some forums during the GOP primary featuring some candidates, there has not been a formal debate.

ODonnell also told reporters at the time that despite Trumps endorsement of Rogers, she would win the nomination based on her support from grassroots Republicans, pointing to a social media post from U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) that called Rogers a never Trumper, and a card carrying member of the spy state that seeks to destroy Trump.

Where Trump goes, so, too. do GOP voters

While Amash and ODonnell have tried to distinguish themselves from Rogers, Darnoi believes the race, for all intents and purposes, ended when Trump endorsed Rogers.

Weve seen it be the case that Republican primary voters will follow where Donald Trump goes for the most part, said Darnoi. He has faced some endorsements that havent panned out, but for the most part, if [Trump] gives his support to a candidate in the Republican primary, thats where Republican voters are going to go.

That proved to be the case in the 2022 GOP gubernatorial election, in which Trump endorsed right-wing commentator Tudor Dixon, which helped propel her to victory over four opponents. He also gave his blessing that year to Matt DePerno and Kristina Karamo, who both defeated their more well-known Republican opponents for attorney general and secretary of state, respectively, at the Michigan GOP convention.

Darnoi adds that in tracking absentee ballot voters in Republican primaries, what hes seeing is what would be considered traditional Republican primary voters in terms of age and demographics.

Thats probably why Sandy Pensler and Justin Amash didnt find the traction that they thought they might find because there really wasnt a lane there, said Darnoi. Maybe in theory, it looked like, I can attack them from this side or I can make the case that Im a business person or whatever it may be, but the lane to squeeze into a primary victory just wasnt there. I think once that [Trump] endorsement came, most people looked at it and said, Game over, theres no oxygen for the others to survive off of.

Looking to November

With President Joe Bidens shocking decision last week to withdraw from the race, and quickly endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, Darnoi believes the general election for the U.S. Senate has been reset. More than ever, it will come down to turnout.

Back in 2016, total turnout was about 4.9 million, and then we jumped four years later and it was 5.5 million. The way things were headed, given the sort of lack of enthusiasm for Joe Biden and the impact that had on independent voters and disaffected Republicans, we were setting a model at around 5.1, 5.2 [million], and that obviously favors the Republican candidate, said Darnoi.

But he says with Harris at the top of the Democratic ticket, there might be turnout more like it was in 2020, which he said would be a more challenging environment for Republicans.

If you can keep it closer to the 2016 turnout, then all of a sudden you start to say, This is how Trump can win and if Trump can win, is there going to be a down ballot effect? he said.

I think with Biden dropping out, it makes Mike Rogers [general election] race a little bit harder.

As for what kind of a primary win Rogers needs to have to signal a strong start on the general election campaign, Darnoi says hell be looking at a victory margin to at least match that which Trump set in Michigans presidential primary in February, when he got just over 68% of the GOP vote, while his then-rival, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, polled 26.5%.

Darnoi says while many people were speculating that having almost 27% of Republican primary voters not support Trump indicated signs of trouble within the party, he doesnt think that will necessarily apply to Rogers.

I think you will find people who are supportive of Nikki Haley, but who are also going to be supportive of Mike Rogers, so I dont know that its a direct translation there, but I think thats kind of what Im going to be looking at, said Darnoi. If Mike Rogers gets, from a percentage standpoint, less support than Donald Trump, I do think you have a legitimate question of how he is going to bring in those voters during a contested presidential election.

Correction: This story originally mischaracterized Rogers position after leaving Congress.

DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST
Until late last year, Ireland seemed like an outlier among European nations in remaining relatively immune from anti-immigrant bigotry and far-right politics, despite waves of recent migration from Ukraine, the Middle East, North Africa and elsewhere  a startling cultural shift in a country better known for centuries of poverty, repression and large-scale emigration.

Well, not anymore. There is still no significant far-right party in Irish politics, but the illusion of social harmony was shattered last Nov. 23, when an anti-immigrant protest in Dublin erupted into a night of violent riots that made worldwide headlines. A mob of perhaps 500 people surged through the central city for hours, looting and vandalizing shops and setting fire to buses, a light-rail tram and police cars.

The inciting incident was understandably disturbing, especially in a society with relatively little violent crime: A homeless man, initially but incorrectly identified as an undocumented immigrant, seriously injured a five-year-old girl and an adult in a knife attack outside the girls school. But what accelerated the rioting was just as disturbing: widespread and perhaps deliberate misinformation on social media, including rumors that the attacker was a foreign national or an Islamic terrorist, that one or more children had been killed, and that the Irish army had been deployed on the streets.

None of that was true. Almost the only bright spot of this traumatic episode is that one of the three men who overpowered and subdued the attacker was himself a recent immigrant, a delivery driver from Brazil. He became the focus of a GoFundMe campaign called Buy Caio Benicio a pint, which raised more than $300,000.

But the underlying facts are less important than what the November carnage unleashed, which artist and activist Adam Doyle (aka Spicebag) has called widespread, albeit currently low-intensity, civil unrest, language that deliberately echoes the officialese used to describe the 30-year guerrilla conflict in British-ruled Northern Ireland that ended in 1998. There have been a series of heated protests and confrontations at migrant facilities all over the country, recently culminating in pitched battles between demonstrators and police outside a former paint factory in Coolock, a bleak and impoverished district on the northern outskirts of Dublin.

The questions now tormenting Irish society will sound familiar to Americans, although the historical context is different: How much do these events represent ingrained racism and xenophobia, and how much do they reflect worsening economic inequality, the failures of neoliberal policy and the justifiable if misdirected anger of poor and working-class communities who feel abandoned or left behind? Beyond that, who is fueling the rise of the Irish far right, and how? Is it a lunatic, hooligan faction, in the words of Irelands police commissioner, or something more organized and more sinister?

The global right, including its overtly racist factions, has long been fascinated and puzzled by Ireland, which plays an exaggerated role in pseudo-Celtic white supremacist fantasy, although in actual 21st-century reality it remains a highly tolerant and progressive society despite its troubled history. Many right-wing spokespeople seized on the November violence and its aftermath as an opportunity; one could fill thousands of words with the idiotic, ill-informed social media posts from Elon Musk, Boris Johnson and many others.

Whenever far-right movements crop up around the world, everyone looks to America for seeds, roots and germs, understandably enough. It's almost surprising that the emerging Irish far right bears no visible fingerprints of Steve Bannon, MAGA-world's currently imprisoned Svengali, nor of the right-wing parties of mainland Europe. Irish Times reporter Conor Gallagher has succeeded in identifying one far-right American activist who seems to be involved in "mentoring" the Irish anti-immigrant movement  if only as a long-distance adviser, via Zoom  but even that description may be overly flattering.

How and why racist right-wing zealots in Ireland made contact with Frank Silva, a California man in his mid-60s who now goes by Frank L. DeSilva and is the author of numerous self-published, self-glorifying books for sale on Amazon, is anyones guess. His author bio reports "a lifetime of intense searching, challenging the great Ideas of politics, Philosophy, History, Social Science, and matters of race." (The third installment of his four-volume series Poems of Love and Light is subtitled Of Magick, Masks, and Masquerades. Do not recommend.) To coin a phrase, a bit of American hustle was likely involved.

Gallaghers reporting is both admirable and highly accurate as far as it goes, but to describe Silva as a former senior member of the Ku Klux Klan and a prominent figure in the US white supremacist movement of the 1980s may amount to falling for the hustle a little too hard. At most, Silva was a fringe figure in a series of white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups in the early 80s, never an important player.

Its true that Silva served more than a dozen years in federal prison for his involvement with The Order, a notorious neo-Nazi gang that murdered a Jewish talk-show host and supposedly plotted a violent "Aryan" revolution. But from this distance, he looks like a movement stooge who was swept up in the enthusiasm and big talk but never did anything more ambitious than running errands for the leadership. No evidence was ever presented that Silva personally engaged in any of The Orders violent crimes or robberies. In a 1985 UPI article about the 10 defendants in the Seattle racketeering trial that brought down The Order, Silva is last on the list. His alleged offenses are not enumerated, and hes described only as a 26-year-old cement worker and tile installer from Los Angeles.

Several archival sources identify Silva as a former leader or member of the Klan, but there too the paper trail is exceedingly thin. In early-80s Southern California, the KKK was an insignificant, not-quite-underground protest movement unconnected to any national organization, and theres no clear evidence that Silva ever held a leadership role. His one and only documented Klan action was his presence at a 1983 cross burning in a racially mixed suburban neighborhood  an odious hate crime, to be sure, but one clearly organized by more prominent white supremacists (and only a misdemeanor at the time).

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Somehow or other, Silva wound up presenting himself as a senior statesman of fringe far-right activism in Zoom calls (according to Gallaghers reporting), imparting wisdom with an even less impressive Irish activist named Stephen Butler, who has pronounced himself a bit of a national socialist and issued the usual kinds of screeds suggesting that, through some unexplained but devious mechanism, the Jews are to blame for Irelands immigration difficulties.

Perhaps this story is reassuring, to an admittedly limited extent. Irelands crisis is real, as is the rest of Europes, not to mention Americas. But Frank Silva and/or DeSilva, the author of Song of Albion: Rise of the West: Volume II (which has exactly two Amazon reviews, both for five stars) looks more like a guy trying to boost a fading personal brand than the instigator of a global race war that will reverse the tides of history.

Salon reached out to Silva via social media and received no response. We are relieved to report, however, that he is not the same Frank Silva, now deceased, who played Killer Bob in David Lynchs legendary TV series Twin Peaks. That would have been truly alarming.
Thousands of Venezuelans who voted earlier Sunday in the presidential election returned to polling stations later in the day to watch for irregularities in the counting process, starting a long vigil for the results of a pivotal event that many hope will lead to a democratic transition in the troubled country.

As of 6 p.m., most of the 15,000 voting stations began closing down while voters started gathering outside in support of the opposition representatives inside.

While official results are not expected to be announced until late Sunday or early Monday, exit polls showed that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez was strongly ahead of socialist strongman Nicolas Maduro, who aims to extend the so-called Bolivarian revolution into its third decade.

Early afternoon numbers released by polling firm Meganalisis had Gonzalez ahead with 65%, with Maduro obtaining only 13%, and another 20% declining to answer. Opposition sources told the Miami Herald that other reputable firms had Maduro gathering around 30% of the vote and Gonzalez over 60%.

Another exit poll, conducted by the U.S. firm Edison Research, gave Gonzalez the lead with 64% of the vote, compared with Maduros 31%. The Edison Research poll was based on 5,464 interviews conducted at 100 polling stations.

If confirmed, the election results will put an end to close to 25 years of socialist rule in Venezuela, with Maduro holding the presidency during the last 11. Gonzalez, however, would only be able to assume the presidency in January, which gives members of the socialist regime a lengthy period to prepare for their exit from power.

Venezuelans turned out in massive numbers to vote Sunday in a pivotal presidential election seen as the biggest challenge faced by Caracas autocratic regime in more than two decades, in a process that appeared to proceed calmly and orderly despite the highly charged environment surrounding the polling.

Expecting to face long lines to vote, many Venezuelans slept outside polling stations, but for the most part people were able to vote fairly quickly Sunday despite fears from opposition leaders that regime officials would attempt to delay the process to discourage voters.

Opposition leaders said by mid afternoon that Venezuelans were voting in record levels despite the regimes intense intimidation campaign. If it continues like this, it will probably be a record turnout, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado told reporters.

An hour after polling centers began closing their doors, a jubilant Gonzalez told reporters that he was very happy with Sundays process. We are more than pleased with todays event, he said. We would like to congratulate all Venezuelans for this historic day that we have accomplished.

Standing next to him, Machado reminded supporters that the job was not yet finished, asking them to maintain their vigil outside the voting stations.

in this moment we want to ask all Venezuelans to stay at their voting center, to stay there in community, peacefully but in vigilance, she said. We have fought all these years for this day, and these are the crucial minutes, the definitive hours, and we need all Venezuelans to be at their voting centers accompanying the opposition observers, who know very well what their tasks are and what their rights are.

Machado asked opposition representatives to make sure they obtain a copy of the the voting records and not to be intimidated by regime officials. You have the right to take those records. They are our evidence of the voting. Make sure you have them and follow the established protocol, she said.

Gonzalez, 74, is a former Venezuelan diplomat who was virtually unknown in the country until he was suddenly endorsed by Machado, who had won the oppositions primary with more than 92% of the vote before her candidacy was banned by the regime.

Machado and the countrys main opposition political parties publicly united in their support for Gonzalez and she remains the main force behind the oppositions campaign.

El candidato presidencial de la oposicion Edmundo Gonzalez saluda tras votar en las presidenciales de Venezuela en la escuela Santo Tomas de Villanueva en Caracas, el domingo 28 de julio de 2024.

Given the governments history of committing fraud during elections, opposition leaders have been banking on being able to generate a tidal wave of anti-Maduro votes to overcome any governmental attempts to steal the election. The restricted presence of international observers and Maduros iron grip on the National Electoral Council, which oversees elections, have raised questions about Venezuelas ability to hold free, fair and transparent elections.

In 2019, the U.S. led a group of 50 nations disavowing Maduros presidency after concluding that he had stolen the vote the year before. This years election came about after a Washington-led pact that required Caracas to launch a comprehensive overhaul of the nations electoral system. But Maduro later reneged on the deal, making it difficult for the opposition to keep the electoral council honest.

Voting early on Sunday, Maduro told reporters that he will respect the will of the voters and the results announced by election officials.

Here are the key things to know about Sundays presidential election in Venezuela

I recognize and will recognize the referee, the official bulletins, and I will ensure that they are respected. The word of election officials will be the sacred pronouncements and I call on all 10 presidential candidates, the 38 political parties, to publicly declare that they will respect the official bulletin, he told reporters.

Days prior to the election, Maduro had called on all of his rivals, including Gonzalez, to agree to recognize the final pronouncement of the results by the electoral council, but opposition leaders have said they would only recognize the authoritys pronouncements if they match the voting records they will be gathering throughout the election.

Most polls had Gonzalez winning comfortably with more than 60% of the votes and Maduro getting between 15% and 25%.

Gonzalez, who voted around noon, said he was hopeful that the countrys armed forces will ensure that the will of the people will be respected, but said that opposition leaders have built a network with members present at each voting station that will protect their votes.

Foto de archivo. El jefe de seguridad de la lider opositora de Venezuela Maria Corina Machado, Milciades Avila, fue excarcelado este jueves, con medidas cautelares, tras mas de 36 horas detenido, informo la antichavista, quien considero la liberacion como un primer paso para revertir esta injusticia.

We are prepared to defend every single vote cast. The defense of the vote will be done rigorously. We have witnesses in each and every one of the voting tables, he said

More than 21 million Venezuelans are registered to vote, but millions of them wont be able to participate because they are outside the country. More than 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled to other countries in recent years to escape the harsh living conditions at home. None of the estimated 800,000 Venezuelans living in the United States will be able to vote unless they traveled back to their home country.

Polls opened at 6 am and close at 6 p.m. Results are expected to be announced no earlier than the early morning hours Monday and perhaps later.

While not allowed to participate in the election, members of the Venezuelan community in Miami were keeping watch on the events in Venezuela. At a gathering organized on Brickell Avenue to support the vote, Venezuelan born Doral City Council member Rafael Pineyro said that it was an emotional day.

I am Venezuelan, my wife is Venezuelan. Like everyone here, we were forced to leave the country, Pineyro said, expressing his hopes the election will lead to a political change in the South American country.

Today we put an end to a regime that has humiliated us, arrested thousands of people, killed, staged drug trafficking shows, exiled us, and separated families, Pineyro said. Today we put an end to all of this, and we welcome the Venezuela we all dream of.

El Nuevo Herald reporters Sonia Osorio and Veronica Egui Brito contributed to this story.
Gov. Tate Reeves, Senate leaders and other Mississippi Republican officials who oppose expanding Medicaid to provide health insurance for the working poor can thank Democratic President Joe Biden for bolstering their argument.

One of the primary arguments used by Reeves and others is that if Medicaid expansion is enacted, it will result in thousands of Mississippians losing private coverage from the health insurance marketplace exchange.

They argue that working poor Mississippians already are being covered through private health insurance policies at little or no cost on the exchange. If Medicaid was expanded, those who had private health insurance at little or no cost on the exchange would be forced under federal law to relinquish those policies and receive health insurance through Medicaid.

The reason that working poor Mississippians can receive those policies at such favorable rates is because of Joe Biden. Those favorable rates were part of two pieces of legislation Biden pushed through Congress  first the American Rescue Plan Act and then the Inflation Reduction Act. Biden did not support the enhanced benefits as a way to prevent states from expanding Medicaid. He supports Medicaid expansion, but he viewed the enhanced benefits as just one way to provide help for those who had to turn to the exchange for health care coverage.

All Republicans in the Congress voted against both bills providing the enhanced marketplace benefits. That is important because the enhanced subsidies that are available to acquire health insurance on the exchange are scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. And it is questionable at best whether they can be extended.

It is unlikely a President Trump, if elected, will extend the benefits. And it also is questionable whether a Democratic President Harris, if elected, can again get such legislation through a divided Congress.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves speaks to the press during a press conference on drug crime at Mississippi Bureau of Investigation offices in Biloxi on Wednesday, May 11, 2022.

But what we know will be available after 2025 is Medicaid expansion like 40 other states already have enacted, in which the federal government pays the bulk of the cost to provide health care for the working poor.

During the 2024 Mississippi legislative session, Reeves, much of the Senate leadership and others cited the health insurance policies available on the exchange as a reason not to expand Medicaid. Ultimately that group opposed to Medicaid expansion prevailed.

Both Medicaid expansion and the health insurance marketplace exchange are components of the Affordable Care Act, known by some as Obamacare.

A little history of the ACA might be helpful.

Under the original ACA legislation passed in 2010, the intent was that states would be required to expand Medicaid. But the U.S. Supreme Court in a ruling upholding the constitutionality of the ACA said that states could not be forced to expand Medicaid.

Under the original intent of the ACA before the Supreme Court ruling, people up to 138% of the federal poverty level (about $20,500 annually for an individual) would receive health insurance via Medicaid expansion. Those above 138% of the federal poverty level who did not have insurance through their employers could purchase insurance on the exchange with the help of federal subsidies.

But the Supreme Court ruling changed the ACA. After the Supreme Court ruling, states could not be forced to expand Medicaid but people between 100% and 138% of the federal poverty level could purchase insurance on the exchange in states, like Mississippi, that did not expand Medicaid. And federal subsidies would be available to help people with lower income with the cost of purchasing a policy through the exchange.

Those subsidies were substantially enhanced under legislation passed in recent years under Biden. For people below 150% of the federal poverty level, thanks to the Biden legislation, they can receive a policy with no monthly premiums opposed to having to pay roughly 2% of their annual income as they had to under the original ACA. Plus, out-of-pocket expenses and deductibles are much lower under the Biden legislation than under the original ACA, though there are still out-of-pocket expenses and deductibles that make the policies cost prohibitive for many low income people. But regardless, those enhanced subsidies, which were cited by Reeves and others as a reason not to expand Medicaid, are slated to end at the end of 2025.

Importantly, under the ACA after the Supreme Court ruling, those earning less than 100% of the federal poverty level are out of luck in states like Mississippi that have not expanded Medicaid because they are not eligible to get coverage through the exchange.

If Mississippi continues to be among the minority of states not expanding Medicaid, the only hope for those under 100% of the federal poverty level is that the Congress and president, whomever that might be, will provide them some type of relief.

This analysis was produced by Mississippi Today, a nonprofit news organization that covers state government, public policy, politics and culture. Bobby Harrison is Mississippi Todays senior Capitol reporter.
The Andy Beshear-for-VP blitz continues as he speaks at Harris campaign rally in Georgia

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshears whirlwind political weekend continued Sunday as he opened a campaign office for Vice President Kamala Harris in the heart of a Republican corner of Georgia.

Just hours after touting his accomplishments and trumpeting Harris candidacy in Des Moines, Beshear flew to Georgia and spoke to supporters of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. In the back of a pickup truck in Forsyth County, the 46-year-old governor flashed his Kentucky roots and took repeated swipes at the Donald Trump-JD Vance ticket.

It was an event for Harris for President, part of a Weekend of Action that involves 170 campaign events around the state. He was helping open one-of-three Harris campaign offices in Forsyth County  45 minutes outside of Atlanta.

Beshear is one of several Democrats being vetted to become Harris running mate. Other candidates under consideration including the governors of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Minnesota, as well as US Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona., the former astronaut and US Navy captain who flew combat missions during the Gulf War.

Despite the deep-red roots that run deep in Forsyth County, several in attendance who posted to social media made note of the large turnout to hear Beshear speak.

Attendance was reported in the hundreds, according to the Atlanta Constitution Journal. Forsyth County leans conservative, as former president Trump garnered 66% of the vote there in 2020.

But Georgia itself is a swing state. In the 2020 presidential election against Trump, Joe Biden, who stepped out of the race last week, won the state by about 12,000 votes.

Beshear emphasized the crowd on his personal social media account, calling them a bunch of fired-up Georgia Democrats.

When we run on our values, we can bring Americans together all over the country and win, Beshear wrote. Every vote counts. Everybody matters.

Incredible energy and enthusiasm for @KamalaHarris in deep-red Forsyth County with a bunch of fired up Georgia Democrats. When we run on our values, we can bring Americans together all over the country and win. Every vote counts. Everybody matters. pic.twitter.com/2UpcIss5lk  Andy Beshear (@AndyBeshearKY) July 28, 2024

Hot out of the gate, Beshear highlighted his defeat over Daniel Cameron, the GOP former state attorney general who was endorsed by both Trump and US Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky in the May 2024 election.

Im the guy who beat Mitch McConnells hand-picked candidate. Im the guy who beat Donald Trumps hand-picked candidate, Beshear said.

Beshear spent time diminishing the conviction of his potential vice presidential competition, Vance, while simultaneously referencing the 34 felony convictions and multiple bankruptcies of Trump. Since the announcement of Beshears standing in the VP sweepstakes, he has taken aim at Vance, publicly questioning the authenticity of his Kentucky roots.

A crowd of hundreds gathers in deep-red Forsyth County to hear Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear - a potential VP nominee - stump for Vice President Kamala Harris. #gapol https://t.co/LLR6Psm0Kv pic.twitter.com/oOd0LxeGUn  Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) July 28, 2024

Joining Beshear in Georgia Sunday was Hadley Duvall, a prominent Kentucky abortion rights advocate who was raped and impregnated by her stepfather and would have been unable to get an abortion if the states near-total ban on the procedure had been in place.

Duvall first appeared in a Beshear 2023 gubernatorial reelection ad recounting her story. Later, she did the same for the Biden campaign.

She spoke ahead of Beshear Sunday, and she she was not going to sit this one out.

Duvall went on to say when Trump, the Republican nominee, brags about abortion, it is personal to her.
Apple reached a tentative agreement with its first unionized store in the country, the negotiating committee announced on Friday.

The announcement said that the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (CORE) reached an agreement with Apple that will improve work-life balance, increase pay and help protect job security. The union said that its members at the store in Towson, Md. will vote on the tentative agreement on Aug. 6.

From the beginning, IAM COREs mission has been to improve Apple for our employees, customers and communities, the IAM CORE negotiating committee said in a statement. By reaching a tentative agreement with Apple, we are giving our members a voice in their futures and a strong first step toward further gains. Together, we can build on this success in store after store and grow the power IAM CORE has started here in Maryland.

The Apple Store employees in Towson, Md. voted to unionize in June 2022, making it the first Apple store to do so in the U.S. In May, the employees voted to authorize a strike over the working conditions.

IAM CORE represents about 85 employees at the store in Towson.

The negotiating committee said the agreement includes scheduling improvements for part-time and full-time employees, average raises of 10 percent throughout the contract, better job security with limits on contracted employees and a severance clause, and a fair and clear disciplinary process.

The true partnership between the IAM, IAM CORE and Apple workers has led us to this historic moment, IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan said in a statement.

IAM District 4 Directing Business Representative Jay Wadleigh and others have brought their knowledge, experience and tenacity to every day of these negotiations. Were extremely proud to be the first union to take on this fight for Apple workers, he added.

The Hill has reached out to Apple for comment.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Arizona's largest battery storage project receives over $500 million in financing: 'One of the fastest-growing markets'

A solar battery and storage company secured $513 million in funding for a battery storage project in Arizona, according to an article published in Electrek.

The new project will finance the construction of 1,200-megawatt-hour Papago Storage, the largest battery storage endeavor in the state of Arizona. When complete, the project will supply enough renewable energy power to support roughly 244,000 homes for four hours a day.

Recurrent Energy, a solar battery developer and subsidiary of Canadian Solar, secured financing for its Papago Storage project in Maricopa County, Arizona. Construction for the new project will begin in the third quarter of this year and create an estimated 200 jobs.

"When we began developing Papago Storage in 2016, the Arizona storage market was in its infancy," Recurrent Energy CEO Ismael Guerrero told Electrek. "Today, Arizona is one of the fastest-growing markets for energy storage in the United States, bolstered by the state's expanding economy and cost-effective renewable energy resources."

Transitioning away from nonrenewable sources of energy is a major step toward creating a cleaner, safer future. Projects like Papago Storage not only provide renewable power to the surrounding communities but also help decrease the total cost of energy for those homeowners.

According to the World Economic Forum, the cost of renewable energy is decreasing. In fact, the same report found that renewable energy sources were the cheapest form of energy in 2020.

Large-scale projects that supply renewable energy power also help improve the local community response to natural disasters. By decreasing dependence on the grid, renewable energy projects help supply power during major outages.

Unlike nonrenewable energy, clean energy does not emit harmful, planet-warming gases into the atmosphere. As a result, when companies help regions incorporate renewable energy into their power supply, they also help decrease the total amount of air pollution.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
A prison corridor in Holman Correctional Facility in 2019. (Alabama Reflector file photo)

Women represent only about 10% of incarcerated people in the United States. Because of that, most criminal legal research and reform proposals overlook their specific needs.

A growing number of researchers and advocates are pushing to change this. Theyre calling for a more intentional focus on the factors that lead women to incarceration, the challenges they face inside and the limited available resources to help them re-enter society.

This month, the nonpartisan Council on Criminal Justice launched a new Womens Justice Commission to address some of these gaps. It is led by former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and made up of 15 other members who include academics, legislators, law enforcement and advocates.

This report was originally published by The 19th. The Illuminator is a founding member of The 19th News Network.

The commission has released two reports that capture the existing data and research on women in the criminal legal system. It will then use this information to assess each step of womens experiences with incarceration  pre-arrest, policing, conditions of confinement and release  and determine a list of policy recommendations.

The 19th spoke with Lynch and the commissions director, Stephanie Akhter, about their work and the barriers for more robust criminal legal research on women.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch addresses graduates at the North Carolina Central School of Law on May 3, 2024. (Photo: Screengrab from NCCU video stream)

Candice Norwood: I would love to hear about the background of this Womens Justice Commission and what led to its creation.

Loretta Lynch: The Council on Criminal Justice is a bipartisan, evidence-focused research organization that tries to bring an objective, thoughtful and substantive eye to the challenges within the criminal justice system. I initially began working with them in the early stages of the COVID shutdown. I worked with a group that focused on providing policy recommendations for how the system should be dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.

And one of the hardest nuts to crack in the criminal justice system  aside from the overall issues of overincarceration and racial disparities  is how women have fared in the criminal justice system.

So much of what we know now is that a lot of the harshest methods that weve used in incarceration just arent effective, in either preventing recidivism or preparing people to be contributing members of society when they eventually are released. When you look at the situation for women, lots of times their unique needs really dont get addressed in the system.

The commission includes experts from different areas of the criminal legal system. Can you talk through what you want to accomplish with this group?

Lynch: I think the benefit of the variety of voices is that these are commissioners who have deep experience with every different stage for women: arrest, initial incarceration, incarceration and then reentry. Oftentimes, you need that variety of perspectives, because it really informs the policy recommendations you come up with.

So many times people come up with well-meaning policies, but because were only viewing it from one lens, we dont know that down the road its actually not going to be effective.

We have some research that we will be building on, but we will be commissioning research projects. Thats what a lot of the staff will be dealing with, along with guidance from the commissioners with all of our different perspectives.

Our hope is to come up with evidence-based policy recommendations to reduce the flow of women into the system: how can we do this in a way that holds people accountable, but recognizes their unique needs and maybe the reasons why theyre there?

And then, can we come up with policy recommendations for managing the incarceration process? How do we connect families? How do we manage womens health issues? And then when women come out, what kind of support is beneficial for them?

Stephanie Akhter, the director of the Womens Justice Commission, said it was important to identify some potential data gaps and limitations. (Courtesy of Stephanie Akhter)

The commission has a couple of new reports that paint a picture of incarcerated women and what theyre experiencing. Are there any highlights from that research that stand out to you?

Stephanie Akhter: Absolutely. Most justice-involved women have experienced poverty and trauma, and are more likely than men to be victims of intimate partner violence and sexual violence. Theyre more likely than men to be diagnosed with mental health and substance use disorders and theyre more likely than men to have experienced homelessness in the year prior to incarceration.

So all those factors are whats bringing women into the system, and what the system is really ill-equipped to address in its current state.

We know that women have specific health-related needs that prisons and jails struggle to address and those range from provision of menstrual supplies, to pregnancy and motherhood, treatment of some of those mental health and substance use disorders that I mentioned.

We also know that prior to incarceration, mothers were twice as likely than fathers to be the primary caretaker for their children. So its not just about the womens individual needs, but also about their responsibilities in their families and communities.

I think whats interesting, and really alarming, are the trends that were seeing. As weve seen mens rate of jail incarceration going down, we continue to see womens jail incarceration edging up. Women now account for more than a quarter of adult arrests, and women are just as likely to be victims of violent crime. So were really trying to unpack whats going on there.

Throughout my time covering the criminal legal system, Ive heard many complaints about the lack of up-to-date data and criticism that federal data is often years behind. Is it hard to maintain recent data and research? What do you see as the key barriers?

Lynch: I think you hit the nail on the head with the actual challenge, which is, it is hard. But all crime data, frankly, is a bit dated. What we always tried to do at the Justice Department was supplement the data with what people actually on the ground were hearing and were seeing, and thats what well be doing with this commission as well.

I think part of the reason why, unfortunately, it can take a while for those numbers to become available, is that you want to make sure that your research is accurate and thorough. And so whatever methodology you set in place for testing it, you have to go through that as well. That can sometimes leave you again as you noted, maybe a year or two behind in research.

And the reality is, unfortunately, resources are limited when it comes to the criminal justice system. It is something that is an expense for governments, be it state or federal government. The Bureau of Prisons budget is the biggest part of the Department of Justices budget, and so resources are tight. As you look to deploy those resources, particularly if youre going to make changes to systems, I think its worth taking the time to make sure you have the research right.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Akhter: I think theres a whole myriad of challenges related to criminal justice data and research, and then you layer on women specifically. Women are under-researched in almost every facet of our society and so its no surprise that we see that play out in the criminal justice system data. Because of the small percentage of women in the system, and because the system was designed for men, the way that we think about what to capture is missing. Its only been the last couple of years where we started collecting pregnancy data to understand whos entering the system thats pregnant.

And thats mind boggling that we cant point to those basic numbers to say, These are the number of women who are pregnant in the system, and therefore we need to have XYZ services available to them. So were really starting from a pretty alarming place.

What weve done as one of our sort of foundational reports at the launch of this commission is really look by the numbers to get our arms around whos entering the system, for what and where they are in the criminal justice system process. That helps us identify some potential data gaps and limitations.

Im wondering if you have talked about what makes a commission successful. Ive been thinking a lot about the 10-year anniversary this year of the uprisings in Ferguson following Michael Browns killing. There was a local commission set up in the aftermath of that and there have been many other commissions to address different issues. What do you think are the elements of a commission that can put it in a position for meaningful change?

Akhter: I think theres a few things. One is that the recommendations should be backed by evidence, and that theyre not ideologically driven. So that might be evidence that is generated by data. It could be evidence thats generated by experience from folks who work in or have been touched by the system.

Then I think the second point is around being able to get to consensus. So the recommendations wont be far left or far right. By sort of staying away from those extremes, that extreme polarization, I think we can get to some of the meatier recommendations that are actually going to move the dial in the right direction.

Then the third, from my experience so far, has been the Council on Criminal Justices reputation with policymakers. We have been able to have inroads both with the federal government as well as with state governments and with corrections officials to be a trusted source. So if were producing policy recommendations, that means that theyve been vetted and that they have included the input of so many, including academics, including people with lived experience, including practitioners.

One way weve seen that is with our violent crime working group that put out 10 essential actions. Those 10 actions were essentially adopted by the U.S. Department of Justice, which translated their federal funding solicitation to align with those 10 actions. So Im thrilled to carry that credibility of the council with us as we move into this commission launch.

DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST
ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A Guatemalan man was shot and injured by a trooper after he allegedly resisted arrest and assaulted a trooper on Interstate 49 Saturday night, according to a news release.

Around 7:43 p.m., a trooper conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle after a man was seen traveling at a high rate of speed near mile marker 80 on I-49 southbound.

The man, identified as Angel Zapet-Alvarado, 26, reportedly refused to leave his vehicle and resisted the troopers attempt to remove him.

The trooper grabbed her taser after Zapet-Alvarado allegedly refused to comply but the man wrestled the taser away and threw it into traffic.

A motorist witnessed the incident and tried to help the trooper, according to the release. The trooper fired a round at Zapet-Alvarado and wounded him in the right temple.

Zapet-Alvarado was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and was released to law enforcement.

Former Northwest Arkansas pediatrician accused of rape, sexual assault involving minor

He was taken to the Benton County Detention Center and charged with second-degree battery. Zapet-Alvarado was then placed on hold for Homeland Security Investigation and additional charges are pending, according to ASP.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement after being briefed on the incident on Sunday.

These two women who put their lives on the line to make sure their communities are safe, are heroes and thanks to their quick, brave action, a criminal illegal immigrant is in custody and off the streets. Even though they deny it and the media covers it up, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have created the worst border crisis in history and they must be held responsible.

The trooper was treated for non-life-threatening injuries from the incident.

ASPs Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the incident.

This is a developing story. Stay with KNWA/FOX24 for the latest.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
The attorney for Ismael El Mayo Zambada, the alleged co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel, says his client neither surrendered nor negotiated any terms with the US government, but was instead kidnapped.

Zambadas attorney forcefully denied any suggestion previously raised by Mexican officials that his client may have surrendered of his own volition or willingly come to the United States as part of a deal.

In a phone conversation and a statement sent to CNN Sunday, Frank Perez said that Zambada, 76, was kidnapped by Joaquin Guzman Lopez, one of the sons of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, the other co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel, who was extradited to the United States in 2017 and is serving a life sentence in US federal prison.

Joaquin Guzman Lopez forcibly kidnapped my client. He was ambushed, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed by six men in military uniforms and Joaquin. His legs were tied, and a black bag was placed over his head, Perez said in the statement.

He was then thrown into the back of a pickup truck and taken to a landing strip. There, he was forced onto a plane, his legs tied to the seat by Joaquin, and brought to the US against his will. The only people on the plane were the pilot, Joaquin and my client, Perez added.

US law enforcement officials had previously told CNN that Joaquin Guzman Lopez had duped Zambada and orchestrated their arrest by making him believe they were flying to northern Mexico to look at real estate. Instead, the officials said, their small private plane landed north of the border near El Paso, Texas, where US authorities were waiting on the tarmac.

Zambada has been one of the most elusive figures in the criminal world. He was able to lead the Sinaloa cartel for decades and, up until now, hadnt seen a jail cell. Mike Vigil, a former Drug Enforcement Administration agent who served with the agency for 31 years, described the alleged Mexican drug lord as astute.

Mayo Zambada, prior to Thursday and over 50 years of involvement in the drug trade had never been captured, never served any time, so he is highly respected by even his rivals, Vigil said.

Mexican Security Secretary Rosa Icela Rodriguez said Friday her government was not part of any operation to detain the alleged Mexican drug lords but clarified that the Mexican government is going to keep collaborating with the United States government as we have done up until now.

You ask if (they) surrendered or were captured. That is part of the investigation and part of the information that we will be waiting for from the United States government, Rodriguez told Mexican media, with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador by her side.

President Lopez Obrador said, regardless of whether Zambada and Guzman Lopez turned themselves in or were captured, the fact theyre now in custody is an important step forward in the fight against drug trafficking.

I believe that it is a sign that there we are working together (Mexico and the United States), even though in this specific case neither the Mexican Army nor the Navy participated, but the fact that he (Zambada) made the decision to surrender or leave, run the risk of going to the United States and getting captured there, means an important advance in the fight against drug trafficking, the Mexican president said.

CNN learned Saturday that whatever action the US might have taken to arrest Zambada and Guzman Lopez prompted a furious behind-the-scenes reaction from Mexican government officials who are demanding senior US law enforcement officials explain exactly what transpired, according to a US official familiar with the operation.

The Mexican government is totally pissed, the source said, noting officials in Mexico were not briefed ahead of time on the planned captures.

US officials were hesitant to brief Mexican counterparts in advance due to fears the operation could have been compromised, a law enforcement source told CNN. The source noted details of the sensitive operation were also highly restricted within the US government until Zambada and Guzman Lopez were taken into custody.

The Mexican government has not responded to CNNs request for comment on the diplomatic row between both countries following the arrests.

CNN has also reached out to Mexican officials for comment regarding Zambadas attorneys kidnapping claim.

CNN also reached out to Guzman Lopezs attorney regarding the claim Sunday but did not receive a response.

Zambada entered a not guilty plea to all charges in US District Court in El Paso on Friday and is scheduled to appear in-person in that same court for a status conference August 1 at 11 a.m. local time, according to Perez and filed court documents.

The arrests of Zambada and Guzman Lopez mark a major development in decades-long efforts to capture and prosecute alleged cartel bosses. And the details revealed so far about what led to their arrests give a glimpse into the inner workings of what authorities describe as one of the worlds most notorious and nefarious criminal enterprises.

CNNs Josh Campbell and Fidel Gutierrez contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday announced a cabinet reshuffle after two senior ministers said they planned to retire at the next election.

The reshuffle, the first since the centre-left Labor Party swept to power at a general election in May 2022, marks an attempt by Albanese to refresh his team ahead of the next poll, expected in 2025.

"I would expect that this is the team that I will take to the election when it is held sometime in the future," Albanese said in a televised media conference in Canberra.

Among a raft of ministerial changes, Albanese said Tony Burke, already arts minister, will take the key portfolios of home affairs, immigration and multicultural affairs, and cyber security.

Clare O'Neil shifts from home affairs and cyber security to housing and homelessness, remaining in cabinet, while immigration minister Andrew Giles moves to skills and training, no longer in a cabinet position.

Northern Territory Senator Malarndirri McCarthy will take over as minister for indigenous Australians.

The appointments come after long-serving Labor ministers Brendan OConnor and Linda Burney announced they would retire at the next election.

Albanese paid tribute to O'Connor and Burney as having made an "extraordinary contribution" to the nation over a long period of time.

(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Sonali Paul)
Police prevent students from entering the campus from the main gate of Sylhet Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST). Md Rafayat Haque Khan/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Bangladesh restored mobile internet services on Sunday, 10 days after the South Asian country suspended the services, deployed army troops and imposed a curfew in the wake of deadly protests over students' demands for reforms.

The government on Sunday said the violence, after students demanded changes to a public job quota system, left at least 147 people dead while local media put the toll at more than 200.

"Students, members of the police and people from other professions are among the dead," Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters at a news briefing on Sunday, the first since the violence began.

He added the government was still working on information concerning violence-related casualties.

The nation's 4G mobile internet services resumed hours after Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the state minister for Post, Telecommunications and Information Communication Technology, made the announcement in the afternoon.

"We have decided to restore the 4G network connectivity from 3 pm (0900 GMT) today," the state minister said, following a meeting with internet service providers (ISP) and other stakeholders in Dhaka.

Mobile internet connectivity was restricted on July 18 amid the escalation of violence during the nationwide protests, and broadband connections went off the same evening. Service providers said this was because the national data centre was partially burned down in arson attacks during the protests.

Broadband connectivity was restored on Tuesday however.

Thousands of students began street protests early this month to demand an end to discrimination in the government job quota system after a High Court bench in June reinstated the system that was abolished in 2018.

The quota system reserved more than half of government positions for groups such as wards of the 1971 war heroes, women, people in disadvantaged districts, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. The Supreme Court suspended the efficacy of the quota reinstated by the High Court.

But agitation flared across Bangladesh, after supporters of the ruling Awami League party attacked groups of demonstrators in Dhaka on July 15. Protesters took to the streets in Dhaka and other districts in response.

Stick-wielding protesters in their thousands fought fierce battles, some armed with stones and brickbats, against police and other law enforcement agencies, who fired sound grenades, rubber bullets and live bullets to disperse mobs until July 20, a day after the government imposed nationwide curfew and deployed army troops on July 19.

The protesters set fire to numerous vehicles, businesses and public establishments including police stations and state-run television and set free more than 800 prisoners after attacking a jail among other sites.

The government on Tuesday issued an order redistributing the job quotas, keeping only 7% reserved for the different groups. Otherwise, the remaining government jobs would be filled as per the competitive merit list, according to the order that came in line with a Supreme Court judgement.

In a bid to restore normalcy, the government relaxed curfew for 11 hours (6 am to 5 pm) in Dhaka as of Sunday and set new timings for office work from 9 am to 3 pm for the next three days, according to the Home Ministry.

The government also cracked down on troublemakers soon after the quota reforms protests intensified.

Prothom Alo, a daily newspaper, reported that around 9,000 people were arrested by the law enforcement agencies in the last 11 days until Saturday night, based on police sources and a tally compiled by its nationwide networks of correspondents.
Bangladesh army soldiers stand guard near the country's Secretariat as the curfew is relaxed after the anti-quota protests. Habibur Rahman/Zuma Press/dpa

Bangladesh restored mobile internet services on Sunday, 10 days after the South Asian country suspended the services, deployed army troops and imposed a curfew in the wake of deadly protests over students' demands for reforms.

The government on Sunday said the violence, that began after students demanded changes to a public job quota system, left at least 147 people dead while local media put the toll at more than 200.

"Students, members of the police and people from other professions are among the dead," Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters at a news briefing on Sunday, the first since the violence began.

He added the government was still working on information concerning violence-related casualties.

The nation's 4G mobile internet services resumed hours after Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the state minister for Post, Telecommunications and Information Communication Technology, made the announcement in the afternoon.

"We have decided to restore the 4G network connectivity from 3 pm (0900 GMT) today," the state minister said, following a meeting with internet service providers (ISP) and other stakeholders in Dhaka.

Mobile internet connectivity was restricted on July 18 amid the escalation of violence during the nationwide protests, and broadband connections went down on the same evening. Service providers said this was because the national data centre was partially burned down in arson attacks during the protests.

Broadband connectivity was restored on Tuesday however.

Thousands of students began street protests early this month to demand an end to discrimination in the government job quota system after a High Court bench in June reinstated the system that was abolished in 2018.
Beshear in Iowa: Id be eager for the chance to debate JD Vance

If he is chosen as Kamala Harris running mate, Gov. Andy Beshear said hed be looking forward to debating Republican VP candidate JD Vance.

Id be eager for the chance to debate him, just like I know the vice president is eager to debate former President Trump, Beshear said in an interview with the Des Moines Register before he spoke at an Iowa fundraiser Saturday night.

Beshear later told a sold-out crowd at the Iowa Democratic Partys annual Liberty and Justice Celebration event in Des Moines that womens rights, economic recovery, the House and Senate and the future of our sacred democracy are on the line in the upcoming election.

He also used the forum, one of the most prominent political events for Democrats in the Hawkeye State, to tout his own accomplishments and values as the two-term governor in Kentucky. Beshear artfully shared his support for unions, public education, a womans reproductive rights, gay marriage and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

All are key issues in the Harris campaign, and Beshears views align with the vice president who is about three weeks away from formally earning the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago.

Beshear is one of several potential vice presidential candidates being vetted to run alongside Harris in her presidential campaign, and he spent much of his time on the stage Saturday night praising her.

As a former state attorney general like Harris, Beshear said attorneys general know how to get things done.

She went after the big banks. She went after the child predators. She went after the for-profit colleges, and she fought for consumers, Beshear said. She is tough as nails, and I can tell you personally she is going to be an extraordinary president of the United States of America.

Beshear also spoke against the partisanship that he said is out of control in this country.

Who you elect matters, he said. She is going to move us past all this noise, past all this anger.

Were going to get back to working together to get things done, he said later, noting that Harris will move it forward for every single American family with no one left out.

He said he had worked with Harris on Medicaid reform aimed at reducing maternal mortality rates.

I dont want to hear anything about family values or protecting life from Donald Trump or JD Vance, the 46-year-old Beshear said.

He said when he first met Harris, she spent time talking with his children and has always asked about them in every conversation they have had since then.

It just burns me up when I see JD Vance out there attacking a loving stepmom for not having biological kids, saying she doesnt care about the future of this country, he said. I could tell that he wasnt raised with the same Kentucky or Iowa values that we have..

In a brief pre-event interview with The Registers political reporter Brianne Pfannenstiel, Beshear said any debate with Vance would admittedly be a little bit personal. This is a guy that used to come a couple weeks a summer, at best, to Kentucky and then wrote a book claiming to know us, claiming to understand our culture.

Vance has said his ties to Appalachia are part of his background and origin story.

Beshear, who agreed to come to Iowa Saturday night several weeks ago, took another jab, telling the Des Moines Register: Batman has an origin story. Fictional characters have origin stories. Real people have childhoods and upbringings, and it just shows you how fake this is.

He reiterated that during his speech, telling the crowd, JD Vance aint from Kentucky, he aint from Appalachia, and he aint gonna be your vice president.

Beshear touted his past vetoes of anti-LGBTQ legislation, vetoes of anti-abortion legislation and his executive order restoring voting rights for many non-violent offenders in Kentucky.

I am a proud pro-union governor. I am a proud pro-public education governor. I am a proud pro-choice governor. I am a proud pro-diversity governor, he said. Because folks, DEI is not a four-letter word. It is a three-letter acronym for values that are found in the Bible that teach us how to treat each other and not to hate on other people.

And Im a governor who believes you should be able to love and marry whoever you choose. And now I am a proud pro-Kamala Harris for president governor.

Beshear took jabs at Trumps multiple bankruptcies and 34 felony convictions.

But when JD Vance looks in the mirror, he doesnt see any conviction at all, Beshear quipped.

He said Trumps policies would strip health care from people who need it and slash taxes for the rich. He pointed out that Trump brags about the Roe v. Wade decision being overturned.

Donald Trump stripped constitutional rights from half of Americans, and I think we ought to strip him of the opportunity of a second term, he said.

Beshear told the crowd Democrats can win by staying true to our Democratic values and always doing whats right.

Beshear for VP buzz increases as he headlines a key Harris campaign event in GA Sunday
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), who is viewed as one of the top candidates for Vice President Harris to tap as her running mate, said he would be eager to debate Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio).

Id be eager for the chance to debate him, just like I know the vice president is eager to debate former President Trump, Beshear told the Des Moines Register Saturday in an interview while campaigning in Iowa to rally state Democrats.

After President Biden stood down as the Democratic nominee, Harris has become the presumptive nominee and is now vetting candidates to join her on the ticket. That list includes Beshear, Govs. Josh Shapiro (D-Penn.), Tim Walz (D-Minn.), and Roy Cooper (D-N.C.), as well as Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

On Monday, Beshear spoke with CNNs Kaitlan Collins and attacked Vance, saying he aint from here and called him phony and fake because of Vances opinions on Appalachia in his bestselling book Hillbilly Elegy.

Beshear doubled down on those criticisms in his interview on Saturday.

Our debate would admittedly be a little bit personal, he told the Des Moines Register. This is a guy that used to come a couple weeks a summer, at best, to Kentucky and then wrote a book [Hillbilly Elegy] claiming to know us, claiming to understand our culture. He called my people lazy, and these are the coal miners that built this country.

On Monday, a spokesperson for Vance responded to Beshears attack on Vance, saying that Beshear, whose father also served as governor of Kentucky, grew up with a silver spoon.

JD grew up spending his summers in Appalachia and came from a poor family, something Andy Beshear could never relate to because he grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth thanks to his politician/lawyer daddy, Vance spokesman Taylor Van Kirk wrote to The Hill on Monday.

Unlike Beshear, who rode his fathers coat tails into the governors mansion, Senator Vance has had to earn everything hes accomplished in this life.

Vance also told reporters that it was odd that Beshear would criticize his origin story when he inherited the governorship from his father.

Beshear responded to that criticism in his interview with the Des Moines Register, calling Vance fake once again.

Those were his words, origin story, he said. Now, Batman has an origin story. Fictional characters have origin stories. Real people have childhoods and upbringings, and it just shows you how fake this is.

Beshear also added that whether or not he is Harriss running mate, he hopes to help voters see the real Kamala Harris, adding that he is honored to be considered.

I think what I bring is somebody that knows how to talk to people that can go into the deepest purple or red parts of any swing state and talk to folks in a way that allows them to be a part, that explains why were doing and what were doing, and ultimately ensures they see the real Kamala Harris and not who the other side is going to try to turn her into, he told the Des Moines Register.

Beshear has taken up the role as one of Harriss top surrogates and attackers of Vance since she became the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Beshear will also speaking at a rally in Atlanta on Monday.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The best justice money can buy: Donald Trump pursues legal challenges others can't afford

The promise of the U.S. judicial system may be equal justice for all, but former President Donald Trump's flurry of motions and appeals in his criminal and civil cases has shown how much deep pockets can tip the scales.

Nearly all criminal defendants plead guilty rather than fight charges at trial. But Trump's fundraising of tens of millions of dollars has paid lawyers to argue all the way to the Supreme Court that charges in his federal election interference case should be dismissed.

Everyone is intended to be afforded equal justice, however, the reality is you receive as much justice as you can afford," said Tim Parlatore, a lawyer who represented Trump during the early phases of the classified documents and election interference investigations.

Trump has been indicted on 88 felony counts in four separate cases. He was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records in New York.

A federal judge in Florida dismissed 40 charges related to hoarding classified documents after leaving the White House, thanks to Trump's deep pockets funding motions making novel arguments. Those could be reinstated by a higher court, but the process will be lengthy and the outcome uncertain.

Trials are pending on accusations of election interference with four federal counts in Washington and 10 state counts in Georgia, but the Supreme Court ordered a review that could throw out charges in those cases and possibly vacate his convictions.

The bottom line: Despite many of his efforts failing, Trump's legal battles have delayed his remaining trials likely until after the November election.

Trumps apparent limitless resources demonstrate the financial disparities that exist in our criminal justice system, said Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney who is now a law professor at the University of Michigan. A well-funded defendant has the luxury of pursuing every defense possible, even taking a flyer on obviously frivolous motions, whereas a defendant represented by a public defender or a low-cost lawyer lack that opportunity because the lawyers are overworked and underpaid.

Former President Donald Trump walks outside Trump Tower after the verdict in his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in New York City, on May 30, 2024.

In theory, any defendant could try all of these tactics. But in reality, the costs of paying top-tier criminal defense lawyers like Trump's millions of dollars for aggressive representation would bankrupt almost any other client.

Sometimes the defendant has to make that horrible choice like: I can only afford to file one motion.' Which one are we going to file? Parlatore said.

As in politics, money doesnt guarantee victory. Trump was convicted in New York of falsifying business records to reimburse his lawyer for paying hush money to a porn actress and he lost two civil trials for combined damages of more than $500 million.

But even the cases he lost aren't over, as his appeals continue.

Most criminal defendants plead guilty rather than force a trial

Trump's ability to pay lawyers to mount every possible legal challenge stands in stark contrast to routine criminal defendants.

Nearly 90% of federal criminal defendants  64,139 out of 71,887  pleaded guilty last year, according to the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts, which tracks federal cases. About 2% of defendants  1,564  were convicted at trial. Most of the rest of the cases were dismissed with a relative handful acquitted at trial.

Many defendants, even some who are innocent, accept a plea deal to avoid the cost of mounting a criminal defense.

But Trump, in addition to being a self-proclaimed billionaire, has tapped his supporters to pay his legal fees through his Save America political action committee and presidential campaign committee.

I think the reality is simply that defendants who are well-resourced are going to have an easier time fighting against the government in court and are much more willing to risk going to trial than those who are much more limited financially," said Anthony Michael Kreis, an assistant law professor at Georgia State University.

How much is Trump paying his lawyers?

Trump's Save America political action committee spent more than $70 million on legal consulting from Trumps leaving office in January 2021 through June 30, according to Federal Election Committee records. The spending included:

Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21, an advocacy group for transparency in campaign funding, said if Trump is as rich as he claims, he should be paying for his own legal defense because contributing to his legal defense would be a hell of a way to buy influence with a person.

While this may be all legal, its wrong and it basically stinks, said Wertheimer, who filed an argument in the appeals court against Trumps claim of presidential immunity.

Trump's campaign and several of the lawyers didn't respond to requests for comment.

Legal experts said Trump's deep pockets allow him to have lawyers make arguments even with little chance of success. Mark Zauderer, a partner at Dorf, Nelson and Zauderer who has practiced in New York for 50 years, said Trump can pitch arguments that help him politically even if they don't succeed legally.

Trump's repeated efforts to have Judge Juan Merchan kicked off his New York case had no chance because his argument that Merchan had a conflict of interest because of his daughter's occupation had been examined and rejected by New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics. But it was designed to bolster his public claims of political persecution.

Trump sought repeatedly to delay the trial, to prevent witnesses from testifying such as Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels or to demand a mistrial, and to appeal his gag order. But he was rejected at nearly every turn.

Trump is able to use those resources not only to launch aggressive litigation tactics but he has demonstrated a willingness to assert things in court through his lawyers that most litigants would not, for fear of offending the court," Zauderer said. Whether or not that gets any traction in the court, its one more opportunity to delay things and kind of throw dust."

A person holds a placard outside the Supreme Court, following the justices ruling on former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's bid for immunity from federal prosecution for 2020 election subversion in Washington, on July 1, 2024.

Biggest victory at Supreme Court despite claims about SEAL Team 6 assassination

Trump's biggest victory in all of his litigation was the Supreme Court ruling July 1 that former presidents can't be charged for official conduct while in office.

In each of his four criminal cases, Trump has argued his actions were official business. But prosecutors have argued his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, to retain national defense records after he left the White House and to pay off a porn star to silence her about an alleged affair and conceal the payments were were private actions.

Trumps two federal trials  on election interference and retaining classified documents  are on hold and his sentencing in the New York hush-money case was postponed as judges in each case review whether charges should be dismissed based on the ruling.

Aileen Cannon, the Florida judge initially assigned to oversee Donald Trump's classified documents case, answers questions during her nomination hearing by the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, U.S. July 29, 2020 in a still image from video.

Judge throws out charges Trump mishandled classified documents

Another major victory for Trump was getting his classified documents case dismissed because of how his prosecutor was appointed.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that Justice Department special counsel Jack Smiths appointment was unconstitutional.

Legal experts considered Cannon's ruling an outlier because special prosecutors had been upheld for decades in other cases. For example, courts have upheld special counsel appointments repeatedly, including in the cases of Robert Mueller, who investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election, and David Weiss, who prosecuted Hunter Biden. Smith has appealed her decision.

Steve Vladeck, a law professor at Georgetown University Law Center, called the ruling "wrong six ways from Sunday" and predicted it would be immediately appealed.

But Trump's deep pockets allowed him to pursue long-shot motions that occasionally pay off.

The reality is to properly defend the case, you want to attack every single angle," said Parlatore, who noted that special counsels have been upheld in other federal districts, but not southern Florida.

Unorthodox disputes arose in the classified documents case before charges were filed. After the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, Trumps lawyers Cannon to appoint a former federal judge to serve as special master to review thousands of documents.

But the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals initially overturned the hold on prosecutors investigating the documents and then overturned the special master entirely by ruling the time for Trump to challenge the results of the search would be after charges were filed.

Another advantage Trump brought to the table was his political power. He wasn't just a defendant pleading before Cannon  he appointed her.

McQuade, the former federal prosecutor, said one advantage to the ruling was that Smith could not just appeal but also ask the 11th Circuit to replace Cannon in the case.

Georgia case on hold as Trump tries to oust prosecutor

Georgias highest court will hear arguments in October about whether to remove the prosecutor in Trump's election racketeering case.

Trump joined the fight to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the case because of her romantic relationship with another prosecutor.

Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee ruled in March that Willis could stay on the case if the other prosecutor, Nathan Wade, resigned, which Wade immediately did.

But McAfee rejected Trumps argument the charges should be dismissed because his claims of election fraud were protected by the First Amendment.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump listens as Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton answers a question from the audience during their presidential town hall debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, on Oct. 9, 2016.

Trump, lawyers fighting nearly $1 million in sanctions over Hillary Clinton lawsuit

Trump is fighting nearly $1 million in sanctions after losing a lawsuit against his former Democratic presidential rival, Hillary Clinton.

Trump sued Clinton and dozens of other defendants in March 2022 citing $24 million in damages over a dossier of unconfirmed allegations against Trump gathered by a former British intelligence officer, Christopher Steele. Steele had been hired by Fusion GPS, a private investigations company, which was paid by Clinton's campaign and the Democratic National Committee. Trump's lawsuit alleged that Clinton and dozens of others orchestrated a malicious conspiracy to disseminate patently false and injurious information about him.

But U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks threw out the lawsuit, ruling this case should never have been brought. Middlebrooks called the lawsuit "a series of disconnected political disputes" that Trump "alchemized into a sweeping conspiracy." Middlebrooks agreed with Clinton that the lawsuit sounded like "a fundraising tool, a press release, or a list of political grievances" that had no merit.

Clinton and 17 other defendants sought sanctions for the frivolous lawsuit and Middlebrooks awarded them a combined $937,939 for legal fees and costs.

Trump and lawyers including Habba are appealing the dismissal of the case and the sanctions at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Judge Arthur Engoron listens as lawyer Chris Kise gives closing arguments with former president Donald Trump watching in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, on Jan. 11, 2024 in this courtroom sketch.

NY judges fine Trump for contempt for violating gag orders

Another way Trump's money changes the rules he plays by is that he can easily afford the standard fines for violating gag orders, which are intended to protect court staff and witnesses from intimidation.

Trump posted a picture of Engoron's law clerk, Allison Greenfield, that falsely accused her of being Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's "girlfriend."

Engoron, who had a bomb threat called into his home during the civil fraud case, fined Trump a combined $15,000 for violating his gag order against commenting on his clerk.

Trump also posted criticism repeatedly about his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, and porn actress Stormy Daniels, who were key witnesses in his hush-money trial. Merchan fined Trump $10,000.

"Weigh that against the political benefit he gets publicly, politically promoting himself as the victim," said Zauderer, the longtime New York lawyer. "How many people can just pay $10,000 or $20,000 out of their pocket just to thumb your nose at the court?"

Judge Arthur Engoron attends the closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, on Jan. 11, 2024.

Trump's lawyers are sometimes scolded for their advocacy

When Trump lawyer Cliff Robert asked Engoron to pause the enforcement of the $454 million judgment in Trump's civil fraud trial, the judge refused.

You have failed to explain, much less justify, any basis for a stay, Engoron wrote.

In the hush-money case, Trump's lawyers argued repeatedly that former lawyer Michael Cohen shouldn't be allowed to testify because of his previous convictions for perjury. But Merchan ruled Cohen hadn't been shown to be lying in the latest case.

Rearguing this Courts prior rulings in this manner is procedurally and professionally inappropriate and a waste of this Courts valuable resources, Merchan wrote in denying the request for a second time.

Another dustup occurred when Blanche told Merchan that Trump was trying to obey the gag order restricting his comments about potential witnesses and jurors.

"Mr. Blanche, youre losing all credibility," Merchan said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Donald Trump uses supporters' money to delay his trials
What do you need to have a better life? We want to hear from you | Cheryl Powell

Political season is upon us, and it looks like we're in for another wild ride.

But what if YOU could be in the driver's seat  not the politicians, the pundits or even the media?

The Akron Beacon Journal/BeaconJournal.com has joined with Signal Akron, Ideastream Public Media and Fighting to Understand, a Northeast Ohio nonprofit with experience designing and holding difficult conversations, to launch a community engagement project called We Can Disagree!

The project, which began last week, uses an app called Polis to foster community conversation and find common ground.

Polis, which can be accessed from your cellphone or computer, regularly poses a new question to get the conversation started. The current question is: "What is needed to help people have a better life?"

You can anonymously vote on the ideas proposed by others, as well as share your own answers. We'll see where Greater Akron residents agree  and where they agree to disagree.

Retired Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Doug Oplinger, a longtime colleague of mine at the Beacon Journal, is spearheading the partnership. The Akron Bar Foundation and Akron Community Foundation are funding the project.

When I became executive editor several months ago, I pledged to ensure the Beacon Journal is telling stories that are important to all segments of our community.

We plan to use these conversations as a source to help inform our election coverage plans and the questions we ask, particularly during this all-important presidential race.

Rather than let politicians steer the conversation this campaign season, we want to focus on the issues that matter most to you.

In the first few days since the program launched, nearly 150 Akron-area residents have joined the conversation.

While there is undeniably disagreement among the participants, those across the political spectrum so far have largely agreed that we need:

Leaders who we can trust to address complicated issues for all of us rather than divide us.

More people talking to one another, face to face.

To work for peace in our homes, our community, our schools, our country, and certainly with the world community.

Discussion of political positions without devolving into insults and attacks.

What do you think? Go to https://pol.is/6mhvipxs2z and let us know.

More details about reader engagement and election coverage

The We Can Disagree! partnership is just one of several steps the Beacon Journal is taking to make sure we are telling the stories that matter to residents in the region.

As she shared in a recent column, Theresa Bennett is moving into the new role of opinion and community engagement editor, a position I created shortly after I became executive editor to help us better connect with our audience. She brings a lot of enthusiasm to the position and has great ideas to make sure we're including a broader diversity of experiences and viewpoints moving forward.

Share you ideas with Theresa at tbennett@gannett.com. She'd love to hear from you.

You'll also see some changes to our election coverage this year, starting with a first-time voter series by reporters Stephanie Warsmith and Alisson Toro-Lagos. This week, Stephanie and Alisson will introduce you to six diverse community members who will be voting in their first presidential election. We'll follow them through the entire process, sharing what they think and learn.

Along the way, we'll answer their questions and give you a chance to ask your own questions for us to answer.

Watch BeaconJournal.com and the print edition of the Beacon Journal in the coming weeks for more details.

Yes, it's going to be a wild ride  but we'll be there to help you navigate the journey.

Cheryl Powell is executive editor of the Akron Beacon Journal/BeaconJournal.com. She can be reached at cpowell@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3902.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Beacon Journal joins media partnership, launches new election coverage
Biden and Harris to visit Houston this week to pay respects to Sheila Jackson Lee

Vice President Kamala Harris gives the keynote speech at the American Federation of Teachers 88th national convention on July 25, 2024 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Credit: Danielle Villasana for The Texas Tribune

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, will each travel to Houston this week to pay their respects to former U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, according to statements from the White House.

Jackson Lee died at age 74 on July 19 amid a battle with pancreatic cancer. The Houston Democrat was one of the longest serving members of Texas congressional delegation, known as a staunch advocate for progressive causes.

Harris called Jackson Lee a dear friend in a statement following the Congresswomans passing and lauded her work on disaster relief following Hurricane Harvey, and as an advocate for womens rights. Harris and Jackson Lee were both members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, a historically Black sorority, and worked together on legislation, including the law that made Juneteenth a national holiday.

Sheila Jackson Lee was, first and foremost, a leader dedicated to serving the people of her beloved city, Harris said in a statement. No task was too small as long as it was the right thing to do.

Biden and Harris trips to Houston are not expected to overlap. Biden will travel to Houston on Monday and is expected to visit Houston City Hall, where Jackson Lee is lying in state.

Harris will be in Houston on Wednesday to deliver remarks at a political event, according to a Sunday evening press release. And she will deliver a eulogy at Jackson Lee's homegoing service on the following day. The Celebration of Life Service on Thursday will take place at Fallbrook Church and will be livestreamed, according to a schedule of events shared by Jackson Lee's family.

The trip will mark Harris third visit to Texas in the last month. On July 10, Harris traveled to Dallas where she spoke to about 20,000 members of Alpha Kappa Alpha at their annual convention.

Last week, Harris traveled to Houston and received a briefing on the ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricane Beryl. The following day, she delivered a keynote address at the American Federation of Teachers national convention in Houston.

Biden was scheduled to visit Texas on July 15 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. That trip was postponed after an attempted assassination on former U.S. President Donald Trump and has been rescheduled for Monday. The president will travel to Houston after delivering his speech at the Lyndon B. Johnson presidential library.

Biden withdrew from the presidential race on July 21 and quickly endorsed Harris, urging Democrats to rally around the vice president to defeat Trump, the Republican challenger.

Big news: director and screenwriter Richard Linklater; NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher; U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-California; and Luci Baines Johnson will take the stage at The Texas Tribune Festival, Sept. 57 in downtown Austin. Buy tickets today!
President Bidens decision to drop out of the election has freed up time to focus on securing a legacy-making cease-fire in the Middle East and a deal to return hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

But its unclear if his new status as a lame-duck president will strip away his leverage over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leaders, who know a new president will enter the White House in six months, or strengthen Bidens hand by freeing him from the political calculations of the campaign trail.

Its a double-edged sword. The clout has been diminished but its also enhanced in that theres no reelection issues that swirl up  so hes a free-er agent, said Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

But will he be less listened to because of that? So, Im not sure Netanyahu will take anything that comes from him.

Parties to the complex Middle East negotiations, including the Palestinians and Arab partners, will also want to know that whatever guarantees America makes under Biden will not be torn up should former President Trump win in November.

Biden, in remarks addressing his decision to not seek reelection, said he is going to keep working to end the war in Gaza, bring home all the hostages, and bring peace and security to the Middle East and end this war.

Of the 115 hostages still held by Hamas, eight are Americans. Its not fully known the number of those alive or dead, but Hamas holds back the bodies of hostages as leverage in negotiations.

The U.S. is leading intensive efforts to bridge gaps between Israel and Hamas on a cease-fire deal and hostage release. The talks are expected to bear fruit over the coming week, a senior administration official told reporters earlier this week.

Netanyahu, who is widely seen as preferring Trump in the White House, has been accused of slow-walking cease-fire negotiations to preserve his position as prime minister. Far-right members of his party, opposed to a deal with Hamas, have threatened to collapse his government if a deal is signed.

But the White House said it does not view Netanyahu as an obstacle.

If Im talking to you a month from now, and were still kind of where we are now, I might draw a different conclusion, the official said when asked if Netanyahu is delaying negotiations. But thats certainly not the case now.

Ghaith al-Omari, a senior fellow with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, pointed out the biggest question mark in achieving a cease-fire deal is the mindset of Hamass chief in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack believed to be hiding out from Israeli forces in an underground tunnel system in Gaza.

While the CIA reportedly assessed that Sinwar is under pressure from his own military commanders in Gaza to agree to a cease-fire deal, al-Omari  who served as a senior Palestinian negotiator with the Clinton administration  described these reports as speculative.

Without the hostages he becomes very, very personally vulnerable, he said. This is the one card that Hamas has, and I suspect theyll be very reluctant to do it, and Im not sure hes susceptible to the kind of pressure from Qataris, Egyptians or the Hamas leadership in the diaspora  hes holed up in some tunnel, his calculations are very, very hard to divine.

But theres still a belief that America wields unique power. Aviva Siegel, who was held hostage by Hamas for 51 days, said her husband Keith initially held back from Hamas that he holds American citizenship, believing he would be separated from his wife and released earlier.

The first hostages Hamas released in October were two American citizens, part of a proof-of-concept for a broader hostage release that took place at the end of November. Aviva Siegel was released as part of that deal, which included civilian women, minors and citizens of other countries.

We need Biden to rule the world, not the terrorists to rule the world, and to be strong enough to get them out, Siegel told a roundtable of House lawmakers this week.

Biden has the benefit of there being virtually no daylight on policy with Vice President Harris, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, and that even Trump is calling for the immediate release of the hostages and for Israels war to end.

They are getting decimated with this publicity, Trump said of Israel in an interview with Fox News on Thursday ahead of his own meeting with Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Id make sure that it gets over with fast; you have to end this fast, Trump said when asked what hed do differently. It cant continue to go on like this. Its too long, its too much, you have to get the hostages back.

There is historical precedent for lame-duck presidents to achieve consequential policies related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Al-Omari pointed to then-President Reagans establishing dialogue with the Palestine Liberation Organization in the final months of his presidency  despite federal law banning such communication  which continued for a time in the George H.W. Bush administration.

And while President George W. Bush rejected President Clintons parameters for Israeli-Palestinian peace laid out in December 2000, al-Omari said the document served as terms of reference for peace talks going forward and paved the way for U.S. policy calling for a two-state solution.

But the reality on the ground now is vastly different from the early 2000s and the Obama administration.

Biden has laid out an ambitious multilayer plan for Middle East peace that begins with a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, eventually leading to ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia  building on the Trump administrations brokering of the Abraham Accords establishing ties between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

But Netanyahus rejection of a Palestinian state, a position shared by many in his government, is a major obstacle to opening ties with Riyadh.

It is very possible that Biden could lay down a challenge to Netanyahu in which he lays out the opportunity for peace with Saudi, but also demands that Israel recommit to a Palestinian state, al-Omari said.

Its something that can lay the ground for one of the most consequential developments in Middle East history. And frankly for Trump, he could pick it up as a continuation of the Abraham Accords, which is part of his legacy.

With the Israeli Knesset, its parliament, heading into a three-month summer recess next week, now might be the time where the prime minister could agree to a six-week cease-fire for hostage release, without triggering a coup among right-wing members of his coalition.

A Knesset recess insulates Netanyahu from a vote of no confidence by coalition partners Itamar Ben-Gvir or Bezalel Smotrich, both of whom have threatened to bolt Netanyahus coalition if there is a deal, Aaron David Miller and Adam Israelevitz, fellows at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, wrote in a piece for Foreign Policy.

Even as Bidens cease-fire deal calls for negotiations on a permanent end to the war to take place about three weeks into the truce, Netanyahu has called for Israel to maintain overriding security control for the foreseeable future.

As long as Netanyahu can hold his coalition through the Knesset recess, the earliest call for any new elections would be in early 2025  conveniently aligning the Israeli and U.S. political calendars. Indeed, Netanyahu would then be in a position to adjust his strategy and tactics based on who the next U.S. president is, Miller and Israelevitz wrote.

Further complicating matters is that Saudi Arabias openness to normalize ties with Israel is contingent on the U.S. signing a mutual defense pact, a treaty that is expected to require Senate approval and viewed as having the best chance of buy-in from Democrats under Biden, as opposed to a potential President Trump.

There are few legislative days on the calendar to follow through on the process of vetting a treaty and bringing it to a vote, but Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called it achievable.

Its an interesting thing  things can move at the speed of molasses, or they can move at the speed of lightning here. Theres always time, Cardin told The Hill earlier this week.

I know that there has been a lot of work done in regards to normalization, and there is a path forward if we can get stability in the Middle East. So a lot depends on the timing of the path forward for peace. And I think if that happens, you might see some progress yet this year.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Gen Z voters have finally gotten what they wanted: an election without two old men on the ballot.

With President Joe Bidens decision to end his reelection campaign, Kamala Harris will almost assuredly take his place as the Democratic nominee. Thats good news for Democrats, as Biden faced glaring problems with voters under 30. But its also good news for younger voters, who have struggled to see themselves even remotely reflected in the person at the top of the ticket in recent election cycles.

For months  years, even  young voters have been telling Democrats that they want a candidate who isnt Biden. Theyve begged the party to admit what theyve long seen: that another election with Biden on the ballot will only end in four more years of Donald Trump.

Now that its finally happened, we need to actually vote.

In North Carolina, millennial and Gen Z voters consistently punch below their weight at the polls. Were the largest and most diverse group of voters in the state, but we have the lowest turnout of any group. In the 2022 midterms, for example, turnout was 24% among Gen Z voters, and 34% among millennials. Turnout among older generations was more than twice as high. And in the 2020 presidential election  which in North Carolina was decided by just 1.34%  turnout among millennials and Gen Z hovered around 60%. For older generations, it was 80%.

Up until a week ago, there wasnt much of a chance of that improving this year. Enthusiasm for Biden had fallen among Gen Z voters in North Carolina, and their intent to vote in November was lower than any other age group, David McLennan, a political science professor at Meredith College and director of the Meredith Poll, told me. They were also more curious about third-party candidates than any other age group.

McLennan expects those numbers to change now that Harris has replaced Biden in the race. A big factor  and also the most obvious one  dragging down Biden was his age. Gen Z is especially supportive of age limits for presidential candidates; McLennans own polling shows that North Carolinas Gen Z voters believe candidates should be limited to younger than 55 years old. At 59 years old, Harris falls outside of that range. But she is the youngest presidential nominee that we have ever been old enough to vote for, and that should mean something.

So far, Gen Z feels more excited about Harris than they ever were about Biden, sharing memes and TikTok videos that even had Jake Tapper attempting to explain what Kamala is brat means on CNN. Friends of mine who had planned to vote for Biden through gritted teeth in November now seem far more galvanized by the thought of voting for Kamala instead. The Harris campaign has embraced the humor and shared some jokes of its own, but it does have to tread carefully. If they lean in too hard, it can come across inauthentic or just plain cringy, like Hillary Clintons use of slang on the campaign trail in 2016.

Of course, Democrats shouldnt expect that Harris age and social media wit will be enough to win the youth vote. Age plays a big role in making younger voters feel represented, but its not everything, and Democrats in North Carolina have not always done the greatest job at making young voters feel seen or heard. Theres a reason why Gen Z loves Bernie Sanders despite the fact that hes even older than Biden  its because he speaks boldly about the issues that matter to them. That includes issues like climate change, marijuana legalization  things that Democrats support on paper but dont always emphasize on the campaign trail.

Harris is better than Biden on issues that many Gen Z voters have shown they care deeply about. Shes a better messenger on abortion. And while she isnt as openly pro-Palestine as many young progressives would like, she has been more critical than Biden of Israels treatment of civilians in Gaza and was the first Biden administration official to call for a ceasefire earlier this year.

Another factor at play: For the first time, North Carolina Democrats will be led by someone deeply familiar with Gen Z and willing to make them a priority. At 26 years old, state party chair Anderson Clayton is the youngest to hold the position in the country, and shes focused more of the partys efforts on harnessing the youth vote.

Still, none of this matters if Gen Z stays home in November. Harris may still be imperfect, and she still may not be the candidate that younger voters would have chosen for themselves. Shes still a product of a system many of us dont like. But shes closer to it than Biden was, and sitting around and waiting for the perfect candidate to show up isnt going to move us forward.

Change is incremental, and the fact that were in this situation at all is a sign that its starting to happen. Its a sign that our voices do matter. If we want to keep it that way, its our turn to show up.
Its probably human nature to seek logical, sensible explanations for shocking, inexplicable events.

Maybe its the idea that if we can understand the things we fear, things that make no sense, we can somehow prevent them. Government is structured with orderly, standard, uniform rules and methods. Rules are fine for setting the speed limit on a road or the curriculum of a school, but they arent much use in figuring out what would make an odd young man climb up on a roof and try to kill the leading candidate for president.

Sense and logic cant explain senseless, illogical acts.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - July 17: A demonstrator holds a sign of Thomas Matthew Crooks outside of a security zone checkpoint by the Fiserv Forum as the RNC continues on July 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Security throughout downtown Milwaukee remains high following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump over the weekend. Thousands of delegates, politicians and the Republican faithful are arriving into the traditionally Democratic city over the next few days for the annual convention which will conclude with former President Donald Trump accepting his party's presidential nomination. The RNC takes place from July 15-18. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)

As this is written, platoons of investigators are trying to figure out why Thomas Matthew Crooks nearly killed former President Donald Trump. We may never know his motive, but one likely reason stands out.

In laymans terms, he was crazy.

No sensible, well-grounded person  even someone ready to die, as Crooks did  would shoot someone in front of a crowd. Especially not a national figure with security guards all around him.

Conspiracy-mongering and finger-pointing began on both sides immediately. The Secret Service had some dreadful explaining to do, and congressional committees held hearings on this total security failure. At first glance, the only explanation seems to be that somebody screwed up beyond belief.

On the left, skeptics began littering Facebook and X, formerly Twitter, with loony ideas about a set-up, a staged fake by the deep state. Oh yeah, right, Trump (or maybe the CIA or some other denizens of the social-media fever swamps) would hire a gunman who would fire within an inch of Trumps brain and then be instantly killed at the scene.

Or maybe someone in power wanted Trump dead. Whats the going rate for a hit like that? Do our deepest, darkest agencies employ real-life 007 agents licensed to kill like James Bond?

Joe Biden sent the orders, Georgia Congressman Mike Collins quickly theorized, without evidence, in an online message. Another Georgian, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, claimed the Democrat Party is flat out evil and yesterday they tried to murder President Trump.

Even U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, who was about to become Trumps running mate, darkly claimed, Today is not just some isolated incident. 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.

There were many, many others. On both sides, famous politicians and ordinary online lurkers tried to out-do each other at wild speculation.

Biden and Trump called for everybody to cool it  and never mind that theyve both spoken recklessly at campaign events. Trump has called illegal immigrants vermin, for instance, and Biden said Democrats need to put Trump in the bullseye politically.

Candidates and various campaign committees ought to stop the Hitler comparisons and groundless rumor-mongering out of common decency.

Its doubtful that even the most hideous name-calling and groundless accusations will motivate someone who is still in touch with the real world. But the guys who carry out these shootings arent like you and me.

John Hinckley shot President Reagan to impress Jodie Foster. Lee Harvey Oswald considered himself an undiscovered genius, so killing JFK was one way to get into the history books. Mark David Chapman was an obsessed fan who killed John Lennon to draw attention to The Catcher in the Rye. Arthur Bremer couldnt get close enough to Richard Nixon, so he settled for George Wallace.

Theres no predicting what motive might be found for Crooks horrific actions. But its a good bet that if they ever find one, youll shake your head and think, What a nut. How could he believe something like THAT?

Bill Cotterell is a retired Capitol reporter for United Press International and the Tallahassee Democrat. He writes a weekly column for The News Service of Florida and City & State Florida. He can be reached at wrcott43@aol.com.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or Your Turn columns (about 500 words) to letters@tallahassee.com. Please include your address for verification purposes only, and if you send a Your Turn, also include a photo and 1-2 line bio of yourself. You can also submit anonymous Zing!s at Tallahassee.com/Zing. Submissions are published on a space-available basis. All submissions may be edited for content, clarity and length, and may also be published by any part of the USA TODAY NETWORK.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Bill Cotterell: Sense and logic dont apply
Hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Ken Griffin recently bought a $90 million waterfront estate in St Tropez.

Griffin currently has a net worth of $41.8 billion, per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Griffin is a top art collector and philanthropist, donating over $2 billion to various causes, according to Citadel.

Billionaire hedge fund founder Ken Griffin has broken records for some of his purchases  from previously buying the most expensive property in Miami history to acquiring a stegosaurus skeleton that made for the most valuable fossil to sell at auction.

The Citadel boss is currently the world's 33rd richest person, with a net worth of $41.8 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Some of his fortune was recently spent on a waterfront estate worth over $90 million in the highly exclusive St. Tropez, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Griffin is also a high-profile philanthropist. A spokesperson for Griffin said he has donated over $2 billion to education, opportunity, and health science initiatives.

Here are some of his more unusual and extravagant purchases:

1. A $90 million St. Tropez estate

Ken Griffin's newest real estate purchase is a property in St . Tropez, reportedly worth more than $90 million. Wolfgang Kuhn/Getty Images

The St. Tropez waterfront estate, once owned by photographer Gunter Sachs, was reportedly sold to Griffin for over $90 million, a source familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal.

Located on Tahiti Beach, the property spans about two acres with multiple buildings. This purchase adds to Griffin's global collection of luxury properties, including homes in London, New York, and South Florida.

2. A $45 million Dinosaur Skeleton

A woman stands next to Apex, a stegosaurus skeleton being sold by Sotheby's. Matthew Sherman/Courtesy of Sotheby's

Griffin purchased Apex, the $44.6 million Stegosaurus skeleton, at a Sotheby's auction this year, setting new fossil auction records.

The nearly 27-foot-long and 11-foot-high skeleton is among the most Stegosaurus skeletons ever found, according to Sotheby's.

Griffin plans to explore lending it to a US institution.

Following the sale, he said, "Apex was born in America and will stay in America."

"[Griffin] shares the art, Constitution, dinosaurs with the public so they can enjoy and learn about them and plans to keep them in the US for future generations," Zia Ahmed, a spokesperson for Griffin, told Business Insider.

3. A $43 million first edition US Constitution

A first edition copy of the US Constitution purchased by Ken Griffin for $43 million. Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images

Griffin paid $43.2 million for a first-edition copy of the US Constitution at a Sotheby's auction in 2021, outbidding a group of crypto investors.

This purchase more than doubled its estimated value. This was one of only 13 known copies. Griffin plans to lend the document to a free art museum in Arkansas, a Citadel spokesperson said.

Story continues

4. $500 million for two art pieces

Art News named Griffin as one of the top 200 art world collectors. Don Emmert/Getty Images

Griffin spent $500 million in 2016 on Willem de Kooning's "Interchange" and Jackson Pollock's "Number 17A," acquired from David Geffen, according to CNBC.

5. A $238 million penthouse in NYC

Griffin bought the penthouse unit in New York City's 220 Central Park South. Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

In 2019, Griffin bought a $238 million penthouse in New York City's 220 Central Park South, making it the most expensive home ever sold in the US.

This 23,000-square-foot residence adds to Griffin's extensive high-value real estate portfolio. He previously bought a $122 million London mansion and spent a reported $84 million on buying Clavin Klein's former Southampton house.

6. Land in Palm Beach

Aerial view of luxury homes in Palm Beach, Florida. halbergman/ Getty Images

Griffin broke the Miami property price record in 2022 when he spent more than $100 million on a four-acre estate in exclusive Coconut Grove.

The Florida native has also spent the past decade acquiring land in Palm Beach to reportedly build a mansion.

Read the original article on Business Insider
One of the chief responsibilities of any government  federal, state or local  is to provide for the basic infrastructure necessary to conduct our lives. Local governments  especially the city of Oklahoma City  have never lost sight of this. In the years leading up to 2021, it could have been reasonable, however, to question whether leaders in Washington understood their most basic duty.

This is why the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law  signed in 2021  was so important. Not only did it demonstrate that bipartisan achievements are still possible in Washington, and not only did it finally meet a moment that had stymied administrations of both parties, but fundamentally, it gave local communities resources we need to support core infrastructure.

More: OKC Mayor David Holt selected to become U.S. Conference of Mayors president in 2025

The law was passed thanks to the persistence of the Biden/Harris administration, who never gave up on the idea that a bipartisan law was possible, and it was supported by majorities of the House and Senate, which included then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Bipartisan mayors were a part of the process every step of the way. I met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the summer of 2021, and I joined dozens of mayors on the South Lawn of the White House in November 2021 to witness the historic bill signing.

Traffic drives around road construction along Classen Boulevard in Oklahoma City.

Though the $1.2 trillion commitment to our future is admittedly a long play, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (technically known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA) already has brought significant resources to the city of Oklahoma City  over $100 million. Our funding received to date includes:

 Surface Transportation Block Grant-Urbanized Area (STBG-UZA)  Over $43 million toward 11 road and bridge projects, including improvements to arterial streets around Chisholm Creek; rehabilitation of NW 4 and NW 6 downtown; resurfacing of Eastern Avenue from NE 122 north to the city limits and the addition of sidewalks; intersection improvements on W Reno Avenue at Meridian, Portland and Ann Arbor; and replacement of the NW 63 bridge west of Interstate 235.

 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)  Over $4.3 million for a multi-use trail on Eastern from Grand Boulevard to SE 59, a bicycle route on S Robinson from SW 7 to Grand Boulevard and the Stockyards Rail Trail from the Oklahoma River to Agnew.

 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)  Over $43.7 million for 14 projects to improve our airport system, including widening of the runway at Wiley Post Airport, reconstruction of a portion of the Terminal Roadway at Will Rogers World Airport, runway reconstruction at Will Rogers, the acquisition of snow removal equipment at Will Rogers, renovations of the terminal restrooms at Will Rogers and modernization of the moving walkway at Will Rogers.

 Congestion Mitigation Air Quality  Over $2 million for sidewalks on Interstate 240 service roads, Pennsylvania Avenue, NW 140, NE 16 and a bicycle lane on NE 4.

 Safe Streets and Roads for All  Over $800,000 to develop a comprehensive plan to prevent fatalities on our streets.

 Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant and Public Fleet Conversion  Over $736,000 to fund electric vehicle charging stations for both private and government use.

 Brownfields  Over $4.4 million to support our Brownfields program that works with developers to fund environmental assessment and remediation of contaminated sites so they are suitable for redevelopment.

 Scour Mitigation  Over $720,000 to fund the improvement of 17 city-owned bridges.

More: State parks are falling apart. Legislative funding ignores inevitable failures | Opinion

Many more applications for funding are still in process or contemplated, and the projects listed above do not include resources received by the state of Oklahoma that might be deployed in Oklahoma City. For example, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation recently received a $17 million grant made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that will facilitate a new pedestrian bridge over the Oklahoma River, which will be vital to our community as the Transportation Department replaces the Interstate 35 bridges.

We are grateful for the commitment to infrastructure exhibited by bipartisan leaders in Washington in 2021, as well as the work that continues to deploy those resources. We promise that in Oklahoma City, we will continue to put these infrastructure dollars to good use.

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt is shown during the 2022 ceremonial swearing in at First Americans Museum.

David Holt was elected mayor of Oklahoma City in 2018 and serves as vice president of the United States Conference of Mayors.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Biden/Harris administration believed in bipartisan law; funds help OKC
Blinken says US will not prejudge outcome of Venezuela election

By Simon Lewis

TOKYO (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States would not prejudge the results of presidential elections taking place in Venezuela on Sunday, but called on parties to respect the democratic process.

Just before voting starts in the South American country, Blinken told a press conference in Tokyo the U.S. and the international community would be closely watching the vote.

"The United States is not going to prejudge the outcome. This is a choice for Venezuelans to make, but the Venezuelan people deserve an election that genuinely reflects their will, free from any manipulation," Blinken said.

Washington eased sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry last October in response to a deal between President Nicolas Maduro and opposition parties, but later reinstated the sanctions over actions that Washington said threatened an inclusive democratic vote.

Maduro, a Socialist whose 2018 reelection in the South American nation was rejected by the U.S. and most Western governments as a sham, is seeking his third term.

U.S. officials have said they will calibrate its sanctions policy toward Venezuela on how the elections are run.

Blinken said Maduro had fallen short of many of the commitments he made in that agreement, but there was still "enormous enthusiasm" ahead of the election.

"We urge all parties to honor their commitments and to respect the democratic process," Blinken said.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis in Tokyo; Editing by William Mallard)
Blood tests for Alzheimer's may be coming to your doctor's office. Here's what to know

FILE - A doctor points to PET scan results that are part of a study on Alzheimer's disease at Georgetown University Hospital, on Tuesday, May 19, 2015, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  New blood tests could help doctors diagnose Alzheimers disease faster and more accurately, researchers reported Sunday  but some appear to work far better than others.

Its tricky to tell if memory problems are caused by Alzheimers. That requires confirming one of the diseases hallmark signs  buildup of a sticky protein called beta-amyloid  with a hard-to-get brain scan or uncomfortable spinal tap. Many patients instead are diagnosed based on symptoms and cognitive exams.

Labs have begun offering a variety of tests that can detect certain signs of Alzheimer's in blood. Scientists are excited by their potential but the tests aren't widely used yet because there's little data to guide doctors about which kind to order and when. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration hasn't formally approved any of them and there's little insurance coverage.

What tests can we trust? asked Dr. Suzanne Schindler, a neurologist at Washington University in St. Louis whos part of a research project examining that. While some are very accurate, other tests are not much better than a flip of a coin.

Demand for earlier Alzheimer's diagnosis is increasing

More than 6 million people in the United States and millions more around the world have Alzheimers, the most common form of dementia. Its telltale biomarkers are brain-clogging amyloid plaques and abnormal tau protein that leads to neuron-killing tangles.

New drugs, Leqembi and Kisunla, can modestly slow worsening symptoms by removing gunky amyloid from the brain. But they only work in the earliest stages of Alzheimers and proving patients qualify in time can be difficult. Measuring amyloid in spinal fluid is invasive. A special PET scan to spot plaques is costly and getting an appointment can take months.

Even specialists can struggle to tell if Alzheimers or something else is to blame for a patients symptoms.

I have patients not infrequently who I am convinced have Alzheimers disease and I do testing and its negative, Schindler said.

New study suggests blood tests for Alzheimers can be simpler and faster

Blood tests so far have been used mostly in carefully controlled research settings. But a new study of about 1,200 patients in Sweden shows they also can work in the real-world bustle of doctors' offices  especially primary care doctors who see far more people with memory problems than specialists but have fewer tools to evaluate them.

In the study, patients who visited either a primary care doctor or a specialist for memory complaints got an initial diagnosis using traditional exams, gave blood for testing and were sent for a confirmatory spinal tap or brain scan.

Blood testing was far more accurate, Lund University researchers reported Sunday at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Philadelphia. The primary care doctors' initial diagnosis was 61% accurate and the specialists' 73%  but the blood test was 91% accurate, according to the findings, which also were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Which blood tests for Alzheimers work best?

Theres almost a wild West in the variety being offered, said Dr. John Hsiao of the National Institute on Aging. They measure different biomarkers, in different ways.

Doctors and researchers should only use blood tests proven to have a greater than 90% accuracy rate, said Alzheimers Association chief science officer Maria Carrillo.

Today's tests most likely to meet that benchmark measure whats called p-tau217, Carrillo and Hsiao agreed. Schindler helped lead an unusual direct comparison of several kinds of blood tests, funded by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, that came to the same conclusion.

That type of test measures a form of tau that correlates with how much plaque buildup someone has, Schindler explained. A high level signals a strong likelihood the person has Alzheimers while a low level indicates thats probably not the cause of memory loss.

Several companies are developing p-tau217 tests including ALZpath Inc., Roche, Eli Lilly and C2N Diagnostics, which supplied the version used in the Swedish study.

Who should use blood tests for Alzheimers?

Only doctors can order them from labs. The Alzheimers Association is working on guidelines and several companies plan to seek FDA approval, which would clarify proper use.

For now, Carrillo said doctors should use blood testing only in people with memory problems, after checking the accuracy of the type they order.

Especially for primary care physicians, it really has great potential to help them in sorting out who to give a reassuring message and who to send on to memory specialists, said Dr. Sebastian Palmqvist of Lund University, who led the Swedish study with Lunds Dr. Oskar Hansson.

The tests aren't yet for people who don't have symptoms but worry about Alzheimer's in the family  unless it's part of enrollment in research studies, Schindler stressed.

That's partly because amyloid buildup can begin two decades before the first sign of memory problems, and so far there are no preventive steps other than basic advice to eat healthy, exercise and get enough sleep. But there are studies underway testing possible therapies for people at high risk of Alzheimer's, and some include blood testing.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Phoenix Fire Department located the body of a man early Saturday morning after he went missing when a warehouse roof collapsed during a storm earlier this week.

Around 1 p.m., search and rescue crews at Freeport Logistics, located near 43rd Avenue and Van Buren Street in west Phoenix, found the body of the man near the center of the building where initial reports state he was last seen.

The man's death is being investigated by the Phoenix Police Department, which will work with the Maricopa County Medical Examiner to confirm the victim's identity.

Keller said there was evidence to indicate that the body found was the missing man.

The search ended on its third day Saturday afternoon, as Capt. Todd Keller gave a news conference outside the scene of the collapsed building.

Keller said the family of the victim was regularly at the scene and had been notified of the victim's death.

The victim was described as a father, brother, son and son-in-law. "He was working a night shift, supporting his family and his loved ones," Keller said.

The collapsed building's roof was catastrophic in scope, according to Keller, who described the interior of the building. "These were racks of products 40 feet tall. When the roof blew off, all those racks collapsed and it kind of corkscrewed and piled down," Keller said.

On Thursday about 4 a.m., firefighters began a search for the man after a microburst lifted and partially destroyed the roof of Freeport Logistics in west Phoenix on Wednesday night.

On Friday, nearly 50,000 pounds of concrete and debris were removed as crews primarily focused search efforts on the center and north side of the building.

"The complexities of an incident like, I can't even start to tell you how big it is," said Keller, who described the use of heavy equipment to conduct the search.

New crews entered the search site every 12 hours with only the Phoenix Fire Department responding as of Friday evening, according to Keller.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Worker's body found after Phoenix warehouse roof collapse
(This column originally ran July 6, 2014.)

As American railroads built westward after the Civil War, it readily became obvious to every village and county that their success and even existence hinged on the railroad; with it they would prosper and grow, without it they would wither and die. This made communities ignored by transcontinental construction rabid in their pursuit of north/south or at least shorter branch lines. This opened the door for promoters, often totally unscrupulous, to step in and offer a bill of goods worth little or nothing.

In the late 1880s, Arnold, near the west edge of Custer County, lost its chance at three railroads, as the Union Pacific missed it well to the south, the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad went through Broken Bow to the east, and the Kearney & Black Hills Railroad failed to develop. Arnold was ripe to be swindled.

S.G. Durant was just such a promoter. Even his name may well have been fabricated to be confused with Thomas C. Durant, head of the Union Pacific, and there is no information as to what the initials referred to. It is also difficult to specifically pinpoint where he came from. Some sources say Illinois or Ohio, but most agree he came to Nebraska from Dubuque or possibly Dyersville, Iowa. Durant seems to have appeared full born, smoking long black cigars, dressed to the nines and driving the latest automobile, sometimes a Franklin, other times a Stanley Steamer. Arnold may have been one of his earliest targets though he, at some unspecified time, promoted an electric interurban railway to connect to Dallas if $15,000 [was] subscribed by the citizens of Knoxville, Iowa. He also was listed as the president of the Iowa Northern Railway, which was supposed to operate an interurban railroad in Clayton County, Iowa.

We do know that S.G. Durant arrived in Arnold, Nebraska, on Feb. 7, 1911, with the equally untraceable Eli Smith, who was referred to as a banker from Gandy, a village about 18 miles to the west in Logan County. Arnold was immediately whipped into a frenzy over a meeting Durant called to be held later in the day. Durant asked the citizens to subscribe for $100,000 in stock and deeds to all the right-of-way property needed on a straight line from Broken Bow to North Platte in an arc, with Arnold at its midpoint. The line would connect the Union Pacific with the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad. Arnold, whose population was only 231 at the time, still managed to promise $50,000 in stock purchases. Durant, after consideration, agreed to accept $75,000.

Probably merely to provoke action, Durant let slip that if he couldnt raise the $75,000, he might bypass Arnold completely and simply build the railroad on a straight line from Broken Bow to North Platte. He then reinforced his sotto voce threat by hiring a survey crew to lay out very visibly a line well south of Arnold. Meantime, the Union Pacific announced it might build a line from Broken Bow to Arnold, which then would proceed directly northwest and completely miss Gandy.

One account, which perhaps seems apocryphal, shows Arnold and Gandy contacting Durant, who supposedly agreed to approach the Union Pacific on their behalf to guarantee the Arnold and Gandy connections, a plan that would have had no benefit to Durant. It is a recorded fact that the Union Pacific did acquire the Kearney & Black Hills Railroad and somehow obtained Durants right-of-way vouchers and stock sales proceeds, though how and why are yet another mystery. The result of this was a Union Pacific line to Arnold that opened in March 1912 and a branch that still missed Gandy by three miles but gave birth to Stapleton.

Durant was at work in Iowa in September and October 1911 as well, promoting an interurban line from Luxemburg, which was to raise $35,000, to Colesburg, which had to furnish $40,000. This, Durant promised, was no promotion stock, no scheme to swing the money end through Wall Street exploitation. In early 1912, Durant announced his Midland Railroad would build between Rockford and Kankakee. A few miles of track actually was laid, and a rented locomotive operated very briefly before Durant simply disappeared.

On Nov. 18, 1912, S.G. Durant was jailed in default of heavy bail [for] endorsement of allegedly worthless stock [through his] American Redemption Company, while federal authorities charged him with using the mails to defraud.

During his court appearances it became difficult to determine whether S.G. Durant was his true name as so many aliases were employed. Amazingly, the people of Arnold still had faith in Durant and credited him with being at least partially responsible for the Union Pacific ultimately building its line.
Coexistence Club members serve as docents for thousands of students who visit Embracing Our Difference's annual outdoor exhibits promoting diversity and inclusion.

Recent high school graduates Jaylen Benony (Booker), Kennedy Flatch (Riverview), and Melissa Graham (Riverview) who each served as members of their schools Coexistence Club, were awarded $1,000 four-year renewable scholarships by Embracing Our Differences.

Flatch and Graham will be entering the University of Florida and Benony will be entering the University of North Florida in the fall. In addition, Jay Murphy, who served an internship for EOD in 2023, received a second $1,000 scholarship to attend Ringling College of Art and Design.

Jaleyn Benony will major interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in film and screenwriting at the University of North Florida.

Kennedy Flatch will be studying business marketing at Florida.

Melissa Graham will be studying biology at Florida.

The students are part of an EOD initiative that awards annual $1,000 renewable scholarships to students at regional high school Coexistence Clubs. Current Coexistence Club locations include Booker, North Port, Pine View, Riverview, Sarasota, Suncoast Polytech, and Venice high schools in addition to Imagine Schools' North Port Upper Campus.

Coexistence Club members serve as docents for thousands of students who visit EODs outdoor exhibits every year in addition to leading student initiatives at their schools to promote inclusion and acceptance. The scholarships are made possible by the Jody Beresford and Robert Mayer Scholarship Fund, along with private donors.

The dedication of Coexistence Club members to promote inclusion, kindness, and respect in their schools and at EODs annual exhibit inspires us to honor their efforts and support their continuing education, said Ben Jewell-Plocher, EODs learning and engagement director. As we enter our fifth year of awarding scholarships, its heartwarming to see previous awardees continue to advocate for inclusion within their university communities.

Benony will be studying interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in film and screenwriting, minoring in entrepreneurship, at North Florida; Flatch will be studying business marketing at Florida; and Graham will be studying biology at Florida.

For 21 years, Embracing Our Differences has inspired viewers with its annual outdoor display of 50 billboard-sized works of art and accompanying quotes. The open-air art show has attracted more than 4.8 million visitors since its inception and is the heart of a year-round program of activities that promote diversity and kindness. Next year's exhibition runs Jan. 19 to April 13 at Bayfront Park in Sarasota and March 1-31 at Flora Wylie Park in St. Petersburg. For more information, call 941-404-5710 or visit EmbracingOurDifferences.org.

Congressional Art Competition

Zachary Keshish, a rising junior at Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy, recently won the 2024 Congressional Art Competition, a districtwide showcase for high school artists. This year, the office of Congressman Vern Buchanan received 41 entries from Florida's 16th District.

Zachary Keshish of Lakewood Ranch Prep won the 2024 Congressional Art Competition for Florida's 16th District.

Keshish's artwork, Bored, will be displayed in Washington, D.C., for one year in the corridor between the U.S. Capitol and the Cannon House Office Building. Ella Thompson from Saint Stephens Episcopal School in Bradenton was second with her piece Orange and Brooke Malecki from Lennard High in Ruskin was third with Peace Is Just Around The Corner.

The Facebook Fan Favorite Awards went to Betsy Neal with Dancing With The Waves, Ella Thompson with Orange, and Madison McAvoy with Bus Mirror, all from Saint Stephens. Judges included curators from the Ringling Museum of Art. For information, visit buchanan.house.gov/congressional-art-competition.

Submissions by Su Byron and Tara Poulton

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Booker, Riverview High School grads earn 'Coexistence' scholarships'
FILE PHOTO: The Endless Column, a cast iron sculpture made by Constantin Brancusi, is seen in Targu Jiu

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - UNESCO added a series of outdoor sculptures by Romanian modernist master Constantin Brancusi to its list of world heritage sites on Saturday, celebrating their place as one of the most notable examples of 20th-century public art.

Brancusi created the open-air collection that includes the "Endless Column" and the "Gate of the Kiss" in the small south-western Romanian town of Targu Jiu in 1937-1938 as a tribute to fallen World War I soldiers.

The five sculptural installations aligned on a 1.5-km-long axis along Targu Jiu's central Avenue of Heroes are one of the few Brancusi works located in Romania.

"The granted recognition forces us to protect the monumental ensemble, to keep it intact for future generations and for humanity's cultural memory," Romanian Culture Minister Raluca Turcan said.

Brancusi was born in the small village of Hobita near the Carpathian Mountains, but lived in Paris for most of his life.

He arrived in Paris in 1904 after an 18-month walk and eventually worked under Auguste Rodin. He left Rodin's studio in 1907 saying "nothing grows under big trees" and became one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

He bequeathed his studio and some of his art to the French state after his death in 1957. He had wanted to leave his art to Romania, but the then communist government declined the offer.

In 2023, the western Romanian city of Timisoara staged the first retrospective exhibit of Brancusi works to be held in his home country in more than 50 years. A separate comprehensive Brancusi exhibit ended this month at the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie; editing by David Evans)
Local Democrats are hoping for a resurgence in the 2024 election, with Vice President Kamala Harris heading the ticket in November as the presumptive nominee for president.

Republicans currently fill most of the elective offices in Brevard County, including all five County Commission seats and all seven Florida Legislature seats in which the office-holder's district includes part of Brevard. The only Democrat on the five-member Brevard School Board, Jennifer Jenkins, is not seeking reelection in November, after a shift in School Board boundaries that put her outside the district she was elected to represent.

Still, Democratic officials say they are optimistic about the November election, including the prospects for local gains.

With last weekend's announcement that President Joe Biden would not seek reelection and would endorse Harris, the Democratic Party  both locally and nationally  was rejuvenated with new contributions and new volunteers.

Pamela Castellana, chair of the Brevard Democratic Executive Committee, said she has seen "an excitement and commitment" to work for the election Democratic candidates at a level she has not seen since the Barack Obama presidency.

That excitement was evident by the large turnout at the Brevard Democratic Executive Committee's monthly meeting on Wednesday in Viera. More than 200 people packed the Brevard County Commission chambers for the meeting, with about 25 of them attending for the first time.

"There wasn't a face in the crowd that wasn't happy and smiling," said Palm Bay resident Phil Moore, who is Brevard County's Democratic state committeeman, as well as a former candidate for the Florida House of Representatives and the Palm Bay City Council. "They couldn't hold a poker face if they tried. They saw a path for a brighter future. I think it's been well-received. There will definitively be more engagement. The excitement is definitely there."

Moore said having a younger person heading the ticket removes the issue of Biden's age of 81 as a liability, and opens up the possibility of new segments of voters volunteering for the campaign, then coming to the polls to vote Democratic.

'Fired up and ready to go'

Attendees at the Brevard Democratic Executive Committee's monthly meeting on Wednesday in Viera show their support for Vice President Kamala Harris' bid for the presidency.

Congressional race lineup: Eight-termer Posey won't seek reelection to Congress. Haridopolos among five seeking seat

"Everybody is just fired up and ready to go," said Yvonne Minus, who has served on the Melbourne City Council for the past 10 years and this year is running for the District 3 seat on the County Commission. "The atmosphere, the attitude. Everything is just astronomical. It's just amazing. It really is."

Minus said that, since the Biden and Harris announcements, she has gotten unexpected calls from people interested in volunteering for her campaign for seat now held by Republican John Tobia, who cannot seek reelection due to term limits and is running for Brevard County supervisor of elections. Minus will face the winner of an Aug. 20 Republican primary between Kim Adkinson and John Dittmore.

"Everybody wants to help," Minus said. "It is overwhelming. The announcement just rejuvenated everyone."

There has not been a Democratic county commissioner since District 1 Commissioner Robin Fisher completed his second four-year term in 2016, representing north Brevard.

In addition, Brevard's voter registration figures favor the GOP  with 45.2% Republican, 26.5% Democrat, 25.0% "no party affiliation" voters and 3.4% members of minor political parties.

Minus said a key will be getting more NPAs and members of minor parties to vote Democratic this November.

While Minus said the current political landscape in Brevard "is as red as blood," she believes having Harris at the top of the ticket will encourage more women, people of color and younger people to go to the polls this year  something that could help Democrats.

"That news definitely rejuvenated everyone," Minus said.

Minus said, while visiting with local Democratic and independent voters this past week as part of the Democrats' door-to-door campaigning, she was "very well-received," as a result of Harris running for president.

Castellana  who also is one of eight local delegates to next month's Democratic National Convention in Chicago and chair of a nine-county regional coalition of county Democratic chairs  said, in the past week, she has noticed a positive difference in the mood among Democratic supporters.

"Everybody is excited, reenergized and looking to make a difference," Castellana said.

Impact on Florida races

Aubrey Jewett, an associate professor of political science at the University of Central Florida, said having Harris at the head of the ticket could provide Democrats some gains in state and local races in Florida  and could put Florida back in play as a swing state in the presidential election, rather than being a likely Republican win for former President Donald Trump.

"With Harris, Democrats will be more excited, more mobilized, and there will be more turnout," said Jewett, who also is assistant director of UCF's School of Politics, Security and International Affairs. "It would be an upset, but not impossible," for Harris to win in Florida.

Jewett said Florida Republicans took the lead in voter registration for the first time in history in 2021, and now hold a 39.1% to 32.0% advantage, which amounts to more than 956,000 voters. The rest are NPAs or members of minor parties.

There currently are 84 Republican and 36 Democrats in the Florida House of Representatives, and all the House seats are up for election this year. But 13 of the seats currently held by Republicans are in districts that voted for Biden in 2020, so they and others could be flipped this year to the Democratic side, Jewett said.

In the Florida Senate, there are 28 Republican and 12 Democrats. Only half the seats are up for election this year, and voters in only one of them voted for Biden in 2020, a district in the Tallahassee area.

The Florida delegation to the U.S. Congress has 20 Republicans and eight Democrats, and Jewett doesn't expect any change in that after the November election.

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott is seeking reelection this year, and is favored to win over the likely Democratic candidate, former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who has three opponent in the Aug. 20 primary. Jewett said Scott is leading in recent polls and has the financial advantage, but does not have a particularly strong approval rating.

"So it's not like a lock," if Democratic voter turnout is strong, Jewett said.

A wild card that could affect voter turnout are the two high-profile state constitutional amendments that will be on the November ballot  Amendment 3 to legalize the use of marijuana for persons at least age 21, and Amendment 4 to allow abortions in the time frame before "viability" of the fetus.

As for Brevard races, Jewett said, with the GOP voter registration advantage, it will be a challenge for Democrats to win Senate, House or county races, but there potentially could be some seats flipping to Democrats.

Palm Bay resident Jerard Kelley, secretary of the Brevard Democratic Executive Committee and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, said he was in a depression a few weeks ago over the prospects of a potential Trump victory over Biden.

But, like many in the party, he now is enthused about the Harris presidential campaign.

"Everybody is so excited, and ready to support her," Kelley said, with more volunteers joining the effort. "New people are ready to knock on doors and get out the vote."

That includes not just the Nov. 5 general election, but also the nonpartisan Brevard School Board races, and the Palm Bay and Titusville municipal races that will be on the ballot in the Aug. 20 primary.

The key, of course, will be who shows up to the polls and how they vote.

"We know we have a job to get done," Moore said.

Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com, on X at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: With Harris as presidential nominee, Democrats aim for resurgence
(FOX40.COM)  A health emergency has been declared in Butte County to protect the publics health and safety from ash and debris burned in the Park Fire, according to officials.

Butte County Public Health Officer Dr. David Canton declared the emergency for the county just before 4 p.m. on Saturday in a news release, saying, The debris poses a substantial presence and potential hazard to human health, safety, and the environment unless it is addressed and managed properly.

Officials added that the declaration of a local health emergency will give the county access to programs to remove toxic substances from burned properties, which will allow property owners to begin the rebuilding process.

Park Fire: Northern California fire reaches 300,000+ acres

The California Health and Safety Code says a local health officer may declare a local health emergency for an area affected by a threat to public health, but the Butte County Board of Supervisors will have seven days to review and approve the declaration.

The Park Fire, which began on July 24, has burned over 350,000 acres across Butte and Tehama counties and has caused evacuations in both areas along with Plumas County. The fire is currently the seventh-largest wildfire in Californias history.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said Sunday that with incumbent Joe Biden out of the presidential race, concerns about acuity have shifted onto Republican nominee Donald Trump  and that the comparison with Kamala Harris is not flattering.

In response to questions about whether Harris was aware of Bidens fitness, Buttigieg told host Shannon Bream on Fox News Sunday that the 78-year-old former president desperately wishes he was still running against Biden now that the Democratic Party has put forward Harris, who is nearly two decades younger than Trump.

Following Bidens exit, Trump is now the oldest presidential nominee in U.S. history.

Im pretty sure voters are worried about the age and acuity of President Trump compared to Kamala Harris, Buttigieg said. How could anybody not watch the stuff hes saying, the rambling on the trail, and not be just a little bit concerned?

Whether Buttigieg's theory was grounded in actual research or just hopeful thinking did not deter him from criticizing the three-time GOP nominee. He drew a stark contrast between Democrats and Republicans, taking aim at Trumps personality cult for describing him as capable of leading despite rambling about electrocuting sharks and Hannibal Lecter. Buttigieg also praised Biden for taking the extraordinary, historic, selfless choice of bowing out of the race.

They say hes strong as an ox, leaps tall buildings in a single bounds. We dont have that kind of warped reality on our side, Buttigieg said of Trump. On the contrary, the president confronted that reality in what must have been one of the most difficult decisions for an American president to make ever.

And he did something that I dont think Donald Trump could even conceive of doing, which is putting his own interests aside for the country, he added.

In a statement, Trump campaign Communications Director Steven Cheung defended the former president as having more energy and more stamina than anyone in politics.

Pete Boot-Edge-Edge should keep his mouth shut and stay in his narrow line because the last time anyone checked, he was pounded in the Democrat primary in 2020, embarrassing himself, Cheung wrote.

The Democratic Party has been quick to coalesce around Harris, who has shrunk Bidens polling gap with Trump and is, at least for now, performing better than Biden among independents, people of color, women, and voters under 35. Republicans, including Trump, have struggled in attempts to develop a consistent line of attack against the vice president, calling her a radical, left lunatic and some insulting her on the basis of identity.

House GOP leaders, however, have privately urged lawmakers to criticize Harris record without referencing her race and gender after members called her a DEI pick, POLITICO reported.

Meanwhile, the Harris campaign has, too, changed its messaging. In a departure from the Biden campaigns focus on Trump as a threat to democracy, her team has branded Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, as weird  a move signaling attempts at a younger and relatable tone in contrast to the presidents approach.

In a Statement on a 78-Year-Old Criminals Fox News Appearance last week, the Harris campaign specifically hit Trump on his age, providing a list of takeaways from his Fox News interview that included the bullet point: Trump is old and quite weird?

Even Trumps supporters agree that the former president is facing a tougher race with Biden off the ticket, with some conceding that age not being an issue for Harris, who is 59, may give Democrats a bump.

Trump campaign Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back in a statement, saying: It's not about age, it's about competence, and Kamala Harris has proven to be just as incompetent and ineffective as Joe Biden.

President Trump is stronger than ever as proven by his relentless work ethic and remarkable resolve following the gruesome attempt on his life, Leavitt wrote.

Buttigieg, who is being floated as one of Harris potential vice presidential contenders, has taken to the airwaves to praise the Harris campaign while leveling sharp criticisms of Trump and Vance. Although the secretary is open to the role and campaigning throughout Michigan, Harris confidants and allies have told POLITICO they are skeptical of his chances and view him as a longshot.
Pete Buttigieg offered a dose of reality for viewers on Fox, pointing out the lies and cult of personality of Donald Trump. The Biden transportation secretary, when asked about President Joe Bidens fitness for office, turned the question around and cast doubt on Trumps fitness to serve.

Fox News Sunday anchor Shannon Bream asked Buttigieg whether Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumed Democratic nominee, was aware of how [Biden] was doing before he made the decision to step down from the presidential race. Buttigieg acknowledged Bidens age but pivoted to criticize Trump.

Unlike Republicans  right  who in Trumps personality cult will take a look at Donald Trump and say hes perfectly fine, even though he seemed unable to tell the difference between Nikki Haley and Nancy Pelosi, even though hes rambling about electrocuting sharks and Hannibal Lecter, even though he is clearly older and stranger than he was when America got to know him, they say hes strong as an ox, leaps tall buildings in a single bound. We dont have that kind of warped reality on our side, Buttigieg said.

Buttigieg went on to say that in stepping aside, Biden made one of the most difficult decisions a president could make  ever and did something that I dont think Donald Trump could even conceive of doing, which is putting his own interests aside for the country.

Pete Buttigieg on Fox News Sunday on Biden: "Unlike Republicans who in Trump's personality cult will take a look at Donald Trump and say he's perfectly fine even though he seemed unable to tell the difference between Haley and Pelosi, even though he's rambling about electrocuting pic.twitter.com/lh5W7MB5cq  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 28, 2024

He also highlighted the trail of broken promises Trump has made: He didnt keep his promise of six percent economic growth. He didnt keep his promise to drain the swamp. Even before the pandemic, America went into a manufacturing recession  He broke his promise to pass an infrastructure bill, right? He said he would do that; he failed to do it. The Biden-Harris administration got it done.

Buttigieg continued, He even broke his promise to that Jan. 6 mob when he said, I will be at your side when you march down to the Capitol. But he actually did keep two promises: He kept his promise to destroy the right to choose in this country, and he kept his promise on tax cuts for the rich.

When Bream interjected to say that Trump did say he wanted to get rid of Roe v. Wade, but again, sent it to the states where they are hashing this out.

And empowered the states to eliminate womens access to abortion and also, as you know, the Republican Party continues to be interested in a national abortion ban, Buttigieg responded.

Which [Trump] has disavowed completely, Bream said.

Yeah, hes disavowed a lot of things, Buttigieg said. Because he lies all the time.

Its notable that Project 2025, the conservative Heritage Foundations policy proposals for the next Republican administration, which was authored by many former Trump administration officials, calls for eliminating abortion access nationwide in addition to restricting reproductive health care. It proposes rolling back the FDA approval for abortion medications, calling them the single greatest threat to unborn children. It also would severely limit emergency contraceptive access, including IUDs and morning-after pills. Not only that, it would limit in vitro fertilization and surrogacy and employ the federal government in abortion surveillance.

The project paints a cruel, far-right vision of America, advocating for broad sweeping policy change, including rolling back climate change regulations, eviscerating the Environmental Protection Agency, and increasing fossil fuel production on public land. And it promises to enforce strict limits on immigration and to restrict eligibility for asylum claims while eliminating visas for immigrants who are victims of crime and human trafficking. Additionally, it proposes policies that would allow discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in the legal, social, and medical spheres.

Last year, a top Project 2025 official claimed that Trump was very bought in on its policy ideas, but earlier this month, that same official claimed that the idea Trump is linked to the project is a hoax. The Republican National Committee, meanwhile, has selected a Project 2025 author as its platform policy director.

Trump has claimed to know nothing about Project 2025, but as Buttigieg so clearly stated, He lies all the time.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg redirected criticism of Vice President Harris toward former President Trump on Sunday, remarking that voters are now concerned about Trumps age and well-being now that he faces a much younger opponent in the presidential election.

Buttigieg clashed with Fox News Sunday host Shannon Bream over criticism that Harris kept quiet amid concerns about President Bidens age and mental wellness in the weeks before he left the campaign.

Im pretty sure voters are worried about the age and acuity of President Trump compared to Kamala Harris, who represents being a generation younger, Buttigieg said. And how could anybody not watch the stuff hes saying, the rambling on the trail, and not be just a little bit concerned?

The secretary lauded Bidens decision to leave the race, claiming that its now Republicans who are stuck with an aging candidate in Trump.

Weve also seen the fact that [Biden is] 10 years older than he was 10 years ago, but unlike Republicans, who in Trumps personality cult take a look at Donald Trump and say hes perfectly fine, Buttigieg said. Even though he seemed unable to tell the difference between Nikki Haley and Nancy Pelosi, even though hes rambling about electrocuting sharks and Hannibal Lecter, even though he is clearly older and stranger than he was when America first got to know him.

They say [Trump is] as strong as an ox and leaps tall buildings in a single bound, he continued. We dont have that kind of warped reality on our side.

Buttigieg is believed to be on Harriss vice presidential candidate shortlist. He has been a major surrogate of her campaign in the last week.

Democrats have quickly coalesced around Harris, with her campaign already gathering enough committed delegates to effectively lock up the partys nomination. No other candidate has challenged Harris for the nomination, and her campaign has broken numerous fundraising records as it attempts to make up for a late start.

The Trump campaign hit back at Buttigiegs comments in a statement to The Hill.

Its not about age, its about competence, and Kamala Harris has proven to be just as incompetent and ineffective as Joe Biden, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said. President Trump is stronger than ever, as proven by his relentless work ethic and remarkable resolve following the gruesome attempt on his life. The American people trust President Trump to lead our nation back to greatness.

Updated at 2:06 pm.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
California town decimated by 2018 wildfire threatened again by states largest this year, as fires plague Oregon and Canada

As the Park Fire continues to rapidly grow and threaten thousands more acres of northern California, an evacuation warning has been issued for the town of Paradise, a place where people know the horrors of a raging wildfire all too well.

In 2018, the deadliest wildfire in state history, the Camp Fire, incinerated much of the town. Three years later, the Dixie Fire burned nearby. And now, residents of Paradise say the smell of smoke is already enough to traumatize them anew.

Paradise Mayor Ron Lassonde was visibly emotional as he told CNN affiliate KCRA it was hard to talk about the Park Fire as it brought back memories of 2018.

Every once in a while, we smell smoke or see smoke like that, it does trigger us. It triggers the people here in Paradise. When you go through trauma, thats what happens, Lassonde told KCRA.

Ava Elsner, who lived through the fire six years ago, told CNN she fears for her neighbors as the Park Fire  now the seventh-largest wildfire in California history  burns nearby.

I dont want anyone else to experience this. Its the most traumatizing, terrifying, and saddening thing to have a whole community go up in flames, and to lose all your personal items  so to see my parents go through this is just really hard, Elsner told CNN. I want to stay strong for them and comfort them the way that they did for me. And its just, its just difficult.

Meanwhile, wildfires are burning across the mountain west, in the US and north of the border in Canada, as firefighters deal with strong winds, low humidity and high temperatures to try to get the blazes under control.

There were 103 large wildfires burning across the US as of Sunday morning, including 36 in Oregon and 15 in California, according to the Interagency Fire Center, and hundreds in Canada reported by its Fire Center. Heres a brief rundown of some of the largest fires:

 Park Fire  Butte, Tehama, Plumas and Shasta counties, California: The Park Fire has become Californias largest wildfire this year, covering more than 360,000 acres, or 562 square miles  larger than the city of Phoenix  and its still spreading. The fire was 12% contained as of Sunday afternoon, according to CalFire. President Joe Biden has directed his administration to do everything possible to support ongoing fire suppression efforts, according to a White House official. The fire began Wednesday in the Chico area, forcing thousands of people to evacuate. CalFire said Saturday a preliminary air assessment showed over 100 structures impacted by the fire, and officials on the ground confirmed 20 structures have been destroyed.

 Durkee Fire  Baker and Malheur counties in Oregon: The largest active wildfire in Oregon is the Durkee Fire, which has burned more than 288,000 acres. It started July 17 near the Oregon-Idaho state line. Amid high temperatures, extremely dry vegetation and strong winds, the fire was 49% contained as of Sunday evening, according to Oregon Wildfire Response and Recovery.

 Jasper National Park Fire  Jasper, Alberta: Large sections of the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies are being consumed by a wall of flames. As of Sunday afternoon, the fire was at just under 80,000 acres, according to park officials, making it the largest wildfire in more than 100 years in Jasper National Park. Thousands of visitors and residents fled as flames devastated nearly 40% of the towns structures. There are currently 135 wildfires burning in the forest protection area of the province, 34 of which are out of control, authorities said Sunday afternoon. The fire is expected to become more active over the coming days with warmer weather ahead, Parks Canada said.

Vehicles scorched by the Park Fire line a yard in the Cohasset community of Butte County, Calif., on Friday, July 26, 2024. - Noah Berger/AP

Firefighting pilot found dead while battling wildfire

A firefighting pilot was found dead in a single-engine air tanker on Friday after going missing the night before while working in the vicinity of the 221-square-mile Falls Fire burning in the Malheur National Forest, among several large wildfires burning across Oregon, according to officials.

A burned visitor information sign from the Durkee Fire is seen amid charred hillside near Huntington, Oregon, U.S., July 27, 2024. - Matt Mills McKnight/Reuters

Meanwhile, the lightning-sparked Durkee Fire is the largest of the wildfires currently burning across Oregon, which has been the hardest hit by fires in recent days.

Three people were injured and four homes and 19 other structures were destroyed as the fire spread, according to the Oregon Department of Emergency Management.

Evacuation recommendations in Malheur County have been lifted as of Thursday afternoon. In Baker County many areas evacuation levels were reduced or eliminated, according to the countys Sheriffs Office.

Fire moves across Canadas Jasper National Park

An aerial photo shows wildfire smoke rising over Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada on July 24, 2024. - Alberta Wildfire/Anadolu/Getty Images

In Alberta, two wildfires converged in the Jasper National Park area, forming what authorities are referring to as the Jasper Wildfire Complex. Officials say the losses are significant, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has deployed federal support to help battle the blaze.

Homes and businesses have been lost to a wildfire that people are calling a wall of flames, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said.

In Jasper, a popular tourist town in Alberta, 25,000 residents and visitors were forced to evacuate from a fast-moving blaze, which has damaged nearly 40% of the towns structures, officials said.

The pain our town is feeling is beyond comprehension. Our homes were full of memories and hubs for family, friendship and community, Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland said in a statement Saturday. We have rallied many times in the past to support each other. I know this will be the darkest week in our communitys history. I am confident that together we will see brighter days are ahead.

It remains difficult to measure exactly how big the complex  which also includes a third nearby fire  is due to extreme fire behavior and thick smoke cover.

We will recover from this, Smith said while holding back tears. To those in Alberta and around the world who have experienced the magic of Jasper, the magic is not lost, and it never will be.

The owner of Maligne Lodge in Jasper told CNN news partner CTV News she was shocked when she saw a photo of the 98-room hotel up in flames. It had been in the family since 1961 after her father purchased the property, and she had been working there since she was a child.

As soon as were given the go-ahead, well be in there rebuilding our hotel, Karyn Decore said.

Significant amounts of rain over three days has helped firefighters get a handle on many of the Alberta wildfires, Melissa Story, a provincial wildfire information officer with Alberta Wildfire, said during a news conference Sunday.

But crews are preparing for warmer weather in the days ahead, which is expected to intensify the fires, especially in the southern areas of the province where rain was scarce.

Fires keep Paradise residents on edge

Nearly 4,000 firefighters are on the front lines, battling the blaze of the Park Fire, according to Cal Fire.

The Park Fire is burning just three weeks after the Thompson Fire in Butte County burned more than 3,700 acres, forced people from their homes, and destroyed more than two dozen structures, including houses.

Yes, theres a fire back there, Paradise Mayor Lassonde told CNN affiliate KCRA, appearing to be distressed. Yes, peoples houses are being destroyed. Yes, weve got over 1,000 firefighters out there, risking their lives, to keep us safe.

One Butte County evacuee, Tim Ferguson, said he lost his father in the Camp Fire, and its painful thinking about having to go through the experience again, according to an interview with CNN affiliate KOVR.

Weve got our home, and weve been working on it a lot lately, fixing it up, and its just were at the verge of maybe losing all that, Ferguson said.

A heavy plume of smoke once again looms over the county as crews battle thick flames torching everything in their path. The Park Fire has left graveyards of burned cars and charred, hallowed out structures, video from the Chico and Cohasset areas of Butte County shows.

Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, was arrested early Thursday, July 25, 2024, by Cal Fire arson investigators. - Butte County District Attorney/AP

A 42-year-old man identified by authorities as Ronnie Dean Stout II has been arrested on suspicion of pushing a burning car 60 feet into a gully, spreading flames that caused the Park Fire. Stout will likely face an arson charge, though its unclear what count or whether enhancements will be added, Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said Thursday.

The DAs office told CNN Stout has not retained an attorney and will be assigned a public defender at his arraignment.

Cal Fire initially estimated the fire had destroyed more than 100 structures, but on Saturday said crews on the ground have so far confirmed 20 structures destroyed.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for both counties Friday. The state also secured a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure there are enough resources to fight the fire.

Elsner said the Park Fire has forced her and her parents to take shelter at the same location they stayed at in 2018. She told CNN, in tears, the experience is causing her significant PTSD from the Camp Fire and flashbacks triggered by the flames and charred bits of remnants.

Elsners mother, Mary Graeff, said its been challenging comforting her daughter through this. It was just hard, you know, to be that age and then lose absolutely everything. So that was hard. And watching your child go through that was awful, Graeff said through tears.

CNNs Dalia Faheid, Taylor Ward, Raja Razek, Nouran Salahieh, Robert Shackelford, Lauren Mascarenhas, Paradise Afshar, Taylor Romine and Kara Mihm, Cindy Von Quednow contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
By Joseph Ax

(Reuters) -Thousands of firefighters were battling a rapidly growing wildfire in northern California on Saturday after the blaze more than doubled in size in a 24-hour span.

The Park Fire had burned more than 350,000 acres (141,640 hectares) about 90 miles (144 km) north of the state capital city of Sacramento as of Saturday evening, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.

Cooler temperatures and more humid air were expected in the region, potentially helping efforts to slow the spread of the fire, which was 10% contained as of Saturday evening. The fire has destroyed 134 structures, authorities said.

Evacuation orders and warnings were issued for multiple communities in several counties, including a warning for Paradise, the town that was devastated by the 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest in the state's history.

U.S. President Joe Biden has been briefed on the fire and has directed his team to do everything possible to support efforts to fight it, a White House official said.

A man was arrested on Thursday on suspicion that he started the Park Fire by pushing a flaming car into a gully on Wednesday afternoon.

The fire was the largest of dozens of active blazes across the country that have burned more than 2 million acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

In Oregon, several fires were burning, including the Durkee Fire, which had scorched more than 288,000 acres in the eastern part of the state, authorities said.

A firefighter died after a single-engine tanker crashed near the Falls Fire in southeastern Oregon, the U.S. Forest Service said in a statement on Friday.

(Reporting by Joseph Ax and Andrea Shalal;Editing by Sandra Maler and Michael Perry)
Calls for change echo in downtown Chicago during rally demanding justice for Sonya Massey

Calls for change echo in downtown Chicago during rally demanding justice for Sonya Massey

CHICAGO  Calls for change echoed out in the Loop on Saturday as a large group gathered for a rally and march following the deadly shooting of Sonya Massey, a Springfield woman who was killed by a deputy who responded to her 911 call in early July.

For several hours, the group gathered as they demanded change and marched in an effort to spread their message beyond Federal Plaza.

Those who gathered said they felt that what happened in Springfield represented a much larger issue.

Sonya Massey was a mother, she was a sister, she is a daughter, Reverend Chauncey Brown said during Saturdays rally.

GoFundMe account for Illinois woman killed by deputy after 911 call seeks $100,000

Masseys death sent shockwaves around the nation after body camera video showed her final moments.

The video, which was released earlier in the week, showed the sudden escalation leading up to the deadly shooting when 30-year-old Sangamon County deputy Sean Grayson opened fire on Massey.

Massey, a 36-year-old mother of two, had faced mental health struggles and sought treatment. She called police in the early morning hours on July 6, to report a suspected prowler around her home in an unincorporated neighborhood of Springfield.

Two deputies responded to the home, including Grayson, who was 14 months into his career as a deputy sheriff and has since been terminated from the Sangamon County Sheriffs Office.

After searching around the home, Massey met the deputies at the front door before all three entered her home.

Once inside, Grayson asked Massey to present her ID for their police report, but as she searched her purse, the deputy pointed to a boiling pot of water that was sitting on the stovetop.

As Massey moved toward the stove to move the pot toward the sink, the deputy, who was standing in the adjacent living room, took a step back.

Newly released dispatch records detail confusion following shooting of Sonya Massey

Massey asked the deputy where he was going and he said Away from your hot, steaming water. Massey then said, I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.

Following the statement, Grayson pulled out his gun and began yelling at Massey to put down the pot.

In the video, Massey can be seen ducking before Grayson opened fire, fatally hitting her in the head.

An autopsy report released by Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon on Friday confirmed that Massey died from a gunshot wound to her head.

Grayson has since been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct.

Grayson has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

If convicted, Grayson could face up to 45 years to life for murder, 6 to 30 years for battery and 2 to 5 years for misconduct.

Deputy accused in shooting death of Sonya Massey worked for 6 agencies in 4 years, records show

It was one of the most horrific murders weve ever seen in recent history, if not all of history, rally organizer Faayani Aboma Mijana, from the Chicago Alliance Against Racism & Political Oppression, said.

Details revealed following the shooting showed not only a breakdown in communication within the department but also with Masseys family.

The body-worn camera video also showed that Grayson had initially discouraged his partner from trying to save Masseys life.

We all got to see how a police officer stood by as a woman was murdered right in front of his face, Justin Russell, who spoke at the rally said.

Rallygoers demanded an overhaul of the system and called on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, something Masseys family has vocalized.

The proposed reform aims to hold police accountable, change the culture of law enforcement, and build relationships in communities by addressing systemic racism and bias.

Its important that we meet these moments with tangible things, Aboma Mijana said.

President Biden signed an executive order to advance the act after it was blocked by senate republicans, but it hasnt gone any further and organizers say hes coming up short on a promise he made to black voters who helped get him into office.

Autopsy confirms Sonya Massey died from gunshot wound to head, as attorney calls shooting senseless

Our platitude is to create a mass movement strong enough to force them to do it because theyre not going to do it on their own. Theyve shown themselves not to do it on their own, Aboma Mijana said.

Following the release of the footage, President Biden released a statement, expressing heartbreak and praising the states attorney for his offices swift prosecution.

On Friday, Vice President Harris called and spoke to Masseys family members and is said to have offered her condolences.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
The calls for national unity following a shooting at a Trump rally lasted less than a week.

Following the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Trump, President Biden gave prime-time remarks urging Americans to lower the temperature of political rhetoric.

Days after surviving the shooting, Trump delivered an address at the Republican National Convention in which he extended an olive branch to Americans who had not supported him and said the country must put its disagreements aside to reach its potential.

But after Biden ended his candidacy and Vice President Harris became Trumps likely opponent, the discourse has returned to typically heated levels.

Trump has torn into Harris as a lunatic, dumb as a rock, and crazy, while some Republicans suggested her race and gender have played a role in her rise to the top of the party. Asked Thursday if the country could survive a Harris presidency, Trump claimed it could not.

I was supposed to be nice. They say something happened to me when I got shot. I became nice, Trump told supporters Wednesday in North Carolina, where he tore into Harris at a rally. And when youre dealing with these people, theyre very dangerous people, you cant be too nice. So if you dont mind, Im not going to be nice. Is that OK?

Democrats have also gone on offense, seeking to get under Trumps skin by calling him weak, highlighting his litany of legal problems and warning of the dangers of a possible second Trump administration.

The resumed attacks reflect what is shaping up to be a brutal and personal presidential campaign, just as the last two involving Trump were. And it underscores just how deep the divides are across political lines in the U.S. even in the face of shocking and tragic events like the attempt on Trumps life.

It just reflects how polarized the country is right now, and that polarization is run through all the elected officials, candidates and the electorate, said Grant Reeher, a professor of political science at Syracuse University.

If we want to look for any sort of event in the past that would tell us this would happen, I would say go back to COVID, Reeher added. When COVID first started spreading in the U.S., one of the things that was said was it could be the cataclysmic event that helps bring the nation together. In fact, just the opposite happened. The whole discussion of COVID became politicized and polarized.

The July 13 assassination attempt at a Trump rally in Butler, Pa., spurred talk among Trump and his allies about how the brush with death had changed him. Trump himself said he had ripped up his planned address at the GOP convention in favor of a more unifying speech.

In his address, Trump told the country, As long as our energies are spent fighting each other, our destiny will remain out of reach. And thats not acceptable.

Any disagreements have to be put aside, and go forward united as one people, one nation, pledging allegiance to one great, beautiful  American flag, he said.

But as the contours of the presidential race changed, so did Trumps tone.

Biden, who was trailing Trump across the board in the polls and was viewed as a weakened candidate, dropped out of the race and was effectively replaced by Harris, who quickly sparked a wave of enthusiasm among rejuvenated Democrats.

Trump, clearly frustrated by the shake-up, responded with a barrage of attacks. He called the move by Democrats undemocratic and equated it to a coup. He has bashed Harris as a radical-left lunatic and suggested she could not pass the bar exam.

Ohio state Sen. George Lang (R) took things a step further when speaking at a rally for Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), saying it would take a civil war to save the country if Republicans lose in November. Lang later said he regretted his remarks.

Saying youre going to be a unifier and be above it is something you say when you kind of feel like youre coasting in front in the race, and now if you feel like youve got more of a scrap on your hands, that will change the attitude, said Dave Hopkins, a professor of political science at Boston College, who noted Trump already tends to get upset about perceived unfairness.

Some Republicans, including Vance, were quick to blame Democrats in the wake of the assassination attempt and argue their constant claims that Trump was an existential threat to democracy helped fuel the violence that unfolded at the former presidents rally.

Democrats have returned to attacking Trump on the campaign trail, calling him and his policies extreme, highlighting his lengthy legal record and warning he would take the country backward.

Biden, in addressing the nation from the Oval Office after dropping out of the race, spoke about uniting his party in the upcoming election and the need to save democracy as his reason for withdrawing, without mentioning Trump by name.

Asked this week about claims that some of those criticisms are dangerous in the wake of the rally shooting, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre strongly implied that it was not just on Democrats to tone down their rhetoric.

It takes  all of us to lower the temperature. All of us, she said Thursday. I hope you can read between the lines of what I mean by all of us. It takes all of us to take that action and to lower the temperature.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
160

After nearly three years of selling boutique wine at the Worcester Public Market, Canal District Wines, 160 Green St., announced that it will close to the public today. The women- and LGBTQ+-owned business announced on its website and social media accounts that it was unable to reach a lease-renewal agreement with the market. Opened November 2021, shop owners Rachel and Olivia Scanlon started their business after noticing how often they needed to venture out of the city to stock up on bottles. The Scanlons said they wished all the other businesses at the Worcester Public Market "great success."

A scientist works in a quality control laboratory at Rentschler Biopharma in Milford

$70M

A biopharmaceutical company with headquarters in Germany expanded its Maple Avenue location with a third production line this month, investing more than $70 million to increase manufacturing capacity. The development is the largest expansion in Rentschler Biopharmas 150-year history, expanding the Milford location from 93,000 square feet to 138,000 square feet. Rentschler, a contract development and manufacturing organization for biopharmaceuticals with headquarters in Laupheim, Germany, held a groundbreaking in August 2021 to increase the size of its Milford location. The company bought the property in 2019, where it tests and manufactures drug products that developers would need produced.

Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Edward M. Augustus Jr. speak during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the District 120 apartment building in the Canal District Tuesday.

120

On the same grounds where Table Talk Pies once did business for over 100 years, since May tenants have been walking in and out of an 83-unit affordable-housing apartment building known as District 120. The completion of District 120 marks the end of a three-phase project, originally the brainchild of Boston Capital, a developer that bought the former Table Talk Pies property in January 2022 for $4.55 million with the intent to develop it into housing. Located at 120 Washington St., the buildings units are scattered across seven stories, with six studios, 28 one-bedroom units, 44 two-bedroom units and five three-bedroom units.

A parcel at 10 Green Island Blvd. could host a new state police crime lab.

10

The developer behind the private portion of the Polar Park redevelopment has submitted a bid to host the state police's Central Massachusetts crime lab in a Green Island parcel. Denis Dowdle of Madison Properties confirmed that a bid was submitted for a parcel at 10 Green Island Blvd. According to the request for proposals, the state is seeking approximately 180,000 to 200,000 usable square feet of space that could be used for a laboratory, evidence storage, office, records storage and meeting space. The term would be for 20 years, with two 10-year extension options.

More than two years after the fatal fire at 2 Gage St. in Worcester, there is little at the site aside from a foundation and fencing.

2

Two years after a fire killed four people inside a building at 2 Gage St., and the ensuing criticism the property owners faced from city officials, the property has been sold to a new owner. According to records with the Worcester Registry of Deeds, the entity that owned the property sold it to Nicholas Granata-Cappabianca for $170,000. The deed was recorded June 28. Granata-Cappabianca acquired the property individually, not through a limited liability company. He purchased it from 2 Gage Worcester LLC, a corporate entity with prior property owner Huanchen Li listed as the resident agent.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Central Mass. by the Numbers
If a politician were asked for the definition of a long and deeply held belief, the honest answer would go something like, "whatever will help me the most right this minute."

Perhaps that's a bit snarky, but the sentiment was on full display in the events surrounding President Joe Biden's decision to end his reelection campaign, even though he had the Democratic nomination all wrapped up with a bow on it.

Even before Biden's unsteady and listless performance during the June 27 debate with former President Donald Trump, the GOP challenger, Republicans were arguing that the 81-year-old Democrat was well past his "sell by" date and didn't have the vigor to meet the rigors of the office.

Its clear @joebiden does not have the cognitive ability to be president, Minnesota U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer, the House majority whip, posted on social media in February.

Democrats countered with Biden's crisp performance at the State of the Union address, where he used his wit and charm like a practiced nightclub comic being heckled by drunks to deflect the catcalls from some GOP House members who had hoped their boos and interruptions would throw off the president's timing. Sure, his allies said, Biden might be closer to 90 than he was to 70, but he could still hold his own when the cameras were rolling and pundits were ready to pounce.

Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat who still serves in Congress, issued a statement saying Biden's speech was "a master class, vigorously presenting his bold vision of progress and possibilities for all of Americas families" and adding that "America is truly blessed by the wisdom, experience and steady hand of President Joe Biden."

More: National teachers union hosts VP Kamala Harris during annual convention in Houston

But the presidential debate gave Republicans license to sharpen their attacks on Biden's age while the once-unified Democratic message became as tangled as overcooked spaghetti. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, followed at first by just a few others, said that the president was too old and that the party needed someone younger to carry the torch. Biden's defenders, at least at first, rejected such calls.

But once polling confirmed rising concerns about Biden's ability to win in November, the piling on was well under way.

And then came Biden's decision to step aside, and suddenly it was the Democrats with a tight message. The newly launched campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris, who consolidated her party's support with lightning speed, seized the first opportunity to highlight the age issue. Trump's age, that is. The GOP nominee was quickly branded "a 78-year-old criminal."

Vice President Kamala Harris hammered fellow presidential candidate Joe Biden when they debated in 2020, but after they became running mates, the criticisms disappeared.

The last part was a reference to Trump's conviction in New York on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with paying hush money to a film actress with whom he has been accused of having a sexual dalliance.

Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who is on the Nov. 5 ballot as he seeks a third term, stayed on the Biden age issue the day after the president's decision. But he added a nuance that accused Harris and other Democrats of covering up what he said was the "obvious" cognitive decline. Cruz also noted that "all of us are on the path of old age."

More: What would a second Trump presidency mean for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's political future?

But perhaps not to call too much attention to Trump being older on Election Day 2024 than Biden was when he was elected to the White House and invite a comparison, Cruz quickly added, "but some people get there faster than others."

There's nothing particularly surprising, or even new, about politicians discarding old messages and adopting contradictory ones to suit their needs of the day. Roll the clock back to the first Democratic primary debate heading into the 2020 campaign, and you'll find candidate Harris hammering front-runner Biden for working on legislation with some of the segregationist Democrats who were still in the Senate in the 1970s  early in the future president's political career.

Clearly, the two have mended fences. And one has not publicly said a cross word about the other since they became running mates a year or so after the debate-stage sparring.

Roll the clock back four year before that on the Republican side, and you'll hear candidate Cruz calling front-runner Trump a "sniveling coward" for saying uncharitable things about Heidi Cruz. And you'll hear Trump calling Cruz "Lyin' Ted." So mad was the senator that he did not endorse Trump during his speech at the 2016 GOP convention.

But since it became clear that Texas Republicans writ large like Trump more than they do Cruz, nothing but hearts and flowers have been sent by the Texan to the former president.

Now that the 2024 election cycle is in its final 100 days, look for more examples of politicians tailoring their rhetoric and strategies to meet the imperatives of the moment. And while it's always important to listen to what the politicians are saying, it's just as important to understand why they are saying it.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Biden's withdrawal prompted recalibration of 2024 political messaging
Child hospitalized after falling out of window in Dorchester

A child was rushed to a Boston-area hospital after falling out of a window in Dorchester Saturday night.

The child fell out of a window in the area of Longfellow Street and Topliff Street around 9:16 p.m.

The child was being taken to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Police are investigating the incident.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on July 27 that Beijing denies allegations of helping Russia's war effort in Ukraine.

During their meeting in Laos, Wang Yi also emphasized that China would take "forceful measures" to protect its interests, according to a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The two diplomats met on the sidelines of a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

China's already robust economic, diplomatic, and military ties with Russia have grown stronger since Russia's all-out war with Ukraine that began in February 2022. Meanwhile, China has positioned itself as a mediator in the conflict, dispatching envoy Li Hui to Europe for multiple rounds of shuttle diplomacy.

China has accused the United States and other Western nations of exacerbating the war by supplying arms to Ukraine.

NATO has labeled Beijing a "decisive enabler" of the conflict. However, Beijing has rejected claims that it supports Russias war effort, asserting last week that its stance is "open and above board."

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Chinese companies selling equipment to Russia, which Washington believes could aid the war effort.

"The U.S. should stop indiscriminate unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction," Wang Yi reportedly told Blinken, according to the statement.

"China is opposed to being smeared and to false accusations being made against it, does not accept pressure and blackmail, and will take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard its major interests and legitimate rights," Wang added.

China has never condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and accuses NATO of disregarding Russia's security concerns. However, last year, official Beijing emphasized the need to respect the territorial integrity of all countries, including Ukraine.

"Chinas position on the Ukrainian issue is candid, and we will continue to promote peace talks between Russia and Ukraine," said Wang.

Read also: Blinken warns China of taking measures if it keeps helping Russias defense industry

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Five people, including four juveniles, were arrested during a retail theft operation in Chula Vista last week, authorities said.

According to the El Cajon Police Department, investigators conducted the stint on Wednesday in collaboration with two major retailers in the area as a way to combat ongoing theft issues facing local businesses.

I could use a Wolverine: Jennifer Garner gets trapped in elevator at Comic-Con

Our investigators worked closely with store staff to surveil and arrest thieves in real-time without a delayed response. This one-day operation netted five arrests and led to the recovery of over $800 in merchandise, the department stated in a press released detailing the operation.

Four juveniles were arrested and then released to their guardians after processing, police said. Their identities are being withheld due to their age.

A fifth person, identified as 21-year-old Noureddin Abtini of El Cajon, was named by police as a suspect in a series of thefts from local salon supply stores over that last year. The total lose in those cases added up to about $3,000 in merchandise.

Abtini was also arrested during the operation Wednesday. At the time of his arrest, he was reportedly in possession of an additional $600 in merchandise, as well as methamphetamine, police said. His arrest record shows multiple offenses for commercial burglary, grand theft and drug-related offenses.

The El Cajon Police Department will use every resource available to hold criminals who commit these types of thefts accountable, said Chief Mike Moulton. Criminal acts will not be tolerated and will have consequences for those who commit them.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Cincinnati Democrats rally for Harris. 'The most important election of my lifetime'

Hundreds of Democrats on Sunday flocked to a rally in Cincinnati to show support for their presumptive presidential nominee.

Many signed their names to volunteer to campaign for Kamala Harris and other Democrats on the ballot.

Even though Harris wasn't there, the crowd that packed MadTree Brewing in the Oakley neighborhood of Cincinnati chanted Harris' name and waved signs with coconut trees, which have become a symbol for Harris in reference to a story from her childhood.

It was just a week earlier that President Joe Biden announced he wouldn't seek reelection and endorsed Harris, a historic reshaping of the presidential race. The Democrats who came to the rally felt the large crowd sent a message about their commitment to Harris in a state many no longer consider a swing state.

Former President Donald Trump won the state in 2016 and 2020 by eight percentage points.

That didn't discourage many of the Democrats at the rally. Democrats have increased their foothold in the urban population centers of the state, including Cincinnati and Hamilton County, a county Biden won with 57% of the vote in 2020.

"This is definitely the most important election of my lifetime," declared Rep. Greg Landsman, a Democrat who represents Cincinnati and the northern suburbs in Warren County, while addressing the crowd. Landsman and Hamilton County Board of Commissioners President Alicia Reece organized the rally on Sunday.

"We now have a couple things we didn't have. We now have the energy we need to win. We have the messenger who can set the terms of the debate," Landsman said. "As you look around this room, we have the community, the community that's going to win November."

Rep. Greg Landsman speaks during a rally to support Vice President Kamala Harris presidential candidacy held by Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reece and himself in Cincinnati on Sunday, July 28, 2024.

Democrats who spoke to The Enquirer on Sunday said they think it's about time to have the first woman elected president.

"Women make up more than 50% of the population," said Char Ingram, 66. She traveled from Mason, a Republican stronghold just north of Cincinnati, to attend the rally on Sunday. "And it's about time that women take their rightful place and do what we do best, which is take care of business, bring people together and help those who can help themselves the least."

Ingram and others at the rally rankled at accusations some Republicans have made that Harris was a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hire, meaning she only got there based on race and gender. Harris, the sitting vice president, previously served as a senator, attorney general and district attorney in California.

"This is what I will say about DEI," Ingram said, "She definitely earned it, DEI."

When asked by The Enquirer about Biden and whether they think Harris is the better candidate, many of the Democrats praised Biden and his years of service.

Kim Allen, 58, of West Price Hill, said she was sad when Biden stepped down but is excited about Harris.

"She is the future," Allen said. "Biden has served his country. Oh, and he has done such a great job, you know, since he was 29. Now he's 80. He did the work. Now it's time for new and fresh."

The Enquirer reached out to the Hamilton County Republican Party about the rally. At about the same time as the Harris rally in Oakley on Sunday, the Hamilton County Republicans hosted a"Trump Club 2024" gathering of Trump supporters at Big Ash Brewery in Anderson Township.

Chairman Russ Mock responded via text, "My mother taught me when I have nothing nice to say bout someone, I shouldn't say anything."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here's why local Democrats are excited about Harris' candidacy
Civil servants must be allowed to work from home, say unions

Labour must let civil servants work from home by scrapping arbitrary targets which force staff to be in the office for a fixed number of days a week, union chiefs have said.

Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure from union bosses to scrap the previous governments push to get civil servants into the office for most of the week.

Fran Heathcote, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, said: Evidence shows productivity rises when the needs of workers are taken into account by employers.

Setting arbitrary targets about how many days they must be in the office does nothing to help productivity.

The PCS is spearheading a push against Britains official statistics body after staff were asked to be in the office for two days a week.

Paul Nowak, of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said that after years of hostility under the Conservatives he welcomes what he perceives to be a change in attitude towards the civil service.

Since Labour swept to victory earlier this month there have been some signs the Government will take a softer stance than the Tories on working from home, with some recent civil service job adverts requesting office presence for just two days a week.

Mr Nowak said that Labour should follow the example of thousands of other employers and sit down and work out arrangements with their staff and their unions. Civil servants are more than capable of working flexibly and doing their job well.

If Governments softens rules on working from home it may surprise some, after Jonathan Ashworth, now chief executive of think tank Labour Together after losing his parliamentary seat in the election, said that Labour would want to see civil servants spend most of their time in the office.

Asked this month if he would remove the Conservatives rule for civil servants to spend at least 60pc of their week in the office, he said it was sensible for them to be at their desks.

Former shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth has become the chief executive of think tank Labour Together - Lucy North/PA

Conservative ministers attempted to end the Tuesday-to-Thursday office culture in Whitehall amid concerns that remote working was damaging public sector productivity.

However, there has been resistance, with the PCS arguing that workers should not have to follow a new rule from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) which requires them to come in for two days a week.

Ms Heathcote argued earlier this year that some ONS workers would have only accepted a job at the organisation because they had the option of working from home full-time.

A Labour insider said ministers are not focusing on arguments about working arrangements or lanyards and previous arrangements remain. The publication of office occupancy data across civil service departments was paused during the pre-election period.

A spokesman said the Governments entire focus is on the work of delivering change. We will support the civil service with the necessary tools to ensure it can deliver that for working people.

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 truth is the first casualty in a political campaign. Now let us talk about our aging government and the impact it is having and will have on our quality of life for years to come.

Gerontologists acknowledge that the 65-plus age group is not homogeneous. The 65-plus group of elders is divided into three categories: 65 to 74 young-old, 75 to 84 old and 85-plus old-old. The reason for this subdivision has to do with the developmental challenges we face as we get older.

Gema Hernandez

Many of you would say that age is just a number. Maybe this is why when it is time for us to elect our politicians we dont look at the age and we continue to elect political leaders based on name recognition regardless of their cognitive abilities, to the detriment of the nation. You will be surprised to know that 19 members of Congress are at least 80 years old. The head of the pack is Senator Grassley, who is 90 years and 10 months old, followed by Mitch McConnell at age 82 and 17 others. Overall, 151 members of Congress are at least 65 years of age including Rick Scott, Joe Manchin and Nancy Pelosi.

In 2024 the life expectancy of men in the USA is 74.8 years and for women is 80.2 years, which means we are putting the survival of our country in the hands of individuals who are beyond the countrys life expectancy as well as their own life expectancy. Just this week Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee died in office at the age of 74 and last year Congresswoman Diane Feinstein died in office at the age of 90. The best example was Senator Strom Thurmond who reached the age of 100 while in Congress, serving as the chairman of the Judiciary and Armed Forces committees.

Our Constitution just set the minimum age required for president, 35 years; senators, 30 years and representative, 25 years but did not establish a maximum age limit for those important roles. Congress has the power to correct that omission by introducing an amendment to the Constitution which will add a maximum age limit for those positions. If that amendment is introduced, there are 151 members of Congress who will be in violation of this age limit, which realistically means Congress will not be inclined to consider such amendment.

We need to consider another option. Maybe because looking at just the age of the individual is not the most reliable way to determine the cognitive functions of the individuals abilities or his orientation to time and place. The option could be for Congress to institute a mandatory cognitive assessment to be done by an accredited Alzheimers Memory Disorder Medical Center once a member of Congress or a political candidate for any of those positions reaches let us say the age of 67. Why the age of 67? Because it is the present eligibility age to qualify for Social Security full retirement benefit.

We can expect that if such an amendment is introduced, a number of organizations will apply political pressure to prevent the enforcement of any cognitive assessment based on the age of the candidate or the person holding office. The opposing voices will argue that the additional requirement based solely on age constitutes age discrimination. Arguments against such change, if the change ever passes the legislative branch of government, will definitely move through the court system and it will finally arrive all the way to the Supreme Court.

If the Executive and Legislative Branch of government need to consider a maximum age limit for their members, the same should apply to the Judicial Branch of government, headed by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has no term limits. Once appointed, they serve at their own pleasure for life. Not even a president can remove them. There is no Code of Ethics that they need to follow. One important point is that they are not even elected by a popular vote.

Using the same rationale we have used for the other branches of government let us look at the members of the Supreme Court who are over the age of 65. Clarence Thomas is 76, Alito is 74, Sotomayor is 70 and Roberts is 69. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was serving as a justice when she died at age 87. She served for 27 years and even when it was softly suggested that she should retire to focus on her health, she ignored such a request, leaving the door open for others to dismantle a number of legal protections she so bravely fought to pass.

It took courage for President Biden to do what he did. My fear is that the type of bravery he demonstrated is not common among the members of our three branches of our government. Those three branches of our government are where our democracy exists. It is obvious no action is to be expected from Congress establishing maximum age limits. The responsibility is therefore up to you and me. We are the only ones who can make sure cognitive, competent individuals are elected to those positions that can protect our civil rights. This is not a circus; it is our democracy that is at stake.

Gema G. Hernandez, DPA is former secretary, Florida Department of Elder Affairs, retired university professor and part-time resident of Fort Myers Beach.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cognitive ability not regulated in our leaders
The aftermath of the fire. Photo: Kherson Oblast Military Administration

An educational institution in Kherson came under attack from the Russian forces on the night of 28 July, and a fire broke out.

Source: Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration

Quote from Prokudin: "The enemy struck the building of one of the colleges in the city centre at night, causing a fire to break out.

No one was injured."

Details: The local authorities showed the aftermath of the Russian attack on Facebook.

Support UP or become our patron!
Every year since 2018, except 2020, Toni Bell, co-founder and executive director of the Columbus nonprofit Heritage Project, has hopped on a bus with a group of strangers from all over the country to lead them through the Heritage Projects annual Civil Rights Heritage Tour of the South.

Throughout the week, as the group makes their way across cities like Montgomery and Selma, Alabama, and Atlanta, they gain an immersive, hands-on educational experience about the Civil Rights Movement of the '50s and '60s through speakers, museums and historical site visits.

Making a difference: Columbus nonprofit helps save lives, one festival at a time

Soon enough, the group sheds that label  "strangers"  to grow into classmates for a week, learning from the tour stops, as well as each other.

We bring diverse people on each of our tours, and in the context of what were exploring, they also get to talk about their lived experiences and their worldview and how knowing this history might inform their engagement or give different ideas about problem solving, Bell said. It's really joyful.

In 2023, the Civil Rights Heritage Tour of the South group visited the graves of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta.

Since the pandemic, Bell said, attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives have made these tours more important now than ever. With the growing demand, Heritage Project added the "Better Together" Leadership Development Tour to its programming last year.

It will be returning this September for its second run with a trip to Washington D.C.s Chinese American Museum and National Museum of African-American History and Culture to open up conversations about mental health, diversity, wellness, culture and workplace dynamics.

Bell, drawing on her background as founder and owner of Phoenix Consulting Co., which offers tools for leadership and team development for businesses, expressed hope that the tours will help leaders learn in a novel setting that encourages critical thinking and an openness to everyone's backgrounds.

She said she feels it's especially important in a growing, globalizing city.

Help by hugging: Nonprofit sets out to comfort those in LGBTQ+ community

Its one-to-one conversations, relationships," Bell said. "We expanded to Better Together to get more people the opportunity, especially for our leaders, to have conversations with people in a context that they dont normally have the opportunity to, which could lead to building deeper, more robust relationships with the people in their workplaces."

elim@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus' Heritage Project offers Civil Rights tours of the South
It had been three years since the uprising of 1964. Whatever lessons Rochester was going to learn should have been learned.

And yet when the Eastman Kodak Co. asked a consultant for a confidential assessment of race relations in the city in the summer of 1967, the conclusion could not have been grimmer.

"The hatred of whites by Negroes is matched by the white's hatred and fear of the Negro," the report reads. "Neither race makes any attempt to control or hide its antipathy. The Negro resentment focuses on the Eastman Kodak Co. as the prime symbol of the ultimate in white power and oppression."

The 34-page draft report, written under the direction of future U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, was intended as a secret document for Kodak executives. It has seldom been cited and never before published in its entirety, resting mostly undisturbed in Moynihan's papers at the Library of Congress.

It gives a startlingly frank view of race dynamics at a pivotal time in Rochester's history, describing a city even more divided than in 1964, awash in anger, fear and guns.

"A common Negro attitude was that whites deserve violence in payment for broken promises about jobs, school desegregation and improved housing," the report read. "The common white attitude was that if the ungrateful Negro steps out of line  he'll be shot."

Click here to read the full draft report.

In 'weekend of agony,' lessons to learn

An uprising or a riot? Cause or result? Inevitable or inexcusable?

No three days in Rochester's 220-year history have generated as much soul-searching and debate as the weekend of July 24-26 in 1964, 60 years ago this week. Long-simmering tension in the city's Black neighborhoods ignited into three days of chaos and violence.

Five people were killed, four of them in a helicopter crash, and nearly 900 were arrested. The property damage, mostly to white-owned businesses in the Black neighborhoods, totaled about $2 million.

White flight, driven by exclusionary federal subsidies in the suburbs and racist scare tactics in the city, was already underway and hardly needed further fuel. But for generations of white Rochesterians, that hot July weekend became convenient shorthand for a community going through, and to, hell.

"The Rochester riots pointed up sharply and fiercely the need to get specific about the race problem in this country," former Xerox executive Sol Linowitz wrote. "Perhaps in our weekend of agony here, we learned a few things which will help others avoid for them what should never have come to us."

Eastman Kodak and the city's largest institutions  the "oligarchical power structure," as the report put it  scrambled to institute job training programs, some more effective than others. Black residents were newly organized and represented, both by Franklin Florence's FIGHT and by more moderate groups like Action for a Better Community and the Urban League of Rochester.

Community leaders everywhere swore things were changing for the better.

'Riot Prediction Machine'

The report was written by an academic named Sol Chaneles but came about thanks to personal relationships between Moynihan and Kodak executives.

One Kodak leader, longtime secretary Leonard Zartman, invited Moynihan and his wife to come to Rochester during lilac season for pleasure but also business. The assignment was a confidential report on the "assimilation of the large numbers of Negroes who have come to Rochester in recent years," and in particular what role Kodak was supposed to play in the process.

Daniel Patrick Moynihan in 1988.

The job fit neatly into Moynihan's own aspirations. A respected Washington intellectual and author of an influential 1965 report called "The Negro Family," he secured the Kodak contract for a pioneering but shadowy company called Simulmatics Corp. that sought to use Rochester as a proof of concept for its quixotic ambitions.

"The scientists of the Simulmatics Corporation acted on the proposition that if they could collect enough data about enough people and feed it into a machine, everything, one day, might be predictable," Jill Lepore wrote in "If Then," her 2020 history of the company. "(They) helped build the machine in which humanity would, by the twenty-first century, find itself trapped and tormented."

The applications in politics, finance and consumer marketing were obvious, but Simulmatics looked still farther afield. In 1967, with racial violence across the country, it claimed that advanced computer simulations in its Urban Studies division could predict the exact location and timing of racial uprisings.

The idea was a "Riot Prediction Machine," in Lepore's words, and Moynihan meant to take it for a spin in Rochester.

Long, hot summer of 1967

A six-person research team was in Rochester from July 15 to July 25, 1967, interviewing about 80 people. A secretary, Gaye Anne Himmelsbach, recalled that she spent the entire time locked in a hotel room under constant armed guard from New York State Police.

The team's work was qualitative, not quantitative, and yet after four days they confidently issued "an unqualified prediction of violence to occur about 11 p.m. on Sunday night July 23."

The prediction was not a particularly bold one: riots happened in dozens of cities across the country that weekend, most notably in Detroit, where 43 people were killed over five days. A week earlier, 26 people had been killed in fighting in Newark.

Moynihan's team called the state police and the troopers helped maintain order over the next few days. There was no riot July 23 but rather "a night of tension that was marked by confrontations between police and crowds of Negroes," the Democrat and Chronicle reported.

The following night police killed one Black man, Tommie Wright, while he drove toward a barricade on Jefferson Avenue. A later internal investigation exonerated the police.

'The situation cannot become worse'

More notable from a historical perspective is the unvarnished picture that the report gives of Rochester at a critical moment in its history.

The on-site research leader, Peter Shulman, recalled being in a room with young Black men as they made Molotov cocktails.

Eastman Kodak Board Chairman William Vaughn (left) and President Louis Eilers in 1970. They commissioned a study in 1967 from Simulmatics Corp. and Daniel Patrick Moynihan on race relations in Rochester.

"What I remember the most from walking around the streets (in Black neighborhoods) was that none of them were smiling," Shulman, now 87, said in an interview. "We didnt meet a happy person the entire time we were there. ... I went there without any preconceptions, but I came away sympathetic to their position."

The report passes along a scathing review of Rochester's social structure from the eyes of its poor Black residents  "the little people," as Chaneles said they referred to themselves.

"The 'little people' view these ghettos, whose physical boundaries are becoming increasingly rigid, as centers of sin whose existence depends largely on Kodak's implicit or explicit approval," he wrote. "(They) see the Eastman Kodak Company as being the primary agent for thwarting the possibilities for human and social development in the ghetto."

In interviews with white leaders, the Simulmatics researchers found attitudes ranging from ignorance to simmering rage. This was particularly true in the Rochester Police Department.

"One white police officer interviewed said that it is department policy to disregard the prostitution and gambling in the Negro areas," Chaneles wrote. "He stated that high departmental officials hold the Negro policemen suspect; and that highly placed white men, both Italian locals and Eastman officials, dictate police policy."

The tension was so high, the researchers concluded, that further violence not only was inevitable but in fact would be beneficial.

"Further riots can, at this point, only have a cathartic effect and will produce breathing spells between tragic outbursts," they wrote. "The situation cannot become worse."

Tensions defused

Despite the dire tone of the Simulmatics report, Rochester has not seen a reprisal of the 1964 uprising in the 60 years since. Does that mean it was wrong?

Not necessarily. Much progress was being made in 1967, most prominently at Kodak. That was the year that Franklin Florence led a protest at the company's annual shareholder meeting in New Jersey, commanding national headlines and eventually leading to a settlement on jobs creation program. That happened in June 1967, a month before the Simulmatics team came to town.

In a meeting with Kodak executives in May, Moynihan told them that his "sympathies lay with FIGHT," according to an internal memo. "Several times in the conversation I mentioned that (Saul) Alinsky is an honorable man, and that he is doing no more than he said he would do."

When Moynihan became convinced in late July that a riot was imminent, he called Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, who sent in state police.

A Democrat and Chronicle story from July 24, 1967, after racial violence was mostly averted.

Shulman said investigators demanded from him the names of the men he'd seen making homemade bombs earlier in the week.

"I told them we never asked those people for their names," he said. "It would have been stupid to do so. But they didnt believe me."

A massive riot broke out in Detroit the following day, taking the focus from Rochester  and reinforcing, perhaps, the view of some of Rochester's civic and business leaders that racism and civil rights were mostly issues for other cities.

 Justin Murphy is a veteran reporter at the Democrat and Chronicle and author of "Your Children Are Very Greatly in Danger: School Segregation in Rochester, New York." Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/CitizenMurphy or contact him at jmurphy7@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Secret Kodak document reveals new perspectives after 1964 uprising
It was the summer of 2016 when a manager at the Central Intelligence Agency pulled him into a conference room, sat him down at a table, and asked him to read the intelligence they had brought.

Michael van Landingham wasnt naive about what the Kremlin was capable of. His work as an intelligence analyst for the CIA had given him a front-row seat to the destruction that Russias spy services had wrought in places like Syria and Ukraine.

But this wasnt about what Russia was doing in some far away country.

Inside a room wrapped in a vault in the bowels of the Central Intelligence Agencys headquarters, he read the intelligence showing that Moscow was trying to disrupt the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

I think for the first time in my professional life, I felt physically ill reading something, he says.

That was only the beginning of a long, strange journey that would place van Landingham right at the center of the 2016 campaigns biggest story. Months later, the agency assigned him the job of writing the first draft of the intelligence communitys 2017 assessment about Russian election meddling that concluded what many had suspected: Vladimir Putin did it. And he did it to help Donald Trump.

The 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA), dubbed Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent U.S. Elections, was one of the most consequential documents in modern American history. It helped trigger investigations by the House and Senate intelligence committees and a special counsel investigation, and it fueled an eight-year-long grudge that Trump has nursed against the intelligence community. A Trump aide would later testify that the then-president-elect viewed the report as his Achilles heel, because it threatened to diminish his surprise electoral victory over Hillary Clinton.

Over the course of three administrations, the authors of the report have remained mostly unknown outside the intelligence community. But now, with his government career behind him and the prospect of a second Trump administration looming on the horizon, van Landginham opened up about the story behind the document, the myths that still follow it, and what he thinks we can expect from Russian intelligence going forward.

If Trump wins, many observers are bracing for his revisionist history of the Russia investigations to become an official Washington party line, with stiff professional consequences for those who dare to cross it.

Trump acolytes, giddy at the whiff of power, are preparing to gut the federal civil service and the so-called deep state, on the belief that theyre dens of partisan resistance bent on undermining their leader.

The idea of a Russia hoax born with the 2017 report, and the vengeance it supposedly demands, is now a throughline animating plans for a second Trump administration.

On the campaign trail, Trump has pledged retribution, the prosecution of his enemies, and a crusade to clean out all of the corrupt actors in our National Security and Intelligence apparatus. It has also inspired calls by Trump and his campaign advisers to abandon Ukraine to Moscows invasion, which the former president has said was caused by the so-called Russia hoax.

Gavin Wilde, a National Security Agency senior analyst, worked on the intelligence report alongside van Landingham, and later rose to become a Russia director on the National Security Council under Trump. He says hes concerned that the MAGA conspiracy theories and the policies they inspire could have a chilling effect on American intelligence and foreign policy going forward.

I see Russian President Vladimir Putins incursion into Ukraine as a byproduct of a government thats replete with partisan loyalists, says Wilde, referencing how Moscows spies were too scared to tell their boss his Ukraine war plans were wildly optimistic. Thats what happens to a system where loyalty gets prized over competence over time.

The lead author of the CIA report who would haunt Trumps presidency wasnt a Hillary Clinton partisan or a ringer for the CIA leaderships personal preferences, as MAGA conspiracy theorists have claimed. He doesnt have a book to sell, hes not running for office, and you wont find him in a cable news greenroom.

Van Landingham is a man whose brush with history came about almost by coincidence. Hes just an analyst who one day in 2014 found himself really pissed off.

A dour cartoon portrait of Vladimir Putin in an Ushanka fur hat scowls down at a living room full of bright childrens toys and childrens books. At the suburban Madison, Wisconsin, house where van Landingham lives, Putins fish-faced gaze is the only hint of the analysts former classified career.

Nowadays, hes a dad to three children. The sound of Wild Kratts episodes bubble up from the TV in the basement as he sits at a kitchen table and recounts how he found himself at the crossroads of 2016 and Russia. Raptor noises, he quips as his youngest daughter tiptoes out from behind a door and scampers downstairs like a small dinosaur.

In 2014, van Landingham was a CIA analyst serving a rotation at another intelligence agency (he wont say which) when Russian-backed operatives in Ukraine shot down a civilian Malaysian airline as it flew across the country Moscow had just invaded.

I was really mad about [the airliner] getting shot down because there were a bunch of children on it. I think 80 children, he says.

Russia falsely claimed that its troops werent fighting in Ukraine or sending weapons to proxy forces. The Kremlin denied any involvement in the incident.

What I really didnt like was that they were lying. You want to demonstrate that theyre lying, right? So I spent some of my time writing a paper about Russia lying and then using messaging to denigrate the United States, he says.

At the time, how Russia lies was hardly the buzziest topic, even among Russia nerds. But van Landinghams expertise would soon make him an in-demand analyst when Moscows covert propaganda operation set its sights on an American presidential election.

During the 2016 campaign, WikiLeaks and a handful of self-styled hacktivist personas began releasing tranches of hacked documents from the Democratic Party, raising concerns that the sites were executing part of Russias effort to undermine the election. The emails, stolen from the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and the Clinton campaign, contained much that was mundane  campaign chairman John Podestas risotto recipe  but also led to the resignation of DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz after the messages showed party officials secretly favoring the Clinton campaign against Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The intelligence community, anxious to figure out what was happening, formed an interagency task force and van Landingham was tapped to join it.

We had a couple names for it that we were trying to come up with. Everyone wants to be on a team with a cool name, he says. But CIA management opted instead to give the team a vaguer, more anodyne title: the fusion cell.



Members of the cell were asked to answer two questions: Tell us whats going on and what is going to happen next, van Landingham recalls.

The latter question was harder. There were just a lot of gaps in knowledge, he says. I dont think that we had really the best insight into what was going to happen next until toward the end of the election.

For example, There wasnt that much known about what was the political role of the [Russian hacking] units, not just the military or the operational role. But what do they do? Who are these people? he says.

Other gaps in understanding about what was happening were more frustrating.

For months, the Clinton campaign and its surrogates played coy and shrugged their shoulders when asked in public whether the leaks from their campaign were genuine. Absent a more cooperative set of victims, van Landingham was left to parse the Clinton campaigns public utterances to figure out whether Russian spies were leaking fake documents or real ones.

At a certain point, come on, guys. These are Podestas emails, right? Its his risotto recipe. Why not just say that theyre real? he says. I would have preferred to not spend that time looking for forgeries and planted documents.

When WikiLeaks published a tranche of Podestas emails in late October, the link between the Russian hackers and the releases became undeniable. The dump contained the original spear phishing message that Russian hackers had used to trick Podesta into coughing up his password. News outlets quickly seized on the email, crediting it for what it was: proof that the Russians were behind the campaign.

Adding to the day-to-day difficulty within the fusion cell were the extraordinary security measures the Agency had assigned to its intelligence on the Russian campaign. The existence of a foreign effort to meddle in an American election was so potentially explosive that agency officials kept a tight rein on the intelligence.

Even van Landinghams colleagues outside the team couldnt know what he was working on. I did not admit to any of my work colleagues at the time there was a fusion cell, van Landingham says.

He also couldnt tell his family what he was doing. That summer, his wife had just given birth to their newborn son, and van Landingham had to be away from home for long hours. He couldnt explain why his schedule had suddenly changed so drastically at such an important time for his family.

As Election Day drew closer, analysts turned their attention toward what Russia might do after the votes were counted. At that point it was like OK, Russia is kind of resigned to Clinton winning, van Landingham. They gave it their best shot. But heres what they might try in the Clinton administration early on because we thought the problem wouldnt go away.

But on Election Day, he says, Trump won in a shock victory, leading to a disturbing question: Oh fuck. Did the campaign succeed?

Still, the election was over and what Russia had done and why were historical questions. The fusion cell appeared set to wind down, but President Obama wanted the units work memorialized. He ordered the intelligence community to preserve the work it had completed in the run up to the election and include it in both classified and unclassified reports.

Van Landingham wasnt pleased. He thought, Why do we have to write this? Its just antagonizing the next administration.

But it wasnt just the CIA, the institution, that was on the hook to write the report. Van Landinghams colleagues broke the news at a CIA holiday party. Managers had tapped him to write the first draft.

I was two Old Fezziwig Christmas Ales in, and I had some friends come up to me and be like, Hey, youre it! he recalls.

Among the various conspiracy theories put forth by MAGA fever swamps about the CIAs report is the notion that agency director John Brennan hand-picked the authors of the document in an attempt to predetermine its outcome.

The reality of van Langinhams relationship to Brennan is less dramatic. He says the two only ever spoke to each other once in December 2016, and it took place well after van Landingham had already begun work on the draft Obama ordered.



Van Landingham says the meeting took place one night when the director and his aides got into the elevator with him as he was headed back to his office with some dinner while working late on the intelligence report. Good evening, the CIA director said, flashing no indication he knew whom he was talking to, van Landingham says.

Those two words represented the sum total of his conversations with Brennan throughout his CIA career.

The process of completing an intelligence report of that gravity and political significance can be taxing in normal circumstances. The expedited schedule handed down by the White House to finish it made the work tough but the underlying judgements were fairly straightforward.

It wasnt a difficult analytic call, he says. I viewed my role as mostly like cataloging a historical thing that had happened. None of my judgments should be controversial because they were all backed up by both comments and actions that Russia had performed.

As the intelligence community tracked the Russian campaign through classified means, Moscows military intelligence hackers had left a trail of public clues behind them. The hackers had left their account on a link shortening service used to craft content for spear phishing emails exposed, and researchers at the cybersecurity firm Dell Secureworks found it.



The Russian military hacking unit that went after Clinton had targeted up to 4,000 different email addresses, and it wasnt just American political operatives who had gotten the messages, according to a report released by the firm in June 2016. Journalists and former government and military officials in the U.S. and Europe had been targeted, too.

Van Landingham, who had been monitoring public reports about the hacking, asked a fellow analyst working on the report to check his personal email for a message with the same wording as the one leaked in the Podesta dump. To their shock, he says, the analyst found an identical message in a spam filter.

The same Russian spies who had breached the Clinton campaign appeared to have tried and failed to hack a CIA official who would later work on the intelligence communitys assessment of their campaign, according to van Landingham. The analyst wasnt undercover, but their affiliation with the CIA wasnt public knowledge either. The Russians seemed to know who they were, where they worked, and had tried to learn a whole lot more.

One of the biggest frustrations van Landingham faced while working on the report came not from the Russians but from within the U.S. government.

The FBI threw him a curveball in the form of the Steele Dossier  a compilation of uncorroborated gossip about Trump and Russia. The dossier was compiled by former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, who had worked as an occasional paid source for the FBI.

The dossiers most notorious bit of gossip was a dubious claim that Trump had been filmed by Russian intelligence ordering sex workers to urinate on a Moscow hotel bed for him during a 2013 trip. (Trump has repeatedly denied the so-called pee tape claim.) Other tantalizing tales included a fake story that former Trump fixer Michael Cohen had secretly traveled to Prague in August 2016 to meet with Kremlin officials.

Rumors of the dossier had been swirling for a while, but one morning in December 2016, an FBI analyst sent over a copy of Steeles work to the CIA before the entirety of its contents had become public.

Van Landingham started reading and thought, This is garbage.

On the first read, the Steele Dossier was indefensibly trash. The worst possible information dressed up as clandestinely obtained intelligence. It was a joke, he says, disdain creeping into a furrowed brow as he recounts the encounter.

The bureaus decision to send it to the agency annoyed him. Someone takes a dump on your front doorstep and youre like, What do I do with this? Because youve got to touch shit or its going to sit there.

What galled van Landingham even more was the FBIs request that the CIA use the dossier as evidence to support analytic judgments in the report he was working on. By that point, hed been working long hours for weeks, and the strain of it led him to be blunt.

I told my bosses, Im going to quit if you put this in there. I wont participate in this anymore because this is just obvious nonsense, he says.

The agency stood by its analysts. Brennan later told the Senate Intelligence Committee that the CIAs analytical branch was very concerned about polluting the [report] with this material. In the face of their objections, the CIA and FBI struck a compromise that the agency would not include or use the dossier in the final ICA but agreed to place the material in an annex, according to the committees report.

The circumstances may have been extraordinary  but the people and the process of putting the [report] together were remarkably ordinary and mundane, recalls Gavin Wilde, van Landinghams intelligence community counterpart. Thats the best description of public service I can think of. Its also the highest compliment.

The unclassified version of the intelligence report concluded that Putin had ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. presidential election, had developed a clear preference for [Trump] and aspired to help [Trumps] election chances when possible.

The report found broad agreement within the intelligence community except for one point: Had Putin ordered Russias spy services to meddle in the election merely to cause bipartisan chaos, or had he wanted Trump to win?

Van Landingham, his CIA colleagues, and the FBI concluded with high confidence that Putin had done it in order to help Trump. The NSA disagreed somewhat and assigned only moderate confidence to the judgment. The report spelled out both CIA and NSAs confidence levels in the final unclassified report, allowing readers to see the scope of the narrow disagreement.

The Senate Intelligence Committee spent three years investigating the Russian influence operation and the U.S. response. The bipartisan investigation had only praise for the ICA.

Former Rep. Devin Nunes, a MAGA true believer and at the time the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, was not so enthusiastic about it. Van Landingham and his colleagues in the intelligence community, committee staff argued in a report released in April 2018, did not employ proper analytic tradecraft in concluding that Putin had been trying to help Trump.

In an awkward feat of timing, Putin himself appeared to settle the matter soon after, during a press conference with Trump on July 16, 2018, in Helsinki, Finland. Asked directly if he wanted Trump to win, Putin was blunt. Yes, I wanted him to win.

Well, he just said it, van Landingham recalls of his reaction to the press conference, throwing his arms up. And everything that has come out subsequently proved it.

As the 2024 election draws closer, the now-perennial question of whether Russia will try to meddle again comes up. Is van Landingham worried about a repeat performance with Trump back on the ballot? No, he laughs.

Its not that he doesnt expect Russian intelligence to try to cause a new mess. The thing is that if its solidified in the Russian bureaucratic understanding that influence operations work, or at least they take up enemies time, theyre just going to keep happening, he says.



The stakes for that, however, are small in his mind. I think a popular concept took over in the U.S. understanding that influence operations work. Theres this idea that if you see something, itll influence you. Its unclear to me whether there are any real effects with a capital E from these campaigns, that theyve achieved anything, or that theyve changed anybodys mind.

He bristles at how his work on Russian influence operations, once a narrow field discussed mostly by practicing intelligence professionals, got blown out of proportion by Clinton fans keen for a scapegoat after 2016.



A lot of Democratic politicians used the Russian campaign as an excuse for the Clinton campaigns loss, says van Landingham. There were trolls lurking behind everything and so for certain people, anyone they didnt want to agree with was a Russian troll or Russian co-optee.

But as far as the 2024 election goes, his concerns are more practical.

What I worry about are the policy implications of a presidency thats friendly to Russia or at least friendly to Russia because of negative partisanship, he says.

At a Madison community pool on a warm June afternoon, van Landingham tends to his two little girls at their swim lessons. His youngest, three years old, beams her blue candy-stained lips in a smile underneath a bob haircut as she bounces around in the water.

Dad is clad in the classic suburban uniform of sandals, shorts, and a polo shirt as he reflects on his decision to leave the agency and start a very different and much quieter life far away from the the subject to which he had devoted his career.

I miss it every day. It was a dream job, he says with a hint of nostalgia. You could go into work and write about something that you thought was interesting and make an argument for why the United States government should pay attention to this with policy implications. Its an excellent mental exercise.

I guess you just have to recognize when its enough, he says. You dont get anything for being right. The best you get for being right is to go out on top.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone
Nature is making a comeback in South Africa's Zululand, and it's bringing some adorable new faces along for the ride.

For the first time in over 150 years, lion cubs have been born in the heart of this historic region, marking a major win for conservation efforts and local biodiversity.

The exciting arrival happened at Babanango Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, where a lioness gave birth to three cubs just one year after lions were reintroduced to the area. This heartwarming development is part of a larger initiative to bring back large mammal species to the region, according to the Good Things Guy.

Stuart Dunlop, the reserve's ecologist, shared the team's excitement. "Not only are these the first lion cubs for Babanango Game Reserve, but they are the first known lion cubs to be born in this area in over 150 years, making this a true conservation success story," he said.

But the good news doesn't stop there. The reserve is also celebrating the birth of a white rhino calf, with several more rhino pregnancies on the horizon. These births are clear signs that the animals are thriving in their new home.

Why does this matter to you? These conservation wins showcase how dedicated efforts can restore ecosystems and bring endangered species back from the brink. When we protect and nurture our natural world, it has an incredible ability to bounce back, benefiting both wildlife and nearby communities.

Healthy ecosystems support cleaner air and water, more fertile soil for agriculture, and can even boost local economies through eco-tourism. By reintroducing key species like lions and rhinos, Babanango Game Reserve is helping to create a more balanced and resilient environment.

The success at Babanango offers hope and inspiration for conservation projects worldwide. It proves that, with careful planning and commitment, we can reverse some of the damage done to our planet's biodiversity.

"As a newly established Big Five game reserve, it has been a joy and a privilege to watch the animals adapt to their new home," Dunlop added. "The lionesses were only introduced onto the reserve last year, and to already have our first cubs is remarkable."

These little lion cubs and the baby rhino represent more than just cute wildlife. They're living proof that our efforts to protect and restore nature can have real, tangible results. And that's something we can all roar about.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Conservative religious values are not bad. They value family, freedom to worship, liberty.

Shame on the Journal Sentinel for allowing Kathy Schluters voice to "raise the alarm over White Christian Nationalism" in your paper (Were raising the alarm over White Christian Nationalism, July 14).

Our country's Pledge of Allegiance states, "One nation, under God," she must not be familiar with it.

Conservative religious values are not bad. They value family, freedom to worship and liberty for all. We personally know many people of color, of Asian descent, etc., who are proud to stand for these values. And we value life of babies, rather than "health care choices" that kill them.

Raising an alarm: This version of Christianity distorts faith and destroys democracy

This is scary stuff. Project 2025 spells out second Trump term in alarming detail.

My abortion opened my eyes. Here's what I learned after my own experience.

She says we spread "fear, anger, oppression and hate." Come to our church where we welcome all! What kind of "beloved community" does she belong to? It is hard to believe that MICAH (Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope) believes such hogwash.

As long as her fight for social justice includes listening to the views of all, I am with her. To brand us all as "White Christian Nationalists, who is the extremist here?

Dave and Anne Steinhilb, Milwaukee

Tips for getting your letter to the editor published

Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state:

Please include your name, street address and daytime phone.

Generally, we limit letters to 200 words.

Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter.

Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing.

Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person.

We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions.

We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters.

Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months.

All letters are subject to editing.

Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@jrn.com or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Conservative religious values are not bad. They value liberty for all.
John Hood

RALEIGH  As someone who views constitutional government as a basic institution of freedom, I retain what to some might be a surprising openness to constitutional amendment. Quite a few provisions in our state and federal constitutions should be changed, in my view, or at least clarified.

The authority I ascribe to constitutions arises from the need for clear sets of rules constraining governmental power that span generations and political fashions. It doesnt assume that any particular constitution predates human beings, or sprang from the head of Zeus fully formed and ready for battle, as did the wise and resolute Athena. Constitutions are human creations. Thus they are imperfect ones.

The most famous, and blatant, miscalculation in the federal constitution is evident from the interaction of the initial articles and the subsequent Bill of Rights. During the ratification debates, anti-Federalists argued that the constitution gave the Feds the potential to tyrannize individuals. They argued that, as some states had already done, the United States should adopt a formal Bill of Rights to protect key freedoms.

More from John Hood: Leaders should 'condemn political violence and advocate political civility' | John Hood

Most Federalists thought the Anti-Federalists were overreacting (or that the Anti-Federalists were correct, but that expansive federal power was a good thing). Their argument in public, however, was that specifying a Bill of Rights was itself dangerous to individual liberties by suggesting wrongly the constitution granted federal officials the power to infringe on those liberties. They pointed out that the initial articles set up a system of enumerated powers  if a power was not specifically listed, it was not granted.

For example, they argued, why is there a need to enshrine the right to free speech in the federal constitution? There is no power granted earlier in the document to regulate speech, so a free-speech amendment would be superfluous or worse. Since Americans enjoyed not a few specific rights but hundreds of specific rights, protected through the common law and general understanding, the result of a Bill of Rights could be less rather than more freedom, the Federalists suggested.

The Anti-Federalists were not to be dissuaded, however, so the result was a compromise. The first eight amendments were put forward with two additional ones: the 9th Amendment, which clarified that listing a right in the constitution should not be understood as suggesting that other non-listed rights had no legal force; and the 10th Amendment, which clarified that all powers not specifically enumerated belonged to state governments or the people as individuals.

It is here that liberty-loving commentators often observe how wise and ingenious this deal was. But it clearly failed! We now have a system in which politicians, judges, activists, and many other Americans believe that unless a right is specifically protected in the constitution, it doesnt exist and government can do whatever a majority of voters wants it to do in that area.

More from John Hood: We need more hospital competition | John Hood

Unless there is a full renaissance of judicial originalism, the fix for this problem is to amend the constitution to clarify the original, restrictive meaning of these amendments.

There are other constitutional confusions worth straightening out through amendment, as well. For example, I have long favored an amendment to the federal constitution to require balanced operating budgets, much as most state constitutions already require, as well as clearly structured capital budgets for which the limited issuance of federal debt will be permitted. I also favor clarifying the interstate commerce clause to ensure that Congress cannot claim a general power to regulate intrastate commerce, as well.

North Carolinas constitution would benefit from additional provisions, too, such as one outlawing eminent-domain abuse and another clarifying that any civil right to education created by the state constitution is afforded directly to students and their families, not to school systems or other bodies purporting to act on the families behalf.

I like the image of written constitutions as legal Athenas, helmed and grasping stout spears. But to prevail in the battle against government encroachment, they need ongoing help: new arms, new armor, and constant training.

John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His latest books, Mountain Folk and Forest Folk, combine epic fantasy with early American history (FolkloreCycle.com).

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: John Hood writes about constitutions and the need for amendments
Esa Alexander/Reuters

A convicted child rapist was booed by spectators as he competed in beach volleyball at the Olympic Games on Sunday.

Steven van de Velde, a Dutch beach volleyball athlete now ranked 10th in the world was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016. In 2014, aged 19, he had traveled to Milton Keynes, England, where he raped a 12-year-old schoolgirl he met on Facebook.

On Sunday he stepped onto the special sand of the Olympic beach volleyball court in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, to represent the Netherlands in a first-round match against Italyand was booed by the crowd.

He and his teammate, Matthew Immers, were defeated 2-1 by Italy and will play again against Chile on Wednesday. The Italians won an evenly-match first set but the Dutch took the second before the Italians settled the match by taking the third set.

OLYMPICS-2024-BEACHVOLLEYBALL/ Van de Velde (right) is being kept away from the Olympic Village and not is allowed to speak to the media. The Dutch Olympic Committee has insisted he is not a pedophile despite his conviction for raping a 12-year-old. Esa Alexander/Reuters

Reuters reported that Immers told journalists, What's in the past is in the past. He had his punishment and now he is really kind. For me it is an example that (he) grew and learnt a lot from it.

The Netherlands team press officer John van Vliet, also told Reuters, Its something that shouldn't be brought up through sports in a tournament that he qualified for... we have a person who has been convicted, who did his sentence and did everything afterwards that he can do to compete again.

Van de Velde, now 29, was only caught because he hadnt used birth control and told the girl to get a morning-after-pill from a family planning clinic, which notified her family and police because of her age.

After being extradited from the Netherlands, van de Velde pleaded guilty to three counts of raping a child.

The British judge admonished him: Your hopes of representing your country now lie as a shattered dream. His lawyer said: Hes lost a stellar sporting career its plainly a career end for him.

Van de Velde served one year in a British prison before being transferred to the Netherlands, where he served another month and was released in 2017 because of less severe underage sex laws.

The Italian team of Adrian Ignacio Carambula Raurich (left) and Alex Ranghieri (right) celebrated a popular victory after winning 2-1. Esa Alexander/Reuters

Everyone wants to be liked, everyone wants to be respected, and with something like this on your record, its difficult, he said in a Dutch TV interview after his release. I cant reverse it, so I have to carry the consequences. Its the biggest mistake of my life.

In another newspaper interview, he said: I have been branded as a sex monster, as a pedophile. That I am notreally not.

A Dutch national champion, van de Velde has pursued a pro beach volleyball career and played in international tournaments since being freed. But his selection as an Olympian has been heavily criticized by survivor groups.

Beach volleyball takes place in a specially built stadium in front of the Eiffel Tower. "Paris 2024 Olympics - Beach Volleyball - Women's Preliminary Phase - Pool A - Italy vs Spain (Gottardi/Menegatti vs Liliana/Paula) - Eiffel Tower Stadium, Paris, France - July 28, 2024.

General view of t. REUTERS/Esa Alexander" Esa Alexander/Reuters

The Dutch Olympic Committee defended its decision to include him on the team and said that van de Velde would not live in the Olympic Village or speak with the media.

Steven is NOT a peadophile [sic]; you really dont think that the Dutch [Olympic Committee] would send someone to Paris who IS a real risk? a Dutch Olympic Committee spokesman wrote in response to public criticism, according to The Guardian. No, he isnt a risk.

Van de Velde has fully engaged with all requirements and has met all the stringent risk assessment thresholds, checks and due diligence, the Dutch Olympic Committee said in a separate statement. Experts have stated that there is no risk of recidivism. Van de Velde has consistently remained transparent about the case which he refers to as the most significant misstep of his life. He deeply regrets the consequences of his actions for those involved. He has been open about the personal transformation he has undergone as a result.

He has been married to a German beach volleyball player since 2022 and the couple have a 2-year-old son.

When van de Velde looks in the mirror now, he sees a mature and happy man, married and the father of a beautiful son, the Dutch Volleyball Association said on its website.

A petition urging the International Olympic Committee to ban known sex offenders from competing has garnered nearly 81,000 signatures.

Don Jr. Slams Satanic Olympics Opening: Mom Was Olympian

The Brave Movement, a survivor-centered global movement to end childhood sexual violence, said in an open letter that the Dutch Olympic committee should remove him. We believe that is the only appropriate action.

An athlete convicted of child sexual abuse, no matter in what country, should not be awarded the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games, Julie Ann Rivers-Cochran, executive director of The Army of Survivors, told The New York Times. Raping a minor is not a misstepit is a criminal violation that should exclude people from participation in the Olympic Games.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
RACINE  An edible arrangement arrived at Nick Demskes home Sunday.

The fruit bouquet was one of many positive reactions to Demske being named the Racine Public Librarys permanent executive director.

On Monday, Demske brought the arrangement to work to share with library staff.

The gift was from the Friends of the Racine Public Library.

That was a good way of letting (Demske) know that he should feel the love, said Autumn Latimore, Friends of the Racine Public Library Board chair.

Demske has been heartened by the outpouring of encouragement after he accepted the permanent role.

I think when you invest in people, they feel invested back in you, he said. Thats certainly what were trying to do here every day with all the community members we serve.

Demske has worked at the library for 17 years in a variety of roles, including the past year as interim executive director.

He expressed gratitude to the staff, board, local officials and community for supporting him and the library.

People in the Racine area have proven they value literacy, and they value intellectual freedom, Demske said. They value what libraries stand for and the values that libraries stand for. Ultimately, its the whole community  that helps a person like me make the decision: Yeah, this is a good place to serve and to continue in this field.

Huge team effort

Demske accepted an offer last Wednesday from the library Board of Trustees to permanently lead the organization.

He knows the job has challenges but accepted because he and his colleagues believe in the librarys mission of serving the community.

Theyre serious about this work, and I am, too, Demske said. I love libraries. I love literacy. I think its one of the most remarkable tactical vehicles we have towards establishing healing and justice in society, towards preserving democracy. I always say that the public library is the most radical institution in the United States of America.

The process to name a permanent director took longer than Demske and library board members anticipated, but Natalia Taft, Library Board vice president, said it was important to conduct a thorough search.

Nick came out as the best candidate from a real search, and I think that thats important, Taft said. I think the community can have even more confidence that Nicks the best choice for this role at this time.

Latimore was thrilled Demske was named permanent director.

It seems like its a perfect fit in so many ways, she said.

Latimore said Demske is a dedicated, passionate supporter of the library and appreciates that he is an invested community member.

He truly spans across all different facets of Racine life, and I think his vision for (the library) is going to continue to grow, Latimore said. I think that hes going to really move mountains and take what was already a great institution into a premier institution in the state and hopefully in the region and maybe even in the country. I think he is a perfect example of how Racine is a great place to live, and thats what we need more of.

Taft said Demske is an intelligent, thoughtful and collaborative leader who deeply cares about the people at the library and the librarys role in the community.

Practically speaking, the permanent job wont be much different from the work Demske did as interim director of the library, 75 Seventh St.

However, having a permanent director allows long-term projects to move forward, and Taft and Demske said it is beneficial to have stability at the top of the organization for its excellent staff.

There are so many people doing so many good things in this library, Demske said. This is a huge team effort.

Taft said the permanent role will allow Demske to implement his vision for the library.

One long-term project is a strategic plan.

In the next four months, Demske aims to talk with the library board about the plan and discuss hiring a consultant to assist with it.

He also plans to solicit staff and community input about the librarys direction.

Focus on foundations

Last year, Demske was considering leaving the librarian field because of job and industry challenges.

That was before Angela Zimmermann, the librarys former executive director, resigned in July 2023, and he was named interim director.

Being interim director was initially a whirlwind and involved determining the librarys annual budget, among many other topics, which Demske credited the librarys former business manager for leading.

Taft supported the decision to offer Demske the permanent position because he did an excellent job as interim director after a pretty abrupt transition to that role.

At a library board meeting earlier this month, Demske and board members reflected on the past year.

There is room to improve, but they were proud to make progress on foundational areas like organizational consistency and creating a more respectful, trusting workplace culture, which Demske said had traditionally been a challenge.

We feel a lot more stable, we feel a lot more prepared, a lot more grounded, he said. Its great to offer new resources or new initiatives, but if we dont have those foundations solid, they only matter so much.

This is amazing

Demskes childhood foundation was shaped in part by a love of reading and writing.

He grew up in northwest Indiana and fondly remembered going to libraries  and hopes to help more Racine community members do the same.

The more that we can give young people and adults here experiences like I had, to just show, Hey, this is a place where positive experiences can happen, where good memories can be made, the better, Demske said.

Demske, who writes poetry, studied creative writing at Carthage College in Kenosha and graduated in 2006. Later that year, he attended an outdoor leadership school in the western U.S. for a few months.

He then returned to southeast Wisconsin and lived for several months in his then-girlfriends mothers basement in Racine. He and his former girlfriend are now married.

During that time, Demske often rode the bus to the library to fill out job applications.

A library staffer gave him an application for a circulation job opening for which he applied, and he was hired in 2007.

He quickly enjoyed working at the library.

It was sort of a revelation, Demske said. I was like, Oh my god, this is amazing. Everything is free here.  I started realizing this institution represents so many of the things and values that I care about in a society.

The independent nonprofit Friends of the Racine Public Library supports the library in a variety of ways, including advocacy, volunteerism and book sales that raise money for library programs.

Latimore said the library is worth supporting because it provides a myriad of resources to people of all backgrounds.

Those who have little and those who have a lot come in on equal footing at a library, Latimore said. Theres nothing better.

Demske has worked in circulation, as a youth services librarian, community resource librarian and deputy director.

The librarys continuing education endowment helped Demske earn a masters degree in library and information science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Potential referendum

Moving forward, Demske is excited about best utilizing the librarys existing materials and updating its internal staff handbook.

He also wants to sustainably build more staff capacity with dependable funding.

City and county funding for the library likely will not increase anytime soon because of historical state policy, according to Demske.

Because of that, the library might eventually have to consider a referendum. Demske said the organization is in the very early stages, and doesnt anticipate anything happing on that front until at least 2026.

About 137,000 people live in eastern Racine County in the librarys service area.

If this library is going to continue being what it needs to be to properly serve this community, we may need to go to referendum for it and see if the community wants to make the decision to see this librarys capacity grow, Demske said. I dont see any other avenues in the immediate future that would change that for this organization.

If a referendum question ultimately appears on ballots, Demske said it would likely ask for funding to help cover the expenses of running the library, such as staffing.

The library employs about 60 people and has several job openings, not all of which will be filled because of an anticipated budget deficit of more than $200,000 next year, according to Demske.

He hopes the deputy director position will be filled later this year. That was Demskes previous role and has been vacant for the past 12 months, meaning he has juggled the duties of two jobs.

Continuing a legacy

Demske isnt sure how long he wants to work as executive director. If he feels that the library is supported by its board, staff, foundation, the community and local elected leaders, though, he could envision staying on until retirement.

So long as we can maintain a healthy institution, which takes investment and vision from a lot of different people, and so long as we can keep challenging ourselves in new and different ways, I think I want to be here for the party, Demske said.

Because of his nearly two decades working at the library, Latimore said Demske has been a great conduit from the past into the future.

The Racine Public Library was founded in 1897.

Demske praised the numerous people who enacted library initiatives that have assisted him and many others over the years.

Theres 137,000 of us who own this library and pay for it to exist, Demske said. The question is, What kind of stewards do we want to be of it? How do we want to curate it? Can we live up to the legacy of innovative visionaries who have invested in it up to this point?

As permanent executive director, he hopes to live up to that legacy.

Close Carrie Richmond puts the finishing touches on her creation at the Racine Public Library on Tuesday. Richmond's cupcake was inspired by the book Friday Im in Love by Camryn Garrett. Sage Peterson, from left, Carrie Richmond and Wyatt Norton display their creations during a Cupcake Wars event at the Racine Public Library. Sage Peterson puts frosting on her cupcake during Cupcake Wars at the Racine Public Library. Peterson's cupcake was inspired by the book, As Far As You'll Take Me by Phil Stamper. Sage Peterson has some frosting Tuesday during a cupcake wars event at the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St. Wyatt Norton's cupcake was one of the creations made Tuesday. Norton's cupcake was inspired by "Five Nights at Freddy's," a book, video game and movie. Sage Peterson licks her cupcake during Cupcake Wars at the Racine Public Library. Wyatt Norton works on his book-inspired cupcake. Seven photos of "Cupcake Wars" at the Racine Public Library People created cupcakes inspired by books they love Tuesday evening at the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St. Carrie Richmond puts the finishing touches on her creation at the Racine Public Library on Tuesday. Richmond's cupcake was inspired by the book Friday Im in Love by Camryn Garrett. Sage Peterson, from left, Carrie Richmond and Wyatt Norton display their creations during a Cupcake Wars event at the Racine Public Library. Sage Peterson puts frosting on her cupcake during Cupcake Wars at the Racine Public Library. Peterson's cupcake was inspired by the book, As Far As You'll Take Me by Phil Stamper. Sage Peterson has some frosting Tuesday during a cupcake wars event at the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St. Wyatt Norton's cupcake was one of the creations made Tuesday. Norton's cupcake was inspired by "Five Nights at Freddy's," a book, video game and movie. Sage Peterson licks her cupcake during Cupcake Wars at the Racine Public Library. Wyatt Norton works on his book-inspired cupcake.
Could JD Vance be added to the long list of Ohio's presidents?

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump stands with Republican vice presidential nominee U.S. Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, as he holds a rally for the first time with his running mate in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

It is entirely possible that in the years to come, Sen. JD Vance may be added to the list of Ohioans who have served as president. Currently, they are: Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harrison, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, William Howard Taft, William McKinley and Warren G. Harding.

Next to Virginia, no other state has produced more.

None of the seven had presidencies impactful or visionary enough to land them on Mount Rushmore. The Grant and Harding administrations were riddled with corruption, and Hayes' one-term presidency came courtesy of a backdoor deal, resulting in the nickname "His Fraudulency."

In February, U.S .News & World Report listed Harding and Harrison among the Top 10 worst.

Of the four presidents assassinated, two  Garfield and McKinley  were shot by men with severe mental illnesses who still managed to get hold of guns.

Some things don't change, do they?

Other Ohioans who have aspired to the presidency include the late James M. Cox, Sens. Robert Taft and John Glenn, former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, former Gov. John Kasich, and current U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.

In 1872, one-time Massillon resident Victoria Woodhull became the first woman ever to run for president. Frederick Douglass served as her running mate, which probably went over really well.

If ever elected, Vance would be the third president from Cincinnati, where he currently resides, so perhaps there is something to Wiedemann's beer and spaghetti drenched in chili.

Populism as performance art: Faux populism is worse than none

The Middletown native's 2016 best-selling book, "Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis," details a childhood beset by an absent father, a drug-addicted mother, poverty and the lifesaving guidance of Bonnie Blanton Vance, his maternal grandmother from Kentucky, who served as his North Star.

"Mamaw," as Blanton Vance was called, was a pistol-packing, Blue-Dog Democrat who descended from the hardscrabble Scotch-Irish rooted in Appalachia.

Vance's aspirational climb out by way of the Marines, Ohio State, Yale Law School and Silicon Valley is a reminder of what we have always said and believed about ourselves, that anyone here can make it.

About the only thing missing is a log cabin.

About face: J.D. Vance rally really a revival for Trump

However like every good saga, there's a twist. Back in 2016, Vance proudly described himself as a "Never-Trump Guy," expressing doubt about Trump's innocence amid sexual-assault allegations, and lambasting him as "America's Hitler," "cultural heroin," an imbecile who might prove useful, capped off with "My god, what an idiot."

That's more than mere "politics ain't beanbag" rhetoric. Questioning someone's intellect and morals and describing them with the "H" word is personal.

Today, when pressed on his turnabout, Vance blames the media (apparently for recording what Trump actually says), and simply replies:

"I was wrong."

Even St. Paul of Tarsus might be at a loss to explain such a dramatic conversion, but really, it's quite simple: Ambition is one hell of a drug.

Because Trump is transactional, money and the ideology needed to preserve his legacy undoubtedly were factors in deciding that a 39-year-old with two years' government experience should be a heartbeat away from the Oval Office.

JD Vance's kingmaker: How PayPal founder boosted VP candidate's political career

One of Vance's main benefactors and mentors is his former boss, billionaire venture capitalist and libertarian Peter Thiel, who donated $10 million toward his successful Senate campaign in 2022.

What's a better investment than potentially having your own president?

In 2009, Thiel wrote that he believes democracy and freedom have become "incompatible," and that extending welfare benefits and the right to vote to women has ruined "capitalist democracy."

What could possibly go wrong?

In the months to come, Vance will talk a lot about his beginnings, which will resonate with a lot of Ohioans who already see themselves in his story; where people like Mamaw are the norm, not the the outlier.

It shouldn't have surprised anyone when Trump and his populist messaging captured Ohio twice. The Democratic Party, which once counted blue-collar voters among its base, has all but ceded this demographic in places like Ohio and Kentucky for reasons that have yet to make sense.

The glaring irony is Donald Trump wouldn't have been caught dead in Mamaw's house.

Charita M. Goshay is a Canton Repository staff writer and member of the editorial board. Reach her at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: JD Vance's rapid rise could someday include the presidency
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Julia Brim Edwards occupies a unique position in local politics. Shes a Multnomah County Commissioner representing Southeast Portlands District 3. Shes also been on the Portland School Board for 11 years and a previous board chair. A graduate of Oregon State University, she was also a senior executive at Nike.

On this weeks Eye on Northwest Politics, Brim-Edwards said she is frequently asked why she takes on so much for the community. But it all comes from her roots in East Portland.

I went to public schools here, I raised my family with my husband here, she said, Im really committed to the region and both Portland Public Schools and the county have had a number of challenges. Growing up, my parents in our household said, Dont complain about things, go do something about it, which is how I both got on the Portland School Board and the County Commission.

With the county scheduled to roll out its deflection program on September 1, critics say the current plan will be a revolving door with little or no accountability. Brim-Edwards believes those are valid concerns, citing the needs for real consequences and accountability for those who choose deflection.

Theres a lot of work that needs to happen in the next 30 days, she noted. And at the same time, we need to re-stand up a 24-7 drop -off sobering center because the deflection center will actually only impact a pretty limited number of people. A sobering center actually will help those that are sober and drug intoxication and make our streets safer.

The identified location of a deflection center on Sandy Boulevard has prompted concern from neighbors who say they were not notified or consulted about this move. Brim-Edwards also agrees there was a missed step in community-county relations.

Im a firm believer that when the county sets up some sort of operation, whether its a shelter or in this case, a deflection center, that they have an obligation to work with the neighbors to reach a good neighbor agreement so that neighbors have a very reasonable expectation of community safety, she emphasized.

Regarding conflict between County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and other members of the commission  in particular Sharon Meieran  Brim-Edwards stressed personal disagreements should not be mistaken for policy disagreements.

I do believe the County Commission gets to better results when we have a vigorous public debate. And because we make better decisions, we have stronger decisions, she said. And I expect if I put an idea on the table that my fellow commissioners are going to pressure test it, ask me questions, make it better. And thats just part of a good legislative process versus just having a rubber stamp board that just goes along with everything that either the chair or another commissioner rolls out.

While she acknowledged her belief that the current structure of the county commission allows for better results, she added certain recent decisions being made behind closed doors is not at all working for the county.

However, at the state level, Governor Kotek is proposing to add half a billion dollars to the current service level for the state school fund for the 2025-2027 biennium. Brim-Edwards called this promising and will be a big supporter of it.

Her proposal actually better matches the actual cost structures that not just PPS, but other districts have, and the money that we will be getting from the state, she noted. So its a very significant proposal for, not just for PPS, but also for districts around the state. So Im gonna be a big supporter of it, advocate for it when the legislature comes into session, and Im appreciative that the governor followed up on her commitment.

Watch the full interview in the video above.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Cal Fire firefighter Nick Martinez puts out hot spots from the Park fire near Forest Ranch, Calif., on Saturday. (Nic Coury / Associated Press)

Firefighters on Sunday were contending with rapidly changing conditions while battling the massive Park fire burning in Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama counties  California's largest wildfire of the year and the state's seventh-largest fire on record.

The 360,141-acre blaze was 12% contained owing largely to a brief break in hot, dry weather conditions over the weekend, but the fire flared up again in several locations on Sunday and made some "pretty significant runs," according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

"We are seeing increased fire activity within the incident this afternoon," operations section chief Mark Brunton said during an afternoon news conference.

Read more: Jaw-dropping satellite video shows Park fire burning from space

Crews will continue to face an uphill battle this week with higher temperatures and lower humidity on the horizon as the fire continues to burn in heavy vegetation.

"We're kind of at the mercy of the weather, the fuel and the topography  those are the three driving factors of any fire," said Jay Tracy, a spokesperson for the incident.

Flames burn as the Park fire jumps Highway 36 near Paynes Creek in Tehama County on Friday. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)

The explosive wildfire ignited Wednesday afternoon after a man pushed a burning car into a gully near Chico in what authorities say was an act of arson. About 4,200 people have been evacuated from their homes, and at least 67 structures have been destroyed and 4,200 remain threatened.

More than 4,000 firefighters are attacking the blaze from the air and ground. But the fire is burning in steep, jagged terrain that is proving difficult to access  including areas such as the Ishi Wilderness that haven't burned in decades and so are overgrown and rife for fire, Tracy said.

Read more: The 'extraordinary' growth of California's largest fire raises alarms. It could burn for months

"There's not any infrastructure in there that would have the roads and the access points that we need," he added.

The fire is largely crawling in a northeasterly direction, where communities such as Paynes Creek remain a top concern. The fire has also made runs toward Deer Creek, Lomo and other areas along Highway 32 where it is moving into some heavier vegetation, officials said.

"We are experiencing some challenges along the 32 corridor," Cal Fire incident commander Billy See said during the news conference.

Another community of concern  Cohasset on the fire's southern perimeter  has so far been spared due to a combination of "luck and hard work," according to Zeke Lunder, a Chico-based fire specialist and geographer.

Satellite imagery of the blaze captured by the European Space Agency show many active spots of heat and flames, but also some beneficial forest management and fuel reduction projects that have helped keep some areas protected, Lunder said in a briefing Saturday evening.

Most evacuation orders remain in effect, but some were downgraded to warnings on Sunday afternoon, including areas of Rock Creek and Richardson Springs.

Read more: 'Firenado' swirls up from explosive Park fire north of Chico

However, forecasters say luck could soon change. Although a low-pressure system delivered significantly cooler and moister conditions to the region over the weekend, the days ahead are likely to bring a gradual increase in temperatures and decrease in humidity, according to Sara Purdue, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento.

"We're looking at potential for triple digits by next weekend," Purdue said. "There is some uncertainty in the forecast still, but it's going to be a slow transition back to those warmer-than-normal temperatures."

#ParkFire reaches #7 on the list of Top 10 Largest Wildfires in California. pic.twitter.com/2dOodjyyXy  CAL FIRE Chief (@CALFIRE_CHIEF) July 27, 2024

The fire has prompted a state of emergency declaration from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who said Saturday that he had secured additional federal assistance to help battle the blaze.

"This is already one of the biggest fires in California history, and we're continuing to see dangerous conditions  our firefighters and emergency responders are working day and night to protect our communities," Newsom said in a statement. "Californians must heed warning from local authorities and take steps to stay safe."

Read more: 38,000-acre Borel fire destroys historic Kern County mining town of Havilah

Indeed, the Park fire is far from the only blaze burning in California, where crews are contending with more than two dozen active wildfires.

In Kern County, the Borel fire has seared through more than 38,000 acres and was 0% contained on Sunday, according to Capt. Andrew Freeborn with the Kern County Fire Department.

The fire began Wednesday in the Kern River canyon and spread rapidly as it moved through the canyon and met with strong winds along the ridges, he said.

"We've been under red flag warning conditions, and the fire continues to burn in a very, very intense and erratic way," Freeborn said. "The flames can be seen from miles away. If you're looking for what extreme fire behavior would be defined as, we're seeing it on this fire."

Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued throughout the area. Freeborn said structure damage is still being assessed; however, there has been significant structure loss in the historic mining town of Havilah.

The Borel fire is being managed with two other fires in Kern and Tulare counties, collectively referred to as the SQF Lightning incident. The other fires are the Trout fire, which has burned 23,369 acres and is 25% contained, and the Long fire, which has burned 9,204 acres and is 35% contained.

An animal runs through grass while fleeing flames as the Park fire tears through the Cohasset community in Butte County on Thursday. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)

Tracy, the Park fire incident spokesperson, said some of the extreme behavior displayed in that fire's early hours appears to have slowed, such as tornadolike "fire whirls" sometimes referred to as "firenados."

But is is continuing to spew considerable smoke, with federal smoke maps showing plumes from the fire reaching as far as Oregon and Nevada.

The Park fire has prompted several road closures and the closure of Lassen Volcanic National Park. Evacuation shelters are available at Neighborhood Church in Chico and Los Molinos Vet's Hall in Los Molinos. Large and small animal shelters are also available in Oroville, Red Bluff and Corning.

The race between the weather and the firefight will continue in the days ahead, Tracy said.

"If the weather continues to cooperate, then we'll be able to continue this direct attack and start to button up more containment," he said.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) acknowledged  but did not condemn  white supremacist attacks aimed at his wife, Usha Vance, over her Indian descent on Friday.

Look, I love my wife so much. I love her because shes who she is, former President Donald Trumps running mate told Megyn Kelly on her SiriusXM show.

Obviously, shes not a white person, and weve been accused  attacked  by some white supremacists over that, he continued. But I just  I love Usha. Shes such a good mom, shes such a brilliant lawyer and Im so proud of her.

Trumps vice presidential pick, who has faced backlash for going after childless Democrats in 2021 with a comment he recently called sarcastic, added that his wifes experience has helped give him the perspective that its very hard for working families in America.

Obviously shes not a white personbut I love Usha, shes such a good mom.



Honestly this is such a weird way to respond to white supremacist attacks on your Indian American wife. Pathetic. pic.twitter.com/aC5BIOzm1D  Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) July 27, 2024

His comments come after Nick Fuentes, a white supremacist who once dined with Ye (the artist formerly known as Kanye West) and Trump at the Republican presidential nominees Mar-a-Lago estate, attacked Usha Vance earlier this month.

Who is this guy, really? Do we really expect that the guy who has an Indian wife and named their kid Vivek is going to support white identity? Fuentes said.

Usha Vance, a lawyer and child of Indian immigrants, could become the first Indian American to be second lady if the Trump-Vance ticket wins in November.

Critics on social media questioned JD Vances defense, including Kaivan Shroff, a Democratic commentator who shared the clip of the Ohio senator and called it such a weird and pathetic way to respond to the attacks.

Ted Cruz- like.  Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline) July 27, 2024

the accu attacked is uhhhhh something  Kat Abu (@abughazalehkat) July 27, 2024

wow, such a feckless way to defend your family. Giving Ted Cruz vibes.  The Sins of Greg (@TheSinsOfGreg) July 27, 2024

A reminder of the avalanche of white supremacist hate being thrown at Usha Vance. Leopards eating faces and all: https://t.co/CTjV4l4qHQ  Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@QasimRashid) July 28, 2024

Utterly unsurprising that the only positive thing he has to say against white supremacisr attacks are I mean, shes not white, BUT she isnt childless, so she still has value.  Squirrel Master (@kristiecsu) July 27, 2024

Related...
The Midnight Stone ship carrying containers with humanitarian aid for Venezuela is docked, in the port of Willemstad on the island of Curacao

(Reuters) - The Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao on Sunday became the newest associate member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a bloc promoting economic integration and cooperation across a region of largely small island developing states.

Curacao joined the group during a ceremony at the opening of the organization's heads of government summit in Grenada, where leaders are set to discuss issues such as the growing impact of climate change.

(Reporting by Sarah Morland; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Elizabeth Ha created the privacy-minded menstrual tracking app Monthly last year, after failing to find an option that felt safe enough to her following the Dobbs decision. (Courtesy of Elizabeth Ha)

After the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion in 2022 and abortion was banned in the state of Tennessee, Dr. Danielle Kelvas quit using an app that tracked her menstrual cycle.

It frightened me  I actually got frightened because it tracked me for like, a week, Kelvas said of the Oura Ring feature Cycle Insights. And I thought, wheres this information going?

Immediately following the Dobbs V. Jackson Supreme Court decision which struck down the constitutional right to abortion, data privacy experts cautioned to take a closer look at menstrual cycle tracking apps. Information logged into these apps, or tracked via wearable devices like a Fitbit or an Oura Ring, have the potential to be used in prosecuting those who seek abortions in states which criminalize it.

Kelvas, a former emergency room physician, is a big fan of her Oura Ring. She researched the device  which gives insight to users about their biometric data like heart rate and sleep quality  thoroughly before buying it.

When the company rolled out its menstrual tracking feature, called Cycle Insights, she was excited to try it. But when she started reading more into the terms of agreement, she couldnt find clear cut information about how the data was stored, how secure it was, or if it was encrypted.

States Newsroom reached out to Oura for clarification on its privacy policy for Cycle Insights, but the request for comment was not returned.

Kelvas, 34, lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where abortion is banned, with only the exception of preventing death for the expectant person. The law, a trigger ban that went into effect in August 2022, also makes obtaining or performing an abortion a criminal offense.

So I deleted it, Kelvas said of the app.

Opal Pandya is in the same boat. The 25-year old Philadelphian deleted the app Flo, after reading case studies about data releases to external third parties. She also took note when she started suddenly getting targeted ads on Instagram for products that would help soothe period symptoms shed just logged in Flo.

I realized my data was flowing across multiple platforms, she said.

She didnt feel comfortable with that, and didnt have the time to figure out who had access to that data. The final straw was learning that third-party data could be available to states in prosecuting abortions banned under their laws.

Pandya also opted out of her Apple Watchs cycle tracking after trying it for a while, and has stopped wearing it to bed, as it tracks ovulation cycles via temperature at night while sleeping.

Healthcare privacy has always been something Pandyas been wary of, she said, and while theres benefits of tracking menstrual information, the Dobbs decision showed her there could be serious consequences of that data being vulnerable.

I have always been sensitive about my health information and understand theres a strong distrust of the medical system as a whole, Pandya said. And overturning Roe v. Wade did nothing but solidify and spread that distrust, especially among minority women.

Kelvas, who now owns a medical writing service and is a consultant for software company IT Medical, is acutely aware of those delicacies of navigating menstrual tracking.

As a physician, she said she cant emphasize enough how important it is that people have access to cycle tracking. Its one of the few tools people have to be in more control of family planning and their reproductive health, as some states attack access to birth control.

But her experience in healthcare IT has highlighted how easy it is for sensitive data to go unprotected. Many people think all healthcare information is protected under the federal privacy law, known as HIPAA. But menstrual cycle tracking apps, along with other healthcare technologies, like texting platforms that patients can use with doctors, are not.

In highly restrictive states, Kelvas said its challenging to navigate your reproductive rights  It doesnt really matter what we do, were always in trouble, she said.

For a lot of women, suddenly becoming pregnant means that they are illegal, Kelvas said. And what do you do after that? You know, for a lot of people, the reality is that they just dont own their uterus anymore.

What data is up for grabs?

There havent been any cases where a menstrual tracking apps data has been subpoenaed yet, but thats probably due to the slow speed of which cases proceed through the court system, said Jake Laperruque, deputy director of the Center for Democracy and Technologys Security and Surveillance Project. There have been few cases of electronic data of any form being subpoenaed yet, but via their terms and conditions, many companies leave themselves vulnerable to having to hand data over to prosecutors or courts.

Laperruque warned that the data that could be used to prosecute abortion cases could be more far-reaching than just whats logged in a period tracking app.

There are a lot of really innocuous seeming data in healthcare  location information, communications, metadata patterns and even information you dont know youre generating,

Laperruque said.

If social media apps have access to your location, for example, prosecutors could timestamp your visit at an abortion providers office through the location data of any number of apps.

Data collected by apps, wearables, could potentially now be used by law enforcement or even private individuals, seeking to sue or target people for exercising reproductive choice and seeking out information or care around abortion, he said.

Digital footprints have been used in prosecuting reproductive cases even before the Dobbs decision.

In 2018, a woman in Mississippi was charged with second-degree murder after she gave birth to a stillborn baby at home. Part of the prosecutions case noted that she had researched how to terminate a pregnancy in the past.

Last year, a teenager in Nebraska was convicted for terminating a pregnancy after prosecutors subpoenaed Facebook messages between her and her mother.

How to assess data privacy

For now, most of the responsibility to protect a users data falls on the user themselves, said Andrew Crawford, a healthcare privacy-focused senior council with the Center for Democracy and Technology.

It really is incumbent on users to do their homework, Crawford said. And unfortunately, sometimes that means reading really dense privacy policies and looking for keywords.

The terms and conditions of an app or a wearable device need to spell out what data its collecting, what it does with that data and who else may have access. An app may automatically seek access to things like your contacts, your geolocation, or photos, but you may not have to give it those full permissions. Period tracking apps often share information with data brokers, advertisers or third parties that are hard to track.

Users should also pay attention to how an app treats the data it gets. A keyword to look for is encryption, or data thats changed into a secret code that can only be unlocked with a unique digital key.

Data thats stored locally on your device also tends to be safer than data thats stored in a cloud, Crawford said. It would be a lot harder for law enforcement to access encrypted data stored only on your device rather than if they can subpoena a company for it.

Theres always risk as long as data is logged somewhere, Laperruque said.

But police are only going to be able to search your phone if they hand you a warrant and seize the phone, he said.

Most wearable devices that collect biometric data have some encryption aspect. Apples privacy policy says that when your device is locked, all your health and fitness data thats on the device and synced to iCloud is encrypted.

This means that when you use the Cycle Tracking feature and have enabled two-factor authentication, your health data synced to iCloud is encrypted end-to-end and Apple does not have the key to decrypt the data and therefore cannot read it, the company said.

Fitbit and Oura Ring say they use encryption measures, too. All three companies say that they have to comply with subpoena requests by law enforcement agencies.

The cost of your data

App developer Elizabeth Ha, 27, of Los Angeles, built cycle tracking app Monthly in response to the Dobbs v. Jackson decision. All of the health data inputted into the app is stored privately on your device, and doesnt enter a database. You can delete your app (and subsequently, your data) at any time, and Monthly does not make your data available to anyone but the user.

Ha had been a long-time user of one period tracker app, but the Dobbs decision and the attention that data privacy was getting at the time, forced her to take a harder look at where she was logging her information.

Once your data gets sent to these data warehouses, its like a little bit of a black box, she said.

She feels pretty secure about her reproductive rights in California, but you never know whats going to happen or who else might need a more secure option, she said of Monthly, which released on the app store late last year.

The field of mobile apps is so new, developing in the last decade or so, she said, and it evolves so quickly. The reason so many period trackers are free is that theyre built by larger companies that can collect and sell your data, Ha said.

For them to be a business, a lot of the business is selling the data, she said.

Many Americans are waiting for a comprehensive, federal data privacy overhaul. The American Privacy Rights Act was proposed in congress in May, which would require covered entities to be transparent about how they use consumer data and give consumers the right to access, correct, delete, and export their data, as well as opt out of targeted advertising and data transfers.

It would also mandate that a covered entity could not collect or transfer to a third party biometric data without the individuals affirmative express consent.

For now, those who wish to keep data related to their reproductive health safe, should be vigilant about the terms and conditions of the devices and the platforms they use.

It just kind of speaks to the importance of both the surveillance and consumer data side of upgrading the laws, Laperruque said. We have to be more protective.
WASHINGTON - If elected president in November, presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is bound to shake things up in the nation's capital.

That's not to say Harris would stray dramatically from normal Democratic policy stances. Some of her former Senate colleagues told USA TODAY that they'd expect come 2025 that they'd be working in many of the same areas where President Joe Biden was successful.

But there's also little chance a future President Harris - she'd be 60-years-old on Inauguration Day - would simply follow Biden's lead. The two politicians are from different generations, have different life stories, care about different issues and bring different perspectives to the job.

"Honestly, we just had a race between two stodgy old men. And so how is she going to be different? She's not a stodgy old white man," Moe Vela, a former senior advisor to Biden, said in an interview.

As vice president, Harris' job is to soften those differences and put Biden's policies first. Winning the top job is a chance to put herself out front and center, and that person is less Biden's Old Washington and more hip and relatable, Vela said.

"I think what we're going to see is a modernization of the presidency. With this generational change, I think we're going to see less of that rigidity, if you will, or that formal Old Guard, and more of a relaxed style," Vela said. "I love the fact that she lets out that bellowed laugh. That she's not trying to hold it back. She's not trying to be what people want her to be. I think she's actually has the beauty of being herself."

U.S. President Joe Biden is accompanied by former U.S. President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris as they enter the East room to speak about the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 5, 2022.

The biggest difference between Harris and Biden might not be policy or priorities but instead how they talk about them.

Abortion access was always expected to be a central part of the Democrats' 2024 campaign message. But "she talks about sex in a way Joe Biden could not," said Susan Liebell, a political science professor at Saint Josephs University in Philadelphia. Harris has hosted about 100 events since the U.S. Supreme Court in mid-2022 ended Roe v. Wade. Biden has largely left it to his VP, the first woman in U.S. history to hold the job, as a campaign issue.

"Harris uniquely emphasizes access to abortion and miscarriage care as freedom and frames abortion bans as problematic government intervention that voters should reject," Liebell said. "Unlike other Democrats and especially Biden, Harris uses this language of liberty and government interference to defend access to reproductive health care. Unlike Biden, she links freedom and abortion [without] any hesitation."

Jocelyn Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families Action Fund, said Harris' personal experiences also allow her to speak differently about improving economic opportunities for women.

"She is a former prosecutor, but also, she's lived in this country, as a woman of color, understanding both what that means in terms of the ability to participate in the economy, what does that mean in terms of opportunity? And what does that mean, in terms of what gaps that we have left unfilled for decades?" Frye said. "My expectation is that I would see her really trying to do some unfinished business."

U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) participates in a reenacted swearing-in with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in the Old Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol January 3, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Harris' short D.C. career compared to Biden

Harris spent four years in the U.S. Senate representing California before being sworn in as vice president in January 2021. She previously served as California attorney general and San Francisco district attorney. Biden has been in Washington for more than 50 years after first winning his Senate seat from Delaware in the 1972 elections.

"She doesnt have the depth of policy that someone like Joe Biden does, but I think she surrounds herself with people who have that capacity, that experience, said Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Colorado Democrat who took office just a couple of weeks before Harris' resigned her Senate seat to become vice president.

Hickenlooper added that Harris' energy affects those around her.

Shes quick and shes got a lot of spark to her, so I think well see that. I think shes got an energy and a spark thats going to energize people," he said.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the American Federation of Teachers' 88th National Convention on July 25, 2024 in Houston.

Several of Harris' former colleagues said she stays in touch, often through text messages, though that has dropped off a bit since she's been vice president.

"She's very warm and she's very charming and she remembers people and she really cares about people," said Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who has known Harris since she was San Francisco district attorney.

Khanna recalled Harris sending a lengthy handwritten letter congratulating him on getting married. While she was making her own ultimately unsuccessful run for the White House in 2019, she texted Khanna from the campaign trail even though he supported one of her primary opponents, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Khanna said Harris has taken pains to stay in touch with the California congressional delegation, many of whom endorsed her in 2020.

He said her charm and laughter makes people underestimate her grit.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who joined the Senate as a freshman in 2017 alongside Harris, said she would bring "a seriousness to the job" of president while recognizing the importance of engagement with Congress and the public.

Harris is "extremely smart and capable" and "a good decision-maker" who will build "the best team possible" to implement her policy priorities, said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat who replaced Hillary Clinton in 2009 when her predecessor joined the Obama administration as secretary of state.

"I think she has a strong vision as president," added Gillibrand in describing Harris' plans to help middle class families, to implement universal preschool and affordable daycare, to pass a national paid leave plan, and to grow the economy by helping small businesses and supporting innovation.

"I also think she's somebody who is going to have a very thoughtful approach towards national security," Gillibrand said.

More: Harris drawing parallels to Obama as young voters eye chance to be part of historic first

On Capitol Hill, Harris served on the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee. She earned a reputation as a shrewd questioner who got to the root of issues at hand.

One particular moment drew national attention when Harris tried to pin down Brett Kavanaugh, then a Donald Trump Supreme Court justice nominee, over his opinions of Roe v. Wade. After Kavanaugh dodged repeatedly, she pressed, "Can you think of any laws that give the government the power to make decisions about the male body?

John Pitney, a Claremont McKenna College politics professor said it doesn't matter that Harris doesn't have decades of experience in Washington, especially during a presidential campaign against Trump.

"Even though she's not a wonk, I think most people would bet money that her policy knowledge greatly exceeds his," Pitney said.

Sen Marco Rubio, R-Fla., (C) looks past Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., (L) and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., during a US Senate Intelligence Committee press conference on election security at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2018.

GOP senator: Voters think Harris is 'not a serious person'

Republicans are already working to paste Harris with the policies and failures of Biden's term, essentially calling her a continuation of Biden or that Harris would go even further to the left.

"Joe Biden reassured us yesterday that the name is changed on the top of the ticket, but the mission hasnt changed at all, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said on X, formerly Twitter, Tuesday. "We know, Joe. Your bad policies are Kamalas bad policies."

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., who also joined the Senate the same year as Harris, said he thinks voters believe that Harris is "not a serious person." He declined to say what he personally thinks of her.

"They think fairly or unfairly that the vice president is a ding dong. They think fairly or unfairly that if you gave the vice president a penny for her thoughts you'd get back change. They think fairly or unfairly that she is a member of the loon wing of the Democratic Party," he said. "That is the cold, hard, political truth. And she's got about 100 days to turn that image that the American people have formed of her around."

More: Trump calls Harris a 'lunatic' in first rally since Biden's exit

Vela disagreed. He said only "stodgy old white men" and "MAGA" members aren't taking her seriously.

"You're not the attorney general of the largest state of this nation without being wicked smart, fierce, articulate, intelligent, pragmatic. So you know, I caution people who don't take her seriously, do it at your own peril," added Vela, a former Biden vice presidential aide during the Obama administration. "She may laugh with a bellow laugh. But this woman's tough as nails."

A 'San Francisco liberal'

At the Republican National Convention, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla, called Harris a "full blown left winger" and a "California liberal."

"If you pull out a list from your pocket of like the craziest radicalist left of center, leftist ideas of the Democratic Party, green New Deal, single payer, everybody on the same health insurance run by the government, and she's for all of them," said Rubio, the 53-year-old senator who lost to Trump in the 2016 presidential primaries and was among the finalists to be his VP pick in 2024. "She's not just for them rhetorically. She's helped sponsor them, she's voted for them."

The well-tread GOP criticism "San Francisco liberal" would likely follow Harris to the White House.

"Of course, she's a liberal, but, you know, by San Francisco standards... it's not as if she was way to the left of the mainstream," said Dan Morain, author of biography "Kamala's Way, An American Life."

More: As President Joe Biden steps aside, is America ready for President Kamala Harris?

It's a legacy Harris has made no effort to run from. She wore Sketchers with business suits in the Senate. She still cheers on her homestate Golden State Warriors and has the endorsement of the team's star player, Stephen Curry. A California flag hung from the ceiling of the former Biden campaign headquarters when she spoke there Monday after Biden dropped out.

Like Biden, who will always be tied to Scranton, Penn., Morain said, "she's a daughter of California," and she'll bring that to the White House.

Harris parents, Shyamala Gopalan from India and Donald J. Harris from Jamaica, met as students at UC Berkeley. She tells stories of her parents pushing her in a stroller during the Civil Rights protests in the 1960s. Harris' mother became a prominent cancer researcher, her father an economics professor at Stanford University.

"So, yeah, she's a San Francisco liberal, but it seems to me, it's a story that really only could have happened in California," Morain said.

If she's elected president, Pitney said he expects Harris will lean into criminal justice and civil right issues because of that personal history.

"As someone who's both Black and Asian, for her the assaults on black people, assaults on Asian Americans, are personal," he said. "Not to say that Biden doesn't care about those things, he does, but I think Harris would bring a lot more passion to that."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harris vs. Biden: Different generations, priorities and life stories
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police said officers resolved a barricade situation in Southeast Sunday afternoon after a man was found shot nearby.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said its officers and an Emergency Response Team were at the 3200 block of 28th St. for a barricade situation as of 4 p.m.

MPD said officers had initially responded to the area to investigate a shooting at around 2:45 p.m. There, officers found a man who had been shot. He was unconscious and not breathing.

DC police release photos of group accused of armed carjacking in Southeast

(Matt Sonsalla/DC News Now)

(Matt Sonsalla/DC News Now)

(Matt Sonsalla/DC News Now)

(Matt Sonsalla/DC News Now)

MPD said to look out of a man wearing a dark burgundy shirt with black shorts.

In an update just before 7:50 p.m., police said that the barricade had concluded without incident. MPD was still investigating the shooting.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
DC police release photos of group accused of armed carjacking in Southeast

WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police are continuing to look for a group of people accused of being involved in an armed carjacking in Southeast D.C. earlier this month.

The incident happened on July 19 around 2 a.m. in the 1000 block of Half Street.

Man shot, killed in Northwest DC; police investigating

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said that several suspects approached the victim who was sitting in his car, pointed a rifle at him and demanded he get out of his car.

The victim obeyed their demands and the suspects took his car.

MPD released surveillance camera photos of three of the suspects who were involved.

(Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Police Department)

Anyone who can identify the suspects or has information is asked to call (202) 727-9099 or text 501411.

A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered to anyone who has information that leads to an arrest and indictment of those involved.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A memorial at the Wounded Knee Massacre site on the Pine Ridge Reservation. (Getty Images)

The medals awarded to soldiers who participated in the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre will be subjected to a review, the U.S. Department of Defense has announced.

The department said the reviews purpose is to ensure no awardees were recognized for conduct inconsistent with the nations highest military honor.

The move comes after years of activism by Lakota people  including descendants of massacre survivors  who want the medals rescinded.

Oliver OJ Semans, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, has been active in the effort with his wife, Barb, and their Four Directions nonprofit. He said its gratifying to see some momentum after a long struggle, including failed attempts to rescind the medals through congressional legislation.

This issue is moving right now, and there are a lot of people involved in it, Semans said. Were all trying to get to the same conclusion, and thats justice for the descendants.

The memorandum issued Wednesday ordering the review is from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. He directed his undersecretary of defense and personnel readiness to convene a panel of five experts, including two from the Department of the Interior. The panel must send a written report to Austin no later than Oct. 15 with recommendations and rationale to retain or rescind each of the medals. Austin will then provide his recommendations to the president.

The department said approximately 20 soldiers received a Medal of Honor for participating in the massacre. Historians have noted that the records associated with some of the medals are incomplete or unclear.

In a news release, the Defense Department attributed comments to a senior defense official who said its never too late to do whats right.

And thats what is intended by the review that the secretary directed, the official said, which is to ensure that we go back and review each of these medals in a rigorous and individualized manner to understand the actions of the individual in the context of the overall engagement.

Mass grave

The massacre occurred on Dec. 29, 1890. Lakota people were camped near Wounded Knee Creek on the Pine Ridge Reservation in southwestern South Dakota, where they were surrounded by hundreds of Army soldiers. A shot rang out while the soldiers tried to disarm the camp, and chaotic shooting ensued.

Fewer than 40 soldiers were killed (some by friendly fire, according to historians), while estimates of Lakota deaths ran from 200 to 300 or more, depending on the source. After some of the bodies froze on the ground for several days, a military-led burial party dumped them into a mass grave.

The politics and racism of the day influenced the Armys decision to support medals for some of the soldiers, even though Maj. Gen. Nelson Miles condemned the massacre. He led the Division of the Missouri, which included the soldiers who were responsible for the incident.

I have never heard of a more brutal, cold-blooded massacre than at Wounded Knee, Miles wrote in an 1891 letter thats now held in an archive at Yale.

This story first appeared in the South Dakota Searchlight, a member with the Phoenix in the nonprofit States Newsroom network.
1. Yes. They look better and require less maintenance. Most high-end housing areas have them.

2. Yes. Wood fences can weather and look unsightly, plus masonry walls help to block sound.

3. No. Residents should have a choice of what kind of barriers are put up near their homes.

4. No. Allowing a variety of materials will be better for aesthetics, and costs may be lower.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say. Masonry walls may be sturdier, but mandating them is problematic.

Vote

View Results
Delaware hospital among the best in state, regionally. Find out which one

U.S. News and World Report has released its rankings of the top hospitals in the nation and the best hospitals in each state and metro area. The rankings include the leading medical facilities in Delaware with ChristianaCare Hospitals recognized as Delaware's top hospital and among the top hospitals in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Rankings are based on how a hospital measures up in two categories: specialty rankings and procedure and condition ratings. Procedure and condition ratings focus on specific, commonly required procedures and conditions, such as hip replacement and heart failure. Hospitals are evaluated on their performance with a full range of patients, not just the most challenging cases. Specialty rankings consider outcomes for patients facing complex, high-risk cases.

Hospitals demonstrating a comprehensive range of excellence are recognized on the Best Regional Hospitals list, with the top performers also making the publication's national Honor Roll list. To be included among U.S. News's 466 Best Regional Hospitals, a hospital generally had to excel in at least seven of the procedures and conditions it evaluated across three dozen health care services.

The rankings are intended to help patients and their families find sources of skilled inpatient care.

Top hospitals in Delaware

U.S. News listing includes evaluations for state, major metro and non-metro regions. In its appraisal of 15 hospitals in Delaware, two met the publication's standards to be recognized as Best Regional Hospitals. ChristianaCare Hospitals is ranked as the top hospital in Delaware, followed by Beebe Healthcare-Lewes Campus in the No. 2 spot.

Other hospitals on the list include:

Bayhealth Hospital-Kent Campus

Delaware Psychiatric Center near New Castle

Dover Behavioral Hospital in Dover

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Middletown

Meadow Wood Behavioral Health System-New Castle

ChristianaCare signage of the Christiana Hospital is shown at Churchmans Road in Stanton on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023.

Top 5 regional hospitals

U.S. News and World Report also ranked hospitals in the Philadelphia metro area, which includes parts of Delaware. ChristianaCare was the lone Delaware hospital to rank in the top 5 regionally:

Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian in Philadelphia Jefferson Health-Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals in Philadelphia Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia Main Line Health Paoli Hospital in Paoli, Pennsylvania ChristianaCare Hospitals

Best hospitals honor roll

According to U.S. News and World Report, each year nearly 2 million people require in-hospital surgeries or special care with exceptional technical challenges or significantly heightened risks of death or harm.

U.S. News and World Report said it offers Best Hospitals specialty rankings for patients with life-threatening or rare conditions who need hospitals offering unparalleled treatment for complex, high-risk cases or difficult diagnoses.

The Best Hospitals Honor Roll ranks the top hospitals in 15 specialties for life-threatening or rare conditions and 20 procedures and conditions.

Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian was the single regional hospital to make the honor roll.

You can contact Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: U.S. News and World Report ranks Delaware, regional hospitals
The Democratic Partys recent dithering over its subpar incumbent president was an excruciating spectacle, underscoring a troubling reality: The party is hollow and lumbering. In ordinary times, this would merely mean an electoral price to paya loss here, a setback there. After all, losing elections is part of democracy. But these are not ordinary times. The Republican Party long ago collapsed into a personality cult, sacrificing its foundational principles at the altar of one old mans narcissism. But for nearly a month after President Joe Bidens disastrous late-June debate performance, it seemed that the Democrats would follow suitleaving us with two failed parties. This is not just a political inconvenience; its an existential threat to our way of government.

Ultimately, Biden bowed out of the race in a surprise announcement on July 21, after weeks of pressure from Democratic politicians, donors, and voters. He also endorsed his running mate and the incumbent vice president, Kamala Harris, to fill the role at the top of the ticket. But the long, torturous process by which he came to that decision exposed serious, troubling problems in the party and in our two-party system more broadly.

When political scientists analyze the health of political parties, one question they ask is whether the parties are institutionally robust. A weak party is a personalized onean extension of just one leader. A healthy party is bigger than any one person. A healthy party shares leadership and transfers power across generations, and boasts many party committees and offices, in many places and communities. It is grounded and responsive to its constituents, is integrative and complex, and exists beyond the ambitions of any single group or person. A healthy party, like democracy itself, is a collective enterprise.

Much has been written about the numerous failures of the Republican Party over the last decade. So lets focus instead on the Democratic Party, and open our inquiry with a forensic question: What is the Democratic Party today, anyway? Who is in charge?

If you went looking for a physical manifestation of the party, youd find it in a squat office building a few blocks south of the U.S. Capitola building so bland and nondescript that it would be at home in any of the multitude of generic suburban office parks built in the late twentieth century. If you inquire at the front desk who runs the office, somebody may give you a name: Jaime Harrison, a onetime aide to Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina and a former corporate lobbyist, who ran for the U.S. Senate in South Carolina in 2020 and lost.

But who actually runs the party? The party eldersNancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Barack Obama, Hakeem Jeffriescurrent and former congressional leaders and a former president? Individually and collectively, they have enormous power but are cautious to use it, because doing so carries the risk of failure: If their desired outcomes do not come to pass, then their status and ability to influence events will diminish.

Then there are the other individual elected Democrats60 members of the House and Senate (including the vice president, who presides over the Senate) as well as 24 current governors. In one line of political science theorizing, U.S. political parties are creatures of their politiciansshared electoral brands that benefit everyoneand everyone has a stake in maintaining those brands.

Donors exert considerable influence on a party, too, but they are fractured. Yes, they are capable of occasionally elevating a nonviable candidate, but their main power appears to be negative powerby holding back their money, they can tank a candidacy. The media play a role, but they do not lead. Others with influence include issue groups that make demands, but they are maximalists pushing specific agendas or legislation, not compromisers. None of these groups is capable of brokering, let alone initializing, the collective action that should define a healthy political party, though some groups do get what they want by mere force of intensity or resources.

For some political theorists, this is all contemporary U.S. parties arecoalitions of interest groups and activists seeking to capture and use government for their particular goals, as UCLAs Kathleen Bawn and her colleagues have written. Hardly an inspiring picture, but a reasonably explanatory one in the current American context: a lot of groups arguing with one another over whose priorities get top billing, and whose get relegated to mere token talk, and which candidates are best served to advance those priorities.

In a presidential campaign, formal power within a party may lie with the delegates who will gather at conventions to nominate a candidate. At the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in mid-August, thousands of state and local politicians and activiststhe closest thing to a representation of the partys rank and filewill gather and could, in theory, choose a presidential candidate other than Harris. But in practice, these delegates tend to do as instructed. When the party gathers later this summer, they will almost certainly anoint Harris as the partys nominee.

And what about the will of those voters? They are, of course, limited by the choices provided for them. Once, the Democratic Party had a social base, but now many voters see it as a remote cabal of out-of-touch elites, whose only outreach to voters alternates between cries of alarm about the dangers Republican poseand entreaties for money so the party can spread yet more cries of alarm.

Despite widespread voter dissatisfaction and low voter turnout, both Democratic and Republican candidates still win public office on the local, state, and national levels, the latter even in the Trump-personality-cult era. Thats because our electoral system of single-winner elections renders third parties as mere spoilers and wasted votes. Democrats and Republicans have a monopoly on opposition to each other, and the lesser-of-two-evils strategy is infinitely renewable.

But when it comes to sustaining the civic commitment to democracy, to the liberal pluralism and connection and integration and intermediation that modern party democracy depends upon, many aspects of that system are failingand that now very much includes the Democratic Party.

The Democrats may have ultimately coaxed Biden aside, but the delays and delusions that have surfaced over the course of the summer have revealed a party unsure of what it collectively stands for, where donors think they can get what they want, where an incumbent presidents ego can toss a whole party into chaos, and where those still working with that president will give in to conspiracy-thinking to defend their current positions.

What happened? How did the Democrats get to this point?





In the first half of the twentieth century, there wasnt much of a national Democratic Party apparatus. Instead, it was a federated network of state and local party organizations, many of which had thick roots in their communities. Complex, integrative, and institutionalized, it possessed the classic hallmarks of a healthy party. Having a deep social base gave the party real meaninga crucial role for an intermediary institution.

The Democrats were identified as the party of the working class. But it was also a strange patchwork of factions, somehow combining Southern segregationists and Northern liberals, united only in their shared opposition to Republicans, and their once-every-four-years coming together to nominate a presidential ticket they could all live with.

The civil rights revolution of the 1960s split that fraying Democratic coalition and helped set in motion a long realignment of U.S. party politics. With this realignment, party organizations continued to change alongside the changing civic culture of the country. The prevalence of television transformed politics, to some degree, into public theater: Public ceremonies replaced the old party clubs where backroom deals were made. Starting in 1972, presidential nominating conventions became mere televised coronations, with state delegates having only a ceremonial roleyet another blow to the relevance of state parties.

Because, really, who needed them? Individual candidates could now speak directly to voters over the airwaves. And citizens could respond, indirectly, by contributing to new issue groups that promised to make demands on their behalf in exchange for monthly donations.

And so gradually U.S. political parties morphed into national networks of fundraising and campaign consultants and affiliated issue groups, increasingly based in and around Washington, D.C. Money replaced community presence as the currency of politics, and a disconnect (both real and perceived) seemed to grow between elected officials and their constituents.

Financialization of political parties initially helped Republicans, who had a head start in the early fundraising wars because of their natural appeal to big business. But in the 1980s, Democrats soon caught up, leaving behind their old organized labor constituencies for the shiny new promise of tech and financial services money.

The cascading effects of these changes were extreme. Issue groups sorted themselves into the competing party coalitions. State and local parties became shells, mere financial pass-throughs. An (increasingly) permissive campaign finance legal framework unleashed even more money into politics. But instead of rebuilding the lost civic capacity of local party organizations, that money went into blitzing the airwaves and increasingly social media with simplistic, terrifying messages about the stakes of the always upcoming election.

The result was a hollowing out of the major parties: mere electoral vehicles, performing for an audience that was increasingly put off and distracted. And so, here we are.

To be sure, the Republican Party capitulated first. In the 2000s, its small-government-enthralled leadership grew too distant from any social base, too caught up in the concerns of its donors, and too internally fractious to coordinate. It outsourced many of its central functionslike voter mobilization and candidate recruitmentto groups with narrow agendas. It papered over the destruction wrought by its policies with grievance-based, dog whistle politics. Into this empty shell stepped Donald Trump, and he wielded it like a king hermit crab. It is now his party and his alone, with a platform built from his ramblings. It is not a political party capable of sustaining liberal democracy, which depends on the rotation of power and pluralistic compromise.

And the Democratic Party? Is it capable of sustaining liberal democracy on its own, or is it, too, on the brink of capitulation? In the latest Gallup poll, just 23 percent of Americans identified themselves as Democratsthe lowest number in the polls 90-year history. Meanwhile, 51 percent of Americans choose not to affiliate themselves with either partythe highest share in the history of polling. This level of disaffection suggests that the two parties are failing in their crucial role as intermediary institutionscollectively integrating concerns of diverse Americans into a coherent and meaningful representation. Without parties to integrate, represent, and share power, democracy falls into chaos and authoritarianism, violence and force. There is a simple, obvious answer to our present conundrum: Replace them with new and better parties.

But this is not so easily done. Democrats and Republicans have too long benefited from Americas system of single-winner elections, which ensures that one or the other of them will triumph. They have no incentive to evolve.

But American democracy simply cannot continue like this. We need parties that are capable of collective action on behalf of a genuine social base and that can connect people to government.

American democracy simply cannot continue like this. We need parties that are capable of collective action on behalf of a genuine social base.

So, we must change the electoral system. Proportional representation would make more parties viable in Congress and state legislatures, allowing new parties to organize and compete (or more likely, existing factions within both parties would break off and form their own parties, under new leadership and management, and capable of taking a clearer and more vibrant message to voters). Fusion voting would make more parties meaningful in those elections that must remain single-winner elections. These are straightforward, completely constitutional changes in voting procedure that would allow new parties to emerge and build new coalitions. Its the best shot we have.

Many will argue that the two parties themselves would never allow this to happen. But perhaps the good news is that, in their feckless loss of legitimacy, theyve also proved their incapacity. Now hopefully they can have the grace to move aside.
Deputies investigate shooting at Newton County bar and grill

The Newton County Sheriffs Office is investigating a shooting that happened at a bar Saturday night.

NCSO said the Porterdale Police Department requested that they investigate a shooting at Porterdale Bar and Grill.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The shooting happened between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Porterdale police posted on Facebook around 10 p.m. urging people to use caution while in the area.

Porterdale Police Department and Newton County, GA Sheriff's Office are working an active investigation at 52 South Broad #100. Please use caution  in the area. Posted by City of Porterdale Police Department on Saturday, July 27, 2024

At this time, details are limited.

There are no details on injuries.

TRENDING STORIES:

Deputies have not provided details on what led to the shooting.

NCSO said the investigation is ongoing.

Channel 2 Action News reached out to Porterdale PD for additional information and we are waiting hear back.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

On July 28, 1945, a U.S. Army B-25 bomber crashed into the 79th floor of New Yorks Empire State Building, killing 14 people.

Almost unthinkable now, the building suffered no structural damage and opened for business the next day. Coverage of the accident was extensive in newspapers across the nation, including the Deseret News:

A B-25 Billy Mitchell bomber, roaring low across Manhattan from a northwesterly direction, crashed into the 79th floor of the 102-story Empire State Building at 9:49 a.m. today, and immediately burst into an inferno of flame, read the top story of Utahs newspaper.

A sidebar in the Deseret News warned Utahns of similar dangers:

Persons who fly their airplanes over Salt Lake under 2,000 feat will find themselves immediately grounded and hauled into court for prosecution, Joe Bergin, state aeronautics director, said today, read the lead paragraph.

According to historical compilations, the U.S. military plane, with two pilots and a passenger aboard, crashed into the Empire State Building. The freak accident was caused by heavy fog.

Due to the conditions, the plane had been diverted from LaGuardia airport to the Newark airport, and nearly hit the Chrysler Building, the tallest in the city at the time. It swerved to avoid the building but the move sent it straight into the north side of the Empire State Building, near the 79th floor.

Since it was a Saturday, fewer workers than normal were in the building. All 11 victims were workers from War Relief Services department of the National Catholic Welfare Conference, into the offices of which the plane had crashed. The three people on the plane were also killed.

An 18-foot by 20-foot hole was left in the side of the Empire State Building. Though its structural integrity was not affected, the crash did cause nearly $1 million in damages, about $10.5 million in todays money.

According to accounts, the building was open for business the next day.

The Empire State Building, which opened on May 1, 1931, is an American icon. Even today, it is a tourist attraction of note. Here are stories from the Deseret News archives about the building, its history and where it ranks among the tallest in the world:

Empire State Building stands tall as it celebrates its 60th

AP Photos: NYCs tallest buildings through history

Empire State Building going green

Racers, take your step! Annual Empire State Building climb

World Trade Center is back on top in N.Y.

38-floor free fall of elevator had surprise ending

Prudential puts Empire State Building up for sale

Climbing high
Did Ballerina Kill Husband Because She 'Wanted to Be a Single Mother'  or Was It Self-Defense?

Ashley Benefield is on trial in a Florida court on accusations she murdered her estranged husband Doug

Ashley Benefield and husband Doug

The trial of Ashley Benefield began earlier this week in Florida.

The 32-year-old former ballerina is accused of killing her estranged husband, 58-year-old Doug Benefield, in her mothers Lakewood Ranch home in September 2020.

Prosecutors claim that Ashley, who has been charged with second-degree murder, killed the Navy veteran because she didnt want him to be in her or their daughters life anymore.

This case is about a woman who very early on in her pregnancy decided she wanted to be a single mother, Assistant State Attorney Suzanne ODonnell told the jury in opening statements in the Manatee County Judicial Center, according to The Post and Courier. And she did not want the father of this child to have any visitationshe would stop at nothing to obtain that goal.

Ashley's defense attorney argued that she killed Doug in self-defense after he attacked her.

Thirty years older than Ashley, he was obsessed with her and he successfully portrayed himself as he was not in an effort to win her hand in marriage, Neil Taylor said, per WFLA. Despite promoting himself as a religious, honorable, and decent human being, Benefield was a manipulative, cunning, and abusive man who insisted, absolutely insisted, on control.

The trial, which is being broadcast by Court TV, has been dubbed the "Black Swan Murder Trial," based on the 2010 film Black Swan starring Natalie Portman as an unstable ballerina.

Heres what to know about the case.

Whirlwind Romance

Ashley was a 24-year-old ballet dancer and Doug was a 54-year-old Navy veteran and technology consultant when the two met at a Republican party fundraiser at the Palm Beach mansion of former presidential candidate Ben Carson in 2016. Sparks flew instantly and they married just 13 days later.

Ashley had a dream to start a ballet company, and with financing from Doug, the couple founded The American National Ballet, with a goal of hiring dancers of all body types, including curvier or shorter ones.

But things soon began to deteriorate.

Ashley Benefield trial begins in Florida

Related: Former Ballet Dancer Charged with Fatally Shooting Estranged Husband

All within a year of being married, they have done a vasectomy reversal, gotten pregnant, started a ballet and the ballet has crumbled, ODonnell, the prosecutor, said during opening statements, WFLA reported.

In August 2017, Ashley moved from South Carolina to Florida to live with her mother.

They continued a long-distance relationship when she first moved to Florida and continued trying to keep together and communication, but about the same time as the ballet collapses, Ashley Benefield starts complaints against the victim, ODonnell said, per WFLA.

According to prosecutors, Ashley wanted to rid herself of Doug, and to that end, she accused him of emotional abuse and claimed he'd tried to poison her with heavy metals, Fox 13 reports. Prosecutors said she didn't notify Doug after their child was born, and that he only found out when she filed a restraining order against him.

The two battled for visitation rights before Doug was granted visitation with his daughter in July of 2018.

Related: Did a Former Ballerina Kill Her Wealthy Husband Because His Money Ran Out  Or Was It Self-Defense?

Doug's Death

On Sept. 27, 2020, Doug came by Ashley's mother's home to help Ashley pack for her and her daughters move to Maryland, where Doug also planned to relocate.

Soon after, police responded to a 911 call and found Doug fatally shot on a bedroom floor, bleeding in three places. Ashley told police her husband had tried to attack her and she had shot him in self-defense.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office at the time said that Ashley claimed Doug was attacking her during the incident, but "detectives found no evidence that she was acting in self-defense when she fired multiple shots at her husband."

"Based on entry wounds on Douglas it does not appear that he was facing Ashley when she began shooting. It also does not appear that Douglas had taken any kind of defensive or combative stance," according to an affidavit obtained by PEOPLE. "Douglas was not found to have any weapons on his person or near him."

Defense Says Doug Was 'Violent Abuser'

In opening statements, prosecutor ODonnell argued that the custody battle was the cause of the killing.

This is a long story with a lot of information, but you will see that this was a custody battle, that this mother was going to win at all costs and the cost was the life of Doug Benefield, ODonnell told the jury, according to WFLA.

Ashley s defense attorney Neil Taylor disputed the claims, describing Doug as a disturbed man who during the couple's four-year relationship, Taylor claimed, fired a handgun into the ceiling to get Ashley to stop talking, knocked a dog unconscious by punching it in the face, carried a concealed weapon and kept tabs on her by placing a tracker on her vehicle.

The only thing that is going to have been established here beyond a reasonable doubt is that Douglas Benefield was a violent abuser, Ashley Benefields efforts to placate him was absolutely consistent with what abused women do, especially when a child is involved, and that Ashleys result and resource to deadly force was justified under the circumstances, Taylor said, per WFLA.

He would not take no for an answer, said Taylor, per the Post and Courier. He stalked her. Doug Benefield viewed Ashley Benefield as his property.

The prosecution rested its case on Thursday, July 25, after three days of testimony, per the Bradenton Herald.

Ashley Testifies Doug Hit Her: 'I Was Scared to Death'

On Friday, July 26, Ashley took the stand in her own defense, telling the jury about the day of the killing when they were packing boxes.

"He said, "I can see what you're doing. You're trying to get me to leave,'" she testified, WTSP reported. "He said, 'I don't have to leave. I can stay and spend the night if I want to because I'm your husband.'"

Ashley told the jury that after she asked her estranged husband to leave, he hit her instead, per FOX13.

"I was scared to death. I thought he was going to kill me. There was nowhere to go. I was trapped," she said, according to FOX13.

She said she then ran to her room and grabbed a gun and fired.

She told the jury that Doug was standing in the doorway. "His face was red," she said, per FOX13. "The veins were bulging in his neck. The way he was looking at me, it didn't even look like Doug. His eyes we're black."

"He started coming towards me and then he lunged at me and I started pulling the trigger," she said, per WTSP. "And he just kept coming. And I remember trying to move to get away from him, but he kept coming at me."

She said she later ran for help.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A Las Vegas man has been sentenced to a decade in prison for forcing three women to travel to San Diego for prostitution, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced.

On Sept. 12, 2023, a woman approached a lifeguard at Mission Beach in San Diego and asked for help. After she told the lifeguard she had been trafficked from Las Vegas to San Diego, they immediately jumped into action and notified San Diego Police, leading the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force to two other victims and the suspect at an area hotel, the DOJ reports.

Marine sentenced to 7 years in plea deal, accused of killing woman during crime spree

This circumstance was not the typical rescue our lifeguards perform, said Marine Safety Captain Maureen Hodges. However, we were glad to be of service and keep this victim safe while notifying San Diego Police that she needed assistance.

David Warren, 37, of Las Vegas, was arrested at the hotel, and sentenced in federal court to 10 years in prison on July 25, 2024, for coercing three women to engage in prostitution, transporting them from Las Vegas to San Diego, the DOJ reports.

Man dies after early morning hit and run in Lemon Grove: SDSO

According to his plea agreement, Warren is accused of preying on and trafficking the victims through violence, threats of violence, and emotional abuse. Once Warren and the women were in San Diego, he is accused of taking them to beaches to solicit customers.

Profiteers exploit victims of human trafficking anywhere they think they can take advantage, even on the beach in daylight, said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. This brave woman saved herself and others by trusting a San Diego lifeguard who immediately jumped into action.

Authorities ID 19-year-old killed in Vista shooting

The DOJ-led San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force is laser-focused on holding human traffickers accountable in San Diego County, said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. We must work together across every level of government and society to help bring human trafficking to an end. No one agency can do it all alone. I am grateful to our local, state and federal partners for holding traffickers accountable and creating a real, lasting impact on survivors.

The San Diego Police Department is a proud member of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force (SDHTTF), said Chief Scott Wahl. The suspect in this case used violence and manipulation to control his victims. Thankfully, due to the quick action of the SDPD and SDHTTF, Warren was arrested and all three victims in the case were rescued. SDPD remains committed to utilizing every resource to rescue victims of human trafficking, while holding their traffickers accountable.

Suspects wanted in shooting that left 7 people wounded, including 2 kids

Homeland Security Investigations, the San Diego Police Department, San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, and the City of San Diego, Fire-Rescue Department, Lifeguard Services Division assisted the DOJ in investigating this case.

If you are, or suspect someone may be, living or working under the threat of violence or extortion, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Centers toll free, 24/7 Hotline at 888-373-7888 or TEXT BeFree or 233733.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
New CCTV footage of officers coming under attack at Manchester Airport shows we need to protect the protectors, the police federation has claimed.

The footage revealed that police appeared to have been violently set upon by two men before an officer responded by tasering one of them and appearing to stamp on his head as he lay on the ground.

Police Federation said the new footage cast the incident in a very different light, adding that we need to protect the protectors.

Richard Cooke, chairman of the West Midlands Police Federation, said the new footage gave a different perspective altogether, adding: We lost over 5,000 colleagues in the year to March voluntarily leaving. Assaulted repeatedly, poorly paid for the risks, slagged-off by clueless idiots.

After this week that trend will only accelerate. I dont blame any of them.

A police officer was suspended following the incident pending a criminal investigation for assault by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Commenting on the actions of the suspended officer, Mr Cooke stated: You dont know what the officer had just witnessed, nor the threat he perceived at that moment. Neither do I.

His honestly held belief at that time is what matters. What we do know is that some extreme violence towards officers led up to this.

A difficult and dangerous job

The Greater Manchester Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, added that it had been contacted by many members of the public offering support for GMP officers doing a difficult and dangerous job.

Federation sources pointed out that more than five of GMPs officers were assaulted every day. Some 1,861 officers in the force were assaulted last year, an average of more than 35 every week.

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, urged the public and politicians not to rush to judgement over the airport incident.

Andy Burnham wants more of the footage to become public - Danny Lawson

Speaking on Sky News on Sunday morning, Mr Burnham said: Its a complicated situation, a very violent situation, actually, and there were issues on both sides.

And thats why I asked other people not to rush to judgement because of the complexity of it.

And simply nobody out there  everyone whos having their say  nobody has got all of the facts.

Mr Burnham in particular criticised statements by Lee Anderson, the Reform MP, who praised the police and described the man kicked in the head by an officer as an animal.

Mr Burnham said: Weve got to allow the authorities to do their job. We cant live in a country that has summary justice.

There is a criminal investigation into this and into the police and the investigation has to take place without a Member of Parliament prejudicing that. MPs should let the police do their job without piling in.

The Mayor emphasised that the incident had appeared to have begun on a plane, before continuing in the arrivals area and culminating in the police intervening.

The truth is often complex and lies somewhere in-between, he said.

The new footage, obtained by Manchester Evening News, shows three police officers  one man and two women  walking through a group of people towards a man dressed in light blue who is facing a ticket machine.

Repeated blows

While trying to restrain the man, the male officer appears to push his head down as his two female colleagues stand beside him.

Other members of the group then approach, with one appearing to grab the officer in an attempt to free the detained man. Punches are exchanged, with the officer pulled to the ground as he receives repeated blows.

Meanwhile, the detained man appears to break free from the female officer before punching her and her colleague in the head and face, with one ending up on the ground.

The male officer can then be seen holding his Taser towards the man from the wider group who appeared to punch him.

The man who freed himself from the officers grip seems to run at the officer from behind, throwing a number of punches towards him as he holds his Taser in the air.

Mr Burnham described the man kicked in the head by an officer as an 'animal' - Christopher Furlong

The man grapples the officer to the ground, before turning over onto his stomach and lying face down. A woman is also seen to be kneeling next to him.

The officer then stands up and points his Taser towards the man. Then he appears to kick and then stamp the mans head as he lies on the ground.

The incident took place after the two men  named by their lawyer as Fahir and Amaad Khan  claimed a male passenger pushed his trolley into their mother following an argument on board a Qatar Airways flight from Pakistan via Doha.

A violent altercation erupted in a Starbucks coffee shop in Terminal 2, prompting the arrival of the police officers.

After seeing the new footage Akhmed Yakoob, the mens lawyer, said: Nothing can justify a kick to the head to a defenceless man and a stomp to the head. Those are my views. These officers are highly trained, they shouldnt be losing control or seeing red.

Mr Yakoob has been vocal on TikTok about the incident, but claims he has helped to defuse tension in the community over his clients treatment by police.

The IOPC said a police constable was under criminal investigation for assault but underlined that did not necessarily mean criminal charges would follow.

After reviewing both sets of footage, Dal Babu, a former Metropolitan Police superintendent, said: The part which I think is excessive is when the man was down and was stamped on the head. That was excessive.

There are perhaps some lessons for GMP to learn in terms of their engagement with the community.

Mr Yakoob has been vocal on TikTok about the incident - James Speakman

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Babu added: Now is a time for calm and its not necessary for any protests or people to come out on the streets. People need to wait for the outcome of the IOPC investigation.

Kate Green, the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester and the councils lead on policing and crime, said: The footage that emerged over the weekend gives people a more complete picture of the events that led up to the incident we all saw last week.

As both the Mayor and I said, this was a complex situation that escalated very quickly and there are issues for both sides. This is why we urged people not to rush to judgment.

The Mayor and I are determined that the right processes are being followed. Four individuals were arrested and are now on police bail, and GMP have appealed for witnesses.

In parallel to this, the IOPC will continue its criminal investigation into the police officers conduct. The most important thing now is to allow these investigations to move forward without interference or pre-judgement.

We all want to see the investigations concluded as quickly as possible, but its right that we now step back and allow both GMP and the IOPC to carry out their work.

The watchdog confirmed that, after the conclusion of its investigation, a decision would be made over whether to refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service.

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.
Former President Donald Trump on Saturday evening hedged his endorsement in the Republican primary for Missouri governor, pledging his support to all three major candidates.

The decision, which Trump announced just before 7:30 p.m. on his social media platform, Truth Social, comes amid a tight race for governor between Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Sen. Bill Eigel of Weldon Spring.

All have had excellent careers, and have been with me from the beginning. They are MAGA and America First all the way! Trump wrote in the post. I cant hurt two of them by Endorsing one so, therefore, Im going to Endorse, for Governor of the Great State of Missouri, Jay Ashcroft, Mike Kehoe, and Bill Eigel. Choose any one of them - You cant go wrong!

The split decision allows each of the candidates, who have long fought for Trumps support, to claim his endorsement before the Aug. 6 primary election. It also gives the former president the opportunity to claim victory no matter which candidate wins.

Each candidate quickly seized on the endorsement. Ashcroft was the first, saying he was excited to stand with Trump.

No one has fought harder for President Trump than me, Ashcroft posted on social media. Thank you President Trump!

Eigel posted that he was grateful for the kind words and endorsement. He followed up by posting a graphic touting the endorsement and promising to deport every illegal as Republicans attempt to draw attention to illegal immigration ahead of the election.

Kehoe also thanked Trump, saying he looked forward to working with Trump as we close the wide-open southern border, back our police, and stand strong for our conservative values.

Trumps post marked the second time the former president has hedged his endorsement in Missouri. In the 2022 Republican primary for U.S. Senate, Trump backed ERIC, without specifying whether he was supporting then-Attorney General Eric Schmitt or former Gov. Eric Greitens. Schmitt went on to win the primary and the general election.

Trump, who is running for president, has loomed over Republican primary races across the country. Missouri Republicans have battled to demonstrate loyalty and support to the former president, including making immigration a central focus of their campaigns.

Jean Evans, a former executive director of the Missouri Republican Party, previously told The Star that each candidate for governor would try to earn an endorsement from Trump.

The best case scenario hes supporting you, worst case scenario hes supporting somebody else, she said at the time. So youre trying to stem that off, but I would imagine all three of them have some attempts to meet with Trump.

Publicly available polling has consistently shown a tight race between Kehoe and Ashcroft at the top, followed by Eigel in third.

Trump, in his post, said he loved Missouri for every reason in the book, including the fact that it is loaded up with truly GREAT people.

I also like Endorsing Candidates for Office if I think theyre good, and usually there is a differentiation, usually a big one, where it is not that difficult to do, he said. But Missouri has three great people running for Governor - Jay Ashcroft, Mike Kehoe, and Bill Eigel.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade and businessman Mike Hamra, both from Springfield, are the two major Democratic candidates running for governor.
In a blow to MAGA candidate Abe Hamadeh, former President Donald Trump announced on Saturday evening he also would support one of Hamadehs campaign rivals  the venture capitalist Blake Masters  as both compete to represent the West Valley in Congress.

Trump, who initially had backed Hamadeh, made the rare dual endorsement just days before the July 30 primary election.

"Blake Masters is a very successful businessman, and an incredibly strong supporter of our Movement to Make America Great Again  He is smart and tough!" the former president wrote in a social media post.

"Likewise, Abe Hamadeh, a Veteran, former prosecutor, and fearless fighter for Election Integrity, has been with me all the way!"

Both candidates have his "Complete and Total Endorsement," Trump wrote: "THEY WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!

Blake Masters: On financial ties to mogul Peter Thiel, Masters says, 'I dont think he needs me'

Hamadeh secured an endorsement from Trump, the Republican Partys standard-bearer, in December.

Masters and Hamadeh are two of several candidates squaring off in the Republican primary in Arizona's 8th Congressional District, which covers parts of Maricopa and Yavapai counties, including Glendale, Peoria, Sun City West and New River. It's a heavily Republican area, and the winner of the primary would be heavily favored to win in the November general election.

Publicly released polling has been variable and often has shown several of the candidates tightly clustered.

Masters, in an interview Saturday evening, said he was grateful for Trumps support. He said that while he didn't have "clear visibility" into the circumstances of the endorsement, he suspected some elected officials, members of the Trump campaign, and friends helped make the case that the former president should back him.

"I think the president saw polling, I think he saw me run a very pro-Trump campaign," Masters said. "I think everybody saw a close race with the momentum on my side."

Opinions: Trump is now endorsing Blake Masters for CD8 but also rival Abe Hamadeh. How crazy

Hamadeh spokesperson Erica Knight responded to Trump's move Sunday.

Abe Hamadeh is confident that he will win this race because he was not only one of the first races in the country to have the support of President Trump, but also has the unwavering support of grassroots patriots and the powerful backing of (Senate candidate) Kari Lake," Knight said in a written statement. "While Blake 'the Snake' Masters has run a despicable campaign attacking an Army veteran, Abe has been focused on the issues that are affecting everyday Arizonans. Abe and Kari are the true America First team, committed to fighting for election integrity and conservative values. Together, they will ensure victory on Election Day."

Both candidates received Trumps backing during the 2022 election cycle, when Hamadeh ran for Arizona attorney general and Masters for Arizonas U.S. Senate seat. Since then, the two have become fierce rivals in the six-way primary race that also includes former U.S. Rep. Trent Franks, state Sen. Anthony Kern, Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma and political newcomer Patrick Pat Briody.

The members of Trumps inner circle have been divided over the race. Several allies of the former president, including loyalists Richard Grenell, Kash Patel, and U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake, have endorsed Hamadeh. Masters received early backing from U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, who Trump has since selected to be his 2024 running mate, and he has maintained ties with Trump allies, posting a photo of himself with Donald Trump Jr. during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Masters said on Saturday evening he hadn't spoken with Trump "in a few days and that he didn't discuss the possibility of an endorsement directly with the former president.

Primary election 2024: Here are the Arizona candidates running for US House of Representatives

The Trump campaigns public posture toward Masters had been neutral leading up to the endorsement. Earlier this month, a top Trump adviser privately had asked Masters to take down or revise a TV ad suggesting that Trump had endorsed his candidacy. Still the campaign stayed mum as Masters continued airing those and similar ads.

Asked why voters should choose him over Hamadeh, Masters said he was a stronger candidate on the issue of illegal immigration. He reiterated a campaign attack that Hamadeh, whose father once faced removal from the U.S. for not being in the country legally, is "compromised" on the issue.

Masters has leaned heavily on attacks on Hamadeh's religious and cultural identity to discredit his campaign rival and has taken an aggressive tack on matters of race and immigration, including flirting with an immigration conspiracy theory first popular among white nationalists.

Hamadeh has in turn branded Masters a snake for his campaign barbs and argued some of the attacks denigrate his military service. He has emphasized that, unlike Masters, he mounted persistent though unsuccessful legal challenges to his narrow 2022 loss  a display of his commitment to Trump-led discredited claims of stolen elections.

Its unclear how much the endorsement will affect the outcome of the race: Early voting, popular in Arizona, began July 3.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump praises Blake Masters, adds rare last-minute dual endorsement
In a blow to Republican House candidate Abe Hamadeh, former President Donald Trump announced on Saturday evening he also would support one of Hamadehs campaign rivals  the venture capitalist Blake Masters  as both compete to represent an Arizona district in Congress.

Trump, who initially had backed Hamadeh, made the rare dual endorsement just days before the July 30 primary election.

"Blake Masters is a very successful businessman, and an incredibly strong supporter of our Movement to Make America Great Again  He is smart and tough!" the former president wrote in a social media post.

"Likewise, Abe Hamadeh, a Veteran, former prosecutor, and fearless fighter for Election Integrity, has been with me all the way!"

Both candidates have his "Complete and Total Endorsement," Trump wrote: "THEY WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!

Blake Masters: On financial ties to mogul Peter Thiel, Masters says, 'I dont think he needs me'

Hamadeh secured an endorsement from Trump, the Republican Partys standard-bearer, in December.

Masters and Hamadeh are two of several candidates squaring off in the Republican primary in Arizona's 8th Congressional District, which covers parts of Maricopa and Yavapai counties, including Glendale, Peoria, Sun City West and New River. It's a heavily Republican area, and the winner of the primary would be heavily favored to win in the November general election.

Publicly released polling has been variable and often has shown several of the candidates tightly clustered.

Masters, in an interview Saturday evening, said he was grateful for Trumps support. He said that while he didn't have "clear visibility" into the circumstances of the endorsement, he suspected some elected officials, members of the Trump campaign, and friends helped make the case that the former president should back him.

"I think the president saw polling, I think he saw me run a very pro-Trump campaign," Masters said. "I think everybody saw a close race with the momentum on my side."

Opinions: Trump is now endorsing Blake Masters for CD8 but also rival Abe Hamadeh. How crazy

Hamadeh spokesperson Erica Knight responded to Trump's move Sunday.

Abe Hamadeh is confident that he will win this race because he was not only one of the first races in the country to have the support of President Trump, but also has the unwavering support of grassroots patriots and the powerful backing of (Senate candidate) Kari Lake," Knight said in a written statement. "While Blake 'the Snake' Masters has run a despicable campaign attacking an Army veteran, Abe has been focused on the issues that are affecting everyday Arizonans. Abe and Kari are the true America First team, committed to fighting for election integrity and conservative values. Together, they will ensure victory on Election Day."

Both candidates received Trumps backing during the 2022 election cycle, when Hamadeh ran for Arizona attorney general and Masters for Arizonas U.S. Senate seat. Since then, the two have become fierce rivals in the six-way primary race that also includes former U.S. Rep. Trent Franks, state Sen. Anthony Kern, Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma and political newcomer Patrick Pat Briody.

The members of Trumps inner circle have been divided over the race. Several allies of the former president, including loyalists Richard Grenell, Kash Patel, and U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake, have endorsed Hamadeh. Masters received early backing from U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, who Trump has since selected to be his 2024 running mate, and he has maintained ties with Trump allies, posting a photo of himself with Donald Trump Jr. during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Masters said on Saturday evening he hadn't spoken with Trump "in a few days and that he didn't discuss the possibility of an endorsement directly with the former president.

Primary election 2024: Here are the Arizona candidates running for US House of Representatives

The Trump campaigns public posture toward Masters had been neutral leading up to the endorsement. Earlier this month, a top Trump adviser privately had asked Masters to take down or revise a TV ad suggesting that Trump had endorsed his candidacy. Still the campaign stayed mum as Masters continued airing those and similar ads.

Asked why voters should choose him over Hamadeh, Masters said he was a stronger candidate on the issue of illegal immigration. He reiterated a campaign attack that Hamadeh, whose father once faced removal from the U.S. for not being in the country legally, is "compromised" on the issue.

Masters has leaned heavily on attacks on Hamadeh's religious and cultural identity to discredit his campaign rival and has taken an aggressive tack on matters of race and immigration, including flirting with an immigration conspiracy theory first popular among white nationalists.

Hamadeh has in turn branded Masters a snake for his campaign barbs and argued some of the attacks denigrate his military service. He has emphasized that, unlike Masters, he mounted persistent though unsuccessful legal challenges to his narrow 2022 loss  a display of his commitment to Trump-led discredited claims of stolen elections.

Its unclear how much the endorsement will affect the outcome of the race: Early voting, popular in Arizona, began July 3.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump praises Blake Masters, adds rare last-minute dual endorsement
Donald Trump criticized Mark Zuckerberg in his forthcoming book. He's had a long feud with the Meta CEO.

Former president Donald Trump and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg have a tumultuous relationship.

Trump has threatened to imprison Zuckerberg if re-elected, and Zuckerberg has denounced his remarks around January 6.

Here's a look at the timeline of Trump and Zuckerberg's rivalry.

Donald Trump and Mark Zuckerberg have had a fraught relationship.

As the former US president and the head of one of country's largest companies, respectively, Trump and Zuckerberg are no strangers to each other.

Most recently, Trump mentioned Zuckerberg in his forthcoming book, captioning an undated photo to say that Zuckerberg was "plotting to install shameful Lock Boxes in a true PLOT AGAINST THE PRESIDENT." Zuckerberg has said Trump's reaction to being shot at a Pennsylvania rally was "badass" but declined to endorse a presidential candidate this election cycle. How did we get here?

Here's a look at their tumultuous relationship over the years.

Trump and Zuckerberg have met on multiple occasions.

Nice meeting with Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook in the Oval Office today. Posted by Donald J. Trump on Thursday, September 19, 2019

They had a previously unannounced meeting at the White House in September 2019.

"Mark is in Washington, D.C., meeting with policymakers to hear their concerns and talk about future internet regulation. He also had a good, constructive meeting with President Trump at the White House today," a Meta spokesperson said at the time.

"Nice meeting with Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook in the Oval Office today," Trump said of their meeting.

Trump and Zuckerberg met again the following month.

PayPal Mafia member Peter Thiel also attended the private dinner with Trump and Zuckerberg. Getty Images

Trump, Zuckerberg, and Peter Thiel had a secret dinner in October 2019.

Thiel, who cofounded PayPal and Palantir, was the first outside investor in Facebook; he was a vocal supporter of Trump in the 2016 presidential election.

"We talked about a number of things that were on his mind, and some of the topics that you read about in the news around our work," Zuckerberg said of the dinner in an interview with "CBS This Morning."

Zuckerberg was in DC to testify before Congress about Facebook's cryptocurrency, Libra.

Trump has said he would've banned Facebook while president, but Zuckerberg "kept calling" him.

Trump congratulated Nigeria for its ban on Twitter, which the country has since lifted. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency

In 2021, Trump praised Nigeria for banning Twitter.

"More COUNTRIES should ban Twitter and Facebook for not allowing free and open speech  all voices should be heard," Trump said in a statement at the time.

"Perhaps I should have done it while I was President," he added. "But Zuckerberg kept calling me and coming to the White House for dinner telling me how great I was."

Nigeria lifted its ban on Twitter after seven months.

Trump has lambasted Zuckerberg for indefinitely suspending his Facebook account after his remarks contributing to the January 6 Capitol insurrection.

Donald Trump (left) and the Facebook logo on mobile (right). Chip Somodevilla, NurPhoto/Getty Images

In 2021, Meta "indefinitely" suspended Trump's accounts following the January 6 Capitol riots, citing "use of our platform to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government."

"His decision to use his platform to condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building has rightly disturbed people in the US and around the world," Zuckerberg wrote in a post at the time. "We removed these statements yesterday because we judged that their effect -- and likely their intent -- would be to provoke further violence."

Meta in 2023 reinstated Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Meta uses public Instagram and Facebook photos to train its AI models Anadolu

In the time since the suspension, Facebook's Oversight Board examined the decision.

Eventually, Meta decided to reinstate Trump's account.

It did so while putting "new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses," including bigger penalties for any violations of Meta's rules.

As of July 2024, the company has lifted its final restrictions on Trump's account in the run-up to the November presidential election.

Meta removed "heightened suspension penalties" from Trump's account in July. picture alliance/Getty Images

In July, Meta removed the additional guardrails that remained in place on Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts following their reinstatement.

"In assessing our responsibility to allow political expression, we believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for President on the same basis," Meta said in a statement at the time. "As a result, former President Trump, as the nominee of the Republican Party, will no longer be subject to the heightened suspension penalties."

Meta added that it would "review accounts subject to this protocol on a periodic basis to determine whether heightened suspension penalties for Community Standards violations remain appropriate."

Trump has expressed interest in suing Facebook.

Trump would later sue Facebook, Google, and Twitter. Scott Olson/Getty

"We should be suing Google and Facebook and all that," he said in a June 2019 interview with Fox Business. "Which, perhaps we will."

Trump made the remarks in the context of fines the European Union has levied against big tech firms like Google for breaching the bloc's antitrust rules.

In 2021, Trump did just that.

A combination photo of Facebook Google and Twitter logos. Reuters

Trump filed suit against Facebook, Google, Twitter, and the companies' respective CEOs in July 2021, alleging they unlawfully censor him and other conservatives.

In May 2022, Trump's lawsuit against Twitter was dismissed.

So far in 2024, Zuckerberg has said Trump's reaction to being shot at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, was "badass."

Trump was shot in the ear on July 13 while on the campaign trail. Evan Vucci/AP

Zuckerberg talked about the former president in an interview with Bloomberg.

"Seeing Donald Trump get up after getting shot in the face and pump his fist in the air with the American flag is one of the most badass things I've ever seen in my life," Zuckerberg told Bloomberg of the attempted Trump assassination. "On some level as an American, it's like hard to not get kind of emotional about that spirit and that fight, and I think that that's why a lot of people like the guy."

But the Meta CEO said he wasn't planning to endorse any candidate for president this election cycle.

Trump says Zuckerberg called him to apologize after Meta's AI chatbot denied the assassination attempt happened.

Meta AI's new integration gives you search suggestions. Business Insider

When asked about the shooting, Meta AI, in some widely-circulated instances, claimed Trump wasn't shot.

"He actually apologized; he said they'd made a mistake," Trump said on "Mornings with Maria" on Fox Business. "He actually announced he's not going to support a Democrat because he can't because he respected me for what I did that day."

A spokesperson for Meta declined to comment but didn't dispute that the two had talked. The spokesperson also referred BI to Zuckerberg's statement last month that he wouldn't be endorsing any presidential candidate in 2024.

As for the Meta AI posts about the shooting, Meta said in a July blog post: "In both cases, our systems were working to protect the importance and gravity of this event. And while neither was the result of bias, it was unfortunate and we understand why it could leave people with that impression. That is why we are constantly working to make our products better and will continue to quickly address any issues as they arise."

Trump had threatened to imprison Zuckerberg if he's elected in November.

Trump has threatened "Zuckerbucks" with prison time if he's elected in November. AP Photo/Steve Helber

Trump says, if elected, he'll "pursue Election Fraudsters" and they "will be sent to prison for long periods of time."

"We already know who you are. DON'T DO IT! ZUCKERBUCKS, be careful!" Trump wrote on Truth Social in July.

Trump mentioned Zuckerberg in his forthcoming book, "Save America," and didn't mince words.

Donald Trump appeared to threaten Mark Zuckerberg with prison time. Michael Ciaglo/ Getty Images; Carlos Barria/ REUTERS

Politico reported that Trump included a picture of himself with the Meta CEO, with the caption, "He would bring his very nice wife to dinners, be as nice as anyone could be, while always plotting to install shameful Lock Boxes in a true PLOT AGAINST THE PRESIDENT."

It's unclear when Trump wrote the caption, though he appears to be referring to a $420 million contribution Zuckerberg and his wife made to fund election infrastructure in 2020.

Trump has seemingly changed his mind on a TikTok ban, seemingly because of how it would likely benefit Meta.

Trump backed a TikTok ban while in office but now says he is "for TikTok" because the alternatives are Zuckerberg's Facebook and Instagram. NurPhoto/Getty Images

While in office, Trump signed an executive order to ban TikTok, which President Biden revoked upon taking office after Trump.

Trump now views a TikTok ban differently.

"Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm for TikTok because you need competition," Trump told Bloomberg Businessweek in July. "If you don't have TikTok, you have Facebook and Instagram, and that's, you know, that's Zuckerberg."

In March, he made similar comments in an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box" and referred to Facebook as "an enemy of the people."

"There's a lot of good and there's a lot of bad with TikTok," he said. "But the thing I don't like is that without TikTok, you can make Facebook bigger. And I consider Facebook to be an enemy of the people."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Don't Get it Twisted...Black Folks Are Unified Behind Kamala Harris. Here's What We Know

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to supporters during a campaign rally in West Allis, Wis., on July 23, 2024. - Photo: Jim Vondruska/Getty Images (Getty Images)

All the negative predictions and chatter about disgruntled Black voters abandoning the Democratic Party are nonsense.

Admittedly, theres a lot of frustration over the Biden administrations failure to deliver on issues like police reform, voting rights legislation and student loan debt relief. But venting frustration doesnt equate to disunity.



Over the years, theres always been a fear that we wont unite, but in the end, we do. Thats what makes Black America a powerful voting bloc.



A New York Times/Sienna College poll released last November set off alarm bells, finding that 22 percent of Black voters in six battleground states said they would support Trump. However, polls taken in June, before President Biden dropped out of the race, found that Black voters overwhelmingly disapproved of Trump and backed Biden.



And now that Vice President Kamala Harris is poised to become the Democratic nominee, Black voters are elated and even more united. Trumps small gains with Black voters have declined with Harris as the presumptive nominee.



A narrative about Democrats losing Black men encouraged Trumps team to do its damnedest to exploit a perceived weakness in our unity. One GOP ploy involved dispatching two Black Republicans, U.S. Reps. Wesley Hunt of Texas and Floridas Byron Donalds, to persuade Black men at cigar and cognac events to vote for Trump.



However, Black men, even those who were leaning toward Trump, support Harris, as evidenced by scores of brothers who recently voted for her with their wallets. On Monday, more than 53,000 Black men joined a virtual event hosted by the collective group Win With Black Men and raised $1.3 million in four hours for Harris campaign.

On Sunday night, hours after Biden stepped down and endorsed Harris, Win With Black Women hosted a Zoom call with 44,000 participants who donated more than $1.5 million to Harris campaign in three hours.



According to the Associated Press, Sundays strong show of support was actually much larger. An estimated 90,000 sisters and their allies logged on to the event simultaneously. Usually, the platform maxes out at 1,000 participants, but a Zoom executive increased the capacity to 40,000 participants, and the meeting was streamed to another 50,000 women on other platforms.



Anybody that does not think that Black and Brown women are the backbone of this party, they dont know us, Star Jones told The Washington Post. [Harris] has already been leading by example. We are going to support her, were going to raise money for her, and were going to get out the vote for her.



We recognize that unity is our superpower. A unified voting bloc is our means to prevent a second Donald Trump presidency that would be dangerous for our community.



If re-elected, Trump told TIME magazine that he would support the right wings war on so-called anti-white racism. The movement targeting DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives have gained momentum and could rise to a toxic level under a second Trump administration.



Shortly after Biden endorsed Harris, right-wing media outlets and MAGA lawmakers launched racist and gender attacks against Harris, calling her a DEI hire.



For our community, the choice on Election Day is clear. Were unified and standing behind Harris.



For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
JACKSON COUNTY, Ala. (WDHN)  A crash in Jackson County, Florida has claimed the life of a Dothan man.

Officials say a 52-year-old man from Dothan was riding on Biscayne Road in Jackson County on Saturday when his ATV veered off the roadway.

They say the driver overcorrected his steering, forcing the vehicle to travel back across the roadway, off the highway colliding with the dirt shoulder, overturning, and colliding with a tree on the shoulder.

Officials say the driver was not wearing a helmet during the crash.

The Florida Highway Patrol does not release the names of those involved in fatal crashes.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
Dozens of Wagner mercenaries were killed in an ambush by al-Qaeda-allied rebels in Mali

Dozens of Wagner mercenaries were killed and a Russian helicopter was destroyed in an ambush by al-Qaeda-allied rebels in Mali.

Nikita Fedyanin, the editor and owner of the Grey Zone Wagner Telegram channel and a leading Kremlin propagandist, was also killed in the attack in the Sahara Desert.

Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked group, claimed responsibility for the attack on the Wagner convoy near the desert town of Tinzawatene on the border with Algeria.

In one video, an Arab man, who appears to be a commander, can be seen inspecting a captured vehicle as Tuareg fighters, wearing flowing robes, turbans and sunglasses, celebrate.

The aftermath of the incident in Mali

Through a Telegram channel, JNIM said: Jihadists used several powerful IEDs to stop the convoy, and the ambush killed 50 Wagner mercenaries and 10 Malian soldiers.

The militants finished off some of the wounded. Among the bodies of the military, men of European appearance are clearly distinguishable, it said.

Footage across social media shows dozens of bodies in camouflage uniforms strewn across the sand. Some of the dead wore Orthodox crosses around their necks.

In one photo, the wreckage of a helicopter lies in between the ruins of mud houses, and in another a military truck appears to have been up-ended.

The wreckage of a helicopter lies in between the ruins of mud houses

Further footage shows a Tuareg fighter taunting a half-naked Russian-speaking fighter. A rebel commander later offered to send Wagner prisoners, including a senior commander, to Ukraine to help its struggle for justice and freedom.

Fedyanin had been travelling with the convoy when he was killed in the attack, according to reports.

In his last message on the Grey Zone, Fedyanin posted photographs of heavily armed Wagner fighters posing in front of a burning tree in the desert above the sardonic caption: Its hot in Africa, literally and figuratively.

Fedyanin had complained earlier this month that organising convoys across the desert was difficult with local allies, who he described as unreliable.

It is sometimes difficult to organise convoys with allies due to, lets say, their mentality, he said. In the Middle East and Africa, locals live a leisurely life.

Anastasia Kashevarova, a Wagner cheerleader and military blogger with 250,000 subscribers, corroborated the attack.

Dozens of Wagner mercenaries were killed in the ambush

According to Ms Kashevarova, the badly equipped Wagner convoy with poorly trained soldiers was lured into the ambush after leaving Tinzawatene by a small group of rebel fighters used as bait.

They chased them and were drawn into the ambush. The number of enemies greatly exceeded ours. Almost all of our men were killed, she said.

Many experienced fighters quit Wagner after the rebellion in 2023 when command of the unit was subverted to the Russian Ministry of Defence, Ms Kashevarova said. Since then the standard of the group has weakened significantly.

The Kremlin has been sending arms and mercenaries to fuel wars and prop up its allies in Africa for more than a decade and it is blamed for encouraging a series of coups against democratically elected leaders across the region.

This leverage in Africa has become more important to the Kremlin since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 as it sees the continent as another theatre to challenge Western dominance.

The US has said that Wagner forces have been deployed in Mali since 2020 to prop up a military junta.

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.
Driver killed when pickup truck runs off South Carolina road and flips over, cops say

One person was killed Saturday night when a pickup truck ran off a road and crashed, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

The single-vehicle collision happened at about 8:40 p.m. in Orangeburg County, said Master Trooper Mitchell Ridgeway.

A 2008 Toyota pickup was driving north on S.C. 453, according to Ridgeway. Near Eutaw Road, the pickup ran off the left side of S.C. 453 and hit a ditch, causing it to flip over, Ridgeway said.

The driver died at the scene, according to Ridgeway.

No other injuries were reported.

There was no word if the driver was wearing a seat belt.

Information about what caused the pickup to veer off the road was not available, but the wreck continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol.

Through July 21, at least 502 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2024, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,030 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.

At least 22 people have died in Orangeburg County crashes in 2024, according to DPS data. There were 36 deaths reported in the county in 2023, DPS said.
Many, if not most, high-ranking Republicans think Donald Trump is unfit to be president.

Many, if not most, high-ranking Democrats have concluded President Biden is incapable of winning reelection or performing the duties of the presidency through 2028.

The difference is, Democrats just did something about it.

The Democratic Party started applying pressure on Biden to step aside within minutes of him leaving the debate stage, where he laid bare the full extent of his apparent age-related decline. Biden on June 27 demonstrated, at the very least, he was ill-suited to the most basic rigors of a presidential campaign.

Democrats gently, and then more firmly, made it untenable for Biden to ignore the reality everyone else saw.

Nonetheless, Biden's exit Sunday was not a foregone conclusion. Biden made clear he wanted to stay in the race. Democrats forced him out.

Briggs: I don't want to age like Joe Biden

That is how functional organizations work. When someone at the top makes selfish, detrimental choices, other leaders rise to prevent that person from dragging the entire organization down a path of self-destruction.

Republicans have spent the better part of eight years teetering at a similar precipice, from "Access Hollywood" to Jan. 6, 2021, and repeatedly making the opposite choice.

That's why it's risible for Republicans like U.S. Rep. Jim Banks to imply Democrats are up to something nefarious now.

"The party of 'democracy' is invalidating the vote of millions of Americans! Very shameful," Banks wrote Sunday.

Banks in his quieter moments likely knows a thing or two about shame. He is someone who viewed, and perhaps still views, Trump as unbefitting of the presidency. Banks publicly expressed displeasure over Trump, as did many other Republicans, including the newly minted vice presidential nominee, J.D. Vance.

US Representative (R-IN) Jim Banks speaks during the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 16, 2024. Days after he survived an assassination attempt Donald Trump won formal nomination as the Republican presidential candidate and picked right-wing loyalist J.D. Vance for running mate, kicking off a triumphalist party convention in the wake of last weekend's failed assassination attempt.

In the end, Democrats acted responsibly

Republicans in 2016 contemplated taking drastic action to remove Trump from the party's nomination after the "Access Hollywood" video surfaced showing Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women. Eventually, then-vice presidential nominee Mike Pence excused Trump's words as "locker room talk" and Republicans made peace with their consciences.

Banks did, too. But he continued to express misgivings that seemed to come from a true place of personal integrity.

Trump is extremely flawed, Banks told National Review in 2016. Im sad that weve set the bar as low as we have when so much is at stake.

Banks later wrestled with how to be an independent-minded Republican in Congress during the Trump era before suppressing that pesky integrity.

The bar remains exactly where Banks said it was in 2016, if not lower. Trump, in addition to his own bouts of rambling, nonsensical speech, is 78 years old with a long record of sexual misconduct, tax avoidance and fraud and, of course, an attempt to overturn an election.

Biden's defiance has been painful to watch. But, ultimately, the president accepted the truth that his campaign was unsustainable. He deserves credit for that.

Meanwhile, Trump has not yet admitted he lost the 2020 election.

Republicans have had opportunities to break Trump's reality distortion field, yet have repeatedly opted to let the former president operate in his parallel universe.

Another Indiana congressman, Rep. Rudy Yakym, said Sunday that "no one helped orchestrate the conspiracy to hide Joe Bidens cognitive decline from the public more than Kamala Harris," who presumably will take Biden's place atop the presidential ticket.

I'm skeptical of the conspiracy storyline, in large part because it was the Biden campaign's idea to debate Trump in June  a tactic the campaign apparently thought would put to rest concerns about the president's age. That obviously didn't work.

It seems likely that at least some people close to Biden sought to shield the extent of the president's struggles from the public. What matters more, though, is that as soon as Biden's decline became obvious, Democrats waged an insurmountable campaign to push the president aside.

Now, the Biden problem is resolved and Democrats are moving on. See how that can work?

One of America's two major political parties just showed it is capable of acting responsibly. The other is heading into November with the oldest presidential candidate in U.S. history.

Contact James Briggs at 317-444-4732 or james.briggs@indystar.com. Follow him on X and Threads at @JamesEBriggs.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Democrats did to Biden what Jim Banks won't do to Trump
Drug middlemen say Pharma sets prices. Then why do middlemen have hundreds for the same drug?

A CVS pharmacy in Portland, Ore. (Lynne Terry | Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Pharmacy middlemen known as pharmacy benefit managers deny claims that theyre responsible for the inflating cost of medicine. They say that big drugmakers are the sole culprits for the sticker shock you or whomever pays for your insurance experiences at the pharmacy counter.

On the surface, it seems to make sense. If the pills are ridiculously expensive, the first suspects would be the companies that make them. But new evidence has emerged showing that things arent so straightforward.

Drug transactions are controlled by middlemen who are owned by huge health conglomerates that also own big insurers. And a new report says that those companies often list hundreds of different prices for the same drug, some that are 51 times as much as others  or even more.

Pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs have been coming under fire for years. Community pharmacists accuse them of engaging in anticompetitive practices to the advantage of their own affiliated pharmacies while they drive competitors out of business. The result, some analysts have said, is decreasing competition and higher prices.

The Federal Trade Commission earlier this month issued a scathing report saying it uncovered what appeared to be evidence of anticompetitive practices.

It noted that each of the corporations that owns the three biggest PBMs is one of the 15 largest in the United States. Combined, they went from receiving 12% of all U.S. healthcare dollars in 2016 to 20% last year  a 67% increase in their share of a gargantuan healthcare market over eight years.

In addition to being part of huge conglomerates, the big-three PBMs are huge players in their own right. Combined, they control about 80% of the insured drug transactions in the United States. They act on behalf of insurers, which are often part of the same company. And they decide how much to reimburse pharmacies with which they are often in direct competition because they own mail-order pharmacies and one, CVS, is the largest brick-and-mortar retailer.

Since they decide which drugs are covered by insurance, they also have great leverage with the companies that make them. But as prices have shot up, PBMs have blamed drugmakers for the rise.

Big drug companies alone set and control drug prices and want to restrict pharmacy benefits to prevent pharmacy benefit companies from providing the only real check on their pricing power, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, an industry group, says on its website.

The statement might seem strange since the big PBMs claim they use their size to force drugmakers to lower prices.

And Medicare data regarding generic drugs seems to show that PBMs have considerable agency in price-setting. An analysis showed that Part D plans owned by the same parent companies as the big PBMs reimbursed their affiliated middlemen for the same drugs at hundreds of often wildly different price points.

The analysis, by 46 Brooklyn Research, looked at data for thousands of drugs covered by companies that act as insurers under Medicare Part D. They manage plans that are underwritten by taxpayers, while beneficiaries have to pay premiums and sometimes make copayments.

For some drugs, the disparities between high and low prices arent very big. For others, theyre vast.

Take the cancer drug imatinib, for example.

Providers owned by CVS Health, then conglomerate that also owns the biggest PBM, reimbursed PBMs at 501 different rates ranging from $1,794 to $6,826 for a months supply. Plans affiliated with Cigna/Express Scripts, the owner of the second-biggest PBM, reimbursed at only 19 different rates ranging from $2,732 to $3,657.

Meanwhile plans affiliated with UnitedHealth, owner of the third-biggest PBM, paid at fewer price points than CVS, 115, but they varied much more wildly  from $79 to $6,826 for a months supply.

The data didnt indicate which PBM handled transactions at the different prices or how much the pharmacies filling the scripts got paid. So the analysis couldnt evaluate whether the conglomerates were using the variable pricing to the advantage of their affiliated companies.

But if those variations make you suspect theres an arbitrary element to the prices health conglomerates assign to drugs, youre not alone. In its conclusion, the FTC report says they have an incentive to use that variability to their own advantage.

these healthcare conglomerates operate some of the largest retail, mail order, and specialty pharmacies in the country, which compete with local independent pharmacies, it says. Given these relationships, PBMs and their affiliated entities may have the incentive and ability to engage in steering a growing share of prescription revenues to their own pharmacies through specialty drug classification, self-preferential pricing, and pharmacy contracting procedures to target and control the business operations of pharmacies.

Ohio Capital Journal is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as part of a 501c3 public charity.
A road is closed in the Portuguese Bend area of Rancho Palos Verdes due to landslide damage. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Coastal dwellers in Rancho Palos Verdes can now add gas shutoffs to the litany of headaches they have endured as a stretch of their idyllic community slips steadily to the sea.

"Due to worsening land movement," Southern California Gas Co. told Portguese Bend-area residents to expect to lose natural gas service Monday morning. "This dynamic situation requires we take immediate action to protect public safety."

The utility did not say what exactly had changed to prompt the short notice, which was issued on Saturday.

The cutoff will affect 135 homes.

No gas leaks have been detected, the city of Rancho Palos Verdes said. In a message to residents Sunday, the city said it asked SoCalGas to consider delaying the shutoff but was refused and told that "it remains unsafe to do so."

"The City continues to request a delay in the shutoff as we share residents frustration with the short notice provided to the public," the city said. "However, the safety and well-being of our residents are our top priorities."

The shutoff notice provided no detail on how long it would take the company to move 600 feet of gas lines and install flexible connections and emergency shutoff valves. The utility said homeowners can remain in place, but warned against connecting alternate gas supplies, including propane, to their metered lines.

Rancho Palos Verdes said it would begin voluntary safety inspections.

The short notice rankled some residents. It is only the latest repercussion to a recent acceleration in the pace at which the coastal ridge is sliding seaward, creating new shoreline while cracking foundations, breaking gas, sewer and water lines, and leaning utility poles. Some structures have been declared unsafe, including the popular Wayfarers Chapel. Since October, the city has been under a local state of emergency.

While sections of the landslide complex have struggled with slope movement for years, recent heavy winter rains expanded the extent of the slide and it is now occurring across slightly over a square mile. That pace of growth is expected to increase.

(Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Saturday kicked off early in-person voting in Grand Rapids.

For the second time statewide, early voting is taking place in person for nine days before the primary. Voters say they are ready to make their voices heard.

Your Local Election Headquarters

I really care about my community and who represents my community, and I think its really important that people understand that it starts here, early voter Lindsey Summers said. If you want to see change in your community, in the state, in this country, you have to start from the bottom up, and I am just doing my part as a citizen of the United States.

On Saturday, dozens of voters arrived at three different locations in Grand Rapids: the GRPS University building, Ottawa Hills High School and Saints Peter and Paul School.

Where and when to vote early in Grand Rapids

Some voters said this election was more important than the ones before.

This is the most consequential election coming up, the presidential election, of our lifetime, early voter Margaret Steketee said. We thought that Obamas election was consequential, but its even more consequential. And getting involved  I dont really care what side youre on, but getting involved is really important, because if we are going to be a democracy and remain a democracy, that is what we are about.

Grand Rapids city clerk expects early voting numbers to rise

Voters at the polls Saturday said no matter when you do, voting is critical.

If you havent done it or you missed the early voting part, go out on August 6th. You have plenty of time to vote, Summers said. If you miss this one, show up in November. Do your research, look and see who is representing you and who you think is representing you in our government.

In-person early voting continues through Aug. 4. The primary is set for Aug. 6.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Guest Opinion. Even without scientific tracking data, the folk who live in Oklahoma will tell you that earthquakes have greatly increased over the past several years. Why? Can the U.S. Geological Surveyu (USGS) predict these earthquakes?

The earth is covered with about 15 tectonic plates that slide around on the surface. (Some liken the earths mantle to the skin of an orange in proportion and comparative density.) These fault lines are typically where earthquakes occur as a result of sudden movements of these plates. This can explain a lot of earthquakes that occur along the fault lines all along the west coast of the Americas.

Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

However, there are earthquakes that occur as secondary seismic events to other earthquakes or they are induced, or as I called it inspired. Such induced or inspired earthquakes have been tracked by the USGS (the agency with the lead for earthquake research), and there is a definite uptick in earthquakes in Oklahoma.

Fracking

The first question you probably want to ask is whether this uptick in earthquakes is due to the relatively recent use of fracturing rock to elicit more oil that was otherwise unrecoverable. It would be reasonable to assume that cracking rock 3-4 km below the surface might cause seismic waves that induce an earthquake.

USGS has concluded that the problem is not fracking, but the deep disposal of wastewater from oil and gas drilling. The deep injection of wastewater that is deposited below the water tables to avoid water contamination, makes up about 90% of the underground injection compared to 10% from fracking.

These underground injection wells are heavily regulated.

However, USGS found that the largest earthquake induced by fracking in Oklahoma was a 3.6 rated earthquake in 2019. Up until this week, the largest known earthquake in Texas was a 4.0 rated earthquake in 2019. This week, Texas had a 4.8 and a 4.9 earthquake right in the heart of the Permian Basin, so it is yet to be determined whether it was caused by the recent initiation of fracking activity or waste water injection from ongoing oil and gas operations.

Damage to private property

Although the oil and gas companies may own the mineral rights they are limited to not damaging the surface rights of the surface rights owner. Almost all mineral rights have been sold to someone other than the surface owner in Texas, so this is a well developed area of the law.

Those of you who are lawyers may think back to Pennsylvania Coal Co. v. Mahon, 260 U.S. 393 (1922), a case where a coal company in Pennsylvania sold the surface rights to land owners for homes, with a waiver of their right to claim any damages from the coal mining, and at a lower price. When the surfaces started to collapse and the homes with them, the state legislature intervened with a law that prohibited the damage to the surface. However, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes of the U.S. Supreme Court, found that the legislation was a constitutional taking and the coal company was owed just compensation. The fact they had sold the surface rights at a lower cost with the disclaimer for any damage, meant that the homeowners were not entitled to more than they bought, thus they had to live with the consequential loss of their homes. Unless the surface rights to homes were sold with a disclaimer for fracking or underground injection damages, then the oil and gas companies would be liable for damages to surface rights of homes.

USGS has the lead on the detection of earthquakes but they readily admit they cannot predict them in advance of their occurrence.

The USGS has said that

Neither the USGS [United States Geological Survey] nor any other scientists have ever predicted a major earthquake. We do not know how, and we do not expect to know how any time in the foreseeable future.

With the 300% increase in earthquakes in Oklahoma it would be prudent to find some ways to predict their occurrence.

Further, earthquakes are becoming deadlier, in part because of the increase in density of housing and population. The response to earthquakes is fairly recent (50-60 years), when the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 2034 in 1965 to assist victims of nations with earthquake damages.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Being aware of clues from the environment has become one of the most promising areas of research for predicting earthquakes. The seismic sense of animals can predict an earthquake sometimes weeks ahead of its occurrence. Many different families and classes of animals react to a coming earthquake  dogs, birds, snakes, cows, elephants and others. They leave their nesting places hours or days before an earthquake, or in some cases dogs have been known to become restless, bark or even run away in advance of an earthquake.

Recent research from the Max-Planck Institute has focused on monitoring the changes in behavior from animals known to have a premonition or a seismic sense in advance of an earthquake. The scientists are placing motion sensors on the animals to detect any change in their movements or behaviors as a way to collect data that might be available to analyze in the event of an earthquake.

Traditional Stories

The Native people of the Pacific northwest are on the San Juan Fault line and so have experiences with earthquakes. There are two stories that have been passed down about earthquakes with art that depicts points in the story.

This is a depiction of a story of Earthquake Foot where the dancer falls into the drum and gets earthquake foot, and each time his foot touches the ground there are tremors. This story as they explain teaches us to have foresight that earthquakes and tsunamis will recur, and that we are part of the earth process.

The earthquake mask is the hereditary property of particular families in a Haida Nation that is responsible for the ceremonies and the mask. The mask is constructed so that the eyebrows and mouth move during the dance and are said to tell us when the earth will move.

These stories through art and oral history are important to understand more about prediction.

Practices of the indigenous people near the epicenter of the 2004 tsunami which followed an earthquake saved many lives. Only seven people out of 78,000 died in the tsunami.

The oral tradition consisting of stories and songs carrying the messages of early experience of tsunamis made the local people of Simeulue Island conscious regarding the prediction of tsunami waves. The oral stories and songs taught people that when an earthquake occurs then they should go to the coast and watch the movement of the tides. If the low tide or retreat of the tide occurs soon after the earthquake, then run towards the higher ground as the low tide will follow up with giant waves.

Prediction

Scientists are urging the field to collaborate with Indigenous people and to use traditional knowledge of earthquake prediction to save lives. With the admission from western science that an earthquake has never been predicted, and as we increasingly induce earthquakes, and experience greater damage and loss of lives due to earthquakes, it is imperative to draw from fields of knowledge that can predict earthquakes. Fields that work together (like western science and indigenous science can begin to prepare for the certainty of the next earthquake. Preparing society to be in closer touch with the animals and environment around them to observe behaviors of animals including dogs, cats and birds, may bring us a little closer to being able to predict the next earthquake.

To read more articles by Professor Sutton go to: https://profvictoria.substack.com/

Professor Victoria Sutton (Lumbee) is a law professor on the faculty of Texas Tech University. In 2005, Sutton became a founding member of the National Congress of American Indians, Policy Advisory Board to the NCAI Policy Center, positioning the Native American community to act and lead on policy issues affecting Indigenous communities in the United States.

About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net."

Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net
(KRON)  An East Bay man is facing federal charges for allegedly firebombing a University of California, Berkeley police patrol car by igniting several Molotov cocktails underneath the car on June 1, U.S. District Attorney Ismail J. Ramseys office announced.

At about 5:04 a.m., suspect Casey Robert Goonan, 34, arrived near the intersection of Barrows Lane and Bancroft Way adjacent to the University of California Police Department (UCPD) Berkeley station.

Suspected drunk driver kills woman riding bike in East Bay: police

According to the DAs indictment, Goonan was allegedly seen carrying a reusable shopping bag containing six Molotov cocktails.

Photos show Goonan allegedly kicking the bag underneath the fuel tank of a UCPD patrol car and igniting the bag before the patrol car caught fire (pictured below).

Suspect Casey Robert Goonan allegedly igniting a bag of six Molotov cocktails underneath a UCPD patrol car on June 1. Photo: DA



UCPD then received reports of the fire and, due to the rapid response, extinguished the fire before the car exploded. The indictment said the car did, however, suffer significant damage to the rear seats, fuel port, and trunk.

The indictment said after the Molotovs were ignited, the patrol car was deemed a total loss.

Goonan stands charged with the following counts:

One count of maliciously damaging or destroying property belonging to an institution receiving federal financial assistance using fire or an explosive.

One count of maliciously damaging or destroying property used in or affecting interstate commerce using fire or an explosive.

One count of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm.

Goonan was arraigned on the indictment on Friday. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Goonan remains in federal custody. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 17 in Oakland.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Edna OBrien, whose books were initially banned in Ireland but gained international acclaim, died Saturday after a long illness. She was 93 and her death was confirmed by her publisher, Faber, and the literary agency PFD.

A defiant and courageous spirit, Edna constantly strove to break new artistic ground, to write truthfully, from a place of deep feeling, Faber said in a statement. The vitality of her prose was a mirror of her zest for life: she was the very best company, kind, generous, mischievous, brave.

More from Deadline

OBrien published more than 20 books, most of them novels and story collections that challenged Irelands religious, sexual, and gender boundaries by tackling issues of loneliness, rebellion, desire and persecution.

OBrien is attracted to taboos just as they break, to the place of greatest heat and darkness and, you might even say, danger to her mortal soul, Booker Prize winner Anne Enright wrote of her in the Guardian in 2012.

OBrien was an unknown about to turn 30, living with her husband and two small children outside of London, when her novel The Country Girls bowed. Written in just three weeks and published in 1960 for an advance of roughly $75, The Country Girls follows the lives of two young women who go from a rural convent to the risks and adventures of Dublin.

DEADLINE RELATED VIDEO:

Her novel was praised and purchased in London and New York, while Ireland labeled it filth by Minister of Justice Charles Haughey and burned it publicly in OBriens hometown of Tuamgraney, County Clare. Detractors included OBriens parents and her husband, the author Ernest Gebler, from whom OBrien was becoming estranged.

She continued the stories of Kate and Baba in The Lonely Girl and Girls in Their Married Bliss, and by the mid-1960s was an international celebrity.

OBrien was recognized in the 1980s by the band Dexys Midnight Runners, who named her alongside Eugene ONeill, Samuel Beckett, and Oscar Wilde, among others, in the literary tribute Burn It Down.

OBriens honors included an Irish Book Award for lifetime achievement, the PEN/Nabokov prize, and the Frank OConnor award in 2011 for her story collection Saints and Sinners.

She is survived by her sons, Marcus and Carlos.





Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Edna OBrien, one of Irelands most celebrated authors, died on Saturday at the age of 93 after a long illness. Our thoughts are with her family and friends, in particular her sons Marcus and Carlo, read the joint statement announcing her passing, written by her agent and publisher.

Hailed as a fearless teller of truths, Irish President Michael D. Higgins credited the late novelist with having the moral courage to confront Irish society with realities long ignored and suppressed.

For more than half a centuryand through dozens of novels and short story collectionsOBriens writing explored loves lost and the dark contradictions in womens lives.

Her explicit prose and depictions of female sexuality were highly controversial and the source of personal attacks in Ireland, despite being celebrated outside of her home country.

The authors first novel, The Country Girls, was published in 1960, and followed two Irish girls rebelling against their Roman Catholic upbringing. This title and others by OBrien were banned in Ireland with the approval of the Catholic Church.

Attitudes towards OBrien shifted in Ireland in the early aughts. In 2001, she received the Irish PEN lifetime achievement award and the 2006 Ulysses medal. She was awarded the nations highest literary accolade, the Saoi of Aosdana, in 2015.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
O'Brien's 'The Country Girls' was lauded as a feminine tale of girlhood after its release in 1960  despite being banned in Ireland

Leonardo Cendamo/Getty Edna OBrien in September 2016

Edna O'Brien, the renowned Irish author of book series including The Country Girls, has died. She was 93.

Her publisher, Faber Books, announced her death in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, July 28.

"It is with great sadness that Caroline Michel at PFD and Faber announce the death of beloved author Edna OBrien," the statement read. "She died peacefully on Saturday 27 July after a long illness. Our thoughts are with her family and friends, in particular her sons Marcus and Carlo. The family has requested privacy at this time."

Originally from County Clare, Ireland, O'Brien was born in 1930 and found literary success with her debut novel, The Country Girls, when it was published in 1960, as well as the book's two sequels, The Lonely Girl and Girls in Their Married Bliss, per The Washington Post. The series follows protagonists Caithleen and Baba as they grow up as schoolgirls, marry and dream about their futures.

Clay Perry/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Edna O'Brien

Although The Country Girls saw great success in Britain and the United States after its release, it was banned in Ireland due to censorship rules and staunchly Catholic values in place at the time.

"I believe that mental disturbance by literature is a healthy and invigorating thing," O'Brien told The Guardian in 1965, according to The Washington Post. "We have plenty of comfortable and easy prose all around us, but its by abrasion that peoples prejudices are aroused."

Prior to her life as a writer, O'Brien began her career as a pharmacist in 1950, later marrying fellow writer Ernest Gebler and welcoming two sons with him. The pair divorced in 1964.

By 1959, she had moved to London with her family and began working for the publisher Hutchinson, according to The Guardian. Before long, the company had commissioned her to write her own novel.



O'Brien's works have been praised over the years for their feminist stances and stories that followed women living in a male-led society. Over the course of her career, she wrote numerous other novels including 2015's The Little Red Chairs, 1994's House of Splendid Isolation and 2019's Girls. Her career also expanded beyond fiction books  she penned screenplays, plays, a memoir titled Country Girl and biographies of James Joyce and Lord Byron.

"I've fallen in and out of [favor] with feminists, because I do not write to formula or hold to a rigid political correctness. I couldn't," she said in a 2015 interview with her publisher, Faber, speaking about her status as a feminist writer. "But let me say this, I know that women have been treated appallingly down the ages."

"I grew up in a patriarchal society and my first books, for all their comedy, are partly protest. I do not [apologize] to anyone for giving my women broken hearts, because it happens and it happens for men also," she added. "If you write about feelings, then you have a vast and moving canvas to explore."

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.

Faber said in a statement to The Guardian that O'Brien was "one of the greatest writers of our age."

"She [revolutionized] Irish literature, capturing the lives of women and the complexities of the human condition in prose that was luminous and spare, and which had a profound influence on so many writers who followed her," the publisher added.

O'Brien was lauded by critics over the years, receiving the 2001 Irish PEN lifetime achievement award and in 2015, Irish President Michael D. Higgins awarded her with countrys highest literary award, the Saoi of Aosdana.



On Sunday, Higgins shared a lengthy statement following the news of her death, calling her "one of the outstanding writers of modern times, her work has been sought as model all around the world."

"Edna was a fearless teller of truths, a superb writer possessed of the moral courage to confront Irish society with realities long ignored and suppressed," Higgins wrote.

"Through that deeply insightful work, rich in humanity, Edna OBrien was one of the first writers to provide a true voice to the experiences of women in Ireland in their different generations and played an important role in transforming the status of women across Irish society," he added.



O'Brien is survived by her sons Carlo Gebler and Sasha Gebler.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  With early voting underway and Primary Election Day looming, this week we present our final Candidate Conversations for this cycle.

In Missouri, GOP State Senator Bill Eigel is seeking a move up to the governors office. Eigel joins us to discuss his campaign and issues, specifically his stand on immigration.

To see Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, watch here.

To see Sec. of State Jay Aschroft, watch here.

Then on, the Kansas side, we focus on the 2nd Congressional District. Two newcomers to campaigns join us: Matt Kleinmann, a Democrat seeking the nomination in the newly redrawn district that now includes the northern half of Wyandotte County.

Kleinmann is a community organizer currently on-leave from a healthcare non-profit. Kleinmanns primary opponent Nancy Boyda did not respond to our invitation.

Then, Republican Shawn Tiffany, co-owner of Tiffany Cattle Company, sits down to discuss his campaign and some key issues.

To see Derek Schmidt, watch here

To see Jeff Kahrs, watch here.

To see all of our primary season Candidate Conversations, visit our 4 The People section on fox4kc.com.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
El Mayo attorney: Client kidnapped, brought to U.S. against his will

El Mayo attorney: Client kidnapped, brought to U.S. against his will

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The attorney for alleged Sinaloa drug cartel co-founder Ismael El Mayo Zambada said his client did not enter the country voluntarily and was kidnapped by a rival, according to a statement from his attorney which was sent to KTSM on Sunday morning, July 28.

Drug kingpin El Mayo arrested in El Paso

Zambada, along with the reported son of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, were arrested by U.S. authorities Thursday, July 25 at the Dona Ana County International Sunport in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, which is considered a bedroom community of El Paso.

The second man arrested was identified as Joaquin Guzman Lopez, who allegedly led the Chapitos faction of the cartel that is reportedly spearheaded by El Chapos sons.

Frank Perez, the attorney for El Mayo Zambada, said that his client was kidnapped by Guzman Lopez and brought to the United States against his will. El Mayo Zambada did not negotiate any terms with the U.S. government ahead of his arrest, Perez added.

Video shows arrests of 2 suspected Mexican cartel drug lords

Here is Perezs entire statement which was sent to KTSM on Sunday:

My client neither surrendered nor negotiated any terms with the U.S. government. Joaquin Guzman Lopez forcibly kidnapped my client. He was ambushed, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed by six men in military uniforms and Joaquin. His legs were tied, and a black bag was placed over his head. He was then thrown into the back of a pickup truck and taken to a landing strip. There, he was forced onto a plane, his legs tied to the seat by Joaquin, and brought to the U.S. against his will. The only people on the plane were the pilot, Joaquin and my client.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, both men are facing multiple charges in the United States for leading the Cartels criminal operations, including its deadly fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks.

Zambada was scheduled for an initial court appearance at the El Paso Magistrate Courtroom on Friday morning, July 26, according to court records.

Zambadas attorney filed a waiver of appearance and entered a not guilty plea on behalf of his client, according to court documents obtained by KTSM and Border Report.

Guzman Lopez arrived in the custody of the FBI, HSI, and DEA agents in the Chicago area Friday morning, according to an NBC affiliate.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Newspapers in Mexico City announce Thursday's capture of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, whose lawyer says he was taken to the U.S. by force. (Rodrigo Oropeza / AFP/Getty Images)

The lawyer representing captured drug kingpin Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada rebutted claims that his client had been tricked into boarding an aircraft bound for the United States to be arrested Thursday, alleging that he had instead been "forcibly kidnapped" by a son of the infamous Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

Zambada, 76, was taken into custody after he arrived at a small airport near El Paso, along with Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a 38-year-old son of El Chapo, the Sinaloa cartel's co-founder alongside Zambada.

The attorney, Frank Perez, rejected reports that Zambada  who has pleaded not guilty to an array of drug trafficking, gun and money laundering charges  had surrendered or been duped onto the plane.

"My client neither surrendered nor negotiated any terms with the U.S. government. Joaquin Guzman Lopez forcibly kidnapped my client," Perez said in a statement first reported by The Times. "He was ambushed, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed by six men in military uniforms and Joaquin. His legs were tied, and a black bag was placed over his head. He was then thrown into the back of a pickup truck and taken to a landing strip. There, he was forced onto a plane, his legs tied to the seat by Joaquin, and brought to the U.S. against his will," he added.

Perez said the only people on the plane were "the pilot, Joaquin and my client."

Guzman Lopez faces federal indictments in Chicago and Washington for drug trafficking and his leadership role in the Sinaloa cartel. Court records do not show that he has entered any plea. His lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment in response to an inquiry about Perez's statement and the status of Guzman Lopez.

Sources familiar with the situation who were not authorized to speak publicly about the arrests previously told The Times that Zambada had somehow been fooled into boarding the plane that brought him to U.S. soil.

Epic, once-in-a-lifetime caper, one law enforcement source who works in Mexico said of Zambada's arrest. The old man got tricked.

According to Perez, who spoke briefly with The Times after issuing the statement, Zambada was set up by being called to a meeting with Guzman Lopez, a leader of the cartel faction known as Los Chapitos.

Zambada  known for his elusiveness after more than four decades on the run without capture  was traveling with a relatively light security detail, Perez said.

Caught off guard, Zambada was overpowered, the lawyer said.

Multiple law enforcement sources have said the effort that spurred Zambada's capture was led by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. It's unclear to what extent the U.S. agencies were involved in orchestrating the flight carrying the two men  or in the alleged kidnapping, if true.

Mexican authorities were not involved, officials there said.

You ask if it was a delivery, if it was capture, Rosa Icela Rodriguez, Mexicos security secretary, told reporters this week. That is part of the investigation and part of the information that we would be expecting from the government of the United States.

Zambada is a living legend in the Mexican drug trade, having built the Sinaloa cartel into a multibillion-dollar empire that ships cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and other illicit drugs around the globe. The U.S. had offered a $15-million reward for his capture, and top U.S. officials hailed his detention this week as a massive coup. President Biden said it would help save American lives.

But exactly how U.S. officials pulled off the arrests has remained a subject of rumor, speculation and conflicting reports. One version, reported by the Wall Street Journal, said Zambada had been lured onto the plane expecting to inspect clandestine airstrips. Others alleged the ruse was an elaborate cover story  and that Zambada had secretly surrendered with the promise of being reunited with a son, Vicente Zambada Niebla, who testified against El Chapo and is now believed to be in witness protection.

If Perez's statements are true, Zambada's capture would represent a massive betrayal by Guzman Lopez, who could stand to receive leniency from U.S. authorities after hand-delivering one of the most sought-after fugitives on the planet.

Guzman Lopez's brother Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 34, was extradited from Mexico last year and has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he was a co-leader of Los Chapitos. Hes been jailed in Chicago, where his case remains pending.

Their father, Guzman, is serving a life sentence in U.S. federal prison after a 2019 conviction. Housed in an isolated facility dubbed the "Alcatraz of the Rockies," he is under tight security measures that limit his contact with the outside world.

Some observers noted that Federal Bureau of Prisons records list Ovidio Guzman Lopez as having been released on July 23 , just two days before the arrests, fueling speculation there was advance notice of a plot with his brother to hand over Zambada.

A Justice Department spokesperson said in an email Friday: "Ovidio Guzman Lopez is still in US custody."

Court records show Ovidio Guzman Lopez is scheduled for a court appearance on Sept. 30. One source familiar with his case, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said hed been moved to protective custody, not released.

The Guzman and Zambada families have long been intertwined, through business partnerships and family ties. Zambada's son Zambada Niebla, 49, known as "El Vicentillo," frequently referred to El Chapo as his "compadre" during his dramatic 2019 trial testimony, and described how the two cartel leaders had blessed his decision to leave the drug trade and seek a deal with U.S. authorities.

Zambada Niebla was also represented by Perez, his father's attorney.

Two more of Zambada's sons have faced justice in the U.S., along with his brother, Jesus "El Rey" Zambada, who also testified against El Chapo.

They were partners, Jesus Zambada said of the cartel leaders on the witness stand, recounting how he and his brother had arranged to send a helicopter to rescue El Chapo following his escape from a high-security prison in Mexico in 2001.

Although armed groups that claim loyalty to Zambada have been engaged in wars against rival cartels in other parts of Mexico, the Pacific coast state of Sinaloa has been relatively calm in recent years  a peace some have credited to Zambada brokering truces and seeking to avoid bloodshed in his own backyard.

There have been occasional outbursts of violence, however, including in 2019 after El Chapo's son Ovidio was captured for the first time. That incident led to gunmen flooding the streets of the state capital, Culiacan, engaging in shootouts with Mexican security forces. Ovidio, known as "El Raton," or "The Mouse," was eventually released, and later recaptured in January 2023 by Mexican authorities.

In its 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration described "internal power struggles and fluctuating alliances" atop the cartel.

"The Sinaloa Cartel does not have a leader. Instead, the cartel 'umbrella' covers four separate but cooperating criminal organizations," the DEA said. "This structure theoretically gives the heads of the independent drug trafficking groups the ability to share resources  like smuggling routes, corrupt contacts, access to illicit chemical suppliers and money laundering networks  without sharing profits or having to answer to a main chain of command."

Another of Zambada's sons, Ismael Zambada-Sicairos, born in 1982 and known as Mayito Flaco, is a fugitive in Mexico, wanted by the DEA for his alleged leadership role in his fathers operation.

The elder Zambada is thought to be in ill health; U.S. authorities previously said he suffers from diabetes. Photos released after his capture showed him haggard and scowling at the camera, with dark hair and mustache. Transcripts made public after his initial court appearance Friday said he sat in a wheelchair for part of the proceeding.

Miguel Angel Vega, a journalist who covers organized crime for the Sinaloan newspaper Riodoce, said the state is on edge, with many fearing violence could erupt at any moment.

"There is tension right now," Vega said. "Everyone is expecting that something is going to happen. Obviously, there is fear.

In his only public interview, Zambada told the Mexican magazine Proceso in 2010 what he predicted would happen if he were killed or captured one day.

After a few days, wed see that nothing had changed, he said. The drug problem involves millions. If the bosses are locked up or killed, their replacements are already waiting.

Times staff writer Kate Linthicum in Mexico City contributed to this report.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Elderly couple files first lawsuit in Boars Head multistate listeria outbreak over damage to the marital relationship

An elderly Missouri couple has filed the first lawsuit related to the recent listeria outbreak linked to Boars Head meats sliced at deli counters, which sickened nearly three dozen people and caused two deaths.

Patrick and Sue Fleming are seeking upward of $25,000 for injuries and damages from Boars Head and Schnucks Markets for medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life and damage to the marital relationship, according to the complaint filed in St. Louis circuit court.

Plaintiff Patrick Fleming has lost the love, services, consortium, comfort, instruction, guidance, counsel, and support of his spouse, which he would have received in the usual course of his married life, the suit said.

Patrick and Sue Fleming are seeking upward of $25,000 for injuries and damages from the deli meats titan. Obtained by the New York Post

After eating Boars Head liverwurst that Patrick, 76, purchased at Schnucks Markets in Ballwin, Mo., in June, Sue, 88, became deathly ill, per the complaint.

She reported experiencing nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramping, and, most disturbingly, intense whole-body aches, shaking, and muscle weakness.

A bad batch of Boars Head liverwurst has led to marital issues for the Flemings, per the complaint. Boar's Head

Sue received intensive treatment in a nearby hospital, where she remained critically ill and hospitalized for nine days, per the complaint.

Upon her release, she was transferred to a rehabilitation center, where she attempted to regain her pre-infection baseline for 11 days.

The octogenarian alleges she still suffers from the effects of her infection, including an array of neurological symptoms, fatigue, and overall weakness.

Sue Fleming received what the suit calls intensive treatment due to listeria. Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The Flemings are suing Boars Head and Schnucks for manufacturing defect and negligence, among other causes of action.

On Friday, Boars Head recalled 207,528 pounds of liverwurst and other deli meats produced between June 11 and July 17.

Stop & Shop said it was temporarily closing all of its store delis.

Boars Head recalled 207,528 pounds of liverwurst and other deli meats on Friday. Christopher Sadowski

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 34 people in 13 states have been sickened in the recent listeria outbreak. Thirty-three of them were hospitalized and two died from their infections. Twelve of the victims were in New York.

Most people recover after three days and rarely become seriously ill, but of the 1,600 annual cases, about 260 people die each year, according to the CDC.

People who are most at risk of serious infection include those who are pregnant, who can have miscarriages; newborns; adults age 65 and older; and people with weakened immune systems.

Boars Head and Schnucks didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.
When Otto von Bismarck created the worlds first state pension in the 1880s, he only expected it to serve elderly Germans for a handful of their twilight years.

But more than a century later, German pensions are under immense strain, as more than a million feel forced to keep working because the payouts are too meagre.

Newly released statistics have shown that the number of Germans working beyond the standard retirement age of 67 has risen from 660,000 to 1.05 million over the past decade.

The disclosure has outraged the head of a new left-wing populist party, Sahra Wagenknecht, who called on Germany to adopt the more generous pension scheme of neighbouring Austria.

The statutory pension hardly provides enough for a living in old age, and forces more and more pensioners to work until the end of their lives, Ms Wagenknecht, the leader of the BSW party, warned this week.

The fact that the numbers are continually rising shows that more and more pensioners and, in some cases, the very elderly, are simply forced to top up their meagre pensions, she added.

Sahra Wagenknecht is turning elderly welfare into a key issue for Germans - ANNEGRET HILSE/Reuters

Under the German system, residents can generally start receiving a pension if they provide evidence of 35 years of contributions. Those who can show they have contributed for 45 years are able to retire earlier.

But the cost of living crisis and an ageing population have put strain on the system, with one in five pensioners receiving less than 1,200 euros (1,000) a month from the state, according to a recent German government report.

The situation is said to be even worse in eastern Germany, where around a third of long-term pensioners receive funds below the EU average. In Brandenburg, pensioners who have paid into the system for more than four decades are receiving 1,200 euros per month.

The monthly cost of living in Germany varies between states, but it can be up to 3,000 euros, according to Welcome Hub Germany, a relocation website.

Ms Wagenknecht, who is seeking to turn elderly welfare into a key issue ahead of the federal elections, has called for the government to resolve the situation by adopting the Austrian model.

In Austria the monthly payout to pensioners is generally 800 euros higher than in Germany, according to German newspaper Die Welt.

Ms Wagenknecht said the disparity was disrespectful to the life achievements of those who have paid in [to their pensions] for decades.

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.
Georgia Power should delay building three new dual-fuel turbines at Plant Yates near Newnan to allow time to consider potentially less expensive alternatives, an independent energy consultant said Wednesday.

The Atlanta-based utility received bids late last week in an all-source procurement request for proposals (RFP) to expand its electrical generating capacity to meet Georgias rapidly increasing needs for power. Taking the time to evaluate those bids could help Georgia Power reduce its reliance on natural gas, Albert Lin testified during a hearing held by the state Public Service Commission (PSC).

The amount of dependency on natural gas generation by Georgia Power is higher than the national average, Lin said. Further increasing the companys dependence on natural gas will only expose the system and its users to greater incidence of price shocks. ... It will show up in customers bills.

Georgia Power is seeking PSC certification to build the three turbines, which would run mostly on natural gas but switch to ultra low-sulfur diesel fuel when and if gas is unavailable, typically on cold winter mornings.

The projects opponents are concerned not only about Georgia Power becoming more reliant on carbon emitting fossil fuels. They also argue natural gas prices are highly volatile.

The monthly price swings for natural gas often exceed 50%, said Lin, who testified Wednesday on behalf of the Sierra Club and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Moreover, the volatility is increasing over time.

But Preston Thomas, a lawyer for the PSCs Public Interest Advocacy Staff, said worries over price volatility with natural gas are exaggerated. The staff has recommended approval of the project.

While there have been spikes, there have also have been sustained periods of low prices, Thomas said.

Jeffrey Grubb, director of resource policy and planning for Georgia Power, testified that waiting until the company completes the all-source RFP process would delay its plans to add energy capacity that is sorely needed to service a growing number of power-hungry data centers cropping up in Georgia.

Delaying the certification proceeding or decision is simply not an option, Grubb said. The RFP process, while generally beneficial, is time consuming and does not allow for the rapid deployment necessary to meet the companys near-term capacity needs.

Grubb also pointed out that the first of the new turbines Georgia Power plans to build would go into service during the winter of 2026/2027, while the RFP is geared toward the winter of 2029/2030 and beyond.

The PSC is scheduled to vote on the project on Aug. 20.
Erdogan says Turkey might enter Israel to help Palestinians

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends a military parade to mark the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus in response to a short-lived Greek-inspired coup, in the Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus, in the divided city of Nicosia

ANKARA (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Turkey might enter Israel as it had done in the past in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, though he did not spell out what sort of intervention he was suggesting.

Erdogan, who has been a fierce critic of Israel's offensive in Gaza, started discussing that war during a speech praising his country's defence industry.

"We must be very strong so that Israel can't do these ridiculous things to Palestine. Just like we entered Karabakh, just like we entered Libya, we might do similar to them," Erdogan told a meeting of his ruling AK Party in his hometown of Rize.

"There is no reason why we cannot do this ... We must be strong so that we can take these steps," Erdogan added in the televised address.

AK Party representatives did not respond to calls asking for more detail on Erdogan's comments. Israel did not immediately make any comment.

The president appeared to be referring to past actions by Turkey.

In 2020, Turkey sent military personnel to Libya in support of the United Nations-recognised Government of National Accord of Libya.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, who heads the Government of National Unity in Tripoli, is backed by Turkey.

Turkey has denied any direct role in Azerbaijan's military operations in Nagorno-Karabakh, but said last year it was using "all means", including military training and modernisation, to support its close ally.

(Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)  The past two months were unlike anything Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia had ever experienced: He gave political speeches, shook peoples hands and waved from the top of a truck moving through cheering crowds gathered across Venezuela. He also shed the title of ambassador for that of presidential candidate.

The dramatic life changes for the 74-year-old Gonzalez transformed him from a virtually unknown devout grandfather into a household name. Sunday he could make history if he defeats President Nicolas Maduro in a highly anticipated election. The vote is the first serious electoral challenge the ruling party has faced in decades.

A phrase that has been said to me repeatedly is You are my last hope, Gonzalez told reporters Thursday referring to supporters. I want to tell you that you are the hope. You have filled me with strength to face what has undoubtedly been the most unequal electoral campaign in the history of electoral processes in Venezuela.

Gonzalez is on the ballot representing the Unitary Platform, a coalition of Venezuelas main opposition parties, but until April, he had never imagined running for office, let alone for president.

The coalition selected him in April as a last-minute stand-in for opposition powerhouse Maria Corina Machado, who was blocked by the Maduro-controlled Supreme Tribunal of Justice from running for any office for 15 years. Machado, a former lawmaker, swept the oppositions October primary with more than 90% of the vote.

After Machado was blocked from joining the presidential race, she chose a college professor as her substitute on the ballot, but the ruling party-loyal National Electoral Council also barred her from registering. Thats when Gonzalez, a political newcomer, was chosen.

Sundays ballot also features eight other candidates challenging Maduro, but only Gonzalez threatens the president's aspirations for a third term.

Even among Venezuelas opposition, few knew of the former diplomat before he was announced as the coalitions candidate. Before Gonzalez joined Machado on the campaign trail, she became his surrogate, allocating a minute or so of her stump to him, describing him as an honest family man and urging her supporters to cast their votes for him.

Gonzalez began his professional career as an aide to Venezuelas ambassador in the U.S. He had postings in Belgium and El Salvador and served as Caracas ambassador to Algeria.

His last post was as Venezuelas ambassador to Argentina during the first years of the government of Hugo Chavez, Maduros predecessor and mentor. More recently, he worked as an international relations consultant, writing about recent political developments in Argentina as well as authoring a historical work on Venezuelas foreign minister during World War II.

His years in El Salvador and Algeria coincided with periods of armed conflicts in both countries. For a time, his whereabouts were tracked by locals in El Salvador, and he would get calls at home meant to intimidate him, with the callers saying they were aware that Gonzalez had just gotten home.

He had just returned to Venezuelas capital, Caracas, from a trip to Europe to visit a daughter and grandchildren when opposition leaders presented him with the idea of becoming a candidate. He conditioned his acceptance to a few matters, including that his wife be convinced of the decision. Not only did she agree, she also stood next to him on stages and trucks, and both waved to the crowds of young and old who gathered by the thousands to see them during the campaign.

His characteristic subdued tone and poker face, forged in his years as a diplomat, go against the image of boisterous politicians to which voters are accustomed. Maduro and his allies have taken his demeanor as a sign of weakness and chastised him on national TV and at campaign events. That kind of demeaning language is among the many changes Gonzalez wishes to see in Venezuela. In his short campaign, he has emphasized the decency that he wants Venezuelans to experience again, from that of a living wage to reliable public utilities.

Enough shouting, enough insults, its time to reunite, Gonzalez told supporters.

Should he win, Gonzalez will end Venezuelas 25 years under the policies that Chavez described as socialism for the 21st century and installed after becoming president in 1999. Gonzalez has not presented his government plan, but that does not seem to worry opposition supporters, many of whom think the only important plan ahead of the election is the one that gets Maduro defeated at the polls Sunday.

What is happening? People no longer buy the socialism story, Leonardo Guerrero, a layman church leader in the western state of Barinas, said after a recent service. Mass required the use of a battery-powered speaker because power had been out for hours.
F-16 fighter jets unlikely to have major effect on course of war in Ukraine  the WP

The first F-16 fighter jets are set to arrive in Ukraine in the coming weeks, but Ukrainian and Western officials warn that they might not have an immediate effect on the course of the war as Russia continues to slowly make gains on the battlefield.

Source: The Washington Post

Details: The Washington Post reported that Ukraine will only receive a small number of F-16 fighters while Russia has a lot of air defence systems capable of taking them down.

This means that the first F-16s arriving in Ukraine will likely be deployed to strengthen its air defence, shooting down Russian aerial targets rather than striking Russian ground forces.

According to The Post, it is unlikely that the fighters will be deployed close to the frontline, at least in the beginning, and therefore will not be able to intercept Russian military aircraft.

Officials refused to disclose how many F-16 jets will be given to Ukraine this year, but the number will not exceed around 20, which is one squadron. Moreover, only six pilots will have completed their training this summer because the training program had a limited number of spaces and was significantly delayed.

According to a Center for a New American Security (an American think tank) assessment, the situation on the battlefield has changed since last year, when the decision to give F-16s to Ukraine was first announced. Armies might have an urgent need for aircraft, as they might for weapons, but this operational need might be reduced to nothing by the time the aircraft or weapons are supplied.

The F-16s can still meet Ukraines immediate needs, however, thanks to their ability to both shoot down enemy aircraft and hit ground targets.

A Ukrainian defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Washington Post that "dozens" of pilots have been trained to fly the F-16a. However, the limited number of instructors and training centres forces Ukraine to send one group of pilots and engineering staff at a time.

The official said that training to operate the aircraft for Ukrainian pilots is preceded by four months of English lessons in the UK where they learn key terminology, which stretches the training process to up to a year even for experienced pilots.

Ukraine cannot afford to send a large number of experienced pilots away for this amount of time because they are needed to carry out combat missions, according to the Ukrainian defence official.

The Washington Post reported that ensuring the F-16s security on the ground will also be a challenge for Ukraine, given that Russian missiles can reach all Ukrainian airfields and in light of Russias recent attacks on Ukrainian aircraft left on runways.

A Ukrainian defence official said that it is "impossible" for Ukraine to build covered concrete hangars to completely protect military aircraft in wartime.

Instead, Ukraine is deploying masking techniques, for example parking dummy aircraft on airfields as false targets for Russia.

Another high-ranking Ukrainian military official told The Washington Post that Russia is preparing for the arrival of the F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. At the end of last year, the official said, Russia launched several missiles with dummy warheads from an S-400 air defence system located in Dzhankoi, a city in occupied Crimea.

According to the official, the Russian missiles reached the city of Kremenchuk in Ukraine, some 320 kilometres away from Dzhankoi, with Moscow likely trialling the range of its S-400 air defence systems to bring down Ukrainian aircraft.

Support UP or become our patron!
Claim:

Dale Schroeder of Iowa used his life savings to send 33 students to college.

Rating:

Rating: True

The heartwarming tale of Dale Schroeder, an Iowa carpenter who dedicated his life savings to sending 33 students to college, surfaced in 2019 when local news outlet KCCI in Des Moines, Iowa, and CBS News published his story.

Since then, the true claim Schroeder sent dozens of students to college following his death resurfaced on social media. In November 2019, his story popped up on Reddit, nearly 15 years after his death, and in October 2023, a viral post about Schroeder's generosity from the popular Instagram account @pubity amassed nearly 575,000 likes, as of this writing.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CyuZCZkrVDs/

Schroeder's profound generosity became evident only after his passing. The carpenter, who worked for Moehl Millwork in Des Moines for 67 years, led a humble life. He grew up in a poor household, never married, had no children, and lived a modest life until he died in 2005. According to several reports, when Schroeder passed, he left behind two pairs of jeans  one for work and a pair for church  and an old Chevrolet truck.

He had also secretly amassed "just shy of" $3 million in savings.

Snopes reached out to several people, including those who knew Schroeder personally while he was alive, but they did not immediately return a request for comment. In 2019, Steve Nielsen, Schroeder's attorney and friend, told KCCI: "He was very quiet. Dale was shy," adding, "he was that kind of a blue-collar, lunch-pail kind of guy, went to work every day, worked really hard, was frugal  like a lot of Iowans."

Several years before Schroeder's death, Nielsen recalled the conversation he had with his client about what to do with his life savings upon his passing: "He said, 'I never got the opportunity to go to college, and so I'd like to help kids go to college'."

With no direct living descendants, Schroeder's request led to the establishment of the nonprofit Dale Schroeder Memorial Scholarship, which funded college educations for 33 strangers over 14 years, from 2005 to 2019. According to the application guidelines:

The Dale Schroeder Memorial Scholarship was established to provide scholarships to students who are legal residents of the State of Iowa, live in an Iowa community with a population between 1 and 10,000, and will attend one of the following universities: University of Iowa, Iowa State University or University of Northern Iowa. Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic achievement, leadership, school activities, community/volunteer activities, financial and employment history. Awards are granted without regard to race, creed, color, religion, gender, or national origin. Recipients are identified by independent reviewers.

In a proverbial doffing of their collective hat, this group of recipients affectionately refer to themselves as "Dale's kids," a mark of respect for the life-changing impact of Schroeder's posthumous benevolence.

Since Schroeder's story became public, several beneficiaries of the Dale Schroeder Memorial Scholarship have spoken publicly, highlighting the significant educational and personal opportunities made possible through the woodworker's generosity.

In 2020, scholarship recipient Tanysha Truax, who holds degrees from the University of Iowa and Vanderbilt University and now works as a licensed therapist, told Iowa Magazine: "I reflect back on how lucky I was to find Dale's scholarship and the wonderful people he trusted with his legacy often," adding, "I know that I wouldn't be where I am now without it and the experiences it afforded me."

Jenna Herr, another scholarship recipient who received her master of business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told the University of Iowa's Tippie Magazine in 2020: "This scholarship gave me the freedom and the security to dream. It gave me the community and guidance I needed to grow, and the confidence and pride to lead."

With the scholarship fund administered by Schroeder's friends, former Iowa State Rep. Walt Tomenga and his wife Judy Tomenga, many of the recipients have extended their gratitude to the people who helped make Schroeder's scholarship fund a reality. Per Tippie Magazine:

Herr grew up in a single parent home after her mother was incarcerated. Then, at 16, she became a single parent herself. "Walt and Judy Tomenga became like a second set of parents to me," she said. "I visited their home, I spent holidays with them, they sent care packages, we talked on the phone and identified strategies and resources to manage academic and parenting stress."

"I grew up in a single-parent household and I had three older sisters so paying for all four of us was never an option," Kira Conrad, another Iowa recipient of Schroeder's college fund, told KCCI in 2019. "For a man that would never meet me, to give me basically a full ride to college, that's incredible. That doesn't happen."

Given the reports from credible sources, such as CBS News and local Iowa news outlets, and personal testimonials from the scholarship recipients, we have rated the claim Schroeder used his life savings to send 33 students to college as "True."

Snopes previously reported on other acts of benevolence, including MacKenzie Scott, the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, giving away $16.5 billion to nonprofits, and claims U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders raised money for Vermont charities by selling apparel featuring a photograph of himself from 2021 Inauguration Day.

Sources:

"Carpenter Leaves $3M Fortune after Death to Put 33 People He Didn't Know through College." KTVU FOX 2, 19 July 2019, https://www.ktvu.com/news/carpenter-leaves-3m-fortune-after-death-to-put-33-people-he-didnt-know-through-college.

"Dale D Schroeder in US, Social Security Death Index." Fold3, https://www.fold3.com/record/63666995/dale-d-schroeder-us-social-security-death-index. Accessed 23 July 2024.

Hanson, Eric. "This Is Iowa: Iowan Man's Wish Puts 33 Strangers through College." KCCI, 20 Nov. 2023, https://www.kcci.com/article/this-is-iowa-dale-schroeder-des-moines-man-used-secret-fortune-to-send-strangers-to-college/43635639.

How a Frugal Carpenter Transformed Dozens of Students' Lives with Scholarships | University of Iowa. https://magazine.foriowa.org/story.php?ed=true&storyid=1960. Accessed 23 July 2024.

Jim.lee@iowaeda.com. "Dale's Kids: Paying It Forward | Dale Schroeder." This Is Iowa, 4 May 2022, https://www.thisisiowa.com/2022/05/04/dales-kids-paying-it-forward/.

Lila Emma Schroeder Nigg (1909-2001) - Find a... https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/114444307/lila_emma-nigg. Accessed 23 July 2024.

O'Kane, Caitlin. Dale Schroeder Iowa: Carpenter Used His Secret Fortune to Send 33 Strangers to College after He Died by Creating Scholarship with Saved $3 Million Fund - CBS News. 24 July 2019, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dale-schroeder-iowa-man-used-secret-fortune-to-send-strangers-to-college-2019-07-24/.

"Practical Risk Management Suggestions from Alumna Jenna Herr." Wisconsin School of Business, https://business.wisc.edu/centers/rmi/blog/practical-risk-management-suggestions-from-alumna-jenna-herr/. Accessed 23 July 2024.

Reddit. 2019, https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/dw4fsl/til_that_a_guy_called_dale_schroeder_used_his/.

"---." R/BeAmazed, July 2024, https://www.reddit.com/r/BeAmazed/comments/1e70xvb/he_helped_so_many_people/#lightbox.

Scholarships from a Secret Millionaire | Tippie College of Business - The University of Iowa. https://tippie.uiowa.edu/news/2020/07/scholarships-secret-millionaire. Accessed 23 July 2024.

"X.Com." X (Formerly Twitter), https://x.com/KCCINews/status/1651394498302300164. Accessed 23 July 2024.

Calvin, Aaron. "Humble Carpenter Was a Secret Millionaire Who Left Fund for 33 Strangers to Go to College." The Des Moines Register, https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/nation/2019/07/25/iowa-carpenter-paid-students-college-3-million-dale-schroeder-ames-steve-neilsen-scholarship/1824513001/. Accessed 24 July 2024.

CNN. "Iowa Man Pays for 33 People to Attend College." Https://Www.Kcrg.Com, 18 July 2019, https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Iowa-man-pays-for-33-people-to-attend-college-512885561.html.

"Dale Schroeder 14 Apr 2005 Page 9 Obituary." The Des Moines Register, 14 Apr. 2005, p. 9. newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-dale-schroeder-1/34060221/.

"'He Wanted to Help Kids That Were like Him': Frugal Carpenter Saved up to Give Full College Scholarships to 33 Strangers." ABC7 Los Angeles, https://abc7.com/college-tuition-free-dale-schroeder-iowa/5403273/. Accessed 24 July 2024.

KCCI. Iowan's Wish Puts 33 Strangers through College. 2019. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w90nHKbQK2c.

"Man Pays for 33 Iowa Students to Go to College." Https://Www.Kktv.Com, 18 July 2019, https://www.kktv.com/content/news/Man-pays-for-33-Iowa-students-to-go-to-college-512907481.html.

Scholarships from a Secret Millionaire | Tippie College of Business - The University of Iowa. https://tippie.uiowa.edu/news/2020/07/scholarships-secret-millionaire. Accessed 24 July 2024.
Former President Donald Trump has revived his four-year-old false claim about how he and Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz handled the civil unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020.

Walz is among the Democrats whom sources say Vice President Kamala Harris is considering as a potential running mate. Trump, the Republican nominee, claimed during a Saturday campaign speech in Minnesota: Every voter in Minnesota needs to know that when the violent mobs of anarchists and looters and Marxists came to burn down Minneapolis four years ago  remember me? I couldnt get your governor to act. Hes supposed to call in the National Guard or the Army. And he didnt do it. I couldnt get your governor. So I sent in the National Guard to save Minneapolis. (Trump went on to criticize Harris for her own response to the unrest.)

CNN fact-checked this Trump story in July 2020. But he has repeated the tale on multiple subsequent occasions, including an abbreviated version during his June 2024 presidential debate with President Joe Biden.

Facts First: Trumps claims that he sent the National Guard to Minneapolis in 2020 and that Walz refused to do so are both wrong. Walz, not Trump, sent the National Guard to Minneapolis  and Walz first deployed the Guard more than seven hours before Trump publicly threatened to deploy the Guard himself.

The Minnesota National Guard, the entity that Walz deployed, is under the command of the governor, not the president. The president has the power to federalize states Guard troops under certain circumstances, but Trump never did so during the 2020 unrest in Minnesota.

After Trump began telling this false story in June 2020, Walz spokesperson Teddy Tschann provided a statement to CNN in the form of a question-and-answer sheet. It said, among other things: Did President Trump call out the Guard? No. Did Gov. Walz call out the Guard? Yes. Did Gov. Walz call out the National Guard at the direction of the President? No. He activated the Minnesota National Guard at the request of the Mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, before he talked to the White House.

Evidence shows Trumps claim is false

Public evidence confirms that Walz, who served in the Army National Guard from 1981 to 2005, deployed the Guard himself in May 2020.

Floyd was killed on May 25, 2020. There were protests in Minneapolis on May 26, 2020, some of them involving violence. And there was looting, violence and arson, along with peaceful protest, on May 27, 2020.

On May 28, 2020, Walz issued a press release just after 4 p.m. local time announcing he had signed an executive order activating the Minnesota National Guard. At 4:13 p.m. local time that day, the Minnesota National Guard announced on social media that adjutant general Maj. Gen. Jon Jensen had said, We are ready and prepared to answer the Governors request. We are currently in process of assigning and preparing units to respond.

At 10:41 p.m. local time that night, after a Minneapolis police precinct building was set on fire, the Minnesota National Guard announced that we have activated more than 500 soldiers to St. Paul, Minneapolis and surrounding communities.

Then, at 11:53 p.m. local time, Trump posted twice on social media.

In one post, Trump threatened to send in the Guard if Democratic Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey did not get his act together and bring the City under control. In the other post, Trump wrote, Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!

In neither post did Trump claim to have been the person who sent in the Guard. He began publicly making such claims in June 2020.

Walz has been criticized by both Republicans and some Democrats for his handling of the unrest. Frey said in August 2020 that he had verbally asked Walz on the evening of May 27, 2020 to send in the Guard but that Walz had hesitated; Walz pushed back on Freys account, saying the mayors May 27, 2020 comments on the call had not constituted an official request, which came in writing the next day.

Regardless of what happened in their conversation or the merits of how Walz managed the crisis, it is indisputable that Walz, not Trump, was the person who activated the Guard. Similarly, while its possible that Trumps public pressure contributed to Walzs May 30, 2020 decision to greatly increase the size of the deployment by mobilizing the entire Minnesota National Guard  though Walzs office denied in 2020 that Trump had anything to do with it  this increase, too, was indisputably Walzs act, not Trumps.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The United States Drought Monitor is a map released every Thursday morning showing the different levels of drought in the area.

The lowest level of the six tells us that conditions are normal. The next level down is considered abnormally dry, areas that may be going into or are coming out of drought.

From there we go to the next four levels of drought beginning with moderate, then severe, followed by extreme and capped by exceptional.

A MODERATE drought can trigger voluntary water restrictions and increase wildfire frequency. In a SEVERE drought, soil is hard making it difficult to plant. Local burn bans are implemented.

Some of what happens in an EXTREME drought include decreased yields for irrigated crops, the soil has large cracks and reservoir levels drop significantly.

The worst is the EXCEPTIONAL drought. Here, water quality is low. Widespread crop loss can occur, and water levels can be near historic lows.

The U.S. Drought Monitor has been around since 1999. Its produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture. These three agencies will rotate in two-week increments who will author the newest Drought Monitor. Their job is to make sense of data that is going in different directions, something that a computer cant decipher.

Our discussion during weathercasts on the drought monitor will always include rain, or lack thereof, that will go into constructing the newest release.

The agency responsible for that weeks release does take precipitation as the major player but there are other data sources that go hand in hand including streamflow, reservoir levels, evaporation, soil moisture and vegetation health. It isnt just one piece of data that is used to tell the story.

There is one other factor that comes into play here. The experts also must understand what is normal for a given location and a given season in addition to short-term and long-term weather patterns. And, of course, there is La Nina and El Nino.

The drought monitor is not a statistical model. Its a blend of the six factors listed above that play a major role in drought impacts. There are as many as 450 contributors who submit their data allowing for expert interpretation.

As previously mentioned, the U.S. Drought Monitor is released every Thursday at 7:30 a.m. incorporating data received up to 7 a.m. the previous Tuesday. So, as an example, significant rain that fell in the afternoon on a Tuesday would NOT be factored in the newest release of the drought monitor.

This looking back in time is a snapshot of the most current conditions. Data collected on Tuesday builds upon the previous weeks map.

Who uses this important product? Just about everyone in one way or the other. For example, the United States Department of Agriculture uses it to help trigger disaster declarations. The Internal Revenue Service uses the drought monitor for tax deferral on forced livestock sales due to drought. In short, it is used nationally, and on state, local and tribal levels.

Drought is a part of our climate. It can do a lot of damage because its considered a slow-moving hazard. Losses from drought are as costly as those from hurricanes and tornadoes. All of these disasters can affect water supply, energy production, public health and wildlife.

The importance of the U.S. Drought Monitor should not be underestimated. The tool is important for just about all facets of life.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11)  The family of a 95-year-old woman alleges a home attendant abused their beloved grandmother.

PIX11 News reached out to the NYPD, which confirmed the victim had been assaulted in her Harlem home. The victims granddaughters, Michelle and Tiffany Mitchell, spoke with PIX11 News on Saturday about the alleged abuse.

More Local News

The grandmother suffered injuries to her head and right shoulder around 3 p.m. on July 21, police said.

I was traveling on the Amtrak to Maryland, said Michelle Mitchell. My grandmother accidentally didnt hang up the phone, and I heard the home attendant screaming in the background.

Michelle said she called her sister, Tiffany, who called the home attendant to ask what was happening.

According to the family, the home attendant allegedly said she was trying to change the bedsheets, but the grandmother would not let her. Tiffany said she asked the home attendant not to yell at her grandmother and to call should further issues arise.

Sometime later, the family said the grandmother called back, and the home attendant was screaming in the background. The family said they looked at their Ring camera, which provides surveillance footage, and it showed the home attendant assaulting their grandmother.

The sisters called 911 but said officers went to the wrong address. By the time officers responded to the victims address on Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, the attendant had left.

The grandmother was rushed to Mount Sinai Beth Isreal Hospital, where she received treatment for her injuries. Police said she is expected to recover.

Her family said the attack has taken an emotional toll on their grandmother, with their loved one now battling PTSD and anxiety.

If we didnt have those cameras there, who knows what couldve happened, Michelle Mitchell said.

The family also expressed their disappointment, stating that Medflyt at Home, the company where the home attendant allegedly worked, showed no concern for their grandmothers well-being.

No arrests have been made, police said.

PIX11 News attempted to contact Medflyt at Home, but the company could not immediately be reached for comment.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Fayette County schools officials wont describe or answer questions about an item that was removed from the July monthly school board meeting agenda.

Board chairman Tyler Murphy initially said at the July 22 meeting that an item called Midland Station Pilot Agreement would be pulled from the agenda and discussed in closed session with action afterward.

Then Superintendent Demetrus Liggins said that item will not be discussed in closed session. Wed just like to table it until the planning meeting next month for action.

No details were provided about the Midland Station Pilot Agreement at the meeting,

It was tabled because there is nothing to report at this time, district spokesperson Dia Davidson-Smith told the Herald-Leader. Nothing to share at this time.

A Herald-Leader reporter sent an email to Liggins and school board members asking why district officials were not providing a basic description of an issue on an agenda for a public meeting.

They had not responded by Saturday morning. The Herald-Leader has filed a Kentucky Open Records request to get more information.
Following criticism over spending $26,500 on a celebrity speaker for an Aug. 6 school district staff convocation, Fayette Superintendent Demetrus Liggins on Saturday evening announced he had canceled the event.

The FCPS employee back-to-school convocation, originally scheduled for Tuesday, August 6 has been changed to a teacher work day, Liggins told staff in an email.

The event was scheduled for Rupp Arena.

School board candidate and retired principal, Betsy Rutherford and retired teacher Mark Russell told the Herald-Leader this week they thought the event featuring nationally known educator Ron Clark was ill-advised at a time when courses and staff were being cut.

Rutherford said teachers wanted that time to prepare for the new school year.

Fayette KY120United-AFT, a teachers union, in a statement on the social media platform Facebook, praised the cancellation.

We applaud the district for reaching this decision but regret any taxpayer dollars wasted, union officials said. The last convocation was not well received.

We have been advocating against using district funds for these convocations ever since. With a collective bargaining agreement such waste would not have been considered since the financial actions of FCPS would be governed by a contract, the statement said.

AFT has been committed to financial transparency and feel this is reflected in this decision. We appreciate our partners and allies for speaking up about the costs in light of staffing cuts.

In a rare Saturday email addressed to Team FCPS, Liggins said based on valuable feedback and conversations weve had with FCPS educators, our FCEA teacher partners, and stakeholders over the past few days, we have decided to rearrange our back-to-school plans for the 2024-25 school year.

While we firmly believe that celebrating in the workplace is an essential part of building a cohesive team, energizing staff, and fostering a culture of professionalism and recognition - we hear you, and I want you to know that we are listening, Liggins told staff.

A speech by nationally known educator Ron Clark was planned for the canceled event.

We also want to acknowledge that we know this news will be disappointing to many of you, Liggins said.

Every year, thousands of educators across the nation attend sessions to learn from Ron Clark and bring innovative and inspiring ideas back to their classrooms. We are grateful that the Fayette Education Foundation, in support of Team FCPS, was willing to sponsor Ron Clarks visit here in Lexington for all FCPS staff to experience. We will continue to work with them to find ways to support our students and staff, he said.

Aug. 6 will now be a dedicated teacher workday, the superintendent added.

There will be no meetings or faculty sessions planned for that day , allowing everyone in the district to focus entirely on supporting schools in preparation for students to arrive and start their school year on Aug. 14.

As you may know, our Board of Education has made a commitment to provide more time in the classrooms, as evidenced by the adopted work calendars in recent years, and this change will enhance that commitment, he said.

All district staff members will prioritize working on campus that day, whether its assisting in setting up classrooms or performing other necessary tasks, Liggins said.

Liggins also said he would establish a group that would create future events that will help the district create a culture of celebration, recognition, and collective learning for the benefit of students and their academic advancement

Our goal is always to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars and those investments made by many generous community partners and sponsors, Liggins said in the letter to staff.

He said to better understand and meet the needs of educators, he will be sending out a staff survey next week.

I want to come back to the table after reviewing your feedback to discuss ways we can meaningfully support our educators moving forward, Liggins said. I will also continue to look for ways to bring our district together and breakdown silos and separations, despite the many campuses, departments, and individual roles that comprise our large organization.

School district officials did not immediately comment to the Herald-Leader about Liggins decision as outlined in his letter to staff.

Criticism of convocation

The Herald-Leader previously reported the 2022 convocation cost the district more than $100,000.

Earlier this week, Rutherford told the Herald-Leader that the money used for Clarks speech and the Rupp Arena convocation could have been used to pay teachers for hours spent preparing their classrooms for opening of schools. which are non-contract hours they spend on their own time; or for music, chorus, art, drama, physical education, and library, Rutherford said.

It also could buy books for kids, pay for additional staff to lower class size or pay for professional development needed for individual schools, she said.
Listening to Lee Greenwoods God Bless the USA always stirs emotion. No other song inspires patriotism quite like it. Even Donald Trump has enmeshed himself with the song in such a way that causes people to perceive that the love they feel for America can be summed up in his persona.

As a native Kansan living in Austria, when I hear the lyrics, And Im proud to be an American, where at least I know Im free, I pause at the use of at least in those poignant words. They imply we can find solace and gratitude in our certainty of freedom, while hinting at the idea that perhaps we see ourselves as the sole possessors of freedom.

Freedom includes the right to make personal choices, speak freely, practice any religion and maintain privacy. Yet, these rights are under threat from the conservative supermajority on our Supreme Court and the political party it aligns with.

In parts of the United States, womens reproductive rights have been restricted  rights women in 120 other countries possess. This undermines womens autonomy, exacerbates inequality and threatens health and safety, irrationally allowing an abuser to choose his childs mother.

Freedom of speech is threatened by claims that everything will be OK  if the left allows it to be, in the ominous words of Project 2025 architect Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation  as if peace depends on conformity to a singular viewpoint. This manipulative stance invalidates differing opinions and fosters fear, while asserting the perpetrators superiority.

Despite the First Amendments separation of church and state, religious figures influence voting, politicians proselytize and states such as Oklahoma are imposing biblical teachings in public schools, despite the fact that about a third of the U.S. population does not adhere to any religion, Christian-affiliated or not.

Americas fundamental purpose is to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, as the preamble to the Constitution states.

To secure our legacy of freedom, we must uphold the ideals of our Founding Fathers. And I wont forget the men who died/Who gave that right to me/And Id gladly stand up next to you/And defend her still today, as Greenwood sings. We can defend our constitutional freedoms only by voting to protect personal liberties that have long been championed by our forebears and admired worldwide.

US president reflects our character to the world

Our president is a reflection of our national character. Will we choose a diplomatic leader or a twice-impeached former president, found liable by juries of his peers for sexual assault and business fraud, and convicted criminally of fraud and election interference? While some revel in Americas turmoil, Europeans largely hope for the election of a Democratic candidate to strengthen alliances and to continue to lead the world successfully in navigating a global economic crisis.

The risk of an authoritarian shift is real, especially with a Supreme Court undermining personal freedoms, not to mention due process and equal treatment  negating the principle that no one, not even a president, is above the law. Donald Trumps actions while in office  extorting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and inciting violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 20201  highlight the need for a leader the world can trust, honor and respect. Diplomacy and integrity are not optional qualities in the leader of the free world.

A shift back to a so-called America first approach would destabilize world order and erode our leadership. If not the United States, then who? Our identity is rooted in promoting democracy, human rights , and global leadership  essential for peace and stability  and that is who the world depends on us to be.

Please dont downplay the events unfolding in the U.S., which bear striking similarities to those here in Austria nearly a century ago. For nearly a decade, aggressive and confrontational rhetoric has strained our collective American psyche, normalizing bullying, indecency, fraud and unethical behavior that people in countries around the world find inexcusable.

Today, sensationalism too often overshadows fact-checking as as many media sources favor Trumps flamboyance for ratings. However, media coverage does not determine a presidents qualifications.

This election presents a critical choice: to defend our way of life and uphold our role as a beacon of hope and freedom  or to adopt an ultra-conservative ideology that threatens personal liberty and international relations, underpinned by recent Supreme Court decisions that collectively erode core American ideals.

Voting for candidates who believe in and champion democracy upholds the ideals envisioned by our Founding Fathers. As the song tells us, Cause the flag still stands for freedom/And they cant take that away.

With love for my country, from Vienna, God bless the U.S.A.

Kim Brening Solomon is a Kansas native currently residing in Vienna, Austria. She is an author and former editor of the fashion and lifestyle magazine Fab LStyle.
STATESVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Im doing this because my 24-year-old daughter, Sophia, was killed by fentanyl on August 16th. And I didnt even know how to spell fentanyl, said Barb Walsh, the executive director of the Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina.

Shes been a voice for families suffering the loss of a loved one by fentanyl poisoning.

Its just a network of damaged families who are getting together and finding their power and their passion to heal one another, but also to stop that not from killing someone else, Walsh said.

The network includes counties like Mecklenburg, Rowan, Iredell, and Catawba. Pictures of those who lost their lives to the poisoning lined the walls at the Bristol Road community center.

Many of their families are doing their best to keep their memories alive.

Fentanyl took my husband on November 2023, And it has changed our whole daily routine. He was in my house every single day walking around and now hes not, said Stephanie Triplett. She started Embers for Ashes in response to the death of her husband.

In 2022, my son T.J. passed away of fentanyl poisoning. He had 18 nanograms of fentanyl in his body, which is enough to kill nine people. He had taken what he thought was oxycodone, but it was a pill that had fentanyl. And hes been gone since 2022, said Stephanie Duck. She started TJs Story Lives On.

Through tears, families discussed their losses  but also laid out an action plan to save other victims from death  putting naloxone in every school.

We just dont know where a young person might encounter fentanyl. And so the safest thing is to have an antidote within the school, just like an ied, just like an EpiPen, just like a fire extinguisher. Its not expensive. So were advocating for doses per school, not just with school resource officers, but as an emergency first aid kit, Walsh said.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Finnish President responds to strike on Russian airfield Olenya: We must accept that war will close in to us

Finnish President Alexander Stubb has said that there are no direct threats to the country's security in the wake of the strike on the Russian airfield Olenya in the Murmansk Oblast which is less than 200 kilometres from the Finnish border.

Source: Finnish broadcaster Yle, European Pravda reports

Details: Stubb said that he had held talks with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson regarding the attack on the Russian airfield.

"The main message is that we have no cause for concern in Finland. We have the situation under control and are able to respond," he said.

Meanwhile, the Finnish president said that Finns should accept the fact that the war will come closer to Finland's borders, as "it is not that far to fly from Helsinki to Kyiv".

"We have to accept the fact that Ukraine has to use all their assets to win this war, and this also means various strikes. So Russia will continue to launch hybrid strikes," Stubb commented.

Ukrainian media reported that Ukrainian drones damaged a Russian Tu-22M3 bomber at the Olenya airbase, located less than 200 kilometres from Finland's northeastern border.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb earlier said that the recent NATO summit in Washington was intended to send a clear message to Vladimir Putin: his war in Ukraine has suffered a fundamental failure.



Support UP or become our patron!
JAMAICA, Queens (PIX11)  A fire broke out at a Jamaica building early Sunday morning, injuring eight people, according to fire officials.

The fire broke out just before 3 a.m. at a two-story building on Liberty Avenue and burned until around 4:40 a.m., according to the FDNY.

Car crashes into house in West Babylon, 3 injured: SCPD

As it burned, eight people were injured, including two firefighters with minor injuries, officials said. Two additional people were taken to area hospitals, and four others refused medical attention after being treated on the scene.

Everybody [was] screaming It was incredible, we are in shock at this moment, one resident of the building told PIX11 News.

Neighbors said several families live in the building, and the American Red Cross was on the scene helping displaced people Sunday morning.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, according to the FDNY.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Firefighters rescue man trying to get into Ohio school through chimney

Firefighters rescued a man trying to get into an Ohio school through the chimney on Saturday, according to our CBS affiliates WOIO-19 TV.

>> 1 person in Ohio wins $150K on Powerball ticket

The incident happened at St. Patricks School, near Puritas Avenue and Rocky River Drive in Cleveland.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

According to a post from the Cleveland Fire Department, firefighters removed bricks from the lower part of the chimney to rescue the man.

Cleveland firefighters rescued the man on Saturday.

The man was in stable condition when paramedics took him to the hospital, WOIO-19 reported.

It is not clear if he will face any charges for trying to enter the school.

#CLEFIREONSCENE Confined Space Rescue @ St. Patricks School, Puritas and Rocky River in B3. Adult male attempted to enter school through chimney. Extricated from lower section by firefighters removing bricks. Victim stable, transported by @ClevelandEMS 26 to @metrohealthCLE. pic.twitter.com/Koqwng8Ihb  ClevelandFire (@ClevelandFire) July 27, 2024
Five people were sent to hospitals following chain reaction crash

HARRISON COUNTY  The five occupants in a four-vehicle chain reaction crash were transported to hospitals Thursday afternoon.

The crash occurred near the intersection of U.S. Route 250 and Deersville Road (Harrison County Road 55) along Tappan Lake.

According to the Steubenville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, at 4:30 p.m. a semi truck and a trailer was westbound on U.S. 250 when it rear-ended a Chevrolet Cruze, pushing the car into the opposite lane. That car was struck head-on by a Nissan Titan pickup truck traveling eastbound. The Nissan went through the guardrail, and was partially submerged in water. A red Hyundai Elantra behind the pickup truck then struck the Nissan and debris on the roadway.

The semi and trailer caught fire.

Recovery apparatus from Rosenberry Towing can be seen in operation at the scene of a crash on US 250 at Tappan Lake.

Hopedale Fire Department first responded to the scene, assisted by Cadiz and Scio, along with the Ohio Department of Transportation for traffic control.

Two adults and a child were transported via medical helicopter to hospitals for further treatment and evaluation.

Environmental factors at play

Scio firefighters set up a containment boom to control any potential hazardous materials. It was determined that engine fluids and anti-freeze had leaked into the water. After pulling out the truck, officials didn't see any further contamination, he said.

Eric Wilson, director of the Harrison County Emergency Management Agency, was called to the scene because of potential hazardous materials in Tappan Lake, since the pickup truck went into the water. The water of Tappan Lake is the drinking water supply for Cadiz.

Another environmental concern was that the semi-truck that caught fire in the crash burned so hot that one of the diesel tanks melted. Fuel was moving toward the water, so Scio firefighters worked quickly to contain spillage only to the roadway.

Later in the evening officials took a boat ride to further investigate possible contamination. They were looking for a rainbow color on the water or any smell and found no issues, he said.

"From an environmental standpoint, there was no contamination," Wilson said.

Lauren Borell with ODOT District 11 said that Route 250 was shut down from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

OSHP was assisted by the Harrison County Sheriffs Office, ODOT, the Harrison County EMA, the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, Cadiz Fire and EMS, Tappan Lake Fire and EMS, Hopedale Fire and EMS, Deersville EMS and Rosenberry Towing.

The crash remains under investigation.

T-R staff photographer Andrew Dolph can be reached by phone at 330-289-6072, or by email at adolph3@gannett.com. You can also find him on Instagram @dolphphoto. Jon Baker contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Four-vehicle crash closed Route 250 for several hours
SULPHUR, OKLA (KFOR)  Its been three months since an E-F 3 tornado ripped through Sulphur. As they work to rebuild, a non-profit from Florida called Save The Closet stepped in to help. The founder said they travel to different states after natural disasters to give away free clothes to residents.

Sunday, they set up shop in Sulphur and hundreds of people were able to snag some free clothes.

July 28 clothing giveaway for Sulphur storm victims

Locals said a giveaway like this means a lot to the community as theyre still feeling the impact of Aprils devastating tornado.

We hope this is a blessing for the whole community and it can help their dollar stretch a little further, maybe give them some relief. If we wouldnt wear it, we dont share it, said Katy Lingle Pinson, the founder and director of Save The Closet.

On Sunday, locals grabbed a shopping bag and searched the hangers and bins to pick up anything they wanted.

Theres no price tag and no limit.

I mean, it helps rebuild lives. People can go out and they can spend the money on rebuilding their homes again, said Chris Jingozian who stopped by the event.

Save The Closet said Oklahoma is the seventh state theyve been able to help.

Discount store provides relief for tight budget families

It makes me really happy that people reached out to Sulphur after such a big catastrophe, said Lorry Ward, who lives in Sulphur.

There were clothes for everyone in the family, but the top find was clothes for school.

You cant beat it. Thats why we made a mad dash, said Ward.

Kind of boost the spirits for the kids going to school with clean clothes on, new clothes and shoes, said Mark Estlack, who works in maintenance at the Murray County Expo Center.

As a community works to rebuild, progress is already showing three months later.

We formed a task force and weve been meeting weekly and with business owners, property owners, the entire community has been invited to those meetings and coming up with strategic plans on where to start and trying to get a game plan so we can get things rolling, said Seandra Ramer, the President of the Sulphur Chamber of Commerce.

OHP search for witness of fatal crash on July 6 near Henryetta

Until then, locals hope the state will continue to support where its possible.

Come to Murray County, help support the Artesian and the local businesses around here. It means a lot more than you know, said Jaden Cohrs, who stopped by the giveaway.

Were Sulphur strong, said Ward.

There will be a benefit concert fundraiser on August 17 in Sulphur to help support the downtown revitalization efforts. For more information, click here.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida inmate led deputies on a seven-hour search after he escaped a hospital where he was being treated on Saturday.

According to the Flagler County Sheriffs Office, 29-year-old Anthony Romine had fallen at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and was receiving treatment at AdventHealth Palm Coast when he fled on foot.

Elementary school principal arrested for DUI, fleeing Hillsborough deputies, officials say

Flagler officials released a be on the lookout for Romine at 6:46 a.m. and searched for seven hours. They announced that they found him at 2:07 p.m., in the woods near an Amoco gas station next to I-95, hiding underneath foliage and underbrush.

Deputies said a clerk at the gas station reported that the man had come into the store, asking to use a phone.

It was later discovered that the suspect faked an injury in hopes of escaping and going back to Ohio, where he is from, detectives revealed.

Flagler County Sheriffs Office

Flagler County Sheriffs Office

Flagler County Sheriffs Office

Flagler County Sheriffs Office

Romine was initially arrested on July 3 for petit theft, violation of pre-trial release and counterfeit, according to the sheriffs office.

From house party to hoosegow: Deputies make 10 arrests in Polk County house party bust

We worked until we got him. I commend our team for staying on his trail, and the community for seeing something, saying something until this dirtbag was captured, Sheriff Staly said. All he accomplished was to add additional arrests to his list of crimes and got bitten by our K-9, who gets a special treat for taking a bite out of crime when he tried to flee again. Fortunately, no one was hurt except this dirtbag who was crying after he was caught by our K-9.

On Saturday, he was back in custody for his escape, along with battering an officer and resisting arrest without violence.

The sheriff said they would review the incident to determine how the deputy assigned to monitor Romine allowed for his escape.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
FLORIDA (KLFY)  A 15-year-old boy in Florida ran one mile Saturday in honor of Lafayette Sr. Cpl. Segus Jolivette, who was killed Thursday in an hours-long hostage standoff in Jeanerette.

Zechariah Cartledge has raised more than $1 million in grants through his organization, Running for Heroes, to support injured first responders and families of those who have died in the line of duty. Cartledge said he hopes honoring the fallen officer can bring a smile to those who are grieving.

Im very blessed to be in the situation that I am, Cartledge said. Im glad to be in the position to help out families through the hardest times and hopefully this run helps out Cpl. Segus, Segus family, and his department.

Related Stories

Cartledge said his love for running grew after getting the idea to start honoring fallen heroes. From there, his non-profit organization was created.

Ive done it over 1800 times since 2019, Cartledge said. Each run we try to keep it original because we know its a different family watching and probably a lot more people that have never heard about me because it hit close to them.

He encourages children of all ages to never be afraid to set their goals high.

Its important for kids to express their feelings and express what they support, Cartledge said.

Anybody can start anything if they put their mind to it, hopefully stories like mine can also help them out if they have a passion for something, he continued.

The blue flag used in the run will be sent to Sr. Cpl. Jolivettes family, as well as a handwritten note, thanking him for his service.

Running 4 Hereos is accepting applications for runners.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

KLFY Daily Digest

Latest News

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed western Iowa under a slight risk for severe weather this evening and tonight, as a feature called a mesoscale convective vortex rolls into western Iowa. This is basically a small area of low pressure that began yesterday as an organized area of storms to our west. It has been kicking off storms in northwest Iowa today as I type this.

Well see a round of storms move into central Iowa late this afternoon and early evening, then another area of storms move in later tonight. Both could include gusty winds, hail and heavy rain. The evolution of those storms is shown in the 3 images below.

The HRRR models forecast, below, shows that we may have organized updrafts in these storms, increasing our severe risk.

These storms will depart by mid-morning Monday, leaving us with a hot day and a heat advisory for southwest Iowa from 1-8PM.

I have left thunderstorm chances out of Tuesdays forecast for now, as I think itll be too hot aloft to get much going. Storm chances will move back in late Wednesday, into Thursday and maybe even early Friday morning. Colorado States severe weather algorithm, below, shows that we may see a stronger storm or two late Wednesday.

The evolution of our midweek storm chances, courtesy of the European computer model, is shown in the three images below.

Turning to temperatures, we stay on the hot side of things into the weekend:

and the extended outlooks, below, look to keep us in above-average temperatures.

Your WHO13 7-day forecast:

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
Forget Napa Valley and Tuscany. Here are 7 underrated wine regions I love visiting as a sommelier.

Most people haven't had the full experience of trying Serbian wine. Ljubomir Stajkic/Shutterstock

As a sommelier, I think more people should know about underrated wine destinations.

Instead of only looking into Tuscany, consider visiting Lazio on your next trip to Italy.

Valle de Guadalupe in Mexico and Tokaj in Hungary are often overlooked but have great wine.

I first delved into wine while studying in Australia. I ventured to wineries in the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa Valley, and the wines I sampled were a far cry from Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill and $6 Californian "champagne."

This initial exposure spurred my serious wine pursuit in Italy. By 2009, I'd completed an 18-month program and became a certified sommelier.

France and Italy are the two top-producing wine countries in the world, so naturally, I've had delightful experiences exploring their better-known regions. But I sought diversity beyond their structured wine tourism and hospitality scenes.

In 2012, I joined the #winelover Facebook group, a platform for like-minded wine enthusiasts who arrange meet-ups and trips. My firsthand encounters via the group have eclipsed any textbook  solidifying my belief that visiting different regions is the best way to understand wine.

Here are seven of my favorite, underrated wine regions I've visited.

Georgia has a long wine-making history.

Sighnaghi is a stunning city in Georgia's Kakheti region. leszczem/Shutterstock

The country of Georgia has been making wine for over 8,000 years, so it's an essential destination for any wine enthusiast.

Kakheti, Georgia's wine epicenter, has many wineries to explore. I think you need multiple days to absorb the region's wines and culture, allowing time for visits to famous qvevri makers and monasteries.

I also recommend taking a day trip from the capital city of Tbilisi to visit Sighnaghi, often dubbed the City of Love for its round-the-clock wedding services alongside stunning Greater Caucasus mountain views.

Wine expert Natia Khidasheli hosts tours that can facilitate your journey from Tbilisi.

Serbia is located along the same latitude as renowned French wine regions.

Valjevo, Serbia, has beautiful vineyards. Valery Bocman/Shutterstock

Serbia has a similar climate to famous French wine regions and showcases immense potential as a wine-producing nation.

Once a key European wine producer in the 19th century, the country faced challenges from phylloxera, wars, and communist rule, leading to vineyard devastation. But in recent years, a surge in small wineries has helped revitalize the industry.

Quantities remain limited, but Serbian wines continue to elevate in quality, garnering international recognition.

Prominent wineries like Matalj Winery, celebrated for its traditional winemaking techniques and rich history, mark Serbia's renaissance. Additionally, Aleksandrovic Winery shines with innovative blends and sustainable practices, and Despotika Winery stands out for picturesque vineyards and award-winning wines.

The Douro Valley in Portugal is one of the world's most esteemed viticultural areas.

Vineyards weave around the slopes of Portugal's Douro Valley. trabantos/Shutterstock

The Douro Valley is Portugal's renowned wine region that has incredible viticultural areas for vineyards. In fact, it's the world's oldest demarcated wine region, famed for making port.

Beyond fortified wines like port, the area produces a range of table wines.

The Douro Valley's popularity as a wine-tourism destination has surged in recent decades. The region's miles of terraced vineyards offer breathtaking vistas and scenic river panoramas.

I'd book a river cruise aboard a traditional rabelo boat to explore the area. But Catavino Wine Tours also offers some authentic experiences by fostering relationships with smaller regional producers.

Priorat in the Catalonia region is my favorite spot in Spain.

There's lots to explore in Catalonia, including Priorat. puyalroyo/Shutterstock

Priorat, located in northeastern Spain near Tarragona, boasts a rugged landscape framed by the Montsant Mountains. It offers panoramic views of the Pyrenees on clear days and embodies a rich viticultural history.

The Carthusian monks initiated winemaking in the region during the 12th century, and Priorat embraces its past with sites like the Monastery of Escaladei, often called the "stairway to God."

Noteworthy wineries like Clos Figueras and Vinyes Domenech welcome visitors and showcase the region's distinct offerings.

But if you're looking for more guidance, Sinisa Curovic and Sara Curovic Ronnberg of Sweet Easy Wine Tours organize visits from Tarragona.

There are so many wineries to explore in Tokaj, Hungary.

The town of Tokaj is known for producing Hungarian wine. daulon/Shutterstock

Tokaj, Hungary's wine region, consists of about 30 villages and towns that all house wineries where visitors can sample a range of dry and sweet varieties.

The region's cold volcanic-rock cellars and historical ambiance set it apart as a must-visit destination.

Beyond wine, medieval castles, hiking trails, and fine-dining establishments beckon travelers to delve into the region's rich offerings.

Taste Hungary, a Budapest-based wine and food tour company, arranges nice excursions to Tokaj if you're looking for a broader view of the region.

Instead of Tuscany, visit Italy's less popular Lazio region.

Between wineries and historic villas, there's much to explore in Italy's Lazio region. ValerioMei/Shutterstock

There's no need to endure lengthy drives from Rome to Tuscany to savor some exceptional Italian wine. Frascati, nestled in the Lazio region, is a quick train ride away from the capital city.

The train ushers passengers through the rolling hills of Castelli Romani, which are adorned with small towns, vineyards, and olive groves.

Frascati boasts world-class wines and a storied viticultural history dating back to the 5th century BC. The town's higher elevations afford it sweeping views of Rome and the Tyrrhenian coast.

Beyond the town of Frascati, the viticultural area encompasses Grottaferrata and Monte Porzio Catone, stretching northwards into Rome's southern suburbs and eastwards into Monte Compatri.

If you're planning a trip, Merumalia produces organic wines in scenic locations and La Torretta crafts wines in ancient Roman cisterns. For an even more enriching experience, Cantina Ribela produces outstanding natural wines that pay homage to the region's heritage.

Casa Mia also organizes food and wine tours throughout the area.

Valle de Guadalupe is a wine haven in Mexico.

Valle de Guadalupe isn't very far from parts of California. Sherry V Smith/Shutterstock

Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico, lies just an hour south of Tijuana, making it an ideal weekend getaway for wine aficionados from Los Angeles or San Diego.

The region's unique positioning in the northern Baja peninsula gives it a Mediterranean microclimate conducive to year-round wine production.

Valle de Guadalupe has over 150 wineries, and if you're coming from the US border, I recommend booking trips with Baja Winery Tours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Former NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer considering mayoral run

NEW YORK (PIX11)  Candidates are already lining up to challenge New York City Mayor Eric Adams in the next mayoral election, which will be held in November 2025.

One potential candidate, former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, sat down with PIX on Politics host Dan Mannarino to discuss his campaign and how he would differentiate himself from Adams.

More Local News

What people want is a mayor that understands finance and knows that we can be that aspiration of a city that leads the nation as opposed to this minimalist government that we have today, said Stringer.

Stringer ran against Adams in the Democratic primary for mayor in 2021. He finished fifth on the first ballot, and his standing did not improve via ranked-choice voting. His campaign was marred by allegations of sexual misconduct.

Jean Kim alleged Stringer groped her without consent two decades ago, when he was a member of the state Assembly and she was a campaign volunteer. Stringer denied the allegations, saying he and Kim had a brief, consensual relationship.

Watch the video player for the full interview.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Fort Lee police fatally shot a woman early Sunday morning after responding to calls of a mental health crisis, according to the state Attorney General's Office, which said it was investigating the incident.

At about 1:25 a.m., borough police responded to The Pinnacle apartment complex on Main Street after a man called 911 to say his sister was having a mental health crisis, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement Sunday afternoon. The caller said his sister was holding a knife, Platkin's office said.

According to the statement, when police arrived, an officer spoke to the 911 caller outside of the apartment unit. The officer then opened the door to the unit and observed two people  one appearing to be the sister and another, unidentified woman. The two women told police not to enter the apartment and then closed the door, the Attorney General's Office said.

Fort Lee police fatally shot a woman at a Main Street apartment complex, the Attorney General's Office said on Sunday. The incident is under investigation.

After the women failed to comply with requests to let them in, police "breached the door," the statement said.

"As the sister approached the officers in the hallway, one officer fired a single shot, striking the female in the chest," it said.

Officers at the scene provided aid to the victim, who was taken to Englewood Hospital, Platkin's office said. She was pronounced dead at about 1:58 a.m.

Police recovered a knife at the scene, the statement said. The deceased woman's name was not revealed, and the Attorney General's Office said it would release no further information at this time.

"The investigation is ongoing," the office added.

Past Fort Lee shooting drew investigation

Recent shootings by North Jersey police have come under scrutiny  and calls for a different approach to people dealing with mental illness. They include the fatal shootings of Paterson's Najee Seabrooks in March 2023 and Andrew Washington in Jersey City last August.

A similar incident took place in February 2023, when Fort Lee police shot and killed Mohamed Bounaouar, 42, of Las Vegas after he moved toward officers while holding a knife. Just last month, the Attorney General's Office announced that those officers will not face criminal charges after a state grand jury voted not to pursue the case.

A law enacted by New Jersey in 2019 requires Platkin's office to investigate any deaths that occur during an encounter with a law enforcement officer or while a victim is in custody, and to present those findings to a grand jury.

Fort Lee police referred all questions to the Attorney General's Office.

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay , on X @maddiemcgayy , and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Fort Lee NJ police fatally shoot woman after mental health call
France renews vow to defend freedom of navigation as it showcases fighter jets in the Philippines

Air Force French air force Brig. Gen. Guillaume Thomas, left, and French Ambassador to Manila Marie Fontanel stand in front of French-made Rafale fighter jets as a nannual French air force mission called Pagase takes place at Clark air base, in Pampanga Province, north of Manila, Philippines, Sunday July 28, 2024. (AP photo/Jim Gomez)

CLARK, Philippines (AP)  France renewed a commitment to help defend freedom of navigation and overflight in the Asia-Pacific Sunday and said that its supersonic fighter jets  a pair of which landed for the first time in the Philippines  and advance military power would enable it to respond rapidly to any humanitarian or security crisis in the region.

France is also working to quickly conclude a defense pact that would allow it to deploy a larger number of forces for joint exercises to the Philippines, French Ambassador to Manila Marie Fontanel said.

France has moved to broaden its defense engagements in the Indo-Pacific region, including with the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations.

That dovetails with the effort of the administration of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to boost his countrys territorial defense by allowing a larger US military presence in the Philippines under a 2014 defense agreement and by building security alliances with Asian and Western nations as it deals with Chinas increasingly assertive actions in the disputed South China Sea.

An annual French air force mission called Pegase, which showcases its combat power and travels to friendly countries to deepen defense relations, arrived over the weekend at Clark air base, a part of the former U.S. Air Force base, north of Manila, with two French-made Rafale fighter jets and air force cargo and transport aircraft.

The French air force flew a small group of journalists, including from The Associated Press, aboard an Airbus A400M cargo aircraft over Philippine waters facing the South China Sea Sunday to demonstrate its crucial capability to undertake aerial refueling. But pockets of turbulence prompted the French military to abort the maneuver for safety reasons.

Philippine air force personnel will also get the chance to fly onboard the Rafale jets and familiarize themselves with the aircraft. The fighter jets have been a game changer," French air force Brig. Gen. Guillaume Thomas, who was heading the air force mission, told a news conference.

They enable us to go very far and very fast and to be able to react very quicklyin case of a humanitarian crisis or even security crisis, Thomas said. We are able to deploy forces from France to be in this area in the Pacific in a very short notice.

The French air force mission is not designed to target any specific country or any specific situation and does not aim to escalate regional tensions, Fontanel said.

France and the Philippines have begun preliminary talks on a status-of-forces agreement that would provide a legal framework and enable troops from each country to hold exercises in the others territory. France has been tasked to finish an initial draft of the agreement by September that would be the basis of future talks, Fontanel said.

Aside from France, the Philippines has been holding separate talks with Canada and New Zealand for such agreements. It signed a similar pact with Japan earlier this month.

China has strongly criticized such alliance-building and large-scale U.S. military exercises in the Philippines, saying the Philippines is ganging up with countries from outside Asia, and warned that military drills could instigate a confrontation and undermine regional stability.

Philippine military officials have dismissed Chinas criticism, saying the drills and alliances are aimed at boosting Manilas territorial defense and are not directed at any particular country.

___

Associated Press journalist Haruka Nuga contributed to this report from Bangkok.
ANTRIM TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WHTM)  A man is in custody after State Police say he fled from Troopers while trying to avoid a felony arrest warrant.

According to a press release from Pennsylvania State Police Chambersburg, on July 27, 2024, authorities were requested by the Northern York Police Department to serve a felony arrest warrant for Intimidation of a Victim/Witness charges to 43-year-old Brett Daniel Crone of Greencastle. State Police say troopers were familiar with Crone, as they had served a Protection from Abuse Order on him a few hours prior.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

This Week in Pennsylvania

State Police say at around 8:40 p.m., Crone was spotted in his vehicle in the area of Dresden Circle and Wedgewood Drive in Antrim Township. A traffic stop was attempted but disobeyed by Crone, and Troopers initiated pursuit.

Officers were able to track down Crone and take him into custody in the Camden Drive area at Essex Circle. State Police say that in the process of taking Crone into custody, a single round was discharged from a Troopers pistol. No troopers were injured, and Crone suffered minor injuries while being taken into custody.

Crone was lodged in the Franklin County Prison on the York County warrant.

The investigation is ongoing.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Frivolous lawsuits threaten Roundup use and Idaho mining. We must put them to an end | Opinion

Idahos future is inherently tied to the health and prosperity of its local industries, especially agriculture and natural resources. These industries are the backbone of our economy, providing well-paying jobs and ensuring economic security for our communities. This security, however, is under threat.

Frivolous lawsuits spearheaded by extremist environmental groups and trial lawyers have put hundreds of jobs in my district at risk, along with threatening the livelihoods of countless farmers and ranchers across the entire state of Idaho. This is unacceptable, and as an Idaho State Senator and multi-generational farmer and rancher, I am committed to finding solutions that protect our agricultural community, promote our natural resources, and prioritize the safety and prosperity of all Idahoans.

In the past legislative session, I was proud to sponsor a bill designed to reinforce common-sense laws, close legal loopholes, and protect Idahos critical agriculture and mining industries.

Suppose elitist trial lawyers succeed in their agenda. In that case, we will be forced to rely on China and other countries that are not favorable to us for essential inputs for agricultural products, which will jeopardize Idaho jobs, our food security and our national security.

Idahos importance in the natural resources sector cannot be overstated. It is home to the only elemental phosphorus production in the Western Hemisphere. This phosphorus is a key ingredient in glyphosate, the active component in the widely used herbicide Roundup.

The ore used to produce elemental phosphorus is mined near my farm and ranch in the Soda Springs area of Southeastern Idaho, where the P4 phosphate mine and elemental phosphorus plant provide hundreds of jobs and contribute millions to the tax base, including $60 million annually in local vendor spending. This operation is a cornerstone of our local economy, helping to support Idaho families and communities.

Glyphosate is essential for our agricultural productivity. It is used for weed control in the production of key commodities such as potatoes, alfalfa, barley, and sugar beets. Without glyphosate, we would face lower yields and higher production costs, threatening our farmers livelihoods and everyones food security. Glyphosate has also enabled conservation practices like reduced soil tillage, which is used on over 43% of commodity acres in Idaho, promoting sustainable farming methods.

Trial lawyers across the country are suggesting that glyphosate is carcinogenic despite extensive evidence to the contrary. If these efforts succeed, it will create significant uncertainty about the availability of glyphosate-based products for farmers.

Glyphosate has been repeatedly deemed safe by leading health regulators worldwide, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the European Chemicals Agency. These agencies have concluded that glyphosate poses no risk to human health when used as directed and is not carcinogenic.

The stakes are high. Endless litigation over glyphosate risks putting Idahos elemental phosphorus production out of business, leaving us dependent on foreign sources, particularly China, for our agricultural needs. It also creates significant risk and uncertainty for our farmers and ranchers ability to access glyphosate-based products and the many crucial benefits they provide, both economically and environmentally. We must act now to protect Idahoans from extremist agendas that threaten our economy and communities.

To address the concerns, I have supported legislation that ensures our farmers can access essential products without the constant threat of baseless lawsuits, and I am committed to supporting policy that safeguards Idahoans from these threats. By reinforcing common-sense laws and protecting our critical industries, we can ensure a prosperous future for Idaho. Let us stand together to defend our economy and our way of life from those who seek to undermine them.

Sen. Mark Harris is a Republican representing District 35 in the Idaho Senate.
Mary E. Bivins Foundation Challenge Grant to benefit Interfaith Hunger Project

The clock is ticking on a remarkable opportunity to double the impact of your generosity. Thanks to a Challenge Grant from the Mary E. Bivins Foundation, you can help turn $30,000 into $60,000. All to benefit the Interfaith Hunger Project.

The Bivins Foundation has a rich history of supporting initiatives that enhance the quality of life for individuals across the Texas Panhandle, especially seniors. Now, their generosity extends to our mission of alleviating hunger in our community. Heres the challenge: If Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle can raise $30,000 on its own for the Interfaith Hunger Project between Feb. 15 and Aug. 15, The Bivins Foundation will match it dollar for dollar. As of now, with pledged money and contributions received for the program, the total is more than $22,800.

To participate, simply make a donation earmarked for the Interfaith Hunger Project and postmarked by Aug. 15.

Discovery Center announces fundraising campaign to replace blue roof

The Don Harrington Discovery Center has launched its "Raise the Roof!" public fundraising campaign, with the goal of raising $500,000 to replace the center's iconic blue roof by the end of this year.

Installed over 40 years ago by ARLO Environmental Inc., the blue roof has become a beloved and essential feature of the center. However, due to its age, the roof is now experiencing significant issues, including leaks, loss of air conditioning, and structural damage. Discovery Center staff has already raised over half of the budget through insurance proceeds, grants, and individual donations, and is now asking the community at large to invest in this important icon of our town.

The Discovery Center is calling on community members, local businesses, and philanthropists to contribute to this significant capital campaign. The funds raised will ensure that the new roof continues to meet the high standards of safety, sustainability, and the iconic look that the center is known for. All donations are tax-deductible, and will be recognized on donor signage to celebrate the completion of the campaign.

How the community can help: Please consider a donation of any amount to help continue providing a safe, engaging, and inspiring environment for all visitors. Visit their campaign page at www.discoverycentercollective.org ordonorbox.org/raise-the-roof-2024 to make a secure online donation, or visit the Discovery Centers front desk to make a donation in person. Businesses and organizations interested in sponsorship can contact Dani Ramos, dramos@dhdc.org for more information on supporting the capital campaign at various recognition and exposure levels. High visibility sponsor levels are still available. And help spread the word by following them on Instagram and Facebook, and sharing their campaign posts to help them reach a wider audience.

Almost 50 years ago, Amarillo citizens believed they could build up our community by creating more educational and career opportunities for our region, says Chief Executive Officer Wendy Taylor. Now is the time for our community to come together once again to invest in the lives of everyone in Amarillo, and the legacy of the Don Harrington Discovery Center.

Region 16 names Superintendent, School Board of the Year

Region 16 Education Service Center proudly announces Wade Callaway, Superintendent of Gruver Independent School District, as the 2024 Region 16 Superintendent of the Year.

Callaway will represent Region 16 in the Texas Association of School Boards' annual Superintendent of the Year award program, which has recognized exemplary superintendents for excellence and achievement in educational leadership since 1984.

Superintendent Callaway is a remarkable choice for Region 16 Superintendent of the Year, said Tanya Larkin, Ed.D., Region 16 Executive Director. He has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation within his district. We are confident he will represent our region exceptionally well at the state level.

In addition, Region 16 is proud to announce the Wellington Independent School District Board of Trustees has been named the 2024 Outstanding School Board of the Year for the region. Education service centers across the state nominate school boards in their region for this honor. The award is presented by the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA).

The school leaders at Wellington ISD are truly deserving of the 2024 School Board of the Year award, Larkin said. Their unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation, combined with visionary leadership, has set a high standard. By prioritizing student success and fostering community engagement, this board has consistently empowered students to reach their full potential.

School boards nominated to represent their regions are in the running to be named one of five Texas Honor Boards, one of which is chosen as Texas' Outstanding School Board. The Wellington ISD Board of Trustees will represent Region 16 at the 2024 TASA/TASB Convention this September in San Antonio, where the Superintendent of the Year will also be announced.

City of Amarillo recognizes National Zookeeper Week

The late Steve Irwin  better known as The Crocodile Hunter  was a major influence on a young Noah Mitchell. For Kenzie Morris, she grew up at the Amarillo Zoo, serving as a volunteer during high school. Sarah Stuckey loves animals, and wanted to find a job that would allow her to pursue her passion. The trio have found their calling at the Amarillo Zoo.

Mitchell, Morris and Stuckey are new zoo employees  all three have about a month under their belt at the zoo. Their unique jobs and love for animals are primary reasons for National Zookeeper Week, a national event that ran through July 27.

Noah Mitchell with the Amarillo Zoo.

Mitchell is from Borger, and has wanted to work at the Amarillo Zoo specifically for about two years. Steve Irwin was a big influence on my life, Mitchell said. The job has been exactly what I wanted, and I love it.

Kenzie Morris with the Amarillo Zoo.

Morris is an Amarillo native who volunteered at the zoo as a high school student. The Amarillo Zoo was always on my radar, Morris said. I just graduated from Lubbock Christian University, and I feel really blessed with this opportunity. The atmosphere here is really special.

Sarah Stuckey with the Amarillo Zoo.

Stuckey, who recently got married, is from Abilene and always wanted to work with animals. I really thought this could be a cool job, and it is, Stuckey said. It has been much more than I expected  and in a good way.

Their jobs start around 8:30 a.m. each day with feeding the animals and cleaning the animal enclosures. However, there is much more than daily maintenance. Zoo employees know the animals on a personal level, even helping name each animal. So  the obvious question: Which animal or animals is their favorite?

Stuckey: The bobcat brothers  Hampton and Huckleberry.

Morris: Dudley  the pot-bellied pig.

Mitchell: Stitch  the tortoise.

Which is the most difficult animal? All three were pretty much in agreement  either the lemurs or Daisy the camel. Which animal is the most intimidating? All three mentioned Bagheera, the black jaguar. When you try to lock his gate Bagheera will put his paws up on the gate and try to sniff you, Stuckey said. It is cute, but sometimes scary.

RMA: Universal Breakfast Program to continue

The Richard Milburn Academy Texas, Inc. (RMA) this week announced it will continue to operate the Universal Breakfast Program under the National School Breakfast Program for the 2024  20254 school year. This will allow all students at all schools/sites to be served breakfast at no charge.

The ability for Richard Milburn Academy Texas, Inc. (RMA) to offer this special alternative rests upon the success of the school in receiving a completed application for free and reduced-price meals for the National School Breakfast Program from each household in the school. Applications will be furnished by the Richard Milburn Academy Texas, Inc. (RMA) and can be obtained at the local RMA Campus or online at rmaschools.org. Call Amy Wood, Director of Student Services at 726- 800-6239 to ask questions.

Completed applications can be returned to RMA locations in Amarillo and Lubbock, as well as Corpus Christi, Fort Worth, Houston, Killeen, Midland, Odessa and Pasadena. The contact information for Amarillo and Lubbock is as follows:

RMA Amarillo, 4106 SW 51st St., Amarillo, TX 79109 - phone: 806-463-2284

RMA Lubbock, Attn: Lubbock SCL, 2333 50th St., Lubbock, TX 79412 - phone: 806-740-0811

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy accepted the 2024 Lawrence C. Weaver Transformative Community Service Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy at a ceremony at the 2024 AACP annual meeting on July 21.

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy Dean Grace M. Kuo, Pharm.D., Ph.D., accepts the 2024 Lawrence C. Weaver Transformative Community Service Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy July 21.

TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy accepts national award for community service

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy accepted the 2024 Lawrence C. Weaver Transformative Community Service Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). The award was presented to TTUHSC team members at a ceremony at the 2024 AACP annual meeting on Sunday, July 21.

This honor is presented annually to one college or school of pharmacy demonstrating a major institutional commitment to addressing unmet community needs through education, practice and research. We accept this prestigious award with great pleasure and excitement, TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy Dean Grace M. Kuo, Pharm.D., Ph.D., said. We are among elite company as we join other schools of pharmacy who have received this honor. It is truly a testament to our faculty, staff and students' dedication and passion to the communities we live in and serve.

The award highlighted the schools work in medication safety through programs like Medication Cleanout, which has collected more than 83,000 pounds of medications and sharps from homes in its 15-year history; the schools production of viral transport medium and administration of life-saving vaccines during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic; the school providing pharmaceutical care to thousands of patients at its two outpatient pharmacies in Amarillo and Lubbock; the special population services provided to underserved people and incarcerated individuals in Texas; and the research collaboration and training taking place at campuses, schools and communities across the region.

For more information on the 2024 Lawrence C. Weaver Transformative Community Service Award, visit www.aacp.org.

AC Police invite community to join in observance of National Night Out in August

From axe throwing and face painting to free food and engaging giveaways, National Night Out will be a welcoming celebration at Amarillo College that the whole family is sure to enjoy.

The AC Police Department will host the family friendly event 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6 in the Durrett Hall parking lot (on the south side of 22nd Street) on the Washington Street Campus. Ample parking will be available immediately north of 22nd Street in the campuss largest lot. The event, with free hotdogs, chips and ice cream for everyone, is being conducted in conjunction with National Night Out, an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.

We love the idea of building rapport and strengthening our ties with the community, AC Police Chief Aaron Huddleston said. Police and their neighbors shouldnt have to come together only in times of emergency; we can have fun and get to know each other in more of a social atmosphere, too.

In addition to all the free food, visitors have a chance to enter drawings for prizes such as bicycles and movie passes, and participate in activities like face painting, axe throwing, cornhole and more.

West Texas A&M University faculty researchers recently won a grant from the National Science Foundation to increase collegiate STEM success in Hispanic students. Pictured are, from left, Dr. Behnam Askarian, Dr. Azi Tabei and Dr. Audrey Meador.

WT researchers win grant for AI-Inclusive Plan to boost Hispanic students in STEM

CANYON  A team of West Texas A&M University researchers recently won a $500,000 federal grant for a project designed to incorporate both family support and artificial intelligence in a plan to increase collegiate STEM success in Hispanic students.

Our project addresses a pressing issue: Hispanic students, including many women and first-generation college students, often find it especially challenging to succeed in STEM fieldsscience, technology, engineering, and math, said Dr. Azi Tabei, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science in WTs College of Engineering. Despite numerous programs aimed at supporting these students, they continue to face significant obstacles that can hinder their progress and prevent them from completing their degrees.

The project, HSI Implementation and Evaluation Project: STEM Student Empowerment through Mentorship, Family Centric Innovation Activities, and Artificial Intelligence Research, won the grant through the National Science Foundation. It will include a robust mix of initiatives designed to involve students and their families, Tabei said, and the team also will place a strong emphasis on AI.

Tabei is the principal investigator for the project. Other team members include Dr. Behnam Askarian, assistant professor of electrical engineering; Dr. Audrey Meador, associate professor of mathematics; and Dr. Vinitha Subburaj, associate dean and associate professor of computer science.

Amarillo VA reaches milestone: 20,000 completed toxic exposure screenings

The Amarillo VA Health Care System (AVAHCS) recently passed the mark of 20,000 toxic exposure screenings (TES), signifying a milestone in their mission to fulfill the goals of VAs PACT Act, a law that expands VA health care benefits and eligibility for veterans.

The PACT Act was signed into law on Aug. 10, 2022, and expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. This law helps the VA provide generations of veterans  and their survivors  with the care and benefits they have earned and deserve. As of March 5, VA expanded health care to millions of veterans, years earlier than called for by the PACT Act.

Recently, over 75% of the AVAHCS veteran population has been screened, allowing AVAHCS healthcare teams to consider each veterans specific health requirements to include medical conditions considered for presumptive status under the PACT Act. Veterans who are not enrolled, but who are eligible to enroll, have an opportunity to enroll and receive a quick 510 minute screening to identify any potential exposures to toxins during their military service and connect them to additional resources if they have any concerns. After a TES, veterans may be eligible to file for more benefits with Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA).

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area Our Town briefs for July 28, 2024
Gail Lumet Buckley, the daughter of Lena Horne and a journalist and author who wrote two books about the history of her Black middle-class family, died July 18. She was 86.

Her daughter Jenny Lumet, a screenwriter and producer, told The New York Times she died at her home in Santa Monica of heart failure.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Born on Dec. 21, 1937, in Pittsburgh, Buckley grew up in Brooklyn and Los Angeles. Rather than follow her in her mothers footsteps in Hollywood, she went on to earn a bachelors degree from Radcliffe College in Massachusetts in 1959.

She spent some time working in Paris as an intern at Marie Claire magazine before returning to the U.S., serving as a counselor with the National Scholarship Service and Fund for Negro Students. Buckley was then hired at Life magazine in 1962.

Later in her journalism career, she also wrote contributing articles for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Daily News of New York and Vogue.

It was in 1986 when she wrote her first book, The Hornes: An American Family, after finding hundreds of artifacts in an old trunk that belonged to her relatives dating back six generations.

It all unfolded like a detective story  here is what was happening in 1875, theres what went on in 1895, she told the Los Angeles Times when The Hornes was published. And then to read Black American history, as I did extensively, and put that on top of it; thats an exciting experience.

Three decades later, she revisited her familys history with The Black Calhouns: From Civil War to Civil Rights With One African American Family. The book centered on historical events and political movements that impacted two sides of her family: one that lived through Reconstruction and the rise of Jim Crow in Atlanta, and the other that experienced the Harlem Renaissance in New York City.

She also published American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military From the Revolution to Desert Storm in 2001, for which she received the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award the year after.

Her most recent book, Radical Sanctity: Race and Radical Women in the American Catholic Church, was published in 2023. It focused on Katharine Drexel, Dorothy Day, Catherine de Hueck Doherty and Sister Thea Bowman.

Buckley was married to director Sidney Lumet (who died in 2011) for 14 years after they met in 1963. They shared two daughters, Jenny and Amy Lumet.

Additional survivors include her two grandchildren. She was also married to journalist Kevin Buckley for 38 years; he died in 2021.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter
Two well-known evangelical leaders will serve as interim pastors of Gateway Church after its founder and senior pastor, Robert Morris, resigned following revelations of child sexual abuse.

Max Lucado, a charismatic evangelical author and San Antonio pastor, and Joakim Lundqvist, a leader of an megachurch in Sweden, will share the responsibilities, the church told its congregations Sunday.

Gateway, headquartered in Southlake with 10 satellite churches across three states, has been embroiled in scandal after Morris was publicly accused of sexually abusing a girl in the 1980s, from when she was 12 until he was caught by her father when she was 16. Morris was in his 20s.

Morris admitted to the abuse last month, saying he asked forgiveness, went to religious counseling called freedom ministry and established accountability measures. He left ministry in the church where he was working in the 1980s for two years before returning, he said, with the blessing of the girls father and leaders of that church.

Move toward what God is doing

Gateway elder Tra Willbanks told the congregation Sunday that the church was slow to release information on the abuse because leaders were praying about it and the church had contracted a law firm to conduct an independent investigation.

Sunday morning, the first floor of the auditorium in the churchs Southlake location was about a third full for the 9 a.m. service and about half filled for 11 a.m. Signs at stairways outside the auditorium announced the balcony was closed and white curtains had been drawn over those seats.

Willbanks delivered the first update to the church in person at the Southlake campus, the message livestreamed to the megachurchs other locations. During the 11 a.m. service, Willbanks message was replayed in a video before Lucado took the stage.

He apologized for the characterization of Cindy Clemishire, the woman who was abused by Morris as a child, as a young lady. He said the church is praying for her and that Robert Morris actions were unacceptable.

He announced that Robert Morris son, James Morris, and wife Bridget Morris would be leaving the church to establish a new one somewhere else. He did not share specifics about when or where the new church would be. In a scripted statement, the two of them said they loved the church and would be praying for its members.

Willbanks told church members they should press in to Gateway instead of leaving the church over the crisis.

Please do not let your hurt from the last several weeks drive you from Gateway, he urged. Move toward what God is doing in this place. Press in during this season.

A dark wind out of nowhere

Willbanks said another faith leader, who wasnt named, shared a prophecy with Gateway that he said he received while visiting Dallas last year after a tornado.

He told Gateway leadership that God told him in a prophetic word that there were two winds coming to Gateway, first is a dark wind out of nowhere. It will uproot precious people, split friendships, but you are not to be afraid because the Lord is sending a second wind, Willbanks said.

He said the prophecy said Gateway would lose members but that in the second wind it would grow larger. He said the wind would heal and restore.

Dry bones will come alive, Willbanks recounted. Things that seemed to be gone will even return.

Willbanks reminded congregants of another prophecy last year that said 10,000 youth would convert to Christianity at Gateway. He said he believes that prophecy and the one shared Sunday.

Lucados sermon Sunday

Delivering his first sermon as co-interim pastor, Lucado compared the exposure of child sexual abuse by Morris and the troubles the church was having to the story of Jesus and the disciples on the Sea of Galilee during a storm, during which Jesus walked on water.

He told congregants the disciples were terrified when the storm hit while Jesus was asleep. They awoke him and asked him to save them but were surprised that he didnt seem concerned.

Lucado told the congregation that Jesus told them not to be afraid and to have faith, comparing the storm to the news that Morris had abused a child. He said the fear and hurt members were feeling were similar to the fear the disciples felt. The storm, he said, would be calmed by Jesus the same way he did in that Bible story.

Lucado heads up a large congregation in San Antonio at Oak Hills Church. He will deliver sermons about twice a month while continuing to lead his own flock. He said he is taking on the interim pastor role with the blessings of his church.

In addition to leading Oak Hills, Lucado is a celebrity in evangelical circles who has written books that have sold more than 145 million copies combined, according to his website.

Lucado grew up in Andrews, a small town in West Texas, and attended Abilene Christian University. He led a church in Florida before going to Oak Hills.

Lundqvist pastors an evangelical congregation in Uppsala, Sweden, called Word of Life Church, which has more than 3,200 members. He also leads a network of more than 600 churches worldwide.

In addition to preaching at Gateway, he will serve in the church office Monday through Wednesday for pastoral duties like meeting with members.

Willbanks recounted that when Gateway wanted to ask Lundqvist to be an interim pastor, he flew in from Sweden, stayed five hours to meet with church leaders, accepted the position and returned home that same day.

Lundqvist told members in a recorded video that he was excited to take on the role. He will continue his position with the church he leads in Sweden.

Willbanks said the church has already taken steps to find a new senior pastor and expects a decision to be made within six months.
Legislation U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., first introduced two years ago to prohibit members of Congress from stock trading has cleared a key hurdle.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the bill Wednesday, sending it to the Senate floor.

This is essential ethics reform that is long overdue, Ossoff said Thursday. Georgians of all political persuasions and Americans of all political persuasions agree that members of Congress should not be playing the stock market while were in office.

Ossoffs bipartisan bill - which is cosponsored by committee Chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich., Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. - would prohibit members of Congress from buying stocks and other covered investments and ban lawmakers from selling stocks 90 days after enactment. Spouses and dependent children would be banned from trading stocks starting in March 2027.

The legislation also would require members of Congress, the president, and the vice president to divest from all covered investments starting in 2027.

Since members of Congress are in a position to influence policy choices that affect U.S. businesses and industries, they should not be able to steer those decisions in a way that would benefit their own financial interests, Ossoff said. Also, lawmakers allowed to engage in stock trading enjoy an unfair advantage over rank-and-file Americans because they have access to information not available to the public, he said.

While Ossoffs bill enjoyed bipartisan support in the Senate committee, it faces a difficult path moving forward in the Senate, where 60 votes are required to pass legislation. Even if it gets through the Senate, it faces an uncertain future in the U.S. House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a narrow majority.

However, the legislation is popular with the American public. Polls have shown most Americans  Democrats, Republicans, and independents  overwhelmingly support banning stock trading by members of Congress.

Ossoff said he hopes to get a floor vote on his bill in the Senate before Election Day in November.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany Finance Minister Christian Lindner has warned the country's Defence Minister that there will be no additional money to modernise the armed forces beyond what the coalition government has already agreed.

The budget agreed this month had disappointed Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, who is in charge of efforts to reverse years of neglect and bolster Germany's defences in response to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

But the Social Democrat minister's complaints were unjustified, Lindner said in an interview to be aired on ARD public television on Sunday.

"Mr Pistorius has a 100 billion euro ($108.6 billion) special fund for modernising the armed forces; something none of his predecessors had," Lindner said. "You can work with that, but you also have to make do with it."

Lindner, leader of the liberal Free Democrats, sees his role in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's fractious three-party coalition as enforcing fiscal rigour against the protests of the Social Democrats and Greens.

Germany has by far the lowest debt to GDP ratio in the G7 group of large advanced economies, but the International Monetary Fund this week said that low levels of public infrastructure investment were among the main causes of Germany's sluggish growth.

($1 = 0.9211 euros)

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt; Editing by David Goodman)
What is the Golan Heights and who are the Druze?

Tensions between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have reached new heights in the wake of a deadly rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

The strike on Saturday hit a soccer field in the Arab town of Majdal Shams, home to a large Druze community, and killed at least 12 children, according to Israel.

Israel blamed Hezbollah for the attack and vowed to retaliate. The Iran-backed group denied being behind the strike.

Heres what to know about the Golan Heights, and the religious and ethnic Druze minority that fell victim to the attack.

What is the Golan Heights?

The Golan Heights is a strategic plateau that Israeli seized from Syria during the Six-Day War in 1967, before formally annexing it in 1981. The hilly landscape, which spans some 500 square miles, also shares a border with Jordan and Lebanon.

Syrias capital Damascus is visible from atop the rocky Golan. The Israeli-occupied part of the region is separated from Syria by a buffer zone supported by the United Nations.

The Golan Heights is considered to be occupied territory under international law and UN Security Council resolutions, and Syria continues to demand it be returned.

The area has often been a flashpoint, most recently in 2019 when former President Donald Trump said the US will recognize Israels sovereignty over the Golan Heights  a move that overturned years of policy and worsened tensions with Syria.

Israel sees the Golan Heights as key to its national security interests and says it needs to control the region to fend off threats from Syria and Iranian proxy groups there.

Saturdays strike is not the first in the Golan Heights since Israels war on Hamas in Gaza began following the October 7 attacks.

In early July, a Hezbollah rocket attack killed two people in the region, prompting Israels head of the Golan Regional Council to call for retaliation with force against the Lebanese group. Hezbollah had said earlier that it fired dozens of Katyusha rockets on the Golan Heights in response to an alleged Israeli attack in Syria targeting a Hezbollah key member.

Who are the Druze?

The Druze are an Arab sect of roughly one million people who primarily live in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Originating in Egypt in the 11th century, the group practices an offshoot of Islam which permits no converts  either to or from the religion  and no intermarriage.

More than 20,000 Druze live in the Golan Heights. Most of them identify as Syrian and rejected an offer of Israeli citizenship when Israel seized the region in 1967. Those who refused were given Israeli residency cards but are not considered Israeli citizens.

None of the Druze killed in Saturdays attack on the soccer field held Israeli citizenship, the Regional Council of Majdal Shams told CNN.

Druze of the Golan Heights share the territory with around 25,000 Jewish Israelis, spread across more than 30 settlements. Last year, the UN Human Rights Council sounded alarms over Israels plan to double the settler population on the Golan by 2027.

Syrian Druze in the Golan have suffered from discriminatory policies, especially those relating to land and water allocation, according to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

People react at a site where a reported strike from Lebanon fell in Majdal Shams village in the Israeli-annexed Golan area on Saturday. - Jalaa Marey/AFP/Getty Images

Over the years, the expanding Israeli settlements and their activities had reduced the access of Syrian farmers to water, due to discriminatory policies related to prices and fees, the UN committee said.

Druze in the Golan Heights have historically opposed Israeli laws they saw as attempts at Israelization. In 2018, thousands of Druze-led protesters opposed the Jewish Nation-State Basic Law put forth by the Israeli parliament, fearing it would deepen discrimination.

The law established Israel as the historic home of the Jewish people with a united Jerusalem as its capital and declared that the Jewish people have an exclusive right to national self-determination in Israel.

Druze leaders at the time said the controversial law made them feel like second-class citizens because it didnt mention equality or minority rights.

Recent data reported in Israeli media shows an increase in the numbers of Druze from the Golan seeking Israeli citizenship, but the numbers doing so remain extremely small: 75 in 2017 to 239 in 2021

Outside the Golan, some 130,000 Israeli Druze live in the Carmel and Galilee in Israels north.

In contrast to other minority communities within Israels borders, many are fiercely patriotic. Druze men over 18 have been conscripted to the IDF since 1957 and often rise to positions of high rank, while many build careers in the police and security forces.

CNNs Zeena Saifi in Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The Central Scranton Expressway, the road which leads into Scranton from the I-81 highway, was renamed in 2021 as the President Joseph R Biden Jr Expressway.

The road drops down into the center of Scranton, the Pennsylvania city where the president was born, where it meets up with Biden Street  renamed in the same 2021 city council vote.

Related: Democratic delegates on Bidens exit  and Harriss rise: Were awestruck

There is no indication yet that Scranton, a former coal and manufacturing hub home to about 80,000 people, intends to change its name to Bidenton, but the message here is clear: this is Joe Biden country.

Let me start off with: were very proud of Joe Biden. We love Joe Biden. The fact that hes a local guy, and all that, said James Ferguson, 81.

Ferguson was sitting with his brother, John Ferguson, 77, on a bench on Biden Street on Thursday afternoon. It was a blow for both when the president, who moved to Delaware from Scranton aged 10 but who speaks often of his Scranton upbringing, decided to drop out of the race in mid-July, but the fondness for Biden remains.

I think Joe Biden showed the character that he is. He is a very good man, and he put the country first. Its not how good he is, or whether he is smart or not. It was perception. The perception was bad for Joe, and he knew it and he dropped out. Good for Joe, the elder Ferguson said.

But with Trump leading Biden in the polls and posing an existential threat to the US, there is an acceptance that Biden had to go.

We cant afford to lose this election, I think. So yeah, we were disappointed. We voted for him, we would vote for him again. But I think this is better for the party, better for the country, John Ferguson said.

Hes a realist. I think he finally was convinced that he couldnt take the risk. Weve got to stop Trump from winning. We cant let Trump get in. That is a terrible man. Hes an insult to the human race, that man.

Biden dropped out on Sunday, bringing to an end a painful, weeks-long pressure campaign that began with a dreadful debate performance and saw an ever-increasing number of Democratic politicians call for him to resign.

Behind the scenes senior party figures, including former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, had also made the case to Biden that he couldnt win, despite the president comfortably  albeit in the face of very little opposition  clinching the Democratic primary earlier this year.

His age was a concern for a lot of voters and he was slipping in the polls. And I was very worried about that. So I mean, Im thankful of all hes done, I think hes done good work, and I think he did the honorable thing that really should be valued, said Angela Miller, a civil engineer.

I never wanted him to run again. He never said he was going to, do you know what I mean? From the beginning he said he was going to be a transitional president. I felt like he kind of went back on that.

Biden narrowly won Pennsylvania in 2020, defeating Trump by 80,000 votes. He comfortably won Lackawanna county, the north-east Pennsylvania district where Scranton is based, but not everyone in the city is an admirer.

He wasnt really on the ball I dont think. It was kind of like having the senile grandpa in the White House office, said Phil Fleming, 61, as he watching his friend unpack a guitar at a bandshell in downtown Scranton.

Fleming had the opposite geographic journey to Biden. He grew up in Delaware, where Biden moved with his family aged 10, and then moved to the Scranton area later in life. But Fleming has no particular affection for the president.

I always said Joe would do for the country what he did for Delaware: nothing, he said.

Biden endorsed Kamala Harris for president within minutes of pulling out of the race on Sunday. Harris has since all but secured the Democratic nomination, and if she wins in November she would become the countrys first woman president.

Im excited about it. I think it would be awesome to have a female run the country, to see what she could bring and try to unite the country a little bit more, said Kelly, 34.

Kelly, who asked not to use her last name, was walking her dog through the Green Ridge area of Scranton, where Bidens three-storey childhood home is now marked by a small plaque.

Its definitely a cool thing to say that the President of the United States grew up in your neighborhood, you cant really say that too often. So its a little fun fact that we have here, she said.

Few cities can claim to have a president on their books  Quincy, in Massachusetts, can lay claim to two: father and son duo John Adams and John Quincy Adams. For Scranton, Biden may no longer be in the race, but he will remain a presence.

I think he really put all his heart and soul into this country, and I just feel like maybe now its time to step out, and let the next generation come in and serve the same way he did, Kelly said.

 This article was amended on 29 July 2024. Joe Biden moved from Scranton to Delaware aged 10, not seven as an earlier version said.
What Gov. Gavin Newsoms order to clear homeless encampments means for the people who live in them

After California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a directive ordering state officials to take down homeless encampments, John Janosko returned to a dead-end street in Oakland where he once lived for years in one of the states largest camps.

Longtime residents of the makeshift shelters at the sprawling Wood Street encampment have largely moved on since state and local officials razed it more than a year ago. Some ended up in tiny cabins provided by the city. A handful, like Janosko, have recently secured permanent housing with the help of nonprofits.

But many of the 200 or so regulars remain unhoused, according to Janosko. They sleep in cars, RVs and handmade dwellings erected behind a Target store up the road and other parts of West Oakland.

The sad thing is most people on the street I came across dont even understand, the governors directive, said Janosko, 55, a chef and caterer before losing his apartment and ending up on the street for a decade. Its just somebody saying theyre going to make their lives even harder. Its a hammer on the head day in and day out.

The mallet dropped again on Thursday when the Democratic governor of the state with the nations largest homeless population ordered officials to begin dismantling thousands of encampments. The move came after the US Supreme Court ruled last month in favor of an Oregon city that ticketed homeless people for sleeping outside. The ruling rejected arguments that such anti-camping ordinances violated the Constitutions ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

There are simply no more excuses. Its time for everyone to do their part, said Newsom, directing state agencies to adopt humane and dignified policies and move urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them.

Homeless advocates and some elected officials immediately voiced outrage, saying the crackdown  without providing adequate shelter and other services  would simply move people to other areas in a state where the cost of living is high and the number of shelter beds limited.

Governor Newsom, where do you expect people to go? This is a shameful moment in California history, said Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the parent organization of the Housing is a Human Right initiative, accusing the governor of criminalizing poverty and doubling down on failed policies.

California has the largest homeless population in the nation, with more than 180,000 of the estimated 653,000 people experiencing homelessness nationwide residing in the Golden State, according to a 2023 report to Congress from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

An estimated 653,100 people were experiencing homelessness nationwide  a jump of around 12% since 2022, according to the report.

A lot of my friends out there just sort of just shake their heads, like, OK, well, how do I get through my next hour? How am I going to eat, you know? How am I going to get high or whatever it might be? Janosko said.

Its like, OK, Im going to lose all my sh*t again. Nobody gives a f**k about us. You get so used to the sweeps. People are so beat down. What can they do?

Where are they going to go?

A homeless person stands next to an encampment in Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles on Friday - Apu Gomes/AFP/Getty Images

A point-in-time count taken in January 2023 found California had 71,131 shelter beds for an estimated 181,399 people experiencing homelessness  a deficit of more than 110,000 beds, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.

At a time when many large American cities are closely watching California as they too struggle with burgeoning homelessness, the Golden State is locked in a desperate grapple with mushrooming encampments despite pouring billions of dollars into housing programs.

California has spent more than $30 billion on housing-related programs in recent years as the annual growth of its homeless population outpaces that of any other state in the nation.

Its kind of putting the cart before the horse and you cant really resolve the underlying issue, which is homelessness, by doing encampment resolutions, said Sarah Hunter, director of the Rand Center on Housing and Homelessness. Its kind of backward just to try to move people  Where are they going to go? We should be building enough resources to place these people before we try to move them around.

Hunter is a co-author of a new Rand Corp. study which found encampment clearing efforts in Los Angeles had no long-term effect on the number of people on the streets.

The researchers looked at camp cleanups in Venice, Hollywood and Skid Row in Los Angeles and observed temporary declines in the unsheltered population that lasted two to three months on average before returning to previous levels, according to the study.

In Venice, for instance, encampment removals meant the share of unhoused people living literally unsheltered (e.g., without a tent) increased from 20 percent to 46 percent, the study said.

Its just going to be kind of where theres enforcement, people wont be there and where theres less enforcement or no enforcement, thats where people will be because we havent yet solved the underlying crises, which is having enough health and social support along with actual housing for these people to go, Hunter told CNN.

Involuntary displacements from encampments, Hunter said, can substantially increase morbidity and mortality among the homeless and increased costs to society through hospitalizations.

This is probably not the most cost-effective approach that we could be using, she said of the crackdowns.

Researchers at Boston and Cornell universities, in a policy brief last year, said punitive policing strategies such as encampment removals do not reduce or end homelessness.

Such strategies often worsen homelessness. For example, fines and fees make it harder to access employment and social services; in some cases criminal charges impact peoples eligibility for existing social services and housing programs, the researchers said.

Property confiscation during encampment clearance may come at the expense of documents that are essential for obtaining housing, employment, insurance, like birth certificates and identification, they added, noting a link between criminal arrests and cycles of homelessness.

Newsoms order directs, but does not mandate, agencies and departments to adopt policies and plans consistent with the existing encampment policy of the state Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

Caltrans will provide advance notice of clearance and works with local service providers to support those experiencing homelessness at the encampment, and stores personal property collected at the site for at least 60 days, Newsoms office said.

Janosko, in Oakland, is doubtful.

You go out there to any homeless encampment or any homeless person in America, especially in California, you ask them, Were you able to go retrieve any of your stuff? No. They take everything and throw it in a dumpster, he said.

Newsoms order encourages local governments to use some state funds for housing and intervention programs to remove encampments, prioritizing those that pose the greatest danger to people living in and around them.

Janosko, referring to the crackdown, said: Its a cleanup tactic where the voters live and where the voters shop  I know people out there, their voices arent being heard. I was lucky enough to have a strong support system. Im in a better position now to amplify the voices of the unheard.

Were still people like you

Late last month, the results of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authoritys point-in-time count  conducted in January  showed the homeless population in Los Angeles had dropped for the first time in six years. It showed overall homelessness and in particular unsheltered homelessness was down in both Los Angeles County and the city. According to the count, homelessness was down 2.2% in the Los Angeles and 0.27% in the county.

Still, there were 45,253 homeless people counted in the city and 75,312 people unhoused in the county, the authority reported.

For the first time in years, unsheltered homelessness has decreased in Los Angeles because of a comprehensive approach that leads with housing and services, not criminalization, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Thursday. Strategies that just move people along from one neighborhood to the next or give citations instead of housing do not work.

An audit by Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia found the number of interim housing beds in the city last year was about 16,000 for an unhoused population nearly three times that size.

On Friday, a sweltering 90-degree day in Los Angeles, a soft spoken 52-year-old homeless man who only gave his first name  Jonathan  sought shade under a billowing sheet tethered to an old bed frame.

If the Governor says go, I will. But I dont know how its going to work, said Jonathan, whose decades living on the street included a stay at a transitional housing shelter he found too controlling.

Sha, standing in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, says she has been homeless for five years. - Stephanie Becker/CNN

Several miles away, in Griffith Park, a woman named Sha was lying under the shade of a tree with another homeless friend. She said she has been on the street five years. She grew frustrated speaking about the temporary shelter where shes staying with her cat as she struggles to find permanent housing.

Her message to Newsom: What are you planning on doing with people? Were people. Were still people like you But without a stable foundation.

A beautiful little place

In Oakland, more than 370 miles north, Janosko said he had been living in a small cabin for two people since the city in 2023 dismantled the sprawling Wood Street camp that stood beneath Interstate 880. In March, he said, he signed a lease for his own apartment, a small one-bedroom in East Oakland.

Its a beautiful little place, said Janosko, who has battled drug addiction for years. I love it.

But, Janosko said, he is haunted by guilt over finally having his own place coupled with the trauma of eviction.

I just wish that everybody else could be able to have that security in their lives, he said. And Im so used to living in a space where I have access to all my friends. The daily struggle on the ground is a little bit different than a daily struggle living in an apartment, you know, on the second floor.

Janosko fears a wave of encampment raids will only worsen homelessness in the state.

Every time that you like regain a tent and maybe some blankets and a couple of outfits and just get enough stuff around you to start to really feel  Im not going to say normal  like you have a safety zone, its gone, he said.

Even though its a tent and a few things, as soon as you get to that point, in that moment, its wiped out again Nobodys asking the question. The voters, the people. Where are the people going? If theyre not in my neighborhood now, then whose neighborhood are they going to if you dont have enough shelter beds in your city?

CNNs Rachel Ramirez, Natasha Chen and Cheri Mossurg contributed to this story.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said that he would oppose Supreme Court reforms on Sunday, going against reported ideas from President Biden that would impose more strict ethics requirements and term limits for justices.

Graham told CBSs Robert Costa on Face the Nation that he wont work with Biden on any reform bill.

No, because he wants to destroy the court. They want to pack the court. They want  to undercut the conservative court, Graham said. Theyve tried to marginalize the court and destroy the Roberts court. The Roberts court has brought constitutional balance back to the court, and the liberals in this country want to pack the court. They want to destroy the court.

So their initiatives coming from Biden will be dead on arrival in the Senate, he continued. They have no desire to make the court better. Theyre just trying to make it more liberal.

Biden said Supreme Court reform will be one of his priorities during his final months in office, calling the issue critical to our democracy in his Oval Office address last week.

The president is reported to be considering a reform package that would create a legally enforceable code of ethics and establish term limits for justices, according to The Associated Press (AP).

A push for reform comes as public faith in the high court is at record lows following multiple ethics scandals and politically divisive opinions.

Biden is also considering calling for a constitutional amendment that would eliminate the broad immunity for presidents granted by the court in its most recent term, according to the AP.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  The Griffon Gastropub will close its Transit Road location in August, it announced on social media.

The location will close on Aug. 11. Owners said their lease on the building is not being honored following a sale of the building, despite what they said were ambitious plans including exterior improvements and an outdoor patio.

The social media post also says that they are hoping to open a new location in the area soon. The location has been open for 10 years.

We deeply appreciate our guests at the Clarence location and sincerely hope for an opportunity to reopen a Griffon Gastropub in the area, they said. This is a challenging situation for any restaurateur, and the impact on our guests and dedicated staff is what saddens us the most. Its a tough business, and while restaurant closures are common, this is particularly difficult because our Clarence restaurant was on the brink of a new chapter of growth.

Gift cards can be used at any of the other locations.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Latest Local News

Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
FORT PIERCE  A man who pointed a weapon at police was killed and a city police officer wounded early Sunday at a Hutchinson Island condominium after an emergency call about an armed burglary, police said.

Just before 6 a.m. Sunday, Fort Pierce Police officers went to a home at 1166 Bayshore Drive after the 911 call that an armed burglary was in progress. Officers noted that the door was ajar, pushed it open, and announced themselves, police said.

An armed man appeared after several announcements and pointed a weapon at the officers. They were forced to fire their guns in response, Fort Pierce Police said.

The suspect was wounded in the gunfire and taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, where he later died. An officer also was wounded and treated for a non-life-threatening injury, police said.

Ethics Commission: Former St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara, hit with $5,000 fine, other penalties for ghost-candidate scheme

Coming soon: New entertainment complex combines BBQ, brewery, pickleball, live music

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will handle the incident investigation, as it does all police-involved shootings. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, also standard procedure.

Fort Pierce Police did not identify the gunman or the officers involved. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 772-467-6943.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Police shoot, kill gunman at Fort Pierce home; officer wounded
Mitch Landrieu, a national co-chair for Vice President Harriss 2024 campaign, on Sunday touted the likely nominees progress since entering the race for the Democratic tickets top spot and encouraged centrist voters to take part in history by supporting the campaign.

In an interview on MSNBCs The Weekend, Landrieu criticized former President Trumps pick for his running mate, first-term Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), and noted that more than a dozen of Trumps Cabinet secretaries left the White House prematurely, during Trumps first term.

That goes to Donald Trumps inability to pick people that can actually run the country, Landrieu said.

I think thats something that reasonable, thoughtful Americans, who consider themselves in the middle, should consider, because they dont want this country destroyed, Landrieu added.

And were all patriots, but weve got to grab the country. You just have to make the right decision in this right moment. History is calling you. Lets not let it pass us by. Lets grab it, and lets go forward, he continued.

Landrieu, who oversaw the implementation of the historic infrastructure bill passed at the beginning of President Bidens term, touted the campaigns progress since Biden announced he would no longer seek the partys nomination for another term.

Landrieu said the Harris campaign has had one of the best weeks that weve seen in politics in the last 50 years, noting that the team has raised $200 million, has 150,000 new volunteers and held more than 2,000 events for Harris nationwide on Saturday.

When President Biden decided he wasnt going to run again, the vice president stepped into this race. I mean, she roared into it. She took off like a rocket ship, and she has the pulse of the nation in her hands, he said.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Fortified by a stream of Democratic endorsements and high-dollar donations, Vice President Kamala Harris appeared every bit the presidential contender when she appeared before the national convention of the American Federation of Teachers last week.

Addressing thousands of her partys most loyal supporters just days after being endorsed by President Joe Biden, the newly ascendant Harris pledged to defend labor rights and beat back Republican plans to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education. Above all, she heaped praise on members of the nations eighth-largest union, which she said was engaged in the most noble work: teaching other peoples children.

And God knows, she quickly added, we dont pay you enough.

Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter

Harris made no firm commitments in her 20 minutes of remarks, only her second major speech as a 2024 candidate. Yet that near-digression unmistakably echoed the signature idea of her 2020 presidential campaign  and quite possibly provided a preview of what she intends to accomplish in the White House.

More than five years ago, when then-Sen. Harris was considered one of the betting favorites to win the Democratic nomination and contest Donald Trumps reelection, she pitched her first major policy offering directly to teachers. While her fellow progressives broadcast their ambitions to enact wealth taxes and single-payer healthcare, she unveiled a $315 billion plan to raise teacher salaries with state and federal funds, potentially closing the earnings gap between educators and other comparably educated professionals.

The proposal reflected the upheaval of the #RedforEd movement, which had launched a wave of teacher strikes the previous year, remembered Sarah Shapiro, a former staffer at the liberal Center for American Progress (CAP) who volunteered for Harriss failed 2020 bid. But it also demonstrated Harriss abiding focus on schools and their employees, she said.

EDlection 2024

It showed how ambitious she is in advocating for public schools and supporting that workforce, which has continued to struggle since the pandemic, said Shapiro, now a Democratic staffer in the U.S. Senate.

Whether the vice president dusts off her promise to boost teacher pay is one of several questions that could define the K12 agenda going forward if she prevails over Trump in November. With the Democratic National Convention just weeks away, she and her advisers will soon decide if voters want sweeping changes to federal education policy  in effect, a progressive version of the Heritage Foundations controversial Project 2025  or a more measured continuation of the program that Biden and Harris have pursued the last four years.

Related

Project 2025 Would Cut Ed. Dept., Fulfill GOP K-12 Wish List Under Trump

Those efforts have included massive expenditures in pandemic relief aid and student loan forgiveness, but little drive to comprehensively lift academic achievement or transform how education is delivered. Nearly a decade after the eclipse of the No Child Left Behind Act, some longtime observers believe the Democrats always-fickle dance with school reform and choice has faltered completely.

Michael Petrilli, president of the reform-friendly Thomas B. Fordham Institute and an alumnus of the Education Department from the early days of NCLB, said Harris had a unique opportunity to realize her own vision for schools. Unburdened by primary challengers who might have obliged her to define her goals earlier, he argued, she could spend the remainder of the campaign filling a blank canvas.

Related

Amid Disastrous Debate, a Lost Opportunity to Address Childrens Issues

She hasnt had to make any specific promises, and she hasnt put any policy positions out there that are her own, Petrilli said. So shes got a free hand.

Red for Eds legacy

Harris was presented with a somewhat similar freedom in 2020, albeit in drastically different circumstances.

That primary campaign featured an astonishing 29 major candidates, including brand names like Bernie Sanders and would-be giant killers like Pete Buttiegieg. From the outset, the freshman senator was considered one of the fields heavyweights, drawing huge crowds to her speeches and enjoying enviable polling numbers.

Early on, then-Sen. Harris was considered among the favorites in the 2020 Democratic primary field. (Getty Images)

In the middle of that honeymoon phase, Harris opted to wade head-on into the K12 debate. Her teacher pay reform would have given the average American teacher a $13,500 raise, with Washington picking up 10 percent of the tab. Thereafter, the campaign said, the federal government would pay $3 for every dollar contributed by states to close their compensation gap between teachers and other professionals with similar credentials and experience.

It made for an unusual centerpiece to her campaign rollout. At a time when her opponents were brainstorming billion-dollar initiatives seemingly every week  from Andrew Yangs push for a universal basic income to Cory Bookers enthusiasm for baby bonds  comparatively few addressed education. Surveyed about their positions on the issue, the hopefuls gave answers that mostly touched on forgiving student debt, making community college free, and whether theyd sent their own children to public schools. When Sen. Elizabeth Warrens famously detail-oriented campaign released its principal contribution on children and families, it focused on childcare subsidies rather than schools as such.

Jorge Elorza, a rising star in the Democratic Party then serving in his second term as mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, said he appreciated Harriss willingness to throw down the gauntlet to her primary opponents.

Related

With Nation Focused on Reopening Schools, Bidens Choice of Kamala Harris as Running Mate Could Renew Attention on Integration

It was during a campaign where many of the other candidates didnt propose much around K12, said Elorza, who now leads the advocacy group Democrats for Education Reform. I give her credit for thinking big and coming out with a significant proposal on education.

Democrats had spent much of the prior four years trying to forge a new path on education and shed some of the dissension that had wracked their coalition throughout much of the reform era. Hillary Clintons candidacy in 2016 showed a willingness to move away from standardized testing and toward a closer embrace of teachers unions, whose leaders were some of Clintons closest allies.

Related

At the State Level, Democrats Had a Good Election Night  but Not a Great One. Did #Red4Ed Fizzle?

The Trump administration only accelerated that process, with Democrats finding it hard to be associated with anything the president or Education Secretary Betsy DeVos supported, Elorza recalled. When thousands of teachers, dissatisfied with paychecks that had never recovered from cuts enacted during the Great Recession, marched on state capitols in the #RedforEd summer of 2018, Harris signaled her unqualified support for the cause.

When she announced her presidential candidacy a few months later, she also benefited from the help of some of the progressive movements most influential thinkers on education. Catherine Brown, then the vice president of education policy at CAP, assisted the campaign as a volunteer by helping draft its K12 plans.

Alongside the sizable commitment to increased teacher pay, Harriss agenda included a slew of ideas to bolster the attractiveness of teaching, including more resources for professional development, career ladders and mentorship programs, and a large fund dedicated to training teachers at minority-serving colleges and universities. Many of the same recommendations appeared to be inspired by CAPs now-dormant TeachStrong campaign, launched in the late Obama era in the hopes of modernizing the profession.

Related

Biden-Harris Exchange Makes Busing a Surprise Focus of 2020 Campaign. How Will It Affect the Debate Over Integration?

Brown said Harriss team went through a really strong policymaking process to develop its education platform, including multiple iterations, cost modeling, and thorough consultations with K12 experts. Even five years later, bits and pieces of its workforce proposals are mirrored in the Department of Educations plans to deal with increased teacher turnover following the pandemic. Though her primary campaign ultimately fell short of the finish line, running out of money by the end of 2019, its legacy was unique, she continued.

I dont remember a lot of other elected officials coming to us and saying, How do we make these ideas real? So that was exciting.

Open playing field for choice

The question now is how much Harris will seek to build on her previous bid and its various policy items.

The Biden presidency offers scant clues about what direction its desired successor might take. While it mobilized unprecedented federal funding to cope with the post-COVID crisis in student learning, those resources were, by design, awarded without substantial obligations for states to reform longstanding practices or demonstrate much evidence of achievement growth. In comparison with the Obama administrations highly prescriptive Race to the Top initiative  or even Bidens own maneuvers to wipe out billions in student loan payments  its goals have, at times, appeared hazy to outsiders.

Related

Students Headed to High School Are Academically a Year Behind, COVID Study Finds

The lack of clarity is notable at a moment when, according to recent testing data, eighth-graders still lag far behind their pre-COVID learning trajectories. A long-awaited revision of Title IX regulations will be held up in court indefinitely following challenges from Republican officials, while the Department of Educations effort to consolidate its K12 priorities, called Raise the Bar, has yet to break through to public attention. Meanwhile, last weeks public embrace of unionized teachers could trouble the waters with parents who still blame them for putting the brakes on attempts to lift pandemic restrictions on in-person learning.

Carmel Martin, a veteran Democratic staffer who served as Harriss domestic policy advisor through 2023, wrote in an email that her former boss saw teachers as the most important assets that our education system has and would likely continue to press for better pay on their behalf.

The vice president was acutely aware of the toll in terms of academic progress, but also the mental and emotional health of our children, wrote Martin, now a special secretary to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. As president, I am sure she will continue to prioritize investment in our students, teachers and schools.

Brown said the party has long since accepted the breakup of the reform consensus, but hasnt yet produced a roadmap for the next Democratic White House.

I dont think K12 was unimportant to [the Biden administration], but weve sort of gotten past NCLB, and theres a moment now to ask, Whats the priority now? she said. Im sure a lot of people are working on that, but that question has not been answered yet.

Related

Unlikely Ed Allies Join Forces to Cut Chronic Absenteeism in Half

Petrill believes the issue of education could be the ideal avenue for Harris to outflank Trump by moving to the center. In addition to whatever new spending commitments she may prefer, the vice president could take advantage of her background in law enforcement to strike a more assertive tone on school discipline.

Such a tack might lead to the development of a federal response to eye-watering rates of chronic absenteeism, which could easily derail any possibility of a meaningful learning recovery. In a move that later proved controversial, Harris used her powers as both San Franciscos district attorney and Californias attorney general to curb truancy among elementary schoolers. Given that most states have adopted absenteeism in their federal school accountability frameworks, a President Harris could have scope for public intervention.

As a state attorney general in California, Harris was willing to use law enforcement tools to curb chronic truancy of elementary schoolers. (Getty Images)

Better still, Petrilli added, Harris could once again embrace charter schools, which previously had the support of Presidents Clinton and Obama but fell out of favor under Trump. With the GOP now increasingly focused on facilitating the rapid spread of education savings accounts, which channel public funding to families to spend on educational costs like private school tuition, he said it is possible to re-engage the millions of parents who rely on public school choice.

Youve got Republicans, who have moved away from public education reform into just talking about private school choice, and the Democrats are mostly just talking about more money, Petrilli said. That does leave a lot of the playing field open.

At the same time, the likely nominee must tread carefully around the issue of public support for private schools. Already, an alliance of education advocacy groups has publicly asked her not to tap Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as her running mate; Shapiro has previously agreed with Republicans in his home state to support a form of school vouchers in exchange for increasing funding for public education.

Elorza praised the K12 record of the Biden-Harris administration, which he credited with providing desperately needed funds to keep schools doors open and payrolls solvent. But now that the emergency is over, he said, there should follow a moment of realignment that scales up promising new innovations in education, from personalized learning to high-dosage tutoring.

I remember being mayor at the time of the pandemic, and what we needed was resources to make sure we could keep the lights on, said Elorza. Now theres an opportunity to craft a new agenda.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the American Federation of Teachers 88th National Convention on July 25, 2024 in Houston, Texas. The American Federation of Teachers was the first labor union to endorse Harris for president since announcing her campaign. (Montinique Monroe/Getty Images)

Vice President Kamala Harris has been outspoken about her support for access to abortion and other reproductive rights for years, holding numerous events as part of President Joe Bidens administration long before his monumental decision Sunday to exit the race as the partys nominee for a second term.

She made history in April when she became the first sitting president or vice president to visit an abortion clinic and led a Fight for Reproductive Freedoms tour in January, speaking to Americans every month in swing states  Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin  and states with abortion bans  Alabama, Arizona and Florida  about the possibilities of electing former President Donald Trump a second time, such as the passage of a national abortion ban.

Meanwhile, Biden was frequently criticized for what activists viewed as his tepid support for access, often calling him out for his avoidance of directly using the word abortion. And at the Republican National Convention, speakers from within the party and Trump avoided the topic entirely.

Now that Harris is the likely Democratic nominee, activist groups on both sides of the abortion-rights debate have seized the opportunity to put the issue back in the spotlight.

According to reports, nonpartisan voter registration platform Vote.org saw a spike of 38,500 new voters during the 48 hours that followed Bidens announcement to step aside. The organization said 83% of those new registrations were among people between the ages of 18 and 34. The Harris campaign also said it raised $100 million in the first 24 hours, and reported more than 100,000 volunteers nationwide had signed on to the campaign.

Jessica Mackler, president of Emilys List, a political action committee that helps elect Democratic female candidates in favor of abortion rights, said during a press call Wednesday that their donations increased following the announcement as well. On Thursday, the group announced a $2 million program in support of Harriss campaign.

We knew this election would be determined by abortion rights, but now we have at the top of the ticket the countrys most powerful advocate for reproductive freedom, Mackler said. So it is going to put those issues even more front and center, and that is how we win.

But some abortion-rights focused groups, such as those trying to pass ballot initiatives enshrining the right to abortion in state constitutions, say Harriss candidacy is unlikely to affect their campaigns.

Shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court issued its Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision in 2022 allowing states to regulate abortion access, Harris met with state legislators from Florida, Indiana, Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota to discuss ways to protect reproductive rights, States Newsroom reported in July 2022. Save for Indiana, which has since banned most abortions, advocates in those states launched efforts to restore access through ballot measures.

As many as 11 states could have an abortion-related question on their ballots in November, with five confirmed  Nevada, Colorado, South Dakota, Florida and Maryland. Qualification efforts are still underway in states such as Arizona, Montana, Missouri and Arkansas.

The change you want to see

The Fairness Project, a ballot-initiative focused group, has dedicated organizational resources to the initiatives in Arizona, Florida, Montana and Missouri, and also worked to pass the abortion ballot measures in Michigan and Ohio over the past two years.

Kelly Hall, executive director of the Fairness Project, said the idea that there may be more enthusiasm for the initiatives now that Harris is in the race is backwards, especially because the initiatives that will make abortion access a constitutional right dont rely on other factors of the election going in a favorable direction.

The reason we see so much enthusiasm on salient topics like reproductive rights is because theres such a linear relationship between voting and the change you want to see. You dont have to hope that the person wins, and they prioritize your issue, and that you have a friendly Congress, and so on, Hall said. Theres a really direct relationship between, I vote in November, and 30 days later there are abortion rights back in my state.

Ashley All, president of the Kansas Coalition for Common Sense, worked to defeat a ballot initiative in 2022 that would have allowed the state to enact abortion bans in the wake of the Dobbs decision. In the time since, she has worked on five other abortion-related initiatives, including in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Montana.

All agreed that people see abortion access as a medical and personal issue rather than a political one, and while there is an obvious difference to her between the two candidates for president in terms of who will protect access on a national level, the initiatives dont neatly align with partisanship. Some people end up splitting their tickets along ideological lines, voting in favor of an abortion measure but still selecting Republicans for office.

Based on that, I dont think ballot initiatives across the country likely will see a dramatic shift due to the top of the ticket, All said. That being said, there has obviously been a dramatic shift in momentum and excitement since she became the nominee, specifically among women and young people.

Hall said its important for the initiative efforts to remain nonpartisan, particularly because many of them are happening in Republican-dominated or swing states that need bipartisan coalitions to succeed. That means separating themselves from partisan slogans, language and infrastructure. And to the extent that turnout may be larger in the general election because abortion is a motivating issue for voters, Hall thinks it will be a benefit to the Democratic candidate, and not the initiative.

There are not enough people who are going to vote for the Democratic candidate for president living in Missouri to win a ballot measure with just those voters alone, Hall said. So in most of the states where abortion is going to be on the ballot, the measure campaign is having to communicate to a universe of voters that is broader than just the folks who are going to vote for Democrats at the top of the ticket.

From left: First Lady Jill Biden, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff take part in a Reproductive Freedom Campaign Rally at George Mason University on Jan. 23, 2024 in Manassas, Virginia. It was the first joint rally of the campaign for the president and vice president. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Bans without exceptions

Harris has repeatedly said Congress should restore Roe v. Wade, and when asked by Face the Nation in September about when should abortion be limited, she used the same language. Neither Harris nor Biden has used the phrase fetal viability frequently when discussing abortion, even though passing the Womens Health Protection Act would allow abortion up to viability and later only if a patients health or life is at risk, the standard set by Roe.

During her time as Californias attorney general, Harris sued an anti-abortion group that was ordered to pay Planned Parenthood more than $2 million in damages after activists secretly recorded videos of abortion providers. The defendants challenged the decision, but last year, the Supreme Court declined to hear their case. Harris has said she was inspired to become a prosecutor because a close friend in high school was molested by her stepfather. In California, she took on cases about sex crimes, domestic violence and child abuse, CalMatters reported.

Today, she often mentions that several states have abortion bans with no exceptions for rape or incest.

This spring, Trump said the issue should be left to the states, but he hasnt definitively said whether he would veto legislation enacting a national ban or if he would oppose efforts to restrict access to abortion medication at the federal level. In an interview with TIME Magazine three months ago, the GOP nominee said he would release a policy statement on the Comstock Act of 1873, a dormant statute abortion-rights opponents say should be enforced to ban the mailing of abortion pills, in two weeks. Trump has yet to express his opinion on the 19th century law. His running mate, Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, once signed a letter urging the U.S. Department of Justice to enforce the act.

Trumps campaign is also closely tied to Project 2025, a blueprint assembled by the Heritage Foundation of the desired agenda for the next Republican administration. That agenda includes banning abortion medication nationwide, requiring states to track more data around who gets abortions and where and ending mandated insurance coverage for emergency contraception.

During a stop in Pennsylvania, Harris said Trump is responsible for the state of abortion rights across the country  14 states have near-total bans, and three prohibit abortion before most people know theyre pregnant. A six-week ban in Iowa is also set to take effect on Monday.

If you want to know whos to blame for where we are right now, a finger can be directly pointed at the former president, Harris said in May, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reported. The former president made it very clear and then did what he intended to do: He said he would pick three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo the protections of Roe. And they did exactly as he intended.

DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST
Democrats

The party that constantly complains that Donald Trump is a threat to democracy just pushed out the candidate their own process overwhelmingly chose and unilaterally nominated a presidential candidate no one actually voted for. Hypocrisy is alive and well in the Democratic Party.

Lee Hortman, Raleigh

Harris record

My father and my husbands father did not fight their way across Europe to Germany like so many others so that fascism could come to the U.S. in the guise of the Trumpist Republican Party platform. I am touched by President Joe Bidens act of passing the torch to Kamala Harris so she can continue to strengthen NATO alliances, continue social programs that lift many into the middle class by creating jobs, and improve the environment, health care, education and Social Security benefits. This country is strengthened by a stronger middle class, not by a coven of multi-billionaires. Harris is the correct choice to lead by example and restore womens rights and powers over their own bodies, including when and if to have families, educations and careers.

Jesse Kaufmann, Hillsborough

NC is in play

I am tired of articles about swing states that dont mention North Carolina. I am organizing neighbors to canvass and we are finding voters are highly motivated by down-ballot candidates. They dont want the extremist Republicans candidates for governor, secretary of state and judgeships and want to break the legislatures supermajority. Theyre appalled by Project 2025 and threats to reproductive freedom. I hope national Democratic leadership provides ample funding for our newly energized party.

David Dickinson, Durham

Tariffs

The writer is an NCSU professor emeritus of economics.

Tariffs have become popular with presidential candidates in both major parties. The likely effect: If a tariff of $100 is imposed on steel, the price of imported steel will rise by $100. A tariff is merely a sales tax that will be passed on to buyers. Increased demand for tariff-exempt U.S. steel will cause its price to rise by approximately $100 also.

Many products contain steel  autos, dishwashers, steel beams for housing and more. Higher costs will be passed on to consumers for a wide range of products made with steel. Exporters to the U.S. will claim treaty rights to retaliate by reducing purchases of U.S. exports. These expected effects are verified by strong empirical support from U.S. economic history and other countries. Tariffs are a way to Make America Poorer again.

Thomas Grennes, Raleigh

Hateful rhetoric

North Carolina Republican convention delegate Michele Woodhouses July 16 implication that Democratic Party partisan rhetoric is partially to blame for the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump is ludicrous. A vast majority of hateful, violent and nasty rhetoric comes from the GOP.

Trump himself falsely claimed President Biden had authorized the FBI to kill him when searching Mar-a-Lago for classified documents. It was N.C. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson who said some folks need killing. And Michele Morrow, the Republican nominee for N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction, suggested we hold a public execution of President Obama and sell tickets.

Its also the GOP that is refusing to address the proliferation of AR-15-style rifles used in a vast majority of our countrys violent and mass killing events.

Stan Kimer, Raleigh

Our new normal

Weve all complained about the hot days lately. Some have also experienced long periods of dry days broken by torrential rain and localized flooding.

According to the latest National Climate Assessment we can expect increasing intensity of climate stressors in the Southeast, including extreme heat, extreme precipitation events, drought persistence and strength, sea level change and tropical cyclones...

What were experiencing is not some fluke, but exactly what climate scientists tell us is our new normal. Its time to stop complaining and start demanding that local, state and federal elected officials get serious about addressing climate change.

Scott Shuford, Hillsborough
Harris raises $200M, signs up 170,000 volunteers in first week of campaign

The Harris campaign raised a whopping $200 million in its first week and signed up more than 170,000 volunteers, it announced Sunday, as the operation gets off to a quick start after President Biden ended his reelection bid.

The campaign announcement shows high enthusiasm for Harris as the likely Democratic nominee, with much of the party getting behind her candidacy.

Harriss campaign said two-thirds of the donations came from first-time donors, with the vice president mobilizing supporters that President Biden had not reached.

The momentum and energy for Vice President Harris is real  and so are the fundamentals of this race: this election will be very close and decided by a small number of voters in just a few states, Michael Tyler, the campaigns communications director, wrote in a memo reported by The Associated Press.

Election Day is just 100 days away, and both Harris and former President Trump are stepping up their campaign operations as the race enters the homestretch.

Polling is also close, with Harris neck and neck with Trump nationally but showing much better results than Biden in key swing states. The enthusiasm has also infected campaign surrogates, with Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) saying Saturday that he believes Harris will take Georgia.

Shes rapidly united the Democratic Party behind her candidacy, sees the momentum in this head-to-head race against former President Trump, and shes electrifying volunteers and grassroots Democrats across the country, he told MSNBC. Shes put Georgia in play.

No other candidate has challenged Harris for the nomination, and her campaign has broken numerous fundraising records as it attempts to make up for a late start. Harris has already gathered enough committed delegates to effectively lock up the partys nomination

Republicans have sharpened their attacks against the vice president in response, with many hitting Harris as too liberal and weak on immigration.

Under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, everything has gone to hell. And it will be much worse under Kamala Harris. Just look at her record, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said Sunday on CNN. Kamala Harris is a dangerous liberal. She makes Joe Biden look competent and moderate by contrast.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) warned that Harris at the top of the ticket energizes Democrats, urging Republicans on Sunday in an ABC interview to tone town personal attacks on the vice president to avoid alienating voters.

Sununu said the Trump campaign should stick to the issues and stay away from the insults.

He said Trump missed an opportunity to do that in recent campaign events, but hopefully they can get back on track. I think he was on track for a couple months there. I think that the change in the campaign has kind of fired him up to go against her, personally.

But Sununu also acknowledged that nobody can get Donald Trump to do anything. But hopefully the numbers, the polls, will get Donald Trump to realize what was working and what didnt.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Vice President Harris is staring down the political reality that she could be the nations first female president, and her rapid rise is posing new challenges for Republicans and Democrats on how to approach gender-related issues when seeking to appeal to voters.

While she would not be the first woman to lead Democrats at the top of the ticket, her emergence comes against a different political backdrop, eight years after former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ran against former President Trump.

Since 2016, women have been in large part responsible for Democratic gains up and down the ballot, while the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion at the federal level, has played a major role in galvanizing women.

Kamala Harris, unlike Hillary Clinton, has a little bit more of a roadmap about what it means to run for president of the United States, particularly against Donald Trump, because she watched it as we all did, in 2016, said Debbie Walsh, the director of the Center for American Women in Politics at Rutgers University. Trump was a bit of an unknown in 2016.

Trumps election led to a massive reaction from women, particularly left-leaning women voters. The day after Trump was inaugurated, millions of women took to the streets of major U.S. cities, including Washington, to protest Trump. Two years later, a wave of Democratic women was elected to Congress in the 2018 midterm elections, which were largely viewed as a referendum on Trumps first two years in office.

The loss of Hillary Clinton motivated a lot of women, Walsh said. We saw record numbers of women running and winning for Congress. We have record numbers of women now serving in Congress. And then in 2020, we saw for the first time multiple women on a debate stage.

Two years after Trump was ousted from office, his nominated Supreme Court justices played a pivotal role in overturning Roe v. Wave in 2022. That same year, Democrats were able to blunt a nationwide red wave in the midterm elections. In 2018, Democrats were also able to make inroads in Virginias off-year elections.

Since President Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris on Sunday, her campaign has seen a groundswell in momentum from women across the board. Hours after Biden dropped out, 40,000 people joined a Win With Black Women call Sunday, when the group endorsed Harris. On Thursday, more than 100,000 people signed on to a White Women for Kamala call.

We have seen in the last seven years a real movement to build a multiracial coalition of women that are working hard to protect each other, said Jess Jollett, executive director of Progress North Carolina, who was on the call.

Harris is sure to face unique criticism because shes a woman, though Republicans are warning that could be a losing strategy for them. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other GOP leaders are telling colleagues to back off attacks against her citing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Republicans have railed against DEI in recent years but also have been aggressively trying to court Black voters this cycle, outlining the balance they have to strike in attacking her.

This election  is going to be about policies, not personalities. This isnt personal with regard to Kamala Harris, Johnson said on Tuesday. Her ethnicity, her gender, has nothing to do with this whatsoever.

Longtime political watchers agree Republicans need to focus on policy this cycle and steer clear of sexism and racism.

What I hope is that she would be evaluated the way every president should be evaluated on their character, integrity, policies and capabilities of doing the job  man or woman. I hope at this point we are moving past that, said Anita McBride, former chief of staff to first lady Laura Bush.

Leadership has said, dont go after gender and ethnicity. Thats not the point of this campaign, and shouldnt be of any  theres so much more at stake. Its the future and direction of the policies of the country. And Kamala Harris is talking about that on her side, and the Republicans should be talking about that too, she added.

Harris, who is of Jamaican and Indian descent, broke multiple barriers when she became vice president and would do so again if she were elected president.

Its not helpful, its not helpful, Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said on CNN, in response to DEI comments from GOP lawmakers this week. Were talking about a liberal senator, who literally has not accomplished much  you dont need to talk about what she looks like or what gender she is.Harris has also faced criticism over her family in a way that is unique to women.

A 2021 clip of Trumps running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), calling Harris and other female politicians childless cat ladies, despite her role as stepmother to Emhoffs two children, resurfaced this week. Some women have publicly taken offense to that rhetoric, most notably actor Jennifer Aniston, who knocked Vance over it.

When asked about the potential pitfalls Republicans could face with Trump and Vance at the top of the ticket, one Republican strategist pointed to what they said is Democrats problem with male voters.

The question here isnt Does Trump have to worry about scaring away women? Thats already baked in the cake, the GOP strategist said. How many men is Kamala going to scare away? the strategist said. If she was so good at cobbling together minority voters, she wouldnt have dropped out before Iowa in 2019.

Trump generally polls better than Harris among white, male voters, but other Republicans say there is room to win over persuadable women voters.

I find historically that women tend to be the toughest critics of women, said Erin Perrine, a Republican strategist. We understand what it is to be a woman because we are one and they tend to be the hardest to win over. Thats why its such a big, persuadable voting block because female voters tend to be harsher on each other.

Im not as much concerned if I was a Democrat about driving male voters away as I would be about how hard it is to win over female voters and hold them, she added.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
How Harris Is Still Building Her Team With 100 Days to Go

Just 45 minutes after President Biden announced on Sunday that he was stepping aside as the Democratic nominee, Team Kamala started to take shape.

Kate Conway, Bidens creative director, dropped a message on the teams Slack channel, Please give a wave to this message if youre online and available to do some design work right now. We are gearing up toward some quick pivots.

Conway was now Kamala Harris creative director. Within three hours there was a new Harris for President Logo. In just over a day, her team rebuilt the Harris branding inventory, from print ads to website.

In her first interview since becoming Harris creative director (she was only appointed by Team Biden in March), Conway told Fast Company, Theres really no overselling how difficult a task that isthe brand exists everywhere from yard signs and rally placards to the website, our social channels, and our ads.

Harris campaigns visual identity had to be created far more rapidly than the usual, carefully planned version that most candidates have at their disposal. Rebecca Noble/Reuters

Most presidential nominees have months to build a campaign team. Kamala Harris has days.

The focus, till now, has been on Harris campaign chair, campaign manager, and growing speculation as to whom she might draft in to help with the political hand-to-hand combat. But any bid for president involves a huge campaign machinery, much of it out of sight. The speed that Harris has assumed the role of nominee is unprecedented, and one of her first decisions was to work with, and effectively inherit, most of the senior Biden campaign staff.

When she went to Bidens campaign HQ in Wilmington on Monday she told staffers that she had asked Bidens campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon, and campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, to stay on. Both readily accepted. OMalley Dillon became the first woman to manage a winning Democratic presidential campaign in 2020. She was hailed then as having a masterful ability to steer a candidate to the winning line of 270 Electoral College votes.

Biden campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon, pictured with husband Patrick Dillon, is retaining her role for Harris. Stefani Reynolds/Reuters

Harris also inherits campaign chief of staff Sheila Nix from the Biden camp. Erin Schaff/Reuters

Kate Conway was Bidens creative director until she became Harris. She announced the need for a new image on Slack. Kate Conway/Twitters

Shell need those skills more than ever. Her candidate starts behind in the polls and is having to build a campaign team on the move. As a longtime close ally, Bakari Sellers, said immediately after Biden stepped aside, Were building the plane while were flying it. The room where Harris met with staff in Wilmington had been hastily redecorated with a California flag and new Harris for President signs. But a Biden-Harris logo still hung on one wall.

Creative director Conway revealed that the pivot from Biden to Harris was so swift that staff waited at the printers so that they could rush the Harris for President signs to the Wilmington event. Fast Company reported that, They had to run them there while they were still wet to make it in time.

When Harris arrived at her campaign headquarters for the first time as candidate, the ink was still wet on the signs. Erin Schaff/Reuters

Harris existing VP team had played a key role in helping her clear the runway of other would-be rivals within 48 hours. And raise $100m in the same time frame. The New York Times reported that, "The vice president had assembled her team so that the exact moment Mr. Biden formally quit, at 1:46 p.m.one minute after the president had informed his own senior staffthey were ready to go."

Harris already had a small team of aides embedded within the Biden campaign team. The Washington Post reports that they will likely assume larger roles. Sheila Nix, a longtime aide to first lady Jill Biden, serves as Harriss chief of staff; Brian Fallon serves as her communications director; Megan Jones is a senior political adviser; and Sergio Gonzales is a senior adviser.

The only downgrading has been of Bidens long-term aide Mike Donilon, who is stepping back from his senior position to an unknown, lesser role.

Mike Donilon, one of Bidens long-term aides, is taking a step back from his senior campaign role. Kevin Mohatt/Reuters

In addition to seasoned political veterans and official staffers Team Kamala will expect to build momentum from celebrity supporters. Charlie XCX posting Kamala IS Brat on X on Sunday night has already had an enormous impact. She may yet emerge as one of Team Kamala's official collaborators.

The following day Beyonces team allowed Kamala to use her song Freedom as part of their campaign. By Thursday, when Harris debuted her first campaign ad, the Beyonce song had framed the entire message and was incorporated throughout the video.

The campaign released its first ad on Thursday, with a soundtrack from Beyonce, who allowed her song Freedom to be used. Harris for President/YouTube

Expect more of these household names to appear over the coming days and weeks. They will likely have as much, and in some cases more, influence than the official team in terms of messaging and framing the candidate. Already George Clooney, Ariana Grande, Barbra Streisand, Olivia Rodrigo, Katy Perry and many more have endorsed Harris. Donald Trump has Hulk Hogan and Kid Rock in his corner.

But new additions are expected and, according to those close to the campaign, needed. Harris allies are trying to convince ex-Obama aide David Plouffe to join the team as chief strategist. Plouffe was Obamas campaign manager for his 2008 presidential run and later served in the White House. He later joined Uber, for a time, and his close connections in Silicon valley might help temper growing enthusiasm among tech entrepreneurs for a Trump candidacy.

David Plouffe, previously a key Obama aide, is a target for the Harris campaign. John Lamparski/Reuters

Another key addition the Harris team is keen to recruit is Jim Margolis. He is considered one of the leading ad-makers and media strategists in the Democratic party. He, like Plouffe, served in key roles in the Obama campaigns of 2008 and 2012. Politico reported that his talks are ongoing with the Harris team.

David Axelrod, yet another former key Obama aide, has urged the Harris team to quickly get their entire messaging team in place as both the Trump and Harris campaigns race to define the new Democratic nominee.

And, while Plouffe has not yet joined the team officially, its possible that his influence has already been felt. On Monday Plouffe appeared on MSNBCs Morning Joe to offer his advice on how Harris should frame the election match-up, Shes a prosecutor. Hes a criminal.

The first words Kamala spokeafter thanking staffers and President Joe Bidenin Wilmington for her first highly anticipated, televised appearance on Monday? I was a courtroom prosecutor. I took on perpetrators of all kinds. Predators who abused women, fraudsters who ripped off consumers, cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. So, hear me when I say: I know Donald Trumps type.

Im a prosecutor. Hes a felon.

Barely 24 hours after Biden had dropped out, the messaging wars had already begun.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Hartford caught a good case of the Blues at the 24th Annual Black-Eyed & Bluesfest

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Guitars were gently weeping across Bushnell Park Saturday afternoon during the 24th Annual Black-Eyed & Bluesfest.

The festival kicked off Friday night with performances from Italian Bluesman Roberto Morbiolli and Boston based crooner Toni Lynn Washington. Musicians from Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island are also scheduled to play throughout the weekend including Bruce Katz, The Knickerbocker All-Stars, XY Eli, and BlueDevil Bluez.

The festival was created by James Verano from the restaurant Black-Eyed Sallys. It has been able to continue in Hartford for the last quarter-century thanks to a partnership with the Connecticut Blues Society and sponsorship from the Greater Hartford Arts Council.

The Blues is the history of almost all American music. This is our roots. If we want to keep it going, weve got to get the youth more involved and its festivals like these that get everybody out, said Scott Sebastian, President of The Connecticut Blues Society.

Along with all of the great music, there was ice cream and barbecue available for attendees.

The festival closed out Saturday night with performances from Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
A warm-up sent readings into the low 90s Sunday, as high pressure shifted into the Northeast and winds became southerly, allowing humid air to flow northward into the Ohio Valley.

A few showers and storms moved into western Ohio, but the bulk of the moisture will remain off the west, except for some light showers early Monday.

Rain chances will increase over the coming days, with several rounds of showers and storms, aided by a frontal boundary that will lift northward. Temperatures will top out in the mid- upper 80s, limited by cloud cover. Morning lows wont drop below 70 degrees in a muggy air mass.

Temperatures will reach the low 90s midweek, with more sunshine and only isolated storms Wednesday and Thursday. A cold front will drift southeast across the region on Friday, resulting in slightly cooler and dry weather next weekend.

Forecast

Tonight: Clouds thicken, humid, isolated showers. Low 72

Monday: Clouds, sticky, scattered showers, storms. High 84

Tuesday: Scattered showers, storms. High 86 (72)

Wednesday: Partly cloudy, hot, humid. High 90 (70)

Thursday: Some sun, pop-up storms p.m. High 89 (71)

Friday: Some sun, few showers, storms. High 88 (72)

Saturday: Early showers, some sunshine. High 87 (69)

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
COLUMBUS  The Ohio Arts Council recently awarded $22.7 million in grants to support artists, nonprofits, arts and cultural organizations, students and educators and public arts programming. This included $35,000 to River View Elementary School for the TeachArtsOhio program, $3,676 to the Pomerene Center for the Arts for the Ohio Artists on Tour program, $12,502 to the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum and $6,000 to the Pomerene Center for sustainability.WARSAW  The Warsaw Alumni Association will have its 114th annual banquet on Aug. 17 at Coshocton Christian Tabernacl. Dinner reservation are limited to the first 175 registered and are due by Aug. 10 by calling Jim Lawrence at 740-502-0603 or Bee Lehner at 740-502-1492. Cost is $20. Dinner by Shumaker Farms will be barbecue chicken, cheesy potatoes, green beans, cole slaw, dessert with a beverage.

Eleven scholarships totaling $14,600 will be presented to graduating seniors of River View High School. Honor classes are 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964 and 1969.

COSHOCTON  The Mary Harris Prizes essay contest by the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum will be accepting submissions through Nov. 1. Non-fiction essays with proper citations must be 1,000 to 3,000 words and relate to the Coshocton Frontier. It's open to any person who resides or works in Coshocton County. Awarded will be $1,000 for first place, $500 for second and five $200 prizes for honorable mention along with another $1,000 at the discretion of judges.

For more information, email jhmuseum@jhmuseum.org or call 740-622-8710. Entries must include name, phone number, email address and mailing address.

COSHOCTON  The Coshocton Foundation is accepting unrestricted grant applications through 4 p.m. Aug. 16. Grants are open to schools, churches, government agencies and community organizations with a 501c3 non-profit status. For more information, go to coshoctonfoundation.org or call 740-622-0010. Seven copies of the request must be turned into the foundation's office at 220 S. Fourth St. or mailed to Coshocton Foundation, P.O. Box 55, Coshocton, OH 43812.

COSHOCTON  The annual Friends of the Library book sale is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 1-2 and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 3 in the Books Galore Bookstore in the basement of the main library. There will also be a silent auction for specialty items. All proceeds benefit the Coshocton County District Library system. Items will be half off from standard prices.

COSHOCTON  Coshocton County WIC will present Bloom with WIC from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Coshocton County Commissioners Community Meeting Room, 637 Chestnut St. The event was formerly known as the baby expo. There will be more than 20 different vendors, giveaways, door prizes and food and. It's open to the public, but is specifically for families with children up to age 5 and expectant mothers.

NEWCOMERSTOWN  Photography of Brennan McClain will be on display from Aug. 3 to 30 at the Arts Center of Newcomerstown, 304 S. College St. McClain is known for his use of color, detail and natural light. He captures a variety of genres, including landscape, travel and architecture. An opening reception will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 3.

COLUMBUS  The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation has announced that David Sterns will have a clemency hearing at 3 p.m. Aug. 22 at the parole board. He was sentenced in 1988 on felony charges of breaking and entering, theft and possession of criminal tools. Anyone wish to provide information on the matter should write the Parole Board, Adult Parole Authority, Attn: Brenda Bonn, 4545 Fisher Road, Suite D, Columbus, OH 43228.

WARSAW  Anna Scheurman of Warsaw recently won top honors in the Flat Andy Contest at the 2024 National Junior Angus Show Awards Ceremony in Madison, Wisconsin. She also placed third in the senior division of photography for the people category and second for photography in the around the farm or ranch category.

COSHOCTON  Coshocton Regional Medical Center was recently recognized with an A grade on the Lown Institute Hospitals Index for social responsibility. The index is the first ranking to measure social responsibility of more than 3,600 U.S. hospitals and applies metrics such as racial inclusivity, avoidance of overuse and community benefit. CRMC ranked third of 130 hospitals in Ohio and 75th nationally.

COSHOCTON  The Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation District will be taking entries for the annual big tree contest until Aug. 30. Winners will be announced at the annual SWCD banquet and meeting Oct. 17 at Lake Park Pavilion.

The contest is open to all species of tree on private property in Coshocton County. Anyone can enter a tree, whether it's on their property or not. Entries will be measured by a representative of SWCD. One winner will be out in the county and one within city limits. For more information and entry, call 740-622-8087, ext. 4 or go to coshoctonswcd.org.

COSHOCTON  Home Loan Savings Bank has reported a net income of $1.5 million, or $1.09 basic and diluted earnings per share, for the quarter ended June 30. This is up $74,000 from the same quarter of 2023. Net income for the fiscal year ending June 30 was $5.4 million, or $3.90 basic and diluted earnings per share, up $307,000 from the year ending June 2023. Total assets were $330.6 million, up $39.4 million from June 2023. Home Loan has offices in Coshocton, West Lafayette, Mount Vernon and Newark.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: What you need to know to start your week
What is Hezbollah and why is Israel attacking Lebanon?

The Israeli military says its troops have entered Lebanon for what it calls a "limited, localised and targeted" ground operation against the armed group Hezbollah.

Lebanese officials say more than 1,000 people have been killed following Israeli air strikes over the past two weeks. Hezbollah has responded by firing hundreds of rockets into northern Israel.

What is Hezbollah and has it fought Israel before?

Hezbollah is an influential Shia Muslim political party and armed group.

It has a significant presence in both the Lebanese parliament and government, and controls the most powerful armed force in the country.

Hezbollah rose to prominence in the 1980s in opposition to Israel, whose forces had occupied southern Lebanon during the country's 1975-1990 civil war.

It has received strong backing from Iran, both financially and militarily, for many years. It is also a strong ally of the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

Hezbollah's armed wing has carried out deadly attacks on Israeli and US forces in Lebanon.

When Israeli troops withdrew from Lebanon in 2000, Hezbollah took credit for pushing them out and continues to oppose Israel's presence in disputed border areas.

In 2006, a full-blown war broke out between Hezbollah and Israel, triggered by a deadly cross-border raid by Hezbollah.

Israeli troops invaded southern Lebanon to try to eliminate the threat from Hezbollah. About 1,000 civilians were killed during the conflict, but Hezbollah claimed victory and has since increased its number of fighters and upgraded its weapons.

The group is designated as a terrorist organisation by Western states, Israel and Gulf Arab states.

[BBC]

How much political support does Hezbollah have?

Hezbollah has participated in Lebanon's national elections since 1992 and has become a major political power.

The group and its allies lost their majority in parliament in the 2022 election, but a new government has not been formed since then and it continues to have ministers in the caretaker administration.

Lebanon is deeply divided over Hezbollah. While the group enjoys substantial popular support, many opponents accuse it of involvement in political corruption and oppose its military capabilities, viewing them as a significant factor in the country's conflicts.

As a powerful political entity, Hezbollah also operates schools, hospitals, cultural institutions and charities across Lebanon.

How strong are Hezbollah's forces?

Hezbollah has thousands of fighters and a huge missile arsenal in southern Lebanon.

It is one of the most heavily armed non-state military forces in the world. It is funded and equipped by Iran.

The organisation has claimed it has 100,000 fighters, although independent estimates put the number between 20,000 and 50,000.

Many are well-trained and battle-hardened, and have fought in the Syrian civil war.

Hezbollah has an estimated 120,000-200,000 rockets and missiles, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank.

Most of its arsenal is made up of small, unguided, surface-to-surface artillery rockets.

But it also thought to have anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles, as well as guided missiles capable of striking deep inside Israel.

It has much more sophisticated weapons at its disposal than Hamas does in Gaza.

[BBC]

Who was Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah?

Hassan Nasrallah is a Shia cleric who has led Hezbollah since 1992 [Reuters]

Hezbollah had been led since 1992 by Hassan Nasrallah, a Shia cleric.

On 28 September, Israel said it had killed Nasrallah in an air strike on Beirut. Hezbollah later confirmed the death of the 64-year-old.

Nasrallah had played a key role in turning Hezbollah into a political force, as well as a military one.

He had close links with Iran and its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

It is unclear who will lead Hezbollah in future.

How has the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel escalated?

Israel has gone on the offensive after almost a year of cross-border hostilities sparked by the war in Gaza.

Previously sporadic fighting escalated on 8 October 2023, the day after the unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas gunmen.

Hezbollah has since launched more than 8,000 rockets at northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. It has also fired anti-tank missiles at armoured vehicles and attacked military targets with explosive drones.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) retaliated with air strikes and tank and artillery fire against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.

On 17 September, Israel it wanted to ensure the safe return of residents of border areas who have been displaced by Hezbollah attacks.

It killed more than a dozen top Hezbollah commanders and apparently destroyed thousands of weapons in air strikes.

It was also blamed for the exploding pager and walkie-talkie attacks that left thousands of Hezbollah members maimed, blinded or killed.

Although Hezbollah has been weakened, it has continued to fire barrages of rockets into northern Israel and is still believed to possess a formidable arsenal of long-range missiles.
BEDFORD-STUYVESANT, Brooklyn (PIX11)  Over the last decade and a half, the racial makeup of the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bed-Stuy has changed dramatically because of gentrification.

Tens of thousands of black residents have left, and thousands of white residents arrived. For the 11th year, a block party was held to bring new and old neighbors together to celebrate the neighborhoods history and diversity.

More Local News

Its the 11th annual STooPs arts crawl and block party celebrating Bed-Stuys rich cultural tapestry.

There were the Batala NYC drummers, those doing Double Dutch jump rope, children playing in sprinklers, and some energetic dancing from Asa! Fitness, and booths of lotions, arts, and clothing.

But what makes this Bed-Stuy STooPs block party so different is its goal: to bring together new residents, many of them white, and their older longtime black neighbors.

My goal is to highlight, to amplify the voices, especially black and brown artists here in this neighborhood to showcase the neighborhood, Kendra Bostock, Bed-Stuy STooPs block party and arts crawl founder, told PIX11 News.

Zardon Zo played and sang from a stoop, and Kai Diata Giovanni read some poetry from another stoop while the art crawl host walked through this historic neighborhood.

The history is deep, its rich and continually evolving, Shanna Sabio, art crawl host, and Growhouse NYC, told PIX11 News. People talk about gentrification and being displaced, but we also see people coming back, she added.

In this neighborhood, there are some families who lived here for five generations, like Deborah James family, and many newer residents as well.

I appreciate that the block party was organized and led by black members of the community who want to hold onto their culture, Stephanie Russell-Kraft, a newer white resident from Crown Heights, told PIX11 News. Were a white family who moved here relatively recently. I want my children to be cognizant of that, she added.

And longtime resident Deborah James told PIX11 News.

When my grandmother and mother first bought a house across the street, we were one of the first three or four black families to move in, James, a grandmother, told PIX11 News. But now its happening the other way. But I have my children and grandchild here. We adapt, she added.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Hillary Clinton coming to Atlantas Fox Theatre to celebrate release of her new book

Hillary Clinton is making her way to the Peach State to celebrate the release of her new book.

Clinton, a former first lady, senator of New York and secretary of state, added Atlanta to her fall tour for the release of her book Something Lost, Something Gained.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Clinton added 10 cities to the tour with a stop in Atlanta at the Fox Theatre on Oct. 27.

At each event, Clinton and a moderator will take the audience on a journey of exchanges on politics, democracy, threats, and friendship, aging, marriage and how working together to shape a future to be proud of.

The book, Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love, and Liberty will be released on Sept. 17, 2024.

Clinton said she is excited to add more cities to her Fall tour.

TRENDING STORIES:

Im so excited to add 10 more cities to my Fall tour. I hope you can join me for wide-ranging conversations that go behind the scenes and include never-before-told stories, says Secretary Clinton. Well discuss the state of our politics and create the future we want for our children and grandchildren and, most of all, have some fun while were at it!

Atlanta, Detroit, Hartford, Houston, Tampa, Durham, Portland, Newark, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles join Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, and Washington DC on Clintons first tour of the U.S. since 2019.

Tickets will be available for purchase beginning on Aug. 2.

For more information about presales, tour dates and to purchase VIP packages and tickets, visit here.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
The Des Moines Register reports on March 9, 2020, that the first three COVID-19 cases have been recorded in Iowa.

The Des Moines Register is celebrating 175 years of journalism.

Featured front page

Gov. Kim Reynolds urges calm as the first three COVID-19 cases are recorded in Iowa, the Des Moines Register reports on March 9, 2020. The Johnson County residents apparently had contracted the virus while on a cruise in Egypt. The following day, Reynolds declares a disaster emergency, and on March 15, she recommends schools shut down. By month's end, four people in Iowa have died, and hospitals are struggling with an explosion of infections.

Each day this month, as the Register marks its 175th birthday, were sharing front pages from noteworthy moments in history.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The Des Moines Register historic front page: COVID-19 reaches Iowa
Historical marker dedicated where three Black teens were killed in Detroit during 1967 unrest

Detroit activists V. Lonnie Peek Jr. and Dan Aldridge, July 26, 2024 | Ken Coleman

A Michigan Historical Marker was dedicated on Friday at a site where three Black teens were killed by white law enforcement during civil unrest in Detroit in 1967.

The incident at the Algiers Motel, which was located on Woodward Avenue, has been written about for years and is the subject of the 2017 film, Detroit.

Three young African-Americans  Fred Temple,18, Carl Cooper, 17, and Aubrey Pollard, 19  were killed and two white women as well as seven other Black men were brutally beaten, either by city police or U.S. national guardsmen.

At the time, fewer than 300 of the Detroit Police Departments 5,000-member were African American. However, the Motor City was about 40% Black.

Members of the Temple, Cooper and Pollard families attended the dedication. So did Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, as well as longtime Detroit activists V. Lonnie Peek Jr. and Dan Aldridge, historians Jamon Jordan and Danielle McGuire and Isaiah McKinnon, a one-time Detroit Police Department chief and former deputy Detroit mayor.

We decided that we were going to build and strengthen one another, Gilchrist said. Even in the face of setbacks that came to the Temple family, and the Pollard family, and the Cooper family, the injustices and indignities that they saw and the others who lost their lives during the rebellion saw, their resolve was strengthened day by day.

The civil unrest began during the wee hours of the morning after Detroit police raided an unlicensed bar, known as a blind pig, in a largely Black neighborhood on the citys west side. During five days beginning on July 23 there were 43 deaths, hundreds of injuries and nearly 1,700 fires and more than 7,000 arrests. One of the deaths was a 4-year-old girl named Tayna Blanding who was struck by a police officers bullet that entered an apartment building unit where she lived.

Later that summer, Peek and Aldridge along with Dorothy Dewberry Aldridge led an effort to carry out a Peoples Tribunal, a mock trial, to hold the police officers accountable. Civil rights legend Rosa Parks participated in the event.

It let folks know that the criminal justice system was one that we could not count on, said Peek, who is African American.

Ultimately, none of the officers who were formally charged in Detroit Recorders Court in connection with the incident were convicted.

I want the people of Detroit and other people to know and never forget what happened July 26, 1967, said Aubreys sister, Thelma Pollard.

DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST
After several suspenseful weeks, the Hollywood Basic Crafts union coalition said it reached a tentative agreement with Hollywood studios and streamers.

The group announced the provisional deal, which is still subject to a ratification vote by members, on July 27. After a long last 48-hours, we are PROUD to report that ALL Hollywood Basic Crafts Locals have reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP late this evening, Teamsters Local 399 wrote in a statement.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

The statement added on Saturday, The basic crafts spent today working closely with our member-led negotiating committees to finalize a deal with the AMPTP that we can now say is being unanimously recommended by our member-led bargaining committees.

During negotiations, which began on June 10, each member of the five-union Hollywood Basic Crafts group negotiated their own agreements, while the unions bargained together over shared issues. The Teamsters Local 399, for example, bargained its location manager and Black Book contracts, which covers drivers and multiple other classifications.

With members including the Teamsters Local 399, IBEW Local 40, LiUNA! Local 724, UA Local 78 and OPCMIA Local 755, the Hollywood Basic Crafts bargains on behalf of around 8,000 workers like drivers, animal wranglers, plasterers and electricians. Teamsters Local 399 principal officer led negotiations on behalf of the union, while Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers president Carol Lombardini headed up talks for major Hollywood firms.

Heading into the last scheduled week of negotiations, the Teamsters Local 399 convened a town hall with members that featured Dougherty and Teamsters general president Sean OBrien discussing the negotiations. I want to be clear; we arent looking for a strike, were fighting for a fair deal for our members, said Dougherty. We wont, however, bargain against ourselves, we wont be intimidated to take our priorities off the table, and we wont be taking any concessions.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter
Hot, humid weather and storms are in the extended forecast for Milwaukee

Peak summer weather is in full swing in Milwaukee.

The forecast for the upcoming week features hot, humid temperatures and a chance of showers and thunderstorms every day through Friday. High temperatures in the mid to upper 80s are expected throughout the week and will likely feel hotter thanks to dewpoints in the 70s.

A ridge, or elongated area of relatively high atmospheric pressure, over the western United States is to blame for the hot and humid weather, said Milwaukee-Sullivan National Weather Service meteorologist Aidan Kuroski.

"The best way to describe a ridge is like a giant bubble over the western United States," he explained. "Then, there are these little ripples in the northern side of the bubble, and those ripples are known as shortwaves. Those seem to impact our area every day this upcoming week."

One more cool night before things warm up thru the weekend. Will also see muggy conditions return along with shower chances Sun-Tue with a few thunderstorms. #wiwx pic.twitter.com/6OPTaK9d4o  NWS Milwaukee (@NWSMilwaukee) July 26, 2024

Humid days in the 80s are expected in Milwaukee this week

High temperatures in the low to mid-80s are in the forecast for Monday and Tuesday, with nighttime lows near 70 degrees. However, dewpoints in the 60s and 70s will make things feel warmer, especially Monday afternoon, which could feel close to 90 degrees between 1 and 6 p.m.

Things will heat up to the upper 80s on Tuesday and Wednesday and will remain humid. Wednesday could potentially feel as hot as the mid-90s, especially further from Lake Michigan, Kuroski said. High temperatures in the mid-80s are expected through at least Saturday. The ridge will weaken early next week, bringing temps back into the 70s.

Lightning strikes behind a RNC 2024 Milwaukee flag display on the opening day of the Republican National Convention on Monday July 15, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis.

Storms are possible every day this week in Milwaukee

The hot and humid weather will create a favorable environment for storms throughout the week. Beginning Sunday around 11 a.m., there is a chance for showers and thunderstorms each day through at least Friday. On Sunday, showers and thunderstorms are possible after 1 p.m., with chances most likely between 4 and 9 p.m.

Precipitation chances are highest this week on Monday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service. Chances are lower, but not zero, throughout the day Tuesday after about 6 a.m. However, due to expected wind shear  a change in wind speed and/or direction over a short distance that can fuel storms  if it does storm on Tuesday it will likely be strong, Kuroski said.

The best chance for severe storms or tornadoes is Wednesday through much of the day on Thursday, he continued. This is due to a cold front expected to come down from Canada on Wednesday night.

A spectacular view of Lake Michigan near Bradford Beach.

Hot weather safety tips

Hot weather can cause heat-related illness and even death. The Milwaukee Health Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer these hot weather safety tips:

Slow down and limit physical activity.

Spend time in air-conditioned spaces such as shopping malls, movie theaters or libraries.

Don't leave kids or pets in a parked car. Temperatures can become life-threatening within minutes.

Wear lightweight, loose-fitting and light-colored clothing.

Take cool baths or showers. Use wet towels on your skin to cool down.

Don't rely on fans as primary cooling devices.

Drink plenty of water.

Avoid consuming caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, which can increase heat effects.

Wisconsin weather radar

Wisconsin weather warnings

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Hot, humid weather and storms in Milwaukee forecast
MANHATTAN (KSNT)  Investigators are working to determine what started a fire at a home in Manhattan Sunday morning.

According Manhattan Fire Department (MFD) firefighters were called to the fire at 12:50 a.m. in the in the 900 block of Connecticut Ave. Upon arrival, crews found a duplex with heavy fire in rear of the structure.

The fire was contained within 20 minutes and the occupants of the duplex were not home.

Loss is estimated at $150,000 to the structure and $30,000 of contents.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Ice cream is serious business on the SouthCoast, winning top readership last week

As we head into a new week, let's take a look at the news from this past week.

Coast Line Transfers, or CLT Marine, is one of the seven firms seeking to become part of the New Bedford State Pier's redevelopment. CLT is a commercial marine service provider to the expanding offshore wind industry, as well as the marine industry in the Northeast. CLT, which is operating from the State Pier now, proposes the use of existing Buildings 1 and 2, including about 2.3 acres of pier space in all.

Smashed which opened in early Juneis bringing the LA vibe to New Bedford. Their menu has smashed burgers, hot chicken, mac and cheese, milkshakes, and more surrounded by a unique atmosphere. The restaurant is keeping up with Sarducci's legacy, Smashed is open until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, one of the last businesses to close in the downtown area.

Keep up with high school sports with scores, game highlights, and Player of the Week voting at www.southcoasttoday.com/sports.

Here are some of the most-read stories of the week on www.southcoasttoday.com:

Lauryn Costa, manager, offers an espresso chocolate chip sugar cone ice cream at the Captain Bonney's Creamery on New Bedford Road in Rochester.

Ice cream, you scream, and in honor of National Ice Cream Day this past Sunday, SouthCoast Today invited readers to "scream" their vote for their favorite Ice Cream spot in an online poll.

And the winner was Captain Bonney's Creamery at 258 New Bedford Road, Rochester.

"Feeling really, really blessed to have won. Our goal at Captain Bonney's is to make everyone's experience a really good one," said owner Amber Romero.

Here are the winners: Best ice cream in the New Bedford area?

New Bedford woman faces charge related to newborn baby found dead at Fort Taber Park

A 22-year-old New Bedford woman has been arraigned in the case of Baby Doe, a male infant found dead at Fort Taber Park in December.

Daniela Michell Escobar-Mejia, the infants mother, faces a single charge of improper disposal of a body. She was arraigned in New Bedford District Court and released on personal recognizance.

Fort Taber Park: New Bedford woman faces charge related to newborn baby found dead

Dartmouth Mall owner says company is financially "stronger, leaner."

The Qumseya family that owns the new Hyper Zone indoor playground opening soon at the Dartmouth Mall understands that its not always easy for children to find a clean, safe place to play.

The play areas include an obstacle course, crawling tubes and multiple slides. They decided against installing a trampoline for safetys sake.

They will also have a separate area for toddlers with interactive games they can play.

This fall: New play option for families of young kids opening at Dartmouth Mall

State troopers were at Logan International Airport earlier this month to arrest a Dartmouth man upon arrival, after a fellow passenger reported seeing disturbing images and videos of prepubescent children, among other things, while in view of the mans phone during a flight from Nashville, according to the Suffolk District Attorneys Office.

Jed Cohen, 74, of Dartmouth, was ordered held on $10,000 bail at his arraignment on Wednesday, July 17, in Boston Municipal Court on charges of possession of child pornography, disseminating photographs of sexual or intimate parts of a child and paying for sexual conduct with a child under 18, according to a release from the DA.

Crime notes: A Dartmouth man is charged with viewing child porn, trying to buy sex with child on plane.

Shoppers are seen exiting the newly opened Harbor Freight Tools on Berdon Way in Fairhaven

Harbor Freight Tools has opened a new store in Fairhaven with tools, equipment, and accessories for professional contractors and technicians, homeowners and hobbyists.

The store will stock a full selection of tools and equipment in categories including automotive, air and power tools, storage, outdoor power equipment, generators, welding supplies, shop equipment and hand tools.

From contractors to homeowners: Harbor Freight Tools ready to service all of Bristol County

All of these stories can be read in their entirety on southcoastoday.com.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Top Greater New Bedford stories: Ice cream, arrests, mall play space
IDEA Public Schools across the state to offer free breakfast, lunch to students during school day

IDEA Public Schools is excited to announce it will be implementing the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) under the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs for the upcoming 2024-25 school year.

All IDEA schools in Florida will provide nutritious breakfast and lunch to all children at no charge. This will eliminate the collection of meal applications for free, reduced-price, and paid student meals.

Providing our students with nutritious breakfast and lunch is a recipe for success, said Fernando Aguilar, Vice President of the Child Nutrition Program at IDEA Public Schools. Through the Community Eligibility Provision, we will be able to ensure that all IDEA students receive meals for the upcoming school year free of charge.

No action is required from families for their child(ren) to participate in the free meal offerings.

The two IDEA Jacksonville qualifying campuses for CEP in 2024-2025 are:

IDEA Bassett

IDEA River Bluff

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Tugs at your heart: Implosion set for this week at Avon Lake power plant

AVON LAKE, Ohio (WJW)  Controlled explosives will be used to implode boiler building 9 and 10 at the Avon Lake power plant this week, according to the city.

Video: Suspect throws explosive at Summit Co. home

A Sunday press release states the exact day isnt being announced for community safety and to prevent crowds from gathering.

The Avon Lake Environmental Redevelopment Group is responsible for the demolition of the plant. It was previously announced a precipitator building would also be imploded, but the release states that will be postponed due to concerns that the blast could damage a nearby smokestack.

This weeks plan is to implode just the boiler building, Mayor Mark Spaetzel said in the release. As announced earlier, the city will notify the community 30 minutes prior to the implosion through the Alert Avon Lake emergency notification system.

Regardless of when this implosion happens, what was will soon become whats next.

It tugs at your heart a little bit, shared former Power Plant employee, Dean Arroyo.

Built in 1926, the Avon Lake Power Plant ends a great run by the lakefront this week. Hopefully, whatever takes over next has a run just like its predecessor.

It was a big, big part of the community, shared Arroyo.

Fire breaks out at Elyria heat treating building

Demolition experts have set a 1,200-foot exclusion zone with an expanded area cordoned off for safety during the implosion. Other safeguards will include:

Providing information on what to expect through various communication channels.

Sending alerts via the Alert Avon Lake notification system 30 minutes before the blast.

Monitoring air quality before, during, and after the event.

Assisting with the closure of Lake Road and the surrounding area during the implosion.

Residents are encouraged to visit the citys website for more details and to sign up for Alert Avon Lake.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill.  An injured Great Blue Heron that was rescued from a tree in Oakbrook Terrace on Tuesday evening has died.

According to the bird conservation organization Chicago Bird Collision Monitors (CBCM), the Great Blue Heron was found tangled in the branches of a tree near a hotel in Oakbrook Terrace by a visiting contractor from Virginia.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

The contractor sought help from the local fire department, who called monitors from the organization for help.

Officials from the organization said the bird had been hanging in the branches at the top of a more than 30-foot tree since Monday.

Crews were unable to use ropes to loosen the branches, and the tree could not be climbed, so fire crews used a ladder truck to bring the heron down to safety.

CBCM officials said the bird was exhausted and injured after dangling from the tree for hours and was later taken to the Willowbrook Wildlife Center for care.

In an update on Saturday morning, CBCM officials said the bird had sustained permanent injuries during the incident that could not be repaired.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Officials said the heron had no hope for recovery and was humanely euthanized.

In our rescue work, we know everything we recover does not survive but the fact that so many people cared about saving this bird and not leaving it to suffer meant that its life mattered. We applaud the people who gave their time and effort to the rescue, a spokesperson for the organization said in a Facebook post.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
This story previously aired on Sept. 23, 2017.



Produced by Lisa Freed and Michelle Feuer

At the time of her murder, Kay Wenal was married to real estate developer Hal Wenal  her fourth husband. He was smitten from the moment he first set eyes on Kay in a Reno airport.

"She said she'd bent over to get luggage off the rack and that's when Hal noticed her," Kay's sister, Pam Sleeper, told "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty. "How could you not?" she laughed.

Pam Sleeper says her sister was striking and vivacious. "Hal was proud of her," she said.

"He used to love to walk into restaurants -- she was arm candy," private investigator John Insogna said. "'Oh, look at that woman! Wow!'"

Kay and Hal Wenal / Credit: Pam Sleeper

And at the age of 60, Kay was still turning heads and everyone seemed to love her, which made her murder in May 2008 all the more shocking -- and difficult to solve.

What's more, there is little physical evidence: crime scene investigators recorded video which reveals no fingerprints, footprints, defensive wounds, hairs or fibers. And all of the blood tested was Kay's.

So three weeks after his wife's death, Hal Wenal offered a reward that would grow to a quarter of a million dollars.

"He wanted to try to find out  who murdered Kay and he was willin' to pay dearly to do it," said Sleeper.

But when months went by without a real lead, the frustrated multimillionaire hired his own team of private investigators led by Ned Timmons.

"We want this guy. We want this solved," said Timmons.

Timmons, a retired FBI agent, recruited former colleagues -- his own ex-wife, Kathleen, and John Insogna.

"You know, when you get involved in this kinda work, you wanna have closure. You wanna bring 'em to -- an end," said Insogna.

"48 Hours" brought the private investigators together with retired Gwinnett County Police Lieutenant Charlie Bishop, who also worked on this case, to reexamine a murder that continues to haunt them all.

"You wanna right the wrong. Somebody is out there that took this lady's life. And it's our job to try and find him," Insogna said of the case he described as "puzzling and "frustrating."

"So can this be solved?" Moriarty asked the group.

"Oh, I think it can," Ned Timmons replied.

"We need that lucky break," said Insogna.

Normally, "48 Hours" follows a murder case after an arrest has been made; not in this case. This report is a true whodunit. Maybe you know something that can solve this case.

May 1, 2008, wasn't a typical day for Kay Wenal.

"She woke up that morning with all the intentions of going to work," said Insogna.

Usually, she was out finding tenants to fill her husband's shopping centers.

"Then she changed her mind, says, 'I don't feel well,'" Insogna explained. "So whoever did this knew she was home."

There are no signs of forced entry. So John Insogna believes Kay let her killer inside and was immediately assaulted at the front door. The proof, says Ned Timmons, is all that blood.

"And you can see by the -- the way the blood droplets hit, her back had to be there and he had to hit her with a very, very powerful blow back that stunned her," Ned Timmons explained.

A punch that sent her glasses flying across the room.

"She probably realized, 'I'm in trouble.' And then  tried to escape," Insogna reasoned.

"She flees to the kitchen, perhaps to get the phone," Charlie Bishop explained. "There, he gets her. And that's where he takes control of her and kills her."

The killer slashed her throat. What happened next shocked even veteran investigators.

"Then he decided to do what we call an insurance cut  a second cut," said Ned Timmons.

 to make sure that she was gonna die," Insogna added.

"I mean, that's a cold-blooded killer," Moriarty noted.

"Exactly right, yeah. It really is," said Insogna.

And Kay's killer appeared to have carefully planned his attack.

"Nobody saw him coming in," Insogna said. "Nobody saw him leave."

Which makes what the killer left behind so puzzling: a towel with smudges of Kay's blood was found in her closet, off the master bathroom.

"Why is he in there?" said Kathleen Timmons.

"It's her closet. Maybe he takes one final trophy," said Ned Timmons.

"What are you looking for in that room? It's a big question," said Kathleen.

This is what investigators do know:

THE WEAPON: AN EXTREMELY SHARP INSTRUMENT; HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND



"I think it might've been a scalpel or something like that," said Insogna.

"It could've been a hunting or fishing knife," Ned Timmons explained. "Whatever it was, it was extremely sharp. It did not cause any jagged lacerations."

THE ASSAILANT: A RIGHT-HANDED MAN



"You all use 'he.' You believe a man did this?" Moriarty asked the group of investigators.

"Because of the strength that it took," Ned Timmons replied. "I don't see a woman cutting another woman's throat like that. I don't  are there women that could do this? Sure. I don't think it's likely. I think this was a man."

A man John Insogna believes is right-handed.

"because I think he hit her with his right and I think the way they -- the cuts were on her neck, they started from here to here," he told Moriarty, mimicking his throat being slashed from left to right ."If he was left-handed, I think he would start here and go this way."

And he was probably wearing gloves. Pieces of a latex glove were found inside the house and on the back deck that didn't match ones used by first responders.

"That also is confirmation that whoever did this came prepared. I mean, who walks around with rubber gloves in their pocket?" Insogna reasoned.

THE MOTIVE: UNKNOWN

Everyone agrees this was not a robbery.

"She had plenty of rings on," said Ned Timmons.

Kay's wallet and credit cards were out in the open. Jewelry worth hundreds of thousands of dollars was locked in a safe upstairs.

"If this was some guy that came to rob her  wouldn't he take the rings? Wouldn't he take somethin'?" Ned Timmons asked.

"The impressions that I got were that someone was very comfortable in that home, knew their way around that home," Kathleen Timmons explained. "and this person has no concern that anyone is going to walk in and catch him. and then walks out the back door and departs."

Investigators believe the killer made his escape through the woods behind the Wenal home.

"He clearly knew where he was going, too, when he left," Kathleen Timmons said. "And that takes an awful lot of prior planning."

But did he make a mistake?

MYSTERY MAN

Six days after Kay Wenal was murdered, her family and friends gathered to say goodbye.

"It was packed  lots of people," Pam Sleeper said of her sister's funeral. "There was a lot of policemen there."

Gwinnett County police took surveillance footage, searching the faces for suspects. Pam Sleeper was searching for answers.

"Do you think Kay had enemies?" Moriarty asked.

"I didn't think she did, but apparently she did," said Sleeper.

"Did she ever talk about having any fears?"

"No."

"Anybody threatening her?" Moriarty continued.

"No," said Sleeper

"You had to wonder about Hal, didn't you?" said Moriarty.

"No," Sleeper replied. "It just never crossed my mind, ever."

But it certainly occurred to police to look at Kay's husband.

"Hal was a suspect from day one," said Ned Timmons.

Hal Wenal, however, appeared eager to cooperate, agreeing to a police interview in 2008, without his lawyer present.

Hal Wenal to investigator: To the best of my knowledge I will tell you everything I know.

As investigators discovered, he had an ironclad alibi.

"We knew Hal physically wasn't there," said Insogna.

"We have video of him leaving his office. We have video of him going to a fast food restaurant," Bishop explained. "All within the time we believe the murder took place."

There was also no evidence Hal Wenal had hired anyone. What's more, he seemed grief stricken by Kay's death:

Hal Wenal to investigator: There are nights I wake up crying my heart out. Middle of the night, like a child it's horrible. It's really horrible. And especially if you don't know why.

"Hal wasn't a part of this, in my opinion," said Charlie Bishop.

"So you don't believe he was involved," said Moriarty.

"No," he replied.

"But I think Hal was protecting the memory of Kay," Insogna said. "The secret stuff, and he didn't wanna divulge that, because it would reflect poorly -- on Kay."

Secrets Kay didn't even share with her sister.

"There was a whole lot, apparently, she didn't talk to me about," said Sleeper.

"And do you think somewhere in there is the clue to her killer?" Moriarty asked.

"Uh-huh," she affirmed. "I sure do."

"We have found  people have  three lives. They have a public life, a private life, and a secret life," said Insogna.

"Do you believe Kay Wenal had a secret life?" Moriarty asked.

"I believe she did, yes," Insogna replied. "And that's where I believe the answer lies."

Kay had a colorful past. As investigators discovered, she not only married a lot, she also had affairs.

"She needed to be loved. And she needed to feel that she could attract any man," Ned Timmons explained. "She was obsessed with this."

In fact, Ned Timmons theorizes she may have been seeing someone at the time of her death.

"Hal knew her secret life," he said.

"Hal was involved in the secret life, in my opinion," Bishop concurred.

"Do you think he put up with her, then, having affairs just to keep her -- on his arm?" Moriarty asked.

"Absolutely," Ned Timmons replied. "Absolutely. Yeah."

In a murder investigation, nothing is private. So the Wenal house was searched, and, according to John Insogna, more possible evidence of Kay's secret life was uncovered.

"material we found in the house, which would-- would not be normal," said Insogna.

"In what way?" Moriarty asked.

"It was unusual. Almost perverted," he replied.

"Kinky?" Moriarty asked.

"Kinky. Yes, kinky's a good word," said Insogna.

They found outfits detectives described as "fetish wear."

"And when we talked to Hal about it, first he said, 'No, I don't know anything about that stuff.' 'Oh,' and then the next time, 'Oh, yeah, we went to a -- a masquerade party and she dressed like a French maid,'" said Insogna.

Hal and Kay Wenal / Credit: Pam Sleeper

But the Halloween costume is tame compared to what else was in Kay's closet. The list in police reports is X-rated.

"These outfits were not something a French maid would wear," Insogna told Moriarty. " and if she's not wearin' them for Hal, then who's she wearin' 'em for?

Hal Wenal to investigator: Kay was a beautiful woman. if you came out and I'd line up 30 guys I know, they'd all tell you the same thing. Any guy would fall in love with Kay in a minute.

Asked if she believes Kay knew her killer, Pam Sleeper said, "I think she probably did."

And cops do have one possible clue to his identity: a stranger seen in the neighborhood the very afternoon Kay was killed.

Do you know this man? Anyone with information is asked to call the Gwinnett County Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division Anonymous Tip line at 770-513-5390 or Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta: 404-577-TIPS (8477) / Credit: Gwinnett County Police Dept

A sketch was made with help from one of the Wenal's neighbors, who told police he actually saw the same man twice: on the day of the murder and the day before.

"And he had a -- flyer for a house that was for sale in the subdivision," Insogna said. "And the neighbor said, 'Oh it's way on the other side'  and he just turned around and he walked away out of sight."

Do you know the man in the sketch?



The first encounter stood out to the neighbor because the stranger didn't seem to have a car.

"Now, this is an area, you just don't walk around in that neighborhood. You-- you have to drive. Nobody-- nobody walks," Insogna explained.

Police later discovered that the "house for sale" flyer was only given to people who had been inside that house and there had been no showings on the day the stranger first appeared.

The following day, the same neighbor was looking out his bathroom window.

"And he sees the same guy, walking toward the Wenal's house, right about the time they believe that the homicide occurred," said Insogna.

"Do you think this person could be the killer?" Moriarty asked Gwinnett County Police Sergeant John Richter.

"I think it's a strong possibility," he replied. "But, obviously, we can't say for 100 percent until we identify that person he saw.

And for more than eight years, that's exactly what Gwinnett County police have been trying to do. Sergeant Richter took over the investigation in 2011. Lieutenant Steven Shaw is his supervisor.

"It's a standard, you know, white male with wire-rimmed glasses that's aging and starting to bald.  there are probably hundreds and hundreds of males walking around that look something like this," Lt. Shaw said. "And we've, you know, obviously, explored Kay's inner circle and -- and Hal's circle and -- and all of their friends and acquaintances."

They checked out everyone from Kay's doctor to a restaurant manager and even a clerk at the local Hobby Lobby store who had a crush on Kay.

"She said, 'That's the strangest thing he calls me and wants me to go for a drink with him," said Sleeper.

Investigators have cleared and eliminated all three men.

They're still trying to find the man pictured with Kay in a photo taken years earlier in Las Vegas, who seemed to resemble the sketch.

A police sketch, left, and an unidentified man photographed with Kay Wenal.

"Do you think that person is this person?' Moriarty asked Sgt. Richter of the man in the photo and the man in the sketch.

"Well, I think it's a possibility  that person -- seated next to Kay and with another female it -- it, for sure, could be him," he replied.

"You don't know whether he's a suspect or not. You just" Moriarty noted to Charlie Bishop.

"I never could identify him," the retired Gwinnett County Police lieutenant replied. "Nobody seemed to know who he was."

As investigators were searching for the man in the sketch, Hal Wenal suggested that they should also look at a man in Kay's past:

Hal Wenal to investigator: [Takes a deep breath] I have something in the back of my mind, I don't even want to say it yet, but that was years and years ago. The weirdest thing was  and I don't even really like saying it is  her ex-husband.

Kay's third husband, Jeff Gilbert:

Investigator: Was she still married to him when you two met? Hal Wenal: When we met. Absolutely. Yes, she was.

Gilbert was running Bally's Casino, where Kay was modeling, when Hal Wenal swept in and "stole" her away:

Hal Wenal: He threatened her when she was trying to leave. I know that. Investigator: He loved her Hal Wenal: But that's what she told me, so.

"You don't think that would make Jeff angry enough to wanna kill her?" Moriarty asked Sleeper.

"No," she said. "No, never."

But just a few months before Kay was killed, Jeff Gilbert called. He was traveling to Atlanta, and wanted to see her and Hal:

Hal Wenal to investigator: and I said, "Well, what are you going to do?" And she said, "I told him we're not going." She said, "He's livid about it."

"We looked at him. Because an ex-husband is -- is, of course, on our suspect list. But no indication that he was involved," said Sgt. Richter.

"We don't have any -- evidence, through airlines or phone records, and we looked into it, to indicate that he was in the Atlanta area," he explained.

Then, nearly three months after Kay was killed, out of the blue, came the most tantalizing and perplexing clue of all.

"I was in shock. I -- I didn't know what to think," said Sleeper.

ANOTHER CLUE

Hal Wenal: I stand on that bridge on the second floor  I look down at that front door. I say, "Kay, what happened here? What really happened? Investigator: Whoever did this  did this because of one of two reasons  they're very angry with her or they're very angry with you. Hal Wenal: I've been in this game for 40 years. Who the hell kills your wife? Not even the Mafia does that.

Hal Wenal / Credit: Pam Sleeper

Despite what Hal Wenal believed, cold case investigators Lt. Steven Shaw and Sgt. John Richter wonder if the killer could be connected in some way to Wenal's business.

"We have to look at every option and every possibility  'til we figure out who did it," said Sgt. Richter.

Back in 2008, Hal Wenal was the picture of wealth and success.

"He was the ultimate salesman," said David Hughes, a contractor who built many of Hal's shopping centers.

"He was all the time lookin' for another deal," Hughes said. "When he got one goin', he was looking for another one."

Like so many risk takers, Hal Wenal made and lost millions.

"At the time of Kay's death, what kinda shape was his business in?" Moriarty asked Sgt. Richter.

"It's hard to tell. on the face, it looks like they had a lotta money  However, after diggin' into the case  it appears that it was maybe smoke and mirrors," Sgt. John Richter explained. "We find out that maybe there was some fraud or some stuff that wasn't always on the up and up."

Hal Wenal made his fortune buying land, building shopping centers and then selling the malls -- fully leased -- for a profit. But according to Marie Lundquist, Wenal would sometimes cook the books.

"He wasn't the most honest person in the world," said Lundquist, who began working for Wenal in 2007, as his administrative assistant.

"We sold a shopping center in Lawrenceville  and the whole deal was bad," she explained. "He was paying tenants' rent  so when -- that when the new owners bought it -- the books looked like -- they were paying rent every month, when, in fact, Hal was paying their rent. Some of 'em."

Hal Wenal to investigator: I can say to you without reservation that I can't even think of anybody. We have tenants occasionally who fall out, but they don't blame me.

Yet "48 Hours" found six lawsuits filed against Hal Wenal and his various companies from people who did blame him, claiming fraud. But Wenal brushed it off.

Hal Wenal to investigator: If you don't make any money, you never get sued for anything. The minute you make a buck, people come after you.

"Do you think there's any possibility that Kay's death might have something to do with someone angry with Hal?" Moriarty asked Pam Sleeper.

"Yeah  because apparently, he -- owed a lot of people money," she replied. " and he didn't make a lot of friends ... It could be a revenge thing."

Kay's sister wonders if an investor was angry enough to hire a professional killer, which could explain the lack of evidence at the crime scene.

"There was a lot of blood there. And how this guy got away without a footprint, a hand mark on the wall or anything, it's just amazing," said Sleeper.

But the idea of a professional hit doesn't make sense to the investigators who have examined the case over the years.

"I think if it was [a] hired killer, it would've been -- with a gun. No physical contact. Just boom, boom," John Insogna said. "Out the door, 'see ya later, that's it, I'm done.'"

"A gun -- yeah, a .22 or somethin' to the back of the head," Charlie Bishop agreed.

And what makes a hit man even more unlikely, they say, is what happened nearly three months after Kay was murdered. A peculiar letter arrived at the Gwinnett County offices of The Atlanta Journal Constitution. The letter wasn't published back then, but it was given to the police.

"The police department wanted to meet with us," Sleeper said. "they showed us this letter. cut out in little bitty individual different letters outta different magazines and  all glued into this page. And it was shocking."

The envelope, postmarked July 21, 2008, had been mailed from Augusta, Ga., some 140 miles away from where Kay was murdered.

"Wow," Insogna laughed. "It-- it-- I mean, it was bizarre, odd."

The letter and envelope taken apart and carefully examined by the crime lab, but no DNA or other useful forensics were found.

"Whoever did this did it with -- with gloves on," Insogna said. "I mean, they cut each individual letters out and then glued 'em. So it was very time consuming to do that."

"Do you know how hard that would be, to stick these things all on here with plastic gloves on?" said Kathleen Timmons.

"Oh, these are -- oh it's incredible," Insogna said. "I mean, this is really I mean, just to go through the magazine"

The letter is shocking, filled with expletives:

/ Credit: Gwinnett County Police Dept.

I bet Kay Wenal never told anyone what she really was It turns out she was just a $ grubbing w----e! I loved her She said we could be together She told me she hated her house and That fat Miserable lying mother f-ing husband She said She loved me But that was a lie too I told her this would happen if she didn't Keep her goddamned promises to me her F---ing family screwed Everything up Those white trash assh---s His money was more important than our love. We could have been so happy together but They f---ed everything up

On its face, it sounds likes the words of a jilted lover.

"If you look at the letter  if we're gonna go with the jilted lover theory -- that this person-- she finally told him  'No. I'm stayin' with Hal,'" said Bishop.

"In other words, did the family talk her into staying with Hal that irritated the actual perpetrator," said Ned Timmons.

But Pam Sleeper says Kay never mentioned any plans to leave Hal, although she admits parts of the letter have a ring of truth -- especially about the house they were renting.

"I know that she didn't like her house. I mean, that was the first thing that stood out to me, was  wow," Sleeper said. "I know she was kinda unhappy with Hal about that."

"So it was someone who knew her?" Moriarty asked.

"Oh, yeah, apparently," Sleeper replied.

Who would go to such trouble? Is the letter really what it appears to be?

"How many of you believe this was actually written by a spurned lover?" Moriarty asked the group of investigators.

"Based on the reading of it, yes, yes," said Insogna.

"I don't," Kathleen Timmons replied.

"I do, because of the reference to the family, the house  things that wouldn't be known to everybody," said Ned Timmons.

"But those are exactly why it wouldn't be a spurned lover. A spurned lover doesn't give a care about her house. A spurned lover doesn't give a care about her family," Kathleen Timmons reasoned.

"It's not a jilted lover. That's a red herring," said Bishop.

MORE QUESTIONS

The investigation into Kay Wenal's death got new life when the letter arrived in July of 2008. It felt like something dreamed up by a Hollywood screenwriter.

"It's what the author thinks threat letters should look like," former FBI profiler Mary Ellen O'Toole explained. "This is almost scripted. So you have to say, 'What's the purpose?'"

Mary Ellen O'Toole, who now heads the forensic science program at George Mason University, agreed to examine the letter for "48 Hours."

"This is someone I think that's pretending to be the killer," she said, "to create this boogeyman suspect and to push the police away from the actual motive in the case.

The writer may not be a jilted lover at all.

"From working cases like this, if this was a spurned lover, then this would not be the first note," O'Toole explained. "A spurned lover is going to have notes preceding this one, where Kay is the most wonderful thing in the world, 'I love you, we're perfect together.' Even if it's a delusional stalker, initially they love their victims. They're beautiful. They're gonna spend their life together. It's only after a few-- letters that you see that transition to, 'You are now this horrible human being. I hate you.'"

What's more, the investigation hasn't revealed any other men in Kay's life, which is exactly what Hal Wenal told detectives in 2008:

Hal Wenal to investigator: As God is my judge, I don't think Kay was having an affair or she had to be the best damn actress in the world.

Hal and Kay Wenal / Credit: Pam Sleeper

It turns out that while Kay was sexy and flirtatious, investigators may have been looking in the wrong direction. They didn't find any evidence of an affair at the time of her murder and, Kathleen Timmons says, neither did the medical examiner.

" and this letter that implies that she's got yet an -- very active current lover," she said. "And yet, when  they did the autopsy  she had no indication that -- that there had been recent sexual activity. no indication that she's involved with anybody, including her husband."

"Do you believe that the person who sent this letter is actually the person who went into the home and killed her?" Moriarty asked O'Toole.

"Not necessarily," she replied.

O'Toole suspects the killer may have had help.

"I think it's possible that there are -- two people that could be involved. You could have somebody that wrote the letter and then someone that came into the home," she said.

Mary Ellen O'Toole says writers of cut-and-paste notes tend to have one thing in common: they are women.

"I can tell you that that's my experience," she said. "I've seen them written by teenage girls. I've seen them written by middle-aged women. But the behavior at the scene, just that kind of violence, certainly suggests to me a male offender."

If the profiler is right, that means a man and a woman could be involved in Kay's death  with the woman creating the note to throw police off the trail.

"Someone may have been interviewed and they felt like they could've been considered a suspect, didn't want that, and produced this note," said O'Toole.

"I mean, isn't this a very risky thing?" Moriarty asked.

"A terribly risky thing to do," O'Toole replied.

O'Toole suggests taking another look at the people interviewed by police back in 2008. One of those people was a friend of Kay's and Hal's: Karen Scott.

"Karen worked for Hal and she promoted herself as Hal's right-hand man," Sgt. Richter said. "and Karen was an obvious suspect of ours. Because she was close with Hal, both Hal and Kay. And in any investigation, you're gonna start with who's closest to them."

So close, that when Scott remarried, it was Kay who gave the wedding shower and was matron of honor. Marie Lundquist was there.

"Oh, my gosh. It was a gorgeous wedding," Lundquist recalled. "Hal walked her down the aisle."

And the day Kay was killed, investigators discovered Hal Wenal and a colleague had brought breakfast to Karen Scott, who was home recovering from surgery. And later, when Hal discovered Kay's body, Scott was his first call.

Hal Wenal to investigator: She was destroyed because she and Kay were like very, very tight. I mean, extremely close.

Karen Scott can be seen on police surveillance tape at Kay's funeral.

"You know, things change. Back then, we thought she was a good source," said Bishop.

"She would email me  wantin' to be kept up on what was going on, you know," said Insogna.

"All seemingly innocent that may not be," said Bishop.

Documents show Scott had ongoing financial problems, but Hal Wenal was a generous boss.

"The money was great. I don't think she coulda made that kinda money elsewhere," said Lundquist.

And she was ambitious.

"We looked into Karen. We looked into every other person at work-- who was closest to Kay, Hal, what they could gain if -- if Kay was outta the picture," said Sgt. Richter.

According to a police report, Scott admitted to detectives that "with Kay's death she possibly gained the opportunity to operate the company." But she also "denied that she would have had any motivation to bring harm to Kay over those facts" and she described herself as "Kay's best friend."

"And when I heard that, I was like, 'Really?' I mean, that surprised me," Kay's sister and best friend, Pam Sleeper, said. "You know? I know a best friend  And their relationship was not like my best friends."

Some work colleagues also question how close they really were.

"Was Karen Scott close with Kay?" Moriarty asked contractor David Hughes.

"Absolutely. When Kay was around, she was -- wanted everybody to think she was Kay's friend," he replied.

"So it was more giving the appearance of that?" Moriarty asked.

"That's my opinion," said Hughes.

"They were not best friends. Maybe to her face, but that's not what she was saying behind Kay's back," said Lundquist.

"48 Hours" reached out to Karen Scott and she sent a letter, stating, "I lost my best friend to a brutal attack" -- but she declined our request for an interview.

Scott has been questioned by investigators about Kay Wenal's death and according to police reports, she "adamantly denied any and all involvement"

What's more, police say cell phone records back Scott's alibi  that she was home around the time of the murder. And Sgt. Richter says he's unable to connect her to the letter.

"We investigated that thoroughly and quite frankly, we're still investigating it. But we can't find anything to suggest that Karen was responsible for the letter or that  anybody in particular is responsible for that letter," said Richter.

With an unknown assailant still on the loose, Pam Sleeper says her determination to find her sister's killer comes with risks.

"I do walk around kinda scared sometimes. I wonder if he's gonna be after me next 'cause I don't give it up," she said.

"You think because you keep her name alive and you keep this case alive, that somebody

might come after you?" Moriarty asked.

"Uh-huh," Sleeper affirmed. "Yeah."

CAN YOU HELP SOLVE THIS CASE?

Pam Sleeper says after Kay's murder, Hal Wenal was never the same.

"He called me every day. He was just lost  He missed her so much," she told Moriarty. "He would say, 'Who? Why?'  I was like, 'II don't know, Hal, that's what we're trying to find out.'"

Hal Wenal to investigator: I try to stay busy morning, noon, night. I hate the mornings going to work 'cause I know I'm coming home to that house at night. Weekends, I despise.

Hal Wenal may have hated being in the house, but he refused to leave it.

"If your wife or significant other was murdered in that house, wouldn't you wanna get outta that house?" private investigator Ned Timmons asked. "Do you wanna walk in the kitchen every day  and have this vision of all this blood and her lying there with her throat cut? You know, it just didn't make sense."

Still more perplexing to investigators was that Wenal kept the house exactly as it was the day Kay was killed: her sneakers next to the living room couch, her book open to the page she was reading, and drops of her blood on the staircase.

"It was never cleaned up," private investigator Ned Timmons said of the Wenal home.

"Even when our team showed up months and months later, the house was -- exactly the way it was," he continued.

"Which is very strange," noted Kathleen Timmons.

"You think he'd have a cleaning crew come in and cleanse that place  but there was still the blood splatters [sic]," said Ned Timmons.

Hal Wenal to investigator: I want nothing more on God's earth than to find the guy who did this. and I'd give everything I have to get Kay's killer.

Even if it meant spending his fortune to do it.

"The Gwinnett County Police Department was having their financial difficulties," Insogna explained. "So it was really a bad time for law enforcement."

"As I remember, you guys were havin' trouble gettin' money for gas when I first got on this. They -- they couldn't run their cars. They were that low on fuel," said Ned Timmons.

"Is that part of the problem here, that they're" Moriarty asked.

"It's a problem everywhere," Bishop replied. "There was just no money there. Again, another reason Hal contacted these folks, 'cause they had so much more resources available to 'em than we did."

Ned Timmons says it was Hal Wenal who paid for much needed lab work to be done.

"I was dealing with a private laboratory weekly. And we sent a lotta fibers, we sent a lotta -- fluids for DNA sampling. And Hal would have to approve every time," Ned Timmons explained. "These samplings are $5,000, $6,000 a hit."

"We had people in Las Vegas, we had  leads in California, we had leads all over the country," he continued.

"I mean, it was costin' him a lotta money," said Insogna.

Wenal's quest came to an abrupt end in 2010, after he died of a heart attack; his estate cut off the $250,000 reward money and fired his private investigators.

"There were -- things that we wanted to do, other leads that we wanted to follow up on," Insogna said. "And then all of a sudden, you know, the -- the executor says  ' You guys are all finished.'  We weren't happy about it; I'll tell you that."

"As FBI agents, we don't ever wanna quit," Ned Timmons stressed. "We never wanted to stop. But we couldn't afford to finance it ourselves."

Kay Wenal / Credit: Pam Sleeper

The current cold case detectives seem to have made no headway and their investigation appears stalled.

"This case, on the face of it, looks like it would be solvable," Moriarty commented to Sgt. Richter. "Why is it still open?"

"Well, from the amount of time put into it and different the investigators involved, I -- I really don't have an answer for that. And that's the most frustrating part. And I think that's probably why we're here today is  that we'll get someone's attention. And someone who knows somethin' will call us," he replied.

"I know there's somebody out there that knows," Sleeper said, "and I think they just need to come forward and let us know  it will just help so much. We'd be so grateful."

As they've done so many times, Pam Sleeper, her mother  and their husbands  made an emotional visit to Kay's grave.

"If it was me, Kay would not give up, and I'm not gonna give up," said Sleeper.

Investigators are asking for your help to solve Kay Wenal's murder.

WHAT WE KNOWKay was home in Lawrenceville, Ga., on May 1, 2008 when she was viciously attacked

Investigators believe her assailant was a right-handed man, wearing gloves, who used a very sharp weapon

An unidentified man seen near the Wenal home the day of the murder may have been involved

And then, there's the cut-and-paste letter sent nearly three months later



"People who think they get away with murder sigh a big sigh of relief when years go by," profiler Mary Ellen O'Toole said. "But this program is going to make them very nervous."

HOW TO HELP



Anyone with information is asked to call:

 Gwinnett County Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division Anonymous Tip line at 770-513-5390

 Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta: 404-577-TIPS (8477)

Sneak peek: Andreen McDonald: A Millionaire Vanishes

Award-winning actor Billy Porter on the DNC

GOP Rep. Byron Donalds on Trump campaign stop in Michigan, first night of DNC
Its the offseason for both the Iowa and Illinois legislatures, but theres plenty of talk about what could come up in their next session.

Gambling in Iowa is an interesting issue that could come to the forefront next year. State lawmakers adopted a two-year moratorium on new casinos in 2022. A push to extend it for another five years failed in the session that wrapped up three months ago.

The moratorium expired at the beginning of this month.

Host Jim Niedelman brings back Steve Grubbs and Kevin Perkins to discuss.

The State House, the legislator there, feels very strongly that there should be a moratorium and that Linn County should not have a casino that might cannibalize other casinos, Grubbs said. Because of that, I dont think that moratorium will pass just because the Senate doesnt look like they have an interest in standing in the way of additional commerce.

I was never a big proponent of casinos bringing in a positive economic boost to locations, Perkins said. But its part of what our economy is, and because of that I think if youre going to have competition, you should have competition.

To hear more from the panel, click on the video.

Local 4 News, your local election headquarters, is proud to present 4 The Record, a weekly news and public affairs program focused on the issues important to you. Its a program unlike any other here in the Quad Cities. Tune in each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as Jim Niedelman brings you up to speed on whats happening in the political arena, from Springfield, Des Moines, Washington, D.C. and right here at home.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Iran and North Korea provide Russia with lethal aid for its war in Ukraine  ISW

The Institute for the Study of War has suggested that there is evidence that Russia is deepening its ties with Iran and North Korea, both of which are providing Russia with lethal aid for its war in Ukraine.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) report from 27 July

Details: The ISW said that Russia continues to deepen bilateral relations with both Iran and North Korea in exchange for lethal aid for the Russian military for further use in Ukraine.

Irans state-run Mehr News Agency reported that Iran will launch its Hod-Hod and Kosar satellites into low Earth orbit from an unspecified Russian station in October 2024.

Bloomberg reported that North Koreas gross domestic product grew by 3.1% in 2023 compared to 2022 after declining annually since 2019.

South Koreas Bank of Korea estimated that North Koreas heavy and chemical industries, including the production of iron, steel, copper, nickel, and aluminium, grew the most in 2023, by 8.1%.

South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik previously stated that Russias supply of food to North Korea in exchange for weapons has helped Pyongyang stabilise prices and likely stimulated domestic production in the country.

North Korea has reportedly transferred up to 4.8 million artillery shells to Russia, and Iran has supplied Russia with Shahed-136/131 drones and components.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 26 July:

Ukrainian forces reportedly conducted successful drone strikes against an oil refinery and Russian military airfields in Saratov, Ryazan, and Murmansk oblasts on the night of 2627 July.

Russia continues to deepen bilateral relations with Iran and North Korea in exchange for the provision of lethal aid to the Russian military for use in Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces recently regained positions near Toretsk, and Russian forces recently advanced west and southwest of Donetsk City, and Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Vovchansk.

The Russian government continues efforts to use the "Time of Heroes" program to integrate Russian veterans into society.

Support UP or become our patron!
People mourn at the funeral of their relatives in the Druze town of Majd al-Shams in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Several children and young people were killed in a rocket attack on a football field in the village. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Sunday it would respond to the "massacre" of young people and children in a Druze village on Saturday, blaming Tehran for the attack.

"The rocket that murdered our boys and girls was an Iranian rocket and Hezbollah is the only terror organization which has those in its arsenal," said ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein.

"Israel will exercise its right and duty to act in self-defence and will respond to the massacre ... The world must now place full responsibility on Iran and its terrorist proxies: Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis."

"The only way that the world can prevent a full-scale war which would be devastating also to Lebanon is by forcing Hezbollah to implement Security Council Resolution 1701."

This resolution calls on Hezbollah to withdraw beyond the Litani River, some 30 kilometres from the border between Israel and Lebanon.

"Now is the very last minute to do so diplomatically," Marmorstein warned.

People mourn at the funeral of their relatives in the Druze town of Majd al-Shams in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Several children and young people were killed in a rocket attack on a football field in the village. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

People mourn at the funeral of their relatives in the Druze town of Majd al-Shams in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Several children and young people were killed in a rocket attack on a football field in the village. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
The News

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she will relaunch Italys relationship with China just months after the country pulled out of the Belt and Road global infrastructure initiative.

Meloni arrived on Beijing Sunday for a five-day visit. First meeting with Premier Li Qiang, Meloni said it a demonstration of the will to begin a new phase, to relaunch our bilateral cooperation, while acknowledging a trade imbalance and the need for more foreign access to the Chinese market and intellectual property. Italy signed on to the Belt and Road Initiative in 2019, but Meloni withdrew in December, and said she would negotiate a separate deal with China.

Both leaders signed a memorandum to strengthen collaboration on trade, investment, education, environmental protection, and food security. Meloni is scheduled to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Monday.

Her meeting with Xi could help toward normalizing relations between Europe and Beijing, as Meloni considers Xi as an important stakeholder in the war in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported. That stake will only increase should the US cut military and economic support for Ukraines defense, the outlet noted  something former President Donald Trump has threatened to do should he be reelected in November.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang (R) shake hands after signing a three-year pact for economic cooperation, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. -/Italian Government/dpa

Italy and China on Sunday signed a three-year pact for economic cooperation, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said after a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Meloni said during her state visit in Beijing that she aims to use the document to explore new opportunities for cooperation with China, but the exact contents of the text were not disclosed.

Meloni also spoke of wanting to make trade relations with China "fairer," the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

Last year, Italy's trade deficit with China grew to more than 40 billion ($43 billion).

She also criticized the imbalance in investment at an economic forum in Beijing on Sunday.

"Chinese investment in Italy accounts for about a third of Italian investment in China," she said, adding that she would like to see this gap narrow.

Meloni landed in the Chinese capital on Saturday and is due to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping for talks on Monday.

Relations between Italy and China have recently been marred by disagreements, after Meloni told China that Italy was withdrawing from China's major infrastructure project, the Belt and Road Initiative, with which Beijing seeks to strengthen its economic ties with participating countries.

Italy had been the only country in the Group of Seven major industrial democratic powers to join the geopolitical project, in 2019, in a decision made by the previous government in Rome.

Italy said it was withdrawing as economic hopes associated with membership had not been fulfilled.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attends a meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. -/Italian Government/dpa

Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang (R) receives Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. -/Italian Government/dpa
By Giselda Vagnoni and Laurie Chen

ROME/BEIJING (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni vowed on Sunday to "relaunch" cooperation with China, signing a three-year action plan during her first official visit to Beijing since taking office.

Meloni, who has led a right-wing government since 2022, made the announcement during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, as Rome seeks to improve trade ties with Beijing after it exited President Xi Jinping's flagship Belt and Road infrastructure investment scheme last year.

The Italian leader said her five-day trip was a "demonstration of the will to begin a new phase, to relaunch our bilateral cooperation". The action plan aims to experiment with new forms of cooperation, she added.

Later in the day Meloni said that an industrial cooperation memorandum signed by Italy and China includes strategic industrial sectors such as electric mobility and renewables.

Li Qiang pointed to "mutually beneficial cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises in the fields of shipbuilding, aerospace, new energy, artificial intelligence," in a statement released by his office.

Meloni, who sees Chinese investment as a way to spur Italy's anaemic economic growth, will meet Xi and China's top legislator, Zhao Leji, third in the leadership hierarchy.

On Sunday, Meloni also attended an Italy-China business forum, to which companies including Italian tyre-maker Pirelli, energy group ENI, defence group Leonardo, wine producers and several Italian luxury fashion groups such as Dolce & Gabbana were invited.

The forum gives "another signal of the mutual interest ... (to) balance more our interests, our commercial exchange," she said. Meloni is expected to raise Chinese overcapacity with Chinese officials, as well as Chinese economic support for Russia in its war with Ukraine.

"China and Italy should adopt a win-win mentality and increase trade and investment cooperation, making cooperation even more dynamic and sustainable," said Li at the opening of the forum, according to a video shared by Meloni's office.

'CLARIFYING MISUNDERSTANDINGS'

In 2019, Italy became the only Group of Seven country to join the massive Belt and Road Initiative but withdrew last year under U.S. pressure over concerns about Beijing's economic reach.

Meloni's government said the deal had brought no benefits to Italy, whose trade with China - worth 66.8 billion euros ($80 billion) in 2023 - is heavily tilted in Beijing's favour. China is Italy's biggest non-EU trading partner after the U.S.

Chinese state media said the trip was aimed at "clarifying some misunderstandings" over Italy's withdrawal from the Belt and Road and stressing the importance of economic ties.

The Italian government is holding talks with Chinese automakers as part of efforts to attract another major manufacturer to the country in addition to Stellantis.

Speaking at the Business Forum, Meloni said the industrial cooperation memorandum signed by Italy and China "includes strategic industrial sectors such as electric mobility and renewables" and called on Beijing to share "the new frontiers of knowledge with its partners".

The protection of geographical indications, food safety, the environment and education were the focus of other framework agreements.

Italian foreign direct investment in China totals 15 billion euros ($16 billion), and more than 1,600 Italian companies are active, especially in textiles, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, energy and heavy industries.

However, Italy supported the European Commission's decision to impose provisional tariffs of up to 37.6% on electric vehicles imported from China. Beijing reacted angrily and has launched retaliatory investigations into European brandy and pork.

G7 members, including Italy, pledged last month to continue to protect their businesses from what they consider unfair Chinese trade practices.

(This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Qiang in paragraph 5)

(Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni in Rome and Laurie Chen in Beijing; Editing by William Mallard, Giles Elgood and David Evans)
Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-Ill.) doubled down on his string of digs at Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), amplifying a humiliating rumor on Sunday about the Republican vice presidential candidates relationship with couches.

The progressive and possible contender to be Vice President Kamala Harris running mate told ABCs This Week that the new presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is the Energizer Bunny on the campaign trail, while former President Donald Trump and his running mate are just weird.

The things that they stand for  Donald Trump, of course, is afraid of windmills, and, you know, he talks about all kinds of crazy stuff, Pritzker said.

You know, his running mate, as you probably have heard, is, you know, getting known for his obsession with couches, and somebody who is hiding his views on a womans right to choose, he continued. And then, just broadly, the attack on people who are childless and saying that we ought to raise taxes on childless people and calling them cat ladies  I think he apologized to cats, but he hasnt apologized to women.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker says the electorate is energized since Vice President Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign.



Democrats are ready to go  Her message is one that I think resonates with people. https://t.co/ENdrAitp3ypic.twitter.com/yKAtDMeSFB  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) July 28, 2024

The governors remark about couches is in reference to a wild social media rumor about the Ohio senator allegedly writing in his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, that he tried to simulate the act of sex using a rubber glove between couch cushions as a young man.

On Wednesday, The Associated Press released a fact-check on the claim with an unusually blunt headline: No, JD Vance did not have sex with a couch. The AP, which has since deleted the fact-check, reportedly could not find the claim in Vances book. In a separate report, The Cut also did not find the claim.

The decision by Pritzker to tease the couch rumor is new, but the progressive has been going after Vance for days. On Wednesday, the governor told CNN that Vance is the Donald Trump Mini-Me, referring to a character from the movie Austin Powers. He also said that Vance had the worst launch since Sarah Palin, the former Republican governor of Alaska who served as the late Sen. John McCains (R-Ariz.) running mate in the 2008 presidential election against former President Barack Obama and his running mate, President Joe Biden.

Pritzker served as a vocal surrogate for the Biden-Harris ticket before the president dropped out of the race a week ago, and Pritzker quickly endorsed Harris when Biden announced his endorsement of her. The list of potential running mates for Harris includes several governors  particularly those from the Midwest  with Pritzker being one of them. The governor has publicly remained open to the possibility of being the Democratic Partys vice presidential nominee.

Related...
A rendering shows Jacksonville's new Ribault High School in September 2023 during a groundbreaking ceremony to replace the original Ribault, which dates to 1957. This is the first Duval high school to be built with money from a sales tax that voters approved in 2020 to improve school system buildings and equipment, a referendum that has since become mired in controversy.

I take issue with the July 7 letter from Loren Seeley that opined charter schools exist because public schools are not doing an effective job of teaching.

The Duval County school system has been dramatically underfunded for decades. Buildings need repair, equipment is broken or missing and what supplies exist are likely being furnished by so-called ineffective teachers. This is no accident. The state  along with our local government  did not forget to fund the schools.

They chose not to do so, and this is not the first time it has happened.

On Nov. 30, 1964, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools notified then-Superintendent Ish Brant and the five-member School Board that all high schools in Duval County would be disaccredited. The reason? The county's inadequate financial support.

This news sent shock waves through the area. The Navy expressed concern for local military personnel and even considered leaving wives and families in other duty areas with better school systems during deployment to Jacksonville. Public sentiment demanded that the problem be addressed.

Today there is little outcry for the dilapidated condition of our public schools. Instead of directly addressing the problem, the City Council  with the governor's blessing  promotes charter schools, which are now somehow eligible for the very tax money that is supposed to support public education.

These charter schools are supposed to give parents choices, but what exactly do the choices look like? On the one hand, a newer building, perhaps in a strip mall, with teachers who need no credentials, administrations largely manned by people who are not professional educators and who face no public accountability. Plus, curriculum manicured to express an extremely conservative point of view.

Letters: With Trump, common sense has gone out the window in U.S., Florida too

On the other hand, trained and accountable professionals in buildings that are perhaps not air-conditioned are trying to do the best they can in a dystopian landscape to provide a well-rounded education. It is a Sophie's Choice.

Do not be deceived. Charter schools did not organically spring up in reaction to a failing public school system. The public school system was first made to fail, by our elected leaders, so that they could promote their own solution to a problem they helped to cause.

Lawrence

Mike Lawrence is a Jacksonville native who graduated from Forrest High School in 1968 and taught briefly at the Career Education Center, which at the time was on the second (non-air-conditioned) floor of the old Stanton High School. He lives in Avondale.

This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville public schools not failing because they're ineffective
DENVER (KDVR)  Officials reported that a forest fire ignited near Highway 285 and North Turkey Creek Road Sunday afternoon, calling it the Twin Forks Fire.

The fire was 100% contained by about 4 p.m.

The fire closed Highway 285 at North Turkey Creek Road in both directions for a few hours. Northbound was closed at milepost 243 and southbound was closed at milepost 244.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The Colorado Department of Transportation reported the road closure between North Turkey Creek Road and Summer Road. The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said deputies were going door to door in the area to ensure residents were evacuated. At about 3:20 p.m., the sheriffs office said there was a small number of homes evacuated or otherwise impacted by the fire.

FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox

The area is near Indian Hills, between Mount Falcon, Lone Peak and Mount Lindo. The sheriffs office said the fire was about three acres in size at about 2:25 p.m. At about 3:43 p.m., the agency said the fire was approximately 6.1 acres and had resulted in the evacuation of five homes.

Firefighters are feeling good about the progress of firefighting efforts, the sheriffs office said on X at about 3:43 p.m.

There were no further evacuations needed for this fire, the sheriffs office said, but a spokesperson for the department warned that the conditions are conducive to wildfire.

Look, folks, were in the mountains in Colorado and it is dry, and it is hot, the spokesperson said. We have not seen a lot of moisture this spring and summer, so the risk for this type of incident is really high. Thats why we ask everyone to really be conscious of what they are doing.

The spokesperson said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Two helicopters were requested to suppress the fire, along with multiple ground crews, the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office reported, although one helicopter was not needed and turned around before reaching the fire.

Water main break causes 12-foot sinkhole in Centennial neighborhood

The agency also said the focus of the fire was on the south side of Highway 285 and the fire was in the grass, shrubs and trees.

The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office shared photos of firefighting efforts at the Twin Lakes fire on July 28, 2024.

U.S. Highway 285 was closed in both directions for safety concerns due to a grass fire (Credit: Colorado Department of Transportation)

Jefferson County Sheriffs Office shared photos of a fire near Highway 285 on Sunday, July 28, 2024.

Jefferson County Sheriffs Office shared photos of a fire near Highway 285 on Sunday, July 28, 2024.

The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office shared photos of firefighting efforts at the Twin Lakes fire on July 28, 2024.

The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office shared photos of firefighting efforts at the Twin Lakes fire on July 28, 2024.

The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office shared photos of firefighting efforts at the Twin Lakes fire on July 28, 2024.

The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office shared photos of firefighting efforts at the Twin Lakes fire on July 28, 2024.

The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office shared photos of firefighting efforts at the Twin Lakes fire on July 28, 2024.

The Douglas County Sheriffs Office shared this photo from the Twin Lakes Fire on Sunday. The countys fire helicopter was used to help extinguish the blaze.

At 2:50 p.m., Jefferson County Sheriffs Office had 15 personnel on scene, in addition to fire crews from Twin Forks, Elk Creek, North Fork, Indian Hills, Inter Canyon, Evergreen and Douglas County Helitak.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Jeremy Bamber at the time of his arrest in 1985 - Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix / Alamy Stock Photo

Jeremy Bamber investigators may have lied about evidence that led to his conviction and put him behind bars for 39 years, an investigation is expected to suggest.

Bamber is serving life after being found guilty of murdering his adoptive parents, Nevill and June, both 61, his sister, Sheila Caffell, 26, and her six-year-old twins, Daniel and Nicholas, at White House Farm, near the village of Tolleshunt DArcy in Essex, in August 1985.

He has always protested his innocence and claims that Caffell, who suffered from schizophrenia, shot her family before turning the gun on herself.

Now a 17,000-word investigation by The New Yorker, expected to be published on Monday, is said to have highlighted more than a dozen apparent discrepancies in the prosecutions case.

The magazine, which also raised doubts over Lucy Letbys conviction, spoke to officers present in the aftermath of the murders and who are believed to have substantiated Bambers claim that police interfered with the crime scene.

The eighth-month investigation has focused on claims that Essex Police altered witness statements, lied about evidence and withheld and concealed evidence, The Mail on Sunday reported.

Bamber told the newspaper: If restaging of the crime scene is a major new point in The New Yorker story, that will enable us to go directly back to the Court of Appeal, which I hope will be within a few days of us having the fresh evidence in our hands.

The Court of Appeal has already said restaging the crime scene would be a mortal sin, so well be straight back to the Court of Appeal asap, asking for bail pending a full appeal.

Bamber says he will 'go directly back to the Court of Appeal' over the latest claims - Andrew Hunter

The investigation is also said to have raised questions about the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which Bambers legal team says has failed to act on submissions that would exonerate him.

Bamber claims that his sister Sheila, a model and diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, suffered a psychotic episode and carried out the murders before turning the gun on herself.

However, the prosecution argued that a silencer that was on the rile would have made it too long for Sheilas fingers to reach the trigger and shoot herself.

Another key issue in the case is whether Bamber had received a call from his father on the night of the murder telling him Sheila had stolen one of his guns and gone berserk.

Police said that Nevill made no such call but lawyers unearthed a phone log of a call on the night of the killings from Nevill entitled daughter gone berserk.

Meanwhile, a bloodstained Bible, found by Sheilas side, was never forensically examined or produced at trial despite a request from Bambers solicitor.

He was convicted in October 1986 by a 102 majority verdict and sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison. In 1994, he was told that he would never be released.

The Court of Appeal upheld the verdict in 2002.

In 2020, he lost an appeal to be downgraded from maximum security prison.

Bamber has always maintained his innocence and says his sister Sheila Caffell shot her family before turning the gun on herself

Bamber sought permission for a High Court challenge over a decision taken in March by the director of the long-term and high-security estate - part of the Prison and Probation Service - not to downgrade him from a Category A inmate, or to direct that an oral hearing on the issue take place.

Category A prisoners are considered the most dangerous to the public and are held in maximum security conditions.

At a remote hearing in October that year, lawyers for Bamber asked Mr Justice Julian Knowles to give the go-ahead for a full hearing of Bambers claim, arguing that the decision was unreasonable.

Mr Justice Knowles refused Bamber permission to bring the challenge.

Bamber had an appeal against his convictions dismissed by the Court of Appeal in 2002 and had a High Court challenge to the Criminal Cases Review Commissions (CCRC) refusal to refer his case for another appeal rejected in 2012.

A spokesman for the Jeremy Bamber campaign of innocence told the Mail on Sunday: The CCRC have had Jeremy Bambers latest submissions since March 2021 and they have not investigated any of the key exculpatory issues they contain, which demonstrate Jeremy Bambers innocence.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: In August 1985 the lives of five people, including two children, were needlessly, tragically and callously cut short when they were murdered in their own home by Jeremy Bamber.

In the years that followed, this case has been the subject of several appeals and reviews by the Court of Appeal and the Criminal Cases Review Commission  all of these processes have never found anything other than Bamber is the person responsible for killing his adoptive parents Nevill and June, sister Sheila Caffell and her two sons Nicholas and Daniel.

Essex Police have continued to comply with all legal requirements in this case and will continue to assist the CCRC as required.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
A judge in Idaho on Thursday granted a legal victory to the pro-Palestine protesters at the Capitol Annex  preventing the state of Idaho from removing tents or seizing property from the ongoing demonstration in most instances, according to court documents.

The protest, known as the Peoples Liberated University, started in early May around the time of nationwide college protests over the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The demonstration was initially protected under a 2014 decision stemming from the Occupy Boise protests that said symbolic tents were allowed.

A federal judge ruled in May that the protesters would have to file a new lawsuit. The state filed suit one day later, accusing the protesters of damaging grass, smoking outside of designated areas and marking up and obstructing sidewalks in violation of Idaho statutes, according to previous Statesman reporting.

Since then, both sides have gone back and forth about what is camping, to what extent the First Amendment applies and what should happen during periods of scheduled lawn maintenance.

The outcome here protects the First Amendment rights of the people demonstrating at PLU, Casey Parsons, an attorney for the protesters, said in a statement. We look forward to the Court continuing to uphold the rights of the protesters there.

The Idaho Department of Administration, whose director brought the suit, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Judge Jonathan Medema said that the state is unlikely to be able to prove that anyone was camping. The state has also not shown that the tents will cause irreparable harm, so Medema decided not to grant an injunction on the basis of saving the lawn.

The evidence shows the grass has been trampled in some spots and is thinning in others, Medema said in a memorandum decision and order. The Court is not persuaded the grass will be irreparably harmed.

Medema also wrote that there was no evidence that anyone was in harms way. Two of the protesters were rude to law enforcement, the memorandum said, but are entitled to do so under the First Amendment.

On the other hand, someone is likely to succeed in proving that Idaho State Police have been seizing property outside of what is allowed, in violation of the Fourth Amendment, the memorandum said. However, Medema wrote that he wasnt sure if the defendants themselves would be successful because none of them have said what property is theirs.

The videos show police seizing property on at least two occasions without first citing anyone for camping, without telling the person cited that he must remove his property and giving him an opportunity to do so and seizing property that seems to be attended, the memo said. In one video Defendant Manwill attempts to remove property and Lieutenant Kish prevents her from doing so, apparently so the property can be subsequently seized.

The protesters have been willing to move off the lawn, the memo said. However, at times when they went somewhere else on the Capitol grounds, the Idaho State Police told them they were blocking entrances and exits. The court will require the state to designate an area where the protest can continue during periods of lawn maintenance.

Medema denied a request from the protesters to require the Idaho State Police to inventory any seized property soon after its seizure.

This Court knows very little about the protesters message. However, in general terms, the ability to protest on a particular day and to have ones message heard by whoever happens to be passing by on that particular day, once denied, is something one can never get back, Medema wrote. That is sufficient in this context to show irreparable harm.
Vice President Kamala Harris and her meteoric rise as the successor to President Joe Biden, 81, as the Democratic presidential candidate in the Nov. 5 election is the most significant seismic shift in presidential politics in recent history.

As she gears up to secure the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago this August, we examine some of Harris most significant accomplishments and policy initiatives.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House grounds in Washington, D.C. on July 25, 2024

More: Biden drops out of 2024 presidential race: What to know as America looks to election

Immigration

In response to immigration concerns, Harris call to action was the public-private partnership Central America Forward (CAF). The idea behind CAF is to support the creation of local jobs and other measures in order to slow the flow of mass migration.

CAF has generated more than $5.2 billion since its launch in 2021, and its partners include more than 50 companies and organizations that have committed to supporting economic growth in the Central America region. The entities represent the financial services, textiles, apparel, agriculture, technology, telecommunications, nonprofit sectors, and others, according to the White House.

Voting rights

Harris was at the forefront of the administrations pursuit to enshrine voting rights protection throughout the U.S. according to White House transcripts. She pushed for Congress to pass the John R Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which wouldve extended the protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and required federal approval for some local election law changes.

In 2021, the bill did not receive the 60 votes needed to overcome a Republican filibuster, preventing the start of debate on the Senate floor where Harris would have cast the deciding vote in the evenly split chamber.

Abortion

Harris visited a Planned Parenthood clinic on March 14, a historic first for any president or vice president while in office, according to previous reporting by USA TODAY.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris looks on as she visits the St. Paul Health Center, a clinic that performs abortions, in St. Paul, Minnesota on March 14, 2024.

Walking through the clinic in Minnesota, the vice president spoke with staff members and health care providers as part of her nationwide Fight for Reproductive Freedoms tour earlier this year.

Gun violence

In September 2023, Biden established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention to reduce gun violence, overseen by Vice President Harris, as announced by the White House.

The Office of Gun Violence Prevention builds upon actions taken by the Biden-Harris administration to end gun violence, which include the signing of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

Heralded by the White House as the most impactful gun violence prevention measure in almost three decades, the now law bars individuals under the age of 21 from buying firearms, grants the Justice Department additional powers to prosecute gun traffickers, provides mental health services in schools to assist youth affected by gun violence trauma and grief and funds community-based violence intervention programs.

Maternal health

In her previous role as U.S. Senator for California, Harris introduced the Maternal CARE Act and the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, which would direct multi-agency efforts to improve maternal health, particularly among racial and ethnic minority groups, veterans, and other vulnerable populations as well as maternal health issues related to COVID-19.

The vice presidents prior work on maternal and infant health care was a key component of the Build Back Better Act, passed in 2022. The legislation expands access to maternal care and makes new investments to drive down mortality and morbidity rates.

Broadband expansion

In 2023, Harris and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo traveled to Kenosha, Wisconsin to celebrate the announcement of new electronics equipment production made possible by the Biden-Harris Administrations Investing in America agenda and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law requires the use of American-made materials and products for federally funded infrastructure projects, with the goal of bringing hundreds of new jobs to the U.S. The law also notably includes a historic $65 billion investment to expand affordable and reliable high-speed Internet access in communities across the U.S.

Our investments in broadband infrastructure are creating jobs in Wisconsin and across the nation and increasing access to reliable, high-speed internet so everyone in America has the tools they need to thrive in the 21st century, said Harris.

Reuters contributed to the reporting of this story.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: What has Kamala Harris accomplished as VP? Here's a look.
Kamala Harris enlisted the help of former NSYNC member Lance Bass as she launched her official TikTok account.

In one of the first videos posted to her new official profile  which has already gained more than three million followers since appearing late last week  the singer accompanied the vice president in a short clip mocking her would-be opponent Donald Trump.

Holding the camera, Bass asked Harris Hey Kamala, what are we going to say to Donald Trump in November?

Bye, bye, bye, Harris replied  the lyrics to NYSNCs 2000 hit song of the same name. A short clip of the song played in the background as the pair laughed and waved.

Since launching the channel  @KamalaHarris  the vice presidents team has posted four videos.

Lance Bass and Harris laugh together (TikTok/ @KamalaHarris)

The first, lasting just eight seconds, introduced Harris, with the cameraperson asking Madam vice president, are you on TikTok?

Well I heard recently that I was on the For You Page (recommended videos), so I thought I would get on her myself, Harris replied.

In recent weeks, TikTok has been flooded with coconut tree and What can be, unburdened by what has been memes, as well as old Harris interviews and quotes going viral.

Other TikToks from the Harris campaign included a previously released clip of Harris taking a phone call with Barack and Michelle Obama, as they offered their official support to her campaign.

The fourth was clips from her visit to the set of RuPauls Drag Race, where she met contestants in the Werk Room.

It comes as the Harris campaign continues to target the youth vote. "Our job as a campaign is to break through the noise and make sure were talking to voters wherever they are  TikTok is one of those landscapes, and were leaving no stone unturned," deputy campaign manager Rob Flaherty told People.

On Saturday, Harris sent a pre-recorded message to the Voters of Tomorrow Summit, in which she told young voters that it was clear that your generation is leaving on the most important issues of our time.

During the remarks she reiterated that it was young voters that helped elect her and Joe Biden in 2020, saying this November, we will win again.

Last year, I convened more than 15,000 Young Leaders on my nationwide fight for our freedoms college tour, to hear about the issues that matter most to your generation, she said.

Kamala Harris joins TikTok and mocks Donald Trump with a video collaboration with former NYSNYC member Lance Bass (TikTok/@KamalaHarris)

And at every stop, it was so clear to me, your generation is leading on the most important issues of our time.

In this moment, we then each face a question. What kind of country do we want to live in? A country of freedom, compassion, and the rule of law? Or a country of chaos, fear and hate?

Heres the thing. We each have the power to answer this question. And in this election, we are counting on you to energize, to organize and mobilize and to fight for our most fundamental freedoms. And we know, when we fight, we win.

A new Axios/Generation Lab poll published this week showed that in a Harris-Trump contest, 18 to 24-year-olds were leaning towards Harris, with 60 per cent in her favor compared to 40 per cent for Trump.
Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris react to her speaking during a campaign rally at West Allis Central High School on July 23, 2024 in West Allis, Wisconsin. Harris made her first campaign appearance as the partys presidential candidate, with an endorsement from President Joe Biden. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)

Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris react to her speaking during a campaign rally at West Allis Central High School on July 23, 2024 in West Allis, Wisconsin. Harris made her first campaign appearance as the partys presidential candidate, with an endorsement from President Joe Biden. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)

In her search for a running mate in her presidential bid, Vice President Kamala Harris is said to be eyeing a clutch of contenders with executive experience enhanced by an outside-the-Beltway flavor  at least five governors from the Rust Belt, South and Midwest.

Harris, if nominated by Democrats and elected, would be the first woman to serve as president, the first president of South Asian descent and the second Black president. She joined the U.S. Senate in 2017 after a career in California state politics.

That background may compel her to seek a white governor without D.C. baggage, experts said, a description several reported contenders fit. Most observers expect Harris to choose a man, though Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer would also make a strong case.

Govs. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Tim Walz of Minnesota, Andy Beshear of Kentucky and Roy Cooper of North Carolina are seen as top-tier candidates to balance Harris profile. And U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, who had a high-profile career before politics as an astronaut and Navy captain, would also complement Harris.

Selecting another woman, most likely Whitmer, may contradict the conventional political wisdom to seek a counterweight, but would allow the Democratic ticket to highlight one of its strongest campaign messages in advocacy of reproductive rights.

But experts told States Newsroom multiple factors swirl around a vice presidential pick, expected in coming weeks as Harris seeks election as the Democratic presidential nominee in a virtual roll call vote as soon as Aug. 1, following President Joe Bidens decision to not run. She could try for that desired balance, or play to her own strengths, or bestow the honor on a swing state key to a win.

Ultimately, Harris selection will send a message about her decision-making as president, said Joel Goldstein, a professor of law emeritus at Saint Louis University and an expert on the vice presidency.

Oftentimes the impact a running mate can have is as much in the messages it sends about the presidential candidate as it is something that the running mate contributes independently, Goldstein said.

Helping the ticket

Presidential nominees typically look for a running mate who will even out perceived weaknesses among different constituencies of their party.

Think, for example, of Trump picking Indiana Gov. Mike Pence in 2016, hoping the selection of a mild-mannered Midwesterner with deep ties to the GOPs evangelical community would temper the bombastic New Yorkers reputation among the partys social conservatives.

Or the youthful Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in 2008 selecting Biden, whod spent decades in the Senate by then and unsuccessfully sought the presidency, to counter criticisms that Obama was too inexperienced to be commander-in-chief.

Goldstein said a vice presidential pick should not typically be the selectors ideological clone so that it broadens the appeal of the ticket to wider populations around the country.

Voters often see women candidates and candidates of color as more liberal than their voting record would reflect, which could lead Harris to favor a running mate seen as more moderate.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, pictured here at June event in Nashville, is being suggested as a potential Democratic vice-presidential candidate. (Photo:John Partipilo)

Harris has several choices that could reach voters for whom she doesnt have a natural appeal.

Choosing a white male governor from the Midwest or South would provide demographic and geographic balance, Rebecca Pearcey, a Democratic campaign veteran and partner with the public affairs firm Bryson Gillette, said.

Walz, who grew up in a town of 400, and Beshear, the popular two-term governor of a rural, red state, would complement Harris roots growing up in Oakland, California, and dealing with Bay Area politics, she said.

Youre covering a lot of bases by picking somebody from a very different demographic background than the candidate, Pearcey said. Which I think is smart.

Playing to a strength

While presidential candidates generally seek a running mate for balance, they dont always, Christopher Devine, a political science professor at the University of Dayton who has written two books on vice presidential candidates, said.

A running mate who emphasizes an advantage can also help a ticket, he said.

When its something thats actually a strength of yours, theres nothing wrong with doubling down, Devine said.

In 1992, Bill Clinton, the Arkansas governor, chose another younger Southern Democrat in U.S. Sen. Al Gore of Tennessee, but that helped emphasize the appeal of the youthful New Democrat candidate.

If Harris decides to go that route, Whitmer, who centered her 2022 reelection race on abortion rights, would be the obvious choice, Devine said.

If they see that as a strength that Harris is a better messenger on this issue because shes a woman  which obviously is what the Biden campaign believed  then maybe picking a woman is helpful, he said.

Ready to govern

Most important for Harris is to pick someone voters believe is qualified, Devine said.

Perceptions of a running mates readiness to be vice president or even president can actually affect how voters see the presidential candidates judgment, he said.

Pearcey agreed.

She has to have an eye on ready-to-govern, Pearcey said of Harris. Whos ready to step into the role of vice president and can take on some policy initiatives?

Harris vice presidential pick would also have to be someone voters could see assuming the role of the president if Harris was no longer able to fulfill her term.

Kathleen Dolan, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, pointed to previous vice presidential picks, like the late Sen. John McCains running mate Sarah Palin of Alaska, that left some voters wondering if they were ready to govern.

Dolan also noted that Trumps running mate, J.D. Vance, doesnt have the political experience many expect in a vice president. Vance, 39, has been the junior senator from Ohio since 2023 and before that had no political experience.

I think she (Harris) will probably be focused on somebody who has more government experience, probably not somebody quite as young as Sen. Vance, Dolan said.

That could work against Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who ran a surprisingly strong race in the 2020 Democratic primary, but whose only elected experience is as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana.

Hes been a mayor and hes been a secretary for a couple of years, Dolan said. So he doesnt have the political background.

Candidates for president and vice president also need to be able to work together, experts said.

I think she (Harris) will probably be focused on somebody who has more government experience, probably not somebody quite as young as Sen. Vance.

 Kathleen Dolan, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Part of Harris process for vetting candidates will include her chemistry with each, Thomas Mills, a Democratic consultant, said.

Mills noted Clinton and Gores bond with each other was part of their appeal.

There was chemistry between them, he said. And it was pretty clear on the campaign trail.

Two governors under consideration  Beshear and Cooper  have existing relationships with Harris from when all three were state attorneys general last decade.

Why governors dominate

The list of reported contenders, which also includes Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, is more full of governors than usual.

That could be because Harris is looking for someone with a record of delivering results and navigating the political currents in a busy state capital.

It goes to the ability to govern, Pearcey said.

And governors need to balance their states budgets and deliver tangible results gives them a more moderate, practical image, Devine said.

Governors tend to deal with more pragmatic issues and theyre not as mixed up in the most divisive national issues, he said. Maybe voters will see them as more moderate and pragmatic.

And choosing a governor would not be as disruptive for federal politics.

If Kelly, the only member of Congress thought to be in contention, became vice president, it would force Democrats to defend his Senate seat in 2026, creating a swing-state campaign in a midterm election that typically disfavors the presidents party.

Swing state?

Running mates are often chosen to appeal to the electorate of a particular battleground state or region.

That would boost the case for Shapiro, whose nearly 15-point win in the critical state of Pennsylvania in 2022 is a strong part of his resume, as well as Kelly and Whitmer.

But there is actually little data to support the home-state advantage theory, Devine said. And making a choice voters see as politically motivated could backfire, which could come into play for Shapiro, who has been in office for less than two years.

If they are picking Josh Shapiro to win Pennsylvania  like, if he was the governor of New Jersey they wouldnt bother  then I think thats a bad pick, Devine said. If they believe in him because hes perceived as a moderate, then that could be a good swing-state strategy.

Dolan said Harris week-old campaign has differed in which swing states its targeting and that her vice presidential pick would have to appeal to a wide range of electorates.

She said the Harris campaign may be trying to broaden its reach to voters outside the Rust Belt states such as Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania in which Biden invested.

I think they see a potential for different electoral combinations, and that the more diverse populations of places like Arizona or Georgia or Nevada could help in ways that they wouldnt have helped President Biden, said Dolan. Harris running mate would have to reach these additional audiences as well.

Cooper issue

Adding Cooper to the presidential ticket would create a unique challenge in North Carolina.

Under the states constitution, whenever the governor leaves the state, the lieutenant governor assumes the power of that office. That might be a problem for North Carolina Democrats, who describe Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson as a right-wing Republican.

With Cooper on the campaign trail in contested states across the country, Robinson, who is the GOP candidate to replace the term-limited Cooper, would have his hands on the levers of state executive power.

Im tempted to say that it makes him not really a viable candidate, Devine said. Is he that far above the other candidates that its worth just messing up North Carolina politics?

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has warmed up the crowds at numerous Biden-Harris campaign events this year. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

But Mills, who is based in North Carolina, said Robinsons own race for governor would temper the risk of giving him the power of the office. Leading up to Election Day, Robinson will likely be proceeding with caution.

Thats somewhat of a concern, Mills said of the states succession rules impact on Coopers chances. But I dont think its that much of a concern, because it would be an awful risky thing going down the stretch as the gubernatorial candidate for him to look like he overreached.

Asher Hildebrand, a public policy professor at Duke University, also made clear that Robinson probably wouldnt have a major impact while Cooper would be campaigning.

It would be pretty extraordinary for Robinson to do anything that couldnt be undone immediately by Cooper through executive order, Hildebrand said.
Kamala Harris Shook Up Politics in a Week. But Can She Win?

Was it really just a week ago?

The Democrats were in crisis. They were cratering in the polls, Joe Biden was refusing to step aside and Democrats were even predicting a landslide win for a resurgent Donald Trump. The former President, fresh from a triumphant RNC and surviving a would-be assassin's bullet (or possibly shrapnel), was starting to look unstoppable.

USA-ELECTION/REPUBLICANS-CONVENTION The Republicans seemed to be unstoppable a week ago with the momentum from the Republican National Convention and a tired incoumbent to take on. Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

At 1:46 p.m on Sunday, everything changed. Biden stepped down.

Enter Kamala. Cue, mayhem.

Harris coconut memes exploded across social media from Sunday evening. Charli XCX declared kamala IS brat, to the approval of fans and the puzzlement of millions.

Charli XCXs declaration that kamala is brat was incomprehnsible to millions but kicked off a pop culture frenzy. But for the Harris campaign, there is a pressing question: does brat mean votes? Andrew Kelly/Reuters

Fundraising blew upwithin days she raised an unprecedented $126m. Over 170,000 people signed on as volunteers (many in crucial swing states), and thousands more registered to vote. Within two days she had cleared the field of all possible rivals. A ruthlessly-efficient campaign started on Sunday with calls to hundreds of Democratic representatives in Congress to get them on board.

Soon the endorsements rolled in: political heavyweights Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer were followed by a host of celebrities led by George Clooney, Ariana Grande and Barbara Streisand. Beyonce sanctioned the use of her song Freedom for the Harris campaign.

The momentum of Harris week has consolidated Democrats behind her and left Bidens Oval Office address a footnote. Evan Vucci/Reuters

On Thursday it became the theme of the first campaign ad. Hours later Barack and Michelle Obama were on board. By the end of the week polling showed that Harris had clawed back most of the lead Trump had enjoyed over Bidenwith the Wall Street Journals poll declaring an effective tie.

In a memo to staff, campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon, said that Harris path to victory no longer was restricted to the rust belt states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania (as had become the case with Biden's faltering campaign). Harris popularity among young Black and Latino voters had opened up sun belt states like Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina. "We intend to play offense in each of these states, and have the resources and campaign infrastructure to do so, OMalley Dillon said.

It was a stunning turnaround. In the space of a week, Harris had built and launched a campaign that ought to have taken months to build. Instead it took days.

When Kamala Harris awoke at her official residence, the U.S. Naval Observatory, in Washington D.C, on Sunday morning she still had no inkling what was about to happen. Later that morning Joe Biden informed her of his intention to step aside. One minute after Bidens formal announcement Kamala Harris and her team hit the phones.

It was game on.

The Harris campaign has co-opted Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff as a talisman. Erin Schaff/Reuters

What would transpire over the course of the next week upended a race that had looked settled. According to most pundits and polls, Trump was heading back to the White house. His co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita felt a Trump victory was a done deal - and that was before the debate.

That may still happen. Harris will be especially vulnerable on issues like the border and the cost of living, and she can expect an initially-flailing Republican response to settle, and improve. Their attacks will be more focussed, with clearer lines on her record, from fracking to criminal justice.

But Harris explosive first week had transformed what was becoming a procession into a race. Now comes the hard part. Winning.

The early portents were encouraging. Three weeks ago the Democrats were on defense after Bidens shocking and disastrous debate performance. Last week it was the Republicans turn. J.D. Vances jibe from 2021 about childless cat ladies was an especially cruel, political misstep. Women were quick to rally behind Harris, and Trumps issue with women voters was looking more acute.

Jennifer Anistonhardly renowned for political activismjoined the chorus of disapproval with a perfectly weighted and humane response on Instagram, Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day.

Jennifer Anistons Instagram story flaming J.D. Vance was part of a week of cultural moments which ran in Harris direction. Jennifer Aniston/Instagram

Harris step daughter Ella Emhoff weighed in with a post on Instagram, How can you be childless when you have cutie pie kids like Cole and I . Her mother Kerstin told CNN that Harris was, loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and always present. I love our blended family and am grateful to have her in it.

The rock-ribbed conservatives of the Wall Street Journal editorial board joined the chorus of rebuke to Vance, a day after suggesting that Harris could now beat Trump.

USA-ELECTION/TRUMP Harris faces a far more potent challenge than creating buzz: taking on Donald Trump. Polls at best for her show them in a tie. Marco Bello/Reuters

Perhaps most ominously, Swifties were voicing their disapproval. Taylor Swiftto date childlessis still to make an endorsement in the 2024 race.

But.

None of this means that Harris is heading for the White House. When the Harris honeymoon ends, as it will, she will be faced with overhauling Trump. She will have to win over independents and swing voters who had deserted Biden.

She will have to avoid the mistakes of her disappointing 2020 Democratic primary campaign.

She may yet have to atone for some of the positions she took during that 2020 primary campaign, most notably supporting a ban on fracking.

In her favor, she has staked out a vigorous position on defending womens right to choose as Republican states are bent on restricting abortion access. And she has leaned into her prosecutorial background with a willingness to take Trumps legal issues head-on. Already the race has been framed by the prosecutor vs. the felon. But there is some distance still to travel.

A former British prime minister, Harold Wilson, famously said that, A week is a long time in politics. The Harris impact this week could hardly illustrate the point any better.

But that remark also offers a warning to Harris and her supporters. There are 100 days to go. The next 99 days could prove to be an age.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine hosted a white coat ceremony for incoming students on Saturday.

The ceremony was for almost 200 students who took the osteopathic oath before the school year starts Monday.

Despite health complications, Marine Corps veteran wouldnt give up his time in service

For many of the students, this is a way for them to give back to their community.

Right now, my plan is to just stay around the area and hopefully, when I finish residency or something, I can give back to my community here and be a doctor and help others, Destinee OShae, a white coat recipient, said.

This years class is the third for KansasCOM.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
(Bloomberg) -- Former UK Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch is joining the race to lead the Conservative Party following the worst election defeat in its history, with bookmakers currently making her favorite to win the contest.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Badenoch, 44, will focus her campaign on renewing the party, with the goal of returning to government in 2030, she will write in an essay for the Times newspaper on Sunday night. The Tories are aiming to name a new leader by November after Labour ended their 14 years in power.

At the foundation of our renewal, and indeed the reassembly of the conservative family, is a confident set of principles about how our economy should work, and for whom it should work, Badenoch will say. Its become a dirty word, but our renewal must also mean a renewal for capitalism.

Badenoch is the sixth candidate to throw her hat into the ring and is leading with odds of roughly 2/1, according to bookmakers. She will compete against former Home Secretary Priti Patel, former Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride, former Foreign and Home Secretary James Cleverly, former Security Minister Tom Tugendhat and ex-Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick.

The announcement comes hours before nominations close on Monday. Conservative members of Parliament will then narrow the candidates to four by the end of September  in time for the partys annual conference  before shortlisting two for a vote by party members. The new leader is set to be announced on Nov. 2.

In a debate held at Bloombergs European headquarters in London before the election this month, Badenoch dodged questions about whether she aspired to succeed then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as Tory leader. She said her role as business secretary was a job of a lifetime and easier than being premier.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear spoke to a crowd of hundreds at the Iowa Democratic Party's Liberty and Justice Celebration event. (Photo by Jack O'Connor/ Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear drew standing ovations from the crowd Saturday at the Iowa Democratic Partys Liberty and Justice Celebration event.

Beshear said the upcoming election would be vital to protecting Americans rights and keeping former President Donald Trump out of office.

Womens rights are on the line, our economic recovery is on the line, the Senate and the House are on the line and the future of our sacred democracy is on the line, Beshear said.

Beshear, who is one of several high-profile Democrats being vetted to be Kamala Harriss running mate, also took shots at GOP vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance for his lack of conviction and his comments about his origin story.

He aint from Kentucky. He aint from Appalachia. And he aint gonna be your vice president, Beshear said.

Vances book, Hillbilly Elegy, recounts his upbringing in Middletown, Ohio, largely by a grandmother who moved away from the Appalachian region of Kentucky.

Outside of the keynote speaker, Iowa Democratic leaders who took the stage bashed Iowa Republican policies. Officials criticized changes to the Iowa Area Education Agencies (AEA) and the anti-abortion law that will take effect Monday.

Iowa Democratic Chair Rita Hart vowed that the November election in Iowa would be different, and that Democrats would flip many seats both at the state Legislature and in Congress.

State House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst blasted Iowa Republicans over their leadership of the state and said the crowd would change Republicans attitude.

Republicans feel like theyre going to be in charge forever. They vote like it and they act like it, Konfrst said. Its our job to tell everyone that thats not true. Were going to flip the Iowa House.

DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST

Iowa Auditor Rob Sand criticized efforts by state leaders to reduce the power of state auditors and repeated his colleagues assurances that Democrats would win big in the upcoming election.

Were going to move on and continue to build the power of the Democratic Party in the state of Iowa so that we can restore checks and balances and make sure that we have transparency and accountability and justice rising in the state of Iowa, Sand said.

Iowa GOP spokesperson Luke Wolff said in a press release shortly after the event ended that a radical speaker like Beshear did not belong in Iowa.

He is a privileged, out of touch Governor with an awful track record, and his policies have absolutely no place here. It makes sense the Iowa Democrats look to him as an inspiring figure who fits their radical agenda, Wolff said.

Other speakers at the event included state Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum, and congressional challengers Ryan Melton, Lanon Baccam and Sarah Corkery.

Beshear ended his speech with a call for unity and reiterated his endorsement of Harris.

This November, were gonna win and get back to being each others neighbors. Were gonna get back to being Americans before were Democrats or Republicans. Were gonna get back to working together, Beshear said. What [Harris] will do as president is not move the country to the right or the left. She will move it forward.

Beshear is expected to speak again at another rally near Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Here are the key things to know about Sundays presidential election in Venezuela

Venezuelans head to the polls Sunday to elect a new president, in an election where opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez has a signifcant lead in most polls over strongman Nicolas Maduro.

Analysts believe the election may be the the greatest opportunity Venezuelans will have to return the nation to a democratic system after more than 25 years of autocratic socialist rule. But experts warn that the government-controlled National Electoral Council provides few safeguards to guarantee that the vote will be counted fairly.

Read more: Venezuelans head to the polls Sunday in election that could end autocratic socialist rule

Here are the key things to know about Sundays vote.

 Venezuela has been under socialist rule since late president Hugo Chavez won the presidency in 1998. Nicolas Maduro, 61, Chavezs handpicked successor, became president in 2013, a few months after a gravely ill Chavez died in Havana.

 Edmundo Gonzalez, 74, is a former Venezuelan diplomat who was virtually unknown in the country until he was suddenly endorsed by opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who had won the oppositions primary with more than 92% of the vote before her candidacy was banned by the regime. Machado and the countrys main opposition political parties publicly united in their support for Gonzalez. Machado remains the main force behind the oppositions campaign.

 Most credible independent polls give Gonzalez a 30-point-plus lead over Maduro. Frustration over the countrys prolonged economic crisis and the increasingly autocratic rule have persuaded even former supporters of the regime to back Gonzalez, according to the polls..

 More than 21 million Venezuelans are registered to vote, but millions of them wont be able to participate because they are outside the country. More than 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled to other countries in recent years to escape the harsh living conditions at home. None of the estimated 800,000 Venezuelans living in the United States will be able to vote unless they have traveled back to their home country.

 Polls open at 6 am and close at 6 p.m. Results are expected to be announced no earlier than the early morning hours Monday and perhaps later.

 The regime has severely limited the presence of international observers at the election, allowing mostly representatives of organizations that in the past have shown sympathy towards its socialist revolution. On Friday, the regime stopped a group of former Latin American presidents from entering the country to independently monitor the process as well as a group of European legislators who had hoped to do the same. Among the few independent international observers that will be allowed to observe is the Atlanta-based Carter Center and a four-member United Nationsl mission that will write a report for the Secretary General that is not expected to be made public.

 The governments of Brazil and Colombia, whose presidents have traditionally been counted among the friends of the Maduro government, decided not to send observers to the election in what was seen as a sign that they have reservations about the fairness of the process. On Monday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva told reporters that he was alarmed by Maduros violent rhetoric  the Venezuelan leader has said there will be bloodshed if he loses  and said he should step down if Venezuelans vote against him.

 Venezuela, which has the largest proven reserves of oil in the world, once had one of the highest standards of living in Latin America, but today has one of the lowest, with poverty levels rivaling those of Haiti. The countrys GDP has shrunk by close to 80% since Maduro first became president in 2013. Experts blame the economic collapse rampant corruption and mismanagement.

 Maduro and top members of his regime face several federal indictments in the United States, charging them with running the so-called Soles Cartel and turning Venezuela into a drug-trafficking state.
L.A.s Very Own KTLA 5 helped the Los Angeles Police Department take a suspect into custody on Sunday.

LAPD Central Bureau Assistant Commanding Operations Officer Lillian L. Carranza confirmed early Sunday afternoon that a suspect featured in a video published to the KTLA website, YouTube and social media pages was caught after an alert citizen recognized the man on the news and called police.

The video in question depicted him kicking down the door of a home in L.A.s Atwater neighborhood.

A resident in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Atwater shared Ring doorbell camera footage with KTLA that shows a man kicking down their homes front door.

A resident in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Atwater shared Ring doorbell camera footage with KTLA that shows a man kicking down their homes front door.

A resident in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Atwater shared Ring doorbell camera footage with KTLA that shows a man kicking down their homes front door.

After receiving the LAPD community crime alert and watching the [KTLA 5] morning news, a citizen called 911, Carranza said on X. Officers quickly responded and arrested the suspect.

His name was not released, but he was described as a 44-year-old Hispanic man. The exact location of where he was arrested was also not disclosed.

13 motorcyclists arrested after pursuit on Southern California freeway

The homeowner who provided the original video to KTLA says it depicted the eighth time the man had attempted to break into their residence and the first time he was able to make it inside. They were eventually able to chase him out of their home and call the police but remain understandably shaken.

The suspect connected to a series of hot prowl burglaries and connected sexual assault in East Hollywood and Silver Lake early Friday morning is still outstanding, Carranza said.

Anyone in those neighborhoods who observes suspicious activity is urged to call 911.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Parents, educators, and advocates criticized Los Angeles Unifieds bumpy rollout and collapse of its splashy artificial intelligence chatbot Ed  even as the district moved ahead with more projects powered by the cutting-edge technology,

LAUSD last month shut down the chatbot after the firm hired to build it lost its CEO and furloughed workers. District officials said they would try to salvage the $6 million project.

Undeterred, the Los Angeles Unified school board a few days later on June 18 passed a resolution to build another AI-powered web portal, one where parents can access data on school budgets and student achievement.

Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter

But educators and families said the district should focus on academics and social services before taking on any new tech projects  and address lingering issues around the botched rollout as well as ongoing concerns over data security.

Evelyn Aleman, founder of Our Voice, a parents group which advocates for LA Unifieds low-income and Spanish-speaking families, said the district would do better to address a literacy crisis and epidemic of homeless students, rather than rush to adopt new technology.

You have the administration rolling out the latest technology, but the parents that Im working with have no clue what thats all about, said Aleman.

Many families dont even have internet service to access the new AI-powered tools, Aleman said. Parents are advocating for very fundamental issues like literacy, school safety, and mental health resources, she said.

LA Unified in March distinguished itself by announcing the ambitious rollout of its new, AI-powered chatbot, an animated sun named Ed, becoming the first school district in the nation to deploy artificial intelligence technology at scale for families.

Superintendent Aberto Carvalho hailed the high-profile effort as a game changer that would allow families unprecedented access to student data and school information, and could eventually lead to the automated development of individualized lessons and aid instruction.

But just three months later, AllHere announced that its CEO had left and it had furloughed most of its workers due to financial problems. LAUSD immediately pulled the signature Ed chatbot offline, district officials said, because there was no AllHere staff available to supervise it.

Related

Was Los Angeles Schools $6 Million AI Venture a Disaster Waiting to Happen?

LAUSD officials said the district had already paid the company about $3 million on a five-year, $6 million contract at the time of Eds shutdown. The district is trying to bring the pricey chatbot back to life, the officials said, but they would not say when it might be ready.

LAUSDs inspector generals office is investigating claims that AllHere violated data privacy rules.

Lester Garcia, an advisor for government relations at Service Employees International Union Local 99, which represents teachers assistants and other LAUSD school staff, said school employees and union officials are concerned private data may have been compromised.

I think there are a lot more questions than there are answers around why LAUSD fast-tracked this AI system to begin with, Garcia said.

Dan Chang, a math teacher at James Madison Middle School and candidate in LA Unifieds upcoming school board race this fall, said the Ed chatbot was never very useful for schools and students, even when it was up and running.

Chang, whose son attends another LAUSD middle school, said that the Ed chatbot mostly provided parents with generalized information that could be found elsewhere on the districts web site.

As a teacher, the use case for what it was initially scoped to do just seemed very marginal, said Chang.

A better use of AI, Chang said, would be to harness the technology so teachers can use it.

Chang said AI could be used to analyze student assessment data, providing teachers with unprecedented insights into academic progress. The information could be used to inform lessons and be shared with parents at teacher conferences, he said.

Related

L.A. Schools Probe Charges its Hyped, Now-Defunct AI Chatbot Misused Student Data

But Chang said the spectacular failure of the Ed program could discourage schools from taking on such innovations. Its going to create a chilling effect for educators who want to try new technologies, he said. And these are things that could really help students.

Despite problems with LAUSDs adoption of AI technology for its Ed program, the district will continue to look for ways to use AI, LA Unified officials said.

LA Unified school board member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said the district is already working on an AI-powered budgeting tool that will track income and spending at schools and PTA organizations, and connect spending patterns to student outcomes.

Along with board member Nick Melvoin, Ortiz Franklin last month introduced and passed a resolution for the district to construct the AI-powered budgeting tool for use next year, and to make the budget information assembled by the tool publicly available on a district web page.

Ortiz Franklin said the districts troubled partnership with AllHere on the Ed chatbot presents a learning opportunity for future AI projects. We can apply lessons learned from our current interactions with AI vendors to ensure were making the best decisions for students, she said.

University of Southern California education professor Stephen Aguilar, who studies schools use of AI at USCs Center for Generative AI and Society, said that, despite the difficult rollout of Ed, Los Angeles  and other districts across the country  will eventually embrace AI.

Districts are a little bit too quick to want to incorporate AI into the classroom without even knowing what it can do yet, said Aguilar Theres this rush to be innovative that comes with risks, and one of those risks is trying out untested technologies.
Jeremy Wallace has covered politics and campaigns for more than 20 years. Before joining the Hearst Texas newspapers in 2017 he covered government and politics for the Tampa Bay Times, The Miami Herald and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Previously he covered Congress for the Boston Globe and Detroit Free-Press. Originally from San Antonio, he attended the University of North Texas and earned his bachelors degree from the University of Missouri.

Jeremy also authors the Texas Take with Jeremy Wallace newsletter, where he shares insights from inside the Capitol along with the occasional Willie Nelson reference. You can sign up here.

You can follow him on Twitter, @JeremySWallace, or email him at Jeremy.wallace@chron.com.
Photos by Kyle Haney ()

So, youve finally made the best decision with your time in Korea and decided to visit Seoraksan National Park, or should I say: Middle Earth! Close to Sokcho, this National Park is home to endless trails, awe-inspiring views, cascading waterfalls, and views from Koreas third-highest peak. Read on as I provide the ultimate itinerary to maximize your visit to Seoraksan National Park and Sokcho!

Where to Stay

If youre making the trek all the way out to Seoraksan, look no further than Sokcho for lodging. From resorts to bed-and-breakfasts, Sokcho offers the best possible launch pad for your Seoraksan exploration.

For shopping, tourist attractions, and nightlife, stay near Cheongcho Lake

When I visited Seoraksan in August, I stayed at the Skysea Resort near the Sea Cruise Hotel. I booked this little gem through Airbnb for two nights, totaling $130 USD. The best part of the stay was the view, hands down. From my small aparthotel room, I was situated with a southern-facing room where was able to see the sunrise over the East Sea and the sunset over the Taebaek mountain range.

This spot was perfect for accessing the local nightlife, shopping, markets, public transportation, and tourist attractions. From this area, youll be within a few minutes drive to attractions like the Yonggeumjeong Sunrise Pavilion, Seolak Bridge, the Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market, the Expo Tower, and of course, the Cheongcho Lake itself.

For a quiet, romantic, and closer stay to Seoraksan National Park, Casa Seorak Bed and Breakfast is a must

If I had the chance to go back to Sokcho again, each and every time I would choose to stay at Casa Seorak Bed and Breakfast. Why?

The owner is insanely nice and speaks fluent English

You get a western-style, made-from-scratch breakfast delivered straight to your room every morning

Its got a unique lodge feel, not a hotel or apartment feel (way homier!)

Its closer to the mountains (like 15 minutes and youre at the trailhead)

It has a 5/5 on Trip Advisor from every single visitor to date

Its very reasonably priced

Its quiet

Youre at the base of the mountains

The walk-out patio was great for enjoying breakfast on in the mornings

The owner provides whole coffee beans and a hand-turn grinder in every room for visitors to make pour-overs every morning (hello happy inner coffee snob :D)

The bed is insanely comfortable (and Im veeery picky about my mattresses lol)

Its the most unique place Ive ever stayed in Korea (besides the Four Seasons in Seoul), hands down!

Pictures just doesnt do this place justice; you have to book a room and visit it for yourself!

Where to Eat

Disclaimer: I am a vegetarian, so the places I list here are geared towards vegheads. HOWEVER, some of the best-tasting food Ive ever had in my life was in Sokcho, and it was entirely plant-based.

Matsu

Matsu is hands down the best Italian food in Sokcho! From the ambiance of the quiet neighborhood to the insanely delicious three-course meal for ~$18, I would eat here every day if I could!

Jeombongsan Sanchae

This is where I ate vegetables until I nearly threw up, no joke! The chef has been researching traditional Korean wild herbs for over 35 years, and it shows! The family-owned restaurant serves all different kinds of kimchi, pickled vegetables, and other small dishes with locally sourced ingredients. You HAVE to give this place a shot to experience just how delicious eating plants can be.

However, the dishes are all designed for a minimum of two people. Buuuut, I just told them I was starving, and they let me in

The best way to find this gem is to first, download the Happy Cow app. From there, search for Jeombongsan Sanchae, grab the address, and navigate to it using whatever app you choose!

Where to drink

Sokcho has two main breweries that I thoroughly enjoyed after a long days hike. Each one had its own unique flare so really, between the two, you cant go wrong choosing either one.

Montbeer

Located near the resorts on the northwestern side of Sokcho, Montbeer has impeccable views of Seoraksan National Park from their western-facing windows. Not only is the beer delicious and available to take home in bottles, but they also have food and free popcorn delivered to your table by a little robot. How cool is that?!

Craft Root

Craft Root is an inconspicuous brewery just 5 minutes south of Montbeer. No joke, you are likely to drive right by it on your way to Montbeer if you arent paying attention!

Personally, I found the environment at Craft Root more relaxing because of its lesser-known location. More importantly though, I found the beers here to be superior to Montbeer. If you make you way to Craft Root, try the 9pm IPA, you wont be disappointed!

Park Jiyoungs Hand Drip Coffee

I am a coffee snob, and Im proud of it. I know a good Ethiopian pour over when I have one and I can PROMISE you that Park Jiyoungs coffee is the best in all of Sokcho, hands down!

Now, if you search this in Google, youll get zero returns so, heres the address: 134, Jungang-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-Do.

Basically, its at the very eastern end of the downtown main street near the tourist market just as the road bends and curves to the north. Its right near the outdoor clothing store in that same location as well

Top 5 Attractions (what to see/what to do)

Ah, now were getting to the good stuff! Sokcho has plenty to offer for anyone, especially if youre visiting for a four-day weekend like I was.

1. Towangseong Falls

A no-brainer of course; you have to visit the National Park if youre in Sokcho! From relaxing or strenuous hikes to cascading waterfalls and mile-high scenery, Seoraksan National Park has it all.

When I visited Seoraksan in August, I wrote an in-depth review of my hike up Mt Seorak, Koreas 4th-tallest mountain. For inspiration to climb this beast of a hike, click here and read what it was like standing a mile above sea level while being able to see the sea. One word: life-changing lol

This past March, I returned back to Seoraksan to hike a different portion of the land. this time, I wanted to check out the Towangseong Falls and the Ulsanbawi Rocks. Needless to say, neither view disappointed.

Towering 320 meters (150m in the upper, 80m in the middle, and 90m in the lower parts), Towangseong Falls is like something right out a scene from Lord of the Rings. I can just imagine an army of orcs on the other side of this mountainous gate, chomping at the bit to pour down the walls and tear through the valley.

This hike took about 3 hours round-trip with lots of stopping along the way for photos. Each and every turn offered something unique to point my camera at, starting with the peaceful walk along the river, all the way to the Towangseong Falls observation post.

While on your way, youll also hit Biryong Falls, an amazing spot to rest and gather yourself before you climb the 900+ stairs up to the Towangseong Falls. Yes, you read that right, its a lot of stairs lol but just look at that photo, isnt that worth it?!

2. Ulsanbawi Rock

Hiking to Ulsanbawi Rock is one place you dont want to miss when visiting Seoraksan National Park. In total, the hike takes about the same amount of time as the Towangseong Falls hike does (~3 hours round trip).

Not only is the view of the East Sea and Daechongbong Peak in the same frame breathtaking, but the journey here is also FULL of picturesque moments! For the majority of the hike, you follow along a peaceful river on a gravel path thats suitable for any age.

At about the halfway point, the trail does get a bit more strenuous, but nothing Id consider challenging, just tiring because, well, its hiking lol.

If you want to be like everyone else, hike this part of Seoraksan during the day. However, if you truly want a once-in-a-lifetime experience, hike to Ulsanbawi Rock at sunrise. Not kidding.

Quick story

3:00am and off goes my alarm. Holy crap Im tired I say to myself as I lay there with my eyes closed, weighing the pros and cons of hiking this early in the morning.

What if the park isnt even open? Am I just gonna sneak through the gate?

What if I just go over to the beach and catch a sunrise over the ocean again?

What if theres a bear?

lol that last one cracked me up.

As I talked myself back into this last-minute idea I had just come up with 6 hours prior while polishing off a beer at Craft Root, I got out of bed and got dressed. Thankfully, I had an extra instant oatmeal packet and an energy bar from the day prior. So, I heated up some water, made the oatmeal, walked out the door, realized I forgot said oatmeal on the counter, said screw it, and continued to the trailhead with just the energy bar lol.

3:30am and there I was, parking my car in almost the exact same place I had parked it two days prior when I made this exact same hike in the daytime like every other sane person. This time though, I was surrounded by nothing but pitch-black emptiness.

I was aaaaallll alone.

No more crowds of people to dodge around, no more laughs of children running from their parents. Hell, had I heard any laughter that early in the morning, I would have promptly shit right in my drawers and ran or drove off.

I digress

4:45 and Im about 3/4 the way done with the hike. Sunlight had finally begun piercing the darkness above me, but my immediate surroundings still remain cloaked in the most beautiful shade of midnight blue. I think it was at this point I figured, well, if someone out here was going to kill me, they wouldve done it by now lol.

I do another quick check of my phone to double check what time the sun will rise and to see if Im going to make the summit in time. At my pace, it looked like I was going to make it to the top about 10 minutes early.

Perfect.

As I climbed up the final few stairs to the summit of the Ulsanbawi Trial, the beauty I was rewarded with in that moment was unlike anything Id ever seen. Well, almost unlike anything Id ever seen.

The first time I caught a sunrise from the top of a mountain, I was extremely fortunate to be just over 14,000ft above sea level in Colorado on Mt Evans. The photo I took that morning is one that Im still extremely proud of. I stood atop a 14k-foot mountain and watched a hundred-mile-long shadow stretch across the Rocky Mountains as if I was standing on top of center of the entire solar system.

This journey (that I was just contemplating three hours earlier) transported me back in time to that exact moment. I watched the sun cast its warm rays of light onto the jagged peaks of the Taebaek mountains and relived one of my favorite moments in Colorado. All alone, shivering on the side of a desolate mountain in South Korea, I found a joy that few will ever find, all because I choose to get up early, and get moving.

Story of my life, and I wouldnt have it any other way.

Long story short: get up early and catch a sunrise at least once in your life. And if you choose to do it at Ulsanbawi Rock, I promise you that when the sun rises over the East Sea and fills the valleys of the Taebaek mountains with one of the most magical collisions of light and darkness, youll be thankful you made the journey.

2.1. Gyejoam Temple

About 30 minutes before you reach the end of the Ulsanbawi Hike, you reach the Gyejoam Temple. Gyejoam translates to inheriting the progenitors grotto, which if you remember from your pointless art history class, a grotto was a cave. This temple got its name because when the Buddhist masters inherited this place, the hermitage was a round grotto (i.e., cave) established under the rock. How cool, right?!

The serenity this place affords you cant be put into words, honestly. From the Chinese characters carved into the stone to the spring water at the entrance of the hermitage (that yes, you can drink from), Gyejoam Temple is one place that needs to be on your list of places to visit while in Seoraksan!

3. Daechongbong Peak

This wouldnt be an ultimate guide if I didnt mention the highest peak in Seoraksan National Park: Daechongbong Peak. Standing over a mile high (5,603 feet to be exact), this is the only place in the park where you can physically see the sea that youre a mile above. How cool, right!?

Like Ive mentioned before, I wrote extensively about my trip to Seoraksan back in August so, I wont belabor that story again. To summarize though, heres a short snip from that article to help amp you up to take on this 10+ kilometer trek:

4. Cheongcho Lake

As I mentioned earlier in the article, staying near Cheongcho Lake is perfect for you if youre looking to explore the nightlife and touristy attractions of Sokcho.

Not only is Cheongcho Lake in the center of the town, but its also a gorgeous spot to stroll along and watch fishermen cast their lines, watch boats cruise in and out towards the East Sea, or simply take in the grand Taebaek mountain range off in the distance!

5. Yeonggeumjeong Pavilion

Whats Yeonggeumjeong you ask? Its where you want to be for a sunrise, thats what it is. Its tranquility, its peace, its quiet, and its awe-inspiring.

If its a translation youre looking for, look no further: The word Yeonggeumjeong translates to the melody of a geomungo and a pavilion. A geomungo is a stringed instrument, and its said the waves hitting the rocks here is comparable to the melody made when a geomungo is played. Additionally, jeong translates to a traditional pavilion.

What about Yangyang?

Ah yes, if someone references Sokcho, theyre likely to also reference Yangyang, the surf capitol of Korea.

From my experience, there are only a handful of things to do in Yangyang. So, if youre going to visit, make Yangyang a daytrip, not a weekend-long trip (unless youre really into surfing).

Launch to Yangyang from Sokcho, not the other way around. Heres a great itinerary for you if you decide to make the trek down to Yangyang for a day:

Stop 1: Surfyy Beach

With Yangyang being the surfing capitol of Korea, you might as well take a lesson during your time there! There are dozens of surf shops lining the short near Surfyy Beach that offer lessons, most of which are in English and Hangul!

If youre not up for surfing, then you can still start the day here with a relaxing walk along Surfyy Beach as you watch all the newbies learn how to ride the waves.

Stop 2: Jugdojeong Pavilion

If surfings not your thing, fear not! You can still have a great day trip here if youre up for hiking and/or wandering around a fun beach-bum kind of town!

Clearly, Im a fan of visiting pavilions in Sokcho and Yangyang lol. Theres just something so incredible that these little resting locations can offer to the weary traveler.

Perhaps its the application of borrowed scenery (a Chinese planning technique) or the contrasting architecture juxtaposed the East Sea as numerous pines tower overhead. Whatever the attraction, I cant seem to get enough.

Hiking to this pavilion is rather straight forward and easily done in a pair of toms lol I know from experience now.

The best part of this short, ~20-minute hike/walk was resting on the park bench overlooking the ocean. As a Colorado boy, appreciating the ocean is something Ive found extreme joy in since being stationed in Korea. Give it a shot while youre here and tell me you dont feel at peace!

Stop 3: Flowbeach Cafe

Want to enjoy a ginger latte from a rooftop patio overlooking the ocean? Then look no further than Flowbeach Cafe.

Located on the 4th floor of the building, this awesome little coffee shop has both indoor and outdoor seating. The large, bay-like doors open up and let the breeze roll right off the ocean and into the cafe.

Quite honestly, with all the cafes around Korea, its hard to narrow down which one is best. But, if I had to choose, this one surely earns that title in Yangyang, hands down!

Stop 4: Hajodae Beach

Just off the beaten path, the Hajodae Beach area is one of the most striking landscapes Ive found in all of Korea.

Perched on top of a sea cliff near the beach sits Hajodae Lighthouse, an unmanned solace surrounded by oddly shaped and jagged rocks. The amazing viewpoint from where this lighthouse sits is comprised of a handful of rocky islets (or small islands) and of course, the mighty East Sea.

Furthermore, a dense, lush pine forest crawls all the way out from the Taebaek mountain range to where the ocean means the land. The beauty of these trees ability to find every crack in the rock to put down roots is something you have to see in person to truly appreciate.

In summary

In my entire year here in Korea, Sokcho was my favorite destination. Too many people say one of my favorites when talking about places like this and I think its because too many people are afraid of commitment lol. Ill say it again, proudly: Sokcho is my favorite place in all of South Korea.

From the towering Taebaek mountains to the tranquility of the East Sea, this one little town had everything I needed to feel like I was both at home and on vacation at the same time. Both times I had the pleasure of visiting, I thoroughly enjoyed second I spent exploring in (and around) this town.

So, if the 4-day weekend comes, or a break in your schedule allows, visit Sokcho. I promise you wont be disappointed no matter who you are or what youre into!
Latin America is drawing attention from U.S. lawmakers eager to forge ties in an often-ignored region with growing geopolitical and economic clout.

This month, bicameral groups visited officials in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Guatemala, seeking to expand their footprint among regional powers at a crossroads after recent elections in the first two.

Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) led the delegation to Mexico, where lawmakers met with outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, known as AMLO, and President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, who in October will be inaugurated as the first woman and the first Jewish head of state in North America.

Electing the first woman in the history of the country and not only that, a woman who is Jewish, in a country where the population is overwhelmingly Catholic  somethings going on there. And I think its good. I think its encouraging, Carper told The Hill.

Though Sheinbaum is Lopez Obradors political mentee and his chosen successor, the two have distinctly different personalities and backgrounds.

Sheinbaums election is an opportunity for Mexico to reengage with the U.S. Congress after years of neglect by the AMLO administration, who chose to focus almost exclusively on the White House and executive branch and at times openly attacked the Republican Party, said Duncan Wood, president of the Pacific Council on International Policy.

Mexicos disengagement with the U.S. legislative branch has been chronic: Diplomats often point out that in Washington, Mexico has the closest major embassy to the White House, while Canadas, for contrast, is within sight of the Capitol.

And most Latin American countries, with the notable exception of Colombia, have also historically focused their Washington operations on the White House.

That focus on the executive branch carries a major risk  when administrations focus their diplomatic efforts on other regions, Latin American issues often fall off Washingtons radar entirely.

House Foreign Affairs Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chair Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) accused the Biden administration at a hearing this week of ignoring the region, while Brian Nichols, assistant secretary of State for Western Hemisphere affairs, defended the administrations posture ahead of this weekends elections in Venezuela.

In the last four years, President Biden and Vice President Harris have made it clear that Latin America is not a priority for this country, said Salazar. These decisions are disastrous for our economy, our national security, and the well-being of our allies. If we lose Latin America, we lose our home. Lets wake up and defend our hemisphere.

Biden in 2022 appointed former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) as his presidential adviser on Latin America; Dodd has linked up with leaders across the region, who favor closed-door talks with a U.S. agent close to the president.

Congress, an institution that likes to be wooed in public, has often prioritized its links to Europe, the Middle East and East Asia.

But Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ben Cardin (D-Md.) last week led a congressional delegation to Argentina  with additional stops in Brazil and Guatemala  to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 1994 bombing of the Asociacion Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA), where 85 people were killed and more than 300 injured.

When I went to Argentina the first time for the 10th anniversary of AMIA, there were no  I dont remember any delegations from Congress or actually from the global Jewish organizations. It was mainly [the American Jewish Committee (AJC)] and maybe one  today, there were about 500 people from all over the world, said Dina Siegel Vann, director of AJCs Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs.

Ironically, the newfound prioritization of the AMIA attack and the high-level guest list for the anniversary were due both to a normalization of Judaism in the deeply Catholic region and to rising antisemitism across the globe.

Argentine President Javier Milei, a populist libertarian who was raised Catholic and took office in December, has taken a public interest in Jewish mysticism and said he could convert.

His newfound passion for Jewish religious rites has meshed well with his public support for Israel in the war against Hamas  a position not shared by many Latin American leaders  but its also allied him with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who last month granted Milei the Order of Freedom to honor the Argentine presidents support of Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.

For Democrats such as Cardin, Mileis pro-Ukraine hawkishness is common ground with a foreign leader who has openly praised former President Trump and connected with U.S. and European ultraconservative movements.

We got an extremely warm welcome from him, we hit it off. I mean, he  he is very pro-U.S. I dont see him as a partisan figure. I think, as I told him, and I told the ambassador, he says things that are very appealing to the Democrats  very strongly in favor of Ukraine, sees this as we see it, Cardin told reporters on a call Tuesday.

Latin American leaders have historically shied away from taking sides in geopolitics, partly because the region is relatively isolated from hot spots and partly because of a lingering distrust for U.S. and European international aspirations.

But Latin America is taking on a new geopolitical importance not only as a source of natural resources and migration, but as a target for Russian influence and Chinese investment in the Western Hemisphere, and in Mexicos case, replacing China as the United Statess top trading partner.

Were working to reduce our reliance on trade with China, and to encourage nearshoring and just trade, which strengthens the economy of countries like Mexico and south of there. And by strengthening their economies, it provides an incentive for people who live in those countries to the south to continue to live in those countries, to work in those countries and stay there and raise their families, rather than trying to make it across the border [to] get into to the to the U.S., said Carper.

While Mileis pro-Western approach is unlikely to catch on among his colleagues in the region, particularly leftist leaders including Sheinbaum, Brazils Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva or Chiles Gabriel Boric, three decades of free trade between the United States and Mexico have proven that the U.S. and Latin American countries can peacefully share those economic incentives.

Experts say foreign adversaries such as Russia and Iran are looking to rekindle U.S.-Latin American distrust, and to sow instability in the Americas through any means necessary, including by fanning antisemitism.

Director of [National Intelligence Avril Haines several weeks ago identified Iran as being responsible for stoking antisemitism in campuses and beyond, and they have clear evidence thats happening. And thats also happening in Latin America, said Siegel Vann.

We also have Russia. Lets remember that Mexico has been identified also as a country that has a lot of Russian spies and, you know, and theres even a Russia-Mexico friendship caucus in Congress, in the Mexican Congress, even after Ukraine.

With the U.S. election looming, some officials in Latin America are bracing for a potential second Trump presidency, and a few like Milei  ideologically aligned and geographically isolated from Trump  could benefit from a like-minded character in the White House.

Sheinbaum, an avowed leftist whos not as transactional as Lopez Obrador, would likely suffer more headaches co-managing a 2,000 mile border and an $800 billion trade relationship with Trump.

Obviously, Claudia would do better with Harris  a continuity of Bidens policies  than with Trump, who attacks Mexico as part of his populist campaign. Sen. JD Vance (Ohio), the GOPs vice presidential nominee, noted how Trump uses the easy path of finding foreign culpability in the problems of the working class in the United States, said Roberta Lajous, a former Mexican diplomat and fellow at the Wilson Centers Mexico Institute.

Carper, who is not seeking reelection, said the U.S. election could determine whether the two neighbors build on 30 years of integration or whether that progress stops cold.

I think the likelihood for building in a positive way on the great progress weve made in improving our relationships, deepening our economic interest, I think with Kamala as president, and with President Sheinbaum, I think they will only get better. President Trump, I dont know. Ill be generous, Im just not very encouraged that the progress that weve been making for years now, is likely to continue, and we need for it to continue, both countries need for it to continue, said Carper.

Updated at 5:43 pm.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Lawmakers intend to study traffic in Hochatown again. The mayor says it's a delay tactic

A state lawmaker said he wants to evaluate, yet again, the options available to state officials to expand the highway in the small southeastern Oklahoma town of Hochatown.

That proposal came as a surprise to Hochatown's mayor.

Recently, state Rep. Eddy Dempsey, a Republican from Valliant, filed a request for an interim legislative study on traffic issues in Hochatown. Dempsey's proposal was one of three the lawmaker filed in late June. Dempsey's requests were approved Friday by House Speaker Charles McCall.

The issue of traffic in the Hochatown area has been an ongoing problem for both residents of the small town and tourists who travel to that part of the state. For several years now, the town, located near the entrance of Beavers Bend State Park and Broken Bow Lake, has become a travel spot for cabin rentals.

More: How does a town of 200 prepare for 100,000 eclipse visitors? For Hochatown, tourism is 'our bread and butter'

Hochatown Mayor Dian Jordan said the area's large houses and cabins are rented throughout the year and traffic in the area  especially on weekends  is heavy and often congested.

And while Dempsey's proposal seems, at first glance, timely this year  due to Hochatown's rapid growth as a tourism center  it comes more than two years after the Oklahoma Department of Transportation finished studies, conducted public hearings and released its own plan to expand roadways in the area.

State Rep. Eddy Dempsey is shown on the third day of the 2023 legislative session in the House of Representatives at the Oklahoma Capitol.

Dempsey's proposed hearing, Jordan said, is simply a political stunt. Jordan said the community desperately needs to expand the main highways into Hochatown and more studies are not needed. Jordan said Hochatown's Board of Trustees has voted on three separate resolutions in favor of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation expanding the highway in the area.

"We need it for safety," Jordan said. "The traffic count down here is off the charts."

Jordan said it takes people an hour and a half or longer just to go the 10 miles to the grocery store. "If there is a major forest fire, they're not going to be able to exit. It's also a public safety issue," she said.

What a previous study found about traffic in Hochatown

Jordan's concerns were underscored by a study of the transportation needs in the area. In 2023, the engineering firm Freese and Nichols looked at the transportation issues in the area and, in a letter to state Transportation Department engineer Anthony Echelle, recommended major changes.

"We know that the state highway system in and around the Broken Bow/Hochatown area is not functioning in a way that serves the current needs, and especially, the future needs of an ever-changing area," Brandon Huxford, an engineer with Freese and Nichols wrote.

"Existing US-259 consists primarily of two-travel lanes and variable shoulders with pavement conditions starting to show signs of deterioration. Additionally, the current Average Daily Traffic volumes on US-259 show the current facility often exceeds capacity, with the future traffic projections showing that the current two-lane highway cannot adequately handle the traffic growth that is being driven by the development and tourism in the area."

The study of the highway, Huxford wrote, "has been ongoing for several years through which ODOT has performed traffic engineering studies and roadway configuration evaluations."

"Additionally, as part of the planning and development stage, ODOT has worked to accommodate the needs and goals of the local community and has made every effort to capture that impact through community input and coordination," he wrote.

More: These 11 towns are the most adorable in Oklahoma, says World Atlas

That included public meetings going back to 2022 and a state Transportation Department advisory panel in 2021. A media statement from department, issued in October of 2021, notes "the advisory committee participants were appointed by Rep. Eddy Dempsey, (R) and Sen. George Burns, (R), state legislators representing the area; the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; the McCurtain County Board of County Commissioners; City of Broken Bow; and Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. Rep. Dempsey and Sen. Burns have been critical in conveying the needs of their constituents to the department and were integral in the development of the committee."

Dian Jordan, mayor of Hochatown

Jordan said little has happened so far, adding that Dempsey continues to delay efforts to improve the roadway.

"A two-lane highway cannot handle the traffic we have now," Jordan said. We submitted information, we did public hearings, we have provided information. The people have spoken. A majority want the road to be expanded, but because Eddy Dempsey personally doesn't want it to be expanded, he is trying to stop it. He is just doing this stuff on his own. We need action now."

Though it's likely that Dempsey's hearing will be conducted sometime in August, he hasn't said much about the issue. Efforts to reach Dempsey for comment have been unsuccessful.

On Friday, House Speaker McCall approved more than 100 interim legislative studies requested by members of his chamber. This year marks the second year in a row McCall has approved all interim study requests.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Hochatown Oklahoma traffic subject of interim legislative study
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Las Cruces Police Department is inviting the community to celebrate National Night Out, the event that promotes drug and crime prevention, strengthens community relations and encourages neighborhood camaraderie, on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

National Night Out is held annually the first Tuesday in August, according to LCPD.

The free and kid-friendly event will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 6 along Main Street in Downtown Las Cruces.

LCPD said the event gives residents an evening to meet neighbors, area first responders and other organizations that provide valuable services to our community.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  The Lawrence County Sheriffs Office says the inmate who escaped Saturday afternoon has been located.

On Sunday, July 28 around 5:30 a.m., the sheriffs office said David Alan Wright was found.

Authorities say Wright escaped when he climbed a razor-wire fence after finishing his exercise at around 1:30 p.m. Saturday. It was not noticed that he was gone until feeding time, around 4:30 p.m.

He had lacerations on his arms from escaping when he was found, and he will receive medical treatment before returning to the Lawrence County Jail.

LCSO says Wright was in jail for kidnapping and giving false information to law enforcement. Authorities say the kidnapping charge came when Wright held one of his roommates against their will and threatened to hurt them.

The sheriffs office said the roommate was notified of Wrights escape.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
Meaning of election hasnt changed

By stepping out of the race Joe Biden has placed the good of our country above his own ego, something that Donald Trump will never do.

While the candidates have changed, the meaning of this election has not. In November we will decide much more than one president over another.

We will decide the House and the Senate and many down ballot races that often have a more direct impact on the quality of our lives.

We will likely decide, via presidential appointments, who will sit on the Supreme Court for decades to come.

Above all, we will decide the path our country will take, whether we preserve democracy or further our decay into authoritarianism.

Casey Truax, State College

Trump not up to the task

Representative Glenn Thompson issued a statement saying he was surprised that President Biden has ended his campaign, pushed out under pressure of Democratic party elites adding that Biden is clearly not up to the task.

Meanwhile, the Republicans, controlled by their own party elites, kiss up to Trump, who even Thompson must know is an old convicted felon who is clearly not up to the task.

In Kamala Harris, the Democrats now have a dynamic candidate with more experience and qualifications (district attorney, state attorney general, U.S. Senator, vice president) than the GOP ticket combined.

Harris is an experienced prosecutor. Trump is recognized as a serial liar. Unless Trump weasels out, the presidential debate scheduled for Sept. 10 should be fun to watch.

Bob Potter, Boalsburg

Seeing through Trump

Donald Trumps physical health dominated the recent presidential debate, but what he said in that health was his usual lies, exaggerations and rudeness. Our president was weak that night, but there is another factor, and that is the good sense of the people themselves in whom is the ultimate sovereignty.

Let us all take a deep breath and remember that they will see through Donald Trump and not vote to elect a dictator. Remember Walt Whitman there in the 19th century with the frontier still open  American democracy here in the new world is the hope of all the people in the world.

Is this then dated unction?

It is up to each of us to show that it is not.

John Harris, State College

Defending and protecting Social Security

Protecting Social Security has two different translations.

For conservatives, protecting the program means raising the retirement age, reducing monthly payments to seniors, and reducing other benefits. That does protect the program and the existing funding. It does not protect my Social Security.

Many of us depend on that monthly check!

The second translation, defending Social Security, means maintaining or improving existing benefits to seniors and others. That is the defense I want to see. While supporting those who receive payments, the program will also be protected by increasing payments into the program from people who make more than $400,000, in addition to what less affluent folks have always paid. That small increase, from those who can afford it, will stabilize the existing program without shortchanging those who need it.

So, yes, both parties will protect Social Security. It is your choice. Vote Republican and reduce your benefits but protect the program. Vote for Democrats and keep your monthly benefits consistent. Personally, I embrace the second approach and that is what Democrats will do. If you want your Social Security to at least stay as it is, you must vote, and you must vote for Democrats.

Rose Reeder, Lock Haven

Shes got this

In the mid-1980s, I made a bet with a friend  Who would be President first: A woman (his pick) or a Black man (mine)? I won a lovely dinner  and eight years of Obamas outstanding leadership.

In 2016, we bet again  Definitely a woman this time, he said. I supported Clinton and worked hard to elect her, but saw the misogyny plaguing our country, and reluctantly bet against him. Another lovely dinner  and years of Trump-inflicted chaos, reactionary policy, and a Supreme Court dedicated to crushing civil rights and Constitutional principles.

This time, my moneys firmly on Kamala Harris. Im confident shell win.

Harris has broad government experience: as California Attorney General, U.S. Senator, and vice president.

Harris champions our countrys democratic ideals  freedom and dignity for all, economic security (not just for wealthy Americans), access to quality health care (including reproductive care), affordable public education, global security and partnership with other democracies around the world. Above all, she acts in the best interests of Americans.

In stark contrast, Harriss opponent is a man who cares only about himself. He schemed to overturn legitimate election results and betrayed his oath of office. He proudly denies women bodily autonomy, promises tax cuts to wealthy Americans and an end to education and health care funding, threatens democracy here and abroad, and espouses white Christian nationalism. Most terrifying, he threatens violence if he loses again.

2024 isnt about electing the first woman; its about electing the only person qualified to be president.

Sheri Berenbaum, State College
Lindsey Graham Laughs Off Trump Saying No Need 'To Vote Again' If He Wins

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) could only laugh when asked about Donald Trump saying that people wont have to vote again if they help get him back in office this November.

Many wondered if the former president was suggesting something tyrannical when he told supporters at a rally Saturday in West Palm Beach, Florida, that they wouldnt have to worry about casting ballots in 2028 if they elect him this November.

Christians, get out and vote, just this time, he said. You wont have to do it anymore.

You got to get out and vote. In four years, you dont have to vote again, he added. Well have it fixed so good youre not going to have to vote.

The comments raised alarm among Trump critics, who worried he was hinting at an end to elections as theyre normally done if he wins a second term as president.

But Graham gleefully downplayed the remarks after being asked Sunday on CBS Face the Nation if Trump was threatening to take the reins of the entire democratic system.

Lindsey Graham on CBS laughs off Trump's comments about his followers not having to vote again in four years if he's elected



(Republicans were asked about these Trump comments on 3 Sunday shows today -- they weren't asked a single follow-up question in any of the interviews) pic.twitter.com/mI4RkGOVtM  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 28, 2024

Hes trying to tell the Christian community and anybody else whos listening [that] the nightmare that were experiencing will soon be over. Give me four more years, and Im going to right this ship called America and pass it on to the next generation, the South Carolina senator explained.

We will have democracy, God willing, for a very long time in this country, but what President Trump is trying to tell people  I did it once, I can do it again. These problems can be solved, but you got to go in a different direction, Graham continued.

The interview then wrapped without any follow-up questions from moderator Robert Costa.

Graham wasnt the only conservative who brushed off Trumps remarks on Sunday.

Gov. Chris Sununu (R-N.H.) called the comment classic Trumpism in an interview on ABCs This Week, while Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) told CNNs State of the Union that the Republican nominee for president was obviously making a joke.

Although Trumps allies tried to paint his words as harmless, he has openly flirted with the idea of authoritarianism in the past.

Last December, he vowed not to be a dictator if reelected, except for day one of a new presidency.

Related...
A crime scene is taped off on in Florence, Ky., the site of a shooting that police say left four victims dead and three others injured. While gun violence has decreased slightly in Florida, the state still leads the nation in mass shootings.

As of June 2024, Florida has experienced an increase in mass shootings, resulting in the Sunshine State leading the country in such incidents. There have been at least 18 mass shooting incidents in Florida this year, which accounts for about 8% of the United States' total thus far.

In June of last year, the number of mass shooting events in Florida was roughly equal when compared to the same period this year, though slightly less than in 2022. According to the Gun Violence Archive, a mass shooting is defined as an incident in which bullets hit four or more people, resulting in death or injury.

This means that more children, mothers, fathers, friends and family members are dying or losing their quality of life due to gun violence.

Shootings are so prevalent in Jacksonville that I have witnessed school children becoming desensitized to the sound of gunfire due to the violence around their neighborhoods and schools. The pain and grief caused by gun violence could be mitigated by enacting stricter gun laws than Florida House Bill 543 and its Senate companion, SB 150.

Passage of these bills now authorize Floridians to carry a concealed weapon or firearm without a permit. To qualify for a permit, an individual must pass a background check. However, the bills are problematic because they lead to more people carrying firearms, which in turn leads to more mass shootings. This suggestion is supported not only by reports from the Gun Violence Archive, but also by research findings from the British Medical Journal.

These studies indicate that from 1998 to 2014, states with more restrictive gun laws had significantly fewer mass shootings. The only solution to decrease the number of mass shootings is to implement more restrictive gun laws.

Massachusetts has the strictest gun laws in the U.S. The Firearms Records Bureau states, Massachusetts residents 15 years and older who wish to possess, carry and transport firearms, ammunition and feeding devices are required to have a firearms license. The licenses are issued by municipal police departments.

To obtain one, residents must pass a training class from an independent instructor certified by the Massachusetts State Police, a safety course at a local law enforcement agency or a certified instructor who teaches the Basic Hunter Education course.

Once a resident has earned a firearms license, they may only carry the gun within 500 feet of a building or dwelling with the owners or occupant's permission when hunting. Any firearm in a vehicle must be unloaded, stored in a locked case and placed in the rear compartment or trunk of the vehicle. In homes, firearms must be unloaded, stored in a locked case and separated from the ammunition.

As reported by the Gun Violence Archive, the number of mass shooting incidents in Massachusetts is less than five, while Florida's number is currently creeping upwards of 20. With half a year left, Floridas permissive gun laws will most likely lead to even more such events this year. If Florida's gun laws were like Massachusetts,' mass shootings might no longer be a traumatic crisis here.

Changing the gun laws in Florida will not be easy, but it is worth the fight because it will save lives and decrease violence.

Letters: With Trump, common sense has gone out the window in U.S., Florida too

To address the lenient gun laws in Florida, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on April 3, 2023, awareness must be raised about how harmful this is. The law can be made more restrictive through lobbying  making phone calls, sending emails and meeting face-to-face with state representatives and senators.

Floridians can also act by seeking advice and joining advocacy groups and lobbyists to expedite communication with legislators. Groups like Moms Demand Action and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence can be contacted. Individuals can also start their own advocacy groups. More awareness about this heinous gun law can be raised through social media, opinion pieces, press conferences and grassroots campaigns.

Examples of grassroots campaigning include community events, town halls and informational sessions. Florida residents can also attend committee hearings to discuss testimony against the current gun law or create and sign petitions to demand that Gov. DeSantis veto the current gun law.

Bing

Chandell Robinson Bing is pursuing a master's of social work from Our Lady of the Lake University. She lives in Jacksonville.

This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Shootings so common in Jacksonville that kids are desensitized
KIRKWOOD, Mo.  As Damon Snow approaches his 100th birthday on July 30, he reflects on a century filled with experiences that have shaped his life. Snow, a World War II veteran, shares insights into his journey and offers wisdom for future generations.

Snow, who admits his body feels 100 but his mind feels closer to 60, has lived through remarkable events. He met his wife in high school, served in the military, and pursued higher education, all while maintaining a positive outlook on life.

I was in high school at Kirkwood and met my wife when she moved to our area for school, Snow said. They got engaged after high school.

During his military service, Snow trained as a bombardier, the crewman responsible for aerial bombs, and trained to hit targets. Snow said he was commissioned on a Boeing B-17.

We trained at various locations, including the University of Nevada and Santa Ana, California. I chose to be a bombardier, which felt like the best fit for me, Snow said.

Snow recalled that after training, while waiting for his assignment, he attended an officers club meeting at the Casper Army Air Base in Casper, Wyoming. While there, he learned that married officers made more money than single ones.

Photo by Liz Dowell

Photo by Liz Dowell

Photo by Liz Dowell

Photo by Liz Dowell

Photo by Liz Dowell

Snow called his high school sweetheart, now fiancee, Alene Gaebler, and had her come to Casper, Wyoming. One of Snows sisters took Alene to the train station in Kirkwood.

Snow said his mothers advice to him was, Dont you kids do anything foolish like get married.

Olivette shooting believed to be murder-suicide, police say

Snow and Alene got married and spent two or three weeks together before Snow was assigned to a location in India.

After the war, Snow took advantage of the GI Bill and pursued higher education, eventually graduating with a degree in engineering. Snow emphasized that education is vital, but trades like plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry are also essential and offer great opportunities.

Snow also reflected on the importance of moderation and avoiding excess in life. He credits his longevity to good genes, a healthy lifestyle, and a supportive family. His mother lived to 102 and a half, and he has followed her example by avoiding smoking and maintaining a balanced life.

Alene passed away in February of 2020 due to complications from Alzheimers disease. She was 95.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

Snow offers advice to younger generations saying the importance of hard work and focusing on what your goals are.

There are so many distractions now that didnt exist when I was young, Snow said. Its crucial to concentrate on what you want to do with your life and work hard.

At 100, Snow is still cutting his own grass, maintaining his house and car, and doing household repairs for his son and daughter. Hes also trying to hide the purchase of a new motorized bike from his kids.

Every Sunday, Snow shows up at St. John United Church of Christ in Manchester in his spotless Cadillac convertible, cruising to music from many generations.

Photo by Mike ONeil, with St. John U.C.C.

Photo by Mike ONeil, with St. John U.C.C.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Louisville forms task force to put most dangerous criminals behind bars. Will it work?

LMPD officers were on the scene at 24th and Magazine St. where a juvenile and an adult were shot after a fight broke out on a JCPS bus around 4:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon. Sept. 13, 2023

On the last day of January, multiple people were shot in broad daylight on a crowded street in Louisville's Russell neighborhood. Two people died while two others suffered critical injuries.

In early March, Louisville saw five fatal shootings in less than 24 hours, one of which occurring inside a crowded Highlands bar. Five people in total were killed.

Eight shootings over Mother's Day weekend in May left five dead and six others injured. And on the afternoon of July 3, two men were injured by gunshots fired near the parking lot of Bates Memorial Baptist Church as people were leaving a funeral procession.

To city officials, these high-profile incidents offer only a glimpse into the totality of Louisville's gun violence, which Mayor Craig Greenberg has described as an "epidemic that's plaguing our city right now and far too many other cities around the country."

The common denominator among the tragedy, law enforcement leaders say: a small group of repeat offenders who are evading lengthy prison sentences.

Now, several public agencies are teaming up to identify people they say are responsible for much of the violence and get them behind bars.

We should not be measuring the sentence of violent gun crime offenders in months; we should be measuring in years, Greenberg said.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg speaks about preventing gun violence during the 'Night of Remembrance' for the 2023 victims of gun violence in Louisville on Jan. 5, 2024. The event was held at Bates Memorial Baptist Church.

In January, the agencies formed a task force, known as the Prohibited Firearms Possessor Initiative, which is bringing together police and prosecutors from the local, state and federal levels.

Task force members say the initiative will help them focus greater attention on criminally charged offenders they say pose a greater threat to the community.

But some familiar with the criminal justice system have voiced concerns with the group's work  saying more effort should be spent addressing the root causes of gun violence and strengthening gun regulations.

"As long as you keep putting guns in circulation, there'll be people who will keep using them," said Charlie Cunningham, a retired Jefferson Circuit judge with nearly 15 years of experience. "And if you really think that if we could just get another 1,000 people put in prison, the violence would go away, then you're really not paying attention.

Shameka Parrish-Wright, a Metro Council member who advocates against mass incarceration, thinks the task force could potentially fulfill its mission  as long as it doesn't repeat the mistakes of previous initiatives.

I think fundamentally the city has done the same thing over and over again, and every administration just gives it a new name, Parrish-Wright said. What I want to see is the real application of this.

Task force spurred by 'small group' of offenders driving gun violence

So far this year, approximately 80 homicides in Louisville have been caused by fatal gunshot wounds, according to city data.

When that scope is widened to non-fatal shootings, the number of victims balloons. Within the first six months of 2024, around 200 people were shot but survived.

Louisville Metro Police spokesperson John Bradley said department analysis indicates "a lot of the gun violence in our city can be tied to a small group of repeat offenders," a belief that's echoed by Greenberg and several prosecutors.

Prosecutor Mark Barry was hired within the Jefferson County Attorney's Office to handle gun-related cases and said he has seen some of the same names pop up, though they can often appear as both perpetrator and victim.

Violence tends to perpetuate, and so people who might be involved in a shooting one day might be a victim in a case another day, he said.

At the Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney's Office, a violent crime unit is made up of six well-seasoned prosecutors who each handle 50 to 100 cases at any given time, including defendants with lengthy histories of gun violence.

Gerina Whethers

You see the numbers that we have as far as cases and people, Commonwealth Attorney Gerina Whethers said. And the only way we're going to be somewhat successful is weve got to hone in on certain ones that we need to get off the street.

To crack down on repeat offenders, the two attorneys offices are partnering with LMPD and other agencies for the new task force, which meets monthly to discuss key cases.

Task force members include representatives from LMPD, the Jefferson County attorney and commonwealth attorney offices, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentuckys Office and Louisville's field division of the the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Aside from the labor hours of already on staff employees, the task force does not create any cost to Louisville Metro, Greenberg press secretary Kevin Trager said.

According to Bradley, the team reviews all arrests where a firearm is recovered and identifies those who are already prohibited from possessing a gun. Cases that appear to be outliers or to involve people seen as posing a greater direct threat to the community are elevated to a higher level of scrutiny, he said.

All convicted felons are prevented from owning firearms, but from a public safety perspective, we are more concerned specifically about trigger-pullers who are the drivers of violence in our community, Bradley said. The initiative assists with the goal of successfully prosecuting the most dangerous individuals.

Priority arrests are flagged by police to Louisville prosecutors in both district and circuit court, with police able to give prosecutors more information about a defendant's criminal history beyond what is written in their record at an earlier point in the judicial process, so prosecutors are better equipped and informed at court proceedings.

Barry said the extra collaboration with law enforcement can help the Jefferson County Attorney's Office make bond amount decisions and determine what prosecutors should advocate for during early appearances in front of a judge.

While prosecutors and police often talk to one another about cases anyway, Elizabeth Jones Brown  who leads the violent crime unit at the commonwealth attorney's office  added the task force makes a notable difference by separating outlier cases from her offices normal caseload.

Prosecutors Milja Zgonjanin, left, and Elizabeth Jones Brown at the pretrial conference hearing for alleged shooter Gregory Bush. Maurice E. Stallard and Vickie Lee Jones were killed in October 2018 at the Jeffersontown Kroger during a shooting. Bush has been indicted for two counts of murder, one count of criminal attempted murder and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment. Bush also has been charged with federal hate crimes and firearm offenses. January 15, 2019

The partnership can also potentially lead to grant-funded opportunities to test DNA or firearms to build better evidence in these cases, members said.

The task forces goal, Bradley said, is to preempt further violent acts by ensuring repeat offenders are fully prosecuted under the law.

Right now, the team is pursuing 42 cases, he said.

The commonwealth attorneys office declined to identify defendants in those cases, as officials have concerns over protecting their ongoing journey in the legal process.

None of the cases have been resolved so far. But members said they plan to release information on successes as they arise.

In the interim, a seeming lack of transparency has raised alarm for some criminal justice advocates, who say that without proper checks and balances from the community, the initiative could do more harm than good.

Advocates call for better transparency, community input

Metro Councilwoman Parrish-Wright, who also serves as director of the community advocacy organization VOCAL-KY, has seen Louisville's previous attempts to accomplish the task force's same goals, referencing LMPD's now-disbanded Ninth Mobile Unit.

That team involved officers driving unmarked cars who were tasked with getting guns and drugs off the streets of Louisvilles most dangerous neighborhoods. But instead of reducing violence, it became known for exhibiting brutality itself, abusing authority and using dragnet-style policing that deepened distrust in the community.

Parrish-Wright said the new initiative could benefit from bringing people from the community, such as someone with lived experience of gun violence or a violence prevention-trained faith leader, to discussions.

These task forces or these entities that they pull together to resolve one issue can actually end up making the situation worse and creating more harms if they don't have people who are directly impacted on all levels a part of this decision-making and a part of the process and planning, she said.

Shameka Parrish-Wright speaks during a rally and press conference at Jefferson Square Park. The Community Stakeholders to End Deaths at LMDC held the event to call attention to the eight jail deaths in recent months. Weitherspoon's mother, Stephanie Dunbar died by suicide in the jail on December 4, 2021

Greenberg said the community does have a crucial role in deterring gun violence with one of the most effective ways being to communicate with authorities if they see violence firsthand.

"We need individuals, when they see people shooting at each other, to share that information with authorities," he said.

Social worker and longtime activist Khalilah Collins said she also fears the task force could lead to more over-policing.

Im afraid of more traffic stops based on suspicion and more people being harassed by LMPD as a result of this, she said.

Commonwealth Attorney Whethers understands why there might be some concerns, based on history in the city and country at large.

But she stressed the task force will not profile residents  especially in Louisville's majority Black neighborhoods.

Jones Brown added the task forces work only begins after an arrest has already been made.

We're not targeting people, the prosecutor said. Like they're not following guys around waiting for them to mess up. They're looking at cases where there's somebody thats already arrested for a gun.

Greenberg said the task forces focus is solely on people who illegally possess guns and use them to commit crimes.

We're not targeting neighborhoods, he added. We're not targeting all types of people based on any characteristic other than individuals who are not permitted to have firearms that are using guns to harm other people.

There is little doubt, however, that some neighborhoods experience more violence than others, Bradley said.

"In these areas, we have seen a significant portion of the violent crime being committed by a select, repeat group of offenders  and these are the individuals this initiative focuses on, he said.

Celine Mutuyemariya, organizing director of the Black Leadership Action Coalition of Kentucky, speaks at a press conference on eviction prevention.

Collins, Parrish-Wright and Celine Mutuyemariya, organizing director for Black Leadership Action Coalition of Kentucky, each criticized the task force for not disclosing any updates on cases it's pursuing.

How dare you not only use outlier cases to justify an over-investment in punishment over prevention, but then also refuse to disclose information about what those outlier cases even are? Mutuyemariya said.

Collins said the initiative could bring better transparency to its work by releasing regular updates.

Give me a monthly report. If it's 12 individuals or 12 cases, then I want to know where we are next month with those 12 cases, Collins said.

Erran Huber, public information officer for the commonwealth attorney's office, said while task force members recognize the community is "eager to see a meaningful change in the level of violence plaguing our city, any collaborative effort like this is one that takes time and effort to bear fruit.

"We look forward to sharing with the public more information about the effectiveness of our initiative in the near future," he added.

Is task force the best way to reduce gun violence?

Collins, the longtime activist, agrees a small number of people are driving the majority of the city's gun violence.

However, at the same time, she added: I think that whats driving gun violence in this city is poverty and lack of access to resources, the disenfranchisement.

Louisville Metro Government has invested in initiatives aimed at preventing gun violence, including through the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods.

But Collins says spending on those efforts falls far short of money going toward law enforcement. And without eliminating the root causes of gun violence  including improving access to affordable housing, fresh food and community support systems  the city will continually see similar levels and patterns of violence, she added.

If you find 10 people using guns persistently and driving gun violence ... (and) if you focus only on that, there are 10 people coming up behind those 10 people to replace them once they're off the street, she said.

It's a line of reasoning echoed by former judge Cunningham, who oversaw felony criminal cases during his time on the bench before he retired in 2022.

"What's motivating so much of this (gun violence) at the end of the day is either some kind of grudge or some kind of turf war for drugs, and you don't simply eliminate those motivations by taking some people out of play. Other people step in to fill the void, he said.

While Cunningham acknowledges some names appeared in court on a more regular basis than others, he believes greater access to firearms has caused a ramp-up in gun violence. He recalled a time earlier in his career when police said there were known pockets with concentrated gun violence in Louisville.

Now what I'm hearing is there's no place in Jefferson County that isn't touched by shootings  that if you think it's just a West End problem, if you think it's just a Portland problem, that if you just stayed out of downtown, then you're okay," he said. "No, there's shootings all over. So you can say that just means the bad guys are living in other parts of town. I don't think so. I just think it's spreading, in part, because the guns are spreading.

Solutions are crucial, Cunningham said, but he isn't convinced that longer or more aggressive sentencing is the key.

There's a lot of people who would like to say its an easy, simple solution: If we could just get judges to put these people away for longer periods of time, we would solve the problem. And the only thing I will say that causes me concern is that's not really the case," he said, adding, "Judges have managed to fill just about every available bed in every jail or prison in Kentucky. So, you can say we're not doing our job, but the data doesn't support that.

A study by the Prison Policy Initiative found Kentucky has an incarceration rate of 889 per 100,000 people, meaning about 37,000 people in the state are behind bars. That data shows the Commonwealth locks up a higher percentage of its people than any democratic country on earth, with only five U.S. states ranking higher.

Advocate Mutuyemariya believes an emphasis on incarceration as a primary solution to gun violence is problematic.

Incarcerating people doesn't actually lead to rehabilitation or safer communities, she said. It simply separates families. It separates people from resources. It separates people from the opportunity to heal within the community.

But many in local law enforcement and the court system argue prosecution of gun-related crimes could serve as vital reminders to perpetrators that they will experience consequences.

We need there to be deterrents so that other people stop committing violent crimes because they know they will be held accountable," Greenberg said. "Our system must do better in that."

Reach reporter Rachel Smith at rksmith@courierjournal.com or @RachelSmithNews on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville task force aims to put most dangerous criminals behind bars
()

Traditional markets in Korea offer a variety of unique scenes every day, always bustling with lively energy, savory smells, and interesting items that are not found elsewhere. Discover Koreas market culture and lifestyle by visiting any one of the markets listed below!

Popular Traditional Markets in Seoul

Traditional markets in Seoul are one of the best places to experience the coexistence of modernism and tradition all at once. Every market bustles with vendors of all kinds as well a plethora of delicious food, making traditional markets a must-go attraction for international visitors. When looking for a place to either shop or eat, a visit to one of these Korean marketplaces is a must!

Tongin Market

After the Korean War, a rapid population growth took place in Seochon near Gyeongbokgung Palace, followed by an increasing number of vendors and stores. These vendors and stores developed into a busy marketplace now known as Tongin Market. Tongin Market is estimated to have at least 80 vendors and stores as of today, which mainly consist of restaurants or food stalls. What sets Tongin Market apart from the other markets is the Dosirak Cafe. At Dosirak Cafe, you can buy a lunch tray and 10 yeopjeons (old Korean currency) for 5,000 won. You can use the yeopjeon to buy food and fill your lunch tray as you tour around the marketplace, offering both a fun and unique dining experience. Attractions nearby include Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gwanghwamun Gate, and Samcheongdong-gil Road.

Namdaemun Market

Namdaemun Market is a traditional market with a history of over 600 years. It offers over 1,700 varieties of goods, including crockery, clothing, accessories, kitchenware, and regional specialties, with most items offered at affordable prices. It is also known to be one of the best marketplaces to buy traditional handicrafts, glasses and sunglasses. In particular, Namdaemun Market is famous for delicious guksu (noodles), jokbal (pigs trotters) and galchi jorim (stewed beltfish). Popular attractions like Myeong-dong, Deoksugung Palace, and Gwanghwamun Gate are located nearby, making the market a perfect place to stop by after a tour of the neighborhood.

Gwangjang Market

Gwangjang Market was the first permanent market established in Korea and dates back to 1905. The first thing that comes to mind when Koreans hear the name Gwangjang Market is none other than food. The endless strip of food vendors along the market streets is quite unique, with each vendor crowded with lines of people waiting to experience mouthwatering food. The market is filled with stores and food vendors that serve popular Korean foods like bindaetteok (mung bean pancake), gimbap, bibimbap, and sundae (blood sausage).

Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market

The Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market is Korea's largest wholesale fish market that has a history of more than 80 years. Although the market is open and busy 24 hours a day, the bustling marketplace really picks up around dawn when the fish auctions begin. The market is conveniently connected to Noryangjin Station (Seoul Subway Line 1 and 9) via a passageway. Popular seafood sold at this market includes clam, shrimp, octopus, and crab. Another unique experience to enjoy at Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market is having your purchased seafood cooked or prepared to eat at any of the restaurants located upstairs.

Garak Market

Opened in 1985 as the first public wholesale market in Korea, Garak Market is a one large market complex divided into different sections, each dedicated to fruits, vegetables, seafood, and meat. This is where the standard unit price for vegetables and seafood is set before they are distributed to other regions. As Garak Market is extremely large, travelers are recommended to take advantage of the market map and plan which sections to visit within the market ahead of time.

Popular Traditional Markets Outside of Seoul

Popular traditional markets are not only found in Seoul, but are spread throughout the country. Traditional markets located outside Seoul offer unique regional specialties, with each market opening doors to a world of new discovery. In addition, major tour attractions located nearby make the markets a convenient place to stop by when sightseeing.

Jeju Dongmun Traditional Market

Jeju Dongmun Traditional Market holds a prestigious name for providing the freshest ingredients caught right from Jeju's seawaters. Visitors will be able to get a taste of freshly caught fish prepared as hoe (sliced raw fish) and other of Jejus local food and produce such as omegi tteok (Jeju-style rice cake), gogi guksu (meat noodle soup), and hallabong citrus fruit. Divers are especially in for a treat as they will find stores selling diving equipment at prices lower than elsewhere.

Busan Gukje Market

Busan Gukje Market is a major attraction in Busan, ranking in top out of all the traditional markets within the region. The market also served as a filming site for several films and variety shows, which only boosted the popularity even more. Lines of souvenir shops and wholesale dealers selling machinery, electrical supplies, kitchenware, and clothing can be found along the maze-like market streets. Popular foods at Busan Gukje Market include bibim dangmyeon (spicy glass noodles), yubu jeongol (fried tofu hot pot), and ssiat hotteok (seed-filled griddlecake).

Busan Bupyeong (Kkangtong) Market

Busan's Bupyeong Market, also known as the Kkangtong (tin can) Market, is the first night market to have opened in Korea. Bupyeong Market earned its funny nickname when it had a variety of imported canned goods from the U.S. during the Korean War. Although the market remains open during the day, it really comes alive at night with bustling visitors and lines of food vendors serving street foods from all over the world. Other attractions such as Jagalchi Market, Yongdusan Park and Bosu-dong Book Street are also located nearby, allowing visitors to conveniently explore the neighborhood.

Chuncheon Romantic Market

Chuncheon Romantic Market, a popular traditional market in Chuncheon, is famous for its delicious dak gangjeong (glazed fried chicken bites) and dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken). Chuncheon Romantic Market opened in 1960 and since then, the market has been selling a wide variety of goods, including hanbok, bags, shoes, clothes, electronics, jewelry, food, and more. The market's modern look is the result of a redevelopment project that started in 2002. Artwork depicting scenes of Koreas traditional marketplaces decorate the alleys, allowing visitors to enjoy art as they explore the market.

Jeonju Nambu Traditional Market

Jeonju Nambu Traditional Market is located in Jeonju, a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful hanok village and a highly reputed film festival. Jeonju Nambu Traditional Market has a history of over 100 years, and it continues to attract new and returning visitors alike even as of today. It gives off a traditional atmosphere with its hanok street as well as offers much to eat, the most popular menu being kongnamul gukbap (soybean sproutand rice soup). The latest trending attraction within the market is Cheongnyeon (Youth) Mall. A commercial area filled with restaurants and handicraft shops owned by young entrepreneurs, Cheongnyeon Mall has been gaining much attention as it adds a vibrant and youthful energy to Jeonju Nambu Traditional Market.

Gyeongju Jungang Market

If you are planning to visit Gyeongju, one of the top must-go destinations in Korea, dont forget to add Gyeongju Jungang Market to your itinerary. Gyeongju Jungang Market opened in 1983 and currently consists of approximately 700 shops and vendors that sell a variety of products such as clothing, cooking oils, vegetables, and meat.

Incheon Sinpo International Market

Incheon Sinpo International Market is located near Incheon Port International Passenger Terminal and it has been considered Incheons representative market for over the past 100 years. The market is most popular for its delicious treats, such as dak gangjeong, jjinppang (steamed buns), and dumplings. In addition, Incheon Sinpo International Market offers much to see and enjoy with its charming decorations and a Lighthouse Park that serves as a venue for exciting festivals that are held every year.

Suwon Paldalmun Market

Suwon Paldalmun Market refers to one big marketplace formed by two smaller markets that are in close proximity with each other, Yeongdong Market and Jidong Market, both located near Paldalmun Gate in Suwon. Suwon Paldalmun Market is quite noteworthy as it is the only market in history to be founded by a king. Uniquely designed clothing, bags, and shoes offered at affordable prices are just a few of the many merits that attract customers of all ages. Visitors can also participate in significant cultural events like the Moonlight Tour at Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival held at nearby attractions.

Daegu Seomun Market

Daegu Seomun Market is the largest market in Daegu and the most famous distributor of fabrics within the country. Over 4,000 stores can be found in the market, selling a variety of products ranging from hanbok, blankets, clothing, dishware, and more. A plethora of delicious goods is also found at this market including popular menus such as marinated eomuk (fish cake), flat dumplings, and chapssal sujebi (hand-pulled sticky rice dough soup).

Gangneung Jungang Market

Located in Seongnam-dong area, Gangneung Jungang Market is the major market of Gangneung, Gangwon-do. There are over 500 registered stores and vendors operating within the market as of today. Agricultural crops and local produce such as semi-dried squid and other dried seafood from nearby areas are all brought to this market. In addition, Gangneung Jungang Market is full of delicious regional cuisine such as memiljeon (buckwheat pancake), gamja ongsimi (potato ball soup), and other foods made using Gangneungs unique local recipe.

Tongyeong Seoho Market & Jungang Market

Located right across from Tongyeong Port Passenger Terminal, Seoho Market opens early every morning, providing a variety of breakfast options for people traveling to and from the port. Haejangguk is a popular breakfast menu, especially on cold mornings, as the hot soup served with rice warms up and recharges your body for the day ahead. Tongyeong Jungang Market is also located nearby, serving as a convenient stop.

COPYRIGHTS KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED www.visitkorea.or.kr
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Nearly four years after her death, the man accused of killing Lesly Palacio is in custody in Mexico, the 8 News Now Investigators have confirmed.

Erick Rangel-Ibarra was arrested in Mexico, a source said. Rangel-Ibarra, now in his late 20s, is the only suspect in Palacios August 2020 murder.

Las Vegas Metro police suspect Palacio, 22, died Aug. 29, 2020. Police found her remains two weeks later near the Valley of Fire.

In 2021, Jose Rangel, Erick Rangel-Ibarras father, pleaded guilty to helping his son move Palacios body from the family home. A judge sentenced Rangel to two years in prison. The 8 News Now Investigators reported Rangel was released after serving less than nine months.

Lesly Palacio (Palacio family/KLAS)

Video evidence presented to a grand jury in 2021 showed Rangel-Ibarra and Rangel moving Palacios body on the morning of her suspected death, according to documents obtained first by the 8 News Now Investigators that year.

According to court transcripts and video footage, prosecutors said Rangel-Ibarra returned to his home with Palacio around 6 a.m. after a night of drinking. Video shows a man, whom prosecutors identified as Rangel-Ibarra, helping a woman, identified as Palacio, get out of a truck parked in front of his home, court documents said.

An hour later, the same camera from a home down the street captures two men, whom prosecutors identified as Rangel-Ibarra and Rangel, dragging a body from the home and into the same truck. A few minutes later, the video shows the truck leaving, and a man, whom prosecutors identified as Rangel, hosing off the walkway.

Rangel initially told police he thought Palacio had died from an overdose, but then told police he initially saw the body when his son dragged it down the stairs of their home on a bed sheet, documents said.

Palacios official cause and manner of death are listed as undetermined. Investigators have not elaborated on what evidence inside the Rangel home led them to determine Palacio is the victim of a homicide. An undetermined cause and manner of death means there is not enough evidence on a deceased persons body to clearly determine how they died.

Over the years, Metro police and the FBI have worked with international partners in attempts to locate Rangel-Ibarra.

It was not immediately clear when Rangel-Ibarra would be transported to Las Vegas to face charges.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Man dies after being hit by 23-year-old alleged DUI driver along Cherokee County road

A 58-year-old man is dead following a crash in Canton involving a suspected drunk driver, police said.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Just before 2 p.m. on Monday, Canton police responded to the area of 1100 Reinhardt College Parkway of a person hit by a vehicle near the eastbound lanes.

When officers arrived, they found Jeffery Buchanan, 58, of Canton, lying on the eastbound roadway. He was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in serious condition.

TRENDING STORIES:

Canton investigators and Cherokee County deputies found the vehicle involved in the crash, along with the suspect, McKinley Hunter, 23, at his home in Canton.

Hunter was arrested and booked into the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center on charges of distracted driving and hit and run.

On Friday, police announced that Buchanan died from his injuries on Thursday.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Hunter now faces additional charges including homicide by vehicle (first degree), DUI, and open container.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Canton Police Department at 770-720-4883 or contact Cpl. Matthew Naliwajka directly via email.

IN OTHER NEWS:




Man dies after boating crash on New Hampshire lake

A man is dead after a boating crash on a New Hampshire lake early Sunday morning, state police say.

Thomas Mead, 76, of Tilton was on the Lake Winnisquam water in a small cull rowing craft when he was struck by a pontoon boat driven by a 17-year-old boy around 6:42 a.m., New Hampshire State Police say.

The teen pulled Mead into the pontoon boat and began to perform CPR until medical and fire crews arrived on the scene. Mead was rushed to Concord Hospital- Laconia where he was pronounced deceased.

Members of the Tilton Police Department, Sanbornton Police Department, Belmont Fire Department, Franklin Fire Department and Tilton-Northfield Fire & EMS assisted state police at the crash.

The crash is under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Marine Patrol Sgt. Joshua Dirth at (603) 227-2115 or Joshua.E.Dirth@DOS.NH.GOV.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
EUREKA, Mo.  A man drowned Saturday afternoon in the Meramec River near Eureka while attempting to rescue a woman in the water, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

MSHP has identified the victim as Bryan L. Wilson, 45, of High Ridge, Missouri.

The woman survived after help from two civilian floaters, according to a MSHP report.

The incident unfolded in the Meramec River around 1 p.m. Saturday near Missouri Highway 109.

Olivette shooting believed to be murder-suicide, police say

Investigators say Wilson and the other woman were floating for some time, though took a break and left the floatation device on a rock. According to the MSHP report, the woman ended up in the river after that and began to struggle, and Wilson entered to water in an attempt to rescue her. He too began to struggle in the water.

Later on, two civilian floaters were able to bring the woman and Wilson to shore. Despite CPR efforts, Wilson was later pronounced deceased.

Several agencies responded to the scene to assist, including MSHP, the Jefferson County Sheriffs Department, Eureka Fire Protection District and High Ridge Fire Protection District.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Man hospitalized after stabbing outside Boston hotel

A man was rushed to a hospital Saturday after they were stabbed outside a downtown Boston hotel Saturday, according to Boston police.

Police responded to a stabbing outside the Liberty Hotel on Charles Street around 4:00 p.m.

Arriving officers found a man suffering a stab wound before transporting him to a local hospital.

Boston police were not able to provide an update on the victims condition.

No arrests have been made yet.

Biohazard personnel could be seen cleaning up blood off a cordoned-off area of the sidewalk.

An investigation is active and ongoing.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Man killed at car wash before attending funeral nets zero leads seven years later

REYNOLDSBRG, Ohio (WCMH)  Nearly seven years after a man was killed on his way to an out-of-state funeral, investigators are still searching for leads to solve the case.

James Stennies was found shot dead in the early hours of April 22, 20217, in the parking lot of a Miracle Car Wash in the 600 block of Lancaster Avenue in Reynoldsburg. Police said Stennies, 57, had been shot several times while washing his blue 2001 Volvo in preparing for a trip to Indiana to attend a funeral for a relative.

Stennies was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:24 a.m. after officers arrived to reports of a shooting. But the circumstances of the shooting to this day remain unclear and no suspect information has been released.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The investigation did note that Stennies belongings, namely his wallet, keys and phone were not taken and inside his vehicle. Other evidence was collected as well, police said.

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 cash reward for any information leading to the arrest or indictment of the people responsible for this crime. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call 614-461-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrime.org to e-mail a tip.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Police are investigating after a man was killed in a shooting in the Lloyd District neighborhood Sunday morning.

Just after 6 a.m., officers responded to a report of shots fired near Northeast 6th Avenue and Northeast Holladay Street.

Crews respond to Vancouver apartment fire, 5 families displaced

On arrival, they found a man dead on the sidewalk.

Any possible suspects had left the scene before police arrived and no arrests were made.

Neighbors in the area told KOIN 6 News said incidents like this are becoming a common occurrence.

It was around 5:35/5:45 in the morning and there was four or five shots in quick succession, said Joe Klees. It was unexpected but I wasnt too surprised since we had had a few shootings in the past few years. So I kind of knew what it was. This area has kind of had some violence in the past.

During the investigation, Northeast Holladay Street was closed between Northeast Grand Avenue and Northeast 7th Avenue.

Air tanker pilot killed in Eastern Oregon crash identified

Officials say MAX Blue Line service is affected in the area and commuters should expect delays. Further, a shuttle bus will serve from the Convention Center to Lloyd Center/Northeast 11th Avenue stops.

If anyone has information about this incident, they are encouraged to contact Portland police.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Man using cell phone stabbed during unprovoked attack outside Atlanta shopping plaza

A 69-year-old man is recovering after Atlanta police said he was attacked by a stranger early Sunday morning.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Around 2:10 a.m., APD was called to 3030 Headland Drive in southwest Atlanta regarding a person stabbed. The address lists several businesses including restaurants and clothing stores.

When officers arrived, they found a 69-year-old man with a stab wound to his stomach.

According to Atlanta investigators, the victim was sitting outside using his cell phone, when he was approached by a man and stabbed in an unprovoked assault.

TRENDING STORIES:

The victim was taken to the hospital for medical treatment.

Police did not say if a suspect was in custody. The victims identity was not released.

The investigation is ongoing.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said a report about the attempted assassination of former President Trump could come out by the end of the year.

The House unanimously approved a task force last week to investigate the assassination attempt against Trump, who was shot at during a rally in Butler, Pa., on July 13. When asked if it was feasible to put together a report on the incident by the end of the year on CBSs Face the Nation, McCaul said it was.

I think so. I went out to the site. I went up to the rooftop. This individual should never been that close to the president of the United States. It was very, very close. And the fact that he even got there in the first place was a failure. It should have been stopped, he told host Robert Costa.

Whats interesting, Robert, is that he had a detonation device on him and two bombs in the car. What his plan was, was to assassinate the president, create a diversion by blowing up his vehicle on the other side of the property, and then he could escape, he said.

McCaul said he did not know if he would be on the task force investigating the incident, but he would serve on it if asked. He also said that he was glad to see former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resign from her post in the wake of the assassination attempt on the former president.

And Im glad that Director Cheatle did the right thing and resigned like President Reagans director of Secret Service did. Anytime you have an attempted assassination, that is a failure and she said that herself. I think the agents are good. I think the problem is the president is under a lot of threats obviously and one from Iran as well. They asked for additional agents, they were not given that, he said.

The incident sparked concerns and raised questions over how the gunman was able to get close enough to get a shot off at the former president in the first place.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) announced the bipartisan task force last week to investigate the attempted assassination of Trump. The former president was struck in the ear with a bullet when a gunman opened fire during his rally in Pennsylvania earlier this month. The gunman was killed by a countersniper after he targeted the former president.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In an election year where the Senate map is objectively advantageous to Republicans, Texas and Florida have been seen as the two red states where a Republican seat could maybe flip if everything broke just right for Democrats.

Then in December, a poll from Nebraska showed a steamfitter and industrial mechanic, Dan Osborn, was beating incumbent Republican Sen. Deb Fischer by 2 points, 40-38 percent. In early May, Osborns campaign released a new poll from Public Policy Polling that had him down four points (37-33 percent with 30 percent undecided).

While some political watchers were skeptical of the early polling, it has directed attention to Nebraska. In June, for instance, Osborn received the endorsement of the United Auto Workers and was even promoted on social media by Julia Louis Dreyfus.

As eyes turned to Cornhusker State, a question began to emerge: Could Osborn, who was not just straying away from a typical Senate campaign playbook  but throwing it out  beat an incumbent Republican senator in a state that is widely seen as being ruby red? And could the Nebraska Senate race help Democrats maintain slim control of the Senate?

With the possibility for an upset in the air, both sides have pushed data making their respective cases. In mid-July, Fischer released a poll showing her up 26 points. A week later, Osborns camp highlighted a poll that showed him tied with Fischer at 42 percent.

Fundraising has shown a similarly mixed narrative. Osborn outraised Fischer in the second quarter ($1 million to $679,000), while Fischers over $3 million in cash on hand swamps his $650,000.

Osborn is no stranger to receiving national and local coverage. In 2021, he led the Kelloggs Strike, which resulted in a new labor contract with wages increases and enhanced benefits. After he announced his run for Senate, he spent the first eight months of his campaign working 50 hours a week, continuing his apprenticeship, all while still having to go to school and pass tests.

Where handfuls of candidates running to be reelected or elected to the Senate can talk about the intricacies of courtrooms and boardrooms, Osborn is the only one simultaneously knocking doors while getting his EPA 608 license, which allows him to handle and purchase refrigerant.

But, what really sets his race apart is not just who he is, but how he is running. Osborn has positioned himself as an Independent. Or, as they say in Nebraska, nonpartisan.

Osborn is far from the first Senate candidate to run as Independent. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sen. Angus King of Maine have both run and won as such. In 2022, Evan McMullin ran as an Independent (and lost the race) for a Senate seat in Utah.

But, where McMullin ultimately accepted the Utah Democratic Partys nomination, Osborn has disavowed the endorsements of any political parties or politicians. Where Sanders and King caucus with the Democrats, Osborn has made no such commitment.

In May, his campaign sent out a press release announcing this distinction.

Probably no political campaign has ever done this but we want to put people above politicians, parties and profits, Osborn was quoted as saying in the release. Whether you are Republican, Independent, Libertarian, Democrat, I dont care. I welcome all to join me to change Washington.

This decision was met by swift rebuke from the Nebraska Democratic Party, who had planned to endorse him, and said they were now looking for write-in candidates.

Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said they have endorsed 11 Independent candidates this cycle, including two running for the legislature.

We embrace Independents and have a now-long history of embracing Independents and supporting Independents, Kleeb tells Rolling Stone. I mean obviously our Party respects when a candidate changes their mind on an endorsement, but having Dan lead the Party on for months, telling us how critical the Democratic Party endorsement and infrastructure was for him winning the seat, and then him essentially saying, No, once he knew the deadline was past for when we could have a candidate on the ballot, has left obviously a lot of Democrats in the state questioning the integrity of his campaign.

Osborn disputed that characterization. No one was led on, he says. Ive been clear that I was not going to take the endorsement of any one party.

A source close to the Osborn campaign points out that in a New York Times article about his candidacy in early March, Osborn said he was not sure he wanted the Democratic endorsement.

To add further political complexity to the already atypical dynamics of this race, Nebraskas other Senate seat is also up this year in a special election  the first time both seats have both been on the ballot concurrently since 1954. In that race, the Nebraska Democratic Party does have a candidate, Preston Love Jr., who is challenging former Gov. and current Sen. Pete Ricketts, who secured that seat through appointment in 2023.

Osborn attributes his path to his candidacy with his ultimate decision to establish and maintain political independence. Members of the railroad unions who noticed his leadership in the Kelloggs Strike recruited him to run, not a political party.

One of those people was Mike Helmink, a railroad employee and labor leader who himself started an exploratory committee to run for Fischers seat before ending it after being denied leave from work. Helmink  who is the treasurer for Nebraska Railroaders for Public Safety which has endorsed Osborn  thinks the nonpartisan path is one that could lead to a victory.

Theres kind of a contrarian vibe to politics in the state, Helmink says. The Independents, or nonpartisans, are becoming a larger and larger group. Weve got a large group of people that feel like their voice isnt being heard.

Helmink argues the Democratic message is not working outside of the cities of Lincoln and Omaha. The last Democrat to win statewide was former Sen. Ben Nelson in 2008.

The only problem with Dan is hes from Omaha, Helmink says, laughing. But, you know, at least hes not one of the rich elite folks from Omaha. That helps. He works for a living. That definitely sells. So, yeah, we are highly optimistic we can replace Deb Fischer with Dan Osborn.

While not having the money or infrastructure of a major party has its disadvantages, Osborn sees it as a strength. The advantage is, being grassroots Im not beholden to any party and Im not beholden to special interests, he says. So nobody can tell this campaign how to think, what it is we should be doing, and the message that we should be portraying.

Osborn doesnt find it surprising that the race is close. Rather, he sees the explanation as pretty simple. I think its the fact that people are frustrated, you know, with the parties catering to their extremes, he says. Theres around 300,000 registered nonpartisan voters in Nebraska. Its the fastest growing demographic for registering voters.

Nationally, the percentage of Independent voters is also at a high. Despite independents being a much larger voting bloc than either party, there are only four Independent senators currently in Congress: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, in addition to Sanders and King  and all four Caucus with Democrats. Sinema and Manchin are not running for reelection in 2024.

With that current reality in mind, Osborn says voters are always questioning who he plans to support for president (he has not committed to any of the candidates) and, if elected, which party he would caucus with.

I think what theyre looking for when they ask that is Oh, is he a Democrat? Or is he a Republican?, Osborn explains, saying many people think deep down you have to be one or the other. Well, Im gonna kinda call BS on that because I feel like I truly am an Independent. Im for working people.

Osborn said he sees his independence as something Nebraska voters should see not as a liability, but rather as a source of power for them and their state. Im an Independent and when I get to the United States Senate, I kind of want to be a maverick, he says. Why cant I create an Osborn caucus? Or an Independent caucus? Especially if Im the 51st swing vote in the United States Senate. People are gonna have to work with me.

Before that can happen, he has his work cut out for him. Nebraska has a Republican governor and fully Republican congressional delegation. In 2020, former President Trump secured over 58 percent of the states popular vote.

Osborns campaign pushes back on the idea that Nebraska is irreversibly ruby red, highlighting the uniqueness of the states political system with its unicameral legislature that is technically bipartisan. Nebraska currently awards two Electoral College votes for the winner of the statewide popular vote, and one electoral vote for the winner of each congressional district (which delivered former President Trump four votes total, and President Joe Biden one vote in 2020.)

Osborn said he believes Nebraskas identity of approaching the political system with its own individualized frame is what could allow him to be the first Independent U.S. senator from the state since George Norris won as one in 1936.

His platform certainly reflects that. As a union president and worker whose hand was severely injured on the job, it is fittingly pro-labor and pro-workers rights. Otherwise, it doesnt fit into neat boxes during this hyperpolarized political moment in the country. Osborn actively calls for both the legalization of cannabis, and for the securing of the border. He supports both abortion rights and the Second Amendment  saying both are areas where he feels the government should not overreach.

Osborn says he does not see any of his stances as being at odds with each other, asserting that this range and nuance is common among the voters he meets on the trail, and when he knocks their doors.

This independence from existing parties and their established platforms, he argues, is the reason he can build the coalition of Nebraska voters necessary to win.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attends a meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. -/Italian Government/dpa

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has rejected the European Commission's criticism of the state of the rule of law in her country, in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen published in Rome on Sunday.

Meloni, who leads the far-right party Brothers of Italy, declared her commitment to "full respect for the fundamental values on which the European Union is based" in the letter.

At the same time, she defended herself against accusations of wanting to bring the public broadcaster Rai under her control.

Her letter came in response to the European Commission's latest report on the rule of law in the EU's 27 member states. The report admonishes the government, a coalition of three right-wing parties led by Meloni, to ensure that the independence of the judiciary is not restricted in a planned judicial reform.

It also mentions concerns about a constitutional reform that would allow Italy's prime ministers to be directly elected in future. And it criticizes political influence on state-owned television channel Rai.

Meloni wrote that politicians had "shamelessly" filled posts in Rai for decades and said her government was dedicated to free information, the fight against "fake news" and pluralism.

However, Italy's left-wing opposition and journalists' associations complain of extensive attempts by the right-wing government to reshape the programme.

In its report, the commission also criticised the situation in other European Commission countries, referring in particular to developments in Hungary and Slovakia.

The publication of the letter coincided with Meloni's trip to China, where she is due to meet leader Xi Jinping on Monday.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attends a meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. -/Italian Government/dpa
(Bloomberg) -- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pledged to relaunch bilateral cooperation with China as she kicked off her first official visit to Beijing since snubbing the countrys flagship Belt and Road Initiative last year.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Both countries signed a three-year plan in Beijing on Sunday to strengthen collaboration in areas including trade, investment, education, environmental protection and food security, while reaffirming the importance of balanced and mutually beneficial trade relations, according to an official statement.

We want to relaunch our bilateral cooperation, Meloni said as she arrived at the Great Hall of the People. Both nations will work to experiment with new types of collaboration, too, she added.

Meloni is seeking to stabilize relations with Beijing after Rome pulled out of President Xi Jinpings flagship investment pact last year. Her visit comes as Europe braces for the US presidential election this November, which could disrupt Washingtons diplomatic and trade relations with the EU.

The Italian leader met with Premier Li Qiang Sunday and is expected to also meet Xi during her visit. She views the Chinese president as someone who could become an important stakeholder in Russias war in Ukraine if Washington were to pull support, as Republican candidate Donald Trump has threatened, Bloomberg reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with her thinking.

During their meeting, Li told Meloni China seeks to boost bilateral ties to a more stable level and create more proactive expectations for cooperation, China Central Television reported. Beijing wants more balanced trade with Italy and hopes to deepen cooperation in sectors including ship manufacturing, aerospace, new energy and artificial intelligence, Li said.

Meloni will need to navigate this relationship with Beijing alongside the EUs tougher trade policies toward the Asian nation, as well as Xis backing of Russia. She is expected to discuss Moscows invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict in her meetings with Chinese leaders.

The work between Rome and Beijing will be useful in such a complex global phase and on a multilateral level, Meloni said. The aim is to make commercial relations more advantageous and more equitable for all, she added.

--With assistance from Li Liu.

(Updates with comments from Li)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
The Meskwaki Nation, with a settlement near Tama, embraces both tradition and technology

Drummers from the Meskwaki Nation perform at an Election Day rally in 2020 outside the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines.

Part of a series for the Des Moines Register's 175th anniversary that examines Iowa's past and future demographics.

Long before white settlers converged upon Iowa, Native American tribes had lived in the state for at least 11,000 years, the earliest of them hunters of mammoths and other large animals on the tundra left by receding glaciers.

As the climate changed so did the people. About 3,000 years ago, the Woodland culture of Indigenous people began to appear in Iowa. They were characterized by their pottery, building of burial mounds, and agriculture, raising corn, beans and squash.

Pressured by hordes of settlers and military might, the tribes present when whites arrived ceded their land to the United States in a series of treaties from 1824 to 1851, according to Iowa State University research. They were moved to reservations in Nebraska, Kansas and eventually Oklahoma.

From 2022: Iowa's first dual-language road signs added to US Highway 30 near Meskwaki Settlement

The effects of the U.S. governments removal policy can be seen in early U.S. Census figures. No Native Americans were counted in Iowa in the 1850 census, and the 1860 and 1870 surveys counted only 65 and 48, respectively.

But the Meskwaki filtered back to Iowa, and members maintain a noteworthy presence in the state today. The Meskwaki Nation is Iowas only federally recognized Indian tribe. The 2020 U.S. Census listed Iowas Native American population at 14,486.

Meskwaki are 'typical Iowans,' but with certain differences

Meskwaki Nation Historical Preservation Director Johnathon Buffalo sits for a portrait in the library of the Meskwaki Cultural Center and Museum on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in Tama County.

The Meskwaki Settlement near Tama was established in 1857, when the tribe became the first in the United States to purchase land, creating a sovereign Native American nation. Today, the Nebraska-based Winnebago and Omaha nations also own sovereign land in western Iowa.

The Meskwaki Settlement has a casino, hotel, travel plaza, health center, bank and business center as well as its own government with a constitution, laws, court system and law enforcement. It has 8,100 acres in Tama, Marshall and Palo Alto counties and about 1,500 members.

The tribe's schools teach Meskwaki Nation history and religion, and many households still speak the native tongue at home, said Johnathon Buffalo, the tribes historical preservation director.

Buffalo said the challenge for the Meskwaki is to thrive in a modern world while maintaining the ties to their heritage.

In some sense, we are typical Iowans. We drive cars. We buy our clothes at Walmart, he said.

Exhibits at the Meskwaki Cultural Center and Museum in Tama County.

Yet the Meskwaki maintain their own beliefs, which are a different timeline than that of Christianity. We believe we were created from the red earth, he said.

As time moves forward, he said, members of the tribe, like other Iowans, will latch on to the new technologies that come along. The Meskwaki Nation today is working to improve housing and infrastructure, including the establishment of its own fiber-optic network.

But Buffalo said that despite all of the changes that will happen in the next 50 years, he hopes the Meskwaki people can maintain their culture and religious beliefs.

I hope they are still Meskwaki and proud to be Meskwaki, he said.

Kevin Baskins covers jobs and the economy for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at kbaskins@registermedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Meskwaki maintain a sovereign nation; embrace tradition and technology
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham will hold more town hall meetings on public safety next week.

The governor recently completed a town hall in Las Cruces on Thursday, where her office said more than 550 locals attended. That meeting lasted over five hours.

New film, TV, and audio studio opening in Albuquerque

The governor will hold the next town hall meeting in Albuquerque on Monday at the CNM Smith Brasher Hall on University. The next meeting will then be held on Tuesday at the Northern New Mexico College Event Center in Espanola. Both meetings will be held at 5:30 in the evening.

Meetings are open to the public and will be live-streamed on the governors Facebook page.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Mike Lynch was cleared of fraud charges in a US court over the 7bn sale of software company Autonomy - Yui Mok/PA

The British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch is preparing to set up a campaign to help wrongly accused Britons in the US after he was acquitted of a multi-billion dollar fraud.

Mr Lynch said he was considering funding a British version of Americas Innocence Project, which works to overturn wrongful convictions in a country where just 0.4pc of federal trials lead to a not guilty verdict.

It comes the month after the 59-year-old was cleared of fraud charges in a US court over the 7bn sale of the British software company Autonomy to Hewlett Packard (HP).

Mr Lynch was extradited to the US last year and has been a critic of the UKs extradition treaty with America, which opponents have said is one sided.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, he said: It has to be wrong that a US prosecutor has more power over a British citizen living in England than the UK police do.

The system can sweep individuals away. There needs to be a contrarian possibility thats saying, Right, well, the whole world thinks youre guilty but, actually, was that a fair conviction?

The US Department of Justice charged Mr Lynch with 17 counts of fraud and conspiracy in 2018 and 2019, claiming he had overseen an illegal effort to inflate Autonomys revenues.

HP had taken a $5bn (3.9bn) writedown on Autonomy in 2012, a year after buying the former FTSE 100 company, and alleged serious accounting improprieties by its former management. Mr Lynch countered that the company had been mismanaged under HPs new chief executive.

The claims were investigated by Britains Serious Fraud Office but never led to charges. Mr Lynch had maintained that any alleged wrongdoing would have happened in Britain and so any prosecution belonged in the UK.

He fought extradition to the US but was ultimately transferred to California last May and was largely confined to a property in San Francisco in the run-up to the trial, forced to wear an ankle tag and be monitored by armed guards.

Mr Lynch said that US marshals had put him on chains and bundled him onto the back seat of a plane once he was taken into custody at Heathrow airport, placing a cap on his head to shield his identity. He told the Sunday Times: Its ridiculous. Youre in chains, even though, like, what are you going to do?

He was acquitted in May after an 11-week trial in which he had taken the stand, a shock in a US system in which not guilty verdicts are exceedingly rare.

The Telegraph reported the day after the verdict that Mr Lynch planned to campaign against laws on US extradition, telling the Conservative MP David Davis: Weve got work to do to put this extradition treaty right.

Mr Lynch awaits a damages verdict after being found liable for fraud over Autonomys sale in a UK civil case brought by HP. The US company is seeking as much as $4bn after winning the case in 2024, and Mr Lynch has said he plans to appeal.

However, Mr Lynch said the case is not a perilous situation, saying his wife had made a series of smart technology investments. Mr Lynchs own net worth was estimated at $450m, his lawyer said last year.

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.
ST. PAUL  As former President Donald Trump prepared to speak in St. Cloud Saturday evening, Minnesotas Democratic leaders launched the states campaign supporting their presumptive presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, earlier that morning.

We (Harris) ran against each other for president, (but) we actually got to be closer friends, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said to the crowd of about 300. We spent the night before Thanksgiving together with our families in Iowa, and I know her as a person of integrity and a person of joy.

Klobuchar, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, DFL, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison joined forces to support the Harris ticket. They say bringing together area leaders in all levels of government  local, state and federal  proves the Harris ticket could make a difference at the local level.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks in support of Vice President Kamala Harris in her 2024 campaign.

Carter, St. Pauls mayor since 2018, told the St. Cloud Times he experienced a drastic change in communications and policy from President Joe Bidens White House compared to Trumps. He said Bidens administration takes initiative to check in on major cities during troubling times, such as uncertain weather, and enacted policies giving municipalities more control rather than state officials.

We really appreciated the partnership, and that's what's different compared to Trump, Carter said. It's a partnership where you can see programs and resources coming from the Biden administration. They check in on ask us. They check in when there's a snowstorm or something happens, and we hear from the White House; they check in and say, Hey Mayor, what do you need? How can we be supportive?

Meet Uncle Sam: Florida man travels the country from Trump rally to Trump rally, including St. Cloud

The mayor also compared the two candidates community relief programs  Trumps Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act and Bidens American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. He said Trumps CARES Act gave money to states to delegate to municipalities while Bidens gave direct support to local governments.

Signs being held by Vice President Kamala Harris' supporters at a St. Paul, Minnesota, campaign kickoff.

Trump gave money to states. We  have great state leadership that shared those resources with us, so we could have resources to work with through the pandemic, Carter said. The Biden administration sent dollars directly to cities, so we could care for our community members directly.

Minnesota Democrats are looking to take a local approach to its campaigning efforts as well, with door knocking at the top of their minds. The kickoffs roughly 300 attendees were trained in door-knocking skills after the leaders spoke.

Its go time, (and) we know how to organize, Flanagan said. On a very hot summer day, you are in (this) room getting ready because you're going to pick up turf to go knock on doors.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar hugs Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz during the state's Harris for President campaign kickoff.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks about being on Harris' VP list

Walzs appearance campaigning for Harris didn't come without murmurs that the governor may run as Harris running mate. He said the decision ultimately comes down to the vice president, and he approves of all the candidates being thrown in the mix. Alongside Walz, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whimer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore are among those gaining traction.

Love them all  but this is the Vice President's pick, Walz said to the crowd. I trust her judgment. I trust how she picks, so it's an exciting time for the country because we're seeing the possibilities.

The event was held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the St. Paul Regional Labor Center.

Corey Schmidt covers local government for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Harris ticket starts Minnesota campaign, focus on local impact
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP)  Minnesota medical providers and public officials are preparing to welcome patients traveling from Iowa, where a ban on most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy goes into effect Monday.

On Thursday, Minnesota's Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan toured the Whole Womans Health of Minnesota, a nonprofit abortion clinic in the city of Bloomington. She welcomed Iowa residents who were seeking abortions after the state's new restrictions take effect.

Previously, abortion was legal up to 20 weeks of pregnancy in Iowa. Last July, the state's Republican-controlled legislature passed a new ban on the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy, which is often before women know they are pregnant. There are limited exceptions in cases of rape, incest, fetal abnormality or when the life of the mother is in danger.

Sarah Traxler, an OB-GYN based in Minnesota and the chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said Iowa's law could have ripple effects throughout the region.

When the Dobbs decision came down, many of the patients coming to Iowa were from Missouri, Traxler said in an interview with Minnesota Public Radio. This is going to have resounding impacts on the region itself, especially the Midwest and the South.

The Iowa Supreme Court reiterated in June that there is no constitutional right to an abortion in the state and ordered a hold on the law to be lifted. The district court judges orders last week set July 29 as the first day of enforcement.

Across the country, the state of abortion access has being changing ever since the Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. Trigger laws immediately went into effect, new restrictions were passed, court battles put those on hold and in some places, there was expanded access.

In states with restrictions, the main abortion options are getting pills by mail or underground networks and traveling, vastly driving up demand in states with more access.

Whole Womans Health of Minnesota has served patients from South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Indiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Florida and Arkansas over the past year. Amy Hagstrom Miller, founder and CEO of the clinic, said she expects to see an increase in patient demand after Iowa's restrictions take effect.

Flanagan said Minnesota would remain committed to serving people traveling from other states seeking abortion care.

If youre afraid, come to Minnesota," Flanagan said. "Weve got you."
A weeks-long, breakneck news cycle has set off a parallel explosion of misinformation online, which experts warn could make it harder to parse out what is real versus what is fake as the 2024 election gets underway.

In the span of just two weeks, the political landscape has been transformed, starting with the attempted assassination of former President Trump. The shooting, coupled with the dismissal of one of his most serious federal indictments, led straight into a jubilant Republican National Convention where he was officially selected as the next GOP nominee. Shortly after, the Secret Service director resigned over the security failure surrounding the attempt on Trumps life.

That was followed just days later by President Bidens announcement that he was withdrawing from the race, itself a fervent news cycle weeks in the making as Biden faced mounting pressure from Democrats to drop out after an abysmal debate performance on June 27.

Now, the world is adjusting to Vice President Harris as the next likely Democratic nominee  something that seemed unthinkable just months ago.

The extraordinary sequence of events gave Americans little time to digest the influx of news, creating the perfect breeding ground for false claims to take hold.

It actually feels kind of natural that we would have a lot of conspiracy theories, said Mike Rothschild, a conspiracy theory researcher.

Misinformation and disinformation have been cited as a potential risk since the start of this year, as billions of people headed to the polls to vote in elections around the world. Since the attempted assassination of Trump earlier this month, conspiracy theories, false information and misleading information have circulated online, sometimes at ferocious speeds.

Some of the misinformation included false allegations that Trumps assassination attempt was staged and that the shooter had been identified before authorities officially released that information. A made-up statement purporting to be from the office of former President Jimmy Carter suggested he had died, when he had not.

When Biden announced he would bow out of the race just after testing positive for COVID-19, conspiracy theories quickly emerged that the president had been gripped by terminal illness or had died. Those false allegations were amplified by conspiracist Alex Jones, right-wing provocateur Charlie Kirk and other prominent social media users.

The unprecedented nature of the news cycle has also given way to misleading conjecture about Harris, including about the circumstances of her rise within the Democratic Party.

Right-wing activist and columnist Matt Walsh, for example, shared a post to his 2.9 million followers on the social platform X about Harriss start in politics and relationship with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown three decades ago.

Harriss relationship with Brown has previously been used against her, including in 2020 when she campaigned for the presidential nomination. They dated in the 1990s, years after he was separated from his wife.

That has been leveraged against probably almost every single female politician  ever, anywhere, Alice Marwick, co-director of the University of North Carolinas Center for Information, Technology and Public Life, said of suggestions Harris has used the past relationship to professionally advance.

Thats not new, she continued. But because these are so timeworn  because these are so comfortable, these are tropes that people are familiar with  they can be very sticky, and as a result, its very easy to tie them into more nefarious or conspiratorial things.

The same can be said of swirling allegations that Harriss political success is because of her race, said Freddy Cruz, a researcher and program manager at the Western States Center. He pointed to baseless claims from some Republicans that Harris was a DEI hire, selected to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the White House, or that the deep state pushed Biden out for a more favorable Harris.

Several experts drew parallels to former President Obamas political rise, which was mired in conspiracy theories as he sought to become the countrys first Black president. Most prominent was the unfounded claim that Obama was not born in America, and thus was constitutionally ineligible to be president. Trump, then a celebrity and businessman, was among the most high-profile adherents of the false theory.

Were sort of seeing this as a kind of full-circle moment, Cruz said.

Its not unusual for historic events to spawn conspiracy theories. False narratives have spanned American history, from the assassination of President John F. Kennedy to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and COVID-19 pandemic.

Rothschild said people are wired to seek patterns and find order in chaos, sometimes causing people to connect dots where theyre not meant to.

Anonymous accounts have gained popularity over the years, with Elon Musks X paying content creators and monetizing viral posts based on engagement metrics.

Social media companies relaxing their content moderation policies is the biggest irony for the right wing, according to Joan Donovan, a professor of journalism and emerging media studies at Boston University, because Republicans are also often at the center of such misinformation.

According to Walter Scheirer, the author of A History of Fake Things on the Internet, the misinformation, disinformation, and political satire that people take as real information and then amplify at breakneck speed wont let up anytime soon as people continue to be consumed by social media.

The onus is now on users themselves to kind of fact-check and figure out if something is real, he said.

Memes are another area proving problematic, Scheirer said, because they are often encapsulated as a joke.

Because its funny, it sort of draws you in. And then all of a sudden youre taking a deeper dive. And there are lots of communities creating memes for different purposes, but theyre a pretty effective vector for misinformation, Scheirer added.

With just 100 days to go until the November presidential election, taking a cautious approach to information online can help minimize the spread of false claims, Rothschild said.

What people can do is log off and really try to take a breath, he said.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Missing man out of Orlando International Airport has been located safe and sound

Update:

Channel 9 has spoken to Patrick Baileys daughter Anastasia Quanbeck and she confirmed that her father has been located.

In the days after his flight from Orlando, Florida to Medford, Oregon was cancelled due to a widespread communication outage, our father decided to return home by bus and began the long journey back without realizing anyone would be worried about his whereabouts. He is healthy and in good spirits. said Quanbeck.

Quanbeck thanked the Orlando Police Department, members of the Crescent City Elks Lodge #1689, the Orlando media and the thousands on social media that helped find her father.

Previous Story:

82-year-old missing man Patrick Bailey has been identified at a bus station in Orlando by detectives.

Channel 9 spoke to Patrick Bailey II, son of Bailey, who confirmed that detectives have identified Bailey at multiple stops across the country.

Detectives have determined Bailey is on a bus that is headed to Grants Pass, Oregon which is near where he lives in Northern California.

A bolo for Patrick Bailey is active in the area.

Read: School Safety Convention kicks off in Orlando

Bailey has been missing for over a week after his flight from Orlando was canceled due to the CrowdStrike outages and he dropped his cell phone at his hotel lobby heading to the airport.

Stay with Channel 9 for the latest updates.

Read: Sunday: Mostly cloudy and slow-moving storms

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) criticized fellow Democrats for calling on President Biden to leave the presidential race publicly earlier this month, noting that the move hurt the administration.

Moore said in an ABC This Week interview with Martha Raddatz on Sunday that while he agreed with critics that Biden should end his reelection campaign, he disagreed with publicly making the claim.

I had private conversations with the president. And Im a big believer that when you care about somebody, you tell them the truth, he said. And I had private conversations where I was telling the president the truth.

I also know that the president deserved better than people who were running around him and going into public and demanding that the President of the United States step down, particularly when you look at the track record of the Biden-Harris administration, he continued. Ive had a phenomenal partner in the Biden-Harris administration to be able to deliver the kind of results that we needed in Maryland. And so I knew that if he said that he was going to continue pushing forward, that I was going to stand with him.

Biden left the race last week, quickly throwing his weight behind Vice President Kamala Harris as his preferred successor as the partys presidential nominee. Democrats have coalesced around Harris, with her campaign already gathering enough committed delegates to effectively lock up the partys nomination.

No other candidate has challenged Harris for the nomination, and her campaign has broken numerous fundraising records as it attempts to make up for a late start.

Polling has shown Harris improving over Bidens figures against former President Trump, though now all attention is on who her vice presidential candidate will be.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Cuban solders welcome Russian warships docked in the Havana port. The ships are expected to remain in port until July 30, 2024. Courtesy of Russian Foreign Ministry/Facebook.

July 28 (UPI) -- Three Russian warships are docked in Cuba, showing strengthening ties between the two countries. The ships are expected to remain in port through Tuesday, officials said.

A training ship, patrol frigate and refueling tanker are moored in the Havana port usually occupied by cruise ships, the Russian Embassy in Havana said in a statement on Facebook.

It's the latest in a series of vessels, including a nuclear-powered submarine, that have visited Havana in recent months, as ties between the two countries have grown increasingly stronger.

The ties are becoming ever more important to Cuba as the country has become increasingly dependent on Russian oil and has welcomed Russian warships into its port.

The island nation near Florida has long been strategically important for Russia. The former Soviet Union created military installations around the country in 1962, during the Cuban missile crisis.

Cuba has said none of the ships carry nuclear weapons and their presence does not represent a threat to the region.

"Visits by naval units from other countries are a historical practice of the revolutionary government with nations that maintain relations of friendship and collaboration," a statement from the Cuban government said.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Apartment leases are coming to an end for some students in West Campus and that means students will have to find somewhere else to move.

I have a lot of boxes and bags mostly, said Tyler Hom, a student at the University of Texas.

Hom and his roommate Youssef Bakr spent Saturday packing up boxes and getting things ready to move into another apartment.

The dumpsters are kind of a mess, Bakr said. If you walk in any alley way in West Campus you will see trash everywhere.

While hes no fan of looking at all the trash build up in the alleys, these are the least of Bakrs worries. He said he will be without a place to stay for a few weeks.

I have a couple of weeks where I cant really go anywhere other than home, which is in Dallas, said Bakr.

Bakr did not re-sign a lease at his apartment complex and will soon move to another location in West Campus, but he cant move in until mid-August.

Many students KXAN spoke with tell us from the end of July until mid August they are essentially homeless and have to rent a hotel or stay with a friend.

One apartment complex employee told us the first few weeks of August are used to clean the apartments and make repairs for the next tenants.

The primary descriptor that comes to mind is quite annoying, Bakr said. If I was going straight to the other place I would just do this moving thing once.

Construction, demand creates challenges for students living in West Campus

Some students have to rent storage units, but Bakr said he found a friend that will help him.

So, he is graciously allowing me to store all my stuff in his place where he can store it for a little while. Then I will be back on the 16th, Bakr said.

Hom will have to wait for his new apartment to open as well.

Im an out-of-state student, Hom said. A lot of out-of-state students, I dont know what they are doing right now. For me in particular, I have a grandmother who lives nearby and she has graciously allowed me to keep all my stuff there.

While frustrated, students said its all part of the process. But they hope things will change in the future.

Everybody who I have talked to in West Campus pretty much has the same situation going on, Bakr said.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man was arrested on Saturday after Memphis Police say he pointed a gun at two Dixie Queen employees.

At 11:30 p.m., officers responded to an aggravated assault at the Dixie Queen on Getwell Road. One of the victims told them that while they were working, an unknown man walked up to the drive-through window armed and pointing a black firearm at her and another employee.

MPD: Man breaks into Captain Ds, steals over $5k

When officers arrived, they saw a man walking in the parking lot and detained him. While conducting a pat and frisk, they located a black firearm loaded with 27 live rounds in the magazine.

Officers secured the weapon and identified the suspect as Dustin Gowens.

According to the police report, the incident was captured by the business surveillance camera.

Gowens has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault and convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He is being held on $100,000 bond.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

A jet of particles erupt at near light-speed from a dying star. When such a jet is pointed at us we see a gamma-ray burst. | Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

NASA's Fermi gamma-ray space telescope has examined what may have been the most powerful explosion since the Big Bang, discovering a hitherto unseen feature. The feature could be the result of matter and antimatter particles annihilating at 99.9% the speed of light.

The blast was an example of a gamma-ray burst (GRB); when it was first seen on Oct. 9, 2022, by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, it was designated GRB 221009A. The power of the GRB was soon revealed, and it earned the nickname the Brightest Of All Time or the "BOAT."

"As long as we have been able to detect GRBs, there is no question that this GRB is the brightest we have ever witnessed by a factor of 10 or more," Wen-fai Fong, an associate professor of physics and astronomy and leader of the Fong Group at Northwestern and one of the discoverers of the BOAT explained around the time it was deemed so utterly bright.

Scientists theorize the BOAT was launched by a supernova explosion that accompanied the death and collapse of a massive star located around 2.4 million light-years away from us. This event likely left a black hole in its wake.

Related: Scientists identify origin of the 'BOAT'  the brightest cosmic blast of all time

"A few minutes after the BOAT erupted, Fermi's Gamma-ray Burst Monitor recorded an unusual energy peak that caught our attention," research leader Maria Edvige Ravasio from Radboud University said in a statement. "When I first saw that signal, it gave me goosebumps. Our analysis since then shows it to be the first high-confidence emission line ever seen in 50 years of studying GRBs."

What did Fermi find in the BOAT?

The first gamma-ray burst was seen in 1967 by the U.S. Vela satellites; it was officially documented two years later, then revealed to the public in 1973.

Since then, scientists have detected a plethora of GRBs, determining these brief flashes of light have cosmic origins and are the most powerful and violent explosions in the known universe. The most common type of GRB occurs when stars with at least eight times the mass of the sun run out of fuel needed for nuclear fusion in their cores and are no longer able to counteract the inward push of their own gravity; their cores thus collapse. This creates a spinning black hole that channels matter to its poles, blasting it out as jets traveling near the speed of light.

When these jets are pointed directly at Earth, we see them as a GRB.

GRBs are so powerful that if one erupted within a few thousand light-years of Earth, it could wipe out life on our planet by disrupting or destroying the atmosphere. However, even among all of these terrifying events, the BOAT almost immediately stood out.

Scientists eventually determined, using statistics regarding other observed GRBs, that an event as powerful and bright as the BOAT would be visible in the sky over Earth just once every 10,000 years. They also found, despite happening 2.4 billion light-years away, the BOAT indeed had an impact on Earth's atmosphere.

A diagram of a black hole engine emitting signals and creating an afterglow.

On Oct. 9, 2022, high-energy gamma-ray light from the BOAT saturated most of the gamma-ray detectors in orbit, including those onboard Fermi. This actually prevented the blast's true power from being measured at the most intense point of its duration. However, around five minutes after the BOAT was detected, it dimmed enough to allow Fermi to see it again. The NASA gamma-ray telescope saw a curious feature in its light, or "spectra," called a "putative emission line."

When light passes through matter, because elements absorb and emit light at specific frequencies, they leave absorption and emission "fingerprints" on this light. This means scientists can reconstruct the elements this light passed through and determine the chemical compositions of objects it has interacted with.

"While some previous studies have reported possible evidence for absorption and emission features in other GRBs, subsequent scrutiny revealed that all of these could just be statistical fluctuations. What we see in the BOAT is different," team member Om Sharan Salafia of the INAF-Brera Observatory in Milan, said in the statement. "We've determined that the odds this feature is just a noise fluctuation are less than one chance in half a billion."

A fragmented purple sphere intercepted by a yellow beam, with green mist behind it

The emission line seen by Fermi in the light from the BOAT lasted for about 40 seconds, reaching a peak energy of 12 million electron volts (MeV). The energy of light in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum is between two and three electron volts (eV).

The researchers think they know what caused this feature. Every matter particle has an an antimatter particle "twin." When these particles meet, they annihilate, releasing their energy back to the universe. It's possible the spectral feature the team saw in the BOAT comes from electrons and their antimatter equivalents, positrons, annihilating.

"When an electron and a positron collide, they annihilate, producing a pair of gamma rays with an energy of 0.511 MeV," team member Gor Oganesyan from the Gran Sasso Science Institute said in the statement. "Because we're looking into the jet, where matter is moving at near light speed, this emission becomes greatly blueshifted and pushed toward much higher energies."

If the team is right, the particles must have been traveling at around 99.9% of the speed of light before they annihilated each other.

Related Stories:

 Brightest gamma-ray burst ever seen, the largest known explosion since Big Bang, has a unique jet structure unlike any other

 Pulsar surprises astronomers with record-breaking gamma-rays

 The elusive origins of long gamma-ray bursts may finally be revealed

"After decades of studying these incredible cosmic explosions, we still dont understand the details of how these jets work," team member Elizabeth Hays, the Fermi project scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center said in the statement. "Finding clues like this remarkable."

The team's research was published on Friday (July 26) published in the journal Science.
Welcome to the governors race edition of our Under the Dome politics newsletter. Im Dawn Vaughan, The News & Observers Capitol bureau chief.

National politics dominated the stage this past week, with President Joe Biden leaving the presidential race, ushering in what is likely to be Vice President Kamala Harris nomination in August as the Democratic Partys candidate running against former President Donald Trump. That also led to a lot of attention on North Carolina, given that current Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is among those being considering as a running mate for Harris.

Cooper spoke in Raleigh on Thursday at his first Harris campaign event since Democrats have switched up the top of the ticket. He, like other Democrats being considered for the VP slot, responded to reporter questions by saying hell respect her process.

But given that hes on her list, and he headlined a Harris campaign press conference, its also a given that myself and other reporters would ask him about the matter at hand. You can read more about what he said here.

NC Gov. Roy Cooper, a Harris VP contender, says JD Vance is Trumps mini-me

The presidential race hasnt sucked all the air out of the room, though, and theres still a North Carolinas governors race with news this week, too, between Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein.

Balanced Nutrition owes money to DHHS

Robinsons wife, Yolanda Hill, shut down her child food programs nonprofit, Balanced Nutrition, at the end of April after months of scrutiny.

This past week, new records from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services show that Balanced Nutrition owes the state more than $130,000. The nonprofit has two weeks to pay or appeal the findings. Hills attorney wrote a letter earlier this year to DHHS attorney saying that Hill is being targeted because of Robinson. You can read the latest on that from my colleague Kyle Ingram and me, here.

Nonprofit run by NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinsons wife owes the state $130,000, records show

N.C. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, center, speaks during a press conference. On the right is his wife, Yolanda Hill, whose nonprofit Balanced Nutrition is under scrutiny from N.C. DHHS.

New Stein, Robinson ads

The Summer Olympics began this weekend, and airing on NBCs streaming service, Peacock, is a new ad from Steins campaign. The ad, which will go statewide this week, features a voter talking about Steins response as attorney general to the fentanyl crisis.

Debbie Dalton of Cornelius is featured in the ad, talking about her late son, who died of an accidental fentanyl overdose. In the ad she says she usually votes Republican, so I checked her voter registration and she is registered as a Democrat. I talked to her about why she supports Stein, and about her voting record. You can also read more about that here.

Why Democrat Josh Steins new campaign ad for NC governor features a Trump voter

Meanwhile, the Republican Governors Association is funding a new ad on Robinsons behalf that attacks Steins law enforcement record, saying he is soft on crime. RGA reports that it is spending more than $1 million on the governors race in North Carolina.

Attorney General Josh Stein, the Democratic candidate for governor, recognizes other candidates during the North Carolina Democratic Party Unity Dinner at the Raleigh Convention Center Saturday, July 20, 2024.

Stay informed about #ncpol

Dont forget to follow our Under the Dome tweets and listen to our Under the Dome podcast to stay up to date. Our new episode posts Monday morning, and Im joined by our Washington, D.C., correspondent Danielle Battaglia. We talk about the state of the presidential race, what we might expect at the Democratic National Convention in August, and her coverage of the Republican National Convention.

You can sign up to receive the Under the Dome newsletter at newsobserver.com/newsletters. Want your friends to get our email, too? Forward them this newsletter so they can sign up.
Neighbors near Boise told to evacuate after explosives found in home, suspect arrested

Residents in a Kuna neighborhood were encouraged to evacuate after possible explosive devices were found inside a nearby home earlier this week. Law enforcement arrested the man they believe responsible after finding him at a campsite Saturday night.

Kuna Police responded to a report of suspicious circumstances on Wednesday evening at a home near East 4th Street and Orchard Avenue in Kuna, an Ada County Sheriffs Office news release said.

During the course of their investigation, possible explosive devices and numerous suspicious chemicals were located in the garage, the release said.

After Boise Police Departments bomb squad arrived and confirmed the devices were explosive in nature, nearby neighbors were encouraged to evacuate, the sheriffs office said.

The FBI, Joint Terrorism Task Force, and Idaho National Guard 101st Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team soon arrived to assist in removing and destroying the potentially dangerous items, according to the release.

After assessing the situation, law enforcement said preliminary information indicated there was no mass destruction public safety threat.

Law enforcement arrested 37-year-old Tyson Jardine of Kuna on Saturday night in connection with the incident and booked in the Elmore County Jail on five felony counts of felony unlawful possession of an explosive device. The sheriffs office said he may face additional charges as they continue the investigation.

At the time of his arrest, family and friends had not seen him for about two weeks, according to the release. The Ada County Sheriffs Office said they found him at a campsite near the Pine Campground in Elmore County.

Jardine, who was armed with a gun, tried to flee in his vehicle, hitting both a Meridian Police Department and an Ada County armored vehicle, the release said.

Law enforcement plans to move him to Ada County Jail after he is arraigned in court.

The Ada County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to a request for more information.
SNYDER  With over 60 earthquakes in one week, nerves are beginning to shake nearly as much as the buildings in Scurry County.

You know, we've had (quakes) as long as I think time's been recorded here, as long as we've had people here said county Judge Dan Hicks on Friday. But we don't know of any that were this intense.

On Friday night, the Railroad Commission of Texas announced they were looking into any connections between the tremors and the injection of fluids into the ground for the extraction of petroleum products.

The White Buffalo statue stands outside the Scurry County Courthouse in Snyder Friday.

Known as fracking," the process has long been pointed to as the cause for earthquakes in local regions that had rarely, if ever, seen them before.

In efforts to reduce seismicity possibly caused by underground injection of produced water, several operators in the area have converted deep saltwater disposal wells to shallow saltwater disposal wells within the last year, the RRC wrote in a Friday statement.

Inspectors from the agency will be inspecting those wells this week within the 2.5 miles in which the cluster of earthquakes occurred.

The RRC will evaluate next steps that can be taken to mitigate earthquakes, the state agency added. Well continue to take measures necessary to protect the environment and residents in the area.

Rising intensity

Most of the quakes have had a magnitude around 2.0, give or take a decimal. But last week three were measured as over 4.0 with Fridays attention-getting earthquake at 9:28 a.m. coming in as a 5.1 tremor.

It had been preceded nearly ten minutes earlier by a 2.3 quake and then afterward was followed by 11 more tremors through the day. Most were between 3.0 and 2.0, centered in an area about 11 miles east of Snyder in the area of Camp Springs Cemetery. On Saturday just after 4 p.m., the area was hit with a 4.3 quake.

Hicks on Friday declared a state of emergency in Scurry County after Fridays quake. The countys buildings can handle a few quakes here and there, but the cumulative effects of so many smaller ones, punctuated by larger shaking, has become cause for concern.

'The building was shaking pretty good.'

From his second floor office in the Scurry County Courthouse, he recalled workers in other offices becoming alarmed during Fridays quake. Trophies were rattling inside their display cabinets, while pictures bounced against the walls upon which they hung.

The building was shaking pretty good, Hicks said.

During a video teleconference with sister newspapers, a Reporter-News employee in Abilene first reported the shaking during their meeting. Approximately 30 seconds later, an employee on the same call near Wichita Falls reported their own shaking.

Hicks said they had not seen any damage to building exteriors, and Scurry County Emergency Management Coordinator Jay Callaway confirmed that most of the damage was inside structures.

Its all on private property. What I do know is most of the damage has been like cracked sealants, cracked walls, mortar traps in the brick, Callaway said. We're encouraging everybody to use the iSTAT form that's on the city of Snyder Emergency Management Facebook page.

Data will drive the relief

Those filling out the Texas Department of Emergency Management's Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool online will contribute to the data points needed by the county in the disaster assessment process. The data is used in part to determine how much assistance might come to the area. The form is also available in Spanish.

It allows the state to see what damages are coming in, Callaway explained.

More: Big Country, did you feel that earthquake?

More: Scurry County judge issues disaster declaration after 5.1 earthquake, 60 other earthquakes

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Railroad Commission to probe Snyder quakes for fracking connection
Late-night horseplay at Henry County gas station leads to 16-year-old being shot in stomach

A teen is hospitalized and another is in police custody after horseplay led to a shooting.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

At 2:45 a.m., Stockbridge police were called to the Texaco gas station on Eagles Landing Parkway regarding a shooting.

When officers arrived, they found four acquaintances who had arrived together in a vehicle.

Stockbridge officials said a 16-year-old boy in the group sustained a gunshot wound to his stomach. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital.

TRENDING STORIES:

Police said they found a gun at the scene. After interviewing the other three passengers, horseplay was involved.

A 17-year-old was arrested and charged with reckless conduct and possession of a firearm under 18.

The investigation is active and ongoing. At this time, there is no ongoing threat to the community, according to police.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea vowed to "totally destroy" its enemies in case of war when leader Kim Jong Un gives an order, state media KCNA reported on Sunday.

Senior military officials including Army Colonel Ri Un Ryong and Navy Lieutenant Commander Yu Kyong Song made the comments "out of surging hatred" towards the U.S. and South Korea at a meeting on Saturday attended by Kim to celebrate the 71st Korean War armistice anniversary, according to KCNA.

North Korea and the United States do not have diplomatic ties and talks over reducing tensions and denuclearising North Korea have been stalled since 2019. North Korea's state media recently said it doesn't expect that to change no matter who is next elected in the White House.

While accusing the U.S. and South Korea of "being hell-bent on provoking a nuclear war," the military officials vowed to strengthen war efficiency to stage an "overwhelming attack on the enemy anytime and without delay and totally destroy them once the respected Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un gives an order."

North Korea signed an armistice agreement with the United States and China on July 27, 1953 ending hostilities in the three-year war. U.S. generals signed the agreement representing the United Nations forces that backed South Korea.

North Korea calls July 27 "Victory Day" while South Korea does not mark the day with any major events.

Hostilities ended with a truce, not a treaty, meaning the two sides are still technically at war.

(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Sandra Maler)
(Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected on Sunday flooded areas near the country's border with China after 5,000 people were affected, state media KCNA said on Monday.

Record torrential rain on Saturday in North Korea's Sinuiju and nearby areas bordering China isolated around 5,000 people, KCNA said.

The military organised around 10 planes to make roughly 20 trips each to rescue 4,200 people within about a half-day, KCNA said.

Kim praised the military for its rescue efforts, which he said saved 5,000 lives, but he rebuked officials for insufficient preparation of crisis response measures to prevent damage caused by heavy rain, floods and typhoons, KCNA said.

The region has been hit by heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Gaemi in recent days, with a rain-triggered landslide killing 12 people in southern China and causing flash floods elsewhere.

(Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Leslie Adler)
(FOX40.COM)  A man from Northern California was arrested on Wednesday after deputies conducted a traffic stop and found him with fentanyl, meth, metal knuckles, gun parts, and gun ammunition.

The Calaveras County Sheriffs Office said the man, 39 of San Andreas, was arrested and booked into the Calaveras County Jail for various possession charges and violation of probation.

On Wednesday, around 1:30 p.m., the sheriffs office said it conducted a traffic stop on Highway 49 in Mokelumne Hill, about 10 miles north of San Andreas. During the traffic stop, deputies learned that the 39-year-old man was on probation.

Park Fire causes Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northern California to close

Deputies also discovered a passenger in the vehicle, a 33-year-old woman, who was recently released from jail and was also on searchable probation.

During a compliance check of the two individuals, deputies discovered methamphetamine, metal knuckles, firearm parts, and ammunition. Both subjects are prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, the sheriffs office said.

The 33-year-old woman was booked into jail on possession charges and for violating court terms of her release.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
A car charges at a charging station in Lower Saxony's largest charging park for electric cars in Norddeich. The number of electric cars is continuing to rise rapidly worldwide, according to the latest research out of Germany. Lars Penning/dpa

The number of electric cars is continuing to rise rapidly worldwide, according to the latest research out of Germany.

The Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) reported on Sunday that there were around 42 million cars with electric motors at the end of 2023 - some 50% more than a year earlier.

This figure includes purely electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles with a range extender.

According to the ZSW, there were 23.4 million of these cars in China, more than half of the global stock.

Number two is the United States, although it was far behind with 4.8 million vehicles.

Germany is in third place with 2.3 million, ahead of France and the United Kingdom with 1.6 and 1.5 million respectively.

China's dominance is unlikely to change much in the short term, with growth there at 60% compared to last year - significantly stronger than in other major markets.

In order to achieve the German targets for electromobility, the market needs new impetus, said Andreas Puttner from ZSW. "The German government's growth initiative to increase the promotion of electric company cars can only be a first step."

He suggested abolishing subsidies for conventional vehicles - such as the tax advantage for diesel or the company car privilege for combustion engines.
BOX ELDER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning in Box Elder County.

The warning is valid until 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 27.

Winds up to 60 mph are expected. Hail the size of a half-dollar is also possible, NWS said.

One dead after semi-truck hits barrier, rolls down embankment at Lambs Canyon

Courtesy of National Weather Service

Hail damage to vehicles is possible, as well as roofs, siding, and trees, NWS posted. This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of west central Box Elder County. This includes Utah Route 30 between mile markers 8 and 43.

For weather updates, visit the National Weather Service website here.

No further information is available at this time.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Mayor Eric Adams signed an emergency order Saturday putting the kibosh on parts of a controversial City Council ban on solitary confinement at city jails, The New York Post has learned.

The City Councils ban was set to begin Sunday. The new rules would have barred punitive segregation in jails beyond a four-hour de-escalation period, and would also change the way jailers transport inmates from place to place by eliminating the practice of keeping them in handcuffs and leg irons while on buses or in other vehicles.

What do they expect them to do, sit there like school kids? one law enforcement source said. Is the City Council speaker going to ride the bus? This is just crazy.

Mayor Eric Adams has signed an emergency order to modify the City Council law banning solitary confinement. Andrew Schwartz / SplashNews.com

Local Law 42, which passed in December, seeks to limit the amount of time inmates can be separated from the general population, including at the troubled Rikers Island Correctional Facility.

The mayors order modifies the ban and allows the city Department of Corrections to tailor time in solitary confinement to individual inmates needs, so an inmate who is in the middle of a violent brawl doesnt have to be put back into the main population exactly four hours later, officials said.

The law also bans leg irons and handcuffs on inmates aboard city jail buses and other vehicles that carry them to court dates and medical appointments. The mayors emergency order would eliminate that part of the ban.

The numbered cell doors inside the Rikers Island jail complex. AP

Between 20 and 40 of the Department of Correction vehicles carry about 500 inmates each day, a law enforcement source said.

The mayor issued the narrowly tailored order because the ban would be dangerous for those who live and work in the jails, City Hall said.

The Department of Corrections has been laser focused on reducing violence in our jails to protect both the people in our care and correctional staff who boldly serve our city, the mayors office said in a statement.

A Correction Officer walks through the Rikers Island jail complex. Gregory P. Mango

A federal monitor appointed to oversee the citys troubled jails  which have been plagued by violence and drugs  wrote in a letter earlier this month that the law could actually result in an increased risk of harm to other incarcerated individuals and staff.

The Correction Officers Benevolent Association has been opposed to the ban it claims would put its officers in harms way.

Its shocking that as the daughter of a former Correction Officer, Speaker Adams would spearhead this legislation that would have jeopardized the life of her own mother if this was passed when she was an officer, COBA President Benny Boscio said, adding, We thank Mayor Adams for implementing this critical Executive Order and we will continue to fight vigorously to repeal this dangerous legislation altogether.

City Council Adrienne Adams helped enact the law. Robert Miller

One third of the detainees at Rikers are facing homicide charges and the majority are in for violence, city officials have said.

There were 258 assaults on jail staff, 189 serious injuries to inmates, and 152 slashings and stabbings at Rikers from Dec. 20 to June 19, the most recent data available shows, law enforcement sources said.

But the City Council slammed Adams emergency order as both unnecessary and an abuse of power.

Each day Mayor Adams Administration shows how little respect it has for the laws and democracy, it sets more hypocritical double standards for complying with the law that leave New Yorkers worse off, a Council spokesperson said in a statement. In this case, our city and everyone in its dysfunctional and dangerous jail system, including staff, are left less safe.

The reality is that the law already included broad safety exemptions that make this emergency order unnecessary and another example of Mayor Adams overusing executive orders without justification, the statement continued.

State lawmakers limited the practice of solitary confinement in other facilities to no more than 15 consecutive days in 2021.

In the city, the practice was banned for all inmates 21 and younger after the 2015 death of Kalief Browder, who was jailed at Rikers for three years, most of that time in solitary confinement.
*Attached video: Tender moment between white deer and fawn in NE Ohio

OHIO (WJW)  The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is hosting special deer hunts at eight separate nature preserves across the state for the 2024-25 hunting season.

According to a press release from the ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, both gun and archery hunts are offered this year at nature preserves that have been identified as areas where deer populations pose a threat to native plant communities.

Man arrested after police chase, wrong-way crash

Hunters who would like to participate in the special deer hunts must attend a mandatory meeting for each preserve they would like to hunt. Hunters will then be able to purchase a $5 ticket to be interred in the preserves hunt drawing.

According to the release, hunters who win the drawing will be asked to stay for a pre-hunt orientation

The 2024-25 special hunting locations include:

Gun hunting at Boch Hollow in Hocking County Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 24, 11:30 a.m. at 7211 Bremen Rd., Logan, OH 43138 For more information, contact Preserve Manager Levi Miller at (740) 380-8919 or levi.miller@dnr.ohio.gov

Archery at Caesar Creek in Warren County Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 24, 12 p.m. at the preserve parking lot, 4080 Corwin Rd., Oregonia, OH 45054 For more information, contact Preserve Manager Eric Sagasser at (937) 418-8710 or eric.sagasser@dnr.ohio.gov

Archery at Davey Woods in Champaign County Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 24, 4 p.m. at the preserve parking area, 7661 Lonesome Rd., St. Paris, OH 43072 For more information, contact Preserve Manager Michelle Comer at (937) 537-6173 or michelle.comer@dnr.ohio.gov

Archery at Goll Woods in Fulton County Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. at the preserve office, 26093 County Road F, Archbold, OH 43502 For more information, contact Preserve Manager Ryan Schroeder at (419) 445-1775 or ryan.schroeder@dnr.ohio.gov

Archery at Hueston Woods in Butler and Preble counties Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 24, 8 a.m. at the State Park Conference Center, 6301 Park Office Rd., College Corner, OH 45003 For more information, contact Preserve Manager Eric Sagasser at (937) 418-8710 or eric.sagasser@dnr.ohio.gov or Preserve Manager Michelle Comer at (937) 537-6173 or michelle.comer@dnr.ohio.gov

Gun, muzzleloader and archery at Lake Katharine in Jackson County Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 17, 10 a.m. at the preserve office, 1703 Lake Katharine Road, Jackson, OH 45640 For more information, contact Preserve Manager Coleman Minney at 740-979-9707 or Coleman.Minney@dnr.ohio.gov

Archery at Lawrence Woods in Hardin County Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 24, 2 p.m. at the preserve parking area, 13278 County Road 190, Kenton, OH 43226 For more information, contact Preserve Manager Ryan Schroeder at (419) 445-1775 or ryan.schroeder@dnr.ohio.gov

Gun at Stages Pond in Pickaway County Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. at the preserve office, 4792 Hagerty Rd., Ashville, OH 43103 For more information, contact Preserve Manager Levi Miller at (740)



Browns owners tout stability, success while considering stadium renovation

Click here for more about the 2024-25 special deer hunts scheduled in Ohio.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Officials issue warning about invasive species taking over local lake: 'We know very well the damage and harm [they] do'

A zebra mussel invasion in Manitoba has sparked an all-hands-on-deck response, and Canadian officials and residents are hoping it will be enough.

What's happening?

Clear Lake in Riding Mountain National Park is the site of the problem, marking the westernmost advancement of the invasive species in the country, The Narwhal reported.

In November, Parks Canada found 48 live mussels at the location, and snorkelers found one more plus a shell at a boat launch July 17. Zebra mussel DNA has been detected in the water in the area but not in other parts of the lake.

It's imperative to stop the spread before it gets out of hand. Zebra mussels eat plankton, a source of food for native species; colonize fish spawning areas and beaches; and clog pipes. They are native to the Black Sea and arrived in North America in 1988 in the Great Lakes.

The mussels were found in Manitoba in 2013 and have occupied nine bodies of water.

Why is this important?

Government and conservation leaders acted quickly to try to contain the infestation because zebra mussels can hitch rides on boats and reach other areas without notice. In this case, they want to keep the mussels from advancing to the Little Saskatchewan and Assiniboine Rivers.

"The important thing is that we seal off this portion of the lake, begin treatment options and try and prevent this infestation from spreading, because this is such a special place for Manitoba, for Canadians  and very important for tourism," Winnipeg South member of Parliament and Canada Special Advisor for Water Terry Duguid told The Narwhal. "We want to do everything in our power to protect the ecological integrity of this place."

Invasive species cost countries billions of dollars annually in damaged resources as well as mitigation, management, and restoration efforts. The dangerous beings include Burmese pythons in Florida as well as green crabs on the New England coast  and consuming them has become a popular combat tool. Python meat apparently tastes just like chicken, and crab-flavored whiskey is indeed a thing.

What's being done about the zebra mussels?

In May, Parks Canada banned recreational boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, The Narwhal reported. The government has also created a mobile inspection team to educate the public and enforce "clean, drain, dry" rules for boaters.

"It's really important to take a preventative approach, not only for Clear Lake but for downstream communities, because we know very well the damage and harm that zebra mussels do, particularly to water infrastructure, throughout the country," Duguid told the outlet.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Plans to bring back El Pasos Wyler Aerial Tramway are moving ahead and entering the contract bidding phase, according to a joint news release sent out by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the El Paso Community Foundation.

The tramway is advancing into Phase 1 of the reconstruction project, and contract bidding is now open, according to the news release.

The tramway has been closed since 2018 after the Texas parks department conducted a study and concluded that the tramway had surpassed its life expectancy and was no longer suitable for public use.

The El Paso State Delegation and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is leading this effort in collaboration with the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority (CRRMA) and the El Paso Community Foundation (EPCF), according to the joint news release.

With design plans for the entire project nearly complete, the CRRMA is inviting contractors to submit bids for the construction of Phase 1, marking a crucial step towards bringing this iconic tramway back to life, according to the news release.

The Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority is now soliciting contractors to provide proposals for Phase 1 of the project, and were excited for the public to know that the Wyler Aerial Tramway is really happening. This project is moving forward with intention, and that is evidenced by the support provided by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, our El Paso delegation, and the El Paso Community Foundation, said Raymond Telles, executive director of the CRRMA.

In efforts to revive the Wyler Aerial Tramway, the El Paso State Delegation, led by Sen. Cesar J. Blanco and Reps. Lina Ortega, Joe Moody, Claudia Ordaz and Mary Gonzalez, has secured $20 million for the project, which will be used for this initial phase, according to the news release.

The Phase 1 design plans include roadway extensions, additional parking, shelters, supportive infrastructure, an amphitheater and hiking trails.

The Wyler Aerial Tramway is an important local treasure and asset to the El Paso region, and I am happy to see that our collaborative efforts are moving us closer to the reopening of a new and improved tramway, Blanco said. I look forward to continuing to champion additional state funding in the Senate and working with the entire El Paso Delegation, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority, and the El Paso Community Foundation to secure the additional public and private dollars needed to finish the new tramway.

I have fond memories of the Wyler Tramway, and so do generations of El Pasoans. Nothing beats that view of our incredible hometown, so Im excited to see the state funding our delegation secured lay the foundation that will bring the tramway back for generations to come. I wont stop until that happens, Moody said.

The State of Texas has committed millions of dollars towards the reopening of the Wyler Aerial Tramway. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with local leaders to see the project is completed, Gonzalez said.

The overlook from the Tram will provide visitors with a stunning view of our citys majestic landscape, Ortega said. Our communitys quality of life will also benefit from the walking trails that will be available for everyone to use and enjoy.

Rep. Eddie Morales added: As we always work to promote the livelihood of Texans, which includes the experience of viewing our beautiful natural and urban landscapes, I am excited about the funds secured to bring back the Wyler Ariel Tramway. I commend my colleagues for their hard work in securing these funds for El Pasoans and all Texans who make their way to El Paso to enjoy.

For years the El Paso community has been waiting for the grand return of the Wyler Tramway. As the states only public tramway, we have the opportunity to attract visitors young and old to highlight the beauty of our city, Ordaz said. Im excited that we are finally able to kick things off, and look forward to working with my colleagues community members to get this project fully funded.

Here is some history of the tramway as provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the El Paso Community Foundation:

The El Paso Community Foundation received the original gift of the Wyler Aerial Tramway from El Paso broadcast pioneer and philanthropist Karl O. Wyler.

Wyler, who owned and managed KTSM TV and radio, built the tramway to transport equipment to construct the radio transmitters in 1959. He opened the tramway to the public in the 1960s and then gifted it to the community foundation to ensure it would remain accessible to the public in perpetuity.

In 1999, the El Paso Community Foundation gave the Wyler Aerial Tramway and 170 acres of adjacent property to TPWD, where it was enjoyed by the public as a state park from 2001 until its closing in 2018.

It made sense in the 1990s for the El Paso Community Foundation to gift this treasure of our community to the largest urban state park in Texas so that we all could enjoy it, said Eric Pearson, president and CEO of the El Paso Community Foundation. Now, we need to come together again to help make it the best possible new facility for the next generations to enjoy and learn about our Chihuahuan Desert.

For more information and updates on the project, as well as future announcements regarding the RFP process, visit www.crrma.org.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
(WKBN)  Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed a new bill into law on Wednesday regarding religious expression days, also known as the R.E.D. Act, in schools.

HB 214s passing now requires each public school to adopt a policy that reasonably accommodates the sincerely held religious beliefs and practices of students; to require each public school to adopt a policy regarding certain expectations related to the performance of staff member professional duties.

The policies are to permit students from kindergarten through twelfth grade to be absent for up to three religious expression days.

According to the bill, school principals shall approve such requests without inquiry into the sincerity of a students religious or spiritual belief system. However, they can request verification of a parent or guardians signature on the absence excuse.

Oklahoma couple found 36 hours after disappearing while scuba diving in Gulf of Mexico

Schools have 90 days from Wednesday to create and adopt their new policy.

The bill is scheduled to take effect on January 1 of next year.

Senator Michele Reynolds introduced a similar bill in Ohios Senate last year, telling Nexstars WJW at the time that the change was important to give students of all religions the opportunity to observe their holidays.

Every family should know wherever their kid goes to school, whatever district it is, on this side of a neighborhood or that side of a neighborhood or this district, that district, there should be an opportunity to observe your faith tenants, she said in February 2023.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
A man missing for 14 days in Kentuckys wilderness was found on the last day of the search for him

An Ohio man was found alive after 14 days in the rough terrain of a Kentucky forest, just as crews were starting to lose hope, rescuers said.

There was a shoe print and evidence of a walking stick in an area few people traverse, the search group said in a Facebook post on July 20.

On the last day of the search mission in the Red River Gorge, the Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team bushwacked through dense forest and up a creek when they found a sign of life.

The team of five rescuers heard a yell for help in the woods. Once they reached the voice, it turned out to be Scott Hern, the missing man.

The moment the good news came over the radio was exhilarating, Wolfe County Search and Rescue Chief John May told CNN.

An inexperienced hiker in a wilderness area for 14 days without food or water, nobody really expected to find him alive like we did, he said. Its really just a miracle that he survived.

The truck was still there

Hern, 48, was last seen in the woods off Tower Rock Trail on July 6, the rescue group said. His family in Ironton, Ohio, which is about 100 miles northeast of the gorge, hadnt heard from him since that date.

A US Forest Service officer saw Herns truck on the Saturday when he went hiking in the Red River Gorge  and the same ranger saw it again when he returned to duty a week later on July 13, Wolfe County Search and Rescue Chief John May told CNN.

When he ran his license plate, thats what kind of triggered this whole event because there was a missing persons report filed in Ohio where he was actually missing from, May told CNN affiliate WLEX.

The search began on July 16, when Herns family realized where he had gone and contacted the search group, May told CNN.

CNN reached out to Herns family on Thursday but has not heard back.

That night, a team searched for Hern until after midnight, but they couldnt find him, the Wolfe County rescue group posted on Facebook. Darkness and fog made visibility difficult on the rugged, off-trail area, they said.

Twenty-five members from three rescue crews and two canine units tried again the next day without luck. And four dog crews tried the day after that.

The make-or-break search day

Eric Wolterman said a prayer as he and the Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team headed out on Saturday, July 20, two weeks since Hern went missing. He and his teammates went into the search thinking it would be a recovery day, he wrote on Facebook.

It was going to be the final day of searching whether we located anything or not. We were in the roughest terrain you could imagine and its very dangerous for anyone to even be out there, he wrote.

Herns diary, provided by his family, pointed the search team to Bell Falls. The team had already searched there, but they decided to go north up a creek, the group said.

After spotting footprints, someone on the team heard a faint noise, Wolterman recalled. They shouted again, thinking it was another search team.

Help, Wolterman said he heard.

As the team got closer, they asked for the persons name. Scott Hern, he said.

My name is Eric, Im with Wolfe County search and rescue, you are safe, we are going to get you out of here, said Wolterman, who was the first one to reach Hern.

Hern looked at him and thanked him before asking for a hug, Wolterman said.

I think it was the best hug of both of our lives, he wrote.

Six bottles of water

Finding out Hern was alive, despite the odds, changed the tone of the operation and sent energy through the crew, May said.

That extra boost of energy kind of kicked in when we heard that he was alive now just shifted (to) lets figure out how to get him out of there as quickly as we can, he said.

The area proved to be a challenge, as waterfalls with drop-offs and a narrow trail would have made carrying him out dangerous, May said. Hern was also tucked into an overgrown area.

Instead of carrying Hern out, rescuers decided it would be safer for everyone to hoist him out by air, May said. They called in the Kentucky State Police, who extracted Hern by helicopter.

Weve never encountered anyone that has been lost for 14 days and found alive. So, its definitely unusual, May told CNN.

Hern carried six bottles of water with him that day  and there were six empty bottles in his backpack when the crew got there, May said. After July 8, Hern told rescuers he didnt eat or drink anything, as his mouth was too dry to do so.

Hern was extremely dehydrated and his feet were in really bad shape from blisters and bug bites, May said. Hern couldnt walk when they discovered him.

Despite being lost in the woods in rough terrain, Hern had a few advantages working in his favor, May said.

Hes a heavier gentleman, so he had some reservoirs there. He did take in those six bottles of water with him  that helped him for the first couple of days, May said. Where we located Mr. Hern was under a rock shelter.

The rock shelter up against the cliff line kept Hearn out of the direct sun and safe from the elements, he explained.

May did not know if Hern was able to retrieve water dropping into the cave, as they hadnt spoken about it, he said.

Scott Hern is seen at a hospital following his rescue. - From Wolfe County Search & Rescue

Hern was hospitalized and was not able to walk on his own, the rescue group wrote on Facebook on July 22, two days after his rescue.

Hern beamed with a smile in his navy-blue hospital gown with his walker in a photo the family shared with the rescue group.

I think hes going to make a full recovery, May said. Its just going to take a little time to get real food in him, rehydrate him, get his feet in better condition and we think hell be good to go.

CNNs Tanika Gray contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
PIKETON, Ohio (WDTN)  A vacant school in southern Ohio has caught the attention of people across the U.S. as it heads for auction.

On Saturday Aug. 17, Zahns Corner Middle School in Piketon will be auctioned. The listing displays the 53,000 square foot building, on around 9.83 acres, selling for a minimum of $270,000.

In May 2019, the Scioto Valley Local School District reported that enriched uranium was located inside, and that neptunium 237 was outside of the building, which prompted the closure of the school.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

According to a statement from the Scioto Valley Local School District, the U.S. Department of Energy believed the radioactive material presence was due to stratospheric fallout from nuclear testing during the 1950s and 1960s. A contradictory opinion found it to have resulted from Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, nearly five miles away.

A spokesperson for the Pike County General Health District confirmed to Nexstars WDTN that an independent resample study of the inside of the building occurred in late February and early March to identify all contaminants of concern. At this time, test results are being finalized.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
OHP search for witness of fatal crash on July 6 near Henryetta

HENRYETTA, Okla. (KFOR)  The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) are searching for a witness of a two-vehicle fatality collision that occurred at 10 a.m. on July 6.

OHP says the crash happened on SH-124 near EW 113 Rd. in Okfuskee County near Henryetta. The witness of the collision did not stay at the scene to speak with law enforcement.

OHP are looking for a witness of a fatality collision

Officials are asking for the witness or if anyone who knows them to contact OHP at the Southeast Regional Communications Center at 580-924-2601.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
After going back to prison May 1, admitted drug offender Porter Meadows stayed in control of a commercial sex ring operating in Oklahoma City, state investigators allege.

His human trafficking victims called him "Daddy," according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Meadows, 53, warned in one call that one victim needed to be told "to break bread or play dead."

"The statement ... is a direct threat to a person's life if they aren't making them money," a task force officer at the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control explained in the affidavit.

Oklahoma County Special Judge Perry Hudson on July 18 issued the human trafficking arrest warrant. It was served Tuesday on Meadows.

The narcotics bureau announced the outcome of the investigation in a news release Friday.

"There are a variety of methods used by inmates to communicate with associates on the outside, allowing them to seamlessly continue to run their criminal operations while behind bars," a spokesman said.

Investigators found communications made through a prison-issued tablet

Meadows had been "facilitating" the operation of the commercial sex ring from an Oklahoma Department of Corrections facility in Vinita, according to the news release. The investigation determined there were "multiple victims being trafficked by Meadows."

The key evidence against Meadows comes from recordings of 53 communications made through a prison-issued tablet, according to the affidavit.

Investigators got the recordings after his girlfriend, Melanie Ann Reniers, 44, was arrested in Oklahoma City during an undercover operation. She had allegedly agreed in May to a sex date for $200.

More: Prison deaths in Oklahoma this year on a pace to exceed last year's number, officials say

In an interview July 9 at the narcotics bureau, Reniers described her boyfriend as having a "pimp mentality," according to the affidavit. "He is in charge. He is the leader but it is me and him together."

Reniers was charged July 17 in Oklahoma County District Court with four prostitution-related offenses. Her attorney could not be reached for comment. Meadows has not been charged yet out of the human trafficking investigation.

Excerpts from the recorded conversations were included in the request for Meadows' arrest warrant. They show Meadows repeatedly directed Reniers to put money on his "books" in prison from the sex "dates." He once said he needed money "to call my momma on Mother's Day."

"When I get out you gonna be glad you stayed down with me," he is quoted as telling Reniers on May 17. "You gonna be above everyone else that stayed down. ... You are the one. ... Just be cool and take your crown when you get it."

Meadows has been in and out of prison for the last 30 years. His return in May came after he pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.

He also admitted in his guilty plea that he had a stolen gun on him with he was arrested last year during an investigation of a shooting. Under a plea deal, he was sentenced in April to three years in prison and seven years on probation.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Drug offender accused of keeping OKC sex ring going from prison
Oklahoma couple found 36 hours after disappearing while scuba diving in Gulf of Mexico

EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR)  Wednesday morning, a couple from Oklahoma disappeared while scuba diving off the coast of Texas. After 36 hours of searching, authorities were ready to give up.

Then, a miracle happened.

Nathan and Kim Maker of Edmond, Oklahoma, dive often, Nathans uncle, Charles Owen, told Nexstars KFOR. The couple has always taken their precations.

The Makers were scuba diving with a group in the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday morning when they disappeared.

There was a storm moving in and the divers had all surfaced and was going to prepare to get back on the boat, Owen explained. As the 16 got in, in the meantime, the swell comes in and engulfed all of them.

Nathan and Kim inflated their safety devices to come to the surface, but the storm was too much  and they were gone.

Owen said it was around 7 p.m. Wednesday when the Coast Guard called, saying the couple had disappeared earlier that morning.

The search was on from there, with rescue crews searching an expansive 1,656 sq. mile-grid in the Gulf.

Roughly 36 hours later, Owen said he was told authorities were close to calling off their search after looking over the entire grid.

Wed already practically given up hope, Owen recounted.

Then, a miracle: a plane, which Owen said was on its last run outside the grid late Thursday night, caught a glimpse of something.

Nathan and Kim had their diving flashlights and they were doing the S.O.S. to point at the planes bottom, Owen said.

New video from the Coast Guard aircraft spotted two figures around 20 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico early Friday morning. Those figures were Nathan and Kim Maker.

The plane saw them on one last pass. Then the boats came to the rescue.

Its a miracle, Owen said.

He told KFOR that Kim has an infection and Nathan was almost in a diabetic coma when they found him. Both were very dehydrated and had suffered multiple jellyfish stings. The family hopes Kim and Nathan will be able to return home soon.

We thank everybody for their concerns and their prayers, Owen said. This miracle was performed by the Coast Guard at Gods direction.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Two Oklahomans were sentenced in large-scale international phone software scheme

Three people, including an Oklahoma couple, have been sentenced in a case involving more than $88 million in pirated business telephone software licenses.

In Oklahoma City federal court, Raymond Bradley Pearce, 48, of Tuttle, was sentenced this month to four years in federal prison and ordered to forfeit $4 million.

Dusti O. Pearce, 46, also of Tuttle, was sentenced to one year and a day in prison and ordered to forfeit $4 million.

Jason M. Hines, 44, of Caldwell, New Jersey, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison and an additional 18 months of home confinement, and ordered to forfeit $2 million.

The Pearces entered plea agreements of being guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Hines pleaded guilty to conspiring with the Pearces.

The three defendants agreed to pay a total of $17 million in restitution.

Prosecutors accused the Pearces of conspiring with Hines in a scheme that involved generating and then selling unauthorized Avaya Direct International software licenses.

The ADI software licenses were used to unlock features of a popular telephone system used by thousands of companies around the world, prosecutors said.

The ADI software licensing system has since been decommissioned, according to court documents.

New Jersey-based Avaya Holdings Corp. is a multinational business communications company that sold a product called IP Office, a telephone system used by midsize and small businesses in the United States and around the globe.

Prosecutors said Bradley Pearce was an Oklahoma City-based Avaya customer service employee who used his system administrator privileges to generate tens of thousands of ADI software license keys that he sold to Hines and other customers.

Those customers then sold the software license keys to resellers and end users around the world, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Pearce used a personal laptop and cell phone, a wireless hotspot, a prepaid phone card and a paper ledger at his Avaya workstation to facilitate the scheme and prevent his employer from detecting his activity.

Avaya did not allow the use of personal electronic items.

Pearce kept the items hidden and locked in his work desk or took them home at night, prosecutors said.

He sometimes stole and sold Avaya internal use software license keys while he was at home on medical leave and not working, prosecutors alleged.

The Pearces are accused of using the illegally gained money to buy large quantities of gold bullion and other valuable items.

Prosecutors said Hines, the New Jersey man, was the Pearces biggest customer.

Hines purchased millions of dollars' worth of stolen software license keys, which he resold to his own customers, prosecutors said.

He operated Direct Business Services International, a deauthorized Avaya reseller, in New Jersey, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said the illegal operation prevented Avaya from making money on its stolen intellectual property and also undercut the global market in Avaya ADI software licenses because the Pearces and Hines sold licenses for significantly below the wholesale price.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma couple and New Jersey man pleaded guilty in phone scheme
Paris Olympics organizers consoled religious groups on Sunday after an Opening Ceremony segment featured a group of drag queens in a scene evoking Leonardo da Vincis The Last Supper, which sparked outrage among Christians.

The scene featured a group of drag queens, including contestants from Drag Race France, gathered behind a table with one woman adorned with a halo in the center. The group was eventually joined by a man dressed as the Greek god Dionysus, part of the Olympics intent to reflect the absurdity of violence between human beings.

Olympics: The interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings. #Paris2024 #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/2vnMNrlmMi  Paris 2024 Olympics (English) (@OlympicsParis) July 26, 2024

The scene enraged Christian groups, as some felt the arrangement mocked the solemnness of Leonardos original painting. The French Catholic Churchs bishops conference blasted the performance as scenes of derision, while the Anglican Communion in Egypt said the moment risked causing the International Olympic Committee to lose its distinctive sporting identity and its humanitarian message.

An IOC spokesperson brushed aside those concerns, saying the performance was meant to reflect international diversity and Paris dedication to inclusivity.

Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group, spokesperson Anne Descamps told reporters, according to the Associated Press. On the contrary, I think [with artistic director] Thomas Jolly, we really did try to celebrate community tolerance. Looking at the result of the polls that we shared, we believe that this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense we are, of course, really, really sorry.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
HEATH, Ohio (WCMH)  One man is dead and another passenger is hospitalized after a fatal motorcycle crash between Newark and Buckeye Lake.

Around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, emergency responders were dispatched to the scene of a crash involving a motorcycle and passenger vehicle. The driver, Brian Winner, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Licking County Sheriffs Office.

According to police, a passenger on the motorcycle was airlifted to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries. Both the passenger and Winner were wearing helmets at the time of the crash.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Passengers of the other vehicle were treated by EMS on the scene, then released, police said. The crash took place around the 1800 block of Route 79, locally known as Hebron Road.

Deputies and the Licking County Sheriffs Office Crash Reconstruction Team are investigating the incident.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
One injured in overnight shooting, Franklin Police confirm

One injured in overnight shooting, Franklin Police confirm

SAINT MARY PARISH, La. (KLFY)  The Franklin Police Department is investigating a Friday night shooting on 9th Street that left one person injured, the department confirmed.

According to police, the victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is in stable condition.

This report will be updated as information becomes available.

Latest News

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
Protesters in Washington on Thursday burned an American flag and an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A similar "mobilization" is planned for Chicago during the Democratic National Convention. (Probal Rashid / Associated Press )

A collection of fringe radical groups are calling for demonstrations in Chicago this August at the Democratic National Convention  a March on the DNC for Palestine. We study political movements, and weve participated in more than a few ourselves. We share the concerns of many Americans about Israels actions in Gaza, the need for an immediate cease-fire and the release of hostages and the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel. But were not going to heed the call to protest in Chicago. We hope others will stay away as well.

Heres why.

In a democracy, protest movements can play a vital role in reshaping the national debate on important issues. But they have to hone their message and choose when and how to make their case. There were major protests at all three Democratic conventions in the 1960s. Two of them eventually got the results they hoped for. One backfired.

In 1960, when John F. Kennedy was nominated in Los Angeles, civil rights protesters, including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., carefully orchestrated a 5,000-person march and daily pickets at the convention demanding a strong pro-civil rights plank in the Democratic platform. It was a first at a convention, and Kennedy was cautiously supportive, though it took several more years of protests before he embraced the Civil Rights Act, which became law in 1964, the year after his assassination.

Read more: The Protesters of 1960 Helped Change the World

When Lyndon B. Johnson was nominated that same year in Atlantic City, civil rights activists, now driving for voting rights, supported the integrated Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party delegates in place of the all-white regular Mississippi delegation. They didnt unseat the regulars, but their impact on delegates and public opinion was undeniable. A year later, with Johnsons support, Congress passed the watershed Voting Rights Act.

The convention protests of 1960 and 1964 followed a sophisticated and pragmatic strategy of working within and without the party apparatus. The leaders crafted demands that appealed to the best in the American democratic tradition  equal rights for all. They delivered historic gains for African Americans.

Read more: Freedom Party Gave Blacks a Political Voice

In 1968, when Hubert Humphrey was nominated for president in Chicago, it was a different story. Protesters again showed up in the streets outside the convention, this time to demonstrate their opposition to the Vietnam War. That opposition was justified. Targeting that convention that year, and their wild rumpus approach, was not.

Due mostly to the brutal tactics employed by the Chicago police, the result was bloody chaos in the streets. Some protest organizers believed dramatic televised images of confrontations would strengthen their cause, winning the sympathy of the viewing public.

They were wrong. Polling revealed that most television viewers  56%, according to a Gallup poll  blamed the protesters, not the police riot," for the disturbances. Republican Richard Nixon, campaigning to restore law and order, defeated Humphrey that November. He prolonged the Vietnam War well into the next decade.

Read more: Op-Ed: How the 1968 Democratic convention fomented today's culture wars

Antiwar protests ultimately helped shift public opinion away from the U.S. military intervention in Vietnam. They produced a new wave of liberal and progressive politicians. But the protests at the 1968 Democratic convention set back the cause.

Today, those who want to protest the war in Gaza need to think about how to further that goal. Will the cause of peace and Palestinian rights be helped or hindered by demonstrations at this years Democratic convention in Chicago?

More than 70 mostly small-membership organizations are endorsing the upcoming protests. The key organizers, the ones who will determine the message this protest conveys by its slogans and actions, are members of the ultra-leftist Party for Socialism and Liberation, and its front organization, the ANSWER coalition. This is the same group behind the demonstration that burned an American flag and defaced monuments in a day of rage as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress last week.

Conspicuously absent from the list of endorsing organizations are the politically savvy major labor unions, civil rights and environmental organizations, womens rights and LGBTQ+ groups, and community organizing networks, such as PICO California, MoveOn or Indivisible.

Could it be that they recognize that in this election season, the primary goal has to be to defeat Donald Trump, and to help Democratic candidates win in the House and Senate? Perhaps they dont want to lose voters to a perception that Democrats are the party of chaos in the streets or rabid anti-Americanism.

Many of the groups behind the Chicago protests are not simply pro-Palestine or anti-Israel. As the March on the DNC website puts it, they dismiss the Democratic Party as a tool of billionaires and corporations."

Even one of the larger groups endorsing the demonstration, Democratic Socialists of America, has adopted a politically self-defeating rationale for doing so. DSAs Chicago chapter recently posted that making the DNC a complete political disaster  through disruption, confrontation and extremist rhetoric  is as important as ending all U.S. support for Israel.

In fact, many of these groups don't believe in electoral politics as a vehicle for change. They are enamored of revolutionary fantasies. They seem to believe that Trump's reelection can hasten the prospects for a fairy-tale end to capitalism.

In the meantime, they are indifferent to the threat that a second Trump administration poses to democracy, workers, the environment, immigrants, minorities, LGBTQ+ people, the poor, respect for science, voting rights, common decency and, yes, even to Palestinian rights. (Trump is a strong ally of Israels most conservative forces.)

If this years Chicago protests produce scenes of chaos in the streets and Democratic-leaning voters decide to abstain or choose a doomed third-party candidate  who will benefit? In a remarkable bit of political jujitsu, the Republicans, instigators of the Jan. 6 insurrection, are campaigning as the party of law and order.

Protests may achieve changes we want to see. But this time, it's too risky. Instead of demonstrating against Democrats, we're going to campaign and vote for them. You should too.

Peter Dreier teaches politics at Occidental College and is the author of several books including We Own the Future: Democratic Socialism, American Style. Maurice Isserman teaches history at Hamilton College; his books include America Divided: The Civil War of the 1960s.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Ahead of November, Oregon election officials are preparing for the general election as election directors across the country are voicing concerns the United States Postal Service cannot handle an influx of mail-in ballots.

These concerns were raised on Tuesday during a panel discussion for the National Association of State Election Directors in Minneapolis, led by Oregon Election Director Molly Woon, as reported by the Associated Press. AP reported the elections directors were concerned ballots wont be delivered in time to be counted.

The Oregon Secretary of States office told KOIN 6 News it is looking forward to a successful election in November, but one county clerk has concerns over USPS Delivering for America plan.

Oregon State University captures first-ever images of ship striking shark

These concerns come after a group of 19 senators  including Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden and Sen. Jeff Merkley  wrote a letter to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on June 24, asking for details on how the USPS is preparing for the 2024 election.

In their letter, the lawmakers noted USPS extraordinary job delivering ballots by mail for the 2020 and 2022 elections  boasting 98% of mail ballots delivered in three days during the 2022 midterm election.

However, the senators said they were concerned after USPS rolled out its Delivering for America plan and planned on downgrading postal facilities in states including Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Georgia.

Iconic 154-year-old elm tree to be removed due to public safety

According to USPS Mail Processing Facility Review, this includes consolidating postal facilities in Eugene and Medford.

In Oregons Jackson County  where Medford is located  Clerk Chris Walker told KOIN 6 News that USPS has been a trusted business partner for state and local election offices. However, she has many concerns about USPS Delivering for America plan ahead of the election.

I have many concerns with the changes made to mail routing and delivery, especially concerning vote by mail elections and the timely delivery of mail ballots. Election offices depend on timely delivery to our voters and return ballots coming back to the office, Walker said.

Darcelle XV Showplace at risk of going out of business, asks community for support

According to Walker, during the 2024 May primary election, there were a few instances in which voters did not receive their ballots before election day and had to visit the election office to request a replacement ballot.

In another instance, some ballots that were cast and sent on time were not received with a postmark by the election office within the seventh day after Election Day. She also said there were a few ballots that were mailed from voters to the election office, but the ballots ended up being sent back to the voters  he noted this happens every election but is still unacceptable.

In Jackson County, we did send our outgoing mail ballots out a day earlier (Thursday, May 2) than normal to accommodate the changes made at the USPS and most ballots were received within a day or two of processing at the USPS facility, Walker said.

ODOC releases woman from prison 21 months late due to policy change

The Jackson County Clerk noted he does not expect ballot delays for the election, but shes still concerned about USPS overall changes.

According to USPS, the Medford facility is not closing as part of this plan and will be modernized into a processing center. The plan proposed moving originating mail from Medford to a Portland facility for more reliable service.

I have questioned why, in a state that conducts elections solely by mail would these kind of drastic changes take place this year and not in a special election year, Walker said.

Starter homes cost over $1 million in 8 Washington cities, analysis says

According to Walker, consolidation of the Medford facility has been in effect since February 2024.

County Clerks around the state as well as the Secretary of States office have expressed our concerns, items that were not up to our expectations in May and what we may be looking at for November 2024. We have also praised the state and local USPS employees for their hard work and dedication to elections in Oregon as we are aware these changes and challenges were not of their own doing but coming down from the federal level, Walker said.

In a statement to KOIN 6 News, USPS said they are fully committed to the secure, timely delivery of the nations Election Mail. The Postal Service employs a robust and proven process to ensure proper handling and delivery of all Election Mail, including ballots.

Portland mom has long road in ICU after horrendous attack from pack of dogs

As in previous elections, we will deploy longstanding processes and procedures, as well as allocating additional resources, including, but not limited to, expanded processing procedures, extra transportation, extra delivery and collection trips, daily all-clears and overtime, to ensure that Election Mail reaches its intended destination in a timely manner, USPS furthered.

USPS told KOIN 6 News on Friday they are reviewing the letter from the senators and the Postal Service will respond directly to the senators.

Oregon senators weigh in

In response to the letter from USPS, Sen. Wyden told KOIN 6 News, Given the miserable track record of Postmaster DeJoy since Donald Trump appointed him to the job, I will be watchdogging each and every promise made in this letter. Wyden added, Oregons proven vote-by-mail system is the gold standard, and I will not let this Trump crony take any opportunity to tarnish it.

Sen. Merkley said I have long stood against USPS downgrades here in Oregon. If the USPS has actually studied how the recent facility downgrades in the state will impact election mail, they must share that report as requested with the public now. We cannot allow Postmaster DeJoys poorly-packaged Delivering for America plan to interfere with the simple, safe, secure vote by mail system Oregon has had for decades. If there are concerns from county clerks and other local elections officials in Oregon, I stand ready to raise them directly with USPS to help ensure a smooth general election.

The Oregon Secretary of States response

In a statement to KOIN 6 News about ballot concerns, Ben Morris  a spokesperson for the Oregon Secretary of States Office  said Oregon has successfully conducted vote by mail elections for the last 24 years, and we expect to do so again in November. Oregonians have the option of voting through the post office, using a ballot drop site, or voting in person at their county election office.

Morris noted the secretary of states office can cancel and re-issue ballots if the originals do not make it to voters in time.

Election law directs counties to count any ballot that is postmarked on or before election day even if it arrives at the post office up to seven days later, Morris explained. This is one of many steps in the process that allows us to confidently say that we expect another successful election in November.

Similar to Jackson County, election officials in the Portland metro area  including Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties  said they do not expect ballot delays.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  With the 2024 wildfire season underway, Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is encouraging people to prepare for possible power outages  some of which may even be implemented by power companies to prevent fires or protect those fighting them.

Public safety power shutoffs (PSPS)  in which the power is shut off by utility companies in high fire-risk areas  have been utilized in Oregon a few times in the last couple years. This is mostly because lines could topple or power be cut to avoid starting a fire in high wind conditions.

PHOTOS: Crews battle two-alarm blaze at four-story home in West Portland

This year, with Govenor Tina Kotek invoking the Emergency Conflagration Act for Durkee and Battle Mountain Complex Fires, PSPSs may happen often in the coming months, according to Patience Winningham, Deputy Director of OEM.

We encourage people to check the websites, get familiar with their utilities protocols for PSPS, she said. Because as the vegetation and the fuel type gets drier and drier and when we get into August and September, those decisions may come a little bit more frequently.

If you experience a power outage in a high-risk area, the Oregon Pubic Utility Commission recommends having two weeks worth of food, medical supplies, batteries and pet supplies.

Air tanker pilot killed in crash while firefighting Eastern Oregon wildfire

Additionally, Winningham recommends having four ways to get updated information: Your cell phone or landline, your TV, EAS (emergency alert system) radio and your neighbor.

Go and knock on your neighbors door because sometimes theyll get the information that you wont, she added. Maybe they have Starlink and theyre up in the sky, but not dependent on the fiber on the ground. So making sure you have those ways to get information and share information to take protective measures for yourself, your family and your neighbors.

Fire officials and OEM are also encouraging people to take every precaution possible to make less of an impact on the first responders this season.

There are not many first responders in this field and we are definitely drawing down on all of those resources, added Winningham. Those people also have families in these communities and being able to take care of ourselves only further helps them do their job in fire suppression activities and protecting people and property.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Ossoff: Harris campaign has put Georgia in play, expects her to win the state

Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) said Saturday that Georgia is now in play for Democrats thanks to Vice President Harriss campaign, predicting that she will likely take the Peach State in November.

Ossoff said in an MSNBC interview with Rev. Al Sharpton that Harriss campaign launch has exceeded my expectations, and my expectations were high.

Shes rapidly united the Democratic Party behind her candidacy, sees the momentum in this head-to-head race against former President Trump, and shes electrifying volunteers and grassroots Democrats across the country, he continued. Shes put Georgia in play.

President Biden trailed former President Trump significantly in Georgia, according to polls just before he left the race, though new polling shows Harris performing much more competitively in the state. She was just 2 points behind Trump in a The Hill/Emerson College poll Thursday, within the margin of error.

I think that this is a true toss-up race in Georgia, Ossoff said, predicting a close margin of victory. I expect her to win Georgia. Its going to take a mighty effort, the kind of effort that we summoned here in Georgia to deliver the state for President Biden in November of 2020, and to win those two historic Senate runoff victories in 2021.

Harris has significantly outperformed Biden in polling among young people, Black voters, and Hispanic voters, key demographics that could decide swing states like Georgia and Arizona.

Democrats have quickly coalesced around Harris, with her campaign already gathering enough committed delegates to effectively lock up the partys nomination. No other candidate has challenged Harris for the nomination, and her campaign has broken numerous fundraising records as it attempts to make up for a late start.

Polling has shown Harris improving over Bidens figures against former President Trump, though now all attention is on who her vice presidential candidate will be. In the three Georgia polls since Harris launched her campaign last week, she trails Trump by 1, 2 and 4 points, respectively.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has tested positive for COVID-19.

Fetterman announced that he was sick on X on Sunday.

He said his positive test came after a busy week in Washington D.C.

At this time his symptoms are mild.

Fetterman said he is grateful to be fully vaccinated and that he will be working from home while following the appropriate CDC guidelines.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TRENDING NOW:

It feels really out of nowhere: Patrons stunned by closure of popular Robinson Township restaurant PA Attorney General files lawsuit against local contractor accused of not completing work Bethel Park School District mourns death of beloved high school teacher VIDEO: Pittsburgh Regional Transit takes first step to replacing all T light rail cars with $750M project DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
Paris Olympics organizer says drag performance was nod to Greek mythology, not Last Supper

Paris Olympics organizer says drag performance was nod to Greek mythology, not Last Supper

An organizer of the Paris Olympics said that the drag performance during Fridays opening ceremony was a nod to Greek mythology, not the Last Supper.

Thomas Jolly, the artistic director for the ceremony, told French news channel BFM TV on Sunday that the inspiration for that scene was the Greek god Dionysus, according to NBCs Today. His comments come after the opening ceremony included a scene that some said looked like Leonardo da Vincis painting of the Last Supper.

There is Dionysus who arrives on this table. He is there because he is the god of celebration in Greek mythology, Jolly said, according to NBC. The idea was to have a pagan celebration connected to the gods of Olympus. You will never find in me a desire to mock and denigrate anyone.

The opening ceremonies on Friday included a group of performers, some of them in drag, in a scene that some said resembled da Vincis painting of the Last Supper. It featured someone painted blue sitting on a table surrounded by fruit, while dancers and other performers struck poses in the background.

One of the performers in the middle was crowned with an aureole.

The official Olympics account also posted photos of the ceremony on the social media platform X, again suggesting it was a reference to Dionysus.

The interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings, the post states.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was among those who criticized the performance, saying it was a mockery of the Last Supper.

Anne Descamps, a spokesperson for the 2024 Paris Olympics, apologized at a press conference if people took offense to it but emphasized that that was not their intention.

Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. On the contrary, I think that Thomas Jolly really tried to celebrate community tolerance, Descamps said at a press conference on Saturday. We believe that this ambition was achieved.

If people have taken any offense, we are of course really sorry, she added.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Paris Olympics organizers apologized Sunday to anyone offended by an image of drag performers that evoked Leonardo da Vincis The Last Supper during the opening ceremony.

The scene during Fridays ceremony featured LGBTQ+ icon, DJ and producer Barbara Butch flanked by drag artists and dancers.

More from Deadline

Religious conservatives decried the segment, with the French Catholic Churchs conference of bishops deploring scenes of derision that they said made a mockery of Christianity. Complaints were also made by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova and the Anglican Communion in Egypt.

The ceremonys artistic director, Thomas Jolly, claimed he meant to celebrate diversity and pay tribute to feasting and French gastronomy.

Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps responded to that during an International Olympic Committee news conference on Sunday.

Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. On the contrary, I think (with) Thomas Jolly, we really did try to celebrate community tolerance, Descamps said. Looking at the result of the polls that we shared, we believe that this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense we are, of course, really, really sorry.

This is crazy. Opening your event by replacing Jesus and the disciples at the The Last Supper with men in drag. There are 2.4 billion Christians on earth and apparently the Olympics wanted to declare loudly to all of them, right out of the gate

NOT WELCOME pic.twitter.com/T88AmXbqXL  Clint Russell (@LibertyLockPod) July 26, 2024

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Drag queens prepare to perform on the Debilly Bridge in Paris, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

PARIS (AP)  Paris Olympics organizers apologized to anyone who was offended by a tableau that evoked Leonardo da Vincis The Last Supper during the glamorous opening ceremony, but defended the concept behind it Sunday.

Da Vinci's painting depicts the moment when Jesus Christ declared that an apostle would betray him. The scene during Friday's ceremony featured DJ and producer Barbara Butch  an LGBTQ+ icon  flanked by drag artists and dancers.

Religious conservatives from around the world decried the segment, with the French Catholic Churchs conference of bishops deploring scenes of derision that they said made a mockery of Christianity  a sentiment echoed by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. The Anglican Communion in Egypt expressed its deep regret Sunday, saying the ceremony could cause the IOC to lose its distinctive sporting identity and its humanitarian message.

The ceremonys artistic director Thomas Jolly had distanced his scene from any Last Supper parallels after the ceremony, saying it was meant to celebrate diversity and pay tribute to feasting and French gastronomy. Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps was asked about the outcry during an International Olympic Committee news conference on Sunday.

Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. On the contrary, I think (with) Thomas Jolly, we really did try to celebrate community tolerance, Descamps said. Looking at the result of the polls that we shared, we believe that this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense we are, of course, really, really sorry.

Jolly explained his intentions to The Associated Press after the ceremony.

My wish isnt to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock, Jolly said. Most of all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide.

___

Associated Press journalist Samy Magdy contributed reporting from Cairo.

___

Follow AP coverage of the Olympics at https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
A Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony scene reminiscent of Leonardo da Vincis The Last Supper continued to stir controversy Sunday as Paris 2024 producers and the ceremonys designer Thomas Jolly released separate, apparently opposing statements on where it drew its inspiration.

The scene in question featured a line of drag performers posing shoulder-to-shoulder on a Parisian bridge before turning the bridge into a fashion-forward catwalk. Later, those same queens celebrated over a meal where the dish was revealed to be a nearly nude man painted blue.

Many, including Jolly and the official Olympics Games X account, said that the scene is an interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus that makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings.

Others, including a statement from Paris 2024 producers obtained by TheWrap Sunday, said that it was in fact inspired by Da Vincis famous painting  a skewing of the religious imagery that has been slammed by the Christian right as a mockery of Jesus Christ.

For the Festivities segment, Thomas Jolly took inspiration from Leonardo da Vincis famous painting to create the setting, producers said in the statement. Clearly, there was never an intention to show disrespect towards any religious group or belief  [Jolly] is not the first artist to make a reference to what is a world-famous work of art. From Andy Warhol to The Simpsons, many have done it before him.

The scene caused a disturbance on social media, where conservative political leaders from around the world blasted the display as blasphemous. Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on X, Last nights mockery of the Last Supper was shocking and insulting to Christian people around the world who watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

The war on our faith and traditional values knows no bounds today, he added. But we know that truth and virtue will always prevail. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5).

Meanwhile on Friday night, the official Olympics Games X account shared photos from the portion of the program featuring the blue man at the tableaus center and explained, The interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings.

Then, in a Sunday interview with French broadcaster BFMTV, Jolly admitted he wanted to be very theatrical. He also provided apparently contradictory context to the statement given by Paris 2024 producers that same day.

Its not my inspiration and that should be pretty obvious. Theres Dionysus arriving on a table. Why is he there? First and foremost because he is the god of celebration in Greek mythology and the tableau is called Festivity, Jolly said, translated to English. He is also the god of wine, which is also one of the jewels of France, and the father of Sequana, the goddess of the river Seine. The idea was to depict a big pagan celebration, linked to the gods of Olympus, and thus the Olympics.

The ceremony was designed by Jolly, the French actor and director who was appointed artistic director of ceremonies in 2022. For Paris 2024, appointing Thomas Jolly as artistic director of the ceremonies is an ambitious choice that is consistent with our vision. With his impressive career, Thomas Jolly is at the forefront of the young, creative and ambitious French artistic scene, explained Tony Estanguet, president of Paris 2024, at the time.

His extraordinary shows are proof that he knows how to break norms and take them to the next level. Thomas Jolly will be able to imagine unprecedented artistic concepts for the Paris 2024 ceremonies, whether in the heart of Paris, on the Seine for the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, on the Place de la Concorde, which is being considered for the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games, or at the Stade de France for the two closing ceremonies of these historic Games in France, Estanguets statement concluded.

Editors note: This post has been updated to reflect Jollys Sunday comments.

The post Paris Olympics Producers Say The Last Supper Inspired That Opening Ceremony Scene: Many Have Done It Before appeared first on TheWrap.
The Park Fire, which started Wednesday near Chico, and has forced evacuation warnings and orders as far northeast as the Shingletown-Manton area and into Lassen Volcanic National Park, has slowed its growth thanks to favorable weather conditions.

The fire tore through Butte and Tehama counties for three days before crews were able to leverage lower temperatures and calmer winds Saturday to stop the fire from entering Shasta County.

The fire had burned 360,141 acres as of late Sunday afternoon. It was a growth of about 10,000 acres since Saturday night, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The fire was still 12% contained.

Readers, scroll down for the latest updates on Sunday, July 28.

The Park Fire is the seventh-largest wildfire in state history, Cal Fire said. It has prompted evacuation warnings and orders in Butte, Tehama, Shasta and Plumas counties.

Officials over the weekend downgraded their estimate of structures destroyed, which had been 134, but they do expect the count to increase as experts arrive in communities to see the fire's destruction.

An assessment team was on the ground surveying and confirming the damage. Cal Fire's report on Saturday night listed 20 destroyed structures, but that count grew to 100 by Sunday evening. The number of damaged structures was listed at 5.

Read more: Park Fire reminder of changing climate's impact on California

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared an emergency last Friday due to the damage from the blaze.

3:30 p.m.: Spot fires challenge Park Fire crews' efforts, prevent sheriff from downgrading some orders

At an afternoon press conference updating the Park Fire, officials said rugged terrain and heavy vegetation have presented difficulties for crews battling several spot fires in the area of Butte Meadows in Butte County.

But officials said firefighters were making good progress and had so far prevented the spot fires from spreading. There had been no reported deaths or injuries and authorities had not received reports of missing people.

Officials also reiterated that firefighters were doing a good job of stopping the fire from spreading into Shasta County.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said they are working on downgrading evacuation orders to warnings but that, too, has been a challenge for authorities.

Honea said they were working on changing the evacuation order in Forest Ranch to a warning but the spot fires thwarted those plans for now.

That creates a real problem for us, he said of the rapidly changing conditions and the risk it poses to residents.

While the Park Fire started in Butte County, most of the terrain that has burned has been in Tehama County.

Monty Smith, chief of the Cal Fire Tehama-Glenn unit, emphasized that in the press conference, noting that of the more than 357,000 acres the fire has burned, about 304,000 acres are in Tehama.

No one from Shasta County gave an update on the fire at the afternoon press conference.

12:30 p.m.: Crews battle spot fires as Park Fire grows some more

Firefighters are battling at least five spot fires along Highway 32 in the area of Humboldt Road, according to emergency scanner traffic. The area is north of Forest Ranch near Lomo in Butte County.

Dispatch reports between firefighters say that crews are worried about the fire going into the Butte Meadows area.

Meanwhile, the fire has grown to 357,341 acres up, about 4,000 acres from Sunday morning. It is still 12% contained.

8:30 a.m.: Weather helps slow Park Fires explosive growth

High humidity levels and low to moderate winds have helped firefighters grow containment on the fire, Park Fire public information officer Jeremy Hollingshead said Sunday.

We have been going direct and really using weather to our advantage. The men and women have worked hard to try to put this thing to bed as soon as possible, he said.

The fire has forced evacuation warnings and orders in four counties: Butte, Tehama, Shasta and Plumas counties.

The Shasta County Sheriff's Office on Sunday morning said current evacuation orders and warnings in Shasta remain unchanged from Saturday.

Smoke from the Park Fire rise over the sky and covers the sun as the sun set west of Highway 36 on Friday, July 26, 2024. The blaze continued to have explosive growth after it was sparked on Wednesday in the Chico area. The fire raced north through forestland fueled by bone dry conditions that have resulted from California's extreme hot weather in July. It jumped the highway near Paynes Creek.

Meanwhile, the fire has burned about 5,000 acres north of Highway 36, but crews have stopped the blaze from entering Manton and going into Shasta County, Hollingshead said.

The fire is holding up on a ridge in the Manton area. We have dozer lines, retardant lines and crews are going direct on that area to ensure that it is not going to go further north, he said.

Read more: Park Fire threatens Lassen Park's Manzanita Lake campground, historic district

The northeast portion of the fire continues to be the most active, Cal Fire said.

Hollingshead said weather will again help firefighters on Sunday.

Note to readers: We've made this story free as an important public service to our North State communities. If you are able, help power local journalism by subscribing to the Record Searchlight/Redding.com or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know. Your support goes a long way in helping us provide meaningful, in-depth coverage on issues that matter to you.

For the Tehama-Shasta zone, the weather will be partly cloudy, he said, adding that the relative humidity will be around 30% in the area of the fire. Thats a lot better than we were getting the first two days of the fire.

Hollingshead said there are nearly 4,000 firefighters on the blaze with crews coming from out the state.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Park Fire near Shasta: Wildfire moves toward Butte County towns
A wildfire in northern California continues to burn across the region and became the largest active blaze in the U.S. over the weekend.

The Park fire has grown to more than 350,000 acres, making it the largest active wildfire in the U.S. right now and one of the largest wildfires in California history. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said on the social media platform X that the Park fire is the seventh largest in state history.

At least four counties are under evacuation orders as firefighters continue to battle the blaze, The Associated Press reported. The department said that lower temperatures and higher humidity have decreased fire activity, and the fire is now 10 percent contained as of Sunday

Authorities said that the cause of the fire was arson. The Butte County district attorneys office said Ronnie Dean Scout, 42, was arrested last week on suspicion of starting the Park fire.

Authorities said that the man was seen pushing a car that was on fire into a gully in upper Bidwell Park a little before 3 p.m. on Wednesday. The car burned completely and spread flames that ignited the Park fire, according to the office.

He was then seen calmly leaving the area by blending in with the other citizens who were in the area and fleeing the rapidly evolving fire, the office said.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has declared a state of emergency in Butte and Tehama counties due to the Park fire. He also declared a state of emergency in Plumas County due to a separate fire burning there.

We are using every available tool to protect lives and property as our fire and emergency response teams work around the clock to combat these challenging fires. Stay safe and remain alert for instructions from local authorities as dangerous fire weather conditions continue, he said in a statement.

The Associated Press contributed.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Part hotel, part homeless shelter for people in need of quarantine or medical care, or for families with children. Since 2020, thats been the model of the Red Lion Downtowner Hotel, which leases about 40 hotel rooms to Boises Interfaith Sanctuary.

Since 2020, Boises Interfaith Sanctuary has housed families with children and people deemed medically fragile at the Red Lion hotel in downtown Boise instead of at their open-dorm shelter on River Street. The hotel rooms allow for more stability, privacy and in-home medical care.

These days, about 100 people live in the hotel shelter, which has served nearly 1,000 people since 2020. The shelter has joined with local medical providers to care for people who were not sick enough to stay in the hospital but  too sick to release to the street or back to Interfaiths main shelter just off Americana Boulevard, Jodi Peterson-Stigers, the shelters executive director, told the Idaho Statesman by email.

In 2023, Jimmy Coonce was a resident at the Red Lion hotel through a partnership with Boises Interfaith Sanctuary. Coonce needed medical care that would be impossible to provide at an open-dorm shelter.

Funded mostly by federal COVID-19 relief dollars and other grants, the partnership started as a temporary solution to the pandemic and its attendant concerns about social distancing.

As those funds dry up, and as Interfaith breaks ground on its new shelter on State Street  which will include a medical dormitory  the time has come to scale down the use of the hotel as a shelter, Maureen Brewer, the citys senior manager for housing and community development, told Boises City Council.

But the seven-story, 182-room hotel at 1800 W. Fairview Ave., which opened in 1960, wont stop being a shelter just yet. City Council members have agreed to use the citys remaining federal pandemic-relief funding  and about $250,000 of city funds  to extend the shelters contract with the hotel until September 2025, rather than March, when current funding was set to run out.

The new funding will be a bridge until Interfaiths new shelters planned opening in October, Brewer said. That longer runway  best positions us to exit folks to housing rather than to another shelter, Brewer said.

At least in the short term, the Boise Rescue Mission has agreed to take in many of the residents in need of medical care, she said.

Boise Rescue Mission is coming to our rescue on this one, Council President Colin Nash said during the July 16 meeting.

Interfaith Sanctuary took a huge sigh of relief in response to the decision, Peterson-Stigers told the Statesman. She told the City Council that the extension would allow her team and its partners to re-house residents in a responsible way.

In 2023, Chris and April Kuper, along with daughter Jesse, 8, and son Shawn, 15, lived at the Red Lion Hotel as part of the Interfaith Sanctuarys program for medically vulnerable people and families with children. April was diagnosed with breast cancer the same month she and her family lost their housing.

The cost of running a shelter in the hotel for five years  from May of 2020 until next spring  was about $8 million, but only 14% of that funding came from city funds, Brewer said. The hotel charged $75 a night for each room it leased to the shelter, though there were additional insurance and operational costs. (For regular guests, the hotels nightly rate for a room with two double beds was $136 in July.)

Ignite Hotels bought the Red Lion in 2018, promising a $10 million overhaul of the hotel, which was last updated in 2006, the Statesman reported in 2019. That renovation never came to pass.

Gurbir Sandhu and Philip Camacho, the hotels owner and general manager, did not respond to emails or a phone call seeking comment about plans for the hotel.

The citys new contract with the hotel will be significantly scaled down, Brewer said, including only 15 rooms and incorporating greater flexibility to downsize as the hotel stops accepting new residents in the coming months, and current residents move out.

The move comes amid Boises push to get more permanent supportive housing and affordable housing online. In July, the city announced a partnership with an Eagle-based real estate firm to finance 95 new apartments for people exiting homelessness at New Path 2.0, part of a housing complex at 2200 W. Fairview Ave. that provides supportive housing and case management. The expansion would more than double the number of permanent apartments to house chronically homeless people.

Ensuring more homes for more people at Boise budgets has been a relentless and central focus at the city, Mayor Lauren McLean said in a July news release.

Boises Red Lion Downtowner to get a $10 million overhaul, a new name  and new prices

Ada County balked. Now Boise OKs $1.8M for hotel rooms for homeless people

A Boise neighborhood association wanted to stop a homeless shelter. Judge just ruled
Partners to supply Ukraine with 200 units of front-line evacuation equipment, official says.

Ukraine has secured an agreement with its allies to acquire 200 evacuation vehicles, Deputy Defense Minister Natalia Kalmykova said on July 27.

The Strategic Industries Ministry is also actively working to ensure Ukraine can produce such equipment domestically, Kalmykova said during the first annual International Congress on Military Medicine and Mental Health.

The official noted that casualty evacuation and medical evacuation are separate stages, each requiring different vehicles and equipment. Volunteer organizations cover some of these needs in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense.

"But at the same time (...) we are already receiving M113 armored vehicles. We have an agreement for 200 units. Some have already arrived and are being distributed to military units where the need for evacuation is greatest," Kalmykova said.

The Strategic Industries Ministry is working to ensure that Ukraine can produce these vehicles domestically, Kalmykova added. These vehicles have specific requirements for cross-country ability, protection, and mobility.

"I hope that with the support of international partners, we can make significant progress on this issue. Equipment is lost and destroyed in war, which is normal. Unfortunately, we can't claim that the current number of evacuation vehicles will be sufficient indefinitely," Kalmykova was quoted as saying.

The United States, Spain, and Lithuania are supplying M113 vehicles for demining and other operational needs.

Read also: Ukraine attacks 3 Russian airfields, bomber damaged, source says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Here's a roundup of our top stories from the past week.

With a subscription to the Pensacola News Journal, you will receive full access to the work done by our journalists and photographers as they head out every day to help inform and explain the important issues affecting your community.

USS Oriskany could be getting some company. Escambia considers sinking USS United States

The SS United States, the largest ocean liner constructed entirely in America and still the holder of the transatlantic round-trip speed record, has been laid up in Philadelphia since 1996. A lawsuit filed in 2022 now threatens to evict the ship.

Pensacola is coming up on the 20th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Oriskany. The great carrier reef as its called was sunk more than 22 nautical miles southeast of Pensacola Pass in 2006. It remains one of the most popular draws in the area for divers, but some say more shipwrecks are needed if Escambia County wants to attract more divers and the business they bring.

Could the long-retired passenger ship, the SS United States be the answer?

Keep reading: USS Oriskany could be getting some company. Escambia considers sinking SS United States

Meet the new Escambia County Public Schools principals for the 2024-25 school year

As parents are wrapping up their summer bucket lists before sending their childrenback to school next month, Escambia County Public Schools is gearing up to start the 2024-25 school year under Superintendent Keith Leonard.

The school district has hired four new principals to take the reins at the following schools: Pensacola High School, Myrtle Grove Elementary School, Pine Forest High School and George Stone Technical College. Get to know them below.

The school district is still looking to fill positions for the upcoming school year and is holding a hiring event with a focus on educational support and staff professionals from 9-11 a.m. on July 29 at the J.E. Hall Center at 30 E. Texar Drive. Open positions include maintenance, transportation, custodial services, cafeteria/food services and substitute teachers.

Keep reading: Meet the new Escambia County Public Schools principals for the 2024-25 school year

Pensacola furniture store ordered to pay $110K to former manager who refused COVID vaccine

Following a lawsuit by the Unites States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Pensacola store Hank's Fine Furniture (Hank's Furniture Inc.) settled for a six-figure sum payout to a former manager fired for refusing a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination.

Federal court records indicate a settlement had been reached Monday, and federal Judge M. Casey Rodgers ordered Thursday that the store pay former manager known as "K.M.O." $110,000 after she denied a companywide COVID vaccine mandate based on religious beliefs.

Keep reading: Pensacola furniture store ordered to pay $110K to former manager who refused COVID vaccine

Escambia County school grades are in. See how your school scored.

Escambia County Public Schools maintained a district-wide grade of "B" for the 2023-2024 school year.

This was the second-year students were tested using a new set of state standards and state assessments called FAST (Florida Assessment of Student Thinking.) This test was written specifically for Florida students, based on the roll-out of the Florida Department of Educations new B.E.S.T. standards (Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking).

Find Escambia school grades here: Escambia County school grades are in. See how your school scored.

Find Santa Rosa school grades here: Santa Rosa County school grades are out. How did your school do?

BarSteak, downtown Pensacola steakhouse, closed for construction of 'new concept'

Executive chef Jacob Childers garnishes a plate at the new BarSteak restaurant on Palafox Place during a soft opening in downtown Pensacola on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.

Downtown Pensacola steakhouse, BarSteak, is now closed and under construction for a new concept taking over the space, according to BarSteak social media pages as of Monday.

The restaurant opened last fall at 19 S. Palafox Place specializing in sous vide steaks, velvety French whipped potatoes and butcher-cut specialty meats. The restaurant expanded their menu to offer breakfast, lunch and dinner in the months leading up to the closure.

Johnny Mascia, who was identified as BarSteaks owner at the time of opening, declined to comment on the closure.

Continue reading: BarSteak, downtown Pensacola steakhouse, closed for construction of 'new concept'

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola top stories: Sinking USS United States, Meet new principals
Person sent to hospital, suspected of DUI after crashing into Gresham police car

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man was cited to appear in court on suspicion of driving under the influence after his car struck a police car in Gresham early Sunday morning.

At roughly 1 a.m., the driver of a Ford Mustang struck the marked police car near East Burnside Street, west of 162nd Avenue. The police car had no one in it but was there with emergency lighting activated in order to block traffic for an unrelated traffic crash investigation, police said.

Man disappears in Columbia River, officials unable to recover the body

According to a Gresham Police Department spokesperson, there was no one occupying the police vehicle at the time but the driver was checked by medical personnel at the hospital after the airbag deployed. The driver, a 21-year-old Gresham resident, was cited to appear in court rather than be arrested.

Authorities said a factor in not sending the driver to jail after being checked out at a hospital was the fact that protest activity downtown was affecting intake capabilities at jail.

This is a developing story. KOIN 6 News will update this article if more information becomes available.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Person seriously hurt in north Charlotte apartment shooting

Person seriously hurt in north Charlotte apartment shooting

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  One person is in the hospital with life-threatening injuries following a shooting in a neighborhood just outside Uptown.

MEDIC responded to the apartments at the 1100 block of Oaklawn Avenue in response to a shots fired call.

No additional details were given at this time.

This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
When Darren Walker announced that he was stepping down as president of the Ford Foundation this week, he told The New York Times that it was time for him to let someone else take over.

Some people stay in foundation jobs too long because its intoxicating every day to be in a position where people are deferential, where people are constantly offering thanks and gratitude, he said.

He noted, Philanthropy as a field needs new leaders and needs a constant refreshing because as a sector we can be self-satisfied and lose the edge to our work.

Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation, participates in the Global Citizen NOW conference in New York, April 28, 2023. The foundation announced Monday, July 22, 2024, that Walker, who has led the foundation since 2013, will step down from his role by the end of 2025. | Seth Wenig

There are all sorts of reasons why people stay in jobs for too long. We can speculate about why President Joe Biden insisted on running for reelection for months after it was clear that he was not up to the job. Certainly, the power can be intoxicating, as Walker noted. And it can also become easy to think that you are the only person who can do the job. (Biden reportedly told people that he thought he could have beaten Trump in 2016 and was pushed out of the way, with disastrous results for his party.)

Longer lifespans also make it difficult for people to walk away and raise all sorts of questions. What will you do with the rest of your life? If you can make it to 80, why not 90? Should you go out at your peak? Why not go out a little after your peak? If you teach or write or work at a nonprofit a little longer than you should, will it really tarnish your legacy?

For some people who wont leave, there is undoubtedly a sense that they will continue working until someone stops them. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., who was recently found guilty in a federal bribery and corruption trial, had been holding out on resigning his position for months, but finally announced his resignation this week. Even after a trial in which prosecutors presented evidence of gold bars, a Mercedes-Benz and almost half a million dollars being paid to him and his wife by foreign entities, Menendez thought he could hold on to his job.

The head of the Secret Service, too, was under pressure to resign for more than a week after the failures of the agency to protect former President Donald Trump were revealed.

In his questioning of Kimberly Cheatle, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., asked Cheatle if she knew what the Secret Service director did after the attempted assassination of former President Ronald Reagan. He remained on duty, Cheatle said. Khanna replied, He resigned.

The surprise was not only that Cheatle seemed to not know the answer to the question  after it had been mentioned in so many news stories  but that it was her automatic assumption that when things go south, the people in charge stay in charge. (H. Stuart Knight, the Secret Service director when Reagan was shot, did not immediately resign, but did so after eight months.)

Cheatle, who finally resigned July 23, kept insisting that the buck stopped with her. But what does that mean if not that you have to go?

The contrast with how people used to act is worth noting. Obviously, shame used to play a bigger role. And so did honor. When wrongdoing or incompetence was revealed, people beat a hasty retreat out of the spotlight. This was a point made frequently after former President Bill Clintons affair with Monica Lewinsky was revealed. In a previous era, presumably, he would have resigned.

But even people who havent done anything terrible are having a hard time figuring out when to leave. The view we have into other peoples lives through technology makes things more difficult. Through social media, we can see (or think we can see) what is happening inside institutions after we leave them. We can also see what our successors are doing  and maybe we think we could have done better. The problem with FOMO, the fear of missing out, is not just feeling that we should be somewhere else. Its also that we should have stayed. That if we had, things could have turned out differently. It must be difficult to watch something that you had a role in building be ruined by the person or people who came after you.

But perhaps the best way to avoid that scenario is stepping aside before things get bad and then working to ensure that your successor is qualified and well trained. Maybe they wont do things exactly as you have envisioned, but it could come closer, and you can move on confidently, as Walker has done. As he told The Associated Press, I am taking my shoes with me and the next leader will bring their shoes, because those will be the right shoes for the next 12 years.

Naomi Schaefer Riley is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a Deseret News contributor and the author of No Way to Treat a Child: How the Foster Care System, Family Courts, and Racial Activists Are Wrecking Young Lives, among other books.
Suddenly, Pete Buttigieg is everywhere.

The Transportation secretary is blitzing the airwaves with his Midwest-nice takedowns of Donald Trump and JD Vance. Members of Congress are talking him up. Buttigiegs digital alumni network is circulating clips of appearances and touting his complementary skills to Kamala Harris. He did a canvassing kickoff for Harris in Traverse City, Michigan, on Saturday morning. And an ally in his home state of Indiana  saying they were acting independently of Buttigieg has compiled a dossier evaluating Harris options and concluding: Simply put, the vibes are high right now.

The Pete for Veep trial balloon is approaching mid-flight. His allies view it as a clear signal that Buttigieg wants the job.

Hes open to it, a person familiar with his thinking said.

But Harris confidants and allies remain skeptical about his chances, according to interviews with a half-dozen of them, all granted anonymity to speak freely. They anticipate shell be ruthlessly pragmatic about her selection, viewing other contenders from outside the Beltway as better positioned to deliver key states and constituencies.

Of Buttigieg, one said, I just dont see it.

And even those around Buttigieg readily concede they view him as a longshot. He and Harris are both products of the Biden administration  not exactly screaming change  and Buttigieg carries some of the same baggage as Harris from their time in the administration. He has been at the center of travel disruptions in his job as transportation secretary, including mass delays at airports, even as he has ushered in protections for airline passengers and leveled historic fines against carriers. And then there is the matter of diversity, with some Democrats fearful a ticket with a woman and a gay man may be unpalatable to some swing voters  too much change, too fast.



We all realize its unlikely, the person familiar with Buttigiegs thinking said.

Still, to some Harris advisers, Buttigieg, at 42, makes an intriguing pitch for a campaign trying to make the race about generational change. And Buttigiegs allies are pushing hard for him.

They point out that amid a compressed time-frame for Harris to select a running mate, his advanced vetting status  he is a Senate-confirmed Cabinet member  could make him appealing. They say that in a truncated campaign with little time to build out the tickets identity, Buttigiegs still-fresh national political network and omnipresence as transportation secretary  he has visited 49 states, every one but Maine  position him well for the opportunity.

And in the public relations front of the veepstakes, Buttigiegs stock appears to be rising. Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina has said he would make an outstanding vice president. His viral hits on JD Vance are racking up views. Frontline members of Congress are singing his praises. Hes leading in at least one poll of potential candidates, and hes poised to make a long-planned official trip across battleground Michigan and Wisconsin this week  perfectly timed to prove his mettle as a messenger in the Upper Midwest.

But inside Harris campaign, the view of Buttigieg, who is the only other former 2020 primary competitor Biden elevated into his Cabinet, is far more circumspect.

Harris swore Buttigieg into his Cabinet role, but they are not especially close. And yet aides to both Biden administration officials and the fellow children of academics say there is genuine affection between their spouses, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and Chasten Buttigieg. Chasten and Emhoff are scheduled to headline a fundraiser in Fire Island this week. Pete, Chasten and Doug recently enjoyed drinks at one of the secretarys regular Washington watering holes, and chemistry between the families could be a distinguishing factor.

They have a great rapport, and they recognize each others talents and strengths, said Rachel Palermo, a former staffer who has worked for both Harris and Buttigieg  as Harris former deputy communications director and associate counsel, as well as a law clerk on the Buttigieg campaigns legal team. I think they both represent the future of the Democratic Party. She added she was not endorsing a particular running mate.

Democrats advocating for a Harris-Buttigieg pairing want to essentially reinforce Harris history-making gambit, offering a ticket led by Harris, who is of Indian and Jamaican descent and grew up in California, and Buttigieg, a gay man from Indiana who now lives in Northern Michigan. He would, their thinking goes, check Vances military experience (Buttigieg is a fellow Ivy Leaguer and Rhodes Scholar and Naval officer who deployed to Afghanistan) and also a Midwestern millennial.



Harris, at 59, has already been making the case for generational change against Trump, 78. Buttigieg would help reinforce that case: the past versus the future.

He also is widely viewed as an uncommonly talented performer off-script, a Democrat who can ably spar with hosts on Fox News. That could provide a lift to Harris, who had some challenges during one-on-one TV interviews earlier in her tenure as vice president. Its unclear whether Buttigieg would help her carry a single state, but he won the most delegates in the Iowa Caucuses, and promises appeal in the Upper Midwest.

In a throwback to his presidential bid launched in April of 2019 in South Bend, the same three mayors that endorsed his presidential campaign and introduced him then have all posted to X their endorsements of him as vice president this past week: Nan Whaley, the former mayor of Dayton, Ohio; Steve Adler of Austin, Texas; and Chris Cabaldon of West Sacramento, California.

Buttigieg has ingratiated himself to not only congressional Democrats, but even some Republicans, doing ribbon cuttings for projects funded by a bipartisan infrastructure law that still splashes federal money across the map and ranks as one of Bidens signature accomplishments.

Both Harris and Buttigieg have echoed one anothers 2020 primary messages  and Harris most recent ad  centering on freedom.

This week, he is expected to tour battlegrounds Wisconsin and Michigan in his official capacity, as well as his former home state of Indiana  a readymade multi-state tryout that aides say had coincidentally been planned for months. And multiple members of Congress, including frontliner Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, have come out to support him as the running mate pick.

Hes a veteran, he knows his shit, hes our best communicator, Gluesenkamp Perez told POLITICO. He and I dont agree on everything, but thats gonna be the case with anyone she picks.

Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia, the first member of Congress to endorse Buttigieg for president, told POLITICO he is also backing Buttigieg.

I'm sure they're thinking about battleground states, although it hasnt been since 1960 that a vice president helped actually take their particular state, Beyer said in an interview of the Harris campaign. So it's not clear that putting [North Carolina Gov.] Roy Cooper on the ticket would help you win North Carolina or that Josh [Shapiro] helps you in Pennsylvania, but I'm not subject to their research. I do know, just as a person with extraordinary political skills, a good reputation, well liked, and done a great job as secretary of Transportation, Pete would bring a lot to the ticket.

There are more quotidian reasons Buttigieg could continue to accelerate in the process. The Democratic Party is expected to hold a roll call vote on a running mate by Aug. 7, and the sheer mechanics of introducing a nominee could mean the pick could come as early as this week. That means a rapidly accelerated vetting process could favor Buttigieg.

Hes probably the most vetted candidate of the bunch, just because of his first presidential campaign, and also being in the Cabinet, said Mike Schmuhl, Buttigiegs former campaign manager, the chair of the Indiana Democratic Party and a member of the DNCs executive committee.

Harris and Buttigieg had a mostly friendly rivalry as candidates in the massive 2019 presidential primary field. But Buttigieg successfully incurred into her financial power centers across California  Hollywood and Silicon Valley  in ways that gave her staff fits. Among those slights was Susie Tompkins Buell, a Democratic mega donor in San Francisco who alongside her husband helped launch Harris political career, then held a spring fundraiser for Buttigieg while his star was rising.

In the waning months of 2019, as Harris faded, she mused publicly and privately about what it was  exactly  that made Democrats swoon over Buttigieg. It was a sensitive topic, because Harris herself felt like it was harder for voters to understand where she was coming from in part because few who looked like her had campaigned before, and none of them had won. Buttigieg, she reasoned, was comfortable, the kind of guy a parent wished their own son could grow up to be. In a magazine article published after Harris exited the race, she referred to Buttigieg as the boy next door.

The Harris campaign is putting a premium on maintaining party unity, and aides are reluctant to give their own opinions publicly, preferring that everyone mentioned as a possible pick bask in the attention that comes with it.

Other vice presidential contenders or people around them have expressed hesitations or outright removed themselves from the process in public. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she would not accept the vice presidential position. Some strategists working in North Carolina believe there are two reasons their governor, Roy Cooper, might not be the pick. Mark Robinson, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, becomes acting governor when Cooper is outside the state. Democrats fear he would take actions in his temporary capacity they view as harmful. There also is the question of Coopers own ambitions of running for Senate.



Others in the mix include Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. Yet perhaps the closest to Buttigieg in age, temperament and preparation is Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, who engaged in a campaign of his own.

The Harris campaign said it is evaluating candidates in the same way Biden evaluated her.

Vice President Harris has directed her team to begin the process of vetting potential running mates, said Kevin Munoz, a Harris campaign spokesperson, in response to this story. That process has begun in earnest and we do not expect to have additional updates until the Vice President announces who will be serving as her running mate and as the next vice president of the United States.

As for Buttigieg, he told MSNBCs Morning Joe Friday, "I think anybody would be flattered to be mentioned in that context  I certainly am.

He said, There is really not more I can or should say about that process other than she's going to make that decision.

Daniella Diaz contributed to this report.
FILE PHOTO: Chinese Coast Guard vessels fire water cannons towards a Philippine resupply vessel Unaizah May 4 on its way to a resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines' foreign ministry accused China on Sunday of 'mischaracterising' an arrangement between them that allowed the unimpeded resupply of Filipino troops stationed on a beached naval vessel in the South China Sea.

After repeated clashes in the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, the two countries reached a "provisional arrangement" earlier this month on resupply missions to soldiers stationed at the Sierra Madre, a naval vessel Manila deliberately grounded in 1999 to reinforce its maritime claims.

Philippine foreign ministry spokesperson Teresita Daza said on Saturday the resupply mission that day was completed without incident while Chinese coast guard vessels were at a "reasonable distance".

However, her Chinese counterpart said that China's coast guard was notified ahead of the mission and had "let the vessel through" after an "on-the-scene confirmation".

Daza said on Sunday it was "unfortunate" China "mischaracterised" the resupply mission.

"Instead of acknowledging how two countries were able to manage differences in order to avoid miscalculation and misunderstanding, the spokesperson chose to misrepresent what has been agreed between the Philippines and China," Daza said in a statement.

The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside office hours.

Details of the arrangement between China and the Philippines have not been publicly released, but both countries have said the deal was aimed at easing tensions in the waterway.

"The understanding between the Philippines and China was concluded in good faith, with the explicit agreement that it will not prejudice national positions," Daza said.

"It is not helpful to keep giving false notions about what has been agreed on and how they were implemented," she added.

The Philippines' South China Sea task force said in a separate statement on Sunday that Manila did not seek Chinese permission to resupply its soldiers.

"There was also no boarding and inspection by the Chinese Coast Guard," the task force said.

Located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, China claims sovereignty over the Second Thomas Shoal. Last month, a Filipino navy sailor lost a finger after a confrontation between the Chinese coast guard and the Philippine navy.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its territory based on historic maps, a claim an arbitral tribunal in 2016 ruled had no basis under international law.

(Reporting by Mikhail Flores; Editing by Michael Perry)
Phoenix police arrest suspect in fatal shooting of 62-year-old man in Maryvale

Phoenix police arrested a man suspected of fatally shooting another in Maryvale.

Officers responded to the area of 48th Avenue and Holly Street on Wednesday at about 9:55 a.m. where they found 62-year-old Jose Perez Olvera suffering from a gunshot wound. Responding fire officials later declared Olvera dead at the scene.

Sgt. Brian Bower, a department spokesperson said witnesses told police that a man, later identified as 20-year-old Miguel Angel Rievoles Perez, was the suspect behind the shooting.

Police say Rievoles Perez turned himself in to Border Patrol agents at the Nogales port of entry. Rievoles Perez was turned over to Phoenix police who booked him into jail on counts of second-degree murder and discharging a firearm within city limits.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suspect in fatal Maryvale shooting arrested by police
British television host Piers Morgan ripped into Vice President Harris, calling her the most far-left senator in modern American history.

Morgan, speaking on Fox News Saturday Night, dismissed the scores of support Harris has received from Democrats since President Biden announced last Sunday that he would not seek reelection.

Shes getting a fantastically amazing honeymoon. Its going to last about a week here, and then reality will kick in, Morgan said Saturday. And Donald Trump will start going very hard as he already is about her record. And her record is shes literally probably the most far-left senator in modern American history.

Republicans and other political commentators have launched a series of attacks on Harris, who quickly consolidated support from her party within a matter of days last week. Republicans are targeting Harris over various policy stances, including immigration, climate change and her record as a prosecutor.

Meanwhile, Harris has used her record as a prosecutor to draw a contrast with Trump and his lengthy list of legal problems.

MAGA Inc., a top super PAC supporting Trump, spent millions on a series of ads last week, and its CEO stated they aim to cut the honeymoon short for Harris.

Morgan, weighing in on the support from Democrats, added, The analogy I would give you [about Democrats supporting Harris] is, if you were on the Titanic, which the Democrats were with Biden, and hes hit the iceberg, and its going down, and the last lifeboat has just disappeared  into the moonlight, you will take any vessel you can see.

What chance do you have of actually getting to land? Youll just jump on anything, and thats where we are, Morgan said, per Fox News.

Fox News radio host Jimmy Failla, speaking with Morgan, said he is fascinated by what he called a sudden shift in support for Harris.

I am fascinated by the immediate pivot to this cop Kamala propaganda because if you remember, were about three months removed from them talking about pulling her off the ticket, of course, OK. And now, were being told shes the greatest person in the world despite the fact she ran for president, and when she dropped out, she was polling behind ISIS, Failla said.

The Hill reached out to Harriss campaign for comment.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Missing teen boy with autism found safe, Pittsburgh Police say

UPDATE (2:00 p.m.) - Pittsburgh Police say the missing boy has been located and is safe.

Pittsburgh Police are asking for the publics help in finding a missing 14-year-old boy who has autism.

Officers say John Goodnight was last seen on Addison Street in the Hill District on Saturday at 8 p.m.

He was wearing a black shirt with yellow shorts.

Goodnight is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs around 180 pounds.

He is not known to go outside much.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or contact Pittsburgh Police at 412-323-7141.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TRENDING NOW:

It feels really out of nowhere: Patrons stunned by closure of popular Robinson Township restaurant PA Attorney General files lawsuit against local contractor accused of not completing work Bethel Park School District mourns death of beloved high school teacher VIDEO: Pittsburgh Regional Transit takes first step to replacing all T light rail cars with $750M project DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  Prince William County Police said officers have arrested a Manassas man in connection to a fatal hit-and-run in Dumfries last week.

The Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) said that on July 20, just before 7 p.m., police responded to the Oasis at the Montclair Apartment complex, which is in the 16400 block of Stedham Cl.

PWCPD said 41-year-old Keith Anthony McBride, of the 7600 block of Helmsdale Place in Manassas, approached 37-year-old Jose Galvan outside his car in the parking lot.

Fatal Dumfries hit-and-run: Prince William County Police name suspect

During the encounter, McBride got into Galvans car and began to drive in reverse, hitting another parked car in the process, as Galvan held on to the side of the car.

McBride then began driving forward, throwing Galvan off. Police said McBride allegedly ran Galvan over before driving away.

Galvan was taken to the hospital where he died a few days later.

Prince William County police looking for suspect who allegedly ran over man in his car, killing him

PWCPD said that on July 26, Virginia Beach City Police arrested McBride.

McBride is charged with felony murder, felony hit-and-run and grand larceny auto, according to PWCPD.

Police said that as of Saturday, there is no known connection between Galvan and McBride, and no other suspects are being sought.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  A bicyclist was killed in a late-night crash in Virginia Beach.

Just after 11 p.m. Saturday, officers were called to 900 block of General Booth Boulevard for the report of a crash.

First responders arrived on the scene and immediately began to render aid to the cyclist, later identified as Christopher Malik, 34, of Pennsylvania. However, Malik was pronounced dead at the scene in spite of their efforts.

The driver of the vehicle remained on the scene and cooperated with investigators.

This investigation is still underway, and no charges have been filed, at this time.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or possess any information pertinent to the investigation is urged to contact the Traffic Safety Unit at 757-385-4606 or via anonymous tip through Crime Solvers at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or P3Tips.com.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Police investigating after vehicle crashes into pole in Moraine

Police are investigating after a vehicle crashed into a pole in Moraine.

Just after 1:40 a.m., crews were dispatched to Springboro Rd (SR 741) near the off-ramp of I-75 on reports of a crash.

Upon arrival, crews found a single vehicle that had crashed into a pole.

>> Officers, medics respond to reported shooting in Dayton

Crews are on scene investigating, according to a Moraine Police Dispatcher.

It is unclear if anyone is injured, or what the severity of those injuries might be.

This is a developing story and News Center 7 is working to learn more.
Police search for man accused of sexually assaulting woman in West New York

WEST NEW YORK, N.J. (PIX11)  Police are searching for a man accused of sexually assaulting a woman in New Jersey on Saturday, according to officials.

More New Jersey News

A 40-year-old woman came into contact with the suspect around 1:30 a.m. near Hudson Avenue and 51st Street in West New York, according to officials. The woman was grabbed by the hair and then sexually assaulted, prosecutors said.

The investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made, officials said.

Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in New York City and Washington, D.C. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here, and follow him on X and Facebook @OfficialRizk. Get in touch at jonathan.rizk@pix11.com.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Wadysaw Teofil Bartoszewski has questioned why Hungary needs to be a member of the EU and NATO following recent criticism of Poland by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Source: Bartoszewski, cited by European Pravda with reference to the  news agency

Details: Bartoszewski stressed that unlike Orban, Poland has not done business with Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, "because it was an attack on Poland, on the US, on the EU and on NATO".

He said Orbans speech had drawn very negative comments from the US Embassy in Budapest.

Quote: "I dont really understand why Hungary wants to remain a member of organisations it doesnt like that much and which supposedly treat it so badly. Why doesnt he [Orban  ed.] just create an alliance with Putin and other similar authoritarian states?

This is on the principle that if you dont want to be a member of a club, you can always leave. This is certainly an anti-European, anti-Ukrainian, anti-Polish policy [of Hungary  ed.] at the moment."

More details: Bartoszewski noted that Hungary is also blocking 467 million from the European Peace Facility (EPF) that the EU has allocated to Poland to compensate for military equipment that Poland has provided to Ukraine.

Background:

Earlier, during a planned speech at the Tusvanyos Summer University in the Romanian resort town of Baile Tusnad, Orban had claimed that the Poles "have the most hypocritical and sanctimonious policy in the whole of Europe", since, he said, they "shamelessly continue to do business" with Russia.

Relations between Warsaw and Budapest have cooled since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 due to their differing views on the invasion. However, Orban has not openly criticised Poland before.

Support UP or become our patron!
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Teofil Bartoszewski expressed doubt about Hungary's membership in the EU and NATO after controversial remarks by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's about Poland, the Polish Press Agency (PAP) reported on July 28.

Giving a speech at the Tuscanos Summer University on July 27, Orban had criticized Poland's "hypocrisy," as well as what he called the misguided policies of the EU and the West.

Orban also accused Poland of changing the balance of power in Europe by weakening the Berlin-Paris axis in favor of a new configuration: London, Warsaw, Kyiv, the Baltic States, and Scandinavia.

"We do not do business with Russia, unlike Prime Minister Orban, who is on the margins of international society, in the EU and NATO," Bartoszewski said, adding that the U.S. ambassador to Budapest commented very negatively on Orban's speech.

Bartoszewski described Orban's speech as "an attack on Poland, the U.S., the EU, and NATO."

"I do not understand why Hungary wants to remain a member of organizations that they dislike so much and that supposedly mistreat them. Why does he (Orban) not form a union with (Vladimir) Putin and with some authoritarian states of this type?" Bartoszewski said.

"It is the principle that if you do not want to be a member of some club, you can always withdraw. Certainly, this is an anti-EU, anti-Ukrainian, anti-Polish policy at the moment."

The deputy minister also brought up that Budapest is currently blocking 2 billion zlotys ($509 million) owed to Poland from the EU for reimbursement for the military equipment Poland has given to Ukraine.

Budapest is often seen a key ally of Russia in the EU. Orban has repeatedly blocked aid to Ukraine, pushed for negotiations, and frequently spouted Kremlin talking points.

Since taking the presidency of the European Commission, Orban has amped up attempts to stand as a negotiator between Moscow and Kyiv. In July, he embarked on a peace tour and met with Russian dictator Putin, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.



During his speech, Orban claimed peace can "only be brought from the outside." He said that both Ukraine and Russia believe they can win and are unwilling to negotiate.



Orban's visits sparked criticism from the EU and President Volodymyr Zelensky. The latter said that NATO and the EU can resolve the war without Orban.

Read also: Orban will continue his so-called peace mission after criticism from EU, Bloomberg says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine launched drone strikes against multiple targets inside Russia on Saturday, including an Arctic Circle air base where a strategic long-range bomber was hit, according to reports.

Drones also reportedly struck a military airfield about 100 miles southeast of Moscow where Russia trains it long-range bomber crews.

In a video message following the attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that "each destroyed Russian airbase, each destroyed Russian military aircraft  whether on the ground or in the air  means saving Ukrainian lives."

"Guys, our warriors, I thank you for your precision!" he said.

At least three explosions were heard at the Dyagilevo air base in Russia's Ryazan region around 6 a.m. Saturday, the Kyiv Post reported.

A resident in the city of Ryazan reportedly wrote on social media that the base was "just a stone's throw" away, adding, "My window was open, I almost s--- myself from the sounds."

A video clip posted online by the Astra news website reportedly showed a column of smoke rising from the airfield.

Russia's Engels air base, which houses bombers about 350 miles further southeast in the Saratov region, was also struck about two hours later, the Kyiv Post said.

Damage inflicted at both sites had yet to be confirmed, the Kyiv Post said, citing an unidentified Ukrainian intelligence official.

But a long-range, supersonic Tu-22M3 bomber was hit at the Olenya air base in Russia's far northern Murmansk region near the borders of Norway and Finland, according to the Ukrainian Pravda website, which cited a Ukrainian intelligence source.

The attack, which took place more than 1,100 miles from Ukraine's border, marked the first inside the Arctic Circle since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, according to Norway's Barents Observer website.

The Olenya air base houses aircraft that are frequently used to fire cruise missiles at civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, including the children's hospital in Kyiv that was attacked earlier this month, the Barents Observer said.

Russia didn't comment on the drone attacks, but a Saturday report by Russia's Interfax news agency said the Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down ten "U.S.-made HIMARS rockets" and 81 drones.

They reportedly included 37 that were "outside the special operation zone," the report added, a reference to Ukraine.
The Philippines will resume exporting raw sugar to the United States, starting with 25,300 metric tons in fiscal year 2024, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said over the weekend.

It issued Sugar Order No. 3 series of 2023-2024 allowing the exports under the US raw sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ) world trade allocation. TRQ allows countries to export specified quantities of a product to the United States at a relatively low tariff. The Philippines is one of 39 countries singled out for participation in this first-come, first-served allocation system.

- Advertisement -

It will mark the first shipment to the US after three years of non-compliance with the program due to several years of low domestic production.

The SRA confirmed that this years production exceeded 1.92 million metric tons, allowing a surplus of 25,300 MT to be allocated to the US market.

The first shipment is expected to leave the Philippines in August, with arrival in the US scheduled for September.

The move is expected to strengthen the Philippines position as a reliable sugar exporter and contribute to the global supply chain.

The Philippines also secured a 145,23 metric ton raw value (MTRV) allocation for raw cane sugar exports to the United States for fiscal year 2025 under the TRQ system, the third highest allocation next to the Dominican Republics 189,343 MTRV and Brazils 155,993 MTRV.

The US Trade Representative (USTR) announced the new list of allocations on July 25, 2024 that also includes, refined, specialty sugar and sugar-containing products apart from raw cane sugar.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (WFLA)  Flashlights came in extra handy on Sunday as several Winter Haven business owners navigated the morning without power.

Hundreds of people like car wash owner Spencer Stubbs were off to a late start after TECO said someone crashed into a power pole around 4:45 a.m.

Car crash knocks out power in St. Pete after driver strikes pole

Its a ghost town over here, Stubbs said.

The Winter Haven Police Department said the car completely severed the pole, pulling lines that took out power, impacting churches and other businesses from Havendale Boulevard and 20th Street, to MLK and 1st Street.

In the King James version, it sucketh, Champions Church Sr. Pastor Nolan Edwards said.

Pastor Edwards said he learned of the outage as he set to prepare for a special Sunday service.

We have a friend from Israel thats here, the pastor said.

Woman stabbed to death in Winter Haven, police seeking information

Luckily, the church wasnt too disrupted as the power returned in time to have a service.

Down the street, Stubbs said he missed out on the traffic of his busiest day.

Im the only one open on Sundays, so I try to take advantage of Sundays, Stubbs said.

Winter Haven Police Department

Many employees sat out in front of their shops for hours turning away customers and hoping the lights would turn back on.

The gas gets them in here and then they walk around the store and see other things you could potentially get so its pretty much were stopped at the first step because of the electricity, Stubbs said.

Crews working on the downed power pole told 8 On Your Side the problem was fixed by 11 a.m.

All businesses impacted by the power outage should return to normal operation now.

The driver was not injured during the crash and officials do not believe they were impaired.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Gloria Steinem addresses the crowd at the University of North Florida's Lazzara Theater in 2011 during an event called "Lift, Don't Separate." The event was held to raise awareness for a community garden planned on the Northside by Dorothy Pitman-Hughes, Steinem's longtime friend and fellow activist. The two women discussed issues ranging from women's rights to religion.

Two years ago, Roe v. Wade was overturned, eliminating the federal right to abortion. The overwhelming sense of disappointment upon hearing this news is something I will never forget. At just 15  a freshman in high school  I was navigating the common complexities of being a teenager, striving to understand myself and my place in the world.

To me, the news was a huge upheaval that left me questioning what I could do to make a difference. Without much public speaking experience, connections for organizing or a significant social media following, I sought inspiration. During my research on abortion rights history, I discovered Gloria Steinem.

In the 1960s, Steinem began her journalism career in male-dominated New York newsrooms. Through determination, she helped found New York Magazine in 1968, serving as an editor while covering political campaigns and social issues, including the women's liberation movement.

In 1969, she publicly advocated for abortion legalization, sharing her own experience of having an abortion overseas at age 22. Her willingness to raise her voice and empower others inspired me to act and not remain silent.

I decided to write. On June 5, 2022, my guest column was published in The Florida Times-Union. Though I crafted this article when I was younger (with fewer resources and less experience), my beliefs remain the same: Women should have the right to control their own bodies. Two years ago, I might not have found the courage to voice my opinions if not for the inspiration of women like Steinem.

She inspired me to persist and speak up, yet her story, like many women's, is often absent from school curriculums. Our education system must empower youth by showcasing diverse role models who demonstrate how they can drive societal change, ensuring all students feel inspired and represented.

The current AP United States Government & Politics course includes nine required foundational documents, none of which are written by women. Most of these documents were composed by men in the 18th century, a time when only white, property-owning males were considered citizens of the United States.

In 2022, the College Boards annual program report showed that more women than men were enrolled in AP U.S. History and AP Government courses. Despite females outnumbering male students by 30,000 in these courses, the content remains male-focused.

In 2023, Kristen Kelly and Serene Williams, teachers at Sacred Heart Preparatory School in California, launched the Womens History in High School website to advocate for an AP Women's U.S. History course. The two are petitioning the College Board, the nonprofit organization overseeing Advanced Placement courses, aiming to adopt their curriculum and fill gaps in traditional history education.

Jacksonville's trailblazers: Women with engineering degrees made historic breakthroughs at City Hall, JEA and JTA

The curriculum begins with an examination of women's roles in indigenous societies, focusing on matrilineal structures and early feminist scholars. The course covers women's evolving contributions through colonialism, key wars and the suffrage movement. It also examines intersections with the Civil Rights Movement, along with the fight for reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights.

The course concludes with contemporary issues and figures like Steinem.

The youth of America deserve to hear these stories  the history of 50% of our population that is currently still overshadowed by male-dominated narratives.

Letters: With Trump, common sense has gone out the window in U.S., Florida too

However, getting approval for this class will be challenging. Just last year, on Jan. 12, 2023, the Florida Department of Education banned the pilot AP African American Studies course from high schools, claiming it lacked educational value. It is my hope that we can step up as a state to empower our youth and not shy away from the history of our country.

How can the next generation make progress if they are unaware of the historical figures and events that paved the way for their opportunities? What are we trying to hide?

To advocate for the implementation of AP Womens U.S. History, I encourage everyone to rally support through letter-writing campaigns, vocal advocacy or sign the petition at wapush.org.

Vadeboncoeur

Banks Vadeboncoeur is a junior at Ponte Vedra High School.

This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Women 50% of U.S. population, but short-changed in history courses
Prince Michael was the uncle of the former King Constantine - Sipa/Shutterstock

Prince Michael of Greece, the first cousin of Prince Philip, has died at the age of 85, local media are reporting.

The renowned historian who wrote under the name Michel De Gres died at a hospital in Athens, the Kathimerini newspaper said.

The prince was the last surviving grandson of assassinated Greek monarch King George I with a lineage that goes back to the House of Bourbon - one of the most important ruling families of Europe - through his mother, Francoise dOrleans. Although they were of the same age, he was also the uncle of the former King Constantine.

Prince Michael was born in Rome in 1939 shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. His father died a year later and his mother died when he was 14. He spent his early years growing up in Morocco, Spain and France, where he studied political science.

The prince was an author of many works mainly focused on historical subjects and royalty - Luc Castel/GettyImages

The prince was passionate about Greece and did his military service in the Hellenic Coast Guard after completing his studies. He spent some time living in the country and in recent years had divided his time between his homeland and abroad.

He renounced his right to the Greek throne when he married artist and sculptor Marina Karella, daughter of an industrialist, in 1965, because she was a commoner. They had two daughters, Princess Alexandra and Princess Olga.

The prince and his wife Marina Karella. He renounced his right to the Greek throne to marry her - CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Prince Michael was the only member of the Greek royal family who did not leave Greece after the failed coup in December 1967, when then King Constantine attempted to overthrow the military junta. He was also the only member of the Greek royal family who held Greek citizenship.

The prince achieved international acclaim as an author with dozens of bestselling works, combining his historical knowledge with literary narrative.

His writing focused on historical subjects and royalty. He had a reputation for meticulous detail and covered a range of topics from Greece and the Ottoman Empire, to King Louis IV of France and the Russian tsars.

Details of his funeral have not yet been announced, the Kathimerini reported.

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.
STROUD TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Pennsylvania State Police Stroudsburg say shots were fired in a road rage incident Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday shortly after 5:00 p.m., troopers say they were called to Interstate 80 Eastbound near mile marker 305.4 in Stroud Township for a road rage incident.

When responding to the scene, state police say it was reported two cars involved in the incident crashed with everyone staying on scene.

Pet snake still missing in Tunkhannock

After the drivers and passengers left their respective cars, multiple gunshots were fired, according to PSP.

Troopers say there were no injuries and the incident remains under investigation by the Troop N Major Case Team.

Anyone with additional information on this incident is urged to contact Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Jeremy Kenosky at (570) 619-6800 or email jekenosky@pa.gov.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
(PUEBLO, Colo.)  According to the Pueblo County Sheriffs Office (PCSO), an inmate in the Pueblo County Jail has been charged with bringing drugs into the jail after deputies recovered nearly 40 Fentanyl pills he had swallowed before his arrest on Tuesday, July 23.

PCSO reported that the day after Chad Edmonds, 39 was booked into jail on two warrants, Pueblo County Sheriffs Detention Deputies were informed that he had possibly ingested drugs before being arrested. They immediately questioned Edmonds, but he denied the accusations. When Deputies suggested having a body scan done on Edmonds to see if there were any foreign objects in his body, he at first refused but later consented.

Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office

Edmonds was scanned at the hospital on July 24, and 20 to 30 small, round items showed in his intestines. He then admitted to swallowing a bag of Fentanyl pills, according to PCSO. After being returned to jail, he was placed in a dry cell and closely monitored until he passed the bag, which contained 37 pills.

Edmonds was charged with second-degree introduction of contraband, possession of contraband, unlawful distribution, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. He remains in Pueblo County Jail on bonds totaling $65,000.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Putin threatens to deploy new missiles if US long-range missiles deployed in Germany

Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin leader, has said that if the US Tomahawk long-range missiles are deployed in Germany, Russia will abandon its "unilateral moratorium" on the deployment of medium- and short-range missiles in Europe.

Source: Putin in Saint Petersburg on Sunday, 28 July, reports European Pravda

Details: Putin says if Tomahawks are deployed in Germany, "important Russian state and military facilities, our administrative and industrial centres and defence infrastructure will be within the range of their reach."

Quote from Putin: "If the United States implements such plans, we will consider ourselves free of the previously undertaken unilateral moratorium on the deployment of medium- and short-range strike weapons, including the enhancement of the capabilities of the coastal troops of our Navy."

Putin also said that Russia has almost completed the development of "a number of [missile] systems" of medium and short range, and Moscow will "take "mirror" measures to deploy them, taking into account the actions of the United States, its satellites in Europe and other regions of the world".

Background:

During the NATO summit in Washington, it was reported that the US and Germany agreed to deploy Tomahawk missiles in Germany to strengthen deterrence and protect their partners in the Alliance.

The Kremlin has warned that European capitals could become "potential targets" if their countries agreed to host US Tomahawk long-range missiles.

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), signed between the United States and the then-Soviet Union in 1987, banned intermediate-range and short-range missiles. However, both the United States and Russia suspended the treaty in 2019.

Support UP or become our patron!
Putin threatens response to US plans to station missiles in Germany

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during the naval parade marking Russian Navy Day in St. Petersburg. -/Kremlin/dpa

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a warning on Sunday in response to the planned deployment of US missiles in Germany by 2026, the TASS news agency reported.

He made the remarks during a naval parade in St Petersburg, which showcased dozens of warships.

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty) banning these weapons no longer applies since the US withdrew from it in 2019.

According to Putin, however, Russia had previously imposed a moratorium and continued to adhere to the agreements. The US, on the other hand, has long complained about Russian violations of the treaty.

If the plans are implemented, Russia will no longer feel committed to the earlier ban on land-based medium-range nuclear weapons, Putin said.

State, military infrastructure and significant industrial facilities could thus be hit within 10 minutes, he added.

Russia, Putin said, will respond "proportionately." Russian warships could also be equipped with missiles as a response, he added.

In an explanation of the stationing plans, the German Armed Forces has said that Russia has stationed nuclear-capable Iskander missiles in the Kaliningrad region, among other places, and could also target German cities with its intermediate-range missiles.

The plans are a response to this and serve as deterrence, it said.

Among the US weapons for Germany are Tomahawk cruise missiles, which are technically capable of being equipped with nuclear warheads, SM-6 anti-aircraft missiles, and newly developed hypersonic weapons.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives to attend the naval parade marking Russian Navy Day in St. Petersburg. -/Kremlin/dpa

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the naval parade marking Russian Navy Day in St. Petersburg. -/Kremlin/dpa
Quad Cities Interfaith (QCI) will host its second annual fundraising banquet on Sunday, August 25 at the Rhythm City Casino in Davenport. The theme of this years event will be The Power and Beauty of Transformation. Cocktail hour will commence at 5:30 p.m., and the main event will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The program will include a live butterfly encounter, a raffle and a meal. Suzanne and Arthur Pitz, authors of How to Change the World Two Feet at a TimeLessons from the Life of Fr. Marvin Mottet, will be featured. A founder of QCI, Fr. Mottet taught that charity must be accompanied by justice. While charity treats the symptoms of injustice, justice work seeks to dismantle the root causes of oppression.

The recipient of this years Marvin Mottet Leadership Award, Pastor Rich Hendricks of Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities, will be honored during the event. Pastor Hendricks is the co-founder of One Human Family and QC Pride and has dedicated over 20 years of service to the pursuit of social justice.

Dennis Platt, a community leader who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to social justice by building the Quad Cities Tenant Alliance, is this years recipient of the QCI Community Leadership and Justice Award.

About QCI

QCI has a long track record of being at the frontlines fighting injustice. QCIs current campaigns for housing justice and immigration justice carry on a social justice tradition: QCIs Quad Cities Tenant Alliance has launched a campaign to pass a Rent Abatement Ordinance to prevent tenant displacement due to substandard building conditions; additionally, our ambitious campaign for the creation of a Davenport Community ID would allow immigrants, survivors of domestic violence, formerly incarcerated people, and people experiencing homelessness to more easily access basic identification.

Quad Cities Interfaith is a coalition of congregations and community groups that have come together to build local leadership and address issues in the Quad-City region of Illinois and Iowa. The group works to improve the quality of life in the region by developing leaders in congregations and other institutions, so as to introduce values into public dialogue and speak with a strong, unified voice in decisions that affect Quad-Citians.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Globe Telecom Inc. welcomed the signing of the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA) as a crucial step in combating online fraud.

The law aims to protect all persons from falling prey to the various cybercrime schemes by regulating the use of financial accounts, and preventing their use in fraudulent activities.

- Advertisement -

The law will complement the Cybercrime Prevention Act and the SIM Registration Act, strengthening security measures against ever evolving scam tactics by fraudsters, said Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu.

As a service provider that deals with fraudsters every day, Globe is grateful that the Philippines now has a law that is up to date and addresses fast-evolving threats to the security of our financial system, said Cu.

We especially appreciate how the law covers in great detail various emerging fraud methods, including the recruitment of money mules, social engineering schemes, and other modes assisted by tech, including SMS, email, and even generative AI. This ultimately gives regulators and law enforcers sharper teeth in stopping financial fraud, he said.

Cu said the law would serve to reinforce Globes ongoing efforts against financial fraud, including proactive blocking of person-to-person SMS and bank-related phishing and vishing.

Globe reported that in the first half of 2024, it blocked over 2.74 million bank-related spam and scam messages, a decline of 43.56 percent from 4.85 million messages it blocked in the same period of 2023.

This reflects how Globes collaboration with banks and other financial institutions to curb financial fraud has been working, the company said.

Cu reaffirmed Globes commitment to stringent monitoring and blocking of potential financial fraud in its network.

Globe will remain a staunch ally of the government and financial institutions in beating fraud. Through the passage of AFASA, we look forward to a safer financial environment for our customers and the public, he said.

AFASA mandates banks and other financial institutions to implement stringent security measures and robust fraud management systems to protect financial accounts.

It empowers the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to thoroughly investigate and scrutinize financial accounts potentially involved in illicit activities.

It also authorizes the BSP to apply for cybercrime warrants for electronic communications implicated in violations of this law, effectively bypassing the usual constraints imposed by bank secrecy and data privacy regulations.

The law penalizes financial fraud schemes with heavier penalties, including imprisonment of 6 to 8 years and fines of up to P500,000 for money mule schemes; prison time of 10 to 12 years or fines of up to P1 million for social engineering schemes; and life imprisonment or fines of up to P5 million for economic sabotage.
Rebels in Mali claim to have killed and injured dozens of soldiers, Russian mercenaries

Malis army and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group lost dozens in killed and wounded in a battle with rebels in the countrys north, a spokesman for the rebels claimed on July 27.

Russia maintains a strong presence in African countries through Wagner and other entities, propping up authoritarian governments, fueling destabilization, and extracting resources to fund its war against Ukraine.

The West African nation of Mali has been the subject of a significant Russian influence campaign since the Malian army overthrew the government in a coup in 2021. The Wagner mercenary group, founded by the late Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been particularly active in Mali and has been accused of perpetrating war crimes and widespread looting.

Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, spokesman for the pro-independence CSP-DPA coalition, said in a statement published on Facebook that a two-day battle on the outskirts of Tinzawaten village earlier this week resulted in the rebels destroying the entire column of the Malian army and Russian mercenaries.

Ramadane added that the enemy suffered huge losses in terms of lives and equipment, including dozens of dead and wounded.

Read also: Opinion: A Russian victory in Ukraine would be bad for Africans

An unnamed local politician told AFP that the Malian army had retreated from Tinzawaten as a result of the battle.

The Malian government forces reported on July 28, as cited by Associated Press, that two of their soldiers had been killed and 10 injured in a rebel attack.

Russian pro-war Telegram channels, including those linked to the Wagner Group, published photos and videos allegedly showing the bodies of killed mercenaries and destroyed equipment.

They also wrote that among the killed Russian mercenaries were the author of Grey Zone, a major Telegram channel covering Wagner actions in Ukraine and Africa, and Anton Elizarov, a Wagner commander who led the group's offensive operations against Soledar and Bakhmut.

None of these claims can be independently verified.

Wagner mercenaries fought in Ukraine and launched a brief rebellion against the Kremlin in June 2023, marching on Moscow before abruptly ending their mutiny. After the failed rebellion, some Wagner members signed contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry, others went to fight in Africa.

Read also: Wagner boss Prigozhin is dead. Heres what it means for Africa

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks after receiving official seal of approval of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an endorsement ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, July 28, 2024. Khamenei urged Pezeshkian to prioritize neighbors, African and Asian nations as well as countries that have "supported and helped" Iran in Tehran's foreign relations policies. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Irans supreme leader on Sunday formally endorsed Masoud Pezeshkian as president, allowing the reformist politician and heart surgeon to take charge of a country weakened by economic sanctions over its nuclear program.

During an endorsement ceremony, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Pezeshkian to prioritize neighbors, African and Asian nations as well as countries that have supported and helped Iran in Tehran's foreign relations policies.

Khamenei criticized European nations for behaving badly to us by adopting sanctions, an oil embargo and for calling out alleged human rights abuses.

He also condemned Israel for its actions in Gaza in the deaths of children, women and hospitalized people who did not shoot a single bullet against Israeli forces.

The Zionist regime is showing its ugliest face as a war criminal," said Khamenei, accusing Israel of setting a new record in assassinations" and cruelty. He also denounced the U.S. Congress for allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address the legislative body.

Speaking at the same ceremony, Pezeshkian paid homage to Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the architect of Irans regional military activities, who was killed in U.S. drone attack in 2020. He reiterated his promise to pursue a constructive and efficient" foreign policy, bolster the rule of law offer equal opportunities to citizens, support families and protect the environment.

In his first official act in office, Pezeshkian appointed Mohammad Reza Aref, 72, as his first vice-president. Aref, who's considered a moderate reformist, held the post between 2001-2005 under former president Mohammad Khatami. Aref holds a doctorate in engineering from Stanford University.

Pezeshkian takes over from his predecessor Ebrahim Raisi whose death in a May helicopter crash that sparked the early election. He will take the oath of office in parliament Tuesday and will have two weeks to form his own cabinet for a vote of confidence in parliament.

The new Iranian president pledged in his election campaign that he would make no radical changes to Irans Shiite theocracy, embracing Khamenei as the final arbiter in all matters of state. Pezeshkian could bend Iran's foreign policy toward either confrontation or collaboration with the West and faces the constant challenge of hard-liners still pulling the strings in government.

Pezeshkian has tried to walk the line between hard-liners and reformists with whom he has identified. He has repeatedly criticized the U.S. while praising Iran's powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard for shooting down a U.S. drone in 2019 which he called a strong punch in the mount of the Americans.

Among the pressing challenges Pezeshkian faces is the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and Western fears over enriching uranium to near-weapons-grade levels with enough of a stockpile to produce several nuclear weapons if it chose.

In April, Iran launched its first-ever direct attack on Israel over the war in Gaza, while militia groups armed by Tehran  including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Yemens Houthi rebels  have stepped up their own attacks.

Iran has held indirect talks with U.S. President Joe Bidens administration over its nuclear program but there's been no progress in lifting tough economic sanctions against Tehran.
Rep. Valadao squeezes inefficiency out of drug approval process for patients in need | Opinion

Public safety professionals

Here is how Fresno police can grow beyond the traumatic events they experience | Opinion, (fresnobee.com, May 11)

In recognition of Probation Services Week, which occurred July 21 through July 27, I would like to emphasize the invaluable work of our probation professionals in Fresno County. This years theme is Wellness Unveiled: Navigating the Journey, so we are focusing on self care and wellness through activities and workshops.

Our staff are instrumental in maintaining public safety, creating safer communities and supporting the safe and successful re-entry of justice-involved individuals coming back to our communities. The Fresno County Probation Department provides personalized re-entry services that meet the unique needs of our community. Our officers and staffs commitment to accountability and rehabilitation helps people achieve better outcomes, leading to safer communities.

Join me in honoring the impactful work of probation professionals in our community.

Chief Kirk Haynes

Chief probation officer, Fresno County Probation Department

Opinion

Oil companies must stop well emissions

CA environmentalists say stop oil drilling in Fresno County, (fresnobee.com, April 12, 2022)

Californias 40,000 idle oil and gas wells and 60,000 active wells leak toxic chemicals like cancer-causing benzene and climate-heating methane, a greenhouse gas containing 80 times the climate-warming power of carbon dioxide.

Current law allows oil companies to pay a small fee to avoid plugging idle wells, but the oil industry has still failed to clean them up, potentially leaving taxpayers on the hook for the multibillion-dollar bill.

California Assembly Bill 1866 would require oil companies to plug up to 20% of their idle wells per year. The law would also eliminate the option to pay an idle well fee to avoid plugging requirements.

With this bill, Californians will benefit from better health and safety, reduced air pollution, thousands of new jobs and climate change mitigation.

Please call or write your representative and ask them to support AB 1866.

Ron Sadler

Fresno

Humane treatment

David Valadao, Rudy Salas advance to close California congressional election rematch, (fresnobee.com, March 13)

Central Valley Congressman David Valadao is fighting to squeeze inefficiency out of our drug approval process for patients in need.

Recently, he added language to an annual spending bill telling the Food and Drug Administration to stop wasting tax dollars to kill beagles with inefficient animal tests.

Since the 1930s, the FDA has required all drugs to go through lengthy and expensive tests on beagles, primates and other animals before market approval. But animals metabolize drugs differently than humans, so drugs that pass animal tests dont work nine out of ten times.

There are more reliable and cost-effective tests that dont involve tormenting animals. Thats why Congress passed the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 in 2022 with Valadaos support. That law allows drug companies to use modern animal-free science to identify promising drugs early and get them to patients faster. But the FDA has been thumbing its nose at Congress and not doing its job. Its regulations still mandate animal tests.

Valadaos amendment is a kick in the pants to the FDA bureaucrats. It will reduce needless suffering and death for lab animals and patients alike. Thank you, Congressman Valadao, for fighting for better, more humane treatments and cures.

Zach Bennett

Senior policy counsel, Animal Wellness Action
(Getty Images)

Fourteen Republican attorneys general argue that a federal judges interpretation of the Voting Rights Act in a ruling that overturned Louisianas legislative maps was unconstitutional.

The attorneys general, led by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, stated their case in an amicus brief filed Wednesday in the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans for the case Nairne v. Ardoin.

States deserve fair notice regarding how to draft redistricting laws that comply with federal law, the brief reads. Yet under the District Courts free-wheeling approach, members of the Louisiana Legislature could never guess ahead of time what facts might  in a courts view  trigger a (Voting Rights Act) violation and thus might justify presumptively unconstitutional race-based districting.

Jared Evans, an attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund that represents Black Louisianians in redistricting lawsuits, said the attorneys general, several of whom are defending their own states from Voting Rights Act lawsuits, are trying to turn Louisianas legislative redistricting lawsuit into a test case to weaken the landmark civil rights legislation.

Their case focuses on Section 2 of the act, which prohibits voting laws or procedures that purposefully discriminate on the basis of race, color or membership in a language minority group.

They know that if Section 2 is upheld, there are a lot of states that need to have additional minority Black districts in their house maps, but also in the congressional map, in the state school board maps and all of the other political boundaries, Evans said in an interview. Every case that is going to get under Section 2 going forward with the Supreme Court is a test case to see if they can further poke holes in Section 2 jurisprudence.

In February, U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick of the Middle District of Louisiana ruled in Nairne v. Ardoin that maps Louisiana lawmakers drew two years ago to update the boundaries of their own districts do not give Black voters a fair opportunity to elect their own representatives. Plaintiffs in the case are Black voters who challenged then-Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, Louisianas top elections official.

In her ruling, Dick, a federal court appointee of former President Barack Obama, gave the state a reasonable period of time to approve new legislative districts that do not violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

Dick did not specify in her ruling what a reasonable period of time is or the number of majority Black districts necessary to comply with the Voting Rights Act. Plaintiffs have said the state should add six in the Louisiana House and three in its Senate. Currently, 28 out of 105 House seats are majority Black, as are 11 of 39 Senate seats.

In the months since the ruling, Republicans have ramped up their efforts to weaken key parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Building off a 2023 ruling in the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals based in St. Louis that only the federal government can seek an enforcement ruling under the Voting Rights Act, Republican attorneys general and voting officials have sought to intervene in lawsuits brought by voters, such as Nairne v. Ardoin.

In April, Louisiana filed a brief in the case asking the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to hear an appeal on the basis that there is no private right of action under the Voting Rights Act. That means that voters would not have the legal standing to sue over their rights being violated.

The court denied the state a hearing before the full court, but litigation is still ongoing before a three-judge panel in the 5th Circuit.

The 8th Circuits ruling is not legally sound, Evans argued.

Section 2 has been upheld and private groups have been allowed to bring cases since the Voting Rights Act was reauthorized 1984, and so this is another attempt to weaken the Voting Rights Act, Evans said.

Much of the 14 attorney generals brief relies on a footnote in Dicks ruling.

On the 84th page of the 91-page document, Dick writes the following in a footnote: Dr. Washington pointed out the subliminal message of the Sheriffs Office being housed on the same floor as her Registrar of Voters Office.

The footnote references a government building in an unnamed parish where the sheriff and the registrar are headquartered on the same floor, which Alice Washington, a Black voter in Louisiana, cited as evidence of voter suppression.

The 14 attorneys general mocked this idea at several points in their brief:

The Voting Rights Act is concerned with the right to register, vote, and participate in politics  win or lose  not on whispers from parish buildings.

Perhaps if those walls could literally talk, the District Courts interpretation would not be hopelessly indeterminate, the brief continues

 But bad vibes cannot be the test for vote dilution, the attorneys general also wrote.

Evans pushed back on their arguments.

Given the history that minorities have with law enforcement and over-policing and police brutality, having to register at the same place where law enforcement is housed is a form of voter suppression and intimidation, Evans said.

Im not sure what theyre trying to brag about or what theyre trying to imply, he added.

Marshall, Alabamas attorney general, was joined in the brief by his counterparts in Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and West Virginia.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who is a defendant in Nairne v. Aucoin and did not join the brief, declined to provide a comment for this report.

At a status report in June, legislative leaders told Dick they did not have immediate plans to draw new state House and Senate maps.

Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com. Follow Louisiana Illuminator on Facebook and X.
Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry, left, sits with Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill as Gov. Jeff Landry speaks on opening day of a legislative special session focusing on crime, Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge. (Hillary Schienuk/ The Advocate-Pool)

Fourteen Republican attorneys general, including Nebraskas Mike Hilgers, argue that a federal judges interpretation of the Voting Rights Act in a ruling that overturned Louisianas legislative maps was unconstitutional.

The attorneys general, led by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, stated their case in an amicus brief filed last week in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans for the case Nairne v. Ardoin.

States deserve fair notice regarding how to draft redistricting laws that comply with federal law, the brief reads. Yet under the District Courts free-wheeling approach, members of the Louisiana Legislature could never guess ahead of time what facts might  in a courts view  trigger a (Voting Rights Act) violation and thus might justify presumptively unconstitutional race-based districting.

Jared Evans, an attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund that represents Black Louisianians in redistricting lawsuits, said the attorneys general, several of whom are defending their own states from Voting Rights Act lawsuits, are trying to turn Louisianas legislative redistricting lawsuit into a test case to weaken the landmark civil rights legislation.

Their case focuses on Section 2 of the act, which prohibits voting laws or procedures that purposefully discriminate on the basis of race, color or membership in a language minority group.

They know that if Section 2 is upheld, there are a lot of states that need to have additional minority Black districts in their house maps, but also in the congressional map, in the state school board maps and all of the other political boundaries, Evans said in an interview. Every case that is going to get under Section 2 going forward with the Supreme Court is a test case to see if they can further poke holes in Section 2 jurisprudence.

In February, U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick of the Middle District of Louisiana ruled in Nairne v. Ardoin that maps Louisiana lawmakers drew two years ago to update the boundaries of their own districts do not give Black voters a fair opportunity to elect their own representatives. Plaintiffs in the case are Black voters who challenged then-Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, Louisianas top elections official.

In her ruling, Dick, a federal court appointee of former President Barack Obama, gave the state a reasonable period of time to approve new legislative districts that do not violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

Dick did not specify in her ruling what a reasonable period of time is or the number of majority Black districts necessary to comply with the Voting Rights Act. Plaintiffs have said the state should add six in the Louisiana House and three in its Senate. Currently, 28 out of 105 House seats are majority Black, as are 11 of 39 Senate seats.

In the months since the ruling, Republicans have ramped up their efforts to weaken key parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Building off a 2023 ruling in the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in St. Louis that only the federal government can seek an enforcement ruling under the Voting Rights Act, Republican attorneys general and voting officials have sought to intervene in lawsuits brought by voters, such as Nairne v. Ardoin.

In April, Louisiana filed a brief in the case asking the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to hear an appeal on the basis that there is no private right of action under the Voting Rights Act. That means that voters would not have the legal standing to sue over their rights being violated.

The court denied the state a hearing before the full court, but litigation is still ongoing before a three-judge panel in the 5th Circuit.

The 8th Circuits ruling is not legally sound, Evans argued.

Section 2 has been upheld and private groups have been allowed to bring cases since the Voting Rights Act was reauthorized 1984, and so this is another attempt to weaken the Voting Rights Act, Evans said.

Much of the 14 attorney generals brief relies on a footnote in Dicks ruling.

On the 84th page of the 91-page document, Dick writes the following in a footnote: Dr. Washington pointed out the subliminal message of the Sheriffs Office being housed on the same floor as her Registrar of Voters Office.

The footnote references a government building in an unnamed parish where the sheriff and the registrar are headquartered on the same floor, which Alice Washington, a Black voter in Louisiana, cited as evidence of voter suppression.

The 14 attorneys general mocked this idea at several points in their brief:

The Voting Rights Act is concerned with the right to register, vote, and participate in politics  win or lose  not on whispers from parish buildings.

Perhaps if those walls could literally talk, the District Courts interpretation would not be hopelessly indeterminate, the brief continues

 But bad vibes cannot be the test for vote dilution, the attorneys general also wrote.

Evans pushed back on their arguments.

Given the history that minorities have with law enforcement and over-policing and police brutality, having to register at the same place where law enforcement is housed is a form of voter suppression and intimidation, Evans said.

Im not sure what theyre trying to brag about or what theyre trying to imply, he added.

Marshall, Alabamas attorney general, was joined in the brief by his counterparts in Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and West Virginia.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who is a defendant in Nairne v. Aucoin and did not join the brief, declined to provide a comment for this report.

At a status report in June, legislative leaders told Dick they did not have immediate plans to draw new state House and Senate maps.

This article first appeared in the Louisiana Illuminator, a sister site of the Nebraska Examiner in the States Newsroom network.
Three prominent Republicans are unbothered that Donald Trump promised in four years, his supporters wont have to vote anymore because well have it fixed so good, youre not gonna have to vote.

On Sunday, Gov. Chris Sununu called the comments a classic Trumpism, while Sen. Tom Cotton said Trump was obviously making a joke, and Sen. Lindsay Graham laughed and claimed that Trump meant, Give me four more years, and Im going to right the ship called America and pass it on to the next generation. (That is decidedly not what Trump said.)

Trumps comments came during an address to the Turning Point Action Believers Summit in Florida on Friday. Get out and vote just this time. You wont have to do it anymore, he told the crowd. Four more years it will be fixed. Itll be fine. You wont have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians.

The former president added, Youve got to get out and vote. In four years, you dont have to vote again. Well have it fixed so good youre not going to have to vote.

While Republicans are happy to dismiss Trumps remarks, Democrats, on the other hand, see them as a threat. The only way you wont have to vote anymore is if Donald Trump becomes a dictator, Democratic Rep. Daniel Goldman wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

This year democracy is on the ballot, and if we are to save it, we must vote against authoritarianism, Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democrat running for a Senate seat representing California, said on X. Here Trump helpfully reminds us that the alternative is never having the chance to vote again.

Sununu claimed that by saying things will be fixed, Trump merely meant that he will fix the country. Obviously we want everybody to vote in all elections, but I think he was just trying to make a hyperbolic point that it can be fixed as long as he gets back into office and all that, Sununu said during an appearance on ABCs This Week.

New Hampshire's Republican Gov. Chris Sununu tells @MarthaRaddatz that Kamala Harris is in a honeymoon period.



The media is fawning. Everyones excited. Its a whole new race. Thats all very true. And thats going to last for about 30 days. https://t.co/MlKa8squot pic.twitter.com/trn42yaOAN  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) July 28, 2024

I think hes obviously making a joke about how bad things have been under Joe Biden and how good they will be if we send President Trump back to the White House, so we can turn the country around again, Cotton said on CNNs State of the Union.

.@SenTomCotton says Trump was obviously making a joke when he told a gathering of conservative Christians you wont have to vote anymore if he wins. pic.twitter.com/dTTpn9UFy8  State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) July 28, 2024

Hes trying to tell the Christian community and anybody else whos listening, Graham said during an interview on CBS Face the Nation, the nightmare that were experiencing will soon be over. Give me four more years, and Im gonna right this ship called America and pass it on to the next generation.

Graham added, We will have democracy, God willing, for a very long time in this country. But what President Trump is trying to tell people  I did it once, I can do it again.'

.@LindseyGrahamSC responds to Donald Trump's recent rally comments that Americans "won't have to vote anymore" if he's elected again: "We will have democracy, God willing, for a very long time in this country. But what President Trump is trying to tell people  'I did it once, I pic.twitter.com/F19C8T0OZO  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) July 28, 2024

For the most part, the anchors on each Sunday show were happy to let Republicans spew their justifications without pushback.

But Trumps comments on Friday are not the only time the former president has hinted at  or blatantly endorsed  subverting democracy. He infamously tried to pressure Georgia officials to find more votes for him in the state after the 2020 election. He told his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021  the day Congress voted to certify Joe Bidens 2020 election  to fight like hell or youre not going to have a country anymore. His supporters then marched to the Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the certification. Earlier this year, Trump made comments that he plans to abuse his power on day one and followed up those remarks by saying he wants to be a dictator for one day.

You know why I wanted to be a dictator? Trump said. Because I want a wall, and I want to drill, drill, drill.

With this track record, its disturbing that Republicans are trying to convince the American people not to take his words seriously.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone
For John Akouri, whose father immigrated from Tripoli, Lebanon, in 1955, there is only one choice for president in Novembers election: Donald Trump, despite the Muslim travel ban during his presidency, the felony falsifying business records conviction and the unadulterated drama constantly surrounding him.

After almost two decades of wars and watching [the Islamic State] cause devastation in Syria and in Iraq we needed someone to come in and clean things up, he said of his initial draw to Trump for the 2016 election. So, I thought on a foreign policy and national level he was saying the right things. He was a breath of fresh air, he continued, referencing Trumps withdrawal of thousands of US troops from Syria in 2019.

The former presidents supporters are now looking for more voters like Akouri, increasingly reaching out to Arab Americans in a bid to secure their vote in Novembers presidential election. What they are finding is a growing receptiveness, particularly with certain Arab Americans who find appeal in Republicans conservatism on social issues such as religion and LGBTQ+ rights  and despite the GOPs widespread support for Israel in its war on the Gaza Strip.

In June, Akouri was among a group of Michigan Arab American leaders invited to a private gathering of national Republican figures including House speaker Mike Johnson, majority leader Steve Scalise, and the billionaire Lebanese US businessman Massad Boulos. Boulos, whose son, Michael, married Trumps daughter, Tiffany, in 2022, is leading a new effort to win Trump votes among Arab Americans.

We plan not only not to vote for [the Democratic candidate] again, as we did in 2020  we are now bent on punishing [Democrats for Joe Bidens] unfettered support of Israels genocidal war in Gaza, said Bishara Bahbah, the founder and national chairman of Arab Americans for Trump.

In May, a group of prominent Arab Americans that included Boulos and Bahbah established a political action committee called Arab Americans for a Better America.

Bahbah has said that he and other members of the community have been reassured by Boulos, who he describes as Trumps special envoy to the Arab and Muslim American communities, that a second Trump presidency would put an immediate end to the war in Gaza, though he offered no evidence.

While Trump has referred to himself as the best friend that Israel has ever had, and in March told Fox News that Israel had to finish the problem, without specifying what that would mean, Bahbah says that he is confident having the former president back in the White House would result in a quick end to the hostilities in Gaza. Those hostilities became a defining issue for Biden before he halted his re-election campaign on 21 July.

Trump has also said that  as president  hed ban refugees from Gaza from entering the US. Thats a move with which Bahbah agrees  but for very different reasons.

Israel would love to empty historic Palestine from its native Palestinians, he said. We will not give Israel the satisfaction of driving out our people from Palestine.

While Arab Americans are often lumped together and viewed as a single voting bloc, that characterization is often rejected by those to whom the term is often apportioned.

Arab Americans have common things with the Democrats and common things with Republicans, said Dr Yahya Basha, a respected physician and leading member of metro Detroits Arab American community.

We have a lot of Middle Eastern Christians, and Muslims, Basha said. For family issues, they lean with Republicans. Its a very diverse community.

In the 2000 presidential election, which took place before the 9/11 terrorist attacks by al-Qaida in 2001, Republican George Bush won an estimated 45% of the Arab American vote  and he beat Democratic party candidate Al Gore by a 2 to 1 margin in Dearborn. But the USs disastrous invasion of Iraq in 2003 changed up those dynamics.

In 2020, only about a third of Arab American voters backed Trump nationwide. And Biden reportedly won nearly 70% of the vote in Michigans heavily Arab American counties.

Michigan is home to about 95,000 registered Chaldean Christian voters, a community of Assyrian Catholics that immigrated from Iraq and which does not always readily identify as Arab.

Its a community that Trump has long courted. Trump lawyer Alina Habba, who scored a coveted spot at the Republican party convention in Milwaukee on Thursday night and spoke of being a proud first-generation Arab American, is the daughter of Iraqi Chaldean immigrants.

At a campaign rally in 2020, Trump name-checked Michigans Chaldeans. And the same year, the former president nominated Hala Jarbou, an Iraq-born Chaldean, to serve as a judge for the western district of Michigan, making Jarbou the first Chaldean American to reach the federal judicial district bench.

Despite his overtures to some Arab American groups, in October, Trump suggested that, should he win Novembers presidential election, he would introduce ideological screening for all immigrants. He also said he would expand the controversial Muslim travel ban introduced under his previous administration, which temporarily restricted immigration from seven Muslim-majority states and other countries.

For Basha, who immigrated from Syria and today runs a major healthcare facility in Royal Oak, Michigan, the failure of Barack Obamas White House  with Biden as vice-president  to support the Arab Awakenings that roiled the Arab world more than a decade earlier is one reason to now listen to the overtures of Trumps supporters.

Another is that Basha believes the US would drive fear into the wests enemies under Trump. Without offering evidence, he spoke of how, if Trump were president, he does not believe Russian president Vladimir Putin would have had his military invade Ukraine or become involved in the Syrian civil war as it did with Biden and Obama in the White House, respectively.

If Putin feared the United States, he would not have done what he did in Syria or Ukraine, Basha opined. He also said Trump demonstrated strength in Iran when he ordered the January 2020 US drone strike that killed general Qassem Suleimani, the former head of Irans Quds Force.

Akouri feels that in some ways, Arab Americans have been left out of politics under Biden and his vice-president, Kamala Harris, whom Biden has endorsed to run for the White House in November. Akouri says that when Trump was president, two Arab Americans were chosen to serve in his cabinet  Mark Esper (former secretary of defense, whose paternal family immigrated from Lebanon) and Alex Azar (ex-secretary of health and human services, whose family also came from Lebanon).

Biden, in contrast, has none. Akouri also notes that Biden promised to reopen the Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem several years ago, but so far that hasnt happened.

This year, Michigan Republicans have gone to extra effort to connect with the Arab American community in the state. For instance, during this past Ramadan, leading officials made a three-hour round trip from Grand Rapids to Detroit to be present at an iftar dinner. Arab American leaders say such an effort was unprecedented.

Many of my friends who were solidly blue Democrats are approaching me asking, How do we support Trump? Akouri said.

People want change.
Footage of the shark being struck by the boat can be viewed in the video player above.

Scientists with Oregon State University tracking sharks in the Atlantic Ocean say they have the first-ever video of a shark being hit by a boat.

Back in April, researchers with OSUs Hatfield Marine Science Center tagged a basking shark  the second largest known fish in the ocean after the whale shark  off the coast of County Kerry, Ireland.

Just hours after marine life experts tagged the shark with an activity measurement device and camera similar to a FitBit, the female shark  said to be about 23 feet long  collided with a boat, as seen in the footage when the camera begins to tumble due to the force of the crash. The owner and operator of the vessel are not known.

All lanes of I-15 opened following dayslong closure that left drivers stranded between L.A. and Las Vegas

According to Taylor Chapple, an assistant professor with Oregon States College of Agricultural Sciences, large marine animals being struck by boats is a rising concern.

Thus, the video footage  which Chapple believes is the first of its kind  provides researchers with a unique opportunity to learn more about how large marine life is impacted by vessel strikes.

The keel of a vessel the moment it strikes the tagged basking shark. (Photo courtesy: Big Fish Lab, Oregon State University)

Paint and abrasion can be seen on the shark after it was struck by a vessel. (Photo courtesy: Big Fish Lab, Oregon State University)

A basking shark is seen shortly after it was tagged. (Photo courtesy: Big Fish Lab, Oregon State University)

A graphic showing the path of a basking shark from the time it was tagged, then struck by a vessel and then where it was when the tag released. (Image courtesy: Big Fish Lab, Oregon State University)

This if the first-ever direct observation of a ship strike on any marine megafauna that were aware of, Chapple said. The shark was struck while feeding on the surface of the water and immediately swam to the seafloor into deeper offshore waters, a stark contrast to its behavior prior to the strike.

Data from the tag indicated that for several hours following the tagging, the shark spent most of its time on the surface continuing its normal feeding process before making a quick, decisive movement that was followed by the keel of a boat cutting across its back, just behind its dorsal fin.

Video shows visible damage to the sharks skin, paint marks and a red abrasion but no apparent bleeding or open wound. And while vessel strikes are not always immediately lethal, researchers say the injury sustained by the shark could have short- or long-term effects.

Simone Biles shakes off calf injury to dominate during Olympic gymnastics qualifying

The tag was designed to record data autonomously until its scheduled release and was recovered about seven hours after the boat struck the shark; the data showed that the shark never resumed feeding or other normal behavior after the collision, and researchers noted that it remains unknown if she eventually recovered or not.

Basking sharks, Chapple says, filter feed at the waters surface, making them more susceptible to being struck by boats. However, unlike whales, basking sharks often sink when killed, making it challenging to gauge death rates.

The species is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the waters off County Kerry, Ireland, are one of the only known locations worldwide where they continue to aggregate in large numbers, scientists say.

This research raises additional questions about whether and how often the sharks are actually occupying such habitats when they are not clearly visible at the surface, said study co-author Alexandra McInturf, a research associate at Chapples OSU Big Fish Lab and co-coordinator of the Irish Basking Shark Group. Given that Ireland is one of the only locations globally where basking sharks are still observed persistently, addressing such questions will be critical to informing not only our ecological understanding of the basking shark, but also the conservation of this species.

Oregon State Universitys Hatfield Marine Science Center is a research and teaching facility located on the Yaquina Bay estuary in Newport, Oregon. The laboratory serves as a base for resident scientists to conduct oceanographic studies and provide instruction; in addition to OSU students and researchers, the Hatfield Center also includes research activities from five different state and federal agencies.

The full study, which was published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, can be read here.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Setting the record straight on eight reproductive health-related areas that are rife with disinformation, from partial-birth abortion to heartbeat bills. Getty Images

Reproductive rights has taken center stage in the first post-Roe presidential election that presently features a longtime advocate for reproductive rights in possible Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, opposite former Republican President Donald Trump, whose three appointed U.S. Supreme Court justices helped overturn federal abortion rights. Although Trumps former health staffers have co-authored the Heritage Foundations conservative anti-abortion policy blueprint for a future Republican administration, called Project 2025, Trump, his outspoken anti-abortion running mate Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, and many GOP candidates have attempted to soften their abortion stances while also adopting the longtime movement narrative that abortion is dangerous to women and equivalent to infanticide.

As the first presidential election season since the Supreme Courts Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision heats up, here are the facts behind the most commonly touted myths about abortion.

1. Abortion is safe.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) concluded in a comprehensive review of the safety and quality of abortion care in the U.S. in 2018 that complications from abortion are rare, especially when compared to the complications of pregnancy and childbirth. The anti-abortion movement falsely claims abortions are more dangerous than childbirth, and tried unsuccessfully to legally force the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to revoke its approval of the abortion medication mifepristone. Meanwhile, a new Louisiana law will, starting this fall, classify mifepristone as dangerous, despite opposition from state doctors.

Medication abortion has been the most common way to terminate a pregnancy since 2020, when pills accounted for 53% of all pregnancy terminations, according to the Guttmacher Institute. When administered at 9 weeks gestation or less, the FDA-approved regimen has a more than 99% completion rate, a 0.4% risk of major complications, and a reported 32 associated deaths over 22 years. Common symptoms include heavy bleeding and cramping, diarrhea, and nausea.

2. Abortion can reduce health risks and infertility and save lives.

There are many conditions that can develop during pregnancy  such as ectopic and molar pregnancies, severe preeclampsia, and preterm premature rupture of membranes  that can put the pregnant person at risk of death, serious health complications, and future infertility, as well as make it unlikely the fetus would survive even if the pregnancy continued. Though anti-abortion activists do recognize this reality, they use the political term separation of a mother and her unborn child to obfuscate that abortion is sometimes necessary. And even in emergency cases, they advocate for riskier procedures like C-sections to avoid performing less invasive abortion procedures. Meanwhile, the future legality of emergency abortions in states like Idaho remains uncertain.

3. Abortion is not infanticide.

Candidates have been campaigning on rhetoric that abortion is infanticide and happens post birth, up until the moment of birth, or after birth, as Trump alleged in the June debate with President Joe Biden. However, abortion does not happen after birth. That would be categorized as murder, as it was in the case of former Philadelphia abortion doctor and convicted murderer Kermit Gosnell.

4. Late-term and partial-birth abortions are political terms not grounded in science.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 93% of abortions occur within the first trimester, and less than 1% after 21 weeks gestation. Still, anti-abortion groups and candidates emphasize the idea of late-term abortions, which is not a medical term. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which helps elect anti-abortion candidates, has begun calling the vice president an abortion czar, with president Marjorie Dannenfelser claiming Harris wants to impose on all 50 states all-trimester abortion without any limits, even painful late-term abortions in the 7th, 8th, and 9th month of pregnancy. Though abortions do occur later in pregnancy, they are rare and typically involve nuanced and heartbreaking circumstances. The GOPs national platform opposes late term abortion.

Sometimes anti-abortion activists also refer to partial-birth abortions, a non-medical term for a procedure known as dilation and extraction (D&X), which is already banned under federal law.

5. Abortion exceptions for rape, incest, fetal anomalies, and health risks do not exist in most states where abortion is totally banned.

Despite Republicans oft-touted support for rape and incest exceptions in abortion bans, many currently on the books dont include them. Of the 14 states with near-total abortion bans, only Idaho, Indiana, and North Dakotas maintain some exceptions for survivors of rape and incest. Indiana also allows for abortion if there is a fatal fetal anomaly. Reproductive health experts say abortion exceptions are rarely granted even when they exist.

6. The terms heartbeat bill and six-week abortion bans are misleading.

Currently Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and soon Iowa will ban abortion at the moment embryonic cardiac activity can be detected on an ultrasound, which typically occurs around six weeks gestation. This type of law is often referred to as a heartbeat bill, but reproductive health experts say the term is misleading because the heart is not fully developed at that stage. These laws are also referred to as six-week bans, which is also misleading, given how gestational age is calculated: by counting from the first day of ones last menstrual cycle. This is an approximate estimate and varies depending on when conception officially occurs. For many, a six-week ban is closer to four weeks or less of pregnancy, before many people realize theyre pregnant.

7. The GOP platform contradicts promises to leave abortion to the states and to protect IVF.

The Republican Partys recently unveiled Make America Great Again! policy platform does not explicitly call for a federal ban on abortion and expresses support for birth control and in vitro fertilization. But it simultaneously supports states establishing fetal personhood under the U.S. Constitutions 14th Amendment, which legal experts warn could lead to the criminalization of pregnancy and implicate abortion, contraception, and IVF.

A nationwide concern about Americans access to IVF kicked off this winter after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos are children, leading IVF clinics in Alabama to shutter temporarily. In the aftermath, some states, including Alabama, have taken steps to ensure access to the fertility treatment, but future access remains largely uncertain, especially as congressional bills to protect IVF nationally have failed to advance.

8. Emergency contraceptives are not abortifacients but could be impacted by personhood laws.

Emergency contraceptives like Plan B and ella are designed to be taken shortly after sex, to delay or prevent ovulation. They are not abortifacients, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and they dont work on someone who is already pregnant. Anti-abortion activists largely oppose emergency birth control (and many other contraceptives), based on outdated drug labeling that Plan B might work by preventing the implantation of a fertilized egg, which many in the movement say should be treated in law as a person. The FDA revised the label in December 2022, following additional scientific evidence concluding Plan B works before fertilization.

Research on ella also indicates it likely does not prevent implantation, but Project 2025 includes a proposal to exclude ella from contraceptives currently covered under the Affordable Care Act, referring to it as a potential abortifacient.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
The Philippine Army on Friday met with its counterparts in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to reaffirm strong defense partnership for both nations.

Army Spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala said that their Commanding General Lieutenant General Roy Galido and Royal Cambodian Army Commander General Mao Sophan discussed a sustained level of engagement between both armies.

- Advertisement -

Both Army Chiefs discussed the sustained level of engagement between PA and the Cambodian Army which primarily focuses on regional cooperation and interoperability, Dema-ala explained.

Galido, on the other hand, expressed his gratitude after the 1st PA-RCA Army Working Group and further hope for upcoming cooperation in all level exchanges, counter-terrorism bilateral exercises, and peacekeeping operations.

Moreover, both Armies also discussed the upcoming 2024 Asian Defense and Security (ADAS) and the ASEAN Armies Annual Meet (AAAM) that will be held in Metro Manila which would foster mutual understanding and build lasting partnerships between nations.
In the concourse above the convention floor, Shabbos Kestenbaum pulled out his phone. Less than 24 hours had passed since he was a prime-time speaker at the Republican National Convention, blasting the rise of antisemitism at elite universities. His speech was met by cheering and a standing ovation. On social media, though, he was getting death threats.

Kestenbaum, 25, is used to the hostility, he told me. Ever since he filed a lawsuit against Harvard, his alma mater, for failing to protect Jewish students against antisemitic attacks, hes faced a flood of antisemitic vile. Much of it came from self-declared progressives who vilified Israel. But now, after his appearance at the RNC, he was taking heat from the far right.

He showed me his iPhone screen. Literal neo-Nazis are sending me death threats, he told me. Under a post on X with a video of his speech, a long list of users blasted him with anti-Jewish tropes. One user, a professed Christian, said Kestenbaum was subverting our culture. Another said Jewish values arent American. Nick Fuentes, the far-right provocateur, called him a terrorist.

He shrugged. If these are my enemies, Im clearly doing the right thing, he said.

The right thing to Kestenbaum and the tens of thousands of Republicans who attended last weeks convention, though, arent always the same thing. Kestenbaum is a registered Democrat and a former Bernie Sanders supporter. He speaks glowingly about progressive ideas like a $15 national minimum wage and the Green New Deal. But he feels that his party abandoned him on Israel, by not pushing hard enough against the antisemitism festering on the far left.

Does that mean hell vote for Donald Trump? I doubt it, he said.

His RNC speech never explicitly offered an endorsement of Trump, unlike most other speakers during the four-day convention. Support for Trump was the unifying thread throughout a convention that saw some of Trumps loudest former critics, from Ron DeSantis to Nikki Haley, offer full-throated endorsements.

Kestenbaum sidestepped the issue. I was there to talk about antisemitism and bringing the hostages home, he told me. During his five-minute speech, he mentioned Trump only once, when he endorsed one of Trumps proposed policies: to expel foreign students who violate our laws, harass our Jewish classmates and desecrate our freedoms. He then called on the audience to elect a president who will instill patriotism in schools, confront terrorism and defend Israel.

A semantic bypass? Perhaps. But Kestenbaum couldnt bring himself to offer an endorsement of the candidate. Hes a convicted felon, he told me. The whole cognitive dissonance is shocking. We have to be tough on crime. Do you know who youre standing in front of?

Kestenbaum walked out of Tucker Carlsons speech

The law-and-order paradox is only one part of it, Kestenbaum told me. Deeply immoral is another thing, he said. He chided Trumps degrading comments about women and racially insensitive statements. He criticized Trumps association with individuals who have avowed antisemitic theories  Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Fuentes. (Kestenbaum walked out of Carlsons RNC speech, the day after his own, in a quiet protest.)

Where does that leave Kestenbaum, a political progressive offended by his partys stance on Israel, the top issue informing his political decisions? Look, if the Democrats want me, or any Jewish student, or any family of the hostages (to speak at their convention), we would be more than honored, he said. But the Democratic Party, for whatever reason, is really not interested in this story.

Republicans, despite Kestenbaums deep disagreements with them on many issues, seem genuinely interested in this one, he said. Right after Kestenbaum spoke at the RNC, the parents of a hostage held in Gaza, Omer Neutra, addressed the audience. And as he was leaving after his speech Wednesday night, multiple congressional leaders stopped him, handed him a business card, and scribbled their personal cellphone number on the back.

Im trying to help my party get out of its own way, Kestenbaum said. I want to reform it. He has, at least, some Democrats on his side: Rep. Ritchie Torres, who represents Kestenbaums home district in New York, has been a key ally. Torres texted Kestenbaum after his speech. He said it was OK, and that I could stay with the Democrats, Kestenbaum said, smiling. Come November, Kestenbaum plans to write in Torres name for president.
Robert Jenrick: Tory leadership candidate most feared by Reform wants nothing to do with Nigel Farage

Robert Jenrick has told Tory members there will be no deal with Nigel Farage if he is elected leader of the party to replace Rishi Sunak.

The former home office minister, who resigned because he did not think Mr Sunak was strong enough on the Rwanda deportation flights, has emerged as the leading candidate of the right in the leadership race.

Speaking at an event in Upminster in Essex this week, Mr Jenrick told party members that he plans to win back Tory voters who defected to Farages Reform.

But unlike fellow right-winger Suella Braverman  who is leading in support among party members but struggling to get enough MPs to nominate her  Mr Jenrick said there would be no deal with Mr Farage.

In June, Ms Braverman suggested the Conservatives should welcome Mr Farage into the party as there was not much difference between the Tories and Reform.

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Mr Jenricks rebuff came after it emerged that Reform fears his nomination most of all and hopes his rival Tom Tugendhat, associated more with the centrist One Nation members of the party, wins instead.

A number of sources claimed that former Tory MP turned Reform UK MP Lee Anderson said Mr Jenrick would provide the biggest problem.

Mr Anderson denied this and told The Independent: None of them worry us. Just look at their majorities.

But allies of Mr Tugendhat believe he can follow in David Camerons footsteps in the leadership election, arguing that he could win the leadership race by establishing himself as the frontrunner at the party conference.

The former prime minister, now Lord Cameron, was the unexpected victor of the 2005 contest, despite starting behind the bookies favourite, David Davis.

But a star-making speech, delivered without notes at that years gathering of the partys rank-and-file, transformed his electoral fortunes.

As the standard bearer of One Nation Tory MPs, Mr Tugendhat could still struggle to win over more right-leaning Conservative members if he makes it to the final two.

An ally of Mr Tugendhat said: One thing people misunderstand about the membership is how much they want to win power. Yes, they are more to the right at the moment. But what they will be looking for is a candidate who can win and who can make sure they are back in No 10 sooner rather than later.

They also realise they made a mistake with Liz Truss and are determined not to do that again. They will be looking for a winner and for whoever establishes themselves as that person  like David Cameron did.

Conservative leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat (PA Archive)

Ms Truss lasted less than two months as prime minister before she was ousted by her own MPs. She was replaced by Rishi Sunak, but he announced his intention to step down as leader after a disastrous general election result earlier this month.

He is staying on as interim leader while the party spends the next four months choosing his successor.

Mr Tugendhat and Mr Jenrick have both secured the backing needed to get through to the next stage, before nominations close on Monday afternoon. Former home secretary James Cleverly has also got the necessary nominations, as has former work and pensions secretary Mel Stride.

Ex-business secretary Kemi Badenoch, who has accused rivals of playing dirty tricks against her, and another former home secretary, Dame Priti Patel, are also expected to be on the ballot paper.

MPs will whittle down the list of contenders to a final two, before allowing the party membership to choose.

Before that stage, however, there will be a beauty parade at the partys annual conference, during which the applicants will try to establish themselves as the frontrunner for the job.
Rockford man accused of supplying fatal dose of drugs to fiancee in 2021

Rockford man accused of supplying fatal dose of drugs to fiancee in 2021

ROCKFORD, Ill  Felony charges have been filed against a Rockford man accused of supplying a fatal dose of drugs to his fiancee in June of 2021.

According to Rockford police, 33-year-old Alejandro Vargas has been charged with first-degree murder and drug-induced homicide in connection with the death of 26-year-old Ashley Ibarra, who died from a fentanyl overdose.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

Police said just before 10:30 a.m. on June 5, 2021, they were called to an apartment in the 5200 block of Linden Road following a report of an unresponsive woman.

Crews from the Rockford Fire Department arrived on the scene and found Ibarra dead inside the apartment.

Police then responded to the scene to investigate the death and interviewed Vargas.

An autopsy performed by the Winnebago County Cornoers office later confirmed that Ibarra had a lethal level of fentanyl in her system at the time of her death.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

According to police, detectives investigating the case received new information in late 2023, and after reviewing the facts of the case, the Winnebago County States Attorneys office approved the charges against Vargas.

Authorities said at the time the charges were approved, Vargas was already in custody in the Illinois Department of Corrections on unrelated charges.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Lee County School Board elections are approaching and the District 3 seat is up for grabs. Incumbent Chris Patricca's term has expired, so candidates Bill Ribble and Kaitlyn Schoeffel are battling for the seat.

Republican Bill Ribble worked as the vice president of corporate operational development with UPS for 35. In this role, Ribble represented UPS to local, state, and federal governments. He managed a $5.7 billion budget.

He worked collaboratively with his employees, peers, and union officials at UPS as well as being a board member of the Kutztown University Foundation Board, Urban League, Chamber of Commerce, United Way Boards, and the Village of Estero Council.

About the District 3 School Board position

The Lee County School Board operates, controls, and supervises all public schools within the district. School Board members represent all Lee County schools.

A Lee County School Board member makes around $40,000 per year.

School Board members serve four-year terms before needing to be re-elected

How much has Ribble raised so far?

So far, Ribble has raised over $43,600 toward his campaign.

He's been endorsed by:

Florida State Atorney Amira Fox

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno

Florida State Senator Jonathan Martin

Florida State Representative Jenna Persons-Mulicka

Lee County Commissioners Kevin Ruane, Cecil Pendergrass, Brian Hamman, and Ray Sandelli

Lee County Clerk of Courts Kevin Karnes

Who is Ribble running against in the election?

Ribble is up against candidate Kaitlyn Schoeffel. Whoever wins the primary election on Aug. 20 will hold the District 3 seat on the Lee County School Board.

Here are candidate Ribble's answers to our questions:

Bill Ribble is running for the Lee County School Board.

The Lee County School District is expecting significant student growth and may need to build 10 new schools. How would you address the challenges of managing the growth illustrated in the District's new 10-year plan while ensuring all students receive a quality education?

The Lee County School Districts 10-year plan has identified a capacity problem as the district grows 95 new students per day.

Keeping a tight budget and identifying existing funds that could be better utilized for construction projects is a must. The budget needs to be reviewed to see if monies spent are for wants or needs.

In the event additional capacity is needed in a zone, existing buildings should be evaluated for expansion. In some cases, maybe a second floor added or a new wing. Also, existing properties should be evaluated for an additional structure.

How would you address concerns about teacher retention and recruitment in Lee County, especially considering that neighboring counties offer higher salaries?

The fact that neighboring counties are offering higher salaries to teachers has been a major challenge in recruitment.

FGCU has been doing an excellent job with their K-12 College of Education program. As a district we need to identify all funds available in the budget so that we can be on parity with neighboring counties.

Partnering with local businesses for mentoring, substitutes and teacher aides will help free up funding for existing teachers. Many local business professionals have the college credits needed to serve in this capacity.

Do you believe that the Lee County School District is doing enough to ensure the safety and security of students and staff on school grounds? What changes, if any, would you advocate for in terms of school safety policies and procedures?

The Lee County School District and the Lee County Sheriffs Department continue to do a good job working together to provide safety and security for all schools in Lee County.

SROs are in place at all schools as are the new Gateway Monitors for scanning all people accessing each school. I would encourage expanding the Guardian Program to add security at each school location.

What is your stance on the recent controversy surrounding the Hate Has No Home Here banner displayed in a Lee County classroom? How would you approach similar situations involving potentially controversial materials or displays in schools?

Controversial materials and displays have no place on school property.

How would you address the concerns of parents and community members who have expressed dissatisfaction with certain books or materials available in school libraries? What role do you believe parents should play in shaping curriculum and library collections?

Florida House Bill 1069 clearly protects parents rights to ensure students arent exposed to inappropriate material. Lee Schools also requires all parents to fill out a Media Access Form each year to limit access for books and media for their child.

The district has a committee in place to review curriculum and library collections. This committee supports Florida Statutes 1003.41 that sets the standard and curricular content taught in Florida K-12 Schools.

The Lee County School District recently revised its Safe Space designation stickers, removing the rainbow flag and language specifically mentioning LGBTQ+ inclusivity. What is your opinion on this change, and how important do you believe it is for schools to be welcoming and inclusive environments for all students?

Regarding the Safe Space policy, all schools and their staff need to treat everyone with dignity and respect. All classrooms and offices need to be a place for children to get help. There should be zero tolerance for bullying and mistreatment of anyone.

What are your thoughts on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom? How should the school district approach AI to enhance education while addressing concerns about plagiarism and academic integrity?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers advantages and disadvantages in education.

Some of the advantages in an instructional perspective is that it can develop individualized instruction for all students through different platforms. It can be a translation aid for English Language Learners. It can also aid in developing study tools and tutorial programs.

Some of the disadvantages include that it has no social-emotional component, nor does it have a human perspective. It cannot substitute for best research practices. Students need to be taught the ethical concerns of its use in research writing.

Given the new state bill allowing school districts to opt into a program with volunteer chaplains, what are your views on the role of religion in schools? How should the district handle the inclusion of religious activities while ensuring they respect the diverse beliefs of all students and comply with legal requirements?

Children should be taught about all religions without being partial to one religion. After school clubs can be allowed for students who wish to participate in a specific religious group.

What are the top priorities for your district, and what new initiatives will you focus on to improve the local education system?

My top priorities serving on the Lee County School Board would be to provide for:

Safe Schools, keeping students, educators and staff safe.

Teacher Retention  Enhance recruitment and retention of teachers.

Enhance the English Language Learners Program (ELL) for non- English speaking students success.

What do you want voters to know about you, and why should they vote for you instead of your opponent?

I am running for Lee County School Board to assist the board in executing the Envision 2030 Plan. For the past 6 years, I was the Vice-Chair for the Lee County Schools Strategic Planning committee where we set policy to support this plan. A plan including the vision to be a world class school system, a mission to ensure each student achieves their highest potential and values that believe in students, achieving excellence, integrity, accountability and professionalism.

With my business acumen, I wish to also address the 2.77-billion-dollar budget, curtail excess spending and focus on higher salaries for teachers.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Q&A with Lee School Board District 3 candidate Bill Ribble
Lee County School Board elections are approaching and the District 3 seat is up for grabs. Incumbent Chris Patricca's term has expired, so candidates Bill Ribble and Kaitlyn Schoeffel are battling for the seat.

Kaitlyn Schoeffel is a 31-year-old mother who lives in Estero with her husband and two boys. She has worked as a substitute teacher and has also taught dance to children for the last 15 years. Schoeffel also took part in the Miss New Jersey pageant, where she was crowned the winner. She went on to become the second runner-up in the Miss America competition. Now, she works as spokesperson for car dealerships as she raises her kids.

Schoeffel runs a social impact initiative called Operation Empowerment, which was created to provide kids with an equal opportunity to be exposed to the arts. She partners with local theaters to sponsor tickets for children to see live theater productions. Schoeffel also provide scholarships to students so they can attend dance, voice, and acting lessons.

About the District 3 School Board position

The Lee County School Board operates, controls, and supervises all public schools within the district. School Board members represent all Lee County schools.

A Lee County School Board member makes around $40,000 per year.

School Board members serve four-year terms before needing to be re-elected

How much has Schoeffel raised so far?

Schoeffel has raised over $5,400 toward her campaign so far. She is backed by the Democratic Party of Lee County.

Who is Schoeffel running against in the election?

Schoeffel is up against candidate Ribble. Whoever wins the primary election on Aug. 20 will hold the District 3 seat on the Lee County School Board.

Here are candidate Schoeffel's answers to our questions:

Kaitlyn Schoeffel is running for the Lee County School Board.

The Lee County School District is expecting significant student growth and may need to build 10 new schools. How would you address the challenges of managing the growth illustrated in the District's new 10-year plan while ensuring all students receive a quality education?

Consistency is key, I believe focusing on supporting our teachers in this period of transition and growth is the best way to ensure our students receive a quality education. The best way to predict the future is to create it.

How would you address concerns about teacher retention and recruitment in Lee County, especially considering that neighboring counties offer higher salaries?

Our teachers and staff are the heart of our education system. Im committed to advocating for better pay, resources, and support for teachers and staff to create an optimal learning environment and ensure we attract and retain the best educators. Our teachers deserve to feel valued and supported in their crucial role.

Do you believe that the Lee County School District is doing enough to ensure the safety and security of students and staff on school grounds? What changes, if any, would you advocate for in terms of school safety policies and procedures?

Safety and a positive school environment are essential. I will advocate for safety measures and programs that foster a supportive and inclusive culture.

Mental health resources must be readily available to support our students and staff, ensuring their well-being and success.

What is your stance on the recent controversy surrounding the Hate Has No Home Here banner displayed in a Lee County classroom? How would you approach similar situations involving potentially controversial materials or displays in schools?

Its bigger than a banner! I believe we need to build schools where teachers and staff have resources to help create a positive learning experience for all students.

How would you address the concerns of parents and community members who have expressed dissatisfaction with certain books or materials available in school libraries? What role do you believe parents should play in shaping curriculum and library collections?

I believe in balanced government. I believe that there is not a blanket solution for this issue. I do respect and hear the voices of concerned parents.

I believe these situations should be discussed and taken care of on a situation by situation basis. My goal is to listen to all parents and help them feel safe and happy with their child's education!

The Lee County School District recently revised its Safe Space designation stickers, removing the rainbow flag and language specifically mentioning LGBTQ+ inclusivity. What is your opinion on this change, and how important do you believe it is for schools to be welcoming and inclusive environments for all students?

Its about providing all of our students a safe space to learn. I believe school should be a safe place for all of our teachers and all of our students. When teachers and students feel safe, achievement outcome will be directly and positively impacted.

I want to create schools where students are excited to learn and teachers are happy to teach.

What are your thoughts on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom? How should the school district approach AI to enhance education while addressing concerns about plagiarism and academic integrity?

With new technologies comes new challenges. AI can be an incredible tool to use in the classroom. However, we need to make sure we have proper systems in place to ensure our students are critically thinking on their own while at the same time are educated on this new groundbreaking technology.

Given the new state bill allowing school districts to opt into a program with volunteer chaplains, what are your views on the role of religion in schools? How should the district handle the inclusion of religious activities while ensuring they respect the diverse beliefs of all students and comply with legal requirements?

If chaplains are included, it is essential to ensure representation from various religious backgrounds to cater to the diverse student population.

The school should also offer equivalent support for students who may not be religious, such as access to secular counselors or mental health professionals.

What are the top priorities for your district, and what new initiatives will you focus on to improve the local education system?

I believe we can do better. Our children deserve schools that inspire them, nurture their potential, and prepare them for a bright future.

Im running on three main initiatives that I believe will transform our district and make a real difference in the lives of students, teachers and facility. I will simplify and make communication easier, prioritize safety and mental health for our students, teachers and staff, and support our teachers!

What do you want voters to know about you, and why should they vote for you instead of your opponents?

My opponent, Bill Ribble, has had his chance to make changes, but I believe we need a new approach, one that prioritizes the well-being and future of our children over political agendas.

I bring a new perspective, driven by my firsthand experiences as a parent and substitute teacher. Together, we can make Lee County School District 3 a place where every child thrives.

I ask for your support, your ideas, your donation and your vote. The best way to predict the future is to create it. Lets work together to create a bright future for our kiddos and our community. Thank you.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Q&A with lee School Board District 3 candidate Kaitlyn Schoeffel
An elderly billionaire goes to war with his adult children over the future of his media empire. His only ally is his eldest son, crowned leader of his fathers enterprise after years of jostling with his siblings.

In choosing a successor, the patriarch spurns three of his other children, who remain threats: when he dies, they will each have just as much power as the eldest son to shape his companies, potentially against the rightwing ideologies that have guided them for decades.

Away from the public eye, he makes a dramatic move. To deliver control to his eldest son, the mogul quietly launches an extraordinary bid to alter the trust set to hand the other three influence upon his death. But they stand ready to fight.

This may sound akin to HBOs Succession, but its life imitating art  which was, in turn, imitating life.

Rupert Murdoch, 93, the billionaire owner of News Corp and Fox Corporation who helped inspire the show, is trying to give his eldest son, Lachlan, full control of his media outlets upon his death. While his other adult children  James, Elisabeth and Prudence  will still receive equal shares of company profits, this would leave them with no say over the companies upon his death.

This battle is in fact bigger than anything featured on Succession, according to Robert Thompson, a media scholar based at Syracuse University. This is arguably the single most influential media outlet in all of the English-speaking world, he said of News Corp and Fox. How this turns out has a real, significant impact on real people living on planet Earth.

News Corp owns more than a hundred major and local newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post in the US, as well as the Times and the Sun in the UK. Meanwhile, Fox is the parent of Fox News, the leading conservative cable network in the US, with millions of viewers.

The Murdochs legal fight played out in secret for months  until Wednesday, when it burst into the open. The New York Times reported on a decision from a Nevada probate commissioner, which is under seal, that Murdoch can rewrite his familys irrevocable trust if he can prove the change is being made in good faith and benefits his heirs.

The ruling sets the stage for a high-profile trial over the future of his vast array of media interests, with Murdoch and his three children slated to duke it out in court in September.

Both sides, according to the Times, have bulked up on high-profile lawyers. William Barr, the former US attorney general, is helping Murdoch rewrite the trust, and he has also hired Adam Streisand, a trial lawyer who previously worked on estate cases involving Michael Jackson and Britney Spears.

The feuding appears to have taken its toll on the family. When Rupert married his fifth wife in California last month, Lachlan was said to have been the only one of his four eldest children in attendance. The other two also reportedly steered clear.

With Lachlan as his fathers successor, Fox News and News Corp will continue to be a conservative force. But under the trusts current structure, the three other siblings, who are deemed more politically moderate, can push back.

Murdoch is seemingly keen to avoid this prospect. Conservatism has been the backbone of his empire since its inception. It has proved to be remarkably profitable.

Though Murdoch had successfully formed relationships with powerful conservative figures in Australia and the UK, it was not until Donald Trumps ascendancy that he had close ties to the White House. Though Fox was initially dismissive of Trump, the network soon turned into his most powerful megaphone. In turn, Murdoch had direct access to a commander-in-chief.

Not all of Murdochs children were happy about this. During Trumps presidency, Elisabeth, Prudence and James started to drift away from their fathers politics.

When Roger Ailes, the longtime Fox CEO, left the company in 2016 off the back of multiple sexual harassment allegations, James reportedly believed he could push the network in a new direction, bringing in an experienced executive who was less of an ideologue. Instead, the elder Murdoch took over as chair himself.

In the summer of 2020, James  once a senior executive at News Corp  announced he was resigning from the board over disagreements over certain editorial content. He and his wife, Kathryn, were particularly vocal about the climate crisis and seemed to resent Fox News and News Corps climate denialism.

Weve been arguing about politics since I was a teenager, James told the Times in 2020, about his father. In 2020, James and his wife donated more than $600,000 to Bidens campaign.

Murdoch eventually crowned Lachlan as his successor. While Lachlan does not speak publicly about his personal political views, reports have said they usually lean more conservative than his fathers. And while Lachlan appears less interested than his father in political influence, he cares about profit. And Trump has been profitable.

After Trump lost in 2020, his relationship with the network soured. Fox News was reporting that Joe Biden had won the election, despite Trumps rampant claims of interference. Very sad to watch this happen, Trump tweeted at the time. But they forgot what made them successful, what got them there. They forgot the Golden Goose.

Whats good for the ratings is good for Foxs business, and whats good for the business is whats good for Murdochs heirs  what the judge is looking for when granting Murdoch the ability to change the irrevocable trust.

It really is, can you prove whats in the best interest of the business? Can you prove that something else is in the best interest of the business? said Zachary Kramer, dean of Elon University School of Law, and an expert in trust and estate law. What Rupert Murdochs position is going to be is: We want to make decisions that are going to be in the best interest of the business, because if the business succeeds, the beneficiaries do better.

James, Elisabeth and Prudence can argue that supporting Trump hasnt been all that good for the network. In 2021, Dominion sued the network for $1.6bn in a defamation suit after Trump allies at the network said the voting-equipment company had been involved in a plot to steal the 2020 election.

Fox News ended up settling with Dominion for $787.5m, although it was pocket change compared to the $14.9bn in revenue the wider company made during its 2023 fiscal year.

Over the last year, relations between Trump and Fox seem to have thawed. Trump calls into shows more frequently, and the channel hosted a town hall with him earlier in the year.

The Murdoch familys influence has shifted in recent years. There are new media players like Newsmax, and other influential billionaires are courting Trump, like Elon Musk, owner of X, who is pumping millions into Trumps campaign.

Murdoch himself was seen largely on the sidelines at this months Republican national convention in Milwaukee. There was a time where if you wanted to survive in the Republican party, you had to bend the knee to him or to others, Donald Trump Jr said at one event at the convention. I dont think thats the case anymore.
Russia will deploy its low, intermediate-range missiles if US deploys missiles in Germany, Putin says

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would deploy short and intermediate-range nuclear-capable missiles if American missile systems capable of striking Russian territory were deployed in Germany.

Putin was responding to a joint statement of the White House with German authorities during the NATO security summit on July 9-11 saying that the U.S. will begin deploying long-range weapons in Germany in 2026.

Exercising these advanced capabilities will demonstrate the United States commitment to NATO and its contributions to European integrated deterrence, the statement said.

During the summit, France, Germany, Italy and Poland also agreed to jointly develop ground-launched cruise missiles with a range beyond 500 kilometres to fill a gap in European arsenals.

The deployment and manufacture of this type of missiles in the U.S. and Russia was previously banned in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty) between the States and the Soviet Union back in 1987. However, on Oct. 20, 2018, President Donald Trump announced that he was withdrawing the U.S. from the treaty due to Russian non-compliance, and both countries formally withdrew by 2019.

Recently, Putin called to resume the production of the missiles and position them close to Europe in response to what he says is the United States deploying mid-range missiles around the world.

On a parade celebrating the Russian Navy day on July 28, Putin said that Russia will consider itself free to deploy low- and intermediate-range missiles, including in the coastal forces of the Navy, if the U.S. and Germany go forward with their plan. The flight time of their missiles to targets on Russian territory "will be about 10 minutes, he said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at the press conference in Berlin on July 24 that Germanys decision aims to protect the country from foreign aggression.

"The first thing Russia should do (to prevent Germany from hosting American weapons) is end its horrific aggressive war against Ukraine and abandon its attempt to conquer an entire country," DW reported, citing Scholz.

Putin has also repeatedly made nuclear threats against Ukraine and the West since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Read also: Opinion: We cant lose sight of nuclear nonproliferation

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russia launched over 700 aerial bombs, 100 Shahed drones at Ukraine over past week, Zelensky says

A local resident walks past apartment buildings destroyed by an air bomb in the village of Ocheretyne not far from Avdiivka

Russian forces have used over 700 guided aerial bombs and more than 100 Shahed-type drones to attack Ukraine in the past week, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 28.

Russian air attacks against four Ukrainian regions killed 11 people and wounded another 41 only in the past day, according to regional authorities.

In his post on Telegram, Zelensky said that Ukrainians "suffer daily from Russian terror" and "deserve fair and reliable protection from it."

The Ukrainian president called on allies to provide Kyiv with long-range weapons and air defense equipment, adding that "each concrete decision of the partners to strengthen our force is able to save people's lives."

While Ukraine does not have permission to fire Western-made long-range weapons at Russian territory, the embattled country frequently launches drone attacks, mainly using domestically produced weapons.

Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) attacked three airfields deep inside Russia with drones overnight on July 27, damaging a Russian supersonic bomber plane, a source in the agency told the Kyiv Independent.

Sabotage operations against Russian infrastructure and military facilities are also commonplace, conducted both by Ukrainian intelligence and partisan groups.

Three Russian helicopters were damaged over the past week as a result of sabotage operations coordinated by (HUR), a source in the agency told the Kyiv Independent on July 27.

Read also: F-16s are on their way to Ukraine  heres how they can help fight Russia

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Russian military launched a massive attack on the suburbs of Kherson from the left (eastern) bank of the city on the morning of 28 July, injuring two children and four adults.

Source: Roman Mrochko, the Head of Kherson City Military Administration; Kherson Oblast Military Administration

Details: Initially, three adults were reported to be hospitalised.

All the victims suffered blast injuries and concussions.

The authorities later reported that two children, aged 10 and 15, were also injured.

They were taken to hospital. The older boy is in serious condition. The girl's condition is moderate.

The Oblast Military Administration clarified that the village of Komyshany came under Russian fire. A family with two children was injured. The girl suffered an explosive injury and a contusion. The boy suffered an abdominal injury and a leg injury.

All the injured were taken to hospital for medical treatment.

On the same morning, a 65-year-old woman sustained a blast injury and concussion in the village of Pryozerne.

Support UP or become our patron!
The Russia-US divide was on display during Moscow's monthlong presidency of the UN Security Council

In this photo provided by the United Nations, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and President of the Security Council for the month of July, center, chairs the Security Council meeting on maintenance of international peace and security, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, on the theme "Multilateral cooperation for a more just, democratic and sustainable world order." Whether it's Gaza, Ukraine, Syria or a new world order, it's been Russia versus the United States and the West during Moscow's presidency of the U.N. Security Council this month, with the growing divide on vivid display. (United Nations Photo/Manuel Elias via AP)

UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Whether its Gaza, Ukraine, Syria or a new world order, its been Russia versus the United States and the West during Moscows presidency of the Security Council this month, with the growing divide on vivid display.

The tension was hardly new.

Since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 in violation of the U.N. Charter, which stresses the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all 193 members of the world organization, the West has been lashing out at Moscow.

But this month, with Russia in charge of the Security Council agenda, the animosity was more public, even down to how frosty the formalities were.

The U.S. deputy ambassador, Robert Wood, has refused to call the Russian foreign minister or any other Russian diplomat Mr. President, as is standard for any man presiding over the council  a further sign of the icy state of U.S.-Russian relations.

In return, Russian diplomats have added an edge to the customary response to speakers with whom Russia is at odds, especially Americans.

As the president of the Security Council, I am compelled to thank the United States for his statement, a clearly angry Dmitry Polyansky, Russia's deputy ambassador, said in response to critical remarks from Wood about Russia at a meeting Monday on Syria.

The teeth-clenching has reinforced the sense of a Security Council thats often been at cross-purposes in recent years, but is able to be somewhat diplomatic and adopt resolutions on some world hot spots.

It has been a month of petty diplomatic point-scoring rather than any really major meltdowns, said Richard Gowan, U.N. director of the International Crisis Group, a think tank.

The verbal clashes between Russian and Western diplomats have been a feature of almost every council meeting.

When Russia used its signature meeting, chaired by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, to push for a more democratic world order with many centers of power, outraged Western ambassadors pushed back, saying Moscow had no standing to raise the issue after invading Ukraine and flouting international law.

Lavrov started the meeting by criticizing the United States for declaring its own exceptionalism. He went on to cite George Orwells famed novel Animal Farm, saying, All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. Lavrov then denounced NATOs expansion in Europe.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield countered by accusing Russia of willfully and flagrantly violating the core tenets of the United Nations Charter: territorial integrity, respect for human rights, international cooperation.

Britains Ambassador Barbara Woodward was equally tough: While you tell us how you believe the world order can become more just, democratic and sustainable, your military is systematically bombing civilians in Ukraine in an unprovoked war of aggression, and in flagrant violation of the U.N. Charter.

Frances top U.N. diplomat, Nicolas de Riviere, compared Russia to a pyromaniac firefighter.

It calls for a more just world order but is multiplying its violations of the Charter and jeopardizing our collective security, de Riviere said.

When Russia called a meeting Thursday to denounce Western weapons supplies to Ukraine, Western diplomats accused Russia of getting arms from North Korea and Iran in violation of U.N. sanctions, and accused China of supplying material to prop up Russias defense industrial base  which Beijings envoy denied.

At the council meeting on Syria, Russia accused the United States and its allies of attempting to destabilize the country with their illegal presence." Wood accused Russia and its close ally Syria of obstructing efforts to end the countrys 13-year civil war.

Early in the month, Russias ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, invited his 14 Security Council counterparts to a retreat at his countrys Long Island estate. One of the topics was the qualifications of the people Moscow had invited to brief members at the numerous meetings it has called on Ukraine, according to a council diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was private.

Russias briefers on Ukraine have included peace activists, political commentators and freelance journalists. At a recent Russian-organized news conference, one speaker was the international secretary of the Communist Party who had visited Russian-occupied areas of eastern Ukraine.

At Thursdays Ukraine meeting, Russia had former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissel brief the council, which Western diplomats saw as a noted improvement, though they strongly disagreed with her view that supplying Western weapons to Ukraine will spur an uncontrolled arms market in Eastern and Central Europe, increasing crime and terrorism.

In perhaps Russia's most difficult moment, Nebenzia chaired an emergency meeting of the council called by France and Ecuador on July 9 after a missile strike destroyed part of Ukraines largest childrens hospital. The U.S. and many others blamed Russia, which denied responsibility.

Nebenzia told The Associated Press on Thursday he thinks Russias presidency has been smooth and made some news.

Wood, the U.S. envoy, disagreed.

Russia wants to give the impression through its Security Council presidency that everything is business as usual. It is not, he told AP on Friday. As long as Russia continues its war of aggression against Ukraine, in clear violation of the U.N. Charter, any effort to portray itself as a responsible permanent member of the council will be viewed with the utmost of skepticism.

The Crisis Groups Gowan said the Russians "are specialists at both delivering incendiary speeches and pulling diplomatic stunts in the Security Council, and have delivered both this month.

He pointed to Lavrovs often repeated denunciations of U.S. global dominance and Russia's stunt of inviting Austrias Kneissel to brief, which has caused some mischief.

Gowan said Russia likes to signal that it will not let its struggles with the U.S. and its European allies disrupt council business.

That normally, in itself, frustrates Western diplomats  they feel Russia is avoiding any real penalty for its behavior in Ukraine, he said.

When asked about clashes with the U.S. and its allies, Nebenzia replied; That happens, presidency or no presidency.
President Marcos said the 17 Filipinos still being held hostage by Houthi militants were unscathed by Israels recent bombardment of Yemens port of Hodeidah.

I am gratified to inform the nation that none of our 17 seafarers currently in the custody of the Houthis were affected by the recent Israeli attack on the port of Hodeidah, Yemen, Mr. Marcos said after an update from Philippine Embassy officials stationed in Riyadh.

- Advertisement -

Israel carried out an airstrike on July 20 in response to the Houthis drone attack on Tel Aviv on July 19, which killed one and injured 10 individuals.

On Saturday evening, Mr. Marcos assured the sailors families that the Philippine government has not forsaken them and that we are doing everything to secure their safe return home.

The Philippines once again joins the community of nations in calling for a speedy resolution of the current conflicts in the Middle East region, to the end that no more lives may be lost and all can live in peace, he added.

Houthi militants hijacked the cargo vessel Galaxy Leader near Hodeidah in November while it was sailing for India and held hostage its 25 crewmembers, 17 of whom are Filipinos.
Russian attacks against four Ukrainian regions killed 11 people and wounded another 41 in the past day, regional authorities reported early on July 28.

In southern Kherson Oblast, Russian forces struck the village of Komyshany on the morning of July 28, wounding six people, including two children aged 10 and 15, the Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported.

The village of Pryozerne was also hit, with a 56-year-old woman suffering a leg injury, the regional authorities added.

In earlier attacks, Russia hit the southern city of Kherson and 16 other settlements in the region, killing four people and injuring another four, according to Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

The strikes against Kherson Oblast overnight and on May 27 reportedly damaged three apartment buildings, 18 houses, an educational facility, and civilian infrastructure.

Read also: Land on fire: Russias offensive in Donetsk Oblast brings destruction to new towns (Photos)

Russian attacks on eastern Donetsk Oblast on July 27 killed five residents and wounded another 15, Governor Vadym Filashkin said on Facebook.

The biggest number of fatalities was reported in the village of Ivanivka, around 20 kilometers east of the city of Pokrovsk. Intense fighting continues in Donetsk Oblast as Russia seeks to occupy the entire region.

In Kharkiv Oblast, Russian strikes against the Chuhuiv and Kupiansk districts killed an elderly woman and injured a 54-year-old man, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

The attacks destroyed or damaged five houses, an agricultural facility, and an industrial facility, according to Syniehubov.

Russian troops also attacked the town of Hlukhiv in Sumy Oblast on July 27, killing a child and injuring 14 other people, the local authorities reported.

Read also: Ground zero: How a Ukrainian boy battling cancer and his mother survived Russias missile strike on childrens hospital

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Russians fired 21 times at Sumy Oblast over the past day, killing a teenager and wounding 13 civilians, including seven children.

Source: Sumy Oblast Military Administration

Details: 92 explosions were recorded. Yunakivka, Miropillia, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velykopysarivka, Nova Sloboda, Hlukhiv, Esman, Shalyhyne and Seredyna-Buda hromadas were attacked (a hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.).

The Russian forces attacked the Hlukhiv hromada with Grad MLRS (12 explosions). This resulted in the killing of 1 child (14 years old) and injuries to 13 civilians, including seven children.

The Russians attacked Bilopillia hromada with mortars, artillery and MLRS, a total of 19 explosions was recorded.

The Krasnopillia hromada was attacked from the territory of the Russian Federation; the attack involved the use of three FPV drones, and three explosions were reported.

The Russians dropped nine mines on the territory of the Esman hromada.

Attacks with the use of FPV drones were recorded in the Yunakivka hromada, as well as 10 explosions from MLRS projectiles.

The Russian helicopter launched eight unguided rockets at the Myropillia hromada.

Two Russian mines landed onto the territory of the Shalyhyne hromada. There was also an attack using an FPV drone.

The Velykopysarivka hromada was attacked from the territory of the Russian Federation with mortar and automatic grenade launchers, 17 explosions were heard.

There was a mortar attack in the Nova Sloboda hromada: two explosive objects were dropped from a UAV, resulting in 15 explosions.

The UAV dropped an explosive object on the Seredyna-Buda hromada, with 1 explosion reported.

Support UP or become our patron!
Russian forces launched drones to attack Ukraine from south last night

Ukraines Air Force has said that there was a threat of Russian drone strikes from the south on the night of 2728 July.

Source: Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram

Quote: "There is a threat of [Russian] drone strikes from the south."

00:38: "An enemy drone in Kherson Oblast is advancing towards Mykolaiv Oblast."

01:22: "Groups of drones in Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts are moving northwest."

01:30: "Kirovohrad Oblast: there is a threat of attack drones heading from Mykolaiv Oblast."

02:13: "Another group of enemy drones [is advancing] from the Black Sea towards Odesa Oblast."

Updated: At 04:49, Ukraines Air Force said there was no longer a threat of Russian drone strikes.

Support UP or become our patron!
The aftermath of the Russian attack on Kharkiv. Photo: National Police of Ukraine

On the afternoon of 28 July, Russian forces struck the city of Kharkiv with two missiles.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration on Telegram; Ihor Terekhov, Mayor of Kharkiv, on Telegram; National Police of Ukraine

Details: Police are presently investigating the type of missiles used and the aftermath of the attack.

According to Terekhov, two missiles were launched, but no one was injured.

Also on 28 July, at about 10:20, the Russian military launched two guided bomb strikes on the settlement of Symynivka in the Vovchansk hromada, where a residential building caught on fire [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories].

At approximately 11:00, Russia launched an attack on the settlement of Stetskivka in the Velykyi Burluk hromada.

Support UP or become our patron!
As of July 28, 564 children have been killed and more than 1,487 wounded to various degrees of severity as a result of Russias war in Ukraine, according to the Prosecutor Generals Office.

Most children were killed or injured in the eastern Donetsk and Kharkiv oblasts, where the fighting has been some of the heaviest of the war, with 567 and 407 cases documented by the Ukrainian authorities in each oblast respectively.

In an interview on June 4, Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin said that "we still don't know the true scale of the crimes committed in the occupied territories, to which we do not have access."

In addition to the children killed or injured by Russias war and occupation of Ukraine, over 19,500 children have been confirmed as abducted by Moscow since the start of its full-scale invasion, and nearly 800 of them have been brought back home, according to Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk.

From the occupied parts of Kherson Oblast alone, Russians took 1,000 children to the Russian region of Kabardino-Balkaria for "rehabilitation, said Ukraines Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets on July 28.

In a statement he said that children are forced to adopt not only the culture and traditions of the enemy state. Powerful resources are involved to destroy their Ukrainian identity, which in turn is a component of the genocidal policy of the Russian Federation.

The transfer of children and erasure of their Ukrainian identity in Russia's systematic re-education and militarization efforts could constitute genocidal intent, although experts agree that it could be more difficult to prove in the international court than the lesser charge of war crimes.

The genocidal nature of Russia's aggression toward Ukraine has manifested in war crimes and indiscriminate violence directed at Ukrainian civilians, but also in the denial and distortion of history, attempts to erase Ukrainian culture, and the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children.

Since the outbreak of Russia's full-scale war, the NATO and OSCE Parliamentary Assemblies have recognized acts committed by Russian invading forces as genocide.

European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders told Deutsche Welle last April that a special tribunal for Russia's war in Ukraine may be created by the end of the year.

He empathized that "the next step is a matter of political will.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
San Angelo celebrates first anniversary of Buffalo Soldier Memorial on July 28

SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) The only Buffalo Soldier Memorial in Texas marked its first anniversary on July 28, coinciding with Buffalo Soldier Day.

Sherley Spears, founder of the San Angelo NAACP, emphasized the significance of the day and the memorials impact.

National Buffalo Solider Day is celebrated across the country, but primarily in areas west of Mississippi, Spears said. Congress established this day to honor the Black Soldiers who moved west, and we dedicated this memorial last year with a three-day event on July 28, 2023.

Located directly across from the Fort Concho parade ground at the El Paseo De Santa Angela Park. Plans are underway to develop the memorial site, including installing lighting, replacing the fence, and adding a large sign to improve visibility.

We want visitors to know they are at the only Buffalo Soldier Memorial in Texas, Spears added.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
Hundreds of people from all over the country are coming down to Orlando for the week.

But instead of visiting the theme parks, theyll be here to learn about school safety and mass shooting prevention.

Most of the topics that will be covered this week are really across the board on all aspects of school safety, from the active threats, the active shooter, all the way down to what would happen if we were hit with another pandemic, said Curtis Lavarello, with the School Safety Advocacy Council, which organizes the event. The group of folks that we have here this week are school administrators. We have elected school board members. We have law enforcement. We have sheriffs and police chiefs from all over.

Read: New Details may pinpoint missing man from Orlando International Airport to Louisiana Wendys

The school safety convention begins with online safety taking center stage.

Experts, sharing their experience, and visitors, adapting the lessons to their own reality.

School safety is a constantly evolving thing, and in order to really stay at the top of your game, you need to get the constant updates on things like technology and AI and emergency planning in order to keep the kids safe, said Michael Rudinsky, representing Howard Public Schools, in Maryland.

Read: Man dies after crash on I-4 in Volusia County, troopers say

The event is its 20th edition. On Sunday, school officials worked on how to identify threats and how to stop mass shootings from happening. School safety cant be something we just address when we have a school shooting, said Lavarello. It has to be something thats 365 days a year. Its got to be as important as the test scores, important as student attendance.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been more than 300 mass shootings in the United States this year alone.

Read: Florida: Man killed in deputy-involved shooting in Putnam County after multiple emergency calls

For the experts, many of them could have been prevented. Almost 80% of the time when theres a school shooting, somebody knew that that person had some concerning behaviors, said Clayton Cranford, Founder of Cyber Safety Cop. This system helps school administrators and law enforcement to determine, assess whether they actually are going to commit a threat carried out.

The conference continues for the rest of the week.

On Friday, a panel who visited the Parkland shooting site, including the parent of one of the victims killed in the massacre, will be sharing their experience regarding school safety.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) may be one of the best things [Trump] ever did for Democrats in an interview with CBSs Robert Costa on "Face the Nation" Sunday morning.

Old interviews with Vance that have resurfaced  and vicious discourse about Vance being weird trending online  have sparked debate over whether former president Donald Trump regrets picking Vance as his running mate.

And as other Republicans have started airing their Vance concerns, Schumer said he believes Trump regrets the decision and called Vance an incredibly bad choice.

I'll bet President Trump is sitting there, scratching his head, and wondering, Why did I pick this guy? Schumer said. The choice may be one of the best things he ever did for Democrats."



The top Senate Democrat added that as someone who knows Trump, he thinks the former president is probably sitting and watching the TV and seeing Vance has done something more extreme, more weird, more erratic. And he noted that Trump has 10 days before the Ohio ballot is locked in  so he has to make a choice quickly.

[Trump] has a choice: Does he keep Vance on the ticket, where he already has a whole lot of baggage  he's probably going to be more baggage over the weeks because we'll hear more things about him  or does he pick someone new? Schumer said. What's his choice?"

Replacing Vance is not a likely or easy scenario. Were Trump to decide he wanted to replace Vance, Republicans would have to reconvene in some form to vote in someone new. Democrats replaced Sen. Thomas Eagleton (D-Mo.) in 1972 as George McGovern's running mate after it was disclosed Eagleton had received electroshock therapy for mental health issues; the whole fiasco was cited as one of the reasons McGovern lost to President Richard M. Nixon by a margin of 520-17 in the Electoral College.

Schumer is not the only Democrat playing the GOP "weird" card. It started with the Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a possible vice presidential pick for Kamala Harris, focusing on calling Trump and Vance weird rather than honing in on the typical threat to democracy talking points.

And in an interview with CNNs Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" Sunday morning, Walz said it was an observation that everyone gives Trump way too much credit. He noted how he has not seen Trump laugh, which he said seemed weird as someone in the public eye for so long.

That is weird behavior, Walz said. I don't think you call it anything else. Its simply what we're observing."
Scientists make 'incredibly worrying' discovery after observing pattern in one of Earth's largest ice fields: 'We risk irreversible, complete removal of them'

Alaska's Juneau Icefield is melting at an alarming rate, doubling its pace of decline in recent decades.

This vast expanse of interconnected glaciers is shrinking faster than ever before, according to The New York Times, raising what it said scientists called "incredibly worrying" concerns about the future of our planet's ice.

What's happening?

The Juneau Icefield lost 1.4 cubic miles of ice annually between 2010 and 2020, according to a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications. That's twice the rate of melting observed before 2010.

Since the late 18th century, this massive ice field has shed a quarter of its volume, with the most dramatic losses occurring in recent years.

Bethan Davies, who led the research, gave a stark statement to the New York Times: "If we reduce carbon, then we have more hope of retaining these wonderful ice masses. The more carbon we put in, the more we risk irreversible, complete removal of them."

Why is the melting Juneau Icefield concerning?

The rapid melting of this Alaskan ice field is a clear sign that our planet is overheating.

As the ice disappears, it affects more than just the local landscape. Here's why this matters to all of us:

Sea level rise: Melting glaciers contribute to rising sea levels, threatening coastal communities worldwide.

Climate feedback loop: As ice melts, it exposes darker land beneath, which absorbs more heat and accelerates warming.

Fresh water supply: Glaciers act as natural reservoirs, providing fresh water for ecosystems and human communities.

Wildlife impact: Many species depend on these icy habitats for survival.

The changes in the Juneau Icefield serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address our planet's overheating. By taking action now, we can help protect these vital ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

What's being done about the Juneau Icefield?

While the situation is serious, there's still hope. Scientists, policymakers, and laypeople are working together to slow the melt.

For example, studies like this one help us understand the problem and develop targeted solutions. International efforts, such as the Paris Agreement, aim to limit planetary heating and protect vulnerable areas. And many communities are switching to renewable energy sources to reduce carbon pollution.

You can make a difference, too, with actions big and small. The most important thing you can do is get educated about topics like this and use your voice to help steer public sentiment and beyond, however you feel.

By making these small changes in our daily lives, we can contribute to a cooler future for our planet. Remember, every action counts when it comes to preserving our planet's incredible ice fields and the vital role they play in our global ecosystem.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Philippines carried out a rotation and resupply (RORE) mission to troops on Ayungin Shoal Saturday without untoward incidents, more than a month after a violent clash with Chinese forces in the area.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was the first RORE mission in the West Philippine Sea since Manila and Beijing reached a provisional arrangement earlier this month for the delivery of daily necessities for Filipino troops based on the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusty warship grounded atop the shoal.

- Advertisement -

China Coast Guard spokesman Gan Yu claimed the Philippines carried out Saturdays resupply mission in accordance with the temporary arrangement reached between China and the Philippines.

The Chinese coast guard acknowledged and supervised the whole process, Gan said in a statement.

China also warned it will respond resolutely to any violation by the Philippines of the recent deal aimed at de-escalating tensions between the two countries, its top diplomat, Wangi Yi, told his Filipino counterpart, Secretary Enrique Manalo, at an ASEAN gathering in Laos.

Wang Yi called on the Philippines to honor its commitments under the deal rather than backtracking or creating complications, according to a readout of the meeting released by Beijing.

Otherwise, China will definitely respond resolutely, he said.

Wang also warned the Philippines against deploying a US missile defense system.

If the Philippines introduces the US intermediate-range missile defense system, it will create tension and confrontation in the region and trigger an arms race, he said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, for his part, hit out at Chinas escalatory and unlawful actions in the South China Sea on Saturday in Laos.

The United States and ASEAN had to work together to address challenges, Blinken told ministers from the 10-member bloc, including Chinas escalatory and unlawful actions taken against the Philippines in the South China Sea over the last few months.

Speaking to reporters late Friday evening, Manalo said he hoped Beijing would keep its side of the bargain. AFP

If the parties implement, and we hope China implements the agreement, then well be able to resupply our military personnel on the ship without any obstruction, Manalo said.

I think that would be an important step forward in diffusing tensions and hopefully lead to other areas of cooperation on the South China Sea.

Earlier this week, the DFA rejected suggestions by China that the provisional arrangement required Manila to give Beijing prior notification and verification of deliveries to the BRP Sierra Madre.

The principles and approaches laid out in the agreement were reached through a series of careful and meticulous consultations between both sides that paved the way for a convergence of ideas without compromising national positions, DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said in a statement.

The (Chinese foreign ministry) spokespersons statement regarding prior notification and on-site confirmation is inaccurate, Daza added.

Manila is locked in a longstanding territorial row with Beijing over parts of the strategic waterway through which trillions of dollars worth of trade passes annually.

Ayungin Shoal has been a focus of clashes between Chinese and Philippine ships in recent months as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to almost the entire South China Sea.

A Filipino sailor lost a thumb in the latest June 17 confrontation when Chinese coast guard members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy attempt to resupply its troops.

The shoal lies about 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometers from Chinas nearest major landmass, Hainan island. With AFP

Editors Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: Philippines holds first resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre since China arrangement
Scientists make troubling discovery while studying effects of record snowfall in drought-affected region: 'I expected that ... would really help'

Even record snowfall during recent winters can't counteract the loss of groundwater in the western U.S. Improved satellite imagery of the Great Basin confirms snowfall is not enough to put a significant dent in the decline of water levels in the region.

What's happening?

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment now has 20 years of data that includes maps of changing water levels in the west. Improved satellite imagery has helped reveal the problem.

A drought, increased evaporation, and rising demands from households and agriculture have caused a dramatic drop in the water supply that record-breaking winter snowfall can't overcome.

"In years like the 2022-23 winter, I expected that the record amount of snowfall would really help to replenish the groundwater supply," said Dorothy Hall, one of the authors of a study on groundwater loss, per Phys.org. "But overall, the decline continued."

Even with a recharge from the annual snowmelt in the Great Basin, there was a significant loss of groundwater from 2002 to 2023. The loss over two decades was more than six times the current volume of water in Lake Mead in Arizona and Nevada.

Why is groundwater loss in the Great Basin important?

The Great Salt Lake has accumulated pollution from mining and oil refinement operations as well as chemicals from a century of industry in the area. The hazardous material is exposed as the lake shrinks in size. Increasing heat and evaporation mean more dust is blown off the dry lakebeds, compounding air pollution problems already present in the region.

The Great Basin is a part of a region that is suffering through a megadrought. Scientists have defined megadroughts as "persistent, multi-year drought events that stand out as especially extreme in terms of severity, duration, or spatial extent when compared to other droughts over the last two thousand years."

The drought threatens the health and safety of people living in the region because of an inadequate water supply.

"With the ongoing threat of drought, farmers downstream often can't get enough water," Hall said, per Phys.org. "It exposes the lake beds, which often harbor toxic minerals from agricultural runoff, waste, and anything else that ends up in the lakes."

What's being done about groundwater loss in the Great Basin?

The groundwater study's authors suggest improved water management practices to help solve the problem. They also note that the increased evaporation of water is due to rising temperatures. Studies have shown that a warming world exacerbates droughts, making them more common, longer-lasting, and increasingly severe.

Scottsdale, Arizona, has gone so far as to ban front lawns for newly constructed single-family homes. Phoenix has also cracked down on water usage as part of its water conservation policy.

There are simple steps we can all take to conserve water and reduce the heat-trapping gases raising our planet's temperature. These include capturing rainwater, installing bidets, and using reel mowers.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Search underway for 4 involved in armed robbery at CTA Red Line stop on Far North Side

Search underway for 4 involved in armed robbery at CTA Red Line stop on Far North Side

CHICAGO  Police are asking for help in the search for a group of people responsible for an armed robbery at a Red Line stop on the citys Far North Side last week.

Chicago police say the robbery unfolded on Friday, July 19, at the Red Line Morse stop in the 1300 block of West Morse Avenue in Rogers Park.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

According to police, four people approached the victim just before 12:30 a.m. and sprayed them with a chemical irritant before beating them and taking their property by force.

Police search for 4 involved in armed robbery at CTA Red Line stop on Far North Side.

Police search for 4 involved in armed robbery at CTA Red Line stop on Far North Side.

Police search for 4 involved in armed robbery at CTA Red Line stop on Far North Side.

Police search for 4 involved in armed robbery at CTA Red Line stop on Far North Side.

Police search for 4 involved in armed robbery at CTA Red Line stop on Far North Side.

On Friday, Chicago police shared photos captured by CTA surveillance cameras of the individuals who are believed to have been responsible.

Police say they believe the members of the group were both men and women who are believed to be between 18 and 25 years of age.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact the Bureau of Detectives  Public Transportation Section at 312-745-447 or dial 911.

Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Authorities are searching for a man who went underwater in the Columbia River near Lemon Island and never resurfaced on Saturday.

Officials say someone called 911 at around 2 p.m. to say a man had jumped off a boat before disappearing in the water while spending time with his friends.

Two dead, several injured after multi-vehicle crash in Columbia County

The Multnomah County Sheriffs Office dive team went on a recovery search near the Gleason Boat Ramp, but ended their attempt around 6:30 p.m.

The current at the bottom of the Columbia is very strong, Deputy John Plock said. In situations like this, when we are unable to recover the body, what typically happens is the body of a drowning victim near Government Island surfaces days later, miles down river. Sometimes, as far west as Tomahawk Island. Unfortunately, we are at the point where we will have to wait for that to happen.

In a press release on Sunday evening, the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office said witness interviews indicate the man who presumptively drowned was intoxicated and wasnt wearing a life jacket.

The mans identity has yet to be shared with the public.

(KOIN)

(KOIN)

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Second anniversary of Russian terrorist attack on PoW camp in Olenivka: Protest held in Kyiv  photos

The protest on the Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square in the city of Kyiv on 28 July. Photo: Suspilne

A traditional Sunday meeting in support of the liberation of Ukrainian prisoners of war was held on the Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square in the city of Kyiv on 28 July. The meeting also honoured the memory of the Ukrainian soldiers killed in a Russian terrorist attack on a PoW camp in the occupied settlement of Olenivka in 2022.

Source: Suspilne

   28 , : 

The protest on the Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square on 28 July

Photo: Suspilne

Details: About 1,000 people gathered to participate in the protest. Families and friends of the captured Azov soldiers and of Ukrainian marines, as well as dozens of soldiers from the Azov Brigade were present.

The Free Azov protest coincided with the second anniversary of the terrorist attack in Olenivka. In order to honour the memory of the fallen soldiers, the exhibition Olenivka: Quintessence of Cruelty was opened in the centre of Kyiv. It was organised by the representatives of the Association of Families of Defenders of the Azovstal Plant jointly with the National Museum of the Revolution of Dignity.

The memory of the victims of the terrorist act in Olenivka and of all the fallen defenders of Ukraine was honoured by a minute of silence.

   28 , : 

The protest on the Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square on 28 July

Photo: Suspilne

The witnesses of the terrorist act, Ihor Poshyvailo, Director of the Museum of Revolution of Dignity, and commanders of the Azov Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, namely the Hero of Ukraine Sviatoslav Palamar aka Kalyna, Deputy Commander of the Brigade for Working with Personnel, have delivered speeches.

In his speech Palamar listed the demands from his fellow soldiers regarding the prisoners of war swaps. In particular, he insists that Azov defenders be liberated during future PoW swaps with Russia. He added that all the injured captives, including those injured during the terrorist act in Olenivka, should be a priority during the swaps. Palamar stressed that traitors should not be included in the swap lists.

"In conclusion, remember that if traitors and collaborators are included in forthcoming PoW swaps, do not expect a single heroic deed from our soldiers!" Palamar said.

In addition to this, Palamar stated that Azov Brigade soldiers had demanded from the Ukrainian government to approve 29 July as the Day of Remembrance for the Ukrainian defenders killed in the Russian terrorist attack in Olenivka, at the state level.

After voicing the demands, the soldiers said the Prayer of a Ukrainian Nationalist and launched fireworks.

During the protest the participants held up posters in support of the Ukrainian soldiers held captive by Russia. They also demanded the liberation of the soldiers from the Mariupol garrison.

Read also: Two years after terrorist attack in Olenivka prison camp: Tributes to fallen soldiers in Ukraine and abroad

Background:

On the night of 28-29 July 2022, Russia committed a terrorist act in the occupied settlement of Olenivka, Donetsk Oblast, hitting barracks of a penal colony where Ukrainian prisoners of war were being held. At least 53 Azovstal Plant defenders were killed.

On 29 July 2022 Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) reported that Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka had been killed by the Wagner Group.

The Security Service of Ukraine intercepted phone conversations in which the Russians confirmed that Russian troops were responsible for the explosion in the penal colony in Olenivka.

On 25 July 2023 Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, criticised Russia for obstructing the independent investigation into the killing of Ukrainian PoWs in the Olenivka penal colony. The UN discarded Russian lies about it being a "Ukrainian strike".

Support UP or become our patron!
STEVENS POINT  Dozens of central Wisconsin community members packed the Portage County Democratic Party office Saturday to see Doug Emhoff, second gentleman of the United States, promote campaign efforts 101 days ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.

Emhoffs appearance in Stevens Point comes less than a week after his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, received the endorsement of President Joe Biden to be the Democratic Partys presidential nominee in the November election.

Emhoff retold the events of the previous weekend from his perspective, which included a return to his familys home in Los Angeles after time away campaigning and a canceled flight that would have brought him to Washington, D.C., Sunday morning. Instead Emhoff learned Biden would no longer be seeking reelection from a friend as they were eating lunch together in L.A.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, speaks to a crowd at the Portage County Democratic Party office on Saturday in Stevens Point.

I still hadnt seen her since I walked out of D.C. Friday morning to go to Phoenix and all this is happening and watching it, trying to stay connected, Emhoff said, describing what it was like to be away from Harris after she received the presidents endorsement. (I was) looking at her with a combination of awe, pride, and, OK, lets do this thing.

Stevens Point area residents showed up to hear more about Harris and to be part of the positive energy they have perceived since Biden stepped down from the race for president.

I was a full Biden supporter, and I didnt really think he should step down. I like what hes done, Cathy Derezinksi, 66, of Stevens Point, told a USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin reporter in line before the event. But Im really fired up, still fired up, more fired up maybe.

Jen Brilowski, 51, of Stevens Point, said she communicates with a group of women online who are curious about politics and want to learn more and are unsure where to start. She said the week before Harris became the Democratic Partys presumptive presidential nominee she had to work harder to engage people in that group than in the week since.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, speaks to a crowd at the Portage County Democratic Party office in Stevens Point on Saturday.

"It's like night and day. (Were) not feeling like were stuck with these two old guys, and we dont have a choice," Brilowski said after the event. "We have options now and thats encouraging for a lot of people, I think.

Emhoffs role as husband to a prominent female political candidate drew Carly Wilson, 34, of Milwaukee, to Stevens Point on Saturday. Wilson trains Democratic women to run for office in southern Wisconsin. She said one training session is aimed toward candidates' families and teaching them what to expect while a wife or mother is campaigning. Wilson attended the event as a spectator.

Not a lot of women have the most supportive families or spouses when theyre running for office so its so nice to see second gentlemen Doug Emhoff supporting her every step of the way and hitting the campaign trail and owning his nontraditional role, Wilson said.

Wilson said one thing Emhoff particularly does for Harris is, lets her sparkle.

He is in awe and supportive of the strong woman that she is, Wilson said. She is going to be the next leader of our country and he is just along for the ride and ready to help her do whatever she needs to do to be her best.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff gives a speech on family and the strength of his wife Vice President Kamala Harris and children Ella and Cole Emhoff at the annual Hmong Wausau Festival Saturday at Peoples Sport Complex in Wausau.

Prior to his stop in Stevens Point, Emhoff attended the opening ceremonies of the Hmong Wausau Festival Saturday morning. During his approximately two-hour stay, Emhoff visited with representatives of the Hmong and Wausau communities, participated in a cultural ribbon-cutting ceremony and spoke to attendees. During the 15-minute speech he highlighted the strength he has from his family and the strength a community of any size has in being politically active.

"It's a future where we are not divided by hate; its a future where we are united by a shared vision of our country," Emhoff said of the vision his wife has for the future of America.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Gov. Tony Evers also spoke briefly at the event along with leaders of the Hmong community and local political leaders.

Photographer Gabi Broekema contributed to this story.

Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at epfantz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: Doug Emhoff campaigns for wife VP Kamala Harris in central Wisconsin
FILE - Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks to supporters during his primary election night watch party in Westlake, Ohio, March 19, 2024. Moreno likes to portray himself as a political outsider in his race against Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown. But while his personal backstory may only be emerging in his home state, his close-knit familys wealth and influence are well-documented elsewhere. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Bernie Moreno was ready with a quip when a radio host in his native Colombia asked why he would want to trade his successful professional and personal life in Ohio for the toils of the U.S. Senate.

Remember that my brother, Luis Alberto, just got out of politics  and there always needs to be a Moreno in politics, he replied in Spanish during the 2021 interview. Otherwise, what happens in the world, right?

The lighthearted response from Moreno, the Republican nominee for Senate in Ohio, hints at his familys deep political connections in both the United States and Colombia. Those ties, combined with his familys considerable wealth in their home country, are the backdrop to Morenos journey from owning a single Cleveland car dealership to becoming Donald Trumps pick in the pivotal state.

"He comes from one of Colombias well-off families, whose wealth goes back generations and whose members recycle through senior government jobs, said Philip Chicola, a retired U.S. diplomat who once worked closely with Moreno's older brother.

Moreno has pitched himself as a political outsider and immigrant whose family built its way out of rudimentary beginnings in the U.S. thanks to the American dream. In a statement, he pushed back against questions about his portrayal of his origin story and his parents sacrifices as disgraceful." He also criticized his Democratic rival, third-term Sen. Sherrod Brown, as someone who grew up with a silver spoon, a reference to the incumbent's status as the Yale-educated son and grandson of doctors.

Vicky Stockamore, Moreno's older sister, said in a statement provided by Moreno's campaign that she remembers her familys trajectory exactly as her brother describes it.

It took great sacrifice for my parents to leave behind their home country and risk a new, unknown life in a foreign place, she said. My parents firmly believed that if you work hard, youll be successful, and thats what the American Dream means to me.

Wealth and connections in the Senate

Wealth and political connections are nothing new in the Senate, whose members include 15 former governors, one former presidential nominee and at least 10 people who are worth more than $30 million.

Moreno built his fortune as a luxury car dealer and blockchain entrepreneur. If elected, he would be among the top eight wealthiest senators, based on the most recent data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, with an estimated net worth between $25.5 million and $105.7 million.

Brown has a high-end net worth of about $1 million, according to his 2022 Senate financial disclosure, the most recent available.

Morenos business background and wealth helped him win over Trump during a contentious Senate primary that included questions about a profile created with Morenos email account on an adult website - a profile that Morenos lawyer said was created by a former intern as a prank. Moreno retained support from Trump and was given a coveted speaking spot at the Republican National Convention this month.

Moreno's parents started their family in the U.S., where Bernardo Sr. did his surgical residency at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1950s. Their first three children were born in Philadelphia but raised in Bogota, Colombia, where Bernardo was a medical school dean, a leading advocate for Colombia's surgeons and then a government leader.

Bernie, or Bernardo Jr., the youngest of seven children, was about age 5 when the family moved to Florida. Before he entered politics, Bernie Moreno described his mother as coming from outsized privilege" and says she emigrated because she did not want her children to be raised in an entitled way." Bernie Moreno became a U.S. citizen at 18.

Our family came to the United States because our mother wanted her children to grow up here," Stockamore said. It wouldve been easier for us to stay in Colombia, which is why, at first, my father wanted to stay, but my mother was insistent. She knew that growing up in the United States would teach my siblings and I the value of hard work.

After attending American universities, their eldest child, Luis Alberto Moreno, served in several cabinet positions in Colombia. As conservative President Andres Pastrana's ambassador to the U.S. starting in 1998, he spearheaded passage in Congress of what remains the largest ever U.S. aid package to Latin America. Among his legislative partners: then-Democratic Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, a sponsor of the $1.6 billion counternarcotics strategy known as Plan Colombia.

He was one of the most effective ambassadors in Washington at the time, said Chicola, the retired U.S. diplomat who worked closely with Luis Alberto Moreno to win congressional support for the aid. He was very personable. Both Democrats and Republicans loved him.

Chicola, who immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager from Cuba and ran State Department policy on Colombia during the late 1990s, said Moreno never mentioned his brother Bernie, who is more than a decade younger, during their almost monthly breakfasts and other frequent meetings. But he called Bernie Morenos immigrant origin tale a gross exaggeration.

Arriving in the United States

Stockamore said life was not easy when the Morenos first arrived in the U.S. She recalled the children going to the local flea market to sell trinkets to make extra money for the family and having to pay her own way through community college.

Many of Luis Alberto Morenos connections in business stem from his time as president of the Washington-based Inter-American Development Bank, the largest source for long-term financing in Latin America and the Caribbean. During his tenure from 2005 to 2020, he oversaw the biggest capital increase in the international banks history. But he also drew criticism from U.S. lawmakers for the way the bank, whose mission is to fight poverty in the region, lost nearly $1 billion by plowing a large chunk of its cash reserves into mortgage-backed securities at a time Wall Street was fleeing toxic assets blamed for triggering the 2008 global financial crisis.

Another brother, Roberto Moreno, is co-founder and president of Amarilo Construction, one of Colombias largest builders of affordable housing. The Moreno campaign said the brothers maintained clear legal and operational firewalls while Luis Alberto Moreno headed the IDB to avoid potential conflicts. But corporate records show at least some of IDB's funding going to banks that worked with Amarilo, and Bernie Moreno's financial disclosures indicate he is heavily invested in a U.S. affiliate of the company.

The IDB loaned or underwrote bonds totaling $360 million to two private Colombian banks to promote affordable housing through its private-sector lending arm. One of the banks, Banco Davivienda, financed Amarilos development of a Bogota apartment complex between 2019 and 2020, according to the mortgage lender's 2021 annual report. Meanwhile the other financial institution, Bancolombia, signed an alliance in 2020 with Amarilo and Yellowstone Capital Partners, a private equity firm the construction giant created in 2009 to source institutional investment. It has operations in both Colombia and the U.S.

According to Bernie Moreno's 2023 personal financial disclosure, he is a majority owner of a Yellowstone-associated parcel of land in Costa Rica worth between $1 million and $5 million. He also has invested between $750,000 and $1.5 million in two of Yellowstone's U.S. investment funds, one of which targets opportunities in the American housing market.

Luis Alberto Moreno's more recent activities include serving on the boards of The Dow Chemical Company, a major Brazilian bank and Mexicos largest Coca-Coca bottler. He also is managing director of Allen & Co., a New York-based investment bank that every summer hosts a dealmaking retreat in Sun Valley, Idaho, for the billionaire set and that has closed deals for companies ranging from Chewy.com and the New York Mets to Walmart and Facebook. The elder Moreno is also a member of the International Olympic Committee and sits on the Leadership Council of the World Economic Forum.

Siblings and spouses

Bernie Moreno's siblings and their spouses have donated more than $134,000 since 2021 to Bernie Moreno's two Senate runs, campaign finance records show. About half of that was returned after Moreno dropped out of the 2021 race.

Moreno's campaign also received $2,900 in 2021 from Luis Andrade, his cousin. An American citizen, Andrade helped run consulting giant McKinsey & Company's business in Latin America for 25 years, before leaving the private sector in 2011 to lead a Colombian government agency tasked with courting private infrastructure investment.

Among the biggest investors in the highway upgrades he promoted was Brazil's Odebrecht, which in 2016 pleaded guilty in the U.S. to charges of paying $788 million in bribes to officials across Latin America, including Colombia.

Although Andrade was never charged for taking bribes himself, he was accused of acting improperly in the awarding of an extension to a concession contract controlled by Odebrecht and a Colombian partner, Grupo AVAL. Last year, he was banned from holding office for 15 years as a result of an administrative disciplinary proceeding, which is now being appealed. He also faces criminal charges.

Andrade maintains his innocence and has helped U.S. authorities untangle Odebrecht's web of corruption in Colombia. Among his advocates in Washington is former Sen. Connie Mack, R-Fla. He has accused Colombia's former attorney general, who previously served as counsel to Odebrecht's partner in Colombia, of retaliation after, as director of the infrastructure agency, he moved to cancel Odebrecht's contract without any compensation for some $300 million in cost overrun claims once the scandal broke.

Moreno's daughter, Emily, is the spouse of Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, a former White House and campaign aide to Trump, and a sometime spokesperson for the Moreno family.

___

Goodman reported from Miami. Associated Press writers Brian Slodysko in Washington and Astrid Suarez in Bogota, Colombia, contributed to this report.
(Getty Images)

U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Susan Collins of Maine introduced legislation Thursday that would solicit experts to issue periodic health guidance and clinical recommendations on PFAS, a class of harmful, man-made chemicals.

PFAS  or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances  are widely used in industrial and consumer products for their water- and stain-resistant properties. They are widespread throughout New Hampshire and have had acute impacts in the southern part of the state with contamination from Pease Air Force Base and French manufacturer Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics.

The bipartisan bill  by Shaheen, a Democrat, and Collins, a Republican  has been endorsed by several environmental organizations, according to Shaheens office, including the local groups Merrimack Citizens for Clean Water and Testing for Pease.

U.S. Reps. Dan Kildee, a Michigan Democrat, and Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, introduced a companion bill in the House in December.

As we continue to learn about the health impacts caused by PFAS exposure, its critical that health care providers have the most up-to-date guidance so they can best care for their patients, Shaheen said in a statement. As we continue to address PFAS contamination in the Granite State, and across the country, this bipartisan legislation would take an important step toward keeping Americans healthy by requiring regular updates to clinician guidance.

Laurene Allen, co-founder of Merrimack Citizens for Clean Water, said eight years ago communities surrounding Saint-Gobain learned they had an estimated 10 to 15 years of exposure to types of PFAS chemicals  chemicals that were tasteless, odorless, and very disruptive to the endocrine system and every system in your body, basically, she said.

What was missing back then, which still were trying to get in place, is health guidance and physician guidance, Allen said. Its been an ongoing challenge.

Getting the State House to approve legislation that connects exposure to health outcomes has been difficult, she said.

Bills over the years that have been on this particular topic have been defeated or sent to committee for further study, she said, and then they go nowhere.

In January, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry updated clinical guidance on PFAS for the first time since 2019.

If this bill becomes law, it would give the agency director 60 days to enter into an agreement for the work to be conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine or, if they decline, another appropriate entity.

Within two years, that entity would be required to complete an initial assessment and formulate recommendations on the health effects of PFAS that can be measured in human tissues. Those recommendations would be updated every five years or more frequently if determined necessary by the agency director based on an assessment of the science.

In crafting these assessments, the experts would be required to engage with and solicit feedback from PFAS exposed communities about their experiences with exposure, testing, and clinical follow-up.

Within five years of entering into the agreement, the experts would also have to issue up-to-date clinical guidance on addressing the health effects of PFAS, make that guidance available on the agencys public website, and disseminate the guidance to state and local health authorities and relevant health care professionals. This would also have to be updated at least every five years.

Research has linked PFAS to a number of health problems: high cholesterol, weakened immune systems, decreased fertility, increased blood pressure in pregnant women, developmental problems in children, and prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers.

Almost all Americans have measurable amounts of PFAS in their blood, the agency has found. They have even been found in measurable amounts in newborns whose mothers have been exposed to the chemicals, a study led by Emory University found.

If we dont talk about health, and we dont talk about the proper guidance that people need, were not supporting public health, Allen said. Environmental health is a significantly overlooked portion of public health.

This story was first published by New Hampshire Bulletin. Like Maine Morning Star, New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. New Hampshire Bulletin maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Dana Wormald for questions: info@newhampshirebulletin.com. Follow New Hampshire Bulletin on Facebook and X.

DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST
The New York Times was forced to issue a correction on a story last week after it unknowingly interviewed a woman whos among the countrys most infamous fraudsters.

That gaffe was published as part of an article about Kamala Harris cutting into Donald Trumps polling lead. Among a group of prospective voters interviewed was Anna Ayala, a 58-year-old woman from California who claimed she was a Democrat whod recently switched to backing Donald Trump, partially because of the southern border.

I mean, the border situation is out of control, Ayala was quoted as saying.

Anna Ayalas booking photo in 2005. Reuters

That quote didnt last long on the Times website, however. It was removed approximately an hour later and a correctionlikely among the most eccentric in the papers 172-year historywas placed at the articles bottom.

The Times removed comments from one voter in an earlier version of this article after learning that the person had been convicted in an extortion scheme in which she made fraudulent claims, it read.

The correction referred to Ayalas history as the fraudster who infamously planted an acquaintances severed finger into her Wendys chili, claiming it was served to her that way. She tried to bank tens of millions off the fast food chain and reportedly cost Wendys tens of millions of dollars because of the bogus allegationsbut she never saw a dime herself. Instead, she was sentenced to nine years in prison after she was convicted of grand larceny for the scam.

Ayala was slapped with the nickname Chili Finger Lady, a moniker and reputation that should have prevented anyone from ever taking her seriously again.

The latest NYT poll writeup quotes the woman who was convicted of planting a severed finger in her Wendy's chili https://t.co/ua52hBfyvc pic.twitter.com/Q1uD7Px1S8  Gilad Edelman (@GiladEdelman) July 25, 2024

The Times mistake appeared to have been first pointed out by Gilad Edelman, an editor at The Atlantic. He wrote to X that something just seemed odd about the quote so he Googled her, and, alas, her well-documented history as a fraudster presented itself.

It remains unclear how Ayala was able to sneak a quote into the countrys paper of record, and spokespeople for the Times have merely referred outlets to its correction when reached for comment on the matter.

At the center of the story was a Times/Siena College poll that asked respondents whether theyd be open to being contacted by a reporter to discuss the issues in this survey.

The story carried three bylines: Shane Goldmacher, Ruth Igielnik, and Camille Baker. They have not addressed the gaffe publicly, and reports have not identified who conducted the ill-fated interview.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
The United States and Japan jointly condemned Beijings destabilizing actions in the South China Sea.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara jointly expressed their strong objections to the PRCs unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea.

- Advertisement -

Chinas destabilizing actions in this region include unsafe encounters at sea and in the air, efforts to disrupt other countries offshore resources exploitation, as well as the dangerous use of Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels, the officials said in a joint communique.

The allies accused China of intensifying attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea and that Chinese foreign policy seeks to reshape the international order for its own benefit at the expense of others.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Japans Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Japans Defense Minister Minoru Kihara attend the Foreign and Defense Ministerial (2+2) Meeting at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on July 28, 2024. (Photo by David Mareuil / POOL / AFP)

They also expressed concern about Chinas ongoing and rapid expansion of its nuclear weapons arsenal, which continues without any transparency regarding its intent and which the PRC (Peoples Republic of China) refuses to acknowledge, despite publicly available evidence.

The statement also highlighted with concern Russias growing and provocative strategic military cooperation with the PRC, including through joint operations and drills in the vicinity of Japan, and the PRCs support for Russias defense industrial base.

They also strongly condemned deepening Russia-North Korea cooperation, exemplified by Russias procurement of ballistic missiles and other materiel from North Korea in direct violation of UNSCRs (UN Security Council resolutions) for use against Ukraine.

As this developed, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) refuted Beijings boast that it permitted the Philippines to deliver fresh supplies to its outpost in Ayungin Shoal on Saturday.

We fully expect China to adhere to the provisions of the provisional understanding. Both sides should deal with differences in a constructive manner and never through coercion and intimidation. To clarify, the Philippines did not and will never seek permission from the PRC to conduct resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal, National Task Force WPS Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya told journalists on Sunday.

The task force also belied a Chinese Foreign Ministry press statement that its forces inspected the supplies the Philippine military was carrying to ensure that only humanitarian necessities were ferried to BRP Sierra Madre.

There was also no boarding and inspection by the Chinese Coast Guard as claimed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, added Malaya, also the National Security Council Assistant Director General.

On Saturday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the support of the Philippine Coast Guard successfully carried out a RORE mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal using the civilian vessel ML Lapu- Lapu.

During the operation, Malaya said various Chinese maritime forces were observed in the vicinity, including four Chinese Coast Guard vessels, three Peoples Liberation Army- Navy vessels, and two Chinese maritime militia vessels.

During the entire duration of the mission, the Chinese vessels maintained their distance and did not undertake any action to disrupt the RORE, he said.

For its part, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it was unfortunate that China mischaracterized the Philippines RORE mission.

Instead of acknowledging how two countries were able to manage differences in order to avoid miscalculation and misunderstanding, the (China) spokesperson chose to misrepresent what has been agreed between the Philippines and China regarding RORE missions in Ayungin Shoal, the DFA said.

Let us make it absolutely clear: The understanding between the Philippines and China was concluded in good faith, with the explicit agreement that it will not prejudice national positions, the DFA said, adding that giving false notions about the agreement is not helpful for both sides.

The BRP Sierra Madre is a commissioned naval vessel and its presence in Ayungin Shoal is well within the Philippines sovereign rights and jurisdiction, the department added. With AFP

Editors Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: US, Japan take a swipe at China and deepen defense ties
Journalists will have to begin reporting news from Shasta County Board of Supervisors meetings from outside the board's chambers in a designated media room.

Effective immediately, a new county policy states reporters, photographers and other media members covering meetings must stay in a separate locked room near the board chambers, according to a press release issued Friday by Deputy County Executive Officer Stewart Buettell.

Reporters and other journalists who choose to sit in the board chambers will be "considered participants...and may be asked" to leave chambers, along with other attendees, if there's a disruption, according to the press release.

The policy reverses a longtime courtesy of transparency that gives journalists access to the board chambers, regardless whether attendees are told to leave during a public meeting.

Shasta County Supervisor Patrick Jones attends the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Feb . 8, 2022. It was the board's first meeting since the successful recall of Leonard Moty in the Feb. 1 election.

Note to readers: If you appreciate the work we do here at the Redding Record Searchlight please consider subscribing yourself or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know.

The county's new media policy follows "recent events disrupting the regular course of business," the press release said.

The most recent was an incident at a supervisors meeting on July 23, when members of the public shouted at Supervisor Patrick Jones and other board members regarding a disagreement about appointing Benjamin Nowain to the Shasta County Elections Commission.

Following Supervisor Tim Garman's nomination of Nowain to the panel, Jones voted "no" and claimed Nowain wanted to disband the commission.

Jenny Nowain sits on the floor of the Shasta County Board of Supervisors chambers Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The meeting was shut down due to disruptions, but Nowain refused to leave the chambers until Supervisor Patrick Jones apologized to her.

Nowain and his spouse Jenny Nowain denied the claim and Nowain's supporters voiced objections from their seats.

Jones eventually called for security guards to clear the chambers. But Jenny Nowain conducted a one-woman sit-in, refusing to leave the chamber floor unless Jones apologized for claiming that her husband wanted to abolish the commission. Jones did not apologize and sheriff's deputies went on to carry Nowain out of the chambers.

Several reporters and photographers captured photos and video footage of Nowain sitting on the floor and of two deputies carrying her out.

Shasta County sheriff's deputies carry Jenny Nowain of Redding from a Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, July 23, 2024, after she refused to leave.

More: Shasta County supervisors meeting once again shut down due to disruptions

If such an incident occurred again, according to the board's new policy, media members could leave the locked media room, but could not go into the chambers or re-enter the media room "until the Board of Supervisors resumes," according to Buettell's press release.

The next supervisors meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 30.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta supervisors new policy restricts journalists at board meetings
She responded to 4 overdoses in 2 years. Heres her message for Bellingham residents

Jessica Silver is a Bellingham resident, artist and mother of five.

She isnt a first responder. She doesnt work in the medical field. But in the last year and a half, she says shes had to use CPR or Narcan four separate times to help bring strangers back from overdoses.

Ive never used fentanyl. Ive never even seen fentanyl. I never thought I would have to do that, Silver said in an interview with The Bellingham Herald.

Narcan nasal spray can save someone whos overdosing on an opioid drug such as oxycodone, heroin or fentanyl.

Silvers two most recent experiences administering Narcan were in the last month, just days apart from each other.

I think what we are dealing with is an absolutely tragic and horrible epidemic, and its ravishing peoples lives, Silver said.

The fentanyl crisis has been declared an emergency across Bellingham, Whatcom County and the Lummi Nation as opioid overdose deaths have been rising exponentially over the last several years locally and across the state.

There were 137 overdose deaths in Whatcom County in 2023, according to WhatcomOverdosePrevention.org.

Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin. This means a very small amount can kill you, the organization states. Because of poor quality control, many fentanyl-containing pills on the street contain a dose that can kill someone who hasnt developed a tolerance to the drug. Fentanyl is also very inexpensive and easy to get on the black market compared to other illegal drugs.

Narcan, which is the brand name for the drug Naloxone, can reverse an opioid overdose. It can restore breathing and consciousness to a person in about two to five minutes. It only works on opioids and will not affect someone who has not taken opioids.

Silvers message? She wants everyone to carry Narcan and get CPR certified.

Theres no worse feeling in the world than knowing someone is overdosing, there is something out there that could fix this  and you dont have it, Silver told The Herald.

Whatcom County Health and Community Services distributed 5,912 Naloxone kits, each equipped with two doses, in 2023. WCHCS distributed 2,393 kits in the first six months of 2024.

Access to Naloxone has increased dramatically in the last few years, and our department is one of multiple access points, said WCHCS Communications Specialist Marie Duckworth. Our partners, especially EMS, have done a lot of work in this area through presentations and a leave-behind program.

Naloxone is available for purchase at most pharmacies. The Peoples Harm Reduction Alliance also offers a free Naloxone-by-mail program for residents of Washington State.
With less than 6 weeks before primary, Elizabeth Warren's GOP challengers both claim edge

QUINCY  With less than six weeks left before the Sept. 3 state primary, both Republicans challenging U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., are citing campaign finance records as proof of their superior chances of upsetting the two-term incumbent.

John Deaton, of Swansea, maintains a significant financial edge in terms of total receipts, expenditures and cash on hand, but Quincy City Councilor Ian Cain slightly out-earned Deaton during the second quarter, which runs from April 15 to July 15, according to the most recent available data from the Federal Election Commission.

How much money do Deaton and Cain have in campaign war chests?

As of July 24, records show that Deaton has received almost $1.7 million in campaign contributions, including $1 million of his own money. His campaign has spent over $715,000 and has about $975,000 remaining.

John Deaton, of Swansea, is trying to win the Republican nomination to unseat U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., in November.

Cain, who officially entered the race two months after Deaton, has raised just over $360,000, spent about $313,000 and has $48,392 in cash on hand. From April to June, however, Cain outraised Deaton by about $36,000.

Cain told The Patriot Ledger that the numbers show he has "a stronger chance (than Deaton) of beating Elizabeth Warren in the fall.

Quincy City Councilor Ian Cain is running against John Deaton in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. The winner will face incumbent Elizabeth Warren in November.

Deatons campaign said the financial records not only show him in the lead, but that Cains candidacy lacks viability.

The Deaton campaign has approximately twenty times more cash on hand than Mr. Cain, wrote Deatons communications director, Claire Hardwick. in an email. With less than $50,000 in the bank, Mr. Cain lacks the resources to mount a credible statewide campaign.

Warren, who does not face a primary challenge, has raised more than $6.4 million in 2023 and 2024, spent more than $3.8 million and has almost $5 million in the bank. Finance records show almost $18.5 million in contributions to Warren since 2019.

Who are the high-profile donors contributing to Deaton and Cain?

Among Deatons contributors is financier Anthony Scaramucci, who was White House communications director for the Trump administration for 10 days in 2017. Scaramucci contributed $6,600.

Others include the Winklevoss twins, Tyler and Cameron, the high-bred celebrities who famously feuded with Mark Zuckerberg and claimed to have come up with the idea for Facebook. The twins contributed a combined $13,200 to Deaton.

Cryptocurrency billionaire and Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse also contributed $6,600 to Deaton. In May, Ripple donated $1 million to the political action committee Commonwealth Unity Fund, which supports Deatons bid to unseat Warren, according to Open Secrets.

Homelessness crisis' local impact: Healey imposes more restrictions on migrant families in state's shelter system

A look back at Quincy tricentennial: How Quincy's Pageant Field got its name. (It was quite dramatic)

New England Patriots President Jonathan Kraft gave $1,000 in May.

Notable Cain contributors include real estate developers, business leaders and businessmen active in the Quincy area. They include Atlantic Development principal D.J. MacKinnon, Marina Bay and Granite Links developer Peter OConnell, auto dealer Daniel Quirk, restaurateurs Paul Wahlberg and Jimmy Liang, developer Sean Galvin and Cashman Co. principal Jay Cashman.

Will there be a debate before the Sept. 3 primary?

In June, Cain said in a news release that Deaton refused his challenge to a series of debates across Massachusetts ahead of the September primary, a refusal Cain characterized as arrogant.

Through a campaign spokesperson, Deaton denied refusing Cains challenge.

We have agreed to multiple debates and forums, which have either been scheduled or are in the process of being scheduled, the spokesperson wrote in an email.

Peter Blandino covers Quincy for The Patriot Ledger. Contact him at pblandino@patriotledger.com.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Who's ahead in primary that will name Elizabeth Warren's challenger?
One person was killed and two others were injured Friday in a head-on crash that involved an SUV and a pickup truck, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Tonya Frey, a 28-year-old Summerville resident, died from the injuries she suffered in the multi-vehicle collision, Berkeley County Coroner Darnell Hartwell said.

The wreck happened at about 5:10 p.m. in the Bonneau area of South Carolinas Lowcountry, according to Master Trooper Brandon Bolt of the Highway Patrol.

Frey was a passenger in a 2011 Toyota SUV that was driving west on U.S. 52, Bolt said. The SUV collided head-on with a 2008 Toyota pickup truck that was heading east on U.S. 52, according to Bolt.

Frey and the drivers of both vehicles were taken to a hospital, where the 28-year-old later died, officials said. Further information on the conditions of the drivers was not available.

Bolt said that Frey and the drivers were the only people in the two vehicles, and no other injuries were reported.

There was no word if any of the people involved in the wreck were wearing seat belts.

Information about what caused the vehicles to collide, or if one of them crossed the center line and was driving toward oncoming traffic, was not available. The crash continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol and coroners office.

Through July 21, at least 502 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2024, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,030 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.

At least 18 people have died in Berkeley County crashes in 2024, according to DPS data. There were 60 deaths reported in the county in 2023, DPS said.
A Southern California man remains hospitalized after he was brutally beaten and stabbed in the head by his neighbor.

On July 22, the victim, Michael Roque, 35, left his Loma Linda apartment and was walking to his car on the way to work at around 8:30 a.m.

Thats when Roques neighbor, Mark Eldridge, 37, allegedly approached him from behind and struck him in the head with a rock. He continued beating Roque with the rock and tried to slice his throat before stabbing him on the side of his face and head with a knife.

San Bernardino County deputies responded to the scene and found Roque bleeding profusely on the ground.

It was a nightmare, said Raul Gomez, Roques father. Thats the only way I could put it, at that point. You cant believe something like this would happen.

According to his family, Roque and the suspect did not know each other at all.

Michael Roque, 35, (on left) is seen with his brother in a family photo. (Roque Family)

Michael Roque, 35, is seen in a personal photo. (Roque Family)

Michael Roque was hospitalized in the ICU after he was brutally beaten and stabbed in the face and head on July 22, 2024. (Roque Family)

Michael Roque was hospitalized in the ICU after he was brutally beaten and stabbed in the face and head on July 22, 2024. (Roque Family)

Michael Roque and his family. (Roque Family)

Michael Roque was hospitalized in the ICU after he was brutally beaten and stabbed in the face and head on July 22, 2024. (Roque Family)

He was rushed to the Loma Linda Medical Center where remained in an induced coma in the ICU. Gomez believes the suspect had targeted Roque and waited for the right moment to attack.

Authorities initially received a call from Roque reporting the assault. Around the same time, they also received a call from Eldridge claiming a burglary had taken place at his apartment.

Deputies later determined Eldridges residence lacked forced entry or any evidence to suggest a break-in.

Evidence of the assault, however, was found and Eldridge was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. He was later booked at the West Valley Detention Center for attempted murder and is being held on $500,000 bail.

On Saturday, loved ones said Roque had awoken from his coma and was able to speak a bit, but still appeared disoriented and confused. Doctors said that a 3-4 inch portion of the blade used to attack him was still lodged inside his head.

Doctors told Michael if they remove it, he will bleed out and if they leave it there, it can cause infection and possibly kill him, said Jaime Roque, the victims cousin, on a GoFundMe page. Doctors have let Michael make the decision and he said to keep it in.

Loved ones said Roque used to work at Loma Linda Medical Center before recently taking a new job at UC Riverside. Theyre hoping hell make a full recovery soon.

Hes a happy, fun-loving guy, Gomez said emotionally of his son. He loves life, loves his work, loves his friends. Just a great guy.

The motive behind the brutal attack remains under investigation.

A GoFundMe page to help Roques family with medical expenses can be found here.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
For the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, the Northeastern Indian Water Rights Settlement Act means more than water  it means finally claiming land they can call home.

Although the tribe has lived in their current home base for hundreds of years, they were only federally recognized in 1989, and the land they lived on, in northern Arizona and southern Utah, was incorporated into the Navajo Nation. The Paiutes are the only federally recognized tribe in Arizona without a reservation or land.

In 2000, leaders from the Navajo Nation and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe signed a historic treaty, the first intertribal treaty in 160 years. The treaty granted the Paiutes approximately 5,400 acres of land, divided into two parcels, that was occupied by Paiute families.

The treaty has never been ratified by Congress, and nearly a quarter century later, the land still has not been granted to the Paiutes. That could change if Congress approves and President Joe Biden signs the water settlement, which would finally allocate these parcels to the San Juan Paiute Tribe.

With this water settlement, of course water being a precious commodity to this day and it is worth everyone fighting for, what this settlement will actually helps us do get our reservation secured, said San Juan Paiute President Robbin Preston Jr., so that all our tribal members can say yes, i do have a home.

Preston, along with Hopi and Navajo Nation leadership, traveled to Washington this week to testify before the House Natural Resources Committee','s Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries on H.R. 8940, the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act. San Juan Paiute tribal officials were not given opportunity to testify during the hearing.

Largest water settlement and a historic land deal

This settlement is considered the largest Indian water rights settlement, with its price tag of $5 billion in federal funding for water infrastructure on the sovereign territories of the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.

Negotiations between the Hopi, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and Navajo Nation had been applauded by the committee.

Water agreement: Navajo leaders ratify historic Colorado River water settlement, await action by Congress

Each of you have put long standing differences aside to get to these agreements for the greater good of your communities, neighbors, and all of Arizona, said Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., one of the co-sponsors of the bill. That's exactly the type of leadership we could use here. These tribal water settlements are critical to securing our water future in Arizona because they provide certainty that water will be available now and for future generations.

The bill creates a trust fund for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, called the "San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe Water Settlement Trust Fund." The fund will be managed, invested and distributed by the Interior secretary and will remain available until expended, withdrawn or reverted to the general fund of the Treasury.

Under the treaty, all rights, titles and interests, including water rights, to the approximately 5,400 acres of land within the Navajo Indian Reservation described as the San Juan Paiute Northern Area and the San Juan Paiute Southern Paiute Area, become the San Juan Southern Paiute Reservation.

The land will be held by the United States in trust as a reservation for the exclusive benefit of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.

From left: Hopi Tribe Vice Chairman Craig Andrews, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, Attorney General of the Navajo Nation Ethel Branch, Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council Crystalyne Curley and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe President Robbin Preston Jr. after signing the water settlement on July 17, 2024, at the Heard Museum in Phoenix.

Land will help tribe move forward

The two parcels of land for the new San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe Reservation are located around Willow Springs, west of Tuba City, and the Northern Area, approximately 300 acres in Utah near Navajo Mountain, according to the treaty.

Navajo and Hopi pretty much have their government set up and their infrastructure, said Preston. They are able to provide, although limited, jobs to their people. They are able to provide housing, health care, education and we the San Juan Paiute tribe are pretty much starting with absolutely nothing.

Preston said the magnitude of the settlement would be significant for his tribal members because it will allow opportunity for the tribe to grow and be self-reliant, as well as to provide jobs for the people.

I know that Hopi and Navajo have tribal people who move away because of the lack of housing, water, or whatever other reasons and we would like to be able to provide the jobs to tell our people if you want to come home, come home, said Preston. We can provide jobs, health care, education and just to get our tribe moving forward.

In May, when the Republic first reported about the treaty between Navajo Nation and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, a press conference was held after the Navajo Nation Council had unanimously approved the settlement legislation. Soon after, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren signed it.

Michelle Espino, assistant attorney general in the water rights unit, said that tribes have been working to get the treaty ratified since it was signed. She said Congress needed to authorize the designation of that land for the Southern Paiute Tribe and provide the directive to allocate it to them.

There has been effort in the past, and this congressional session there was legislation to do that ratification and as a result the U.S. team suggested that it be folded into this water rights settlement and also for the opportunity finalize the San Juan Southern Paiute water rights in addition with that land designation, said Espino.

Preston said the settlement, and the way it was achieved through negotiations, is historic in itself because it brought together three separate tribes working together for a common good. He said that since he had only been in his position since December he was not completely entrenched in the negotiation process that his predecessors and counterparts undertook to get to this point.

"Despite all the fighting, the negotiating, I think that it is a historic event for Navajo, Hopi, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe to come together and say 'Listen, we are working together for this common goal and we put the differences aside. Everyone is in agreement, so let's get it done.'" said Preston.

Arlyssa D. Becenti covers Indigenous affairs for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Send ideas and tips to arlyssa.becenti@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Water agreement gives Southern Paiutes a permanent home land
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A Southwest Airlines flight was forced to make a precautionary landing at Fresno Yosemite International Airport Saturday afternoon, the airline confirms.

Around 12:30 p.m. the flight crew notified the airport that it needed to land in Fresno after taking off from Los Angeles, with Reno being the intended destination.

The Boeing 737 landed about 15 minutes later and the airline says no injuries were reported.

Image Courtesy of FlightAware (flightaware.com)

The aircraft taxied the runway for several minutes before passengers were able to deboard and wait in the terminal for a replacement aircraft to arrive.

A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines issued a statement saying:

Our crew operating Flight 353 from Los Angeles to Reno this (Saturday) afternoon followed our procedures and safely diverted to Fresno after the aircraft experienced an engine performance issue. There are no reported injuries following the safe arrival. The aircraft taxied to the terminal where our technical team will review the aircraft. We have substitute aircraft arriving shortly from Las Vegas to get these customers on their way, with our apology for the necessary stop. Our people in the terminal at FAT are working with them on any issues caused by their now-three-hours delayed arrival at Reno aboard another aircraft, as we place nothing higher than safety.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
SpaceX successfully launched three Falcon 9 rockets in rapid-fire fashion over the weekend, putting 67 Starlink satellites into orbit within three days of winning approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to resume launchings in the wake of a rare in-flight failure on July 11.

SpaceX kicked off its return to flight by firing off 23 Starlink internet satellites from the Kennedy Space Center early Saturday, followed by a second Starlink launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station early Sunday that put another 23 broadband relay stations into orbit. The third Falcon 9 was launched a few hours later from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

All three flights appeared to go off without a hitch.

NASA is counting on Falcon 9s to launch a Northrop Grumman Cygnus supply ship to the International Space Station on Aug. 3, followed by a SpaceX Crew Dragon flight to carry three agency astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut to the lab around Aug. 18.

The second stage slated for use with the piloted flight, known as Crew 9, will be test-fired in the coming days at a SpaceX facility near McGregor, Texas, to verify the company's corrective action will have no unexpected consequences.

The second stage engine of a Falcon 9 rocket launched from California Sunday operated normally during two firings to put 21 Starlink internet satellites into their planned orbit. The rocket and two others launched from Florida early Saturday and Sunday incorporated FAA-approved fixes to correct problems that led to a Starlink launch failure on July 11. / Credit: SpaceX

"It's going to undergo a second stage hot fire around the 30th of July, and that's really to check out some of the new modifications that vehicle will have as a result of the anomaly," Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, said Friday.

"We have been following along step-by-step with that investigation that the FAA has been doing, SpaceX has been very transparent, we've had our teams embedded in the investigation and following along all the changes on that booster."

The space agency has not yet formally cleared those flights for launch, but SpaceX's successful return to flight this weekend will no doubt play a role in the eventual decision.

Boeing engineers also had a busy weekend, successfully test-firing 27 maneuvering thrusters in the company's Starliner capsule now docked at the International Space Station.

The tests verified good performance with reaction control system -- RCS -- thrusters that ran into problems earlier and confirmed that known helium leaks in the capsule's propulsion system had remained stable and had not worsened.

The tests suggest the thrusters will work properly during the ship's eventual return to Earth.

"The one-pulse firings were designed to confirm the performance of each thruster," Boeing wrote in an update. "Between each firing, the team reviewed real-time data and all thrusters performed at peak thrust rating values.

"The helium system also remained stable," the company said. "Additionally, an RCS oxidizer isolation valve that was not fully seated previously was cycled several times during (Saturday's) testing and is now operating normally."

Launched June 5 on the spacecraft's first piloted test flight, the Starliner's crew -- commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore and co-pilot Sunita Williams -- originally expected to spend about eight days in space.

The mission has now lasted nearly two months because of work to troubleshoot the thruster issues and five helium leaks, one detected before launch and four that developed during the capsule's rendezvous with the space station.

NASA is expected to hold a major review late this week to assess the test data and to determine the ship's readiness to bring Wilmore and Williams safely back to Earth.

The Starliner capsule seen during pre-launch processing at a Boeing facility at the Kennedy Space Center. Problems with aft-facing thrusters and propulsion system helium leaks in the lower drum-shaped service module have delayed the crew's return to Earth. Weekend test firings indicated the thrusters will work as needed for re-entry and return to Earth. / Credit: William Harwood/CBS News

As for SpaceX and the Falcon 9, the company blamed the July 11 failure on a crack in an upper stage sensor line, caused by a loose bracket and metal fatigue, that led to a liquid oxygen leak.

The leak, in turn, led to extremely low temperatures in the engine's plumbing, slowing the flow of a fluid needed to restart the powerplant for a planned second "burn."

Instead, the engine suffered a "hard start" that damaged multiple components, preventing the rocket from reaching the planned orbit. While the stage remained intact, the Starlinks it carried to space were released in a much lower-than-planned orbit and subsequently burned up in the atmosphere.

Sarah Walker, a senior manager at SpaceX, said Friday that the "sense line" was not needed and would simply be removed from downstream rockets. She said the data it provided was available from other telemetry sources on the rocket.

As for piloted Crew Dragon flights, she added, the second stage engine only fires once and the leak that derailed the Starlink launch would not have been a factor in a crewed flight. In any case, the fitting that leaked will be removed.

"I'm extremely confident in the team, the integrated approach in which NASA has been incorporated into the response," said Nick Hague, Crew 9 co-pilot and veteran of a Russian Soyuz launch abort. "And I'm excited to strap on to the rocket when the team decides it's time to go."

He said the crew was training at SpaceX's Hawthorne, Calif., headquarters the day after the Starlink launch anomaly occurred "and from the get-go they brought us into the conversation and told us everything that they knew."

The Federal Aviation Administration, which is responsible for licensing U.S. launches, agreed with the SpaceX failure analysis, concluding "no public safety issues were involved."

"This public safety determination means the Falcon 9 vehicle may return to flight operations while the overall investigation remains open, provided all other license requirements are met," the FAA said in a statement.

Along with providing an update on SpaceX's near-term Falcon 9 plans, Walker also addressed an unexpected issue with debris from Crew Dragon trunk sections that managed to survive the heat of re-entry to hit the ground.

The trunk section, outfitted with solar cells, helps power the Crew Dragon in space and carries external station payloads to orbit in an unpressurized environment.

Before re-entry, the trunk is jettisoned. The crew capsule, equipped with a heat shield, then fires its braking rockets to drop out of orbit for a precisely-targeted ocean splashdown. The trunk continues on in a low orbit and eventually makes an uncontrolled re-entry.

Early in the program, engineers concluded the entire trunk would completely burn up during re-entry. But on several occasions, relatively large, charred chunks of trunk debris have survived entry to hit the ground.

Returning Crew Dragon astronauts and recently launched cargo Dragon supply ships have all returned to splashdowns off the coast of Florida, either in the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean.

Walker said SpaceX now plans to move all cargo and Crew Dragon splashdowns to the Pacific Ocean off the West Coast. Trunk sections now will be jettisoned after the deorbit rocket firing, making sure they fall back into the atmosphere in roughly the same area the crew and cargo capsules do, that is, well offshore.

2 Sinaloa cartel leaders, including son of "El Chapo," arrested in Texas

New details reveal troubled past for deputy charged with murder in Sonya Massey shooting

New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham says Democrats "re-energized" with Harris at top of ticket
SPARTANBURG, S.C.  The City of Spartanburg is encouraging residents to report non-emergency issues using their new app.

The My Spartanburg app enables residents to report public work issues directly to city employees.



The My Spartanburg app is an app we launched a couple months ago and it enables residents and people who are just in the city to report issues for service that they may see, Communication Manger for the City of Spartanburg, Christopher George added. Things like broken sidewalks, damaged signs or an overgrown vacant lot. Anything that city teams typically handle instead of calling us, you can use the app to report it.

All residents have to do is snap a picture of the problem, write in a quick description and send it.



The app lets you take a photo, it uses your GPS to locate where the issue is and you can even follow it, George added. You can also see other requests that folks have made as well. So, if there is something nearby that you wanted to report, if you look at the map before hand and you see somebody else has already reported it, you can follow that issue and then you will see when thats resolved.

Each issue is assigned to a city employee who will work to resolve the problem.

The issues themselves are routed specifically to the department that handles it. So, if you have a downed tree, that goes out to ground the maintenance team, they see that and they are able to jump right on it, George said.

City leaders said that so far dozens of requests have been fulfilled using the app.



I think a lot of folks are realizing that it is more useful than say picking up the phone, I know that sounds easier to say pick up the phone and call but this way you actually get to track the issue through its progress, so when you call someone youve reported the issue but you have no idea what happens after that with this app you can actually know that your issue has been resolved, George said.

City leaders said most reported issues have been resolved in a matter of days, to a couple of weeks, depending on the problem.

The app is free to download and can be found in the App Store and Google Play.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
From left, Lawrence High School student journalists Natasha Torkzaban, Maya Smith and Morgan Salisbury meet April 19, 2024, with USD 497 school board president Kelly Jones. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

I hated high school.

So I ditched as much class as I could and spent my time racing muscle cars on Route 66 outside of my hometown of Baxter Springs and pursuing other misadventures. I was always reading, though, and in between repairing blown head gaskets and thrown timing chains I had my nose in books, trash and treasure alike, from The Monkey Wrench Gang to Hemingway and Harper Lee. My high school guidance counselor told me I should give up my dreams of being a writer and join the Navy instead. I managed to graduate from high school by the intervention of a school superintendent who reckoned I was smarter than I looked and allowed me to test out of some required classes. I still have my graduation photo around someplace, me at 17 in a cap and gown and leaning against the hood of an old GTO.

Later I went to college and washed out after a semester or two and then gave it another try after a couple of years and did better. I eventually graduated from a four-year public university in Kansas and then got an advanced degree and spent some years as an investigative reporter at daily newspapers and published a couple of dozen books with New York houses. I sometimes thought about calling my old high school guidance counselor to gauge her reaction but always thought better of it because, after all, it wasnt bad advice, considering.

But high school today? It makes my blood run cold.

I wouldnt last 10 minutes.

Sartre was wrong. Hell used to be other people. Now its high school.

Im convinced of this because Ive been following the news coverage of Lawrence High School. Just imagine youre a student at Lawrence High (go Chesty the Lion!) and every homework assignment, email, photo, and chat on your school-supplied device is being monitored by artificial intelligence for indicators of drug and alcohol use, anti-social behavior, and suicidal inclinations.

Thats been the reality since last November, when the district began a $162,000 contract with Gaggle, a Dallas-based student safety technology company to provide around-the-clock surveillance. If a word or an image triggers an alert in the AI software, the result could range from the student being sent to an administrator to being referred to online counseling to getting a visit from local police.

The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 988.

Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HELLO to 741741. It is free, available 24/7, and confidential.

The district says Gaggle is a tool to increase the safety and welfare of its students and staff. Thats an admirable goal, because suicide is the second leading cause of death for youths 15-19, according to the National Institute for Mental Health. In Kansas, the suicide rate among young people has outpaced the national average, according to the Kansas Health Institute.

With Gaggle, our district is better equipped to proactively identify students who are at risk for potential unsafe behaviors, provide support where needed, and foster a safer school environment, according to the USD 497 website.

Gaggle claims that it has saved an estimated 5,790 student lives between 2018 and 2023. It did this, according to its website, by analyzing 28 billion student items and flagging 162 million of those for review.

AI surveillance flags concerning content on school-issued devices and software accounts for review and blocks potentially harmful content, according to its website. Expert human review, it says, helps district officials to take action before students harm themselves or others, and in severe situations it alerts district-appointed contacts, even after hours or on weekends. If no district representative is available, the police might be summoned.

What Gaggle is selling is an antidote for fear  for administrators, for parents, for students  in exchange for civil liberties. Its difficult to argue with 5,790 lives saved, if you take it at face value, but I have my doubts about that number.

At what point is the safety you think youre buying for students actually doing harm in unintended ways? Wont teachers avoid assignments that challenge students to consider real-world problems like violence, depression and suicide? Wont students learn just to keep their emotions to themselves, instead of confiding in a teacher or another trusted adult? What about the chilling effect on student creativity and expression?

Gaggle is the thought police for K-12 campuses.

Lawrence school board president Kelly Jones confers with principal Quentin Rials during an April 19, 2024, meeting with student journalists about their concerns with the district's use of spyware

It would be easy to describe whats happening to students at Lawrence High School as Orwellian, but that would be an easy and not exactly fitting metaphor. It does resemble in general the dystopian novels we used to be assigned to read in high school  1984 and Brave New World  but a more accurate comparison is to a science fiction novella you may have never heard of.

In Philip K. Dicks The Minority Report, published in 1956 and made into a movie by Steven Spielberg in 2002, a predictive policing system is used to arrest people before they have the chance to commit the crime they are expected to. Dicks story  like the use of Gaggle  pits authoritarianism and conformity against creativity and individual liberty.

Just consider what happened to photography students at Lawrence High School shortly after Gaggle was introduced. Nearly an entire class, reported the student newspaper, was called in to explain to administrators the contents of their art portfolios.

To have administrators reach out to a student, editor-in-chief Maya Smith wrote in February, a file in their Google account must be in what Gaggle calls red zone, whether it be a photo, document or video. For photography students, photos for various projects were flagged for what was deemed nudity. 

But, Smith reported, none of the students said there was nudity in their work. It was difficult to discuss the images with administrators because the files had been removed from the student accounts, so even the creators couldnt see them.

Much of what we know about Gaggle at Lawrence High has come from the student newspaper, the Budget. Its enterprising staff of student journalists questioned whether the districts use of Gaggle was proper under the First Amendment, the Kansas Shield Law and the Kansas Student Publications Act. Newsgathering is a constitutionally protected activity and those in authority shouldnt have access to a journalists notes, photos and other unpublished work.

People in authority can violate your rights while believing they are protecting you, the Budget staff wrote in explaining their coverage. Its up to you to protect your work process and product. Adults didnt tell us to fight the good fight. We did it ourselves.

Barb Tholen, April 19, 2024

The staff also reported that when Gaggle flags an email, it stops delivery, which could delay students seeking help. This concern was echoed by their journalism adviser, Barbara Tholen, when earlier this month the district voted to renew Gaggles contract, at $53,000. Tholen said a student had shared her thoughts in an email to a trusted teacher, only to have the email rerouted to an administrator.

Imagine the person that student trusted most with news of their struggles never knowing to reach back out to them with words of comfort, Tholen told the Lawrence school board, as reported by the Lawrence Times. We need students to share concerns openly with us  that saves lives.

The district reached an agreement in April with Budget staff to remove Gaggle from the devices of student journalists. But with the renewal of the contract, the rest of the student body has no such reprieve. A school board member made it clear that students and staff had no expectation of privacy when using district-issued devices. As Reflector intern Grace Hills reported, Gaggled has become a new verb in the Lawrence school district.

The question of student surveillance is made more difficult by a lack of clear data on whether it works and if so, whether the collateral damage to privacy is justified. School officials across the country defend the use of such surveillance by arguing that if it saves just one life, its worth it. But is it worth it if it turns schools into virtual prisons?

Through a careful review of the existing evidence, and through interviews with dozens of school staff, parents and others, wrote a group of Rand researchers in February, we found that AI based monitoring, far from being a solution to the persistent and growing problem of youth suicide, might well give rise to more problems than it seeks to solve.

Surveillance software, which became prevalent during the pandemic, may disproportionately target minority students, according to a 2021 piece in the Conversation. According to reported Fast Company magazine, Gaggle previously flagged the words gay and lesbian in assignments and chat messages.

And about those estimated 5,790 student lives that Gaggle claims to have saved? I asked the company to share its methodology with me. It seemed a suspiciously exact number for an estimate. It also seemed out of proportion, considering there are fewer than 10,000 suicide deaths of those ages 10-24 each year, as of 2018, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Each of our Possible Student Situations (PSSs), which are the highest priority alerts our safety team receives, are reviewed by the head of our Safety Team against a number of different criteria that include nature of the alert, context around the alert, and if the alert resulting [sic] in school or district leaders providing intervention or support that prevented a student death, Shelby McIntosh Goldman, Gaggles vice president of marketing and research, told me. If the incident meets all criteria, it is counted as a life saved (and yes, counts are exact and tracked annually.) The classification also goes through a secondary audit to create as much inter-rater reliability as possible.

Thats a lot of Minority Report verbiage that says its a guess.

And what about Gaggles failures? Does it count lives lost?

By live lost Im assuming youre asking about situations where the Gaggle Safety Team received an alert but intervention or support did not prevent a student death, McIntosh Goldman said. We havent received any feedback indicating that occurred in the five plus years that weve been tracking lives saved, but due to student privacy issues there is no way for us to confirm that.

That last sentence represents a positively Orwellian decline in the use of the English language. Tortured prose aside, wouldnt keeping track of tragedies on their watch be just as important to Gaggle, and more accurate, than guessing at number of lives saved? But then, Im not trying to sell districts on around-the-clock student surveillance.

The erosion of student privacy by Gaggle and other educational spyware firms, such as Bark and Gnosis IQ, should be of concern to anybody who takes their Bill of Rights seriously. Spyware represents a grave threat to the student press and free speech on campus. It also conditions students to expect government surveillance and may create an assumption that nothing a student does at school  or at home  should be beyond the authority of administrators.

When I was in high school, challenging authority meant cutting class and doing burnouts in front of school. About the only surveillance I was subject to was the speed gun of the local cops.

There were a few teachers I knew I could trust, and that was enough.

But who do you trust in a red zone?

Max McCoy is an award-winning author and journalist. Through its opinion section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
If we can discuss with our neighbor Vietnam overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea, perhaps we can also do the same with China?

Maybe. Or maybe not at all, if Beijing will continue to insist on a mythical ten-dash line that supposedly gives it near-total ownership of the vital sealane.

- Advertisement -

In the case of our bilateral ties with Vietnam, we remain on friendly terms despite our competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.

On June 14, the Philippines filed a submission before the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf asking the body to establish the Philippine Extended Continental Shelf in the West Philippine Sea, specifically the western Palawan region, beyond the current 370 kilometers (200 nautical miles).

Our claim stands on solid ground.

Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), coastal states like the Philippines are entitled to establish the outer limits of its continental shelf, comprising the seabed and the subsoil of submarine areas, beyond its 370-km exclusive economic zone but not exceeding 648 km (350 nm).

However, Vietnam has sent a note verbale to the Secretary General of the United Nations stating its position regarding the Philippine submission last month.

In doing so, Hanoi once again affirmed its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos in accordance with international law.

It said it resolutely rejects and cannot accept the Philippines ECS claim, citing overlap with Vietnams 370-km continental shelf, which violated its inherent sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

But even if we have differences on this issue, whats important is that Hanoi reiterated it is still open to discussion with the Philippines in accordance with UNCLOS.

It requested the ECS commission to refrain from considering the Philippines submission until all the relevant issues have been resolved by Vietnam and the Philippines.

Despite our contrasting claims, we have expressed willingness to come to the negotiating table to iron out differences.

According to the DFA, the Philippines is ready to engage with Hanoi on possible ways forward that would help achieve a mutually beneficial solution to South China Sea issues, in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS.

As expected, Chinas Foreign Ministry has opposed the submissions of the Philippines and Vietnam because it says these infringe on Chinas territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and violated international law, including the UN Charter and UNCLOS.

Moreover, China was committed to handling maritime conflicts through dialogue and consultation.

If dialogue and consultation are what Beijing wants, how come it is using brute force and intimidation of our fisherfolk, Coast Guard and Philippine Navy in our own Exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea?
New state legislation offers protection for wildlife on Maine's lakes and ponds: 'Prevention is really the key'

Local groups in Maine teamed up to take action and provide protection for wildlife in lakes and ponds, according to an article in News Center Maine.

The Lakes Environmental Association, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting bodies of water in the Greater Sebago Lake Region, helped pass new legislation that will improve water habitats across the state.

Together, these four bills strengthen shoreland zoning enforcement, provide better protection and funding to address invasive aquatic species, and include recommendations on Wake Boats. While three out of the four acts are already set to take effect in the coming months, one of the bills still requires additional legislative action.

"Lakes are vital for people and wildlife. More animals live where land and water meet than any other habitat in Maine," Maine Audubon Director of Advocacy Francesca Gundrum told News Center Maine.

Maine is home to over 6,000 lakes and ponds. While these aquatic ecosystems used to be thriving water habitats, some of these water bodies are in danger due to invasive species.

The variable leaf watermilfoil is an invasive species that has posed a serious threat to Maine's water bodies, as it grows quickly and densely, per the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. When the variable leaf watermilfoil spreads, it also limits swimming and fishing.

Increasing global temperatures are also threatening these crucial water habitats. As atmospheric temperatures rise, water temperatures also increase, creating more favorable conditions for algae and invasive species to grow and spread.

Gundrum also told News Center Maine that warmer water temperatures reduce the oxygen levels for fish swimming in the ponds.

By advocating for Maine's water habitats, groups like the Lakes Environmental Association are protecting the local wildlife as well as the state's economy.

Each year, visitors to Maine's lakes spend $2.3 billion, supporting 50,000 jobs, according to Lake Stewards of Maine. Protecting local bodies of waters with new legislation also ensures that visitors can continue to enjoy these outdoor spaces while supporting the state's economic growth.

"Damage from aquatic invasive species is detrimental for wildlife and for people. It's a really expensive issue to deal with," Gundrum said to News Center Maine. "Thankfully, prevention is really the key, which is why we're excited about some of the legislation this session, because it helps to address the problem before it becomes an outbreak."

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
HOUSTON (Nexstar)  In the first few days as her partys presumptive nominee for president, Vice President Kamala Harris made a stop in Texas, a state that hasnt sent a Democrat to the White House since 1976.

In Houston Thursday, Harris delivered the keynote address at the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) National Convention  the nations largest teachers union  and made her pitch to thousands in a key voting block for Democrats.

The vice president received standing ovations and thunderous applause, praising educators and vowing to fight for them if elected as president in November.

You all do Gods work educating our children, Harris said. It is you who have taken on the most noble of work which is to concern yourself with the well-being of the children of America and I thank you for that.

Earlier this week, the executive council of the AFT unanimously voted to endorse Harris for president  the first union to do so.

The Vice Presidents Houston visit follows a busy start to her campaign, after giving speeches in Milwaukee on Tuesday and Indianapolis on Wednesday. In all of the stops, Harris has begun to pitch herself to the American public as a candidate who would move America forward, saying another four years of former President Donald Trump would do the opposite.

As we work to build a brighter future and to move our nation forward, there are those who are really trying to take us backward, she said. What kind of country do we want to live in? A country of freedom, compassion and rule of law or a country of chaos, fear and hate?

More than 3,500 members and leaders of the AFT union  which represents teachers, school staff, higher education workers, nurses and healthcare professionals and public employees  gathered in Houston to hear Harris speak, according to a news release from the AFT.

Harris kicked off her speech praising President Joe Biden, who dropped out of the race Sunday after facing mounting pressure from Democrats to step aside.

Over his entire career, Joe has led with grace and strength and bold vision and deep compassion, she said. I know we are all deeply, deeply grateful for his continued service to our nation.

Harris listed some of the goals she has if she gets elected.

We who believe in the freedom to vote will pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. We who believe in the freedom to live safe from gun violence, will pass an assault weapons ban. We who believe that every American should be free from bigotry and hate, will fight to protect our teachers and our students from discrimination and make sure every student can learn Americas history, and we who believe in reproductive freedom, will restore the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government telling her what to do, Harris told the crowd.

The Vice Presidents visit to the Lone Star State was not welcomed by some of its Republican leaders. On social media Thursday, Governor Greg Abbott criticized Harris for not making a visit to the border.

Her continued refusal to confront the deadly consequences of her border failures is disgraceful, Abbott wrote on X.

Earlier in the week, Abbott criticized her role in the administrations response to immigration issues.

She has been the border czar for the United States, and as it concerns whats going on in the border, our fellow Texans have suffered because of it and are angry about it, as well as our fellow Americans, Abbott said Monday during an interview with KXAN News.

Harris has been responsible for some aspects of the administrations immigration policy, but has never had the official title of  border czar.

Harris has not, as that title may suggest, had broad responsibility for border security. She has been focusing specifically on long-term stability in Central America.

Since 2021, Harris has traveled to common migrant origin points like Guatemala and Honduras to address the root causes of migration  the violence, poverty, and corruption that pushes people north.

I dont know that the work that she did would have an immediate impact on the border, but I do know that it is a piece of a bigger puzzle when we think about how to manage the border and manage our migration system in a way that takes into account the realities of why people leave their homes, Director of the Bush Institutes Economic Growth Initiative Laura Collins said.

In March, Harris announced her Central America Forward initiative has spurred more than $5 billion of private sector investment. Her office said this would create more than 70,000 jobs and provide internet access for more than 4.5 million people.

Most people dont want to leave home, and when they do it is for one of two reasons: because they are fleeing some harm, or because to stay at home means they cannot satisfy the basic needs of their family, said Harris in El Paso in 2021. We have the capacity to give people hope and the belief that help is on the way.

Her time spent on this side of the Rio Grande has attracted criticism, however. She has visited the Texas border just once. When Republicans were warning of a major migrant surge in the Rio Grande Valley, she visited El Paso.

Its not even fair to say that shes a day late and a dollar short. Shes nearly a hundred days late and a thousand miles short, Senator John Cornyn said on the Senate floor in 2021.

While Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas hold primary responsibility for the day-to-day security of the border, experts say it may take years to know how effective Harris efforts have been.

We cannot control why people leave their homes, Collins said. It really is important for us to think bigger than just what the United States puts in place in terms of laws and enforcement, and think more about motivations for why people are coming, to better understand how we can manage migration and not just fear it.

We will do better, CenterPoint CEO apologizes for widespread power outages after Beryl

On Monday, Texas lawmakers will get their first chance to meet and question the leaders of CenterPoint Energy about what happened in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. The Senate Special Committee on Hurricane and Tropical Storm Preparedness, Recovery, and Electricity will hold a hearing at the State Capitol.

The storm hit the Texas coast near Houston on July 8, knocking out power to nearly 3 million Texans. Many went for days without service as summer temperatures baked the storm-ravaged area. At least 36 people died, many in homes left without air conditioning amid the summer heat.

CenterPoint Energy has faced scrutiny for its preparation and response to the widespread and prolonged power outages. Both Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick delivered harsh condemnations of the electric provider, suggesting the company could face executive action, legislative investigations, and financial and regulatory penalties.

On Thursday, CenterPoint leaders spoke at a meeting of the Public Utility Commission of Texas. CenterPoint CEO Jason Wells apologized to customers for the companys response after Beryl and told state regulators the utility was already working to better prepare for the next storm.

We will do better. While we cannot erase the frustrations and difficulties so many of our customers endured, I and my entire leadership team will not make excuses. We will improve and act with a sense of urgency, Wells told commission members.

CenterPoint submitted a plan of action that includes adopting new construction standards and retrofitting equipment to harden its system. The utility plans to hire an emergency response leader to improve preparations. Company leaders also announced plans to launch a new outage tracker by August 1.

In the aftermath of the storm, CenterPoint did not have a reliable outage map. Some residents affected by Beryl resorted to checking the Whataburger app, looking at which of its locations were open to determine if areas nearby had power.

Abbott said he is imposing a July 31 deadline for CenterPoint to provide his office with specific actions that they will take to address these areas: removal of vegetation that threatens powerlines, actions to reduce future power outages, prestaging sufficient workers for the remainder of hurricane season, fixing poles before the end of the season, and retaining power for senior living facilities.

Abbott threatened an executive order to impose requirements on CenterPoint if they fail to comply with his request before July 31. He will also direct the PUC to reject the companys request to recover a profit, promising a heavy financial blow.

Additionally, if CenterPoint is unable to fix its ongoing problems, at some point in time either the PUC or the State of Texas will have to reconsider the territorial region that CenterPoint is managing, or rather, mismanaging, Abbott said. Maybe they have too large of an area in order to manage adequately.

Texas lawmakers target Chinese land ownership

Texas lawmakers on Wednesday convened to consider legislation to limit hostile foreign organizations from owning Texas land and assets, pointing to security threats that national security experts testified could stem from Chinese-affiliated companies operating in Texas.

The United States is under a pervasive threat from the Chinese Communist Party, from Russia, from Iran, and from North Korea, Brian Cavanaugh with American Global Strategies said. Its not a conflict where were targeting military versus military. Theyve actually taken an asymmetric approach where theyre targeting civilian critical infrastructure. Its economic warfare, lawfare, and a fundamental threat to the general population.

Nationwide, foreign entities own about three percent of U.S. farmland  nearly all of them friendly nations. China owns just 1% of that 3%. However, Chinese entities own more land in Texas than any other state, at about 162,000 acres.

Critics pose that land could present risks of espionage and economic influence. Those concerns have led 24 states to prohibit or limit foreign land ownership.

Last year, Texas Republicans tried to pass a sweeping bill to ban property ownership for all citizens from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. The bill failed after a groundswell of criticism from Asian Americans.

Three earthquakes shake West Texas, felt in Dallas-Fort Worth

That is plainly racist, and our community will not stand for it, State Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, said. If they want to talk about critical infrastructure, its already been addressed. What theyre talking about is homeownership, is business ownership. Its basically saying, no Asians, no Chinese are welcome here.'

Lawmakers alluded to avoiding past missteps in next years legislative session, narrowing the next bill to target entities rather than individuals.

Any affiliation with any business thats owned or operated by the Chinese Communist Party, thats a state-owned enterprise and its going to be doing the business of the Chinese government, Cavanaugh said. I think theyre going to tighten up the parameters on this one, probably have some of this more specific and more zeroed-in, and that will hopefully address a lot of concerns that came up last session.

Bidens withdrawal echoes LBJs exit more than 50 years ago

Before Biden announced he wouldnt seek a second term, you had to go back more than 50 years to find an incumbent president who chose not to run for reelection.

I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president, said President Lyndon B. Johnson in a famous televised speech on March 31, 1968.

President Lyndon B. Johnson tells the nation on March 31, 1968 that he will not run for re-election (Courtesy LBJ Library)

At the University of Texas at Austin, there are echoes of that other presidential exit, which came as a shock to many.

A newspaper headline on April 1, 1968 reads, LBJ: Wont Run. (Courtesy: LBJ Library)

Of course, this was the blockbuster that made enormous headlines around the world the next day, said the director of the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum, Mark Lawrence, who is also a presidential historian.

Johnson, a Texas Hill Country native, read from a teleprompter script similar to a copy the library has on display. During a 40-minute speech on Vietnam delivered from the Oval Office, he waited until the very end to announce he would not seek a full second term. Anger over the war and falling approval ratings were major factors in his decision, Lawrence said.

WATCH: LBJs full speech announcing he wont seek another term

I shall not see and will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your president. President Lyndon B. Johnson read from a script, similar to this, announcing he would not seek another term (KXAN Photo/Matt Grant)

I think he doubted his ability to win the nomination of his party and, certainly, to win the presidency again without a major fight, said Lawrence.

The museum director sees striking parallels between Biden and Johnson: Both served decades in Congress before becoming vice president and then president. Both served as vice president to very charismatic younger men  Presidents John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama. Both also faced pressure from within their own party to step aside and were ultimately praised for exiting their races.

While LBJ had health concerns stemming from a heart attack in 1955, it was the protests over Vietnam that ultimately led to his decision to drop out, Lawrence said.

Opposing 1968 buttons supporting and opposing LBJ (KXAN Photo/Matt Grant)

Many voices within the Democratic partywanted [LBJ] to stand aside in favor of Eugene McCarthy or Bobby Kennedy, said Lawrence. And, of course, LBJ also had many champions as well.

On display in the library are two opposing buttons reflecting the partys tug-of-war: DUMP JOHNSON IN 68 and LBJ PLEASE STAY.

Whats easy to miss is how popular a decision this was, said Lawrence, who noted history has largely applauded Johnson for not seeking reelection. And, I think, what were seeing in the early hours after Bidens decision is something rather similar.

He said Johnsons departure was more of a shocker since many Americans have seen the withdrawal of Biden coming for the past few weeks.

Lawrence called Bidens abrupt departure a really remarkable act of statesmanship.

WATCH: Rare video of LBJ rehearsing 1968 speech where he says he wont run again

It seemed to me that he did the right thing for the nation by recognizing a lot of the doubts that were starting to creep in about his viability as a candidate and the risk the election could be lost to his party simply because of the perception that he was not up to the job, said Lawrence. And, this is the kind of decision that is all too rare in American political life, on either side of the aisle.

That decision was also praised by Johnsons daughters, Luci Baines Johnson and Lynda Johnson Robb, who called Biden a patriot without peer.

LBJ Library Director Mark Lawrence (KXAN Photo/Matt Grant)

Once more you have given all a person can for our country. As the daughters of another president who gave his all for America, we are so proud of you again as we have always been, Johnsons daughters said in a statement. May you know forever and without equivocation how much we love you and thank you for your selfless service to all who love democracy, social justice and the rule of law.

At the LBJ Library, there is another echo from the past: The original 1964 Civil Rights Act is on loan, and on display, behind glass. The landmark law outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. It was signed by Johnson three months before Harris was born.

Its really striking, said Lawrence. Sixty years ago this summer, Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which demolished the old Jim Crow system in the United States and created vast new opportunities for African Americans and other people of color. And, here we are in 2024, with a Democratic nominee who is African American, who is South Asian, a really remarkable testament to where weve come as a society on matters of race.

The original 1964 Civil Rights Act, signed by LBJ, on loan to the LBJ Library in honor of the landmark laws 60th anniversary. (KXAN Photo/Matt Grant)

I think that that bill 60 years ago was a major part of how we explain how we got to where we are today, he added.

On Tuesday, the White House announced Biden will visit the LBJ Presidential Library on July 29 to commemorate the anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.

The Austin visit, originally planned for last week, was postponed following the attempted assassination of Trump.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Hello, El Paso!

Have you seen the 2024 Paris Olympics yet? If not, you have some catching up to do.

Lady Gaga really set the tone for this years Olympics at the Opening Ceremony. I cant wait to see what else is in store!

Lets get back to our weather talk before I get carried away.

The National Weather Service has issued an air quality warning for El Paso. The warning is expected to expire at 3 p.m. Sunday.

The milky skies we have been seeing for the past few days come from producing high levels of ozone pollutants, like cars.

You can help prevent ozone pollution by carpooling with a friend, walking or riding a bike.

We can expect those milky skies to go away with strong winds or rainfall which we are forecasting for Saturday night.

Now, that we are on the topic of moisture. We are forecasting 40% chance of thundershowers Saturday. Our overnight is expected to drop to 77 degrees. Thundershowers are expected to subside right after midnight.

Monday, we are predicting a day of sunny skies paired with a high of 101 degrees. Humidity may stick around from Saturdays rain, but it wont be too jarring. Mondays temperature cools off to 75 degrees.

Its getting hot!

The high for Tuesday is forecasted to warm up to 103 degrees.

It is critical to stay hydrated on these hot days along with wearing sunscreen, light clothing and taking frequent breaks if you are outdoors for long periods of times.

Luckily, another moisture pattern makes it way to the Borderland, starting Wednesday.

We are likely to see 30% chance of scattered storms beginning Wednesday afternoon. The high is forecasted to reach 101 degrees. Overnight low dips to 78 degrees.

Isolated storms are in our forecast for Thursday with a high of 101 degrees.

Those storms will remain minimal. Storm chances start in the afternoon, possibly bleeding into Thursday evening. Our overnight low sits at 77 degrees paired with light winds.

Friday, we are expecting a 10% chance of storms. We are still on that triple-digit streak as we expect to reach 101 for our high.

Saturday is forecasted to bring us cloudy skies with a high of 97 degrees. Weather conditions change in the evening, with a10% chance of storms. Our evening low is 77 degrees.

Sundays high matches up with Saturday at 97 degrees. The day will consist of isolated storms. Now, these can start in the morning but those chances remain slim.

To top off your 9-Day Forecast, Monday is forecasted to be sunny and warm.

Enjoy the Olympics, El Paso!

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
On a peninsula in the Back Bay of Biloxi, waves lap onto a barren stretch of shoreline, rotten remains of trees rising from the sand. Here, erosion has eaten away at the marsh, and only a few oysters remain where they once thrived.

Tuesday, Virginia Schweiss, a University of Southern Mississippi lecturer of marine conservation, laid a bag filled with oyster shells a few yards offshore. 18,000 pounds of shells later, Schweiss and her students have laid the foundation for a living shoreline, a piece of a wider effort to restore the health of the Mississippi Sound.

Living shorelines are a method of stabilizing shorelines while providing the benefits of a natural shoreline. Schweiss, chief scientist of the Callie Mae Sea Foundation, said that in other parts of the country, living shorelines have substantially improved local fisheries.

Dr. Virginia Schweiss, professor at University of Southern Mississippi, and her marine conservation course students carry bags of oyster shells from a boat to place them as a part of a living shoreline project on private property in the Back Bay of Biloxi on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.

Its going to provide a lot of ecosystem benefits. All of our juvenile fish species that are important for recreational and commercial fisheries  they love marsh grass, its a nice hiding habitat for them; theres a lot of food. By creating more of that habitat, were benefiting the fisheries, Schweiss said. And then also, were hoping this becomes an oyster reef because were seeding it with live diploids that will hopefully spawn and start that first generation of oysters out here. In years to come, I think itll benefit the oyster fishery as well.

The project is part of USMs Gulf Coast Research Summer Field Program, which allows undergraduate students from across the country the chancto gain course credit while getting experience in marine research. One of nine students helping with the project, USM senior marine biology major Ryleigh Sprague, prefers taking the hands-on approach to improving Gulf Coast ecosystems.

Ryleigh Sprague and Dr. Virginia Schweiss place bags of oyster shells as a part of a project to create a living shoreline on private property in the Back Bay of Biloxi on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The living shoreline, which is made up of oyster reefs, will help prevent erosion and provide numerous ecosystem services.

We came out here and did a survey before, and we found a couple pieces of wood, two-by-fours and rocks and stuff with oysters on them, but it was only a couple. Hopefully, by doing this well see more of them, Sprague said. ... Ive lived here since second grade, and seeing firsthand the effects of erosion and climate change has really opened my eyes. Im really happy to be out here to help conserve what we have already.

If their efforts are successful, vegetation will return, providing bird, fish and shrimp habitat. The natural oyster reef will begin to filter detritus from local waters while providing habitat for crab and fish species. The site will be monitored and possibly expanded in the coming years. According to Schweiss, none of it would have been possible without the help of the surrounding community.

Bags of oyster shells wait to be ferried over to a project site where USM students place them as a part of a project to create a living shoreline on private property in the Back Bay of Biloxi on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The shells were donated to the project by The Nature Conservancy Save Our Shells Program after they obtained from MGM in Las Vegas.

A coastal community

In May, Schwiess was connected to Greg and Cecilia Cenac of C. Cenac & Co. and French Hermit Oyster Co., two community members committed to restoring Gulf Coast oyster reefs. Through the Cenacs local connections and Schweiss determination, the project quickly became a reality.

I think that is probably one of the most amazing things about South Mississippi. I dont think this would have happened in any other area. Because all it takes is a couple of phone calls and Hey, will you help with this? and people are willing to drop things and help you out whenever they can. Its such an amazing community, Schweiss said.

Juliana Ladner, left, whose father allowed for his land to be used for a staging site for the living shoreline project, Cecelia Cenac, part owner of C. Cenac & Co and French Hermit Oyster Co., and Jerry Atkinson, right, who works with the Mississippi Gulf Fishing Banks, pose for a photo on an oyster boat Cenac lent for the project on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. Ladner, Cenac and Atkinson all volunteered time and resources to help with the living shoreline project, which will help prevent erosion and create an oyster reef ecosystem.

These people volunteered  look at this, Greg Cenac said, gesturing toward work skiffs donated for the day by locals. The Nature Conservancy Save Our Shells Program, a new program formed to conserve shells and support such projects on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, sourced and helped transport the shells donated by MGM in Las Vegas.

The Cenacs donated new, specially designed reef bags, which will biodegrade slower in warm Gulf waters to better allow the oyster reef to take hold. Local oyster farmers donated the diploids that will produce the reefs first generation of oysters.

A decline in water quality in recent decades has devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast oyster industry.

Everybodys trying to bring back the oyster industry after the Bonnie Carre Spillway, Horizon, Katrina  theres just a lot of effort and a lot of people who really want to see it come back, Cecelia Cenac said.

Bags of oyster shells that will be a part of a project to create a living shoreline on private property in the Back Bay of Biloxi on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The bags holding the shells were donated to the project by C. Cenac & Co and French Hermit Oyster Co. and are biodegradable in the Gulf water climate.

An expanding solution

A little further offshore from the peninsula, the remains of a concrete wall, or bulkhead, lie hidden under the waves. Bulkheads are a traditional approach to preventing erosion using hardened surfaces like concrete and wood to shelter shorelines from wave energy.

And as you can see, it didnt last through Hurricane Katrina. In Florida, when Hurricane Ivan came through, there were a lot of areas that had hard bulkheads, and the hurricane broke most of them. Whereas, they had some living shorelines that had been placed out by the Nature Conservancy and those remained in place. So not only are the living shoreline lines providing more ecosystem benefits, but theyre also helping for when that next hurricane inevitably comes through, Schweiss said.

Dr. Virginia Schweiss, professor at University of Southern Mississippi and chief scientist at Callie Mae Sea Foundation, lays down a bag of oyster shells as a part of a living shoreline project on private property in the Back Bay of Biloxi on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. Dr. Schweiss and several students created the living shoreline as a part of a marine conservation course in the USM Gulf Coast Research Summer Field Program.

Eric Sparks, director of coastal and marine extension at Mississippi State University, helped Schweiss learn to design an effective living shoreline and has contributed to many living shoreline projects on the Gulf Coast. He said that living shorelines are an aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly alternative to bulkheads. In addition to providing wildlife habitat, living shorelines pull carbon dioxide from our atmosphere and sequester it in vegetation.

Sparks said the Living Shoreline Technical Assistance Program, a joint effort by MSU and the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, received 10 requests for free technical assistance from landowners in 2019. This year, theyve received more than one hundred requests for assistance across Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Ryleigh Sprague, a student in the USM Gulf Coast Research Summer Field Program, places a bag of oyster shells as a part of a project to create a living shoreline on private property in the Back Bay of Biloxi on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The living shoreline, which is made up of oyster reefs, will help prevent erosion and provide numerous ecosystem services.

People are realizing more and more the benefits of living shoreline projects, especially as compared to bulkheads and sea walls, like more hardened structures. In general, those projects are cheaper and require a lot less maintenance, Sparks said. ... After a storm comes through, often you have to replace a bulkhead or repair it, whereas, with most living shoreline projects, you cant even tell anything happened. And then you get on the environmental side of things  the more shoreline habitats we have, the more water filtration, nutrient and pollution removal capacity we have because plants are really good at removing a lot of things we dont want in the water.

The permitting process to create living shorelines in Mississippi was on hold for two years and has recently reopened. Sparks said that landowners interested in creating a living shoreline could contact the Living Shoreline Technical Assistance Program, which currently offers financial assistance to interested private property owners.

Bryce Coates, a USM Gulf Coast Research Summer Field Program student, passes along a bag of oyster shells that will be a part of a project to create a living shoreline on private property in the Back Bay of Biloxi on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds; Smith Collection; Maja Hitij/Getty Images; Alyssa Powell/BI

Since Elon Musk announced his support of Donald Trump  a politician known for palling around with oil executives and denying the climate crisis  the world has been scratching its head.

For all his personal grievances over the "woke mind virus," Musk is still the CEO of Tesla and an electric-vehicle pioneer. On its face, a second Trump presidency would be bad for companies trying to move the country away from fossil fuels. But on a Tuesday call with Tesla's investors, Musk's reasons for his support became crystal clear.

Rather than worrying about society's move to an all-electric future, Musk is mainly concerned about maintaining Tesla's dominant position in the EV market. The Inflation Reduction Act, one of President Joe Biden's defining legislative accomplishments, helped spur legacy carmakers to enter the EV game in earnest. As market competition heated up, Tesla started cutting prices, which turned into an industrywide price war that Tesla isn't winning. Over the past year, Tesla's profits have fallen by 45%, and the company's market share has withered. Kelley Blue Book said that in the second quarter of this year, overall EV sales in the US increased, but Tesla's share of those sales fell below 50% for the first time in the company's history. It's a steep fall, considering Tesla's share of the EV market used to be as high as 80%. Without a new model to sell (unless you count the Cybertruck for some reason) and facing even more cutthroat competition in China, Tesla is under pressure all over the world.

ADVERTISEMENT

Musk opened the company's investor call by saying the wave of competition killing its profits and shrinking its market share would pass, but he didn't offer any reasoning. When asked if he was worried about Trump repealing the IRA, Musk tipped his hand. He told investors that the move would be "devastating" for Tesla's competitors but less so for Tesla  in fact, "long term," he said, it would be good for Tesla. In essence this was an admission that Musk's best hope is that Trump returns to the White House and dismantles the regulatory regime that has encouraged legacy automakers to enter the EV market. The best thing for Tesla is if US legacy automakers like GM and Ford sit on the sidelines.

Story continues

The irony is that while Musk may want the IRA gone, Tesla is still raking it in from government tax credits that predate the law. These are credits that EV makers can sell to combustion-engine carmakers to offset the latter's carbon emissions  the slower legacy automakers are to get into the EV game, the more Tesla can sell. And sell they are: Tesla made a life-saving $890 million in these credits last quarter, doubling its haul from the quarter before. Musk happily accepts government intervention, but only when it's for Tesla and not its competition.

Musk and Trump have the same policy goal for EVs: to tear up Biden's EV regulatory infrastructure and revert to the old structure. Or maybe  if Musk's money gets some say in the White House  let him dream up some new rules that work for him. What it seems Musk and Trump most have in common is that they are both dedicated to law and order  so long as they write the laws and make orders.

A quarter of fantasy

It's not hard to see why Tesla is losing its dominant edge: The company is moving too slowly. Its last fresh model, the Model Y, came out in 2019. Since then, the company has come under competitive pressure for the first time. In China, it's battling state-backed automakers that are producing state-of-the-art models for cheap. In the US, Legacy Auto is beginning to martial its forces to offer consumers more variety and  let's be real here  an alternative to Musk's cult of personality.

To maintain its market position, Tesla started slashing its prices in 2023. That kicked off the global EV price war. Critics balked, but Musk assured the Tesla community that this was the only strategy to save the company. By the third quarter of 2023, the price war had started ravaging Tesla's balance sheet. When it announced results in October, the company fell well short of expectations for revenue, vehicle deliveries, and free cash flow, which was down to $848 million from $3.4 billion a year before. Gross margins  a measure of the company's profitability after costs  continued to shrink. For investors, this was a return to darker days at the company. Tesla turned its first annual profit in 2020 and was purported to be on a stable path from that day forth. Its sudden financial backslide triggered Wall Street's PTSD  Tesla's stock fell by more than 40% over the following six months.

Musk stopped the bleeding in April by doing what he does best: talking up a world of fantastic innovations the company hasn't built yet. Tesla, he said, is not a car company; it is an AI company. He promised autonomous robotaxis by August, never mind that Musk has been promising the robotaxi for about a decade. He said the company was making headway with a new humanoid robot called Optimus  never mind that when Tesla unveiled Optimus it was a person dancing in a robot costume, and Tesla still won't say which tasks it can do. Musk glazed over the product the world really wants to see, a cheaper Tesla priced at about $25,000 to $30,000. Without providing more detail, he mentioned that those models would start rolling out of factories in the first half of 2025, never mind that Musk has been saying something like that since 2018. Musk threw out absolutely every trick he has ever trotted out in the past few years to regain Wall Street's confidence. And it worked. Despite warning signs about the company's ability to deliver, Wall Street seemed confident that Musk would pull off some miraculous turnaround. The stock rallied.

That brings us to now and to Tesla's second-quarter earnings report. The results showed that  AI company or not  Tesla is still hurting because of new EV-market competition. The price war is still torching operating margins, which have slimmed to 6.3% from 9.6% a year ago. And automotive-sales revenue is down 7% from this time last year, even as legacy automakers announced a slowdown in their rollout of EVs due to the price war and a lack of demand. That's why, in Musk's fantastic future, the IRA is repealed and it is "devastating for our competitors and for Tesla slightly," as he said. He went on to say that investors shouldn't even think about Tesla as a car company with car-company competitors anyway.

"The value of Tesla overwhelmingly is autonomy," he said. "These other things are, I think, no way it's relative to autonomy."

This after he announced that Tesla's August robotaxi launch was delayed to October, if you can believe it.

Capitalism for me and not for thee

Musk is looking for ways to buy time for Tesla. Enter Trump, who has promised to eliminate Biden's IRA, a law that created tax incentives for purchases of new electric-vehicle models. Musk would like to see those incentives removed  not because they distort a fair market or because he opposes government handouts, but because they help his competition more than him. This is not to say Musk's company is forgoing these credits; it just has to do more work to get them because its fleet of cars is older. Tesla told investors it was changing Model 3 trims to qualify more cars for IRA money. But, of course, it still has to sell those cars to get that cash, and that's much harder to do when your competitors can roll out newer, fresher models. Instead of competing on quality, Musk wants to bend the rules to work in his favor.

While Musk may dislike the IRA, there are other regulations Tesla makes money from that do not require the company to do anything at all. They do, however, work a lot better when Tesla's competitors sell fewer cars. These are zero-emission vehicle credits: In a growing number of states, automakers must make a certain percentage of their vehicles emission-free or face a penalty. If a company doesn't hit that threshold, it can buy ZEV credits from an automaker that makes cars with radically reduced emissions, like an EV maker. Since Tesla is a pure EV company, it has a lot of extra ZEV credits to sell off to companies still churning out gas-powered cars. This business is lucrative for Tesla: ZEV-credit sales made up 68% of the company's $1.3 billion of free cash flow last quarter. Of course, if automakers sell their own EVs, offsetting their own carbon emissions, they don't have to buy as many credits from Tesla. The tap of free money dries up, and Tesla has to figure out how to sell more cars.

Musk is looking for ways to buy time for Tesla  and one of those ways is to get Trump elected. Steve Granitz/FilmMagic via Getty Images

Trump hasn't said anything about ZEV credits. But the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 plan, which serves as a potential template for a second Trump administration, proposes eliminating government subsidies for EVs and lowering fuel-economy standards for combustion-engine cars. Musk probably figures the conservative super PAC to which he's contributing $45 million a month can take some of the edges off of that for Tesla while getting rid of the IRA incentives that are making life harder. On Tesla's quarterly call, its chief financial officer, Vaibhav Taneja, took a moment for some patriotism, saying Tesla prides itself on being the company "with the most American-made cars." Taneja can "USA, USA, USA" all he wants, but Tesla's Shanghai factory became the lynchpin of the business after its opening saved the company from bankruptcy in 2019. Hearing that kind of patriotism is odd on a Tesla call. Musk is usually praising China's leaders.

But Trump offers Tesla a unique opportunity in the US. Musk knows he needs to slow competition any way he can. Preserving Tesla's market position is imperative until he can conjure another product that people are excited to buy. If that involves supporting someone who imperils the global climate-saving agenda, oh well. At a certain point, Tesla stopped being about the world and became about Elon  or maybe it always was, and now that the pressure's on, it's impossible to hide.

Linette Lopez is a senior correspondent at Business Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Supporters at Sonya Massey rally in Springfield: 'Keep our eye on the prize'

Dameon Johnson of Springfield said he didn't know Sonya Massey.

But when Johnson, president of the East Springfield Community Center Commission, got word that a group out of New York City was putting together a nationwide effort for a National Day of Mourning for Massey, the 36-year-old Black woman who was fatally shot in her home in an unincorporated part of Woodside Township on July 6, he knew he had to act.

"All that I've read, all that I've seen, she seems like she's my little sister and I took personal attachment to this issue, to this tragedy," Johnson said to a crowd of about 300 to 350 people at Comer Cox Park Sunday. "Look, this is ground zero (for this). If you look around here, this is truly amazing."

Many of the attendees were wearing purple, Massey's favorite color, and wearing "Say Her Name: Sonya Massey" shirts.

Afterwards, it was reported that about 80 to 100 members of the crowd marched to Bunn Park, shutting down Clear Lake Avenue for about 45 minutes.

Several members of Sonya Massey's family, including her mother, Donna Massey, listen to speakers at a rally at Comer Cox Park on July 28, 2024. Sonya Massey was fatally shot in her home on July 6 by a Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy speaking a national outcry.

Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy Sean P. Grayson, 30, was charged with murder and pleaded not guilty in Sangamon County Court on July 18. He remains in custody.

The chaotic and sometimes gruesome body camera footage, released to the public on July 22, brought on a U.S. Department of Justice investigation.

K.J. Moore of Springfield said she lived several blocks away from Massey.

Moore had a daughter, like Massey, who had a mental crisis last spring.

Springfield Police came twice to Moore's residence in 48 hours,- she said, but "they showed compassion. If I had not been an advocate or voice for her, the same thing could've happened. It was a totally different scenario.

"Mental illness is real and as part of police training, that is something that is pertinent."

Police had been to Massey's home the day before the shooting for a mental health episode. A family member at a press conference last week said Massey was diagnosed was "paranoid schizophrenia."

Joe Feiden of Springfield came to Sunday's rally with a "Campbell resign" sign, a reference to Sheriff Jack Campbell, who has been under scrutiny for his hiring of Grayson.

"The Illinois State Constitution doesn't allow for impeachment," Feiden said. "A sheriff can be removed if there's a lynching when a person is in his custody. I would argue that this is a modern-day lynching."

State Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, grew up knowing members of the Massey family.

While she said she was proud of how the Springfield community has been respectful in its response to the shooting, "we will do what we need to do to hold everyone accountable, every single person accountable, because there are layers to this thing. We're going to peel back this onion."

Austin Randolph, president of the Springfield NAACP, said there was "no excuse, no explanation, no reason for Ms. Massey not to be here today.

K.J. Moore of Springfield holds up a fist in support of Sonya Massey at a rally at Comer Cox Park on July 28, 2024. The gathering drew about 350 people for Massey, who was fatally shot in her home by a Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy on July 6, sparking national outrage.

"We must peaceful. We must be positive. We must help each other, but we must keep our eye on the prize."

Massey's mother, Donna, thanked the crowd for its support.

"This is not just for Sonya," she said. "This is for all of us. We still haven't gotten justice and it's time."

Union Baptist lead pastor, the Rev. T. Ray McJunkins, said while he lauded the peaceful nature of the protests in Springfield, "we're still ignoring the fact that we're hurting and that we're grieving. (The listening session) allows us to come forth and express: 'I'm shocked that in this day and time something like this is still happening.'

"I want the community to speak out because it's so easy to point the finger and blame someone."

Moore said she is glad Massey's story has gone national.

"I believe that sweet, petite, beautiful soul has made something bigger than what occurred," she said. "It needed to put a microscope on this area."

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Sonya Massey's mom: 'We still haven't gotten justice and it's time.'
A spell of warmer weather has led to an unexpected increase in strawberries - MANSFIELD FARMS/PA

A bumper supply of strawberries is expected in the coming weeks thanks to a spell of warm weather following a rainy and cloudy start to the summer.

Around 200 tonnes of surprise strawberries from growers across the country will hit Tesco shelves following the rise in temperatures and extra sunshine, while supermarket Asda has described it as an exceptional summer for the fruit.

Mansfields, the fruit grower, said despite cloudy skies, the quality of strawberries growing was very good, with the conditions meaning the fruit had been given more time to develop.

It comes as the UK is expected to bask in temperatures of up to 32C in the next few days.

The Met Office said London could reach 32C by Tuesday while long-term forecasts remain warm despite the chance of thunderstorms during the week.

The heatwave threshold is met when a location records at least three consecutive days with maximum temperatures exceeding a designated value, according to the Met Office.

This is 25C for most of the UK but rises to 28C in London and its surrounding area, where temperatures are typically higher.

The warm surge is down to a wave of high pressure across the country and warm air rising from the south, creating dry, fine and sunny conditions and bringing temperatures up.

The highest temperature of the year so far was July 19, peaking at 31.9C in St James Park, London.

The temperature across England is expected to rise throughout the start of next week until Wednesday, when the warm conditions may be brought to an abrupt end when they could turn into thunderstorms.

It is this kind of changing weather that is thought to have had a lasting effect on this years crop of British strawberries.

The bump in strawberries will see an increase of roughly an extra 40 to 50 tonnes per week - MANSFIELD FARMS/PA

Lee Port, the chief executive of the Chartham-based growers, said: The cold and wet spell earlier in the year plus the recent mini-heatwave has resulted in pushing more of our predicted crop volume into late July and early August.

This will result in an abundance of strawberries  roughly an extra 40 to 50 tonnes per week until the end of August.

The good news is that they are big, juicy and luscious.

Nick Marston, the chairman of British Berry Growers, said: Cold, wet weather and reduced sunlight hours this spring meant that Britains strawberry crop arrived late this year.

But the good news is they are worth the wait.

The slower ripening period has allowed flavours to develop as the strawberries grow, meaning they are particularly large and juicy.

It is a fantastic year for British strawberries.

British berries are big business for the UK economy with year-round retail sales reaching an all-time high of 1.87 billion in the UK alone.

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.
Takeaways from AP's story on inefficient tech slowing efforts to get homeless people off the streets

LOS ANGELES (AP)  Los Angeles is the nations epicenter of homelessness, where more than 45,000 people live in weather-beaten tent encampments and rusting RVs. But even in the state that is home to Silicon Valley, technology has not kept up with the long-running crisis.

Billions of dollars have been spent to get homeless people off the streets in the region, but outdated computer systems with error-filled data are all too often unable to provide even basic information.

Better Angels United is developing a series of apps  to be donated to participating groups  that the nonprofit group hopes could revolutionize shelter and services for homeless people that includes a mobile-friendly prototype for outreach workers. It is to be followed by systems for shelter operators and a comprehensive shelter bed database the region now lacks.

Here are some of the key findings by The Associated Press:

What's going on? No one really knows

More than 1 in 5 of all homeless people in the U.S. live in Los Angeles County, or about 75,000 people on any given night. The county is the most populous in the nation, home to 10 million people, roughly the population of Michigan.

Dozens of governments and service groups within the county use a mishmash of software to track homeless people and services that results in what might be called a tech traffic jam. Systems can't communicate, information is outdated, data is often lost.

A homeless person wants a shelter, but is a bed available?

Again, it's possible no one really knows. No system exists that provides a comprehensive listing of available shelter beds in Los Angeles County. Once a shelter bed is located, there is a 48-hour window for the spot to be claimed. But homeless case workers say that window sometimes closes before they are aware a bed is available.

Just seeing ... the general bed availability is challenging, said Bevin Kuhn, acting deputy chief of analytics for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the agency that coordinates homeless housing and services in Los Angeles County.

Bad data in, bad data out

One of the big challenges: There is currently no uniform practice for caseworkers to collect and enter information into databases on the homeless people they interview. Some caseworkers might scribble notes on paper, others might tap a few lines into a cellphone, others might try to remember their interactions and recall them later.

All that information later goes into one or more databases. That leaves data vulnerable to errors, or long lag times before information recorded on the street gets entered.

Mark Goldin, Better Angels chief technology officer, described L.A.s technology as systems that dont talk to one another, lack of accurate data, nobody on the same page about whats real and isnt real.

In the home of Silicon Valley, how did tech fall behind?

There is no single reason, but challenges from the pandemic to the county's sprawling government structure contributed.

With the rapidly expanding homeless numbers came this explosion of funds, explosions of organizations and everyone was learning at the same time. And then on top of that ... the pandemic hit, Kuhn said. Everyone across the globe was frozen.

Another problem: Finding consensus among the disparate government agencies, advocacy groups and elected officials in the county.

The size of Los Angeles makes it incredibly complex, Kuhn added.

In search of a fix, building the app

Better Angels conducted over 200 interviews with caseworkers, data experts, managers and others involved in homeless programs as part of developing their software. They found startling gaps: For example, no one is measuring how effective the system is at getting people off the street and into housing and services.

One of the biggest challenges: Getting governments and service groups to participate, even though Better Angels will donate its software to those in L.A. county.

Everything is safe, everything is secure, everything is uploaded, everything is available, Goldin said.

But it's very difficult to get people to do things differently, he added. The more people that use it, the more useful it will be.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Major shakeups have occurred in the presidential race, with a flurry of activity in recent weeks.

Marcus Jones, the Democratic Congressional nominee in Arkansas 2nd District, joins Talk Business & Politics host Roby Brock. What issues are dominating the campaign trail? And whats his take on President Biden stepping down, and Vice-president Kamala Harris stepping up?

Calls for unity after Trump shooting quickly dissipate

Speaking of presidential politics, the GOP wrapped up their convention a week ago with former President Trump picking Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as VP. Gov. Sarah Sanders had a key role in the convention, and the Democrats presidential shift roils the race. Republican strategist Sylvester Smith and Democratic strategist Michael Cook offer their takes.

Talk Business & Politics airs Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on FOX 16. For more coverage, head to TalkBusiness.net.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com.
It was getting a little too close to the deadline for comfort, but the Teamsters and the studios have a deal.

After a long final sprint of talks that had more than a few executives and labor leaders on edge, Teamsters Local 399 announced just before midnight Saturday that the Hollywood Basic Crafts and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers reached an agreement.

More from Deadline

A tentative agreement that is. A tentative agreement that sources on both sides confirm, but are keeping the details very close for now to the proverbial chest.

After a long last 48-hours, we are proud to report that ALL Hollywood Basic Crafts Locals have reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP late this evening, the Lindsay Dougherty-led Local 399 said late on July 27. The basic crafts spent today working closely with our member-led negotiating committees to finalize a deal with the AMPTP that we can now say is being unanimously recommended by our member-led bargaining committees.

More information to follow tomorrow afternoon after Teamsters Local 399 General Membership Meeting.

Swirling around the past few hours before it was made official and with wage increases the last significant hurdle, the deal comes just over 24 hours after Local 399 sent out a missive that painted a bleak picture of the weeks long talks. Late Friday, the Teamsters said the AMPTP had put on the table a last, best and final offer earlier that day. In response, the Teamsters and Basic Crafts put forth a counterproposal with what we know to be a deal that would be recommended for ratification.

As the counterproposal sat with the Carol Lomberdini-led AMPTP, Dougherty stated publicly that we think our response to the producers package is reasonable and would be a deal that gets this over the finish line. At the time, it seems talks between the parties were done for the weekend, and no more updates were expected until after the Local 399 gathering Sunday.

However, with work in Hollywood still nowhere near what is was in late 2022 despite the WGA and SAG-AFTRA resolving their months long strikes last fall, no one wanted these negotiations between the Teamsters, Basic Crafts and the AMPTP to spin out to a strike, I hear.

At the same time, the Teamsters negotiating committee were not about to back down on their core issues, especially wage increases. An apparent head on labor collusion waiting to happen, the fluid situation turned earlier Saturday as the AMPTP went over the Teamsters counterproposal and common ground emerged.

The Teamsters, Basic Crafts tentative deal comes a time when Tinseltown labour is looking at some mixed realities. On July 18, IATSE members strongly ratified their new Basic Agreement (85.9% approval), and the Area Standards Agreement (87.2%.approval) with stronger unity of purpose than we saw in 2021. At the same time, on July 25, SAG-AFTRA called a strike for video game actors against the likes of Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games, Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc.

Coming after two years of bargaining with the APMP over a new and tighter Interactive Media Agreement, the video game performers strike has been in effect since 12:01 am on July 26. There was no word when a strike call would occur.

There is also no word when the tentative agreement will be sent to Local 399 members and that of other Hollywood crafts for ratification.

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Koreas top action movie series, The Roundup, is back with its latest installment, The Roundup: Punishment, starring Don Lee. This time, the action moves to the Philippines.

The borderless action-comedy timely touches on the controversies of online gambling, locally known as POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators), as it sees the team of Ma Seok-Do (Don Lee), tracks down one of Koreas dangerous criminals Baek Chang-gi (Kim Moo-yul) who now operates an online gambling business in the Philippines.

- Advertisement -

In Korea, IT genius Chang Dong-cheol (Lee Dong-hwi) has even bigger plans. Lee shared with Variety that he wants the action and story to evolve with each film, reflecting current times.

The team follows the trail of a murdered young Korean who escaped Baeks gambling ring. In the Philippines, they ride jeepneys and team up with local police. Jang I-su (Park Ji-hwan) returns, going undercover and setting up an illegal online casino to catch the criminals.

Filming in the Philippines made the movie feel more real, with scenes shot in cities like Angeles and Tarlac City. The film shows the reality of international online crime.

Some of the films action-packed scenes were shot in cities like Angeles and Tarlac

The Roundup: Punishment has been a hit in Korea, earning $75 million and drawing over 11 million viewers in just 33 days. Its the third most-watched R-rated movie in Korea and is rated R16 in the Philippines.

Distributed by Black Cap Pictures, The Roundup: Punishment opens Aug. 14 exclusively at SM Cinemas.
The Teamsters and other Hollywood Basic Crafts unions have reached a tentative deal on a new contract with the major studios  deals that are expected to bring at least two years of calm between labor and management in Hollywood following last years writers and actors strikes.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers had delivered a last, best and final offer on Friday. The Teamsters and Basic Crafts unions countered late Friday night, then worked to come to an agreement late Saturday.

More from Variety

After a long last 48-hours, we are proud to report that ALL Hollywood Basic Crafts Locals have reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP late this evening, the union reported just before midnight Saturday. The basic crafts spent today working closely with our member-led negotiating committees to finalize a deal with the AMPTP that we can now say is being unanimously recommended by our member-led bargaining committees.

No details were provided of the agreement. Teamsters Local 399 was set to have a membership meeting Sunday and would offer further information.

The union had sought a double-digit increase in wages, along with strict protections against subcontracting and driverless trucks.

The deal came four days before the contract was due to expire on Wednesday. The Hollywood Teamsters have not gone on strike since a three-week lockout in 1988.

It follows the agreement with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which was ratified on July 18.

Workers have been struggling with an industrywide contraction, and have hoped that the agreements will resolve any uncertainty that might be holding back a return to full strength in production.

The Basic Crafts unions represent about 8,000 workers in total, including drivers, animal wranglers, location managers, electricians and laborers. The unions had repeatedly warned they would not extend the contract past the July 31 expiration date.

The unions had already settled the issues related to the health and pension plans, which were negotiated jointly with IATSE.

IATSEs contract covers about 70,000 workers, and provides 7% increases in the first year, triple time after 15 hours, and some protections from artificial intelligence.

Though the IATSE negotiation went relatively smoothly, with few outward signs of tension, the Teamsters had warned repeatedly that the two sides were far apart. The union held a webinar on July 14 with Lindsay Dougherty, the head of Local 399, and Sean OBrien, the general president of the union.

I want to be clear, Dougherty said in the webinar. We arent looking for a strike. Were fighting for a fair deal for our members. We wont, however, bargain against ourselves. We wont be intimidated to take our priorities off the table, and we wont be taking any concessions.

(Pictured: Teamsters Local 399 head Lindsay Dougherty)

Best of Variety

Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Can tech help solve the Los Angeles homeless crisis? Finding shelter may someday be a click away

LOS ANGELES (AP)  Billions of dollars have been spent on efforts to get homeless people off the streets in California, but outdated computer systems with error-filled data are all too often unable to provide even basic information like where a shelter bed is open on any given night, inefficiencies that can lead to dire consequences.

The problem is especially acute in Los Angeles, where more than 45,000 people  many suffering from serious mental illness, substance addictions or both  live in litter-strewn encampments that have spread into virtually every neighborhood, and where rows of rusting RVs line entire blocks.

Even in the state that is home to Silicon Valley, technology has not kept up with the long-running crisis. In an age when anyone can book a hotel room or rent a car with a few strokes on a mobile phone, no system exists that provides a comprehensive listing of available shelter beds in Los Angeles County, home to more than 1 in 5 unhoused people in the U.S.

Mark Goldin, chief technology officer for Better Angels United, a nonprofit group, described L.A.s technology as systems that dont talk to one another, lack of accurate data, nobody on the same page about whats real and isnt real.

The systems cant answer exactly how many people are out there at any given time. Where are they? he said.

The ramifications for people living on the streets could mean whether someone sleeps another night outside or not, a distinction that can be life-threatening.

"They are not getting the services to the people at the time that those people either need the service, or are mentally ready to accept the services, said Adam Miller, a tech entrepreneur and CEO of Better Angels.

The problems were evident at a filthy encampment in the citys Silver Lake neighborhood, where Sara Reyes, executive director of SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, led volunteers distributing water, socks and food to homeless people, including one who appeared unconscious.

She gave out postcards with the address of a nearby church where the coalition provides hot food and services. A small dog bolted out of a tent, frantically barking, while a disheveled man wearing a jacket on a blistering hot day shuffled by a stained mattress.

At the end of the visit Reyes began typing notes into her mobile phone, which would later be retyped into a coalition spreadsheet and eventually copied again into a federal database.

Anytime you move it from one medium to another, you can have data loss. We know we are not always getting the full picture, Reyes said. The victims are the people the system is supposed to serve.

The technology has sputtered while the homeless population has soared. Some ask how can you combat a problem without reliable data to know what the scope is? An annual tally of homeless people in the city recently found a slight decline in the population, but some experts question the accuracy of the data, and tents and encampments can be seen just about everywhere.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has pinpointed shortcomings with technology as among the obstacles she faces in homelessness programs and has described the citys efforts to slow the crisis as building the plane while flying it.

She said earlier this year that three to five homeless people die every day on the streets of L.A.

On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered state agencies to start removing homeless encampments on state land in his boldest action yet following a Supreme Court ruling allowing cities to enforce bans on sleeping outside in public spaces.

There is currently no uniform practice for caseworkers to collect and enter information into databases on the homeless people they interview, including notes taken on paper. The result: Information can be lost or recorded incorrectly, and it becomes quickly outdated with the lag time between interviews and when its entered into a database.

The main federal data system, known as the Homeless Management Information System, or HMIS, was designed as a desktop application, making it difficult to operate on a mobile phone.

One of the reasons the data is so bad is because what the case managers do by necessity is they take notes, either on their phones or on scrap pieces of paper or they just try to remember it, and they dont typically input it until they get back to their desk hours, days, a week or even longer afterward, Miller said.

Every organization that coordinates services for homeless people uses an HMIS program to comply with data collection and reporting standards mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. But the systems are not all compatible.

Sam Matonik, associate director of data at L.A.-based People Assisting the Homeless, a major service provider, said his organization is among those that must reenter data because Los Angeles County uses a proprietary data system that does not talk to the HMIS system.

Once youre manually double-entering things, it opens the door for all sorts of errors, Matonik said. Small numerical errors are the difference between somebody having shelter and not.

Bevin Kuhn, acting deputy chief of analytics for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the agency that coordinates homeless housing and services in Los Angeles County, said work is underway to create a database of 23,000 beds by the end of the year as part of technology upgrades.

For case managers, just seeing ... the general bed availability is challenging, Kuhn said.

Among other changes is a reboot of the HMIS system to make it more compatible with mobile apps and developing a way to measure if timely data is being entered by case workers, Kuhn said.

It's not uncommon for a field worker to encounter a homeless person in crisis who needs immediate attention, which can create delays in collecting data. Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority aims for data to be entered in the system within 72 hours, but that benchmark is not always met.

In hopes of filling the void, Better Angels assembled a team experienced in building large-scale software applications. They are constructing a mobile-friendly prototype for outreach workers  to be donated to participating groups in Los Angeles County  that will be followed by systems for shelter operators and a comprehensive shelter bed database.

Since homeless people are transient and difficult to locate for follow-up services, one feature would create a map of places where an individual had been encountered, allowing case managers to narrow the search.

Services are often available, but the problem is linking them with a homeless person in real time. So, a data profile would show services the individual received in the past, medical issues and make it easy to contact health workers, if needed.

As a secondary benefit  if enough agencies and providers agree to participate  the software could produce analytical information and data visualizations, spotlighting where homeless people are moving around the county, or concentrations of where homeless people have gathered.

One key goal for the prototypes: ease of use even for workers with scant digital literacy. Information entered into the app would be immediately unloaded to the database, eliminating the need for redundant reentries while keeping information up to date.

Time is often critical. Once a shelter bed is located, there is a 48-hour window for the spot to be claimed, which Reyes says happens only about half the time. The technology is so inadequate, the coalition sometimes doesn't learn a spot is open until it has expired.

She has been impressed with the speed of the Better Angels app, which is in testing, and believes it would cut down on the number of people who miss the housing window, as well as create more reliability for people trying to obtain services.

Im hoping Better Angels helps us put the human back into this whole situation, Reyes said.

___

Har reported from San Francisco.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

The Pyramid of the Moon with the El Xihuingo volcano in the distance on the summer solstice. | Credit: Photo by Rafael Morales Orozco, retouching by Arturo Montero.

The "Pyramid of the Moon" at Teotihuacan, the site of an ancient city near modern-day Mexico City, is aligned with the sun on the summer and winter solstices, a research team in Mexico says. However, not all experts agree with the assessment.

Teotihuacan flourished between roughly 100 B.C. to A.D. 800 and had a population of around 100,000 people. The "Pyramid of the Moon" was built in stages between roughly A.D. 1 and 350 and is located at the end of the "Causeway of the Dead," a long street that runs through the center of the city.

The team took a large number of measurements, including information from drone flights, to reveal that the northeast corner of the Pyramid of the Moon aligns with the sun when it rises over the El Xihuingo volcano on the summer solstice , which occurs between June 20 and 21 each year in the Northern Hemisphere, Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) said in a Spanish-language statement . The researchers also found that the southwest corner of the pyramid aligns with the sun as it sets behind a hill during the winter solstice , which occurs between Dec. 21 and 22 each year.

The summer-solstice alignment involving the volcano is particularly interesting, the team said, as there is evidence that the people of Teotihuacan used the volcano as an astronomical observatory of sorts.

"On the slopes of the El Xihuingo volcano is the Xihuingo archaeological site, a place where petroglyphs known as dotted crosses were created [and] whose function has been proposed as astronomical markers," Aaron Gonzalez Benitez, an archaeoastronomer at the National School of Anthropology and History in Mexico and a member of the research team, told Live Science in an email.

Related: 5 catastrophic megathrust earthquakes led to the demise of the pre-Aztec city of Teotihuacan, new study suggests

The pyramid's alignment with the solstice sun appears to have affected the orientation of the entire city. "The city of Teotihuacan stands out among other things for its magnificent reticular design, and if the solar orientations of the Pyramid of the Moon determined the orientation of the city, the other monuments that are parallel to this great building would be following and replicating the same canonical orientation," Gonzalez Benitez said.

Image 1 of 2

A view of the stepped pyramid from the ground level

Image 2 of 2

A man sits on the steps of a pyramid

Sun or moon?

It may sound strange that a structure called the "Pyramid of the Moon" would instead follow the solstice sun. But Gonzalez Benitez noted that the name was given by the Mexica people, who founded the Aztec Empire , and they didn't name the pyramid until sometime after the city was abandoned. We don't actually know what the inhabitants of Teotihuacan would have called the structure, he said.

Interestingly, there is another pyramid at Teotihuacan called the "Pyramid of the Sun," but the team's research suggests that the northeast and southwest corners of that pyramid actually align with the "lunistices" (also known as lunar standstills ), a time when the moon appears at its highest or lowest points in the sky.

Some of the team's results also turned up in previous research, Steven Gullberg , a professor of cultural astronomy at the University of Oklahoma, told Live Science. "I don't disagree with the orientations that they found, and this will make for an interesting debate among those who specialize in the astronomy of this area. I look forward to seeing their opinions."

Image 1 of 3

A diagram showing the alignment of the temple

Image 2 of 3

A satellite view of the pyramid

Image 3 of 3

An aerial view of the pyramid in a town

RELATED STORIES

'Lost' 1,500-year-old Teotihuacan village discovered in the heart of Mexico City

Copy of famous Teotihuacan structure discovered in Maya city

2,000-year-old flower offerings found under Teotihuacan pyramid in Mexico

Ivan Sprajc , head of the Institute of Anthropological and Spatial Studies at the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, said it is difficult to believe that the city was built with a solstice alignment involving the Pyramid of the Moon in mind. He noted that the Pyramid of the Moon was modified during its construction and its earliest phase had a different orientation than it does today.

The team, which includes project coordinator and principal researcher Ismael Arturo Montero Garcia, is writing a book that will include the results of their research. Additionally, they have released a documentary on their findings .
Democrats slammed Donald Trump as a threat to democracy this weekend after the former president told a group of Christians they were not going to have to vote in four years should he win in November.

Trump urged Christians at Turning Point Actions Believers Summit on Friday to turn out for the election. Christians, get out and vote, just this time, he said. You wont have to do it anymore.  You got to get out and vote. In four years, you dont have to vote again. Well have it fixed so good youre not going to have to vote.

Various Democrats attacked him for the comment and argued it was a continuation of Trumps self-described joke that he would be a dictator on day one of a second term. When Vice President Harris says this election is about freedom she means it, the Kamala Harris campaign said in a statement on Saturday. Our democracy is under assault by criminal Donald Trump.

Other Democrats on the ballot chimed in. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), running for Californias open Senate seat, said on X the comment meant voters had to vote against authoritarianism. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) was simpler: This. Is. Terrifying.

We cannot let this be the case, she wrote on X.

The Trump campaign tried to clean up the remarks and claimed Trump was actually arguing for unity and bringing prosperity to every American, as opposed to the divisive political environment that has sowed so much division and even resulted in an assassination attempt, according to The Washington Post.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper (THP) shot during a traffic stop spent his first full day in a rehabilitation facility, THPs Cookeville district said.

THP Cookeville posted a photo to its official X page on Sunday, July 28 stating that Trooper Adam Cothron spent his first full day at a rehabilitation facility.

Cothron had been shot during a traffic stop on Friday, July 19, leading to a statewide Blue Alert. Both suspects wanted in connection with the incident, Braze Rucker and Timothy L. Davis Jr., have since been taken into custody.

Brother of THP trooper shot looks to reform laws on repeat, violent offenders

Thank you each and everyone for your support, the post read in part. Please continue to lift him up in your prayers.

Several efforts to support Cothron and his family have cropped up throughout Middle Tennessee. Tennessee Soul BBQ announced that they would be selling whole briskets and pork butts on Saturday, Aug. 3.

Well also be selling bottles of sauce August 2nd and 3rd, the post read. ALL proceeds that we make next weekend go to Trooper Cothron and his family.

If you would like to donate to Cothron and his family, you are asked to contact Brandon Janco at 615-788-2732 or by email at bjanco@hvillepd.org. You can also donate by Venmo here.

You can also make out a check to Gena or Adam Cothron and mail it to USPCA Region 13, ATTN: Trooper Cothron, P.O. Box 1274, Hendersonville, TN 37075.

PREVIOUS: Second man in custody in relation to THP-involved shooting

If you are in the Middle Tennessee area, you can drop the check off at numerous police stations:

Hendersonville PD, ATTN: Brandon Janco

Lebanon PD, ATTN: Gray Parrish/Cody Bryan

Sumner County Sheriffs Office, ATTN: Brain Gambino

Brentwood PD, ATTN: Trey Frasch

Additionally, Citizens Bank has set up an account to assist Cothron and his family. Citizens Bank has 21 locations across Middle Tennessee and you can find the one closest to you here.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Three of the four members of one of the biggest groups in gospel, The Nelons, were killed in a plane crash in Wyoming on Friday afternoon, their management confirmed.

Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, and their daughter Amber, died in a tragic, fatal plane crash as they were en route to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska, Gaither Management Group confirmed in a statement. The cruise was set to begin from Seattle.

Four other people also died in the crash, including the pilot, Larry Haynie and his wife Melissa, along with Ambers husband, Nathan Kistler, and assistant, Melodi Hodges.

Kelly Nelon Clark, Amber Nelon Thompson, Autumn Nelon Clark, and Jason Clark of The Nelons attend the 52nd GMA Dove Awards at Lipscomb Allen Arena on Oct. 19, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Hours before the crash, the group posted a video in front of a plane during a pit stop in Nebraska, saying they were about to grab a meal and then move onto Montana.

We are on our way, Jason says in the video, which eventually pans to all of the victims, including pilot Haynie. The group appear to be in good spirits as they document their itinerary and introduce their wonderful pilot.

Well check in later, Jason adds at the end of the video.

Details of what led to the crash are scarce. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, and told The Daily Beast, It is very early in the investigation and not much information available at this time. It did not confirm identities or casualty numbers, however, citing local authorities instead.

According to Campbell County Public Information Officer Leslie Perkins, emergency responders rushed to the report of an airplane which had crashed north of Gillette at around 1 p.m.

The NTSB stated that a team is at the scene of the wreck and that the plane, a single-engine turboprop Pilatus PC-12/47E, impacted terrain at 1:04 p.m., though the spokesperson said that information could change. They added the aircraft is in a remote location, but expect to begin documenting the scene and examining the aircraft. The aircraft will then be recovered and taken to a secure facility for further evaluation, the spokesperson said. A preliminary report is not expected for at least 30 days. The NTSB said it is gathering recordings of any air traffic control communications, radar data and weather reports as part of its investigation.

The wreck caused a giant wildfire that firefighters were still battling Friday night.

The fourth, surviving member, Autumnwho is Jason and Kellys youngest daughterwas not on the flight. She and her husband, Jamie Streetman, were waiting for the family in Seattle when they received the bad news.

They were brought to the hotel where artists were gathered with Bill and Gloria Gaither to pray, sing and embrace them in their grief, pledging to support them in whatever needs arise, management said.

The couple have returned home to Kellys brother, Todd Nelon and his wife, Rhonda, to begin the hard tasks that lie ahead. Management added: Please keep them, the Kistler family, the Haynie family and the family of Melodi Hodges in your prayers.

In a short statement of her own, Autumn thanked fans for the prayers that have been extended already to me, my husband, Jamie, and our soon-to-be-born baby boy, as well as Jasons parents, Dan and Linda Clark. We appreciate your continued prayers, love and support as we navigate the coming days.

The pilot, Haynie, was a Georgia Department of Corrections Board chairman and remembered in a tribute post by the corrections department on X.

We are heartbroken as individuals and as an agency by this loss, the statement said. Not only were Larry and Lisa devoted to one another, to their grandchildren and family, but they were also devoted toand staunch supporters ofthe GDC family. Please take time today and in the many days ahead to pray for peace and comfort for their family and the families of the others who were lost as we all navigate this tragedy.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also paid tribute to Haynie and all those lost in this horrible plane accident.

As chairman of the Georgia Department of Corrections Board and through a career of valued service in public safety, Larrys impact on our state will not be forgotten, he said in a statement on X. We will continue to hold his memory and that enduring commitment to his fellow Georgians in our hearts and memories.

Kemp added: Our entire family is asking everyone to join us in praying for those who have been lost, for their loved ones and communities, and for those throughout the gospel music community who have lost dear friends in this heartbreaking accident.

The Nelons have an impressive resume, with 35 albums recorded and more than 20 Top 5 Southern Gospel radio singles. The group was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2016, and has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, according to a biography on their website. Most recently, they were awarded best Country/Bluegrass/Roots Recorded Song of the Year in 2021 by the GMAs for If God Pulled Back The Curtain. All up, they won 10 GMA Dove Awards, including multiple song of the year and album of the year awards.

The band was started by Kellys father, Rex Nelon, in the 1970s.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
WHITE HALL, Ark.  White Hall police say three people are dead after a Saturday afternoon armed standoff.

According to investigators, officers responded to reports of a man who barricaded himself in a home on Lakeview Drive after killing two others inside.

Police investigating deadly Saturday night shooting in south Little Rock

The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office Special Response Team responded and was able to make contact but was unable to get him to come out.

Investigators said SWAT team members were able to gain entry to the home around 6:45 p.m. after hearing a gunshot inside the home and established that the two people who were shot had died from their injuries. Police said the suspect was also found dead inside the home.

A coroner identified the victims as 52-year-old Patrice McDaniel and her 14-year-old daughter, who both died from gunshot wounds. Also, 52-year-old Jason Rogers is believed to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Benton residents react to pair of attempted murder arrests just hours apart

The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said all three individuals were transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for autopsy.

The investigation is ongoing.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Sherry Williams was initially worried that her son, Taylor, was gaming too much.

In frustration, she even threw Taylor's Xbox from the second story.

Today, Taylor is a high school senior and has won scholarships from esports.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sherry Williams. It has been edited for length and clarity.

My sons, Taylor and Tyler, started playing video games when they were 5 and 6. Like most kids, they loved gaming and started playing a bit too much. They started rushing through homework in order to play. I'm an elementary school teacher, so that wasn't going to fly. I made a new rule: the boys could only game on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

During COVID, we were all home together when the school sent me a notice that Taylor, who was a freshman at the time, was missing assignments. I couldn't figure out how he was skipping class right under my nose. It turns out he was gaming when he was supposed to be doing school work.

At that point, I also took away his weekend gaming privileges. He ignored me, so I started hiding the Xbox under my bed and in other places that are still a secret to this day. Somehow, Taylor always managed to find the gaming system. At this point, he was just being disrespectful.

One day, I was so frustrated that I hurled the Xbox off my bedroom deck, and it crashed down from the second floor. Even then it didn't break, so I asked my boyfriend to put the Xbox in his trunk where Taylor couldn't get to it.

Taylor transferred to a school with an esports team

Two years later  when Taylor was a junior in high school  the boys transferred schools, mostly to play traditional athletics. Tyler plays football and basketball, and Taylor plays basketball. Both were hoping to leverage sports for college funding.

Taylor came home and told me the new school had an esports program. I had never heard of esports  or competitive video gaming  but at an open house, Taylor introduced me to the coach. He explained that colleges were starting to offer esports scholarships. Because of that, video gaming can now open up opportunities for students the same way traditional sports can, he said.

Sherry Williams threw her sons Xbox out the window in frustration. Courtesy of Sherry Williams

I was convinced, but I still had the rule that the boys couldn't play video games during the week. I used that as leverage with Taylor: I would allow him to practice gaming during the week as long as he was prioritizing school work and being respectful. We were able to meet in the middle.

Taylor started winning prizes for his school and himself

With Taylor playing more, I wanted to learn about gaming. As I delved into this world, I learned that gaming can change cognitive function  but in a good way. It can increase problem-solving abilities and relieve stress. Some people even use video games for pain management.

I now knew that video games weren't just a waste of time, but friends and family weren't convinced gaming could have real benefits. Then, Taylor started winning awards.

His first win led to $20,000 in gaming equipment for his school. It was so much that the team shared it with two other local high schools. When Taylor became a national champion in 2023, he won prize money that he could use to pay for books and other expenses at college.

I'm convinced that video games can lead to success for kids like mine

Taylor will be a senior this fall, and he's looking at colleges that have esports programs. One historically Black college, Johnson C. Smith University, even has an esports and gaming minor. For kids like Taylor, esports are so much more than games: they're a real path forward and a chance to use something they're passionate about to build success.

I'm a proud mom. I even use the streaming platform Twitch to watch games that Taylor has played as if they're real sporting events. I'm even looking at starting a gaming club at the elementary school where I work because I've seen first-hand how powerful video games can be.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Zambia has been left stunned by the brutal killing of Guntila Muleya, the newly appointed head of the countrys Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA). Muleyas body was discovered on the outskirts of Lusaka, bearing gunshot wounds, just a day after he was reported missing.

The circumstances surrounding Muleyas death remain mysterious, with police launching an investigation into what appears to be a case of abduction and murder. The incident has sent shockwaves through the nation, particularly due to the rarity of gun violence in Zambia.

Muleya, who took over as IBA director general in May, had previously served as the general manager for MultiChoice Zambia. His appointment to the regulatory body was seen as a fresh start for the organization, which oversees broadcasting standards and licensing in the country.

The government has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, with Information Ministry official Thabo Kawana assuring the public of a thorough investigation. The IBA, in a statement, expressed deep sadness over the loss and committed to upholding Muleyas vision for the authority.

As Zambians grapple with this tragedy, questions arise about the motive behind the killing and its potential implications for media freedom in the country. The case has highlighted concerns about the safety of public officials and the need for enhanced security measures to protect those in sensitive positions.
Toddler critically injured after being struck by car in Walton County

A three-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries after they were struck by a car on Saturday in Walton County.

The Monroe Police Department said the child was struck by the car at around 9:30 p.m. on Tanglewood Drive.

The child was first taken to Piedmont Walton Hospital before being life-flighted to Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

A man was arrested as a result of this incident, police said.

Authorities, including the Georgia State Patrol, are continuing to look into the circumstances leading to this accident.

Anyone with information about this incident is being asked to contact the Monroe Police Department.

TRENDING STORIES:

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
Tommy Robinson was joined by crowds of supporters in central London on Saturday where they were heard chanting 'we want our country back' and singing Rule, Britannia!

Tommy Robinson has been arrested under anti-terror laws, according to his verified account on Twitter.

It follows a complaint over a film which was shown to the crowd at a march in central London on Saturday led by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

A post on Twitter said: We can confirm that Tommy Robinson has been detained by police using powers afforded to them under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Thats right, you read that correctly, Tommy is being held by police using counter-terrorism legislation. We will update you as and when we can.

Around 100 people have gathered outside Downing Street in a protest over Robinsons alleged detention.

Waving Union Jacks and St Georges flags, the crowd erupted into chants, singing Oh Tommy Robinson, Tommy Tommy Tommy Tommy Robinson and Free Tommy Robinson.

Mystery surrounds where Robinson is being held, with the Met Police forced to deny any involvement amid speculation online.

Less than 100 protestors outside Downing Street - GEORGE CRACKNELL WRIGHT

The crowd gathered and demanded the release of Robinson - JAMES MANNING/PA

The protest group then walked a short 300m to New Scotland Yard, where they are demanding the release of Robinson and the resignation of Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary.

Flanked by around 20 officers, one man holding a small wireless microphone told the crowd: This is the beginning of the fight for freedom for Tommy Robinson.

Tourists crowded around filming the men on their phones.

Protesters shouted out conspiracy theories including that the country is being controlled by a deep state.

One man held a large England flag on a pole, which read Jesus is our God.

Four protesters held a several-metre-long printed banner that had a photo of Robinson with tape over his mouth and #freetommy beneath.

Several said they did not know where Robinson was arrested.

EMERGENCY ADMIN POST - PLEASE SHARE FAR AND WIDE!!!!



We can confirm that Tommy Robinson has been detained by Police using powers afforded to them under the Terrorism Act 2000.



That's right, you read that correctly, Tommy is being held by Police using counter terrorism pic.twitter.com/i3nagtBbXY  Tommy Robinson  (@TRobinsonNewEra) July 28, 2024

Veteran Richard Inman, who claimed to be with Tommy for around 7 years, claimed Robinson was arrested by Kent Police at a port as he planned to go away for a couple of days.

We dont know where he is, we dont know whats going on, he added.

Kent Police would not confirm if they had arrested Robinson. It is understood the force does not comment on individuals under investigation unless they have been charged.

The Metropolitan Police said there was no Met involvement in reference to the post about Robinsons arrest.

On Saturday, the far-Right activist played a libellous film to thousands of protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square.

Robinson broadcast a one-hour 45-minute documentary about a legal battle between himself and a Syrian schoolboy on large screens at a march in central London.

He is already due before the High Court on Monday accused of contempt for making the documentary, called Silenced, as well as for breaching an injunction against him banning him from repeating claims made in the film.

In 2021, he was ordered to pay Jamal Hijazi 100,000 for allegations he made about the Syrian refugee after a video of him being attacked at his Huddersfield school went viral.

The false claims, including that Mr Hijazi had been attacking girls in his school, were repeated in the documentary.

In response to a complaint about the film on Twitter on Saturday evening, the Met said: We did not know what films would be shown during the event. Organisers of protests are not required to share those details in advance. There is no power for us to compel them to do so.

Officers on duty for the event couldnt reasonably have been aware of civil proceedings ongoing in relation to a particular film, but having now been made aware were making further inquiries to determine what action we need to take.

Thousands of flag-waving demonstrators turned out for Saturdays march, where they were heard chanting We want our country back and singing Rule, Britannia!

As crowds watched the film, Robinson posted on Twitter: Ill be jailed for two years for showing the inconceivable truth.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
In our weekly list of business people on the move, we highlight Palm Beach County professionals who are making a difference. These are people from across the spectrum of public and private endeavors, those working in charities, court houses, private practices and beyond. They are moving up within their industry, advancing their careers and standing out for their services within our community.

Here are this week's professional standouts:

Amerant Bank names Palm Beach County market president

Jesse Flowers

Amerant Bank, with a growing presence across South Florida, has named Jesse Flowers new market president for Palm Beach County. Flowers, an integral part of the financial services industry in the Palm Beach market, brings over two decades of experience in banking. Prior to joining Amerant, Flowers served as the regional president for SouthState Bank, where he demonstrated leadership and a commitment to fostering strong client connections. Amerant recently received approval to open its third banking center and first regional office in the Palm Beach market located at 525 Okeechobee Boulevard in CityPlace. The office and banking center are expected to open in the first quarter of 2025.

Community Foundation adds three board members

Marti M. LaTour

The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, a nonprofit organization that leads partnerships with donors, nonprofit organizations, and community members to solve the regions chronic and emerging issues, recently announced the appointment of Marti M. LaTour, Kevin Powers, and Kenneth West II to its board of directors. LaTour of Gulf Stream is director of marketing for The A.I.D. Group, a wealth management firm, as well as a limited partner of Belle Capital, LP, a womens angel fund that invests in women-owned or run start-up companies. Powers of Stuart is a partner and principal broker at Indiantown Realty Corporation. West of West Palm Beach is president and CEO of HCA Florida JFK Hospital, located in Atlantis.

Kevin Powers

Kenneth West II

Specializing in real estate, finance, attorney joins Boca-based firm

Jake Schulman

Boca Raton-based Shapiro, Blasi, Wasserman & Hermann recently announced that Jake Schulman has joined the firm as an associate attorney. Schulman focuses his practice on transactional commercial and residential real estate, real estate development, and finance, as well as business transactions and contracts. Shapiro, Blasi, Wasserman & Hermann, P.A. is a full-service litigation and transactional law firm and one of the largest independent law firms in South Florida.

Youth support group Vita Nova adds philanthropist to board

Denise S. Fraile

Vita Nova has announed that Denise S. Fraile has joined the nonprofits board of directors. Fraile is the founder of Verati Design Group, a boutique consulting firm that specializes in branding and business strategy for middle-market clients ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. West Palm Beach-based Vita Nova is a safe bridge to independence for former foster care, LGBTQ, and other homeless youth through supportive housing, education, employment, and life skills training.

Property management firm earns sixth accreditation

Top Notch Property Watch has earned accreditation from the National Home Watch Association for the sixth year. The NHWA was formed in 2009 in order to establish and maintain the highest industry standards for home watch and absentee homeowner services throughout the United States and Canada. The company is led by Gene Gibson and Zack Hornby, who together boast more than 53 years of distinguished service in the United States Coast Guard. Top Notch Property Watch serves Palm Beach County, specializing in Wellington. They also serve Royal Palm Beach, Loxahatchee, Lake Worth, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, City of Palm Beach, and North Palm Beach.

Top Notch Property Watch owners Gene Gibson (left) and Zack Hornby

Attorneys at West Palm firm recognized by Florida Super Lawyers

Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, PLLC recently announced that four of their attorneys were recognized by Florida Super Lawyers. The 2024 Super Lawyers honorees are managing partner Gary Lesser and shareholders Joe Landy and Mickey Smith. Attorney Imani M. Williams is recognized as a Rising Star. This is the 16th consecutive year that Lesser, Landy and Smith have each been recognized as a Super Lawyer, a title given to only the top 5% of attorneys in each state. No more than 2.5% of attorneys in each state receive the Rising Stars honor. Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith is a third-generation personal injury law firm with nearly a century of experience.

Gary Lesser

Joe Landy

Mickey Smith

Imani M. Williams

If you are looking for more insight into the movers and shakers operating in the Palm Beaches, subscribe to our real estate newsletter, The Dirt, keep an eye out for stories and perspective from veteran reporters Kimberly Miller and Alexandra Clough. If you have an announcement for Business People on the Move, please send it to Pbbusiness@pbpost.com.

Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Best businesses, professionals, business people in Palm Beach County
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear helped rally Iowa Democrats at their biggest fundraiser of the year Saturday night, less than a week after President Joe Biden dramatically upset the 2024 election cycle by ending his reelection campaign and throwing his support to Vice President Kamala Harris.

Beshear, who delivered the keynote address at the Iowa Democratic Partys Liberty & Justice Celebration, is among the politicians reportedly being vetted as a potential running mate for Harris.

He told the group he's been privileged to work with Harris during her tenure as vice president and, before that, California attorney general, and said he's confident the party is on the path to victory with November with her on top of the ballot.

"Let me make something clear. The vice president is not our presidential nominee by coronation," Beshear told attendees. "She's so popular, she won it by acclamation."

More: Andy Beshear is 'eager' to debate 'phony' JD Vance if he's Kamala Harris' running mate

Beshear, 46, is serving his second term as governor and previously was Kentuckys attorney general from 2016 to 2019.

He told the Des Moines Register in an interview Saturday that if selected as Harris' running mate, he would be eager to debate Republican vice presidential nominee and U.S. Sen. JD Vance, whom he criticized for proclaiming his Appalachian roots while, in Beshear's view, disrespecting the region's people.

This is a guy that used to come a couple weeks a summer, at best, to Kentucky and then wrote a book (Hillbilly Elegy) claiming to know us, claiming to understand our culture," Beshear said. "He called my people lazy, and these are the coal miners that built this country.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks to Iowa Democrats during the 2024 Liberty and Justice Celebration on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

He continued throwing jabs at Vance and former President Donald Trump in his address Saturday night, including noting that he won the eastern Kentucky county "JD Vance falsely claims is his home" by more than 20 points, and needling Trump for his 34 felony convictions in a New York state court.

Organizers said the dinner sold out, drawing about 450 people to the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart told attendees that in the six days since Biden left the race, she's seen a new groundswell of enthusiasm across the party.

I spend a lot of time on the phone, and I've got to tell you, there were a lot of excited people on the other end of those calls this week, Hart said. " The enthusiasm surrounding Vice President Harris is truly amazing to see."

The gathering followed a tumultuous three weeks in American politics that saw the attempted assassination of Trump, his nomination at the Republican National Convention, Bidens decision to step aside and the elevation of Harris as Bidens successor on the Democratic ticket.

Iowas Democratic Party faithful responded with exhilaration to Saturday's speakers, with attendees afterward saying they were optimistic going into the final stretch of the campaign.

That's not to say that it's always been a smooth ride, and Carl McPherson of Des Moines, a member of the party's Polk County Central Committee, said his first reaction when Biden ended his campaign was sorrow.

"Personally, I was sad because I didn't really want to see him step down. I wanted to see the naysayers rallying," McPherson said. "But he's putting country and party above personal interest, and he endorsed a very strong candidate. I believe we have a very good chance of winning."

Beshear touted his record in Kentucky, including opposing anti-LGBTQ legislation and working with Harris on initiatives to decriminalize marijuana possession and improve maternal health care.

Sheryl Jensen of Urbandale, also on the Polk County Central Committee, said party members are excited about Harris  and Beshear, whom she praised after his speech.

"He's saying all the things they're doing in Kentucky that I would like to see in the state of Iowa," she said.

State leaders predict gains in November elections

Iowa Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum walks on stage during the 2024 Liberty and Justice Celebration on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

Elected officials such as Iowa House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst, Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum and Iowa Auditor Rob Sand also spoke, and repeated the message that Iowa's Republican leaders are too extreme for the state.

"Republicans feel like theyre going to be in charge forever," Konfrst said. "They vote like it and they act like it. Its our job to show everyone that its not true."

Responding to national events, party leaders spoke of their enthusiasm for Harris while also honoring Biden. Jochum drew the first standing ovation of the evening in her speech by thanking Biden for "his remarkable 50 years of public service" and called him "a good and decent man (who) stepped up at a very critical point in our history, when the soul of America was at stake."

Iowa Democrats are also looking to make gains in the state's congressional delegation this year, all four of whom are currently Republicans. Candidates Sarah Corkery, 2nd District; Lanon Baccam, 3rd District; and Ryan Melton, 4th District; were on hand to make their pitch to the base.

A spokesperson said 1st District candidate Christina Bohannan didnt attend because of a schedule conflict.

All three candidates said they're hearing increased interest and enthusiasm from voters since Harris replaced Biden atop the ticket.

"We had more folks knocking doors today than weve had at any point in the campaign," Baccam said. "Something is happening in Iowa."

Lanon Baccam speaks to the crowd during the 2024 Liberty and Justice Celebration on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

Overall, the lineup of speakers predicted the weeks events will lead to higher turnout, greater enthusiasm and electoral success for Democrats in three months.

"We have felt that shift in the air just in the past few days," Corkery said. "Weve been out at county fairs, and this is the first time weve had Republicans and independents lining up at our booth. Theyre ready to switch, because of Kamala Harris."

Beshear too said that he believes Harris will lift the party to victory in November.

"The vice president gets it. She is tough and she is smart. And that's going to make her a good president," he said. "But she is also kind and has empathy, and that's going to make her a great president. President Trump's attacks aren't going to work."

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear touts Kamala Harris before Iowa Democrats
Traffic jams cause chaos across Europe as holidaymakers head for the sun

Traffic jams cause chaos across Europe as holidaymakers head for the sun

Traffic jams are wreaking havoc on European motorways as holiday makers head off to enjoy their summer holidays.

The German Algemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC) expects this weekend produce some of the worst traffic jams of the year across the country.

The queues will be particularly noticeable on roads in Bavaria as tourists head to popular holiday destinations of Italy and Austria, according to the ADAC.

The first major wave of travellers set out on Friday, but many families will also be making their way south over the weekend, ADAC traffic expert Alexander Kreip explained.

14 kilometres of traffic jams were reported on the Bavarian A8 motorway heading to Austria, according to a German police spokesman.

Queues on Slovenian road are also getting longer at the peak of the summer season  with this weekend marking the start of school holidays for some.

Slovenian traffic safety agency AVP launched a warning campaign to remind drivers to take breaks on longer journeys and to stay hydrated on hot days.

Traffic jams are expected on the western Ljubljana highway ring and on the Primorska motorway.

Long queues could be seen in Croatia due to the uniquely high number of travellers and some traffic accidents.

Traffic was forced to move in a single lane between the Zadar East and Zadar Center junctions in the direction of Zagreb after a traffic accident  with congestion ending up about 9km long.

There is also congestion at the Split ferry port  with the ferry company Jadrolinija reporting record traffic statistics of 16,000 vehicles and 80,000 passengers.

The Croatian Tourist Board is distributing bottles of water and car air fresheners at major toll plazas and ferry ports this weekend as a gesture of welcome to tourists.
Three of four tank cars of a train involved in a fatal crash with a pickup truck on Saturday in Sauget were carrying hazardous materials, but area residents werent in danger, according to authorities.

The materials included chlorine, phosphorus pentasulfide and sulphuric acid, said Brian Donley, deputy chief of St. Clair Special Emergency Services Association, a non-profit organization that was called in to help police and firefighters assess the situation.

Donley said his team was able to quickly determine that the tank cars werent damaged and no valves underneath them were leaking, greatly reducing the risk of an explosion.

The truck and the fire were all around the two engines of the train, he said. The three tank cars were behind those, and there was no indication of any damage or impact between the vehicle and those cars.

Even if the truck had collided with the tank cars, they likely would have been OK, Donley said, noting that state and federal regulators require such cars to meet high standards of sturdiness.

Jerame Simmons, fire chief for Prairie du Pont Fire Protection District, agreed.

Penetration of tank cars is pretty rare, he said. But if you heat up the valves underneath them (or the liquid inside), it can be devastating.

The charred wreckage of an F-150 pickup truck that collided with a Union Pacific train on Saturday at a railroad crossing in Sauget is shown on the back of a trailer after being removed from the accident scene.

Sauget police reported that a blue Ford F-150 pickup truck collided with a Union Pacific train about 2 a.m. Saturday at a railroad crossing in the 3000 block of Mississippi Avenue (Illinois 3).

A man driving the truck was killed. The St. Clair County coroners office hasnt yet released his identity.

The truck was on fire, and it was burning up the side of (one of the two train engines), said Herb Simmons, executive director of St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency. Our first responders did a great job of getting it under control.

Sauget police are investigating the accident. Also responding to the scene on Saturday morning were Illinois State Police, Cahokia Volunteer Fire Department and Prairie du Pont.

A Union Pacific train and F-150 pickup truck that collided early Saturday morning at a railroad crossing in Sauget had been towed away by 9 a.m. Traffic was moving again on Mississippi Avenue.

Mississippi Avenue is lined with several large industrial plants, including copper manufacturer Cerro Flow Products, which is right next to the railroad tracks. The train was crossing the roadway when the truck collided with it.

Officers arrived to find the truck and a train engine engulfed in flames, Sauget Police Chief James Jones told the BND. The crossings gates had lowered, and its lights were flashing.

One of the gates was broken off, making it appear that the truck had crashed through it before colliding with the train, said Herb Simmons, who arrived about 2:30 a.m., shortly after his son, Jerame Simmons.

One can only speculate what happened, Herb Simmons said. Its obvious that the train was moving slow, based on the impact.

If the train had been moving fast, he said, it likely would have dragged the truck down the railroad tracks for a distance. Instead, the truck came to a stop next to the crossing.

We cant say how fast (the driver) was going, but the whole front of that truck was damaged really bad, Jerame Simmons said. He hit a train. Trains dont move.

The charred wreckage of a pickup truck, far right, are shown next to a Union Pacific train after a crash at a railroad crossing early Saturday morning on Mississippi Avenue in Sauget.

By 8 a.m. Saturday, Herb and Jerame Simmons and some of the other first responders were eating breakfast at The Diner in Sauget, a popular place for plant workers.

The train and pickup truck already had been towed away, and traffic was flowing on Mississippi Avenue.

If you werent here (shortly after the accident), you wouldnt even know it happened, Herb Simmons said. They did a good job of cleaning it up.

A roadside memorial honors Toshorn Napper, who was killed in 2020 while stopped at a Sauget railroad crossing, where his SUV was rear-ended by another vehicle. The crossing was the site of a train crash on Saturday.

The railroad crossing was the scene of another tragic accident in 2020. Toshorn Napper, 31, of Fairview Heights, was killed when a vehicle rear-ended his SUV while he was stopped at the crossing.

A former Alton police officer, Ashley Roever, was convicted and sent to prison for causing his death by driving while intoxicated.

Today, a memorial with Nappers photo stands next to the roadway with stuffed teddy bears, flowers and crosses beneath it. Illinois Department of Transportation signs read, Please Dont Drink and Drive and In memory of Toshorn Derell Napper Jr., Nov. 14, 2020.

BND reporter Carolyn P. Smith contributed to this story.

First responders from several metro-east agencies are shown at the site of a crash involving a Union Pacific train and a pickup truck early Saturday morning at a railroad crossing in Sauget.
Faith in Trump

The Republican National Convention awakened the spirit of hope in the average American who has long been forgotten and is consumed with despair and a mindset that nothing can change. Donald Trump has renewed our faith and his resolve to unite us has fostered a strong band of patriotism that will lead him and this country to a major victory in November.

Carol Annino, Huntersville

Bidens decision

Joe Bidens decision not to stand for reelection proves he is a patriot who puts country before politics. He accomplished a great deal in the 3 1/2 years he has been president. Record employment, rebuilding relationships with foreign allies, and a booming economy shows that America is better off than we were four years ago. As a registered Republican, I salute Biden for making the tough decision to turn over the reins to a younger generation. Can anyone imagine Donald Trump doing the same?

Michael A. Clark, Charlotte

Vile comments

The spewing of racist, sexist vitriol from Republican officials regarding Kamala Harris show how depraved the Republican Party has become. While it may be that the worst of Trumps party are the vocal extremes, it is worth noting that almost no one in the Trump party leadership is condemning the vile statements. I hope women and people of color are really paying attention to how that party feels about and treats them.

James Cook, Charlotte

GOP hypocrisy

Although President Biden had every right to drop his reelection bid, Republicans have responded with talk of lawsuits and even proposed impeachment of Kamala Harris. Given that the Republican presidential candidate is a convicted felon who made corrupt attempts to overturn the 2020 election, the degree of GOP hypocrisy is stunning.

Barry Jordan, Charlotte

In the shadows

I never imagined as a UNC graduate that Id be cheering on a Dukie. But I applaud attorney David McKenzie for filing a lawsuit against the UNC Board of Trustees to ensure open meetings and public access to records. Republicans in the N.C. legislature have passed legislation that voided the sunshine law requiring public access to government activities. And, yes, legislative proceedings and communications are government activities. I thank McKenzie for ensuring the UNC Board can no longer operate in the shadows, even though their friends in the N.C. legislature can.

Patrick A. Walters, Charlotte

DWI injustice

Regarding The man who killed a popular chef in Plaza Midwood crash is headed to prison, (July 19):

What an injustice! A life is taken and a family destroyed by another drunk driver. When are the courts going to levy sentences equal to the crime? Eight to 10 years in prison hardly compensates the public for this killing.

Ed Carlson, Charlotte

Charlotte airport

As a resident of Charlotte for the last 12 years, I am aware of most of the positive aspects the Queen City offers. Of course, everyone complains about the traffic and the push for more light rail is welcome.

Having used the Charlotte airport numerous times in the last 12 years, light rail to the airport should be the top priority. Since many people are now calling Charlottes airport the fifth busiest in the world, it is hard to think of any major airport in the United States or overseas that is not served by rapid transit.

As we know, the traffic at the airport at times can be a nightmare.

John Griffin, Charlotte

Tim Moore

When announcing his run for Congress, in a new district customized to guarantee him a win, Tim Moore said Its time to fix Washington, just as we fixed Raleigh over the past decade.

And wow, did he fix Raleigh  bypassing public input and debate to pass legislation tramping on womens rights, public education, environmental protections, gun laws, mask laws, opening new channels for dark money to distort elections, and shutting down access to public records. One wonders what he envisions for Washington.

Harry Taylor, Charlotte
Trump drops nice guy act as he says sick Kamala Harris is no Margaret Thatcher

Donald Trump has told voters that Kamala Harris is being presented as a Margaret Thatcher figure as he attacked the sick new Democratic nominee in a fiery speech.

During a rally on Saturday night Trump said the media was rallying around Ms Harris as she closed a polling gap between the two and saw a surge in campaign contributions.

In his latest speech the former president abandoned any of his initial messages of unity following his shooting, telling the crowd that it may have only made him worse.

He said Ms Harris, a centrist former state prosecutor, was being compared to Margaret Thatcher by the media without any evidence.

Donald Trump has so far refused to debate with Kamala Harris, the US vice-president - Stephanie Scarbrough/via Reuters

Three months ago she was thought of so badly, [the media] were just killing her, he said of the vice-president.

And now theyre trying to make her into a  lets say  Margaret Thatcher. I dont think so. Its not going to happen.

Margaret Thatcher didnt laugh like that. Did she? If she did, she wouldnt have been Margaret Thatcher, the Republican added, labelling his rival Laughin Kamala Harris.

Just days ago, the Trump campaign attacked Ms Harris as a Marxist fraud as it declined to accept her invitation to a presidential debate.

It had previously agreed to two debates with Joe Biden, the president whom Ms Harris replaced as the presumptive Democratic candidate. The second was scheduled for Sept 10.

Steven Cheung, Trumps campaign spokesman, said: Given the continued political chaos surrounding crooked Joe Biden and the Democrat Party, general election debate details cannot be finalised until Democrats formally decide on their nominee.

There is a strong sense by many in the Democrat Party that Kamala Harris is a Marxist fraud who cannot beat President Trump, and they are still holding out for someone better.

His team had previously suggested the former president was taking a statesmanlike approach since his attempted assassination attempt. Surrogates, including his son Donald Trump Jr, suggested he had been changed by the near-death experience  something Trump denied on Saturday.

I want to be nice, the Republican, appearing in public for the first time without a bandage on the ear that was grazed by a gunmans bullet, said.

They all say, I think hes changed. I think hes changed since two weeks ago. Something affected him.

No, I havent changed, he added as supporters cheered. Maybe Ive gotten worse. Because I get angry at the incompetence that I witness every single day.

Mr Trump denied that he had changed since being shot at - Carlos Osorio/Reuters

Speaking in Minnesota, a state that his campaign have been explicit about hoping to win in the forthcoming election, Mr Trump labelled Ms Harris a radical Left lunaticas well as evil, unhinged and sick.

The Harris campaign announced on Sunday that it had raised more than $200 million in the week since Mr Biden decided to drop out of the race and endorse his vice-president, who is more than two decades his junior.

Donors had reportedly refused to bankroll his presidential campaign, following a disastrous debate performance and a faltering performance in the polls.

They now appear to have turned the spending taps back on, with 59-year-old Ms Harris raising more in a week than the Biden campaign managed in the first quarter of the year.

It more than triples the campaigns cash in hand, which stood at $96 million at the end of June, giving it a healthy war chest with which to maintain field offices, run political adverts and mount a fight for the White House.

The Harris campaign said that about $130 million came from first-time donors, claiming this showed tremendous grassroots support for the vice-president 100 days from the election.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
"Declaring a state of emergency authorizes local government to perform non-standard activities, such as closing roads and ordering evacuations," Franz said in an email. "It also authorizes spending beyond what's currently budgeted and authorizes the city and county to levy up to two additional emergency mills."

Franz said if the city and county run out of additional emergency funding, the state must step in and declare an emergency to access more money. It is unclear how much money the state can provide, but the disaster declaration opens the door to getting federal money.
House Foreign Affairs Chair Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said Sunday that the gunman behind the assassination attempt against Donald Trump had wanted to create a diversion with explosives so that he could escape.

FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before the House Judiciary Committee last Wednesday that as part of its investigation into the shooting at Trumps campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, law enforcement recovered from Thomas Crooks vehicle a drone and explosive devices that could be detonated remotely. Crooks also had a transmitter, although remote detonation likely would not have worked from his location, Wray said.

While the FBI still does not know Crooks motive, McCaul  who formerly chaired the House Committee on Homeland Security  provided new details on Crooks plans before the assassination attempt.

Whats interesting, Robert, is that he had a detonation device on him and two bombs in the car, McCaul told host Robert Costa on CBS' Face the Nation. What his plan was was to assassinate the president, create a diversion by blowing up his vehicle on the other side of the property, and then he could escape.

Secret Service snipers shot Crooks dead after he fired an AR-15 from the top of a building just 400 feet from Trump, killing one rallygoer and injuring two other attendees on July 13. In addition, Trump sustained a 2 cm-wide wound to his ear during the shooting and the bullet was less than a quarter of an inch from entering his head, according to the former presidents doctor.

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced immense scrutiny from Democrats and Republicans alike over the agencys failure to prevent the assassination attempt. She resigned last week the day after a House Oversight Committee hearing, in which she struggled to answer questions about why Crooks was not stopped.

McCaul visited the site where Crooks was positioned and believes the gunman should have never been that close to Trump, he said. The Republican added, however, that he has faith and confidence in the Secret Service at large  just not in its former leadership.

Im glad that Director Cheattle did the right thing and resigned, McCaul said. Each time you have an attempted assassination, that is a failure. And she said that herself. I think the agents are good. The problem is the President is under a lot of threats, he continued, referring to intelligence that suggests Trump may also be the target of Iranian plots to assassinate him.

As several congressional committees probe the assassination attempt, the House voted unanimously last Wednesday to create a bipartisan task force to also investigate the shooting. The task force  which will be composed of seven Republicans and six Democrats, each chosen by their partys respective leadership  must release its report of findings by mid-December.

McCaul said he is not sure if he will serve on the task force but would be willing to if he were asked to serve.
Former President Donald Trump unveiled his plan for cryptocurrency while making history as the first major party candidate to address the annual cryptocurrency conference. During his Saturday speech, he also attacked Democrats for trying to obliterate cryptocurrencies.

I am proud to be the first American president to address a Bitcoin event anywhere in the world, he said during his appearance at Bitcoin2024 Conference in Nashvilles Music City Center. If crypto is going to define the future, I want it to be mined, minted and made in the USA.

Trump and a host of Republicans, including entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Bill Haggerty (R-Tenn.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) were also in attendance. Trump has pointed to Ramaswamy as his main cryptocurrency advisor.

During his speech, Trump said that if elected president, he would create a cryptocurrency advisory board to create transparent regulation within his first 100 days. He also committed to scrapping the Biden administrations plan to create a central bank for cryptocurrency.

Regulation will be written by people who love your industry and not hate it within my first 100 days, he said.

I will tell the Treasury Department to cease and desist all steps and necessary moves to shut down the central bank, he added. Forget about it.

The Biden administration has rolled out a series of proposals to regulate cryptocurrency, with the Securities and Exchange Commission moving to regulate cryptocurrency agencies more strongly than ever before.

Trump also lambasted President Biden and Vice President Harris for moving to regulate cryptocurrency during the last four years, saying they want to choke off the industry.

If they win this election, every one of you will be gone. They will be vicious, ruthless, he said. Right now, because of me, they are leaving you alone, so please say thank you, President Trump.

Crypto firms have criticized the Biden administration for being overzealous in enforcing industry regulation. They have also increasingly viewed Biden and Democrats as inhospitable to the industry, leading to senior Biden administration officials meeting with crypto leaders earlier in July to try to improve relations.

Unfortunately, the majority of Dems continue to enable [SEC Chair Gary] Genslers unlawful war on crypto  sabotaging the ability for American innovation to thrive, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse wrote in a post on social platform X after that meeting

Its no wonder the GOP has announced a pro-crypto stance, he continued. Gensler will go down as the Luddite of his time. Words are easy, action is hard but necessary. Choose wisely. Voters are paying attention.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In May, former President Donald Trump traveled to Wisconsin, a battleground state crucial to his 2016 win and 2020 loss. The stakes are high. He made a few big promises to match.

"We're going to give our police their power back," he told rallygoers in Waukesha, "and we are going to give them immunity from prosecution."

There are a few problems. As president, Trump would be constrained in immunizing anyone, including police, from prosecution, as most proceedings are in state court where his power wouldn't apply. And while it's true that some officers are charged federallywhere he could lobby the Department of Justice to refuse to charge any copthose prosecutions are often in addition to state charges.

Take Derek Chauvin, who was convicted in a Minnesota court of murdering George Floyd. After that trial, he pleaded guilty to federal charges. A President Trump could certainly pardon him for that, but it would make no material difference in the time Chauvin spends in prison, as his state sentence (22.5 years) and his federal sentence (21 years) are running concurrently.

But despite the legal illiteracy of Trump's promise, it's worth considering the implication that those with the most power should be held to the lowest standard.

Trump made clear in office that he'd fight legislation hamstringing qualified immunity, the legal doctrine that bars victims from suing state and local government employees if the way in which those employees allegedly violated the law has not been clearly established as unconstitutional in prior case law. It is why, for example, two California men could not sue officers who allegedly stole more than $225,000 from them during the execution of a search warrant, as there was no previous court ruling that said stealing under such circumstances is illegal. (Federal police, on the other hand, are essentially protected by absolute immunity.)

A common objection to qualified immunity reform is that cops will be bankrupted by lawsuits without it. But a study conducted by UCLA law professor Joanna Schwartz found that governments or their insurance companies, not the cops themselves, paid 99.98 percent of the damages awarded to plaintiffs. It's hard to know if Trump realizes this is the case, as he promised in December to "indemnify [police] against any and all liability." Whether that was a knowingly false promise or whether he is unfamiliar with the law remains unclear.

But one thing is clear: Trump would like to see law enforcement held to a lesser standard than the public they serve. The former president has arguably never been a tried-and-true conservative, but he does need to court them. It is difficult to make a conservative case for ensuring that those who enforce the law are also above it.

The post Trump Wants Police To Be Above the Law appeared first on Reason.com.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu on Sunday dismissed Republican president nominee Donald Trumps statement Friday telling people they wont have to vote anymore if they elect him as standard Trump rhetoric.

I think it was a classic Trumpism if you will, he said to host Martha Raddatz on ABCs This Week. Sununu's response to the remarks was in sharp contrast to the way many Democrats heard it  as a genuine threat to American institutions.

Speaking Friday in at the Turning Point Action Believers Summit in Florida, the former president said, Get out and vote just this time. You won't have to do it anymore. Four more years it will be fixed. It'll be fine. You won't have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians."

Trump added: "Youve got to get out and vote. In four years, you dont have to vote again, well have it fixed so good youre not going to have to vote.



Sununu, a Republican, took the word "fixed" to mean that the country could be repaired, rather than future elections to be "fixed" to achieve a certain outcome.

Obviously we want everybody to vote in all elections, but I think he was just trying to make a hyberbolic point that it can be fixed as long as he gets back into office and all that, Sununu said.

Trumps remarks set off alarm bells among progressives who saw them as signs that Trump might not intend to allow future elections should he be elected in November. The Harris campaign responded Saturday: "When Vice President Harris says this election is about freedom, she means it."

Spokesperson James Singer added about Trump: "He has promised violence if he loses, the end of our elections if he wins, and the termination of the Constitution to empower him to be a dictator to enact his dangerous Project 2025 agenda on America.

Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.) posted the Trump clip on X and said: "The only way 'you wont have to vote anymore' is if Donald Trump becomes a dictator." And Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said on X: This year democracy is on the ballot, and if we are to save it, we must vote against authoritarianism. Here Trump helpfully reminds us that the alternative is never having the chance to vote again.

Liberal commentator Keith Olbermann boiled it down to: "Oh. Trump just cancelled the 2028 election."

Republicans found the situation to be considerably less problematic, with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) saying on CNN's "State of the Union" that the former president was "obviously making a joke."

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also waved off the notion of Trump as a threat to democracy.

"He's trying to tell the Christian community and anybody else who's listening," Graham said on CBS' "Face the Nation," "the nightmare that we're experiencing will soon be over, give me four more years and I'm gonna ride this ship called America and pass it on to the next generation."
Turkey Attacks Car on Boston Street in Viral Video: 'Not on My List of Things to Be Prepared for in the City'

A neighbor filmed the aggressive attack, which went on for more than 15 minutes and left a woman's car covered in scratches

Getty A stock image of a turkey

A Boston woman was left ruffled after her car sustained significant damage during a wild turkey attack that was caught on video.

When Alicia Mastroianni left her home in the neighborhood of Brighton to go to work at Boston Children's Hospital on July 15, she discovered a note left on her parked vehicle, which was covered in scores of new scratches, according to CBS News affiliate WBZ-TV.

"All sides of my car were messed up, like, completely scratched," Mastroianni recalled to the outlet. "I saw the note, I was like, 'Oh gosh, someone hit my car.' "

The note had been left by a neighbor across the street who helpfully recorded the incident and informed Mastroianni that the mystery culprit was a turkey.

Related: Aggressive Turkey Is Attacking People on Popular D.C. Riverwalk: 'He Almost Clawed My Face!'

"[The note] says, 'I just watched and recorded a massive turkey attack your car for over 15 minutes. Sorry you were the target of this turkey rage,' " Mastroianni told WBZ-TV.

Mastroianni said she sent the video to her dad and he "just laughed." When she shared the wild story with her friends, they encouraged her to post the video on TikTok, which she did.

She captioned the video  which quickly went viral, racking up more than 6.8 million views  "Moves to Boston Gets Car Attacked by a Turkey was not on my list of things to be prepared for in the city." She also tagged several auto insurance companies and media outlets.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The video  fittingly set to audio in which the only words are "Oh no, no, no, no!"  shows a large turkey strutting around the perimeter of her black convertible sedan and pecking away at the car's shiny exterior. At one point, the animal even flew up and kicked the driver's side window.

Mastroianni concluded the video by sharing an up-close look at the damage to her car.

Thanks to the quick thinking of her neighbor in capturing the footage of the turkey's attack, Mastroianni was able to provide proof to her insurance company and the damage will be covered under her policy.

Related: Aggressive Turkey that Showed Up in Minn. Community on Thanksgiving 2021 Has 'Taken Over' Area

"Who's going to believe that a turkey attacks your car in Boston?" she told WBZ-TV. "You just got to take it with a light heart and laugh it off."

TikTok users also embraced the humor of the situation in the comments under the video. One person joked that Mastroianni's car had been "turKEYED," while another quipped, "Any chance your insurance covers Acts of Fowl?"

Another person chimed in: "Farmers insurance needs to make a commercial about this!! ."

The Massachusetts Environmental Police told the news outlet that the turkey may have acted aggressively because it saw its own reflection in the car's metallic exterior and thought it was a rival animal.

The agency said people can protect their own cars by covering them or making noise to scare away any offending turkeys.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT)  Tuscaloosa police were dispatched to the area of the downtown Embassy Suites in relation to a shooting death Saturday night.

Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Cpt. Jack Kennedy stated an investigation started and more information will be announced on the case.

Stay with CBS 42 for this developing story.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  A brother and sister were killed early Sunday morning in a wreck in Spartanburg County.

According to the state highway patrol, just before 3 a.m. Sunday, a 2022 Jeep Wrangler was traveling north on Spring Street near Lee Court when it went off the right side of the road, lost control, crossed over the left side of the road and struck a tree and overturned.

According to the highway patrol, the driver and one passenger were killed in the wreck. Another passenger was transported to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center to be treated for non life threatening injuries.

According to the Spartanburg County Coroners Office, the people killed were Jesus Guadalupe Gaspar Sandoval, 19, and his siter, Emory Desiree Gaspar, 18, of Chapel Court. The coroners office said neither were wearing a seat belt at the time of the wreck.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Donald Trump's habit of mispronouncing names or name-calling when it comes to his foes slapped back in his face Sunday with a clever putdown by Kamala Harris' husband.

"Mr. Trump, I know you have so much trouble pronouncing her name," Doug Emhoff said at a campaign stop in Stevens Point, Wisconsin Saturday.

"But here's the good news," he added. "After the election you you can just call her 'Madame President,'" Emhoff added to cheers and appluase.

Mr. Trump, I know you have so much trouble pronouncing her name. Heres the good news  after the election, you can just call her Madam President, says Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff in Stevens Point, WI. pic.twitter.com/nDWjtz9mKx  Dylan Wells (@dylanewells) July 27, 2024

Trump most often refers to his likely rival in the presidential election as "Ka-MA-la," with a pronounced emphasis on the second syllable, which is decidedly not how Harris pronounces her name.

He repeatedly botched her name speaking at a Christian event Friday.

"There are numerous of saying her name, they were explaining to me," he told the group. "I said, 'Don't worry about it. I couldn't care less if I mispronounce it or not. I couldn't care less," he added, dismissing a useful skill for presidents.

Trump: And by the way, there are numerous ways of saying her name, they were explaining to me, you can say Kamala, you can say Kamala, I said, don't worry about it. It doesn't matter what I say. I couldn't care less if I mispronounce it pic.twitter.com/PuwbKOawao  Acyn (@Acyn) July 27, 2024

Though the traditional Indian pronunciation of her name, which means "lotus flower," is "Comm-la," Harris pronounces her name as "Comma-la."

She even released a Public Service Announcement featuring children during her 2016 Senate run demonstrating how to pronounce her name. She has also suggested people remember it by thinking, "comma-la, like the punctuation mark."

FYI Trump:
Buoyant growth in advertising revenue, driven by strong demand from key advertising sectors, together with a loyal subscriber base, will lift the total revenue of regional print media companies by 8-9 per cent this fiscal, Crisil Ratings asserted. The healthy growth, coupled with softening newsprint prices, will also expand the operating profitability by 200 basis points (100 basis points is equal to 1 percentage point) to 20-22 per cent, the rating agency said. It will be in addition to the 400 basis points expansion in margin already clocked last fiscal. This assumption made by CRISIL Ratings is based on analysis of eight regional print media players, which account for 60 per cent of the regional print media market in terms of circulation. Advertising revenue, which contributes about two-thirds to the total revenue of regional print media companies, has a high correlation with economic sentiment and spending on advertisement by corporates as well as state and central governments. "Economic sentiment remains positive, as reflected by growing budgetary spending on advertisement and marketing by corporates. Advertisement demand from key contributing sectors such as automobiles, FMCG, education, e-commerce, real estate, and services are also buoyant from local establishments as they prefer regional print players owing to latter's wide reach in the locality," said Manish Gupta, Senior Director and Deputy Chief Ratings Officer, CRISIL Ratings. Meanwhile, subscription revenue, which accounts for 25 per cent of the sector's revenue, continues to be resilient, said the rating agency. Notably, the regional players have now started to push for subscriptions in places adjacent to their existing coverage area. Earlier, these players were deliberately slow in growing their subscriber base as cover prices were not sufficient to absorb the cost of newsprint paper. The prices of newsprint paper, which is a key raw material and accounts for 35-40 per cent of the total operating cost of print media companies, continue to soften on the back of modest global demand and easing of supply chain issues. Newsprint prices rose a whopping 41 per cent in the financial year 2023 due to logistical disruptions amid the Russia-Ukraine war as Russia accounts for more than half of the total newsprint paper imports. Prices have softened since then and continue to slide. (ANI)
EAST VILLAGE, Manhattan (PIX11)  Two men were arrested Thursday related to a fatal shooting of a 74-year-old in Tompkins Square Park earlier this month.

Angel Sardina, of Manhattan, and Rafael Macias, of the Bronx, both face murder and attempted murder charges related to the July 12 shooting in the park on Avenue A, according to the NYPD.

Car crashes into house in West Babylon, 3 injured: SCPD

The two stand accused of killing a 74-year-old and injuring a 44-year-old in the shooting that took place just before 10 a.m., police said.

Sources told PIX11 News the men were targeted in a possible drug-related dispute.

Surveillance camera video from near the shooting shows people running from the area. After the shooting, one of the victims stumbled into a nearby deli, where he collapsed, sources said. The store workers tried to help him before calling 911.

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered New York City since 2023. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Two years after terrorist attack in Olenivka prison camp: Tributes to fallen soldiers in Ukraine and abroad

The world pays tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack in Olenivka. Stock photo: Olenivka Community

Two years ago, the Russian troops committed a terrorist attack in penal colony No. 120 in the village of Olenivka, Donetsk Oblast, on the night of 28-29 July, where prisoners of war from Mariupol were held. The Russians transferred the captured fighters of the Azov brigade to a hangar, which was blown up at night. Russian troops killed fifty Ukrainian prisoners of war, and more than 130 others were wounded.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia

Details: Prayer services and actions to honour the victims of Olenivka are being held in different cities of Ukraine and around the world. The Olenivka Community organisation's page published a list of events to be held abroad on the anniversary of the prisoners' execution.

On 28 July, solemn events to honour the victims of the terrorist attack will be held in the following cities in Ukraine: Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Chernivtsi, Rivne, Poltava, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Kremenchuk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Odesa, Bila Tserkva, Lviv.

The next rallies will be held abroad:

On 28 July:

Batumi, Georgia: 19:00-21:00, Europe Square;

Seattle, USA: 18:30, Westlake Park;

London, UK: 15:00, 10 Downing Street;

Valletta, Malta: 19:00, on the bridge in front of the city gate;

Malaga, Spain: 18:30, Plaza de la Constitucion;

Bratislava, Slovakia: 17:00, Hlavne namestie;

Vienna, Austria: 17:00, Wiener Staatsoper;

Chicago, USA: 13:00, 410 N Michigan Ave, Wrigley Building;

Cork, Ireland: 13:00, Grand Parade;

Sydney, Australia: 13:00, Town Hall;

Prague, Czechia: 18:00, Staromestske namesti;

Montreal, Canada: 12:00, march from the Russian Consulate to Phillips Square;

Washington, USA: 18:00-19:30, White House, Lafayette Square;

Amsterdam, the Netherlands: 14:00-16:00, Dam Square;

New York, USA: 19:30, Bowling Green.

On 29 July:

Vilnius, Lithuania: 18:30, Cathedral Square;

Bergen, Norway: 17:00, Den bla steinen a

On 1 August:

Vienna, Austria: 18:00-20:00, Stephansplatz.

The Olenivka Community has named the names of the fallen Mariupol defenders who died in Olenivka.

Quote from Memorial Platform: "These are the defenders of Mariupol who left the Azovstal [steel plant] in May 2022. They (the Russians  ed.) promised to keep them alive, according to an agreement with the Russian side, so the prisoners were to be brought home through an exchange procedure. Instead, they were killed when they were unable to fight back, at night, when they (the Russians) attacked a barracks where the soldiers were sleeping. The exact number of deceased has not yet been established. The investigation is ongoing."

The Azov Special Forces Brigade emphasises that the crime in Olenivka is a violation of all possible rules of warfare and calls on the world to talk about this Russian attack.

"[The attack in] Olenivka is a crime against humanity, a violation of all possible rules of warfare and treatment of prisoners of war. Russia is relying on the short memory of the international community, on the oblivion of its crimes and its own propaganda.

The more people learn about the occupiers' crimes, the fewer chances Russia has to avoid punishment. Talk about Olenivka. Join us in honouring the victims of the terrorist attack," the brigade's pages call.

Background:

Olenivka has been occupied by the Russians since 2014. It was there, where some of Azovstal's defenders who left the plant in May 2022 were held in a local former colony.

Two days before the terrorist attack, the guards transferred the Azov defenders to an industrial hangar on the colony's territory. An explosion occurred in the hangar at around 11:00 pm on 28 July. The Prosecutor General's Office reports that the explosion was caused by the use of a rocket-propelled thermobaric grenade launcher.

The Security Service of Ukraine intercepted telephone conversations in which the Russians confirmed that Russian troops were responsible for the explosion in the colony of occupied Olenivka.

Ukraine managed to bring back the bodies of Ukrainian defenders. Most of them have been identified.

Russia has not yet allowed any international organisation to visit the site of the tragedy.

Support UP or become our patron!
Ukraine will finalize "an action plan for peace" by the end of November, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with NHK published on July 27.

Ukraine organized the first global peace summit in Switzerland in June, which resulted in the signing of a communique by 91 countries and eight international organizations.

The communique included three main points: nuclear security, global food security, and the release of deported children, prisoners of war, and illegally detained civilians.

The president said Kyiv will start "detailed discussions with relevant countries" on territorial integrity and other issues, according to NHK.



"Patience, support, and diplomatic pressure are the three factors for a just end to the war," Zelensky told NHK.



"If the US and European nations maintain unity, it will add pressure and show Moscow that there is no chance," he added.



The president said he cannot respond to calls for a ceasefire while Russia continues to occupy Ukrainian territory.



On June 15, Zelensky said that the action plan agreed upon at the first peace summit would be communicated to Russian representatives so that the second summit could "mark the end of the war."



Ukraine plans to organize the second peace summit with Russia participating before the U.S. presidential election in November 2024. No official invitation has been sent so far.



Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said Russia will not participate in Ukraine's planned second peace summit.



The Kremlin has repeatedly dismissed Ukraine's peace efforts and its 10-point formula as irrelevant, calling it an "ultimatum."



Speaking a day ahead of the Switzerland summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that as a condition for peace negotiations, Ukraine must fully withdraw from four partially occupied oblasts that Moscow illegally annexed in 2022. Kyiv rejected this demand.

Read also: Ukraines Peace Summit is over  what were its highs and lows?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine may have just scored its longest-range drone strike yet in Russian territory  a Tu-22M3 supersonic bomber about 1,100 miles away

Ukraine may have just scored its longest-range drone strike yet in Russian territory  a Tu-22M3 supersonic bomber about 1,100 miles away

Ukraine said it struck a Tu-22M3 bomber about 1,100 miles from its border.

It would be Ukraine's deepest strike on Russian territory since the war began.

The Tu-22M3 is a long-range supersonic bomber designed to take out sea- and ground-based targets.

Ukraine said it hit a Tu-22M3 supersonic bomber a record-breaking 1,100 miles from its borders, Ukrainska Pravda reported on Saturday, citing sources in the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.

The sources said Ukraine used reconnaissance drones to strike Olenya airfield in Murmansk in northwestern Russia, adding that the airfield was "the base of the strategic aircraft of the Russian occupiers."

If confirmed, it would mark the deepest attack on Russian territory that Ukraine has carried out since the start of the war, while also raising major questions about Russia's air defenses.

It would beat the previous record of just more than 800 miles, which was set in May when Ukraine hit an oil refinery in Salavat, in Russia's republic of Bashkortostan.

Satellite imagery of Olenya airfield, reviewed by Business Insider, shows many bombers at the site.

David Axe, a defense blogger, reported that the Olenya airbase regularly housed about 63 Tu-22M3s, 55 Tu-95s, and 17 Tu-160s.

A satellite image of Olenya airbase showing a horde of Russian bombers. Google Earth

Ukraine's Ministry of Defense didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Bloomberg also reported the attack, citing a person familiar with the operation.

Russia's defense ministry hasn't commented on the reports.

Ukraine has ramped up its attacks on Russian airfields in recent months.

Mick Ryan, a retired Australian army general, wrote on Substack earlier this year that such attacks could "force a Russian reassessment of their air defense resources as well as having to redeploy these assets further from where they are most needed."

But the attack on Olenya, if confirmed, would suggest Russian aircraft are vulnerable even deep inside Russian territory.

A Tu-22M3 bomber. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File

Tu-22M3

The Tu-22M3 is a "long-range supersonic missile carrier bomber" designed to take out sea- and ground-based targets using guided missiles and aerial bombs, according to its manufacturer, Tupolev .

The head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, previously told BBC Ukraine that the Soviet-era aircraft carried Kh-22 missiles, adding that the munitions "have perhaps brought the most destruction" to Odesa in southern Ukraine.

Ukraine said it took out its first Tu-22M3 of the war back in April at an airbase in southern Russia around 200 miles from Ukraine.

A video shared on X appeared to show the bomber falling through the sky.

On the night of April 19, 2024, Russia launched a combined missile and UAV attack against Ukraine.As a result of a special operation, for the first time, the anti-aircraft missile units in cooperation with the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine destroyed the Tu-22M3 pic.twitter.com/9sVpXDqnqY  WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) April 19, 2024

Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, said earlier this month it had foiled a Ukrainian plot to hijack a Tu-22M3 and fly it to Ukraine.

"Ukrainian intelligence intended to recruit a Russian military pilot for a monetary reward and the provision of Italian citizenship, to persuade him to fly and land a missile carrier in Ukraine," the FSB said on its website, according to Reuters.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The first of the long-awaited Western F-16 fighter jets pledged to Ukraine will arrive "in a few weeks," the Washington Post (WP) reported on July 28.

Ukraine is awaiting at least 79 F-16s from the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, and Norway, with up to 20 expected to arrive this year.

Kyiv has been calling for these U.S.-made fourth-generation jets since the very first year of the full-scale war in order to bolster its air force, which made up of Soviet-made aircraft and has been significantly depleted over the past years of war.

Despite promises by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on July 10 that the first Dutch and Danish F-16s are already on their way, no delivery has been confirmed so far.

The planes are likely to be used to strengthen Ukraine's air defense and shoot down missiles, drones, and aircraft, not to strike Russian ground forces and other targets near the front, WP wrote.

According to WP, the F-16s will not be brought close to the front line at first, so it is unclear whether they will be able to deter Russian planes flying in from Russian airspace.

Ukraine's F-16s will carry the advanced AIM-120 medium-range air-to-air missiles, which are also used for NASAMS ground-based systems, WP reported, citing a Ukrainian defense official.

But Ukraine currently does not have enough of these missiles, so they will have to be split between the F-16 and NASAMS, according to the official cited.

A senior Ukrainian military official told WP that Russia is preparing for Ukraine to receive F-16s.

At the end of last year, Russia launched several missiles with dummy warheads from S-400 systems in Dzhankoy in occupied Crimea. The missiles reached the city of Kremenchuk in Poltava Oblast, which is located more than 320 kilometers away from the Ukrainian-Russian state border.

Moscow may try to use the S-400 to shoot down F-16s, according to a senior Ukrainian military official.

U.S. officials have previously said that the F-16s are unlikely to give Ukraine a decisive advantage because of Russia's powerful air defense. Ukrainian officials, in turn, said the West is delivering F-16s, like other equipment, in too few numbers and too late.

Read also: F-16s are on their way to Ukraine  heres how they can help fight Russia

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine has the strength to achieve its goals  Zelenskyy after talking to Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine is strong enough to achieve its goals following a conversation with Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief.

Source: Zelenskyys evening report

Quote: "I spoke with Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi about our actions now and in the near future. Ukraine has the strength to achieve its goals. I am grateful to everyone who ensures this with their strength."

Details: Zelenskyy in his address commended the 25th Airborne Brigade, which fights on the Pokrovsk front, and the 95th Air Assault Brigade, which fights on the Toretsk front, for the "extraordinary strength and effectiveness this week and throughout many weeks of this war".

He also praised the 9th Department of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) for "accuracy at a distance of nearly eighteen hundred kilometres from our border".

Zelenskyy also mentioned the second anniversary of the Russian terrorist act on the PoW camp in the occupied settlement of Olenivka.

"This is one of the most horrific Russian crimes of this war. Russia must be held accountable for this. And it will be. There is no scenario in which the murderers will remain unpunished," Zelenskyy stressed.

Support UP or become our patron!
Key developments on July 27, 28:

Russia reportedly captures Vovche, Ukrainian military doesn't confirm

Ukraine attacks 3 Russian airfields, bomber damaged, source says

Ukraine's military confirms strike on oil refinery in Russia's Kursk region

Rebels in Mali claim to have killed and injured dozens of Russian mercenaries

Fire engulfs Donetsk mine with 86 miners inside, ministry says

Russian forces have captured the village of Vovche in Donetsk Oblast, the crowd-sourced monitoring website DeepState reported on July 27, though the news has yet to be officially confirmed by Ukraine.

Moscow's troops are attempting to break through Ukrainian defenses in the area, and the sector near Pokrovsk in the western part of Donetsk Oblast has become the hottest part of the front in recent weeks.

Speaking to Liga.net, a Ukrainian news site, on July 26, the commander of the 47th Mechanized Brigade stationed in the area said Vovche had fallen to Russian forces along with the nearby village of Progres.

When asked to confirm if Russia had taken Vovche, a spokesperson for the 47th Mechanized Brigade told the Kyiv Independent on July 27 that "according to DeepState, (it has been) captured."

A spokesperson for the Khortytsia group of forces did not comment when approached by the Kyiv Independent, but an update from the group on Telegram on the morning of July 27 listed Vovche among several areas where it said Ukrainian forces had stopped Russian assaults.

In his daily address on July 26, President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke about fighting in the Pokrovsk sector, which he described as "the main target of Russian attacks."

"Everything necessary will be done to strengthen our positions and our capability to inflict significant losses on the occupiers," he added.

He did not refer to the situation in Vovche.

Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said earlier this week that Russia continues to push toward Pokrovsk despite suffering heavy losses.

Moscow's troops are also reportedly attempting to develop an offensive west of the occupied and deserted cities of Avdiivka and Marinka to make their way toward Pokrovsk and Kurakhove.

Read also: Land on fire: Russias offensive in Donetsk Oblast brings destruction to new towns (Photos)

Ukraine attacks 3 Russian airfields, bomber damaged, source says

Ukraine's military intelligence agency attacked three airfields deep inside Russia, damaing a Russian supersonic bomber plane, a source in the agency told the Kyiv Independent on July 27.

On the morning of July 27, Ukrainian drones attacked airfields in three regions: Saratov, Murmansk, and Ryazan. The kamikaze drones also hit an oil refinery in Ryazan region.

The attack damaged a Tu-22M3 long-range supersonic bomber-missile carrier in the Olenya airfield, Murmansk region. The airfield lies close to Finland and is roughly 1,800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Ukraine managed to down the Tu-22M3 for the first time in April 2024. The aircraft is armed with AS-4 heavy anti-ship and Kh-22 cruise missiles that are used in strikes Ukraine.

The source did not confirm whether other aircraft were damaged in the attacks and said that the results of the operation are being clarified. However, the Dyagilevo airfield in Ryazan region, which also came under attack, houses Tu-95MS, Tu-22M3, Tu-134UBL, and Il-78 aircraft, in addition to an aircraft repair plant.

Read also: With Krynky lost, what did the perilous operation accomplish?

Ukraine's military confirms strike on oil refinery in Russia's Kursk region

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in cooperation with the Ukrainian military, hit the Polyova oil depot in Russia's Kursk region overnight on July 28, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces confirmed.

Regional authorities in Kursk earlier reported a drone attack that resulted in fires at several locations, including at an oil depot. Three fuel tanks caught fire as a result of the attack, and as of 8 a.m. Moscow time firefighters were still working at the site, according to Alexei Smirnov, the local governor.

"According to intelligence, the enemy's anti-aircraft defenses were operating in the area. Powerful explosions and fire followed, probably involving containers with oil products," the General Staff wrote on social media.

The Polyova oil depot consists of 11 oil storage tanks with a total volume of 7,000 cubic meters and is reportedly used to supply the Russian Armed Forces.

Read also: Opinion: Russias nuclear giant is falling through the sanctions cracks

3 Russian helicopters damaged in Ukrainian sabotage operations, source says

Three Russian helicopters were damaged over the past week as a result of sabotage operations coordinated by Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), a source in the agency told the Kyiv Independent on July 27.

The operation damaged a Mi-28 and a Ka-226 helicopter in the early hours of July 21. Explosions erupted at the enterprise, which develops, produces, and repairs helicopters.

Another operation destroyed a Mi-8 helicopter on July 24 at the Kryazh military airfield in the Samara region, roughly 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The source did not provide further details about the attack.

Russia has lost 326 helicopters since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to the latest report from the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces.

Rebels in Mali claim to have killed and injured dozens of soldiers, Russian mercenaries

Mali's army and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group lost dozens in killed and wounded in a battle with rebels in the country's north, a spokesman for the rebels claimed on July 27.

Russia maintains a strong presence in African countries through Wagner and other entities, propping up authoritarian governments, fueling destabilization, and extracting resources to fund its war against Ukraine.

The West African nation of Mali has been the subject of a significant Russian influence campaign since the Malian army overthrew the government in a coup in 2021. The Wagner mercenary group, founded by the late Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been particularly active in Mali and has been accused of perpetrating war crimes and widespread looting.

Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, spokesman for the pro-independence CSP-DPA coalition, said in a statement published on Facebook that a two-day battle on the outskirts of Tinzaouaten village earlier this week resulted in the rebels destroying "the entire column of the Malian army and Russian mercenaries."

Ramadane added that "the enemy suffered huge losses in terms of lives and equipment, including dozens of dead and wounded."

An unnamed local politician told AFP that the Malian army had retreated from Tinzaouaten as a result of the battle.

The Malian government forces reported on July 28, as cited by Associated Press, that two of their soldiers had been killed and 10 injured in a rebel attack.

Read also: Opinion: A Russian victory in Ukraine would be bad for Africans

Russian pro-war Telegram channels, including those linked to the Wagner Group, published photos and videos allegedly showing the bodies of killed mercenaries and destroyed equipment.

They also wrote that among the killed Russian mercenaries was the author of Grey Zone, a major Telegram channel covering Wagner actions in Ukraine and Africa, and Anton Elizarov, a Wagner commander who led the group's offensive operations in Ukraine's Soledar and Bakhmut.

None of these claims can be independently verified.

Wagner mercenaries fought in Ukraine and launched a brief rebellion against the Kremlin in June 2023, marching on Moscow before abruptly ending their mutiny. After the failed rebellion, some Wagner members signed contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry, others went to fight in Africa.

Read also: Wagner boss Prigozhin is dead. Heres what it means for Africa

Fire engulfs Donetsk mine with 86 miners inside due to Russian shelling, ministry says

Russian shelling in Donetsk Oblast set fire to a mine with 86 miners inside, the Energy Ministry reported on July 27.



As flames engulfed the pit, 84 workers were taken out while two remained inside to ensure the operation of the mine. The ministry did not report any casualties after the fire was extinguished.



Russian forces also targeted the electricity infrastructure in Chernihiv and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts over the past day. The strikes in Chernihiv Oblast left 2,946 households without power, while energy workers restored power to 8,359 households across Ukraine. As of the morning of July 27, 485 settlements were disconnected from the electricity grid.



Russia continues to bombard Ukraine's energy infrastructure, particularly in front-line and border regions. The Energy Ministry says that 9 gigawatts (GW) of energy capacity has been lost, which is half of the power used last winter.



Ukraine has suffered scheduled blackouts since mid-May following several devastating attacks on energy facilities. Under the worst-case scenario, Ukrainians could face 20-hour blackouts in the upcoming winter, according to Dmytro Sakharuk, the executive director of Ukraine's largest privately-owned energy company DTEK.



Power outages have also impacted Ukraine's miners, that continue to work in front-line regions despite the harsh conditions. In March, DTEK said 1,060 miners were temporarily trapped in the company's mines in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast after a Russian attack caused power outages. All miners managed to escape.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine's Security Service, in cooperation with other departments of Ukrainian defence forces, has successfully attacked the Polevaya oil depot in Russias Kursk Oblast.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: According to Ukraines intelligence, Russian air defence was in operation near the depot.

Following that, massive explosions and a fire were reported, indicating that the tanks storing petroleum products had been hit.

The Polevaya oil depot contains 11 tanks totalling 7,000 cubic metres, and is primarily used to meet the needs of the Russian army.

Quote: "In addition, there is information concerning massive explosions near the Kursk electrical substation.

Details about the consequences of the strikes on both targets are currently being established.

Ukraines defence forces continue to take all necessary steps to degrade the Russian invaders' military-economic potential and push Russia to cease their armed assault against Ukraine."

Support UP or become our patron!
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in cooperation with the Ukrainian military, hit the Polyova oil depot in Russia's Kursk region overnight on July 28, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces confirmed.

Regional authorities in Kursk earlier reported a drone attack that resulted in fires at several locations, including at an oil depot. Three fuel tanks caught fire as a result of the attack, and as of 8 a.m. Moscow time firefighters were still working at the site, according to Alexei Smirnov, the local governor.

"According to intelligence, the enemy's anti-aircraft defenses were operating in the area. Powerful explosions and fire followed, probably involving containers with oil products," the General Staff wrote on social media.

The Polyova oil depot consists of 11 oil storage tanks with a total volume of 7,000 cubic meters and is reportedly used to supply the Russian Armed Forces.

There were also "powerful explosions" at an electrical substation in the Kursk region, the General Staff wrote, adding that it was still determining the full extent of damages to both facilities.

"The defense forces continue to take all measures to undermine the military and economic potential of the Russian occupiers and force the Russian Federation to stop its armed aggression against Ukraine," the Ukrainian military concluded.

Kursk region lies on the border with Ukraine's Sumy Oblast. In recent months, Ukrainian forces have been regularly attacking military facilities and infrastructure in Russian regions bordering Ukraine.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russian losses in Ukraine causing serious problems for recruitment, HUR says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Newlywed Sonakshi Sinha turned heads as the showstopper for acclaimed couturier Dolly J on Day 4 of India Couture Week 2024 in Delhi. The actor looked gorgeous in her blush-pink outfit. She recalled her wedding day and shared what according to her is the new bridal wear trend. While talking to the media, she shared, "I genuinely feel the simpler bride is going to be back. I honestly had the freedom to enjoy my wedding so much because I was so comfortable. And I was able to breathe and move around. And I didn't stress myself out. So I think a simpler but beautiful bride, that's going to be a forthcoming trend for sure." Sonakshi and Zaheer got married on June 23 in the presence of their loved ones at their residence in Mumbai. It was an intimate wedding. While talking about choosing the outfit for her marriage, she said, "It took five minutes for both of us to choose outfits. I was very clear in my head that I wanted to wear a red sari. And I was very clear in my head that for my actual signing and the wedding, I wanted to wear my mother's sari and her jewellery, which is exactly what I did. So it was all in my head. And we just brought it to life on that day. We're very not so fussy people." Dolly J's 'La Vie en Rose' is a collection inspired by the delicate beauty of flowers, and celebrates femininity and elegance. Each piece in the collection exudes sophistication and grace, with the lilac colour representing a feeling of calm and elegance. The use of sumptuous materials and exquisite decorations demonstrated the designer's unrivalled attention to detail and commitment to crafting timeless items. The 'Dabangg' talked about the collection and said, "It speaks for self and because it's so blingy, we kept it minimal. I'm feeling extremely glamorous. I think that's the beauty when designers make outfits like this that make a woman feel good from the inside. I'm feeling very glam, very pretty, very feminine and just flowy so I think that's how an outfit should make a woman feel beautiful I think that's the most important thing ever in your life." Recently, the actress shared a series of pictures from her bachelorette party. The theme of her party was 'Sonamandi'. She opened up about the same and shared, "My friends wanted to do something elaborate when I wanted a very chill bachelorette so they said that it would have a theme and it was a Sonamandi theme." The civil wedding was followed by a wedding bash at Bastian which saw numerous Bollywood celebrities in attendance. The reception was attended by a constellation of Bollywood stars, including Salman Khan, Vidya Balan with Siddharth Roy Kapur, and veteran actress Saira Banu, among others, who came to congratulate the couple and celebrate their union. Sonakshi and Zaheer dated for seven years before solemnising their relationship. Meanwhile, on the work front, Sonakshi's horror-comedy film 'Kakuda', which is directed by Aditya Sarpotdar was released on ZEE5 on July 12. The film also stars Riteish Deshmukh and Saqib Saleem. Dolly J Studio put on display their new collection that comprises beautiful shades of gold, lilacs, pink and sparkling silver.India Couture Week 2024 kickstarted on July 24. Falguni Shane Peacock will be closing the fashion gala on July 31. (ANI)
MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11)  Loved ones are raising money for the family of a woman fatally shot on the Upper East Side in what police are calling a murder-suicide.

As of Sunday, hundreds of people had donated over $50,000 to a GoFundMe for the family of Marisa Galloway, who was shot in the head just outside Gracie Mansion on East 88th Street before 9 a.m. Friday, according to the NYPD.

Two men arrested in fatal East Village shooting: NYPD

Marisa Galloway touched everyone she met. Her kindness, generosity, and love were unparalleled. She devoted her whole life to her two beautiful daughters..they were her world, wrote Marc Bellanger, the GoFundMes organizer.

Police suspect Kathleen Leigh, the grandmother of Galloways older child, was the killer, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.

Galloway and Leigh were found shot in the head near a car that had Galloways younger child in the backseat, police said. Based on surveillance footage, police suspect Galloway had just put her child in the backseat and was packing a stroller in the trunk of her car when Leigh approached and shot her in twice, Kenny said.

Leigh then shot herself, police said. The child was unharmed.

Police recovered two guns, one on the sidewalk between the two women and one in Leighs tote bag, Kenny said.

Leigh, a retired probation officer from Chicago, had been living with family in New York City for years. The two women were entangled in a custody dispute, police said.

Marisas untimely passing will leave a void in all of our lives. But her memory will live on in her daughters and in all of our hearts, Bellanger wrote on the GoFundMe.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. It is a free, 24/7 service that offers support, information, and local resources. You can also click here for additional hotlines within your state.

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered New York City since 2023. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

UPDATE 7/28  Officials provided an update on the Dry Wash Fire the day after it started.

As of Sunday, July 28, the fire had burned about 226 acres, according to Utah Fire Info. The cause was still unknown, and the fire was zero percent contained, a Sunday press release said.

There were no closures and no evacuations in place as of Sunday.

ORIGINAL STORY

SEVIER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  A new wildfire ignited in Sevier County, north of Big Rock Candy Mountain, on Saturday, according to Utah Fire Info.

The fire, which was named the Dry Wash Fire, was first discovered on Saturday between I-70 and north of Big Rock Candy Mountain, Utah Fire Info said.

READ NEXT: Kolob Fire sparks in Washington County, evacuations underway

The unpredictable winds are affecting fire behavior, Utah Fire Info said.

According to the Utah Wildfire Dashboard, the Dry Wash Fire was first discovered before 4:20 p.m. on Saturday. As of about 9 p.m. on Saturday night, the dashboard said the fire had grown to about 300 acres.

Officials said resources are fighting the blaze from the ground and the air, and Utah Fire Info has asked people to avoid the area to keep firefighters and the public safe.

Utah Fire Info posted an update on social media shortly after its initial post to inform the public that Fremont Indian State Park and Museum was closed because of the fire. People were again asked to avoid the area.

Officials did not initially release information about what may have caused the Dry Wash Fire.

There is no further information at this time.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
By Simon Lewis and Tim Kelly

TOKYO (Reuters) -The United States on Sunday announced plans for a major revamp of its military command in Japan to deepen coordination with its ally's forces, as the two countries labelled China the "greatest strategic challenge" facing the region.

The announcement followed security talks in Tokyo between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and their respective Japanese counterparts, Yoko Kamikawa and Minoru Kihara.

"The United States will upgrade the U.S. Forces Japan to a joint force headquarters with expanded missions and operational responsibilities," Austin told reporters after the so-called "2+2" talks.

"This will be the most significant change to U.S Forces Japan since its creation and one of the strongest improvements in our military ties with Japan in 70 years."

The ministers said in a joint statement that the new command structure would be implemented in parallel with Tokyo's own plans to establish a joint command for its forces by March 2025.

The overhaul is among several measures taken to address what the countries said was an "evolving security environment", noting various threats from superpower China.

The statement criticised what it called Beijing's "provocative" behaviour in the South and East China Seas, joint military exercises with Russia and the rapid expansion of its nuclear weapons arsenal.

Beijing's "foreign policy seeks to reshape the international order for its own benefit at the expense of others," the ministers said in their statement.

"Such behaviour is a serious concern to the Alliance and the entire international community and represents the greatest strategic challenge in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond".

China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

Austin told reporters the command upgrade was "not based on any threat from China" but reflected the allies' desire to work more closely and effectively.

Japan provides a base for the U.S. to project military power in Asia, hosting 54,000 American troops, hundreds of U.S. aircraft and Washington's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier strike group.

Prompted by China's growing military might and regular missile tests by nuclear-armed North Korea, Japan has in recent years shifted dramatically from decades of postwar pacifism. In 2022 it unveiled a plan to double defence spending to 2% of gross domestic product.

The new U.S. command in Japan will be headed by a three-star general, a U.S. official said, however Austin said the U.S. would not rule out appointing a four-star commander to Japan in the future as it has in neighbouring South Korea.

NUCLEAR UMBRELLA

For the first time, the ministers also discussed "extended deterrence", a term used to describe the U.S. commitment to use its nuclear forces to deter attacks on allies.

It is sensitive subject in Japan, which has pushed for non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and is the only country to have suffered atomic bomb attacks.

The countries discussed reinforcing extended deterrence to promote regional stability and deter the outbreak of conflict, according to an official readout that was scant on detail.

"Amidst increasingly severe nuclear threats in the vicinity of Japan, it is important to further strengthen extended deterrence. I welcome the continuously deepening discussion on this matter," Japan's Kamikawa told reporters at the outset of the talks.

The allies also expressed deep concern about Russia's procurement of ballistic missiles from North Korea to aid its war in Ukraine and the potential for Moscow to transfer weapons of mass destruction or missile-related technology to Pyongyang.

North Korea has vowed to "totally destroy" its enemies in case of war, North Korean state media KCNA reported on Sunday.

Austin and Kihara also met South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik, signing an agreement to "institutionalise" trilateral cooperation through efforts like real-time sharing of North Korean missile warning data and joint military exercises.

The Biden administration has been pushing for deeper cooperation between Tokyo and Seoul, whose strained relations date back to Japan's 1910-1945 occupation of Korea.

"This memorandum strengthens the cooperation between Japan, the United States and South Korea, making our partnership unshakable, no matter how the international situation changes," Japan's Kihara told reporters after the trilateral meeting.

Washington also wants to tap Japanese industry to help ease pressure on U.S. weapons makers stretched by demand generated by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Tokyo and Washington are pursuing various collaborations in this field, including advancing missile co-production efforts as well as building supply chain resilience and facilitating ship and aircraft repair.

However, one flagship project - a plan to use Japanese factories to boost production of Patriot air defence missiles - is being delayed by a shortage of a critical component manufactured by Boeing, Reuters reported this month.

After leaving Tokyo, Blinken and Austin will hold security talks with another Asian ally, the Philippines, as the Biden administration seeks to counter an increasingly bold China.

Blinken met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Laos on Saturday and repeated that Washington and its partners want to maintain a "free and open Indo-Pacific", according to a U.S. readout of the meeting.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis and Tim Kelly in Tokyo; Additional reporting by Idrees Ali in Washington; Writing by John Geddie; Editing by William Mallard, Michael Perry and David Evans)
US discusses with India need for peace in Ukraine amid reported Modi visit plan

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar hold a news conference at the State Department in Washington

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday emphasized the importance of a "just and enduring peace" for Ukraine in a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the State Department said. The discussion came amid a visit being reportedly planned to Ukraine by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Modi is likely to visit Ukraine in August, various Indian media outlets have reported in recent days, which would be his first visit to the country since Russia invaded in February 2022 and would come just weeks after he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had expressed unhappiness and disappointment with Modi's visit to Russia.

While Western countries imposed sanctions on Moscow following the invasion of Ukraine, nations friendly with Russia such as India and China have continued to trade.

KEY QUOTE

"Secretary Blinken underscored the importance of realizing a just and enduring peace for Ukraine consistent with the UN Charter," the State Department said in a statement on Sunday on the meeting between Blinken and Jaishankar.

Social media posts from both Blinken and Jaishankar on Sunday mentioned their meeting but did not specifically mention Ukraine.

CONTEXT

India has refrained from directly criticizing Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, while urging the two nations to resolve their conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. New Delhi has resisted pressure from the West to distance itself from Moscow since the invasion, citing its longstanding ties with Russia and its economic needs.

In recent years, Washington has looked to improve ties with New Delhi as it has increasingly viewed India as a potential counterweight to an ascendant China. However, while Modi was visiting Russia, the State Department said it raised concerns with India over its ties to Russia.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler)
US blames Hezbollah for Golan Heights attack, says it doesn't want escalation

By Simon Lewis, Kanishka Singh and Andrea Shalal

TOKYO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Sunday blamed Lebanon-based Hezbollah for a rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 children and teenagers on a football field while raising the threat of a wider war in the Middle East.

Israel also blamed Hezbollah and said it would strike hard against the Iran-backed group after the attack on Saturday, but Hezbollah has denied any responsibility.

The strike raised fears of a wider conflict in the region where tensions have intensified due to Israel's war in Gaza. That onslaught, which began more than nine months ago, has killed tens of thousands and caused a massive humanitarian crisis throughout the narrow coastal enclave.

"This attack was conducted by Lebanese Hezbollah. It was their rocket, and launched from an area they control," the White House said in a statement on Sunday. It added that Washington has been in discussions with Israeli and Lebanese officials since Saturday's attack, which it condemned and described as "horrific."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday he does not want to see an escalation of conflict on Israel's northern border and reiterated U.S. support for Israel.

"I emphasize (Israel's) right to defend its citizens and our determination to make sure that they're able to do that," Blinken said during a news conference in Tokyo. "But we also don't want to see the conflict escalate. We don't want to see it spread."

The White House said Washington was working on a diplomatic solution to end attacks on the Israel-Lebanon border.

Vice President Kamala Harris's national security adviser Phil Gordon said on Sunday that the presidential candidate has been briefed and is closely monitoring the situation.

"Israel continues to face severe threats to its security, and the Vice Presidents support for Israels security is ironclad," Gordon said in a statement.

Blinken said he was saddened by the loss of life and added that reaching a ceasefire deal in the war in Gaza could help calm the situation on Israel's border with Lebanon.

"It's so important that we help defuse that conflict, not only prevent it from escalating, prevent it from spreading, but to defuse it because you have so many people in both countries, in both Israel and Lebanon, who've been displaced from their homes," Blinken said.

The United States, Qatar and Egypt have sought to mediate in the dispute. But Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which controls Gaza, have yet to forge a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday echoed Blinken's statement. "Israel has every right to defend itself against Hezbollah like they do against Hamas," Schumer told CBS News in an interview.

"I don't think anyone wants a wider war. So I hope there are moves to de-escalate," Schumer added.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis, Kanishka Singh, Andrea Shalal and John Geddie; Editing by Sonali Paul, William Maclean and Cynthia Osterman)
The News

Nearly 60% of all students from African countries who applied to study at universities in the United States last year were denied the requisite F-1 visa by the State Department, according to a new report. The denial rate for students from Africa was the highest among all regions but the US State Department insists it has in fact granted more visas in aggregate to African students than ever before.

Countries that saw denial rates rise by 10 percentage points or more in 2023 were all located in Africa and Asia. Southern Africa notably recorded a much lower denial rate of 19%, compared to the continents overall 57% denial rate. With the exception of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Lesotho, denial rates for students from Africa have been increasing steadily since 2015, when the overall rate stood at 43%.

The report, by non-profits Shorelight and the Presidents Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, analyzes State Department data.The African continent has, by far, the highest visa denial rate than any other world region, and it is steadily rising, write the researchers.

Know More

A State Department spokesperson, however, told University World News that in the fiscal year 2023 (October 2022-September 2023) saw the highest ever number of student and exchange visas issued to African countries in its history and 61% more than pre-pandemic 2019. Our embassies and consulates in Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Eswatini, Cote dIvoire and Madagascar all issued more student visas in 2023 than in any year in the past two decades, the spokesperson reportedly said.

The State Department said last November that it issued nearly 40,000 student visas to African students in the fiscal year, of which more than 9,700 visas were to Nigerian applicants. Comparatively the U.S. issued an all-time record of more than 140,000 student visas to applicants from India.

Overall, international students at U.S. colleges and universities are said to spend up to $38 billion annually in the U.S. economy.

Immigration will be one of the most contentious issues in the upcoming US presidential election this November between Democrats presumptive nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and the Republicans former President Donald Trump.

The View From Europe

Nearly a third of Africans applying for a visa to Europes Schengen Area are rejected  the highest refusal rate of any region, according to a report by migration consultancy firm Henley & Partners. Thats despite the continent submitting the lowest number of applications per capita.

Africas applicants had a 30% visa refusal rate. European states primarily cited reasonable doubts about the visa applicants intention to return home in their rejections, the report found. The researchers argued the European visa system clearly demonstrates apparent bias against African applicants, despite justifications based on security or economic concerns.

The European Union will generate millions of euros more from the high rejection rates of visa applications by African visitors with a new increase in non-refundable fees. Citizens of the 26 member states within Europes Schengen area have unhindered borderless access within the area, while most travelers from elsewhere require visas. A 12.5% price hike that took effect on June 11 increased the cost of a short-term (90 days) visa application to 90.
The US says it has successfully practiced using a low-cost bomb to sink a major surface ship. China is taking note

A very specialized part of the worlds largest naval drills off the northern Hawaiian island of Kauai is gaining attention on both sides of the Pacific.

Earlier this month, the US and allies practiced taking out a large surface ship with long-range weapons, including, for the first time, a US Air Force B-2 bomber.

In one test that analysts called very significant in what it could mean for the calculus of any future, hypothetical conflict between the US and China, a B-2 stealth bomber hit a decommissioned amphibious assault ship with an inexpensive guided bomb.

The test of the weapon, dubbed QUICKSINK by the US Air Force, occurred on July 19, when a B-2 participated in the sinking of the ex-USS Tarawa, a retired 820-foot-long, 39,000-ton amphibious assault ship, a vessel the size of a small aircraft carrier.

It showed the US military can use one of its most survivable weapons platforms, the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, to sink a major surface ship with a low-cost guided bomb.

This capability is an answer to an urgent need to quickly neutralize maritime threats over massive expanses of ocean around the world at minimal costs, said a press release from the US Navys 3rd Fleet, which led Rim of the Pacific 2024 (RIMPAC), the exercise that included the sinking of the ex-Tarawa.

The B-2 bomber is the US militarys most sophisticated aircraft. The Air Force says its stealthy characteristics allow it to penetrate heavily defended areas and also fly with a small chance of being detected by radar at high altitudes. That gives the B-2s sensors the ability to get a view of the battlefield not possible in lower-flying planes.

Mating it up with relatively cheap and demonstrably effective precision-guided bombs with warheads of up to 2,000 pounds could give the Air Force bombers the anti-ship lethality of a submarine-launched torpedo without the liabilities of a submarine, according to a US Air Force website.

Two GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions with QUICKSINK adaptions are laid out in preparation to load onto an F-15E Strike Eagle at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Sept. 7, 2022. - Airman Seleena Muhammad-Al/U.S. Air Force

A Navy submarine has the ability to launch and destroy a ship with a single torpedo at any time, but by launching that weapon, it gives away its location and becomes a target, the Air Force Research Lab says.

QUICKSINK could provide a low-cost method of achieving torpedo-like seaworthy kills from the air at a much higher pace and over a much larger area than covered by a lumbering submarine, it says.

The Air Force first tested QUICKSINK in 2022, when an F-15 fighter jet released a GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) that destroyed a full-scale surface target in the Gulf of Mexico, according to an Air Force statement.

Analysts say QUICKSINK launched from a B-2 would give Chinas Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) much to consider in the event of any possible conflict in the western Pacific, including around hotspots like Taiwan, the Philippines and the southern islands of Japan.

It is very significant, said Carl Schuster, former head of the US Pacific Command Joint Intelligence Center.

The B-2s demonstrated anti-maritime capability will constrain if not deter PLAN operations east of Taiwan or off the Philippines.

You cannot ignore a weapon that can sink a 25,000-plus-ton ship with one hit, Schuster added.

The amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa is pictured transiting the Indian Ocean while deployed in support of maritime security operations Dec. 22, 2007. - Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jon Husman/U.S. Navy

In any conflict close to its home shores, China, on paper, holds distinct advantages.

It has thousands of missiles on the Chinese mainland, the worlds largest navy to dominate nearby seas and the ability to provide air cover to those ships from land-based aircraft.

But the B-2, and other systems tested at RIMPAC, could negate some of Chinas advantages with long-range fire, analysts said.

It extends the range at which potential enemies can be held at risk through advanced weapons whilst retaining a considerable degree of stealth. It basically says, you are not safe no matter where you are in this vast theater, said Alessio Patalano, professor of war and strategy at Kings College in London.

Anti-ship missiles

Long-range missiles were also fired from aircraft and ships during RIMPAC.

A US Navy F/A-18 also hit the ex-Tarawa with a Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRSAM), a precise, stealthy, and survivable cruise missile, the Navys 3rd Fleet press release said.

This missile can hit targets up to 230 miles (370 kilometers) away with a 1,000-pound warhead while navigating semi-autonomously to its target.

And the Royal Australian Navy destroyer HMAS Sydney struck the ex-Tarawa with a Naval Strike Missile (NSM), an achievement Vice Adm. Mark Hammond, Australias chief of navy, said represents a significant increase in the lethality of our surface fleet.

Multi-domain strike capabilities including Naval Strike Missile are foundational to deterring any potential adversarys attempts to project power against Australia, he said.

HMAS Sydney fires the Royal Australian Navys first Naval Strike Missile during a SINKEX off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, as a part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024. - LSIS Daniel Goodman/Royal Australian Navy

The Naval Strike Missile, developed by Norwegian defense company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, can challenge an adversarys defenses by flying at sea-skimming altitudes and making evasive maneuvers in flight at a range of 115 miles (185 kilometers).

A US Navy destroyer, USS Fitzgerald, also tested a Naval Strike Missile during RIMPAC, and the weapon has previously been fired from a US littoral combat ship and land-based versions have been successfully tested by the US Marine Corps.

The ex-Tarawa was one of two surface vessels sunk during RIMPAC. On July 11, the ex-USS Dubuque, a 17,000-ton amphibious transport dock was sent to the bottom of the Pacific, also off Kauai.

Real-world experience

Besides the US and Australian units, forces from South Korea, Malaysia and the Netherlands participated in ship-sinking exercises.

Sinking exercises give us a chance to sharpen our skills, learn from one another, and get real-world experience, US Navy Vice Adm. John Wade, RIMPAC 2024 Combined Task Force commander, said in a statement.

Using advanced weapons and seeing the professionalism of our teams during these drills shows our commitment to keeping the Indo-Pacific region safe and open.

John Bradford, a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs fellow, said the RIMPAC tests show what kind of conflict the US is preparing for in the region.

We can fully expect a major power naval conflict in the Pacific to be predominantly a fight of long-range weapons, Bradford said.

The US is investing in readiness for this sort of combat, he said.

View from China

China was taking note of the RIMPAC plans even before the ship-sinking exercises took place.

A commentary in the state-run Global Times on June 27, the day RIMPAC began, said, the only country deemed as enemy by the US that operates a 40,000-ton amphibious assault ship in the Asia-Pacific region is China.

The PLA Navy has three Type 075 amphibious assault ships, which displace around 36,000 tons, in service with a fourth being readied. A bigger successor, the Type 076, is also under construction.

Global Times has previously cited Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, as saying the Type 075s could be called into action in the Taiwan Strait or South China Sea if the situation dictated it.

The choice of the USS Tarawa as the sinking target reflects the concern of the US and its allies about the development and strength of Chinas maritime power, especially regarding the mainlands military deterrence on the Taiwan island, the Global Times commentary said.

But it said sinking the ex-Tarawa, which was commissioned in 1976, had little relevance in 2024.

Such an outdated ship cannot be compared with modern military equipment, Global Times said.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Downey will star in two new Avengers movies: 'Avengers: Doomsday,' set for release in May 2026, and 'Avengers: Secret Wars,' coming in May 2027.

The Russo brothers will direct the films, confirmed Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige at San Diego Comic-Con 2024.

Downey, who became a global superstar after debuting as Tony Stark/Iron Man in 2008's 'Iron Man,' helped the MCU become the highest-grossing film franchise of all time. He retired from the role of Tony Stark after his character's heroic death in 2019's 'Avengers: Endgame.'

On stage, Downey said, 'New mask, same task,' as he revealed his new role as Doctor Doom.

The announcement was made in a dramatic fashion with about two dozen men in olive robes and metal masks joining Feige and the Russo brothers on stage.

Joe Russo explained the choice, saying, 'Doctor Doom is one of the most complex and entertaining characters in all of fiction. To bring him to life, we need the greatest actor in the world.'

The audience at the Marvel Hall H presentation was thrilled as Downey, wearing a green suit, unmasked himself to loud applause.

Soon after the official announcement, Robert Downey Jr took to his Instagram to share a post that reads, "New mask, same task (sic)."

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9823RcpSfU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Meanwhile, the announcement comes during a record-breaking opening weekend for 'Deadpool & Wolverine,' which is set to become the top-opening R-rated feature of all time, bringing new energy to the MCU. (ANI)
Van Hollen says it was a mistake for Democrats to support Netanyahu addressing Congress

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said it was a mistake for Democrats to support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu giving an address to Congress.

I believe it was, and Ive expressed that view, he said when asked on CBSs Face the Nation whether it was a mistake for Democrats to support the visit. But the reality is, obviously, he came. So for those of us who thought it was a mistake to have him here, we expressed our views by not participating.

Van Hollen has been critical of the current Israeli governments policies and has called for a pause in sending offensive weapons to the country until President Bidens demands of getting more humanitarian assistance into Gaza have been met.

He was one of many Democratic lawmakers who opted not to attend Netanyahus address, saying in remarks on the Senate floor earlier this month that it sends a terrible message to invite the Israeli leader to the Capitol.

Van Hollen also noted Sunday that while he has been critical of the conduct of the war in Gaza, he has always affirmed Israels right to self defense, in fact, duty to self defense.

Netanyahu addressed Congress in a joint session last week  a speech met with opposition from some Democratic lawmakers and activists in D.C. who protested outside the Capitol against Netanyahus visit.

Van Hollen also said Netanyahu used Congress as a prop in his speech.

I think Prime Minister Netanyahu accomplished his goal of using Congress as a prop to boost his support in Israel, especially among his right-wing extremists. If you saw the people who gave two thumbs up to his speech, they were Ben-Gvir and Smotrich. These are very right-wing extremists, he said, referring to Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

This story was updated at 7:10 p.m. on July 29.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  A Virginia Beach man pled guilty to coercion and enticement of minors Friday.

Court documents show that in September 2022, 50-year-old Shannon Ashley Robbins used Telegram to sale child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

From 2021 to 2023, Robbins created multiple social media accounts to entice and coerce his underage victims. The 50-year-old man would sometimes pretend to be a child when he approached his victims online.

Law enforcement officials interviewed a witness, referred to as Witness 1 (W-1), who admitted to purchasing CSAM from Robbins on Telegram. Using Cash App, W-1 sent Robbins $100 and received the CSAM on Telegram. Robbins later sold W-1 more images and videos of a 12 or 13-year-old boy for an additional $100 upon request. The material Robbins sold to W-1 included 135 sexually explicit images and 153 sexually explicit videos.

On Sept. 8, 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTipline report, and later confirmed, that an individual had saved, shared, or uploaded four files of suspected CSAM. A little more than a week later, they received another CyberTipline report from the same IP address. That IP address was traced to Robbins Virginia Beach home.

Robbins knew two of his victims who lived near him. Between July 11 and Oct. 24, 2023, Robbins exchanged approximately 1,775 text messages with one of these victims. He exchanged approximately 3,958 text messages with the other victim between May 21 and Oct. 24, 2023.

On Oct. 25, 2023, law enforcement seized Robbins cellphone which contained a large volume of CSAM image and video files.

Robbins is scheduled to sentenced on Feb. 28, 2025. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, and he could receive up to life in prison.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Its been more than 20 years since a Pennsylvania Governor has been strongly considered for the Vice Presidency. Now Governor Josh Shapiro is in the national spotlight as a possibility, if not a front runner, to be Vice President Kamala Harris running mate this fall.

Shapiro has repeated talking points this week regarding the Vice Presidency, saying Harris has a personal decision to make, one that shes gone through prior to President Biden selecting her in 2020. On Friday the Governor said he had not personally talked to Harris since last Sunday when Biden dropped out and endorsed her.

In the coming days, Shapiro will begin a stronger public campaign for Harris that includes an event with Michigan Governor Gretchen Witmer on Monday, reportedly in the Philadelphia area.

Should Shapiro be Harris pick for the vice presidency, itll likely be announced before an August 7 virtual meeting of Democrats ahead of the Democratic National Convention.

Every week, This Week in Pennsylvania gives a comprehensive look at the weeks biggest news events in Pennsylvania, provided by the abc27 News team, along with the latest updates on local stories.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

This Week in Pennsylvania

Check your local listings for weekly air times.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Venezuelans head to the polls on Sunday to choose a president, in what could be one of the most pivotal elections in the nations history that could put an end to more than a quarter-century of autocratic socialist rule.

Current leader Nicolas Maduro is backed by a meager 15% to 20% of voters, according to several polls, and should be easily beaten by opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who is as much as 40 points ahead,. according to credible independent polling. But the regime has a long track-record of stealing Venezuelan elections, and its iron-grip control over the board that oversees elections, the National Electorate Council, provides opponents with very few tools to keep it from committing fraud.

Given the high stakes surrounding the election, the council could take its time in announcing results, with the first results not being available until the early morning hours Monday. Nearly 21.4 million people are registered to vote, but an estimated 4 million Venezuelans who left the country wont be able to, except for a few thousands in a handful of countries, excluding the United States.

While the Biden administration has attempted to remain neutral on the prospects of victory for each side, Brian Nichols, assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs confirmed the oppositions lead in a congressional hearing this week, stressing that the election could pave the way for a democratic transition.

The key parameter will be voter participation, he said. The polls indicate a clear advantage for the opposition. We hope that it will do well if its voters manage to vote.

Read more: The key things to know about Sundays presidential election in Venezuela

In 2019, the U.S. led a group of 50 nations disavowing Maduros presidency after concluding that he had stolen the vote the year before. This years election came about after a Washington-led pact that required Caracas to launch a comprehensive overhaul of the nations electoral system. But Maduro later reneged on the deal, making it nearly impossible for the opposition to keep the electoral council honest.

Yet, the Venezuelan opposition is banking on the enthusiasm surrounding Gonzalez, 74, and his mentor, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, hoping to generate a wave of anti-Maduro votes large enough to overpower any plan the regime might have to steal the election, said Antonio De La Cruz, senior associate with the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

Venezeulan presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez

In theory, this could be achieved, but De La Cruz said that being ahead in the polls may not necessarily translate into the same margin of votes, given the regimes ongoing intimidation campaign that seeks to discourage opposition voters from going to the polls.

De La Cruz, who has been studying the regime for more than a decade, said the control the government has over the electoral council and its chief, top Maduro lieutenant Jorge Rodriguez, would allow it to claim victory for Maduro if Gonzalezs vote lead is not greater than ten percentage points.

The regime believes, and this mainly falls on the hands of Jorge Rodriguez, that they can handle the elections results, De La Cruz said. The regime is confident enough it can rig the results that it didnt ban Gonzalez candidacy, he added. The opposition, on the other hand, is betting that with a massive participation of voters, [the regime] will not be able to steal the election.

Oswaldo Ramirez, president of polling firm ORC Consultores, said the latest opinion polls show a greater than initially expected number of voters will likely participate in Sundays election.

The government has been trying to disrupt the oppositions chances of winning the election for months by implementing a vast array of questionable tactics, including a ban on the candidacy of Machado, who had won the oppositions nomination with more than 92% of the vote in the October 2023 primary.

The Maduro government has also forced a virtual blackout on the Venezuelan opposition through its control of most media outlets, and launched a wave of arrests of critics and opposition members, including volunteers of the Gonzalez campaign.

The tactics include the arbitrary relocation of polling places. In addition, the electoral council made changes to the polling centers in regions where it knows the regime is highly unpopular, restricting the number of voting tables to one, ensuring long lines for likely opposition voters.

Alberto Ray, director of the Florida think-thank Risk Awareness Council, said that members of the electoral council are also likely to slow down operations at each polling station with the same aim.

Another issue: lack of transparency. The regime has drastically limited the presence of international observers allowed into the country to keep an eye on the election process.

In another attempt to stack the desk for Maduro, his name and photo appear an eye-catching 13 times on the ballot, overshadowing the rest of his nine opponents, whose names appear three or four times at most. The reasonis that candidates are allowed to appear on the ballot with their names next to each political group that supports them. Maduro is representing 13 different political parties, which gives his supporters 13 different options to choose from, even though each voter can only vote for him once.

Efforts by the opposition have so far centered on trying to build an army of volunteers to serve as observers at each poll to try to safeguard the vote and the count.
The News

Venezuelans voted on Sunday in an election many suspect may be marred by fraud and potentially end in violence. The results are expected after polls close at 6 p.m. local time.

President Nicolas Maduro seems on track for a defeat at the ballot box, polls suggest, but he has promised a bloodbath if he loses.

His main opposition for the presidency is Edmundo Gonzalez, a former diplomat who is the stand-in for opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who was banned from running by Maduros government. A conservative, she has promised to privatize the countrys energy sector and bring home the millions of Venezuelans who have fled the country.

International observers have been blocked from entering the country for the vote, including a delegation of ex-presidents from around Latin America who tried to travel to Caracas from Panama on Friday.





Know More

As Hugo Chavez successor, Maduro has consolidated power in a way many could not have predicted, El Pais noted, and he has perhaps more control over the countrys politics and military than Chavez himself despite being subject to international sanctions.

The fact the vote is happening at all is something of a surprise  Maduro has for years suppressed political opposition and blocked international electoral observers from oversight, and the opposition boycotted the last election, in 2018. Now, opposition leaders and people working for it have been subject to intimidation and some have been arrested, but they are also far more united against Maduro than in the past, The Economist noted.

The regimes dilemma is to rig or lose the election, The Economist wrote. This election looks trickier for the regime: stealing it against a united and seemingly mobilised opposition, and with palpable disillusion among many government supporters, might not be easy.
Editors note: This story contains discussion of suicide. Troops, veterans and family members experiencing suicidal thoughts can call the 24-hour Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, text 838255 or visit VeteransCrisisLine.net.

NEW YORK  It was a landmark moment for the psychedelic movement: The Department of Veteran Affairs top doctor stood on stage, praising advocates who have spent decades promoting the healing potential of mind-altering drugs.

In an unannounced appearance at a New York psychedelic conference, the VAs Dr. Shereef Elnahal said his agency was ready to start rolling out MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder as soon as regulators approved it.

FDA advisory panel votes against psychedelic therapy to treat PTSD

The VA has to be first, as we have been, with the mental health needs of our veterans, Elnahal told attendees at the May meeting. He also highlighted the awesome, groundbreaking research on the drug by MAPS, or the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, the leading nonprofit advocating for the medical and legal use of hallucinogenic drugs.

But expectations for MDMAs first-of-a-kind approval unraveled a few weeks later when Food and Drug Administration advisers voted overwhelmingly against the drug, citing flawed data, questionable research conduct, and potential safety and addiction risks. The panels recommendation isnt binding, but the FDA is widely expected to delay or decline approval when it makes its decision by mid-August.

The potential rejection has sent shockwaves through the psychedelic community, including combat veterans who have spent years lobbying for the drug, which is also known as ecstasy or molly. The advocacy effort has long been intertwined with MAPS, which has funded or supported some of the most vocal veterans supporting psychedelic therapy.

Dr. Harold Kudler of Duke University met with veterans and MAPS leaders while serving as the VAs top consultant on mental health services. He believes FDA's experts are justifiably skeptical of the science behind the drug, which he says has been drowned out by messaging from MAPS and its leader, Rick Doblin, who began pursuing MDMA's approval in the mid-1980s.

Rick is the most persuasive advocate within the scientific community that Ive ever seen. You want to believe him because he's offering you something you sorely need  an effective treatment for PTSD, Kudler said. But I think the FDA committee caught a glimpse of how much of this is Ricks zeal and how much is real.

MAPS declined to make Doblin available for an interview. Instead the group pointed to a recent statement by two dozen scientists and pharmaceutical executives  many with backgrounds in psychedelic research  supporting MDMAs approval.

Earlier this year, MAPS changed the name of its drug development arm to Lykos Therapeutics, allowing the new company to raise funds from outside investors.

In addition to shortcomings in Lykos' studies, FDA panelists voiced concern about separate allegations that some MAPS-affiliated researchers suppressed negative study results or coached patients to inflate positive results. The FDA says it's investigating those claims.

Casey Tylek, an Army veteran, says he didnt experience any of that while participating in the study. When he asked researchers for guidance in evaluating the effect of the drug, Tylek says he was repeatedly rebuffed and told he had to rate the treatment without any outside influence.

Tylek says he was pessimistic going into the trial, but credits MDMA-assisted therapy with resolving anger, anxiety and trauma stemming from a rocket attack in Iraq.

It basically rewrote that memory in my mind and how it functioned, Tylek said. I was able to just kind of let go of it and not be hung up on it.

Kudler and other researchers say they want to see the MDMA results confirmed in larger studies that have no links to the psychedelic community.

That work would take years. Veterans who support the treatment say it would jeopardize patients suffering from PTSD who havent been helped by antidepressants and other existing therapies. The suicide rate among veterans is 70% higher than the general population, according to government figures, with 18 veteran suicides per day in 2021.

Army veteran Casey Tylek stands for a portrait at his home in Leominster, Mass., on July 13, 2024. Tylek credits MDMA-assisted therapy with resolving anger, anxiety and trauma stemming from a rocket attack in in Iraq. (Shelby Lum/AP)

Jon Lubecky, who served in both the Marines and the Army, says he tried to kill himself five times after returning from deployment to Iraq in 2006. After years of struggling with PTSD he enrolled in a MAPS trial in 2014. He credits MDMA-assisted therapy with curing his condition.

Since then, Lubecky has told his story hundreds of times in media interviews, congressional hearings and private meetings with military officials and federal lawmakers, including conservatives like Sen. Rand Paul and Rep. Dan Crenshaw.

Lubecky worked as a consultant for MAPS for more than five years. But he rejects the idea that he was merely advancing the agenda of psychedelic boosters who want to see the drugs outright legalized.

Im not in this for ending the drug war or any of those other things," he said. "Im in it for my friends.

Lubeckys work helped secure $20 million in funding for the VA to conduct its own studies of psychedelics, including MDMA and ketamine.

Part of the rationale for that research: Many veterans now leave the U.S. to undergo psychedelic therapy at clinics in Mexico, Peru and other countries where it is more accessible.

A nonprofit group, Heroic Hearts Project, currently has a waiting list of over 1,000 veterans seeking financial and logistical support to travel abroad. A former Army Ranger, Jesse Gould, founded the group after returning from a weeklong retreat in Peru using ayahuasca, the psychedelic brew associated with indigenous cultures of the Amazon. After the experience, he said he was able to overcome anxiety, anger and depression that had burdened him after three deployments to Afghanistan.

Gould says MAPS deserves credit for kickstarting research that could eventually help thousands of veterans.

I think MAPS has done more for the veteran community in this area than most politicians have done in the last 20 years, said Gould, whose group has no financial ties to MAPS. Time and time again our needs either go unheard or go to the back of the line.

Heroic Hearts hosted an event on Capitol Hill earlier this month where several House lawmakers and veterans called for MDMA's approval.

Gould doesnt expect the FDA to flatly reject MDMA. Instead he and others say the agency may ask Lykos to perform additional studies.

Even if the company is unable to quickly conduct that research, experts say others could benefit by avoiding the pitfalls in Lykos' MDMA application, including a small patient population with little diversity and a high potential for bias.

Dozens of other drugmakers are studying psilocybin, LSD and other psychedelics for depression, anxiety and addiction.

Dr. John Krystal, a Yale University psychiatry professor, said Lykos' setback "will hopefully ensure that future studies are conducted in ways that give reviewers greater confidence about the effectiveness and the safety of these drugs.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Vice President Kamala Harris gives virtual remarks at Voters For Tomorrow summit in Atlanta

Vice President Kamala Harris made a virtual appearance this weekend at the Voters of Tomorrow Summit.

The vice president gave virtual remarks at the summit for the young activists in Atlanta on Saturday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

We know young voters will be key, and we know your vote cannot be taken for granted. It must be earned, and that is exactly what we will do, said Harris.

The Voters of Tomorrow Summit joins young organizers and activists from across the country at Atlantas Loudermilk Conference Center.

TRENDING STORIES:

Eve Levenson, the national youth engagement director for Harris for President, spoke at the summit in Atlanta to introduce the video from Vice President Harris.

Vice President @KamalaHarris knows she must earn our generations votes, and that is exactly what she will do. pic.twitter.com/4zY2pLS62O  Voters of Tomorrow (@VotersTomorrow) July 27, 2024

Harris told the summit attendees in her remarks that, We have made so much progress, historic progress.

She went on to speak about freedoms, including gun violence and womens reproductive rights.

The conference began on Friday and its last day was Saturday.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
Overwhelmed with the love received on her birthday, actor Kriti Sanon expressed gratitude to her fans with a heartfelt note. On Sunday afternoon, Kriti took to Instagram and wrote, "Thank you for all your wishes. Dreams in my eyes. Love and gratitude in my heart." She also shared a beautiful picture from her cake cutting ceremony. In the image, she can be seen making a wish. Meanwhile, on the work front, Kriti was last seen in 'Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya' and 'Crew'. Speaking to ANI, Kriti shared about striking a chord with the audience with her role of robot Sifra. "I feel that Sifra as a character has gotten a lot of love. I have personally felt it. Because wherever I've gone, whether it's been in India or even London, there are so many people who have come to me and told me that they want a picture with Sifra...once I was at the airport and there was a person who was letting me in for immigration...that person greeted me by calling me Sifra...So, I just feel that when you hear your character name being called out or when they recognize you as the character, sometimes more than as you, I think that is such a big win for any actor because it's very, very rare...That means that you've really touched a chord. I'm just super excited with all the love that's been poured in for Sifra," Kriti shared. In the coming months, Kriti will be seen sharing screen space with Kajol in 'Do Patti'. (ANI)
How to make your voice heard on protections for Rochester tenants

The City of Rochester has set four public input sessions in July and August on the proposed good cause eviction bill, which would increase protections for tenants and curtail significant rent increases.

Residents are invited to attend their districts hearing to speak to their representative and give comments on the bill, which reached Rochester City Council in June. New York State introduced good cause in April and gave cities the option to opt-in and set their own local exemptions.

Albany became the first city to adopt a local good cause law in early June, followed by Ithaca, Kingston and Poughkeepsie. Laws in all the upstate cities that have passed good cause are stronger than the proposed bill in Rochester.

More: Looking for an apartment can be frustrating. Here's what I learned while searching.

When can the public give input?

Rochester tenants, landlords, advocates, developers and community members can attend one of the following sessions:

South District  Monday, July 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Aenon Missionary Baptist Church (175 Genesee St.)

East District  Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Ryan R-Center (530 Webster Ave.)

Northeast District  Tuesday, Aug. 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Public Market (280 N. Union St.)

Northwest District  Tuesday, Aug. 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Edgerton R-Center (41 Backus St.)

The City-Wide Tenant Union of Rochester demonstrates at the "I Love ROC" sign at Parcel 5 in December 2021 to call for statewide good cause eviction protections. The group also created public art symbolizing a familys belongings left behind and thrown to the curb after an eviction.

Why does Rochesters proposed bill protect fewer tenants?

Under good cause, landlords cant evict tenants without proving rent non-payment  not stemming from an unreasonable rent increase  or a violation of the lease. They also cant raise rents more than 5% plus the Consumer Price Index, or 10% altogether, whichever is lower.

READ THIS: 20% of all Rochester rentals fail to operate legally with permit

The legislation includes exemptions based on how many units their landlord owns, the type of building, when it was built, and whether the unit is already regulated by local, state or federal law, among other stipulations. Cities can alter a few of these exemptions, namely the ones on portfolio size and high-rent units.

The state law exempts small landlords who own 10 units or less, but cities can choose between one and 10 units for that classification. New Yorks good cause also has a carve-out for units with rent 245% above the fair market value, but cities can raise that percentage to include more tenants.

The bill introduced in Rochester on June 4 would cover roughly 40,420 rental units while excluding about 17,587. If City Council members choose to amend and model it after the laws in Albany, Ithaca and Kingston, the law could potentially cover up to 58,007 rentals.

For more information on these hearings, city residents can call the City Council office at (585) 428-7538, or email Council@CityofRochester.Gov.

 Christina Chkarboul is a summer intern at the Democrat and Chronicle and a student journalist at USC, where she focuses on Earth science, global studies and journalism. Contact her at cchkarboul@gannett.com with story tips related to code enforcement.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: How to make your voice heard on protections for Rochester tenants
What are voters saying about the Maricopa County sheriff candidates?

It has been more than 20 years since both Democrats and Republicans had competitive primaries for Maricopa County sheriff.

In 2024, voters on both sides of the political spectrum have choices for the first time in a long time.

Frank Milstead, the former head of Arizona's Department of Public Safety and the Mesa Police Department, Jerry Sheridan, a former chief deputy in the Sheriff's Office, and Mike Crawford, a former Glendale police officer, are running for the Republican nomination.

Sheriff Russ Skinner, who was appointed to the job in February, and former Phoenix police officer Tyler Kamp are running for the Democratic nomination.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is one of the largest sheriff's offices in the nation, with upward of 3,000 employees, including deputies, jail guards and civilians.

The Sheriff's Office patrols unincorporated areas of the county and municipalities without a designated police force. It also serves Superior Court orders and warrants, collects delinquent taxes, coordinates search and rescue missions and oversees the county's five jails.

The Arizona Republic spoke with Maricopa County voters and sheriff's race donors to learn why they care about the role and hear who they prefer in the primary and why.

See all 2024 Arizona primary races

See all the races

A recap of everything: When is Arizona's primary? Election day is July 30. Here is a voter guide to help you learn about all the candidates.

What are voters saying about the Republican primary race?

Spike Lawrence, a property developer who lives in Chandler, donated to Milstead's campaign because he liked the way he ran the state Department of Public Safety, he said.

"Frank has been a solid law enforcement guy his whole life," Lawrence said. "And he's well-respected."

Lawrence said the sheriff's race was important to him because he looks for safe communities in which to invest.

"Safe streets, clean streets  that's what really matters to communities," said Lawrence, calling public safety a "nonpartisan issue."

Geroge Cuprak, a registered Republican since he was a teenager, is now retired and living in central Phoenix. He's also backing Milstead because of his experience running the state police.

"I want someone who can focus on the job of being sheriff and not be out chasing microphones and cameras," Cuprak said. "So, of the three Republican candidates, I like the fact Milstead seems to be able to work in the background and get the job done."

Several voters said they were supporting Sheridan because they believed he would bring back tactics from the administration of former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who branded himself as "America's toughest sheriff." Sheridan was once Arpaio's second-in-command, though the former sheriff endorsed Milstead in this election.

While Sheridan has acknowledged it would not likely be legally possible, he has expressed interest in bringing back something akin to Arpaio's infamous Tent City Jail, like a barracks.

"It was effective because people didn't want to go there, so they didn't commit crimes," said Annette Younkins, a retired resident of Phoenix's Ahwatukee neighborhood. She said she's voting for Sheridan because she hopes he will bring back a more "tough on crime" approach.

Glen McCracken, an emergency room physician, donated to Sheridan. He said he's noticed an uptick in property crimes in his neighborhood and an increase in fentanyl overdoses in the ER.

"Someone's got to do something about all this, and I think the sheriff's department is quintessentially positioned to have an impact," McCracken said.

McCracken said he thought Sheridan would "bring his experience to the job." Sheridan worked for the Sheriff's Office for 38 years full-time, according to his campaign website.

"He's somebody who will be tough on crime but also has compassion," McCracken said. "I think he has a true desire to do the right thing for everybody."

Sheri Lopez, who lives in Scottsdale and runs a human trafficking awareness nonprofit, supports Mike Crawford. Lopez said she was a victim of trafficking herself, and Crawford is the only candidate she's communicated with who she feels is passionate about the issue.

"He showed up, he listened and he wants to make a difference in that area where nobody else would pay attention," she said.

Lopez said sheriff's deputies are often part of the law enforcement effort to recover trafficked children.

She thinks Crawford is in the race for the right reasons, and she likes that he supports using volunteer posses.

Virginia Corris is also a fan of the posses. Now retired and serving as a precinct committee person for Legislative District 12, she served as an armed posse member working patrols for several years with her late husband, who worked in the Sheriff's Office.

"We would do training and qualification every six months," Corris said of her participation as an armed volunteer. She said they would do foot patrols at malls, and she also worked at the intake jail in Mesa for five years.

She said she would make up her mind on primary day. She was on the fence between Crawford and Sheridan.

What are voters saying about the Democratic primary race?

Skinner, who replaced former Sheriff Paul Penzone, is running for a full term. A longtime Republican, he switched parties on Oct. 3, 2023, one day after Penzone, a Democrat, announced he would step down. State law required the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to appoint someone of Penzone's political party as his replacement.

Kamp previously worked as a shift commander, gang enforcement sergeant and homicide detective for the Phoenix Police Department. He is a fifth-generation resident of Maricopa County with more than two decades of law enforcement experience.

Both candidates have tried to portray themselves as apolitical, career law enforcement officers who put community service first.

Attorney Rana Lashgari, who previously worked as a Phoenix city prosecutor, said the Maricopa County sheriff wields a lot of power because it is the fourth-largest county in the U.S. by population.

"It's really important to me that we have a sheriff that has integrity, has a clean record, no past scandals or drama, has an upstanding reputation, and has actual leadership experience to be able to lead the sheriff's agency," Lashgari said. She donated to Skinner and has been telling her friends from all political parties to support him.

"I think one of the things that sets him apart is that he's not a professional politician. He's a public servant," she said. "He has the respect of his deputies, and he stays above all of the political drama that we're all very tired of, and I really appreciate that."

Joe Rodriguez, who owns a business in Maricopa County, donated to support Kamp's campaign. He says a county's reputation is important for generating a positive business environment, "and unfortunately, in years past, Arizona has a national reputation for this Sheriff's Office, and it wasn't a good one."

He said Kamp's character and leadership would go a long way toward restoring respect to the office and the community. He is also concerned about the ongoing costs taxpayers are incurring because the Sheriff's Office continues to be out of compliance with federal court oversight measures stemming from a racial profiling lawsuit.

The Melendres racial profiling case began in 2008 when Latino drivers sued the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, which was then led by Arpaio, alleging they were racially profiled. U.S. District Court Judge G. Murray Snow agreed and, in 2013, mandated court oversight of the Sheriff's Office. Snow ordered reforms to weed out racial profiling in the Sheriff's Office.

Penzone inherited the lawsuit and its mandates when he took office in 2017 after ousting Arpaio. During his seven years in office, he could not satisfy all the lawsuit requirements. He lamented the continued federal oversight, citing it as one of his reasons for stepping down. Penzone said the Melendres case was a distraction from the Sheriff's Office's other work, calling it "one cloud still hanging over this office."

Because Kamp was not part of the agency that incurred those ongoing costs, Rodriguez thinks he is the best candidate to lead the department in an effort to reach compliance and end the financial burden to the county.

"He has the drive to try to make positive changes and to be willing to work through issues in a constructive way," Rodriguez said. "That's a rare commodity in today's body politic."

Mary McGillicuddy of central Phoenix was still undecided.

"I think making sure our law enforcement at the county level is doing their job respectfully and appropriately is important, especially in the aftermath of Joe Arpaio," she said. "It's so important to have a department  and a sheriff  with integrity."

She said she is looking for a candidate who can acknowledge the department's racial profiling past to make sure it doesn't happen again.

While she is a registered Democrat, McGillicuddy said party affiliation doesn't matter as much for a position like sheriff.

"It's more about their priorities and what they're running for," she said.

Arpaio's legacy hangs over sheriff's race

Arpaio was first elected sheriff in 1992, and his legacy, particularly the racial profiling case and his policies targeting undocumented immigrants, still looms large over the office even though he lost to Penzone in 2016 and to Sheridan in the Republican primary in 2020.

Raul Pina, a member of the Community Advisory Board that works with the Sheriff's Office and the federal court on Melendres compliance, is not endorsing any candidates. But he said the community could not afford to return to the ways of Arpaio, and people should not support any candidates who align themselves with the former sheriff's policies.

"We don't want to go down that route because that would be disastrous," Pina said. "We would lose all the progress we've made and could even bring about even more supervision for the court."

Indigenous rights organizer Salvador Reza of Phoenix said he would be leaving his ballot blank.

"None of them are ideal to me," Reza said, noting some candidates are associating themselves with Arpaio's legacy or worked under him. "I don't trust any of them."

Republican candidate Sheridan leads in fundraising

Sheridan was leading the field in fundraising by a wide margin in the sheriff's race.

Sheridan reported raising more than $340,000 as of July 26, which is more than both of his Republican primary opponents combined.

Milstead reported a cumulative total of more than $169,000, while Crawford raised more than $150,000.

Sheridan's haul is more than both Democrat candidates' fundraising combined.

Skinner reported raising over $124,000, while Kamp brought in more than $80,000.

Despite spending the most money on the race, Sheridan still had more than $50,000 in the bank. Crawford reported having more than $52,000 in cash on hand. Milstead provided receipts showing he had spent most of his funds, with just over $12,000 remaining.

Kamp, who raised the least among all candidates for sheriff, still had more than $56,000 cash on hand and reported spending only $23,000. Skinner reported having more than $5,000 in funds left.

Reach the reporter at jjenkins@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What are voters saying about the Maricopa County sheriff candidates?
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Vice President Kamala Harris will be back in Houston next week to attend a service to celebrate the life of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, according to a news release from the Office of the Vice President.

Jackson Lee died on July 20, according to The Hill. She announced earlier in June that she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Jackson Lee served in Congress for nearly three decades, according to the Hill.

Congress mourns Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

In the release from Harris, she referred to Jackson Lee as a tenacious advocate for justice and a tireless fighter for the people of Houston and the people of America.

Harris visited the city of Houstons Emergency Operations Center to get a briefing on the ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricane Beryl, which ripped through the Texas coast earlier this month.

VP Harris makes pitch for presidency in Houston speech to teachers union

On Thursday, Harris delivered the keynote address at the American Federation of Teachers 88th National Convention  the nations largest teachers union  and made her pitch to thousands in a key voting block for Democrats.

Earlier this week, the executive council of the AFT unanimously voted to endorse Harris for president  the first union to do so.

Monica Madden contributed to this report

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA)  Multiple law enforcement agencies worked together to help locate a missing Spartanburg man.

Around 9 a.m. Sunday, Spartanburg Police posted on Facebook that 68-year-old Magno Alvarez Ruiz was missing.

Police described Ruiz as a vulnerable adult who was last seen on Evvalane Drive in Spartanburg.

Officers on the scene said they started the search around 8 a.m. Sunday. The Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office along with Spartanburg County Emergency Management joined the search effort.

Authorities were spotted on scene using drones, ATVs and K9s.

Police said around 7 hours after the initial search, Ruiz was found safe in an area near Queensberry Way.

We were told Ruiz was checked out by medical professionals and is reunited with family.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
In addition to the deaths or captures of scores of Russians mercenaries from the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) in northern Mali, a mercenary propagandist and administrator of the Grey Zone Telegram channel was killed.

Source: The Insider; Mediazona

Details: On the morning of 28 July, Mali's Tuareg rebels claimed that dozens of Wagner PMC mercenaries had been killed or wounded in two days of battle near the Algerian border.

Russian media agencies and propagandists have confirmed the information.

It is also known that numerous Russians have been detained.

During the fighting, the administrator of Grey Zone Tele, a Telegram channel with over 500,000 subscribers associated with Wagner mercenaries, was killed. Nikita Fedyanin, 29, was a native of Lipetsk. A photograph of what is likely his dead body has been posted on the Internet.

Some media reports suggest that Anton Elizarov (Lotus), the leader of one of the Wagner battalions, was killed in action, although some dispute this information.

Support UP or become our patron!
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said it is not a risk for Vice President Harris to lean into her background as a prosecutor as she readies her campaign against former President Trump.

Harris and her allies have touted her experience as a prosecutor and later as Californias attorney general in contrast with the former president, who was convicted of criminal charges in New York earlier this year and faces numerous legal battles. CNNs Jake Tapper asked Warren whether it would be a risk for her campaign for her to lean into her background.

Not at all. You know Kamala is someone who started out as prosecutor. She put away gang members she worked very hard for the protection of the people of California. But look where she and the Biden-Harris administration has gone, Warren said on Sunday.

Whats happened in the time during that they have been in office is that we have surged resources to our first responders, surged resources to make sure that both the police have the resources they need, but also when a 911 call comes in, that sometimes it should be answered by a police officer but sometimes by a social worker or public health official who needs to deal with a different kind of crises, she added.

Republicans have been testing out different attack lines to use against Harris since she launched her campaign for the White House last week. President Biden announced last week he would be withdrawing from the race and endorsing his vice president for the ticket.

A pro-Trump super PAC is planning to spend millions of dollars on attack ads against Harris as she becomes the former presidents likely opponent in November. Politico reported that one of the ads will focus on her time as a prosecutor in California.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said Sunday that the Supreme Court is actively undermining democracy in the U.S.

Warren said on CNNs State of the Union that she and her colleagues are working to put together reform measures for the Supreme Court, including looking at term limits and adding more justices to the bench. She echoed President Bidens comments calling for reforms to the Supreme Court in his last six months of office.

Heres a man who has been a transformative president. Hes gotten an enormous amount done, and yet, he has stepped away and he has passed the torch to Kamala Harris, Warren said, referring to Biden. Why has he done that? Hes done it as an act of patriotism for our nation. And he is saying we not only have to have a president who is here for the nation and who will heal us and bring us together, we also have to change our Supreme Court.

Because right now, we have a Supreme Court that has basically jumped the guardrails and is out there giving power to the president, saying that the president can commit any act that the president wants, saying that Congress cannot authorize agencies to act. So weve got a Supreme Court that is actively undermining our democracy, she continued.

Biden laid out his plans for his final six months in office on Wednesday in an address to the nation, which came days after he announced his decision to withdraw from the presidential race.

And Im going to call for Supreme Court reform, because this is critical to our democracy, Biden said as he laid out his top priorities.

Multiple outlets reported that Biden is considering proposals to implement term limits for Supreme Court justices and to put in place an enforceable ethics code. Calls for Supreme Court reform have risen over the past year, after reporting unveiled that Justice Clarence Thomas accepted tens of thousands of dollars in hospitality, luxury travel and other favors from a conservative donor.

Bidens and Warrens comments on the Supreme Court come weeks after the justices ruled that former presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution.

Warren said that the Supreme Court is a reason why voters should back Democrats come November.

And I think what Joe Biden will do over the next six months, is hes going to keep drawing that to the attention of the American people and reminding them when they vote in November, the Supreme Court is on the ballot. And that is a good reason to vote for Kamala Harris and to vote for Democrats in both the Senate and the House, she said.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
On The Hill with April Ryan, Leah Daughtry, co-chair of the DNC rules committee, explains how the Democratic National Convention will go with a new presumptive nominee.

The Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago on Aug. 19, where the DNC will coronate presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. For this weeks The Hill with April Ryan, Leah Daughtry, co-chair of the DNC rules committee, breaks down what we should expect during the four-day convention as momentum builds for Harriss bid for the Oval Office. Before President Joe Biden withdrew from the race, he secured more than 3,900 delegates. Within days, Harris earned enough of those delegates to receive the nomination. On Aug. 22, Harris is expected to receive the nomination for the Democratic Party, capped off by an acceptance speech at the convention held at the United Center. At 59, Harris will make history as the first Black woman to receive a major party presidential nominee.

Recommended Stories

More must-reads:
It goes without saying that the recent assassination attempt on President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, was an act of evil. One man was killed, two people left in critical condition.

Trump himself was, literally, less than an inch from losing his life. It can surely be considered a miracle that he came so close, and yet survived only because he turned his head at just the critical moment.

Fr. Michael P. Orsi

All the relevant questions are being asked, the first: How did this happen?

Im no expert on security. But I cant see how a shooter (or anyone, for that matter) could have gotten onto the top of a building located so close to where President Trump was to speak  much less why so many warnings by onlookers who had spotted him up there were dismissed by authorities at the scene.

Security for a president, a former president, or a major presidential candidate is usually (and necessarily) extremely tight. Weve had too much experience with assassinations and attempted assassinations for it to be otherwise. Security specialists must identify every possible avenue of attack, and then take appropriate measures to ensure that these cant be used.

Something went horribly wrong at this campaign site. The congressional investigation thats been called for is absolutely essential. A security breach like that must not be allowed to happen again.

The second question being asked is: Why did this happen?

The Internet is abuzz with conjecture about secret high-level plotting, CIA psyops operations, and government coverups. But you dont have to be a conspiracy theorist to be reminded of the famous line from Hamlet about something being rotten in Denmark.

Clearly, theres something rotten in our political environment, and that rot goes deep. In the days since the shooting, Trump-friendly commentators and TikTokers have shared video clips of wild Democrat accusations against Donald Trump.

Hes a racist, a fascist, an incipient Mussolini. He encourages violence. His secret plan is to impose a Christian Nationalist regime.

He wishes to undermine our electoral system. If Trump gets back into the White House well never have elections again.

How many times have we heard that Trump is a threat to our democracy?

Such imputations come from politicians all along the Democrat pecking order, right up to Joe Biden himself. Theyre echoed by the talking heads of the so-called mainstream or legacy media.

Theres even a video circulating online that shows women dressed in the red robes and white bonnets of The Handmaids Tale. Its not-too-subtle message is that if Trump is elected, females will be reduced to abject domestic and sexual servitude.

Were way beyond simple political mud-slinging here. This drumbeat of unremitting slander has gone on, in one form or another, for nearly a decade, ever since Trump first announced his candidacy back in 2015.

What is the cumulative impact of such a litany of accusation? Isnt it possible (even likely) that these repeated allegations could incite someone who is an anarchist, a political radical, a potential terrorist, or whose mental stability is tottering, to commit some desperate act?

Insane people are inclined to act in insane ways. Often very little provocation can bring it about.

For that matter, its not unthinkable that someone whose motives or sanity arent in question might decide its perfectly rational  even patriotic  to take action against a political figure whos an enemy of the nation. Look at how many ethicists over the years have debated the question of whether it would have been proper to kill Hitler before he began his murderous rampage.

The leftwing New Republic has featured a cover rendering of Trump as Hitler. Similar representations circulate online all the time. Following this logic, to what moral conclusion does such imagery draw us?

In the wake of the shooting, theres much talk now about lowering the temperature of political rhetoric. President Biden, himself, has called for moderation.

Is this an authentic insight drawn from the incident, a sincere oh-my-God-what-have-we-allowed-to-happen realization, one that might make a difference?

Or is it just a social expedient, something politicians are expected to say at an awkward moment?

My guess is the latter.

We need to do our politics differently. And there is precedence for a higher-road approach.

I can recall when Bob Dole ran against Bill Clinton back in 1996. Accepting the Republican nomination, Dole struck a gentlemanly note in speaking about Clinton, observing that he is my opponent, not my enemy.

Well, we cant ignore the fact that Dole lost that election.

Nevertheless, he made an important statement about our unity as Americans. It should not be forgotten, nor its relevance minimized.

Maybe taking the high road isnt always a winning strategy. But things are getting dangerous down in the mud.

This essay is based on a talk delivered by Fr. Orsi. It can be viewed online at: youtube.com/watch?v=XDB0M14TWms&t=45s

A retired priest of the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, Rev. Michael P. Orsi of Naples is host of Action for Life TV, a weekly cable television series devoted to pro-life issues, and his writings appear in numerous publications and online journals. His TV show episodes can be viewed online at: youtube.com/channel/UCyFbaLqUwPi08aHtlIR9R0g

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Were way beyond simple political mud-slinging
On his Instagram account, Ranveer, on Sunday, celebrated the one-year milestone of the film's release. He shared a multi-picture post that showcased some memorable moments from the set.

Along with the post, Ranveer wrote a caption in his signature Rocky style, that read, "Anniversary toh spashiyal day hota hai! Aap sab ne hamari film ko itna pyar diya.. by God I am just so heppi, soooo heppi!!! Bade-wale thanks aur Rocky-wali jhappi. Love hai toh sab hai!"

The series of posts began with an adorable moment where Ranveer and director Karan Johar shared a warm hug, captured by co-star Alia Bhatt during the shooting of the song "Dhindhora Baje Re."

The second slide featured a video showcasing Ranveer's iconic styles from the film, followed by a third slide featuring a playful reference to the cartoon character Johnny Bravo.

One of the standout clips was a fun boomerang with veteran actress Jaya Bachchan, who displayed quirky expressions, adding to the fun.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C99iohMh7cF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Earlier in the day, director Karan Johar expressed his gratitude to the cast and crew with a heartfelt note.

Taking to his Instagram, Karan shared memorable glimpses from the film, celebrating its one-year anniversary.

Alongside the post, he wrote a long note sharing his emotions and thanking everyone involved in the film."Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani turns 1 today - and I am so heppy...so heppy! I am so humbled and grateful for the huge amount of love that has come my way this past year. The film was a celebration of Hindi cinema and I'm so honoured to have had such a celebrated cast and crew on the film!!!!", Karan Johar wrote on Instagram.

'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' starred Ranveer and Alia in lead roles, and was released on July 28, last year. The film received much love from the audience, becoming a major hit.

The movie also starred veteran actors Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, and Shabana Azmi, alongside Tota Roy Chowdhury, Churni Ganguly, Aamir Bashir, and Kshitee Jog. (ANI)
MADISON - A new sculpture on the Wisconsin State Capitol grounds was unveiled Saturday afternoon, honoring Vel Phillips, a trailblazer for civil rights in Wisconsin, and the state's first Black Secretary of State.

Nearly a thousand people gathered under the hot afternoon sun to listen to speakers share their memories of Phillips, and honor her dedication to her community and her state.

The new statue of Vel Phillips was unveiled Saturday at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

Michael Phillips, Vel's son, said the statue marks a historic moment for Wisconsin.

"This is a piece that represents everybody in the community, because that's what she was about. My mother was about bringing people together. She liked people who cheered for people," he said. "I'm quite proud of the piece that we have here."

Gov. Tony Evers speaks at the unveiling of the Vel Phillips statue in Madison on Saturday.

Gov. Tony Evers, going back to his roots as a teacher, said the statue will serve a powerful lesson for those who visit the Capitol, but especially the young children who tour the building and its grounds yearly.

"Now they're going to know that representation matters," he said. "This sculpture is going to make a difference in kids' lives."

More: After long effort, Capitol will have its first statue honoring a Black leader, Vel Phillips

The Vel Phillips Task Force was formed in 2020, after it was brought to the attention of Michael Johnson, the CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County that there was no representation of people of color at the state Capitol. Johnson then began to reach out to people across the state to create the task force, which then selected to memorialize Philips because of her dedication to serving the state of Wisconsin.

The task force raised $308,000 for the statue, from nearly 250 donors, including the Milwaukee Bucks, the Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation and the State Bar of Wisconsin.

The statue was constructed by artist Radcliffe Bailey, who died last year. Phillips' statue was the last he created before his passing.

The statue was placed earlier this week, but was covered until the Saturday afternoon unveiling.

More: What Vel Phillips saw when she visited Waupun, Taycheedah prisons in 1971

The unveiling coincided with the annual White Party, a fundraiser hosted by the Boys & Girls Club. The event was attended by local and state politicians from across the state, including U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Rep. Shelia Stubbs, D-Madison, Rep. Lisa Subeck, D-Madison, and former Rep. Amy Loudenbeck, a Republican.

Johnson said the idea to honor Phillips was born out of the 2020 protests following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Young protestors approached him and asked to champion their idea for adding a Black historical figure to the statues around the building. He believes that the statue of Phillips is the first statue of a Black woman outside of a state capitol building in the U.S.

"We're making history not only in Wisconsin, but in the United States of America," he said.

"I want people to be proud. I want little black girls and white boys of every race creed and culture to see the statue and and know that representation matters. It's hope, it's inspiration, it's representation."

Prentice McKinney, a Milwaukee resident who was friends with Vel Phillips, shows off a shirt showing him and Phillips together during the minutes leading up to a march. He was excited to see the unveiling of Phillips' statue and said it represents hope.

Prentice McKinney, a Milwaukee resident who marched with Phillips during civil rights protests, said he's never known someone who deserved an honor like this more than her. It was an emotional event for him, knowing that his friend is gone, and he won't be able to talk with her again. But seeing the sculpture unveiling also made him feel enthusiastic about the future. He said the he sees hope when he looks at it.

"I'm bringing my granddaughter up here, and we're going to sit right here and have a conversation about the lady on that statue," he said. "It provides inspiration, it says 'Yes, you can.'"

A Wisconsin historical figure

In 1951, Velvalea Phillips became the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School and in 1956, she became the first woman and first African American on the Milwaukee Common Council.

During her time on the Common Council, she fought for an open-housing ordinance to bar discrimination in rental and home sales, only to see it voted down year after year. Finally, in 1986, the measure passed, after a year of open-housing marches through Milwaukee.

Her career didn't stop there. Phillips went on to become the first African American woman to become a judge in Wisconsin. And later, made history as the first African American woman elected statewide when she was voted in as secretary of state in Wisconsin, where she continued her work for civil rights and women's equality.

Phillips died in April 2018. In Milwaukee, parts of North Fourth Street have been renamed Vel R. Phillips Avenue. A University of Wisconsin-Madison residence hall is named after her.

More: Vel R. Phillips Plaza is opening on downtown Milwaukee's west side. Here's what to know

Legislation proposed to create Vel Phillips day

On Friday, Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde, D-Milwaukee, said he plans to introduce a bill when the Legislature is back in session to create Vel Phillips Observance Day, which would be observed on Feb. 18.

If passed, the bill would make Phillips the first Black woman to be honored by a special observance day in Wisconsin, according to a press release.

You wouldnt usually use the word giant to describe someone less than 5 feet tall and all of 100 pounds, said Omokunde, in a statement.

However, not the usual are exactly the words you would use to describe the Honorable Vel Phillips. If she were here today, she would dissuade us from using all of her firsts to describe her legacy: the first Black woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin Law School; the first Black woman elected to the Milwaukee Common Council; the first Black woman to serve as a jurist in Wisconsinthe list goes on. But she is all of these firsts and so much more."

Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on Twitter at @SchulteLaura.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Statue of Vel Phillips unveiled on Capitol square in Madison
In the summer of 1992, a young mother celebrated her sons first birthday at her home in a small West Virginia town and then mysteriously vanished without a trace.

The party for Brenda Lamberts one-year-old, nicknamed June bug, wrapped up around 9pm on July 26, 1992, according to the West Virginia State Police.

It was the last time the 22-year-old mother was seen. Her car was parked in the driveway at the Bluewell home and all her belongings had been left behind.

When Brendas estranged husband Raymond Lambert later filed a missing persons report, he stated that he left the house around 8pm that same evening and went to stay with his mother. Only when he returned the next afternoon did he allegedly discover that Brenda was missing.

Friday marked 32 years since anyone has seen or heard from Brenda.

Her sister, Christy Kennedy, was only 14 years old at the time. Shes been fighting to bring her home ever since.

For years, I was told to be quiet, Kennedy told The Independent. But Im done. Its time to tell her story. Its time to bring her home.

Kennedy believes her sister is no longer alive and that she died at the hands of a killer. But that hasnt stopped her fighting to get her sister back  even if its her remains.

Brenda was just 22 when she disappeared (Supplied)

I know a lot of people out there who know what happened, she said. But they say nothing.

Brenda was a victim of domestic violence, according to Kennedy, who said her sister was preparing to divorce when she went missing.

Brenda was amazing. Knowing her was the best part of my life, Kennedy said tearfully. Nobody in this world deserved what happened to her.

To add to the mysteriousness of Brendas disappearance, nearly six months after she went missing, on January 14, 1993, her friend Mark Anthony Cook, 24, vanished after leaving a bar called Pedros at the Airport Square Shopping Center.

Darrell Bailey, the former chief deputy of the Mercer County Sheriffs Department, who has since passed, told the Bluefield Daily Telegraph in 2006 that he believed the two disappearances were connected and that foul play was suspected.

Their bodies have never been found and both cases remain under investigation, police said.

Its been life-changing and it doesnt get better  you dont get used to it, Kennedy said. But you cant give up, you have to advocate for your person

Kennedy believes her sisters remains are just within a few miles of where she was seen.

If someone would just give me her remains, just tell me where she is buried, Kennedy pleaded. We just want to bury her.

The trauma of losing Brenda led to their family grieving themselves to death.

Their mother died in 1996, just a few years after Brenda disappeared.

Christy Kennedy has never given up her search for her sister Brenda Lambert, who vanished in Bluewell, West Virginia in 1992 (Supplied)

Her case was cold for so long. It did a lot of damage, Kennedy said. People were not interested, people didnt care. It was up to me to advocate for her.

Meanwhile, my family was just wasting away, she added. Dying from heartbreak.

Brenda was legally declared dead in September 2022.

Last year, a billboard was placed along Route 52 with the help of the AWARE Foundation, Inc.

It featured her photo and asked anyone with information to contact the Mercer County Sheriffs Department at 304-487-8364.

The person who did this can still spend the holidays with their family, she said. Brenda will never have that again.

They got 30 years carefree, We have 30 years of heartbreak.

Kennedy told The Independent that Private Investigations for the Missing has hired a Private Investigator to help with the case.

Im hoping that someone will come forward with information, she said.

Any information can be sent via email to PIFTMtips@gmail.com or toll free tip line 1-866-331-6660.

A candle vigil was held for Brenda on Friday.

Im not stopping, its been 32 years, Kennedy said. Im ready to bring Brenda home.

Im hoping, because Im not going to quit until I get my sister back.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A dual weather alert threat will persist for the final days of July and to start August. Additional rounds of rain & storms are expected this week, along with dangerous heat index values that could approach 110.

Looking big picture, the Storm Prediction Center has a level 1/5 Marginal Risk for most of the region on Monday & Tuesday (ending 7 AM Wednesday).

The primary threat for any storm will be the risk of heavy rain in a short period of time. Within stronger to severe storms, wind gusts are the main threat, but some hail and even an isolated tornado is possible (mainly for Monday  Tuesday AM).

On Monday, expect some more scattered showers and storms with highs in the upper 80s.



















As for Tuesday, a Marginal Risk for severe weather has been issued across the majority of the region. Make sure to stay weather alert as the biggest storm threats will be gusty winds and heavy rain.

But dangerous heat may be the real story starting Tuesday and lasting the rest of the workweek.

As temperatures climb into the mid and even upper 90s, dewpoints (a measure of humidity) will be oppressive, running in the mid-70s. That will push the heat index to 105 and higher.

If you are working or playing outdoors, you should wear light-colored clothing and a hat, take frequent breaks in the shade, and drink plenty of water.

Our only relief may come in the way of occasional storms which will be dropping in from the north, as our upper-level flow around a high-pressure center in Texas pushes storms southward.

Those occasional storms are expected to add 1-2 of rain from Monday-Sunday for most of Middle TN and south KY, with around a half inch near the Tennessee River.

Dont forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker app.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Where Is Jeremy Bright? Inside the Mysterious 1986 Disappearance of the 14-Year-Old Oregon Boy

Jeremy was last seen in a car with a man who would later be convicted of an unrelated murder

National Center for missing and expoited children Jeremy Bright

Jeremy Bright was visiting a beloved county fair in Oregon with his younger sister when he vanished in the summer of 1986. He has not been seen since.

Jeremy, 14, who lived in Grants Pass, Ore., with his mother and sister, was staying with his stepfather in Myrtle Point, where he had grown up, according to a 2007 article from The Oregonian.

Myrtle Point is about a two-hour drive from Grants Pass, where Jeremys mother, Diane Beatty, worked, but the teen had several family members still living in the area, according to the paper.

Jeremy and his sister, Ste, who was 10 at the time, were at the annual Coos County Fair when he was last seen on Aug. 14, 1986, according to the Oregon State Police Missing Children/Adults Clearinghouse.

"Instead of them veggin' in Grants Pass for a week, while I worked and went to school, I thought that would be a great little trip for them," Beatty told The Oregonian. "I have regretted it ever since."

Jeremys fate is a mystery that still remains unsolved as the 38th anniversary of his disappearance approaches.

"My brother and I never missed the fair," Ste told local newspaper The World years later.

National Center for missing and expoited children Age-progressed photo of Jeremy Bright

Jeremy and his sister had been separated at a Ferris wheel, The World reported, citing police. Jeremy was wearing a red tank top and blue nylon shorts when he went missing.

A 2018 article in The World reported that when Ste first tried to tell police that her brother had gone missing, she was told he probably left willingly with his friends, but a day later, he still hadnt returned home.

It was eventually determined that Jeremy was not a runaway, and more agencies joined the search, according to the paper. But even after nearly 40 years, very few leads have emerged.

Only one person of interest has ever been named in the case, but he has been dead for over a decade.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The World reported that Jeremy was last seen in a car with a man named Terry Lee Steinhoff.

Steinhoff died in prison in 2007. He was serving a life sentence for the murder of a Coos County woman, according to KVAL and The World.

We tried multiple times to talk to him [about Jeremys disappearance]," former Coos County Sheriff Zanni told KVAL. "He was never forthcoming.

Zanni told the outlet that authorities had conducted several searches of Steinhoffs property and other sites, including a pond in 2016 where police believed Jeremys body could have been dumped. None have been successful.

In 2011, 25 years after Jeremy went missing, Beatty and other family and friends released 1,000 balloons in his memory in Myrtle Point, the Statesman Journal reported.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Kamala Harris has less than 100 days to galvanise support for her presidential bid - Rebecca Noble/Reuters

A group calling itself White Dudes for Harris will hold a mass video call to support the presidential hopefuls campaign and end the culture of masculinity.

Organisers said 8,000 white men have signed up to follow in the footsteps of black women by working to elect Kamala Harris, who will become the first female US president if she beats Donald Trump in November.

Pete Buttigieg, the transport secretary, who is seen as a potential running mate for Ms Harris and who previously criticised white privilege, is expected to speak on the group video call on Monday.

The group says Pete Buttigieg, a former presidential hopeful, will be at its online meeting

Mark Greene, the organiser of the event, expected 10,000 men to join and urged them to make life hell for the Trump campaign in their workplaces and on social media.

Inspired by, and following in the footsteps of Black women, its time for white men to get 100 per cent engaged and make sure Kamala Harris is elected as our next president, he said, claiming that men had been complicit in the Republican partys white supremacy.

Polling shows Trump performing strongly among black and Hispanic voters, although most of it was conducted before Ms Harris, who has a Jamaican father and Indian mother, entered the presidential race.

Mr Greene claimed that man-box culture  a theory that society enforces a set of traditional rules for men  had resulted in economic, political and environmental disaster.

It has positioned white men at the top of a bullying and rigid dominance-based culture of masculinity, which teaches us that the only power that matters is power we create over others, he said.

He also claimed that Trump had waged a war on women, especially black women, and that white Christian nationalists aligned with Republicans wanted to end womens right to vote and take women back a century.

Democrats believe Ms Harris appeals more to women than men - Hans Gutknecht/AP

All of this is happening because white men have either actively participated in the white supremacy of the Republican Party or stood by in silence and let it happen, Mr Greene said. This is on us, brothers. This is on us.

Trump won the white male vote by some 30 points in the 2016 presidential election, but his lead was cut in half when he lost the White House to Joe Biden in 2020.

Some observers are sceptical that Ms Harris can maintain Mr Bidens appeal to white men  especially blue collar workers in the swing states.

The calculation in Democrat circles is that Californian progressives do not always go down well in the Rust Belt and Ms Harriss vice-presidential candidate will be needed to bolster support. The majority of those in the running, including Josh Shapiro, Andy Beshear and Mark Kelly, are white men from a red or swing state.

It is believed Ms Harris can appeal to women, minorities and coastal liberals. Around 164,000 white women joined a video call on Thursday advertised as White Women: Answer the Call to show support for Ms Harriss campaign.

Actress Connie Britton, who was one of several celebrities on the Zoom call, reportedly referred to it as Karens for Kamala  making use of an internet term referring to an over-entitled white woman.

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.
Wildfire in Jasper National Park could burn for months, Canadian official says

Damage is seen after a wildfire in Jasper, Alberta, Friday July 26, 2024. (Amber Bracken/The Canadian Press via AP)

JASPER, Alberta (AP)  A wildfire that has destroyed hundreds of structures in the town of Jasper is the largest blaze recorded in Jasper National Park in a century and could still be burning months from now, a Parks Canada official said Saturday.

Were going to be working on this wildfire, we expect, over the next three months at least, Landon Shepherd, a deputy incident commander, said at a news conference in the nearby community of Hinton. What the last five years has taught us is that the fire season in Jasper tends to last well into the fall.

The region received about 1.2 centimeters (close to a half inch) of rain over about a day and a half but there were still active hot spots near the community.

More than 20,000 people in and around the town nestled in the Rocky Mountains in Alberta province were ordered to evacuate late Monday due to fast-moving wildfires. Parks Canada has said 358 of the town's 1,113 structures were destroyed.

In an online update, Parks Canada said fire suppression has been progressing well in the town.

The federal agency said power is being restored to parts of the downtown core and to critical infrastructure, which it said would help to speed up further damage assessment and recovery.

Earlier Saturday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said on her radio call-in show that she would to see bus tours organized for evacuated residents of Jasper so they can see the damage for themselves and know what to expect when they are allowed to return home.

Christine Nadon, the incident commander with the Municipality of Jasper, said conditions are not safe yet for any sort of tours due to chemicals released from burned structures and because the fire is still burning on the edge of town.

That is a plan were working on and will have available as soon as we can, she said.

Nadon said her own home was among the many destroyed.

Smith, along with Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland and other dignitaries, toured the evacuated town on Friday.

The premier told listeners Saturday she expected it would be close to 28 days before Jasper residents would be allowed to return to their town. She said it took a similar amount of time before Fort McMurray residents got the green light to go home after it was hit by a ferocious fire in 2016.

Provincial wildfire officials said an estimated 17,100 Albertans are evacuated due to wildfires as of Saturday.

The province said there were 157 wildfires burning across Alberta, with 44 classified as out of control, 45 being held, and 68 under control.

Evacuation orders remain in effect for three communities of the Little Red River Cree Nation as well as Chipewyan Lake.

More support from Ontario, Quebec, Australia, and South Africa is expected to arrive Sunday, the province said.

Meanwhile, officials in British Columbia say the fire risk is improving in the province due to rain and cooler temperatures.

A situational update from the BC Wildfire Service says fire behavior has reduced on some of the major fires. Cool and showery conditions are expected for the western half of the province on Sunday, reaching parts of the Interior as well.

There are about 385 fires burning across the province, including six that are considered of note because they pose a threat to people or property or are highly visible.

Jim Morris Cell: 604-787-7418 Email: jamesmorris@shaw.ca
Across the interior West, spotty afternoon thunderstorms have become a part of the normal pattern over the last few weeks. While locally drenching thunderstorms have resulted in areas of flash flooding for portions of the interior Southwest, locations closer to the coast have missed out on much of the activity.

The position of high pressure over portions of the interior southwest and south-central U.S. has aided in the transportation of Pacific moisture into the Four Corners. Daily chances for afternoon thunderstorms have become a theme in the Southwest under a consistent regime of prevailing southerly and southeasterly winds.

"The annual flip of the wind from the west to the south or southeast, known as the North American monsoon, brings in enough moisture from the tropics to raise humidity levels, which helps trigger thunderstorms over much of the western U.S. in the summer," explained AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

Due to the high's position through midweek, forecasters are highlighting a general decline in monsoon intensity across northern Utah, Nevada and Wyoming. However, locations around the Four Corners are projected to observe near-average monsoon activity through this week.

"As high pressure expands into the Northwest, this could allow for a rebound of monsoon activity across the Four Corners and could direct some moisture into California by the weekend. Across the mountainous terrain of Southern California and the Sierra Nevada, weekend plans could be impacted," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Joseph Bauer.

"The orientation of the flow of air around high pressure to the east will send some moisture northward across California," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk added, "This could bring thunderstorms and needed wet weather around the Sequoia National Forest Lightning Complex Fire by Friday, and then we will have to see if that continues northward into the Park Fire area Friday night into Saturday, where the best chance for some rain will be along the eastern perimeter of the fire into the foothills and higher elevations."

Not only has this pattern over the Southwest ushered in pockets of moisture to the region, but it has also promoted an uptick in summertime heat. As the ridge builds more over the Central states early this week, the core of the heat will shift into the Plains.

This week, daytime highs are projected to soar into the 100s F across areas of northwest Texas, eastern Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nevada and even South Dakota at times. AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures will rise even higher midweek, surpassing 110 degrees Fahrenheit in some locations across the Plains.

Temperatures along the immediate West Coast will remain on the comfortable side through the week, with cities like San Francisco expected to have daytime temperatures around 70-degree mark into the weekend.

By midweek, AccuWeather meteorologists say that high pressure will begin to build back across the central West and lead to a noticeable uptick in temperatures for most areas away from the coast through the weekend.

GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+

"By late week, many valley locations across the interior West could surge into the triple digits and could challenge daily record high temperatures. The heat could be particularly impactful in the Northwest, especially for those without air conditioning," noted Bauer.

As of July 30, 89 large active wildfires were burning in the United States, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), with a notable amount of these wildfires likely ignited by lightning strikes. Most active large fires are located across the Western states, including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming.

One notable fire producing a prevalent plume of smoke is the Park Fire near Chico, California. Area evacuations, as well as road and trail closures, have been in effect over the last several days due to the extreme wildfire behavior exhibited, its location and its rapid growth.

"Smoke and air quality issues are expected to continue across the northern and central Intermountain West this week as high pressure returns back over the region," noted Bauer.

Air quality alerts have been issued across portions of the Northwest, warning residents of unhealthy levels of particulate matter or smoke present in the air into at least midweek.

Bauer added that after the rain across the Pacific Northwest and portions of the northern Intermountain West early this week, it will turn dry with a significant warmup into the weekend. With the stretch of dry weather and hot air later this week and weekend, the northern Intermountain regions may have the wildfire risk increase.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Ohio Gov. Richard Dick Celeste appointed William H. Brooks, seen here, along with two others to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) in 1983.

Columbus civil rights activist and attorney William Henry Brooks was born in Columbus on Jan. 12, 1912, to Oberlin G. Brooks and Helen Reid. He graduated from East High School in 1929 and from the Ohio State University Law School in 1937.

After passing the bar exam, Brooks opened his first law office in 1938 at 165 N. High St. in the historic Columbia building, now known as the Larrimer building. Brooks participated in several social, political, and civil rights groups, serving as an officer of organizations like the Samuel J. Walters Democratic Club, the Young Democratic Progressive Club, the Robert B. Elliott Law Club, the Columbus NAACP and the Vanguard League.

Edward Lamb and William H. Brooks talk after a speech by Vice President Hubert Humphrey at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Brooks often used his skills as an attorney to fight for equal job opportunities for African Americans, and to desegregate local businesses in Columbus.

William H. Brooks served as director of the Columbus Public Utilities Department from 1964 to 1971.

During his lengthy career, Brooks served as a civil servant in various roles for the city of Columbus and state government. Columbus Mayor Jack Sensenbrenner appointed him to the Municipal Civil Service Commission in 1954, where he was named chair in 1958. In 1963, Ohio Gov. Michael DiSalle appointed Brooks as the first Black municipal court judge in Franklin County. Unfortunately, Brooks only held this position for one year before losing to Tom Moody in the 1963 election.

Ohio Gov. Michael DiSalle appointed William H. Brooks to be a municipal court judge in 1963, the first Black person to serve in that role.

However, that opened him up to a new opportunity. Sensenbrenner was reelected as Columbus mayor and requested Brooks become director of the Columbus Public Utilities Department.

Jack Sensenbrenner, center, was reelected as Columbus mayor in 1963 and chose William H. Brooks, second from right, to be a member of his cabinet as the city's Department of Public Utilities director.

Brooks was later appointed to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) by Ohio Gov. Richard "Dick" Celeste.

Brooks served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was married to Columbus police officer Mary Adams. Mary Adams Brooks was known for her fashion sense, and was even featured in Ebony Magazine in 1964 as one of the best-dressed women in the country.

Columbus city officials including Public Utilities Director, William H. Brooks and his wife Mary Adams Brooks, christen a new city vehicle.

The couple had two sons, William Henry Brooks Jr. and Brian Brooks. The latter currently owns the E. E. Ward Moving & Storage company, which contends it is the countrys oldest, continuously operated, Black-owned business.

Williams H. Brooks Sr. passed away on Dec. 16, 1990, but his legacy lives on: making the city of Columbus a more equitable place.

Nicole D. Sutton is Black Heritage Special Collections Librarian with the Columbus Metropolitan Library.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: William Brooks was an attorney and judge who held other public posts
Actor Ranbir Kapoor has shed light on his memorable meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, praising his "magnetic charm" and exceptional oratory skills. In a recent candid conversation with Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha on the 'People by WTF' podcast, Ranbir Kapoor offered a glimpse into his memorable encounter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ranbir, who recently appeared in the hit film 'Animal', reminisced about his first interaction with Prime Minister Modi, which took place in 2019. The meeting, held in New Delhi, included a group of prominent film personalities such as Kapoor's now-wife Alia Bhatt, actor Vicky Kaushal, and producer Karan Johar. Reflecting on the experience, Kapoor described Modi's presence as captivating. "I don't really need to think much, but I know that when I met the Prime Minister, all of us went to meet him four or five years back. A couple of young actors and directors. Of course, you see him on television and you see how he talks. He's a great orator. But I remember the moment that we were sitting and he walked in, and he had this magnetic charm about himself. And he came and he sat down and he spoke... to each person, something so personal," Kapoor shared. Kapoor, whose late father Rishi Kapoor was undergoing treatment for leukaemia at the time, noted that Modi made a personal effort to connect with each member of the delegation. "Like my father was going through treatment at that time. So he was asking how the treatment was going and what's happening and all of that. He was talking to Alia about something else. Vicky Kaushal about something else. Karan Johar about something else, like everything, was very personal. And that kind of effort, you see in great men. When they put in that effort," he said, adding, "And that says a lot about that person." The star-studded delegation from 2019 also included actors Ranveer Singh, Bhumi Pednekar, Ayushmann Khurrana, Sidharth Malhotra, and others, along with filmmakers Ekta Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Varun Dhawan, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, and Rohit Shetty. In the podcast, Nikhil Kamath echoed Kapoor's sentiments, recalling his own meeting with PM Modi. "I think his energy at at this age... There's a lot to learn. I feel like there's a lot to learn from everybody. And there is definitely so much... to learn from him. And I feel privileged to have seen him in such close quarters," Kamath remarked. On the professional front, Ranbir Kapoor continues to garner acclaim for his role in 'Animal' and is set to reprise his role in its sequel, 'Animal Park'. He will also be seen in 'Love and War', which will also feature Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. (ANI)
Wolfson Childrens Emergency and Porter Family Trauma Center has been selected as a recipient of the Emergency Nurses Associations (ENA) 2024 Lantern Award for demonstrating excellence in leadership, practice, education, advocacy, and research performance.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The Lantern Award acknowledges accomplishments in incorporating evidence-based practice and innovation into emergency care, as well as a commitment to patient care and the well-being of nursing staff. The three-year award recognizes Wolfson Childrens Hospitals Emergency Centers commitment to quality, safety, and a healthy work environment in emergency and trauma care settings.

Every single day, our pediatric emergency physician, nursing, and support teams care for children when they need it most, said Leslie Webber, MSN, RN, CPEN, director of Wolfson Childrens Emergency Center. We offer children and families at all of our Wolfson Childrens ERs the most experienced pediatric emergency care in the region, and we are committed to guiding children and families through both the physical and the emotional healing process.

Emergency departments that receive the Lantern Award are given an emblem to proudly display as a visible symbol of their commitment to quality, safety, a healthy work environment, and innovation in nursing practice and emergency care.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

This recognition by the Emergency Nurses Association of our highly trained staff in the Wolfson Childrens Emergency and Porter Family Trauma Center, and at all of our Wolfson Childrens Emergency Centers, is a testament to their dedication to providing highly skilled and compassionate pediatric emergency care, said Allegra C. Jaros, MBA, president of Wolfson Childrens Hospital. We are proud to offer access points to this exceptional level of care in all of our pediatric ER settings for children and families with urgent and sometimes life-threatening medical needs.

In 2018, Wolfson Childrens Hospital became a state-designated Pediatric Trauma Center. In 2022, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma verified Wolfson Childrens Porter Family Trauma Center as the regions only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center. These designations, in addition to the ENA Lantern Award, highlight the world-class emergency care provided to children at Wolfson Childrens Hospital in their most critical times of need.

In 2018, Wolfson Childrens Hospital became a state-designated Pediatric Trauma Center. In 2022, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma verified Wolfson Childrens Porter Family Trauma Center as the regions only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center. These designations, in addition to the ENA Lantern Award, highlight the world-class emergency care provided to children at Wolfson Childrens Hospital in their most critical times of need.

For more information on this years Lantern Award recipients, visit the Emergency Nurses Association website. For information on Wolfson Childrens Emergency Centers, visit wolfsonchildrens.com/ER.

Physicians providing care at Wolfson Childrens Hospital are not employees or agents of the hospital. Services at Wolfson Childrens Hospital are provided primarily by pediatric physician specialists employed by Nemours Childrens Health, Jacksonville, University of Florida College of Medicine  Jacksonville, Baptist Specialty Physicians, Inc., and Emergency Resources Group.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Wonder what a second Trump presidency would do to Idaho? Project 2025 has laid it out | Opinion

Our nation was founded on the enduring principles of freedom, personal liberty and the opportunity to leave a better life for our children. However, the proposals within Project 2025 threaten these ideals and the future of our state. Driven by the conservative Heritage Foundation and Republican operatives, this radical plan threatens to dismantle the progress weve made and undermine our economy, education, healthcare and fundamental freedoms.

One of the most alarming aspects of Project 2025 is its economic policies that call for massive tax breaks for the richest Americans and corporations while slashing resources for our communities. According to the Tax Policy Center, the top 1% would see an average tax cut of $100,000 annually, while middle-income families could see their taxes rise by as much as $1,200. The proposal could lead to a $3.5 billion decrease in federal revenue over the next decade. This loss would likely result in severe cuts to programs we trust, like Social Security and Medicare.

Our childrens education is also at risk. Project 2025 proposes diverting public funds to private and religious schools through voucher schemes, which would drain resources from public schools that serve the majority of Idaho children. Rural districts, already struggling with limited resources, would be particularly affected. Additionally, the elimination of preschool supports, including Head Start, would result in nearly 3,000 children losing access to this critical early learning in Idaho.

The healthcare provisions within Project 2025 are equally alarming. The rollback of healthcare protections would allow insurance companies to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions. The plan includes substantial cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Currently, over 200,000 children, people with disabilities, seniors, and individuals facing low wages rely on Idaho Medicaid for healthcare. Slashing Medicaid funding could result in approximately 30,000 Idahoans losing coverage.

Repealing the ACA with no replacement could leave over 100,000 Idahoans without health coverage, increasing the strain on emergency rooms and driving up healthcare costs for everyone.

Reproductive freedoms are also under threat. Project 2025 calls for severe restrictions on access to contraception, in vitro fertilization and abortion care. In Idaho, where women are undergoing medical evacuations across state lines for emergency pregnancy complications, a nationwide abortion ban would have dire consequences.

Project 2025 and the politicians who support this extreme vision represent a profound threat to the core ideals our nation was built upon. As Idahoans, we must stand against this extreme agenda and choose a future where the economy grows from the middle out and the bottom up, where every child can get a strong start, where we can all afford healthcare, and where we protect freedoms rather than take them away.

Rep. Lauren Necochea, D-Boise, is the chair of the Idaho Democratic Party.
WESTMINSTER  Whether it was the couple who lived in the apartment above who never seemed to turn off the music or a neighbor who steals the Sunday Telegram from your front door, most people have a story about a horrible neighbor. In Westminster, it's the tale of Edmund Proctor and Farwell Morse and their neighborly dispute that left a physical mark on the small town, one that's still talked about some 172 years later.

In 1852 Proctor purchased a farm in Westminster, located at 89 North Common Road, and eagerly got to work. The 35-year-old Lunenburg native saw no issue working when he pleased and that included Sundays. But across the street, Morse was watching and became increasingly angry that Proctor not only failed to show up to church but also continued to plow his fields and farm on the Sabbath.

"It's a simple thing," said Betsy Hannula, curator at the Westminster Historical Society. "You were expected to go to church, even those who had just had a baby, even in the dead cold of winter. Church was important."

The pair exchanged words, as many disgruntled neighbors do, but no compromise could be met. Morse was said to be an extremely devout man and did not back down. Thus, Proctor decided to build an 11-foot-tall, 60-foot-wide wall out of spite, the tallest of its kind in the state. With construction done, Proctor continued to work on Sundays out of the watchful eyes of his neighbor. What's more, he continued to place stones atop the growing "spite wall" until his death in 1880.

"The man was eccentric, to say the least," Hannula said, noting that all of Proctor's eight children were given names that started with the letter A. Sure enough, records from the Westminster Historical Society found Augustus Howard, Alber Hamlin, Alson Hows, Alden Hermon, Ammer Hale, Angia Holbrook Abbot Herd, and Amboy Harlem, seven boys and one girl, all with the same initials A.H.P.

After the death of Angia, the property was sold to Linnea Poikonen, who grew up a few doors down. She and her husband, Kaino Poikone, lived on the property until the early 2000s. That's when it was sold to local business owner Joe Serio, who owned Westminster Pharmacy for 34 years until selling the business about 18 months ago.

"The property came with a barn built in 1897. It was built by one of the Proctor sons after the original barn burned down," he said, adding many of the original tools used in the early 1900s still call the barn home.

Apart from owning the historical property, Serio has played a large role in the community, founding the annual Westminster Cracker Festival that takes place every October. He now spends most of his spare time growing asparagus on the former Proctor property.

The Spite Wall along North Common Road in Westminster.

I work a lot of hours at the pharmacy and also do my fair share of farming, but I always try to take Sundays off, he said in an interview in 2022.

"It really is a very unique small-town thing," Hannula said with a chuckle. "It's just so out of the way, it's five minutes outside of the center of town, so you really have to be seeking it out."

Driving down North Common Road, the stone wall creeps up on the right-hand side and a large white historical marker tells the tale of the two neighbors who never saw eye to eye.

While the concept of legally finding a way to annoy your neighbors is an old one, it's still being used today. Boston has the infamous spite house or "skinny house," built in 1874, but Westminster's spite wall was built more than two decades earlier, making it one of the oldest neighbor quarrels recorded in physical architecture in New England.

In 2013 a humanitarian charity called Planting Peace purchased property across the street from the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas. The church is well known for its anti-LGBTQ+ picketing, but that didn't stop the charity from painting the neighboring house to match the colors of the Pride flag. In 2016, the same charity bought the house next to the church and painted it to match the colors of the transgender Pride flag.

Here in Massachusetts, there is actually a Spite Fence Law, created in 1887 which states a fence is an illegal "spite fence" if: "A fence or other structure in the nature of a fence which unnecessarily exceeds six feet in height and is maliciously erected or maintained for the purpose of annoying the owners or occupants of adjoining property."

Realtor Stephanie Galloni, who works in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, said she's surprised she's never come across something that would be considered a spite wall or spite fence, adding the strict laws in place do help keep "homeowners from putting up such things that would cause too much of a rift."

T&G engagement editor Sarah Barnacle is getting to know Central Mass. by exploring some of the best places to go and things to do in Worcester County. If you have an idea or suggestion, please email sbarnacle@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Westminster's oldest neighborhood fight stands, 172 years later
Should Worcester eliminate minimum parking rules? Reports look at this, other questions

The Major Taylor garage, at the corner of Major Taylor Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Worcester.

WORCESTER  A two-part study on parking in the city conducted by the Worcester Regional Research Bureau looks at how parking revenue has recovered in the post-pandemic era and discusses the possible hidden costs of required parking minimums on new developments.

The Research Bureau released two reports on parking a week apart: Feeding the Meter and Public Par(king).

The state of the parking spaces

The first report looked at revenue generated from city-run parking since 2021, the increasing popularity of paying for parking through the Passport app, and the usage of the five city parking garages, five municipal surface lots and two municipally managed lots.

There are a total of 3,313 spaces available in garages and 837 spots in city-owned or managed open-air lots, for a total of over 4,000 city-owned parking spaces.

The city owns the following surface lots at 96 Green St., 40 Highland St., 40 Salem St., 51 Millbury St. and 85 Water St.

The city also manages the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority/Amtrak lot at Shrewsbury Street and the Grafton Street lot.

There are five municipally owned garages: Federal Plaza Garage at 570 Main St., Major Taylor Garage at 30 Major Taylor Blvd., Pearl-Elm Municipal Garage at 20 Pearl St., Union Station Garage at 225 Franklin St. and Worcester Common Garage at 3 Eaton Place.

The Research Bureau conducted an in-person estimate of the occupancy of the garages and received additional data from the city on occupancy and transient revenues of its garages and the Francis J. McGrath Municipal Parking Lot at 40 Salem St. by the Worcester Public Library.

The Major Taylor garage is the most used garage, whether by monthly pass holders or daily parkers. The Federal Plaza garage is a close second. The Union Station garage had the lowest percentage of occupied spaces.

Longitudinal data showed that there was a dip in usage of the lots in January and July.

Over the 26-month period the report covered, average users per hour in all of the garages saw only a slight rise.

The report states that if it is assumed that most monthly pass holders are workers in and around downtown, it may mean the city is not seeing a year-over-year increase or decrease in the general number of workers downtown during the post-pandemic period.

While the bureau does not have full data for the pre-pandemic period, the report assesses there was likely a significant decrease in use from before 2020, citing information from the city Department of Traffic & Mobility that the Pearl-Elm garage was usually 80% occupied prior to COVID-19 and its reconstruction.

Paid on-street parking is primarily found downtown and in the Canal District. In 2021, single-space meters were replaced with a pay-by-plate model, using centralized kiosks and mobile app zones that are also used for the paved lots.

Two other parking lots on Lamartine Street and Madison Street are Polar Park event lots only.

Pay by app or by kiosk

The Passport app has seen an increase in use since its adoption  for every month since the app came into use, revenue it has generated has been higher than the same month the year before. The kiosks see slightly greater revenue than the app, but kiosk revenue has not grown year over year.

However, current 2024 parking data suggest a possible slowing of revenue growth through the Passport app, which the Research Bureau report notes could be a sign of plateauing adoption of the app and in the number of people parking.

On-street parking limits are enforced through fines intended to free up spots for other vehicles. Drivers who need more time are able to drive to another parking zone, but the report notes that the zone boundaries are not always very clear, and different zones may be located too far apart for some drivers to simply move.

The average time for on-street parking has remained stable since 2021, but each year has seen cars spend more time in the nongated surface lots that offer more flexibility with parking hours.

The growth in parking time may indicate more visitors coming to the city, the report states. Furthermore the two highest revenue-generating months for kiosk and app parking are June and August. The Polar Park event lots on Lamartine and Madison Streets are two of the top four lots for most time spent. The other two lots are the commuter rail-focused MBTA and Grafton Street lots.

The app and kiosk data show a reduction in parking in July and the fall months.

The cost of parking

The second report focused on the development of parking in Worcester, mandatory parking minimums within city zoning policy and costs to the city residents associated with parking.

The report details how parking has been an issue planners have grappled with since the 1920s, often vacillating between whether there was too much or not enough parking.

Worcester was also once home to the world's largest parking garage in 1971, the former Worcester Center Galleria's garage, which included the current Worcester Common parking garage.

Parking for new construction in many cities is dictated by mandatory minimums set by zoning in order for the demand for parking to not exceed supply. In Worcester, a single-family home requires two spaces.

In several cities, efforts have started to reduce or forgo parking minimums.

While Worcester has minimum requirements within its zoning code, the city does not have a uniform parking minimum  downtown has no parking minimum requirement and the commercial district that makes up the Canal District and Shrewsbury Street have reduced minimums.

The report claims that there may be costs to parking minimums that may not be entirely visible to residents.

Minimum parking naturally reduces the amount of space developers have to build, including additional residential units; the construction of lots and private garages is getting more expensive and maintenance fees can be reflected in housing costs.

The report cites Everett as an example of a city that reformed parking minimums to allow exemptions, stating this reform was one factor in Everett's housing boom relative to other Boston-area cities.

To address these costs, the report says the city should work to carefully balance existing parking and vehicles with new development growth, any rises in new vehicle ownership and the available service of the Worcester Regional Transit Authority. A possibility could be the reduction or elimination of parking minimums.

In addition, the report suggests other potential means to mitigate costly additional parking spaces, such as promoting shared parking agreements between developments and an effort to inform people about the city-owned garages that are underused.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Regional Research Bureau reports examine parking in city
LOS ANGELES  After 80 years, a World War II sergeant killed in Germany has returned home to California.

On Thursday, community members lined the roads to honor U.S. Army Air Force Tech. Sgt. Donald V. Banta as he was brought from Ontario International Airport to a burial home in Riverside, California.

Banta, 21, was killed in action in early 1944 when his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire over Gotha, Germany, according to Honoring Our Fallen, an organization that provides support to families of fallen military and first responders.

One of the surviving crew members saw the plane was on fire, then fell in a steep dive before exploding on the ground. After the crash, German troops buried the remains of one soldier at a local cemetery, while the other six crewmembers, including Banta, were unaccounted for.

Banta was married and had four sisters and a brother. He joined the military because of his older brother Floyd Jack Banta, who searched for Donald Banta his whole life but passed away before he was found.

Donald Bantas niece was present at the plane-side honors ceremony at the Ontario airport coordinated by Honoring Our Fallen.

The remains from the plane crash were initially recovered in 1952, but they could not be identified at the time and were buried in Belgium. Banta was accounted for Sept. 26, 2023, following efforts by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency within the U.S. Department of Defense and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System.
Dr. Sarah Traxler, Planned Parenthood North Central States' chief medical officer, poses for a photo in the ultrasound room at the Planned Parenthood clinic, Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa's strict abortion law goes into effect Monday, July 29, 2024, banning most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy and before many women know they are pregnant. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

AMES, Iowa (AP)  Iowa's law banning most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy goes into effect Monday, a drastic change that enrages  but doesn't surprise  Sarah Traxler.

When Traxler, an OB-GYN based in Minnesota and the chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood North Central States, went to high school in a conservative Louisiana town in the 1990s, she saw abortion rights losing ground even then, decades before the U.S. Supreme Court and Iowas high court would say there isnt a constitutional right to abortion.

The protections of Roe have just been chipped away at slowly through time, she told The Associated Press.

At 8 a.m. Monday in Iowa, the state will join more than a dozen others where abortion access has been sharply curbed in the roughly two years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Its an outcome Iowas abortion providers have been fighting but still prepared for, shoring up abortion access in neighboring states and drawing on the lessons learned where bans went into effect more swiftly.

States with restrictive laws are glimpses of our future, Traxler said. Even with the ability to prepare, she told reporters Friday, this transition is devastating and tragic for the people of Iowa."

Iowa's Republican-controlled Legislature approved the law last year, but a judge blocked it from being enforced shortly after the measure went into effect because of a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, Planned Parenthood and the Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City.

The Iowa Supreme Court reiterated in June that there is no constitutional right to an abortion in the state and ordered the hold to be lifted. The district court judges July 22 orders set July 29 as the first day of enforcement.

The law prohibits abortions after cardiac activity can be detected, which is roughly at six weeks of pregnancy and before many know they are pregnant. There are limited exceptions in cases of rape, incest, fetal abnormality or when the life of the mother is in danger. Previously, abortion in Iowa was legal up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 44% of the 3,761 total abortions in Iowa in 2021 occurred at or before six weeks. Only six abortions were at the 21-week mark or later.

Alex Sharp, senior health center manager who runs the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic closest to Des Moines, said staff members overbooked schedules this week, moving up appointments for people seeking abortions who likely would be past the legal limit as of Monday.

Still, that wasnt an option for everyone. Almost a third of the people Sharp spoke to said they couldn't get off work or find daycare before next week. Those patients could work with staff members to find appointments out of state, she said.

Across the country, the status of abortion has changed constantly since the Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, with trigger laws immediately going into effect, states passing new restrictions or expansions of access and court battles putting those on hold.

In states with restrictions, the main abortion options are getting pills via telehealth or underground networks and traveling, vastly driving up demand in states with more access.

The Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights, projected last month that about 20,000 abortions were performed in Kansas in 2023, or 152% more than in 2020. Near Iowa, Illinois saw a 71% increase and Minnesota went up 49%. Providers there expect to see more influx after Monday.

When the first restrictive laws went into effect, like in Texas, providers had to essentially figure it out as we went, said Amy Hagstrom Miller, founder of Whole Womans Health. And even though providers across the country have learned how to work within the limits, I dont ever want us to have this seem normal."

Hagstrom Miller has been talking with leaders at the independent Emma Goldman Clinic about accepting referrals at the Whole Womans Health clinic in Minnesota, where 20% of abortion appointments go to out-of-state travelers, she said. That percentage is expected to increase under Iowa's new law.

The regions Planned Parenthood affiliate also has been making investments for over a year to prepare for Monday. A location added last year in Mankato, Minnesota, is only an hour's drive from Iowa and recently began providing medication abortion. Just over the state line in Omaha, Nebraska, a facility is quadrupling exam rooms and adding staff.

Maggie DeWitte, who has worked for decades to advocate against abortion access in Iowa, said it's to be expected after Dobbs that while some states work to regulate or even eliminate abortion, others are going to be less restrictive.

We certainly hope that women would not travel out of state, but we know that that is going to happen, she said. "So that just has to continue our education efforts to those women to let them know that there are other options out there.

Many people dont know the law was passed or is going into effect, making those conservations even more sensitive. Staff members have had to tell patients they are too far along and its too late unless they travel and miss more work, Planned Parenthoods Sharp said.

It's been difficult, she said, even though clinics are as ready as they can be for Monday.

We are prepared operationally for it, Sharp said, but not emotionally or mentally for it, at all.

___

Mark Vancleave in Bloomington, Minnesota, and Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, contributed to this report.
Elected city officials and community advocates are slamming Mayor Eric Adams executive order, claiming it dismantles a law meant to ban solitary confinement and is a shameful abuse of power.

Adams declared a state of emergency Saturday and issued an order to suspend parts of Local Law 42, set to take effect Sunday.

This is a shameful tactic, another desperate abuse of power by this administration to try and ignore laws it opposes. Misusing a state of emergency is dangerous, especially from a mayor who claims to care about public safety, said Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who helped introduce the legislation.

Now, the mayor wants to throw out yet another law of our city in order to maintain a status quo that threatens people on both sides of the bars. At the last possible moment, he is declaring an emergency without public notification or legitimate justification.

The mayors order eliminated the four-hour cap on holding detainees in de-escalation confinement. Instead, Department of Correction staff will be allowed to release detainees as soon as practicable once they no longer pose a danger to themselves or others, the order states.

The mayor also put the kibosh on a section of the law limiting the use of restraints during detainee transport.

A City Hall spokesperson stated the DOC has been laser-focused on reducing violence in city jails, and argued the mayors narrowly-tailored order aims to continue to do so.

The federal monitor appointed under the Nunez consent decree has now stated in writing multiple times that attempting to implement Local Law 42 at this time would be dangerous for those who live and work in our jails, the spokesperson wrote.

Williams, however, called the move inexcusable, vowing the council would explore all means of making sure the city sticks to their duty to execute a law thats been approved by the Council twice.

Councilwoman Sandy Nurse also railed at the order Sunday.

Im disappointed, but not surprised that Mayor Adams has not put effort into developing an implementation plan, even a phased plan. Meanwhile, his Correction Department repeatedly prevented care for Charizma Jones, effectively killing her, Nurse said, referring to a 23-year-old detainee who died July 14.

Jones died of unspecified causes after medical notes showed correction officers repeatedly prevented nurses from entering her cell to check on her May 5 and 6, though she had a rash covering much of her body.

Members of the #HALTsolitary campaign, an organization that played a role in creating the law, pointed to the deaths of Layleen Cubilette-Polanco in 2019 and Kalief Browder in 2015. Both detainees died in solitary confinement on Rikers Island.

The Mayor and Department of Correction must stop trying to play legal games with peoples lives, and instead implement Local Law 42 to finally end solitary confinement and utilize alternative forms of separation proven to reduce violence and improve everyones safety and health, Anisah Sabur of #HALTsolitary said in a statement.

The law, passed in December after a year of debate, was vetoed by Adams in January. The Council immediately over-rode the veto. The city then sent a letter to U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain asking her to suspend elements of the law, arguing the law makes the jails unsafe.

Swain is presiding over Nunez v. City of New York, a 2011 class action that led to the 2015 appointment of a monitor to track violence and staff use of force in the jails. The monitor, Steve Martin, penned a letter in January with his own concerns about the solitary ban, saying it would exacerbate already dangerous conditions.
If youre a Deadpool fan, there may finally be a phone for you. Following a leak about the Poco F6 Deadpool & Wolverine Edition, Himanshu Tandon, the head of Poco India, has confirmed that the phone is coming to market in a post on X (formerly Twitter), complete with a look at the back of the phone. Theres certainly no mistaking that this is a Deadpool and Wolverine phone. Both characters are front and center on the back in their classic poses. The phone as a whole is a vivid red with the Poco logo written in gold, and a little Deadpool mask is next to it on the LED flash.

Quite frankly, it looks great and exactly how wed imagined a Deadpool phone would look. This is certainly a phone you dont want to use a case with. Under the hood, the phone is a Poco F6, and despite being a limited edition, there dont seem to be any hardware changes.

The Poco F6 has a 6.67-inch 2712 by 1220 AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2,400 nits peak brightness. Its powered by a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. On the rear, you get a 50-megapixel primary camera with optical image stabilization and a secondary 8MP ultrawide sensor. The selfie camera is a 20MP sensor. Under the hood, the phone has a 5,000mAh battery with 90W wired fast charging. Overall, its a very capable upper-midrange phone at a reasonable price (approximately $400 if you convert).

Naturally, the phone is a limited-edition device, so its unlikely there will be a long production run. If youre interested in the slick look, we recommend grabbing it sooner rather than later. As always, U.S. buyers are out of luck, as Poco only sells in international markets. Still, its a very cool device to look at, and it makes us wish that other manufacturers would release limited-edition versions like this.

And even if you cant buy the Deadpool phone, you can still catch a screening of Deadpool & Wolverine.
The massive IT outage from last weekend was not a bad look for CrowdStrike  but Microsoft too. To avoid future large-scale issues, Microsoft is evaluating blocking third-party security software from accessing the Windows Kernel, according to a blog post by John Cable, VP of program management for Windows servicing and delivery.

If this change were to be put in place, the restriction would imitate Apples 2020 move, which limited third-party software from accessing its core operating system. The change was introduced in macOS Big Sur, ensuring that every system partition (or volume) that contains the core operating system is cryptographic verified, down to every last file. The goal, of course, is preventing changes from third-party entities that could melt down the whole system. Sound familiar?

Of course, its a change easier said than done. Microsoft attempted to do exactly this in 2006 with Windows Vista, preventing third parties from having kernel access. However, the plan failed due to resistance from EU regulators and complaints from  you guessed it  cybersecurity vendors.

In the blog post, John Cable states, Examples of innovation include the recently announced VBS enclaves, which provide an isolated compute environment that does not require kernel mode drivers to be tamper resistant, and the Microsoft Azure Attestation service, which can help determine boot path security posture. He goes on to state that they will continue to develop these capabilities and enhance the resiliency of the Windows ecosystem.

In theory, by preventing security software from accessing the kernel, Windows would never again experience the worldwide outage it recently experienced, and that caused 8.5 million PCs to crash due to a CrowdStrike bug. The downside, of course, is that preventing kernel access would also mean that the security software would not be able to monitor for any potential threats. After all, moving in this direction doesnt mean that other types of attacks are impossible.

Lets be clear: Microsoft did not confirm that this is the path it will take from now on. But this blog post certainly threw the idea in the air, and thats significant. More than ever before, there may be a stronger incentive to consider locking down Windows now that weve seen the wreckage of the situation.
The Indian film industry is abuzz with joy following ace shooter Manu Bhaker's remarkable achievement at the Paris Olympics 2024. On Sunday, Bhaker clinched a bronze medal in the Women's 10-metre Air Pistol final, marking a historic milestone as the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting. Bhaker's performance, scoring 221.7 to secure third place, not only signifies a personal triumph but also represents India's first medal of these Games. Her achievement is particularly significant given her redemption arc following a setback at the Tokyo Olympics due to a malfunctioning pistol. 'Dangal' actor Fatima Sana Shaikh expressed immense pride in Bhaker's accomplishment during a conversation with ANI. "India is proud of her," Fatima stated. "Any athlete who goes and competes at the world podium and competes with the whole world and still wins, it's a huge moment of pride for us because the way athletes train and the way they give their life and dedicate their life towards one sport it's not easy. That is a different level of discipline. Every day you are only thinking about that one thing, that one moment that you have to go to the Olympics and do that shot in 30 seconds, and the whole world is watching and it's live. I get goosebumps every time I think about anything like that," she said. Several other celebrities have also celebrated Bhaker's historic win. Stars such as Kareena Kapoor Khan, Suniel Shetty, Sidharth Malhotra, and Shilpa Shetty have extended their congratulations and praised Bhaker's dedication and skill. Bhaker, at just 22 years old, achieved another landmark by becoming the first Indian woman to reach an individual shooting final in two decades, with Suma Shirur being the last to achieve this in 2004. In the Women's 10 Metre Air Pistol final, South Korea's Ye Jin set a new Olympic record with a score of 243.2 to win gold, while her compatriot Kim Yeji secured silver with 241.3 points. Bhaker's impressive performance on the opening day, where she finished third in the qualification round, ensured her place in the final, despite Rhythm Sangwan, another Indian shooter, not advancing past the qualifiers. (ANI)
New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalties on three Payment System Operators (PSOs) for failing to comply with KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements. These Payment System Operators include Manappuram Finance, Ola Financial Services, and Visa Worldwide. The central bank has fined Rs 41.50 lakh for Manappuram Finance, Ola Financial Services Pvt. Ltd. Rs 87.55 lakh, and Visa Worldwide Pte. Limited Rs 2.4 crore.

The RBIs action on KYC non-compliance highlights the regulator's vigilance regarding lapses in these procedures. The central bank issued notices to the entities, requesting them to explain why penalties should not be imposed for their non-compliance.

Adding further, compounding orders were issued to Ola Financial Services and Visa Worldwide for violating certain provisions. The RBI stated that the penalties on Manappuram Finance and Ola Financial Services were specifically for non-compliance with KYC directions.

"Ola Financial Services Pvt. Ltd. had reported instances of shortfalls in the balance in its escrow account and filed an application for compounding the violation," the RBI said in a statement. According to the RBI statement, "The above actions have been taken in the exercise of powers vested in the RBI under the provisions of Section 30 and Section 31 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, and are based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and are not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the entity with its customers."

"Visa respects and abides by the compliance guidelines, regulations, and local laws across the countries we operate in. We duly acknowledge the RBI order and remain committed to following RBI guidelines and regulations to continue providing safe and secure payment solutions in India," a Visa spokesperson said in a statement. (With Inputs From PTI)
New Delhi: India needs to strive to be a USD 30 trillion economy by 2047 with a per capita income of USD 18,000 per annum to become a developed economy, NITI Aayog has said in an approach paper 'Vision for Viksit Bharat @2047.

According to the paper, which was discussed in the NITI Aayog meeting on Saturday, India needs to avoid the middle-income trap. The paper said that Viksit Bharat is envisioned to be built on the three pillars of Demography, Democracy and Diversity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the Ninth Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog. The paper said that studies have shown that barely a dozen middle-income countries have broken out to become develop high income countries in the last 70 years. Progressing from a middle-income to a high-income level requires sustained growth in the range of 7-10 per cent for 2030 years.

Very few countries have managed to do this. The reasons have been well analysed and include structural, institutional, and other socioeconomic factors. As a nation we need to avoid this trap and carefully work towards breaking out of it, the paper said.

As for the economy, to become a developed nation, we need to strive to be a USD 30 trillion economy by 2047 with a per capita income of USD 18,000 per annum. The GDP would have to grow nine times from todays USD 3.36 trillion and the per capita income would need to rise eight times from todays USD 2,392 per annum, the approach paper said.

Referring to the tangible gaols for Viksit Bharat, the paper said that on the demographic front, India can aim for raising the average life expectancy to around 84 years. The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) will be gradually declining to about 1.80 and the population stabilising at about 165 crores by 2047.

Being a youthful nation, the working age population would be around 112 crores, making it the single largest workforce of any nation in the world. In a similar manner, we can aim for tangible goals on some basic parameters such as literacy and health with a target of universal literacy and a very low Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), it said.

For Bharat@2047, the paper projects a median population age of 37 years. In terms of social profile, it calls for 100 per cent literacy rate, over 70 per cent female labour participation (from current 37 pc), 100 per cent skilled workforce and top 10 in global gender equality.

In terms of economic profie, the paper calls for over USD 18,220 per capita GDP, 34 per cent industry contribution to GDP and 55 per cent reduction in carbon emission intensity from 2005 level. These goals are just a few illustrative examples of what our nation should aim to achieve.

Viksit Bharat @ 2047 is ambition of every Indian. States can play an active role to achieve this aim as they are directly connected with the people: Prime Minister @narendramodi at the 9th Governing Council Meeting of #NITIAayog. The Governing Council Meeting is being attended by  NITI Aayog (@NITIAayog) July 27, 2024

There should be similar goals in all spheres of life, be it for individuals, for the economy or for governance. It is only the steadfast pursuit of these goals across all spheres of human endeavour that will enable India to become a Viksit Bharat. Team India will have to work together to realise this Vision by strategizing, planning and implementing policies, programmes and interventions in a spirit of cooperative federalism, the paper said.

The paper said that Viksit Bharat represents our collective vision to transform India into a developed country where each individual will live up to her/ his potential with meaningful lives and livelihoods, and the entire society and economy will flourish.

As India stands at this crucial juncture, poised to take off on its growth trajectory, it is important to realise that tremendous dedication and belief in Indias destiny is necessary to realise this potential. There is enormous work that needs to be undertaken in a mission mode to achieve the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Business as usual will not do. We must create the future. It is important to channelise our innovative ideas into actions. There must be a sense of purpose, dedication and steadiness to use the Amrit Kaal in building a nation that our freedom fighters envisaged and sacrificed for.

This has to be a collective endeavour of the Centre and States. Most of the actions in social sectors are to be done by States and a significant portion of capital investments too have to be done by States. We need to see that all States develop rapidly and also converge in their incomes and in the quality of life they are able to provide. We need to integrate all markets across the country, for goods, labour and capital, the paper added. The approach paper also defines what is Viksit Bharat.

It is a Bharat which will have all the attributes of a developed country with a per capita income that is comparable to the high-income countries of the world today. It is a Bharat whose social, cultural, technological, and institutional features will mark it out as a developed nation with a rich heritage and one that is capable of functioning at the frontiers of knowledge.

The World Bank defines high income countries as those whose annual per capita income is more than US $ 14,005 (in 2023). India has the potential and aims to be a high-income country by the centenary of its independence in 2047, the paper said.

The paper talks of Indias transformation on many fronts, specially in the last decade, demonstration of quantum leap capabilities, unique advantages as also internal challenges that should be addressed.
Actor Vicky Kaushal is taking some well-deserved downtime after the release of his latest film, 'Bad Newz', enjoying a relaxing retreat in Austria with his wife, Katrina Kaif. The couple is currently staying at the serene Mayrlife Altaussee resort, where they have been soaking in the picturesque surroundings. On Sunday, Vicky gave his fans a glimpse into their tranquil getaway by sharing a candid photo on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/C996t3Mo60z/ The image, which features him lounging on a sofa with a soft toy, was captured by his wife and actor Katrina herself. Kaushal playfully highlighted his wife's newfound photography skills in his post, writing, "Lazy Sunday and wife ke andaar ka photographer jaag gaya (photography skills of my wife are emerging)." He accompanied the picture with the song, 'Tain Tain To To.' Katrina Kaif, who recently celebrated her birthday in London, has been sharing snippets of her peaceful stay at the Austrian resort. She posted several solo photos and scenic shots of the lakeside property on Instagram, along with images of the healthy cuisine she enjoyed. In a heartfelt message, she thanked her fans for the birthday wishes, saying, "Thank you for all your birthday wishes." The actress was seen radiating natural beauty in a no-makeup look and a navy blue cardigan. After her birthday celebration, Katrina also attended the screening of her husband and actor Vicky Kaushal's recent release 'Bad Newz'. Meanwhile, at a recent 'Bad Newz' promotional event in Delhi, Vicky addressed the pregnancy rumours about Katrina and termed it 'speculations.' He said, "Good news ki jo apne baat ki, woh jab aayegi toh [The good news that you are talking about], we'll be very happy to share whenever it happens, but until then, there's no truth to that, and it's only speculation. Abhi Bad Newz enjoy kijiye, jab good news ayega to hum aapke saath zarur share karenge (Till then enjoy the film, Bad Newz and when there is good news, we will definitely share with you)" Meanwhile, on the work front, Katrina was last seen in Sriram Raghavan's film 'Merry Christmas' opposite actor Vijay Sethupathi. She has Farhan Akhtar's upcoming film 'Jee Le Zara' with Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra in her kitty. (ANI)
New Delhi: The big development emerged in the rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa, have found that her teenage brother sexually assaulted her after watching a pornographic video on mobile and later killed her, then his mother and two older sisters helped in the cover-up the incident, an official said.

The police solved the case and arrested the victim's 13-year-old brother, their mother and two sisters 17 and 18 years old. This followed extensive interrogation of 50 individuals and thorough questioning of the accused, and based on technical evidence, he said on Saturday.

"A nine-year-old girl was raped and strangulated to death under Jawa police station limits on April 24, following which the police had registered a case and started a probe," Superintendent of Police Vivek Singh said, PTI reported.

"The body of the victim was recovered from the courtyard of her house where she was sleeping at the time of the incident," he added.

After the interrogation of the family members, it turned out that the victim's 13-year-old brother slept next to her during the night. It was found that the teenage boy raped his sister after watching obscene videos on the mobile phone, he said.

When the victim threatened to inform about the incident to her father, the boy strangled her and later woke up his mother and confided in his mother. She then found that the victim was still alive. On seeing that, the accused again strangled her, Singh said, PTI reported.

Later, his two elder sisters also woke up and all of them changed the spot of their beds to different spots before informing the police to mislead the probe. However, they finally admitted to their crime after being repeatedly interrogated, he said.

The official stated that further legal actions are being pursued following the detention of the boy, his two sisters, and their mother.

"The police received information on April 24 morning that the body of the girl was lying in the courtyard of the house. Evidence relating to rape and murder was found in the post-mortem report and an SIT team was constituted for the probe," Singh said.

To mislead the investigators, the family members initially told the police that the girl died after being bitten by a poisonous insect, he said.

However, the investigation uncovered that there were no signs of anybody entering the house, and family members also denied hearing any sound during the night, he said.
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with US Secretary of State Antony on Sunday in Tokyo, before the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. S Jaishankar said that they had a wide-ranging discussion on regional and global issues.

Jaishankar shared a post on microblogging site X and said, "Great to catch up with @SecBlinken in Tokyo today. Our bilateral agenda progresses steadily. Also had a wide-ranging discussion on regional and global issues. Look forward to attending the Quad FMM tomorrow."

On Sunday, EAM S. Jaishankar unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Freedom Plaza in Tokyo's Edogawa, during the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting.

Jaishankar attended the ceremony alongside Edogawa Mayor, Takeshi Saito, Sibi George, the Indian Ambassador to Japan and other ministers, as a group of schoolchildren sang Gandhi's favourite prayer, "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram," ANI reported.

Jaishankar stated that this gesture reflects Japan's desire to strengthen its ties with India.

"We have gathered here today because Edogawa ward and Mayor Takeshi Saito have decided that they will build a relationship with India by having this wonderful statue of the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi. At this venue and at this park, which they will be naming after him," he said.

EAM further added that Mahatma Gandhi is a global icon as his messages throughout his life are timeless.

"We have to ask ourselves today, why is it important to have this statue here... the achievements of Gandhi have far outlived his times, with the passage of time, they have become more important. What he taught us, was important then as well as now," Jaishankar added.

According to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Quad is a diplomatic partnership among Australia, India, Japan, and the United States that is dedicated to promoting an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region that is inclusive and resilient.

According to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Quad is a diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States committed to supporting an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient.
Are you just beginning your first job or considering entering the world of investments? If you're an Indian national who has started earning, you must file your income tax return (ITR). However, filing your ITR for the first time can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to file your ITR confidently and correctly. Youll learn the importance of filing your ITR, the necessary documents, and the critical dates. Well also cover common mistakes to avoid and tips to make the process smoother.

Hence, by the end of this guide, youll be equipped with the knowledge to tackle your ITR without stress. So, lets begin!

What Is ITR?

ITR, or Income Tax Return, is a form you fill out to report your income, expenses, and other financial information to the tax authorities. By filing your ITR, you declare your earnings and pay the necessary taxes.

Things To Keep In Mind While Filing ITR

Filing your ITR requires careful attention to detail. Here are some essential tips to ensure you file correctly and efficiently:

Collect All Your Account Statements Properly

Before you start filing your ITR, gather all your financial documents. It includes bank statements, investment details, salary slips, and other income proofs. These documents will make the process smoother and ensure you dont miss reporting any income.

Dont Misreport or Underreport Anything

Accuracy is crucial when filing your ITR. Make sure to report all your income, including salary, freelance earnings, rental income, and other sources. Misreporting or underreporting can lead to penalties and scrutiny from the tax authorities. Its better to be thorough and transparent.

File the Accurate Tax Form Which Applies to You

There are different ITR forms for various types of taxpayers. Choosing the correct form is essential. For instance, salaried individuals usually file ITR-1, while business owners might need to use ITR-3 or ITR-4. Using the wrong form can delay the processing of your return and may lead to rejection.

Choose The Most Suited Tax Regime

In India, you can choose between the old and new tax regimes. The old regime offers various deductions and exemptions, while the new government has lower tax rates but fewer deductions. Evaluate both regimes to see which one offers you the maximum tax benefits. Use online calculators if needed to make an informed decision.

Keep Your Form 16A Handy to Claim Deductions

Your employer provides Form 16A, which contains details of the TDS from your salary. This form is crucial for claiming deductions and ensuring you dont pay more tax than necessary. Review Form 16A carefully and use it while filing your ITR to claim applicable deductions.

Dont Cross the Filing Deadline

The deadline for filing an ITR is usually July 31st for individuals. Missing this deadline can result in penalties and interest charges on unpaid taxes. Additionally, you may miss certain benefits and face complications in future financial transactions. Mark the deadline on your calendar and aim to file well in advance to avoid last-minute stress

Consult A Tax Professional

If you find the process overwhelming or have complex financial situations, seek advice from a tax professional. They can guide deductions and tax planning strategies and ensure your ITR is filed correctly.

Why Should You File Your ITR?

Filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) is not just a legal obligation but offers several benefits. Here's why you should make it a priority:

Legal Compliance

First and foremost, filing your ITR ensures compliance with the law. The government mandates that individuals with a certain income threshold file their taxes. Non-compliance can lead to penalties and legal complications.

Avoid Penalties

Failing to file your ITR on time can result in hefty fines and interest on unpaid taxes. By submitting your return before the deadline, you avoid unnecessary financial stress and ensure you are in good standing with the tax authorities.

Loan and Credit Approvals

Financial institutions often require your ITR when you apply for loans or credit cards. It serves as proof of your income and economic stability and can significantly influence the approval of your application. Regularly filed ITRs can smoothen the process of getting a home, car, or even personal loans.

Claiming Refunds

If you've paid excess taxes during the year, filing your ITR allows you to claim refunds. This can happen if you have TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) or advance tax payments that exceed your actual tax liability.

Proof of Income

An ITR serves as an official document of your earnings. It is beneficial not only for financial transactions but also for visa applications and other legal procedures requiring proof of income.

Documents You Need To File ITR

To file your ITR accurately, ensure that you have the following documents handy:

PAN Card

Aadhaar Card (if applicable)

Form 16/16A (TDS certificates)

Bank statements/passbook

Investment proofs (like mutual funds, stocks)

Property documents (if any)

Receipts of tax-saving investments (like ELSS, PPF)

Having these documents handy gives you all the necessary information to report your income, claim deductions, and file your ITR without delays.

Important Dates Of ITR Filing: To ensure timely filing and avoid penalties, mark these key dates on your calendar:

Individuals and HUFs (Non-audit cases):

31st July: The deadline for filing ITR for most individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) is as follows:

Businesses (Audit cases):

30th September: Deadline for businesses requiring audit under the Income Tax Act.

Belated and Revised Returns:

31st December: Last date for filing belated ITR for the assessment year.

31st March: Deadline for revising your ITR if you made errors or omissions.

Conclusion

By now, you've learned the importance of timely filing, the essential documents needed, and critical tips to ensure accuracy and compliance. ITR filing isn't just about fulfilling a legal requirement; it's about taking control of your financial future and maintaining financial transparency. It's a way to understand your income and claim rightful deductions.

Accuracy and honesty are paramount to avoid penalties and legal hassles. If you ever feel overwhelmed or uncertain, don't hesitate to consult with a tax professional. They can provide personalised guidance based on your specific financial situation.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said incumbent US President Joe Biden was forced to exit the presidential race, describing it a "coup" by the Democratic Party.

The former president's remarks came during an election rally in Minnesota on Saturday.

This was really a coup of and by the Democrats. This was a coup of a man that had 14 million votes. He wanted to run. They wouldn't let him run. They treated him horribly. They said to him, we can do it the nice way, or we can do it the hard way. To Joe, he's president, Trump claimed.

This was a coup with the presidency, he said.

"They threatened him with the 25th Amendment. They said, Joe, we're going to threaten you with the 25th Amendment. You're cognitively and physically a mess. And if you don't get out, we're going to take you out with the 25th Amendment, Trump, 78, alleged.

The 25th Amendment of the US Constitution was passed by Congress to determine the presidential succession after the assassination of former President John F Kennedy.

It also gives power to the vice president as well as the Cabinet to remove a president from office if they are deemed physically incapable.

And he said, I'll go. And then the fake news said, oh, he was so brave. He was so brave. No, he was forced to leave," Trump claimed.

Biden, 81, on July 20 announced his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential elections and endorsed Kamala Harris as Democratic Presidential nominee.

This followed a series of fast-moving developments after his disastrous debate performance in Atlanta on June 27 and a failed assassination attempt on Trump. Both the developments resulted in a sharp drop in the popularity rating of Biden, which made the Democrats worried and they started feeling a Trump wave sweeping the nation.

After Bidens exit and his Vice President Harris taking over, the Democrats have regained the momentum and are giving a tough fight to Trump.
Ryan Reynolds has officially shared the news about the newest addition to his family with his wife Blake Lively. The actor confirmed the sex of their fourth child, a baby boy named Olin, in a heartfelt Instagram post. The revelation came as Reynolds expressed his condolences to John Bell, a devoted Wrexham AFC fan who has been open about his personal grief following the death of his son, Jake. In a heartfelt message, Reynolds acknowledged Bell's loss and connected it to his own joy. "I want to share with you that I too have a son and that if ... boy, John, if I love him one-tenth as much as you love Jake, I feel like I've done a pretty damn good job," Reynolds wrote. The actor's gesture was a nod to the strength and love Bell has shown despite his own challenging times. Earlier this week, at the premiere of the 'Deadpool and Wolverine' movie in New York City, Reynolds revealed his son's name, Olin. Ryan Reynolds, known for his wit and charm, also playfully teased about the anticipation surrounding their baby's name, particularly referencing Taylor Swift's supposed involvement in an earlier interview reported by E! News. "We always wait for Taylor to tell us what the child's name is," he quipped earlier, "and I will say this: we're still waiting." The couple, who married in 2012 after a year of dating, expressed their joy over expanding their family. Ryan Reynolds, 47, previously emphasised their excitement about welcoming their fourth child during an interview reported by E! News. "Look, we wouldn't do this four times if we didn't love it," he shared, adding, "Everybody's doing great. Everybody's actually doing fantastic."Known for his roles in Marvel's Deadpool series and beyond, Ryan Reynolds has been open about his joy in fatherhood, particularly as a father of daughters. "I know girls," he stated in a previous interview, adding, "So I'm kind of hoping for that." His humorous anecdotes about growing up with brothers and now having a household full of lively children have resonated with fans worldwide. The couple, who have been married since September 2012, are also parents to three daughters James, 9, Inez, 7, and Betty, 4, according to Page Six. The announcement of their fourth child's arrival was first hinted at in February 2023 when Blake Lively shared photos showcasing her baby bump on social media. (ANI)
An Indian tout was also arrested for helping the accused, the Government Railway Police (GRP) said.

The arrested women were identified as Meem Sultana (23), Rubaiya Sultana alias Asha (20), Ritu Begam (28), Jyoti Khatun (20), all residents of Bangladesh and the tout, Mohammed Kashem Miah (24), a resident of Sepahijala, Tripura.

The arrests were made by the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Agartala station. The accused had reportedly entered India illegally from Bangladesh.

The investigation revealed that some of the Bangladeshi women intended to travel to Ahmedabad, while others were planning to go to Pune by train.

Mohammed Kashem Miah facilitated the illegal entry and travel of these individuals within India, the GRP said.

The GRP has registered a case at the Agartala Police Station, and the accused will be presented in court.

Further investigations are underway to uncover more details about the network involved in this illegal immigration operation, it said.

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of illegal immigration and the need for stringent border control measures. The authorities have intensified their efforts to curb such activities and ensure the safety and security of the nation. (ANI)
Beyonce introduced Team USA during the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony. beyonce.com Beyonce introduced Team USA during the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony. beyonce.com Beyonce introduced Team USA during the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony. beyonce.com

Has Vice President Kamala Harris considered Beyonce as a running mate? Because the Houston superstar is in her patriotic era.

Beyonce introduced Team USA with a vibrant video during the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony Friday night. The two-and-a-half minute clip features Beyonce in red, white and blue alongside several athletes, including Houston's Simone Biles. The spot also features LeBron James, Katie Ledecky and ShaCarri Richardson.

MORE FROM JOEY GUERRA: Peso Pluma doesn't let a broken foot stop the party during Houston concert

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"That pride, and that joy, that's what gets me about this team. And that's what makes me believe in this team. And that's why I can't wait to see what they pull off over these next 16 days," Beyonce says.

"America, give it up for Team USA, the very best of who we are."

The video is set to a reworked version of the song "YA YA" from the "Cowboy Carter" album and includes the original spoken intro.

"Hello, girls," Beyonce says.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"Hello, Beyonce," respond members of the women's gymnastics team, including Biles.

"Hello, fellas," Beyonce continues.

"You're pretty swell," responds the men's gymnastics team.

The video then showcases the athletes dancing and clapping as Beyonce sings their praises.

Beyonce introduced Team USA during the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony. beyonce.com

"Get a look at America, y'all," she says.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Beyonce, bringing the country together.

Earlier this week, Beyonce granted permission for Harris to use the song "Freedom" for her presidential campaign. She played the song Monday night as entrance music during her first official visit to her campaign headquarters. She also included it in her first official campaign video. The song amplifies a message of positivity that Harris has been promoting since entering the race.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted Charaideo Moidam, a unique 700-year old mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty of Assam, during the 112th episode of his monthly radio broadcast, Mann Ki Baat. Charaideo Moidam - The Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty has been announced for inclusion under the category of Cultural Property at the 46th World Heritage Committee meeting that is being held in New Delhi from July 21 to 31, 2024. This is the 43rd World Heritage site of India listed by UNESCO. In his Mann Ki Baat address, PM Modi said, "Charaideo Moidam of Assam is being included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This will be the 43rd site in India but the first site in the north east. Charaideo means 'a shining city on the hills'. This was the first capital of the Ahom Dynasty. People of the Ahom Dynasty traditionally kept the bodies of their ancestors and their valuables in Moidam." Moidam is a hillok-like structure which is covered with soil on top and has one or more rooms below. This is a symbol of respect for the late kings and dignitaries of the Ahom empire, the Prime Minister mentioned. The Prime Minister said that this way of showing respect to one's ancestors is very unique. "Community worship was also performed at this place. Starting from the 13th century, this empire lasted till the beginning of the 19th century. It is a big acheivement for an empire to continue for such a long period. Perhaps the principles and beliefs of the Ahom empire were so strong that it kept this dynasty alive for so long," he said. Recalling the statue unveiling earlier this year at Charaideo Moidam, PM Modi said, "I had the privilege of unveiling the tallest structure on March 9 this year of the great Ahom warrior Lachit Borphukan, a symbol of courage and bravery in Assam. You too should definitely include this site in your travel plans in the future." The Prime Minister also lauded the participants of the International Mathematics Olympiad and also interacted with them. "A few days ago, the Olympics have also taken place in the world of mathematics - the International Mathematics Olympiad. Youth from more than 100 countries participated in the International Mathematics Olympiad and in the overall tally, our team has been successful in reaching the top five." He also urged young math experts to take inspiration from them to enjoy mathematics. Mann Ki Baat is Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio programme, where he discusses important national issues with the citizens of India. The programme is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month. Launched on October 3, 2014, Mann Ki Baat aims to connect with various segments of Indian society, encompassing women, the elderly, and the youth. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, 'Mann Ki Baat' is broadcast in 11 foreign languages, including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari, and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is broadcast by more than 500 centres of All India Radio. (ANI)
The campaigns undertaken by various states as part of International Tiger Day, and the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' programme in Madhya Pradesh's Indore found mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat address on Sunday. In his monthly radio address, PM Modi said, "Tiger Day will be celebrated all over the world tomorrow. In India, Tigers have been an integral part of our culture. In our country, there are many villages where there is no conflict between humans and tigers. But where such a situation arises, unprecedented efforts are being made for the protection of tigers there as well." "One such effort of public participation is 'Kulhadi Band Panchayat' that started in Ranthambor in Rajasthan is very interesting. The local communities themselves have taken an oath that they will not go to the forest with axes and will not cut trees," he said. PM Modi said that due to this one decision, the forests in the region are becoming green once again, and a better environment is being created for the tigers. Notably, the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, situated in Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan, is one of the largest tiger habitats in the country. The PM also mentioned Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve of Maharashtra, which is one of the main habitats of tigers. The local communities here, especially our brothers and sisters of Gond and Mana tribes, have taken rapid strides towards eco-tourism, he said. "They have reduced their dependence on the forest so that the activities of tigers can increase here. You will also be surprised at the efforts of the 'Chenchu' tribe living on the Nallamalai hills in Andhra Pradesh. As tiger trackers, they have gathered every bit of information on the movement of wild animals in the forest. Along with that, they also keep monitoring illegal activities in the area," the Prime Minister said. "Similarly, the 'Baagh Mitr Karykram' being undertaken in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, is also creating a buzz. Under this, local people are trained to work as 'Tiger Friends'. These 'Tiger Friends' strictly ensure that there is no conflict between tigers and humans," he said. The Prime Minister also expressed happiness at the public participation that is proving very useful in tiger conservation. "It is on account of such efforts that the tiger population in India is increasing every year. 70 per cent of the tigers in the world are in our country. That is why there are many Tiger Sanctuaries in different parts of our country," PM Modi said. On Indore's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' programme, the Prime Minister said, "Along with the increase in tiger population, the forest area in our country is also increasing rapidly. In that too, great success is being achieved through community efforts." "A few days ago, a splendid programme was held in Indore, the city famous for cleanliness. More than 2 lakh saplings were planted here in a single day during the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' programme," he added. Mann Ki Baat is Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio programme, where he discusses important national issues with the citizens of India. The programme is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month. Launched on October 3, 2014, Mann Ki Baat aims to connect with various segments of Indian society, encompassing women, the elderly, and the youth. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, 'Mann Ki Baat' is broadcast in 11 foreign languages, including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari, and Swahili. (ANI)
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Sunday accused the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government of double standards, asserting that the Finance Minister's Budget 2024 provided a "vivid illustration" by offering grants to BJP-ruled states while only providing repayable loans to Congress-governed Himachal Pradesh. In a post on X, Jairam Ramesh said, "Yesterday, the self-anointed non-biological Prime Minister said that Viksit Bharat depends on Viksit states - wow, such a profundity." https://x.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1817419127394619698 "If only he put the taxpayer's money where his mouth is! After the disastrous floods of 2023, the Government of Himachal Pradesh repeatedly demanded that the Union Government declare the floods a national calamity - a plea which the Finance Minister repeatedly rejected. Now, in her Budget Speech, when allocating funds for irrigation and flood mitigation, the Finance Minister has provided a vivid illustration of the double standards at work in the non-biological PM's Government," Congress general secretary said in the post. "Basically, what the FM has said is that BJP-ruled states will get financial assistance in the form of grants. When it comes to INC-governed Himachal Pradesh, however, the assistance will be "arranged through multilateral development assistance", i.e., loans that it will have to repay. Himachal Pradesh - which is historically a fiscally challenged state due to its remote geography and challenging terrain - will be burdened with more loans. This is nothing but revenge on the people who did NOT vote for the BJP in assembly elections," the Congress leader said in the post. Notably, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had made major announcements for Bihar, including a boost in infrastructure and special financial support. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had accused the Centre of favouring BJP-ruled states by providing them privileges and packages. Banerjee who had walked out from a NITI Aayog meeting held on Saturday in New Delhi said, "I said whatever I could in the 3 to 4 minutes that I got. In the entire country, the way in which all the opposition-ruled states have been neglected while BJP-ruled states and their alliance members have been favoured, we don't have any objection if any state is given more money, but this is not acceptable that someone will get and someone will not get at all." (ANI)
As per an official release from the Ministry of Education, seven schools nationwide are emphasising community involvement in education through the Vidyanjali and Tithi Bhojan initiatives.

Vidyanjali, a school volunteer management programme run by the Department of School Education and Literacy of the Ministry of Education, was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 7, 2021.

The programme aims to strengthen schools and improve the quality of education through community, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and private sector involvement across the country.

As part of the campaign, the Department of School Education and Literacy has provided a list of suggested activities for schools.

Schools are focusing on onboarding themselves to the Vidyanjali portal and identifying local volunteers to provide support. They will also feature the names of active volunteers on a "Wall of Fame/Notice Board" in schools.

Additionally, principals, teachers, and students will write letters of gratitude to these volunteers.

Community awareness activities, such as rallies, street plays, poster-making, and chart-making about volunteer activities, shall also be organised.

State- and district-level officials are actively participating to ensure the campaign's success. These efforts align with the National Education Policy 2020's goal of increasing community participation in education.

These activities aim to build a strong support system for students and teachers, creating a better learning environment, by bringing together schools, volunteers, and the community through the Vidyanjali portal. (ANI)
A Punjab-based travel agent was arrested by Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport Police on Sunday for arranging a fake Guatemala visa for a passenger, police said The accused, Dharampreet Singh (24) along with his associates had arranged a visa for a passenger identified as Gurjas Singh (27). The passenger, who had arrived at the IGI airport on July 23 as a deportee from the Netherlands, was refused boarding for Canada, as per the press release issued by the Indira Gandhi Airport Police. During the scrutiny of his documents, Gurjas Singh was found to have affixed a fake visa to his passport. An FIR has been filed against the passenger. Further investigation into the case revealed that the passenger had only studied until Class 10 and wished to go abroad to earn a better livelihood. The passenger had come into contact with Dharampreet, who is also his distant relative. The agent, along with his partner, Sunny Mann, had suggested that Gurjas create a strong travel history for himself and promised to send him to the USA after charging him Rs 5 lakh. Gurjas then travelled to Dubai and Malaysia based on his visa. He had come into contact with another agent, Pawan in Malaysia, through Dhararmpreet, who had arranged his fake Guatemala visa. Upon receiving the visa, the passenger had suspicions of a fake visa and contacted Dharampreet regarding the issue. The passenger was then taken to another agent, namely Karan Kapoor, who had arranged another visa for Canada after charging Rs. 5 lakh. However, while travelling to Canada via the Netherlands, the Immigration staff caught hold of the fake visa and deported Gurjas Singh back to Delhi, where he was handed over to the police. Several raids were conducted at possible hideouts of the head agents, Dharampreet and Sunny Mann, who managed to escape. Assistant Training Officer (ATO) Inspector Rajkumar Yadav, along with his team, nabbed the accused, Dharampreet, from his hideout in Punjab. The investigation of the case is in progress to unearth the involvement of the other agents, scrutinise the bank accounts of the accused, and trace his possible involvement in other similar cases. IGI police issued appeals to passengers to procure their travel only through authorized agencies and beaware of fraudulent agents. Passengers have also been requested to ensure the authenticity of their agencies and verify their documents to avoid any legal complications and travel disruptions. (ANI)
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman strongly criticised Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for demanding her resignation over the alleged Maharishi Valmiki Corporation Board scam in the state. The Finance Minister asked why Siddaramaiah had not pursued action against the bank officials involved in the scandal. Addressing the media at a post-budget press conference in Bengaluru on Sunday, Sitharaman said, "Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah can say this because he is quite used to speaking like that. That is not responsible." "Action has already been taken as a first step against the conniving officials in the bank and further lawful action will be taken against them and no protection will be offered to them, I am sure. But here is a minister who had to resign under his oversight. This has happened. Attempt to deny, an attempt to shift blame, an attempt to say there is no scandal happening," she said. "The Valmiki community's money was taken away. Is there no sense of outrage? They (Congress) talk about 'Nyay' during election campaigns. Is this Nyay for the SCs and STs?" she stated. Taking a swipe at the Karnataka Chief Minister, she said, "I want the media to ask them how come you, who has the authority over the accounts, didn't stop the banks. If only they had taken the bank officials to the police station and held them accountable, then that would have given the right to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to accuse the central government, accuse me and ask me to resign." "You didn't take the officials to the police station. Even if they were bank officials, I had no problems. If they have done wrong, they should be punished. But you didn't take them to the police station; you denied the whole thing; and your minister did not even resign. The Finance Minister also lashed at the Karnataka CM for speaking about the statistics of the alleged scam while mentioning that the scam was not over Rs 180 crore but that of some Rs 80 crore. "Additionally, with the money that has gone to a private account, you (Siddaramaiah) go to the assembly and say that it was not Rs 180 crore but only some Rs 84 crore. You are conceding, sir, that this is the kind of outrageous thing happening, particularly on the SCs and STs," she said. Sitharaman said, "I have already taken action against the bank staff. Further legal action and prosecution will happen against the bank staff." "I have taken action against the accused officials and I want them to be punished for the connivance which they showed with the state government officials. I want to ask in return what the Karnataka chief minister's action was on the matter," she stated. Earlier on July 19, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly witnessed a ruckus over the alleged financial irregularities in a state-run corporation, with the opposition BJP and JD(S) staging a protest against the government, accusing it of "loot" and demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Amid the opposition's continued sloganeering from the well of the House, Siddaramaiah sought to defend himself and his government. He tried to turn the tables on the opposition, listing out the alleged scams during their tenure, especially the BJP, and calling the opposition party a "Pitamaha of corruption." Questioning the demand for his resignation, he asked if Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would take responsibility for irregularities that have happened in a nationalised bank and should quit as banks come under the Finance Ministry. The scam pertains to the alleged illegal transfer of funds from the Maharshi Valmiki ST Corporation, which is charged with implementing welfare programmes for scheduled tribe members. Earlier, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) detained former Karnataka Minister B Nagendra's wife, Manjula. A Bengaluru Court granted judicial custody to former Karnataka Minister B Nagendra in connection with the alleged Valmiki Corporation scam till July 18. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Nagendra in connection with the alleged multi-crore scam case. Soon after the arrest, he was produced before the Court in Bengaluru. The alleged corruption case of Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation came to light after an official of the Corporation died by suicide and left a note containing an allegation of multi-crore corruption in the corporation. The official identified as Chandrasekaran (45), a resident of the Kenchappa colony in Vinobanagar, allegedly died by suicide on May 26 after leaving a note containing an allegation of multi-crore corruption in the corporation. Chandrasekaran was a superintendent with the MVDC and was posted at its Bengaluru office. In a six-page suicide note recovered by police, Chandrasekaran mentioned the names of three officials and alleged corruption worth crores in the corporation, demanding action against the named officials. On June 6, Nagendra said that he has voluntarily decided to resign as an investigation is going on over the allegations of illegal money transfer from Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd. The former Karnataka Minister dismissed all the allegations against him and said that he'd come out clean after the investigation. (ANI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was "insulted" after she alleged that she was stopped from speaking after five minutes at the NITI Aayog meeting. "The way the budget is made, NITI Aayog works accordingly. Only BJP-ruled states are being given money and schemes. That's why Stalin (Tamil Nadu CM), Telangana and Himachal Pradesh CMs boycotted the meeting," Sanjay Raut said while addressing reporters in Mumbai on Sunday. "Mamata Banerjee attended the meeting but she was not allowed to speak. The West Bengal CM was insulted, her microphone was switched off, this doesn't suit democracy," he added. Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin criticised the BJP-led Central government on the matter and emphasised that cooperative federalism requires dialogue and respect for all voices. "Is this the way to treat a Chief Minister? The Union BJP government must understand that opposition parties are an integral part of our democracy and should not be treated as enemies to be silenced. Cooperative federalism requires dialogue and respect for all voices," Stalin said in a post on X. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that Mamata Banerjee's claim was "baseless," and that she is making efforts to keep the leaders of the INDIA bloc happy. "We all heard CM, @MamataOfficial. She spoke her full time. The screen in front of our tables kept showing the time. A few other CMs spoke beyond their allotted time. On their own request, extra time was allowed without any fuss. Mikes were not switched off, not for anybody, particularly not for CM of WB. Mamata ji has chosen to spread falsehood. I was happy she attended," she said. "I was happier when she said she was speaking for Bengal and, in fact for the entire opposition. I may agree or disagree with what she had to say. But now, with her saying baseless things outside, I can only conclude that she is making an effort to keep the INDI alliance happy," the Finance Minister added. After leaving the Niti Aayog meeting on Saturday chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi midway, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Centre of "insulting Bengal" by interrupting her speech after five minutes, claiming it was a deliberate attempt to "malign the opposition." "I said whatever I could in the 3 to 4 minutes that I got. In the entire country, the way in which all the opposition-ruled states have been neglected and BJP-ruled states and their alliance members have been favored, we don't have any objection if any state is given more money but this is not acceptable that someone will get and someone will not get at all," Banerjee said accusing the Centre of favouring BJP-ruled states with privileges and packages. (ANI)
Earlier, on July 21, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, along with other ministers, offered prayers at the Ujjaini Mahakali Temple in Secunderabad on the occasion of the Sri Ujjaini Mahakali Bonala Jatara, also known as the Bonalu festival.

Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and his family offered the first 'Bonam' to Ujjaini Mahakali at Secunderabad on the occasion of the Ujjaini Mahakali Bonalu festival here.

The Bonalu festival is a traditional Hindu celebration that is observed predominantly in the state of Telangana and is dedicated to Goddess Mahakali.

The festival is attended by the people of twin cities, Hyderabad and Secunderabad, during July and August.

Special poojas, or ceremonies, are conducted for Goddess Yellamma, who is one of the many regional forms of Goddess Mahakali.

The Bonalu festival is considered by devotees as a form of thanksgiving to Goddess Kali for answering their prayers and fulfilling their wishes. The term 'Bonam' is derived from 'Bhojanam', a Sanskrit word that translates to feast in Telugu.

The festival involves women preparing rice with jaggery in new earthen pots, which are then adorned with turmeric, vermillion, and neem leaves.

As part of the festival celebration, a lamp is lit on top of the pot, which the women carry on their heads to offer to Goddess Yellemma. They also carry bangles and a sari as part of the offering.

Earlier, on June 26, a review meeting was held on Wednesday to discuss the arrangements for this year's Bonalu festival celebrations in Golconda.

Telangana Minister Konda Surekha took part in the review meeting with police, law and order, traffic, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), health, and other officials. (ANI)
The search operation was conducted on the night of July 27 following a specific input regarding the transportation of narcotic substances in the Katakhal area under the jurisdiction of Dholai Police Station.

The arrested accused has been identified as Abdul Alim (42) a resident of Saptagram village under Dholai police station.

Numal Mahatta, Superintendent of Police of Cachar District, said, "During the operation, the police team apprehended one person and recovered 30,000 Yaba tablets from his possession. The apprehended accused persons have been identified as Abdul Alim (42 years old) of Saptagram village under Dholai police station. The price of the narcotics substance in the black market is about Rs 9 crore.

"In this connection, a scooty used in illegal transportation has been seized. The consignment of the narcotics substance is illegally transported from Aizawl," Numal Mahatta said.

Further investigation is underway.

Earlier, in a major crackdown on drug trafficking, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Guwahati Zonal Unit seized 6.790 kg of drugs and apprehended two individuals on July 23.

The operation followed several days of continuous surveillance based on special intelligence. The NCB identified and dismantled an inter-state syndicate involved in the trafficking of Methamphetamine from Churachandpur in Manipur to Shillong in Meghalaya.

"NCB, Guwahati Zonal Unit apprehended two persons at ISBT By Pass, Sonari Road, Silchar (Assam) on the evening of July 23 while they were proceeding towards Shillong (Meghalaya) in a car. On search, NCB Guwahati team recovered and seized 6.790 kg of Methamphetamine from their possessions," the Zonal Director of NCB, Guwahati said in a press statement.

The apprehended individuals have been identified as Gouzalal Singson from Churachandpur, Manipur, and Thangminlun Lhungdim from Sangaikot, Manipur. (ANI)
Reacting to the allegation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that she was allowed to speak for only five minutes at the NITI Aayog meeting, Congress leader Udit Raj condemned the incident and said that under BJP rule, this has happened in the past as well, and Rahul Gandhi's mike had been muted several times in Parliament. Udit Raj said, "Even after facing a setback in the Lok Sabha polls, the dictatorship attitude of the BJP is not over. CM Mamata Banerjee's mike was muted within 5 minutes. In such a case, there is no need to invite the opposition to the NITI Aayog meeting. After seeing this development, it can be said that Congress made the right decision by not attending the NITI Aayog meeting." Udit Raj hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that the PM did not allow his party members to speak so it is obvious that the opposition's voice would be silenced. "The way in which Andhra Pradesh and Bihar has been given more money, the treatment meted to CM Matata Banerjee is not surprising. The Modi government is used to silencing the voice of the opposition," he added. Earlier, after staging a walkout from the Niti Aayog meeting on Saturday chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Centre of "insulting Bengal" by interrupting her speech after five minutes, claiming it was a deliberate attempt to "malign the opposition." "I said whatever I could in the 3 to 4 minutes that I got. In the entire country, the way in which all the opposition-ruled states have been neglected and BJP-ruled states and their alliance members have been favored, we don't have any objection if any state is given more money but this is not acceptable that someone will get and someone will not get at all," Banerjee said accusing the Centre of favouring BJP-ruled states with privileges and packages. (ANI)
At the entrance to the Kazanqi folk tourism area in Yining city, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, pigeons flutter as people in traditional ethnic costumes dance to lively music, welcoming visitors to this picturesque destination.

Kazanqi, which means "pot maker" in Uygur, has become a must-visit spot in Yining, thanks to local government preservation and renovation efforts.

The area is known for its vibrant colors, with bright hues adorning doors, windows, clothes and food, reflecting the locals' zest for life.

Join People's Daily Online reporter Oliver Fritzsch as he explores Kazanqi's lanes and corners, samples local snacks and refreshing Kvass, a fermented drink, and visits craftsmen's workshops, enjoying a cozy atmosphere despite the summer heat.
In this photo illustration, capsules of the herbal supplement Kratom are seen on May 10, 2016 in Miami, Florida. The herbal supplement is a psychoactive drug derived from the leaves of the kratom plant and it's been reported that people are using the supplement to get high and some states are banning the supplement. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Bars are making kratom cocktails. It is also being used in powders, pills, capsules and liquid shots. Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images

Smoke shops in and around Houston sell a variety of products for smoking such as rolling paper and electronic vaporizers as well as edible CBD products and delta-8 THC.

One item advertised in these same storefronts, kratom, is regularly sold alongside these same products.

While kratom is nothing new to most smoke and vape shops, it fulfills a different need from the usual CBD and nicotine-based products sold in stores.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Here is more about kratom, where it comes from, why its so prevalent and how it is used:

What is Kratom and where does it come from?

Kratom comes from the Mitragyna speciosa tree, which is native to Southwest Asia and a member of the coffee tree family.

Kratom is an herbal extract that can be ingested by consuming Mitragyna speciosa tree leaves, which can also be ground into a powder, which can be added to a liquid or a capsule according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Why do people use Kratom? How is it used?

Kratom is used for its stimulant effects as well as its depressant effects for recreational purposes. It is also used for pain management, anxiety and depression and opioid withdrawal. Kratom is also used recreartionally to control opioid usage.

Michael Weaver, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at UTHealth Houston, said mitragynine, which is the active ingredient in kratom, has the same receptors as opium-based drugs.

"It's not used professionally," Weaver said. "It's not a restricted substance, which is why you see it readily available on the internet and lots of these smoke shops. But it's not used professionally. "

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

What effect does Kratom have on the body?

Kratom can be used as a stimulant at low doses and an opioid-like depressant at higher doses. Users report kratom as giving them more energy, lifting their mood, relieving pain and ease withdrawal from other drugs like opioids.

"People will use it on the street either recreationally because it's opioid-like and they'll use it to relax and chill out," Weaver said. "It has gotten kind of popular as a way to help detox or treat withdrawal from using other opioids like heroin."

Is kratom safe to use?

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Breathing issues

Constipation

Dizziness

Dry mouth

Hallucinations/delusions

High blood pressure

Liver damage

Muscle pain

Nausea/drowsiness

Seizures

Tremors

According to the FDA, it is rare to overdose on kratom and deaths from kratom are low compared to deaths from other drugs like opioids. Most deaths from kratom involved another substance being abused at the same time.

Is kratom addictive?

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, more research is needed to determine how addictive kratom is. Still, kratom use patterns can resemble substance abuse disorders.

NIDA determined that kratom users may experience mild withdrawal when not using kratom, but only in a small minority of users. Kratom activates the same receptors in the brain as opioids, but in a way that has reduced chances for an addiction as severe as an opioid addiction.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"The problem is that you if you use it for that purpose then you can end up having withdrawal from kratom, which is a lot like opioid withdrawal," Weaver said. "It doesn't feel very comfortable so people will find themselves in the same boat with a slightly different drug."

Still, Weaver said, treatment for kratom addiction is also available around the community.

"If someone thinks they may have a problem with it or someone they care about has a problem with it, help is readily available," Weaver said. "Kratom and other addictions are certainly treatable and all they have to do is ask their primary care physician or school counselor, or even a a minister, priest or rabbi. All of those are folks that can help them to get access to treatment."

Where is Kratom sold?

Kratom can be bought in gas stations, smoke shops and online through various retailers.

Is there an age limit on buying Kratom?

Kratom can only be sold to those age 18 and older.

Are there any laws surrounding Kratom or its usage?

Kratom has not been approved by the FDA and has been banned in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Sale is restricted, but is still legal. Possession of kratom is not a crime, but being under its influence while operating a vehicle could lead to impaired driving charges. It is illegal to sell kratom to minors.

"It's not scheduled," Weaver said. "It's not restricted in the United States, at least at a federal level. If you schedule it, it will be harder to research and see if there is some therapeutic benefits."
BJD Vice President Debi Prasad Mishra expressed disappointment against Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for not raising the demand for special category status for the state in the NITI Aayog meeting that was held on Saturday (July 27). "We expected that the central government in the budget would announce special category status or at least special dispensation for the state of Odisha but it was not considered. I am astonished why CM Mohan Majhi didn't raise the demand for special category status in the NITI Aayog meeting. It is a genuine demand. We will raise this issue in Rajya Sabha as well as Vidhan Sabha," told Debi Prasad Mishra to ANI. He further said that Odisha's performance as a state is very good and the state has been successful in reducing the poverty. "During the tenure of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, according to Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, Odisha's fiscal discipline is good in the country and Odisha is reducing multi-dimentional poverty. The Gross State Domestic Product of Odisha is sometimes higher than the national. Andhra Pradesh and Bihar got special package; we don't have any grudges, but the genuine demand of Odisha has not been fulfilled," he added. Earlier, Union Minister Satish Chandra Dubey said that under Prime Minister Modi's government, no state is treated "step-motherly". Chief Ministers of opposition-led states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Delhi and Punjab boycotted the 9th NITI Aayog's Governing Council meeting chaired by PM Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in the national capital. "Odisha is an inseparable part of India and in PM Modi's government, no state is treated step-motherly. Everyone will get what they deserve. I will visit NALCO (National Aluminium Company Limited) and will review the arrangements there. A lot of work has been done in the last 10 years," Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines told reporters. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting a Union Budget 2024-25, made major announcements for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, including a boost in infrastructure. (ANI)
Sabyasachi De, CPRO of Northeast Frontier Railway said that, in the present month, i.e. July 2024, till July 23, RPF of N. F. Railway has detained 41 illegal migrants.

"On July 2, RPF team of Agartala conducted a routine drive at Agartala Railway Station. While checking, they detected 11 persons of doubtful nationality (9 females & 2 males). On interrogation, they could not produce any valid documents and later confessed that they entered India illegally from Bangladesh. In a recent incident at the Agartala station 4 male Bangladeshi nationals were detained on July 23 by RPF," Sabyasachi De said.

He further said that the Bangladeshis were planning to proceed for Kolkata via train. "Later, all the illegal migrants were handed over to Officer In-charge/Government Railway Police/Agartala for further legal action," he added.

He further said that, similarly, other illegal migrants were detained from Badarpur & New Jalpaiguri stations during regular checks conducted by the RPF.

RPF staff deployed at stations and trains are very vigilant and keep a close eye on illegal migrants, rohingyas and suspected persons. (ANI)
Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy was taken to hospital after his nose started bleeding while he was attending a press conference in Bengaluru on Sunday. Kumarswamy was seen trying to block his nostrils with a piece of cloth. His shirt was drenched in blood when he was at the press conference. A meeting of BJP-JDS leaders under the leadership of state BJP President BY Vijayendra, Kumarswamy and state leader of opposition R Ashoka was held. After the meeting, Vijayendra said that the leaders met to discuss the reason behind the corruption taking place in Karnataka including Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. "All the senior leaders from BJP, as well as JD(S), met and discussed in detail about the way corruption is taking place in Karnataka under the leadership of Siddaramaiah. In the ST Development Corporation scam the money for the welfare of the scheduled tribe community has been looted by the Congress government, MUDA scam and many other scams which are taking place in Karnataka," he said. He further said that the BJP and JDS will take out a 'Padyatra' on August 3. "Both parties have decided to take out 'Padyatra' from August 3. BS Yediyurappa and HD Kumaraswamy will participate in the Yatra. It is a seven-day yatra which will start on August 3 and conclude on August 10. National leaders of the BJP will also be present on 10th August. If the government will try to stop our 'Padyatra' we will not stop," the BJP leader added. Karnataka LoP R Ashoka said, "We will start a 'Padyatra' against Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah. The money for the welfare of the scheduled tribe community has been looted by the Congress government. This is a big scandal in Karnataka and CM Siddaramaiah is involved in all these scams. National leaders of BJP and JD(S) will participate in this 'Padyatra'." Earlier, Karnataka's Deputy Minister DK Shivkumar said on Friday, in a press conference at the KPCC office, that the BJP government was trying to tarnish the image of Chief Minister Siddaramiah by planning a padayatra to protest against the MUDA irregularities. Addressing the press conference, Shivakumar said, "It was the Congress that introduced padayatras in India. Padayatra is our product. Now, the BJP is planning a padayatra from Bengaluru to Mysuru against the alleged Muda scam to bring disrespect to CM Siddaramaiah and destabilise the Congress government in the state." Further, he added, " BJP is the master of scams and they are digging their own grave in this case. Karnataka is the biggest state the Congress party is in power in and hence they are trying to bring it down at any cost. Let them do what they want, we will respond to it appropriately." "The state government was investigating the Valmiki Corporation case, but the BJP has sent its own agencies to investigate and create unnecessary trouble. Let them fight it out legally rather than trying to garner publicity and target people," he added. Further, he said, "They are trying a similar trick by ratcheting up Muda case. The BJP and JDS know that they are losing ground in the State and hence have joined hands to carry out a padayatra. We will expose them in this case by releasing a list of sites illegally allotted during their tenure." "The Muda had taken over land belonging to the Chief minister without issuing any notification. Later, it allotted sites as compensation for that land. The bylaws allow allotment of sites if land is acquired without any notification. The Chief Minister's family has not asked for sites in specific locality but accepted whatever was allotted by the Muda. These sites were allotted during the previous government," he added. (ANI)
Furthermore, Goel said that a scheme would be inaugurated by her in his ministry.

Aseem Goel is the Minister of State of Transport, Women, and Child Development (with an independent charge) in the Haryana Government.

Addressing media persons, Haryana Minister Asim Goyal said, "This is an achievement for all daughters of the nation. The whole nation is proud of the achievement of Manu Bhaker. When she comes back, we will honour her upon her arrival. Also, if she arrives here, we will get a scheme inaugurated by her in our ministry."

The 22-year-old became the first Indian woman to win a medal in shooting at the Olympics.

Bhaker brought India's first medal in the ongoing mega event as she won a bronze medal with a score of 221.7.

It was a redemption arc for Manu after her pistol malfunctioned at the Tokyo Olympics. She made history by becoming the first Indian woman in 20 years to reach a shooting final in an individual event of the Olympics since Suma Shirur in 2004.

South Korea's Ye Jin clinched the gold medal with an Olympic record of 243.2 points. Her compatriot, Kim Yeji, settled for silver with 241.3 points.

On the opening day, Bhaker finished third in the qualification round of Women's 10 Metre Air Pistol to qualify for the final at the ongoing Paris Olympics on Saturday. While Rhythm Sangwan failed to make her place in the final after finishing in 15th place. (ANI)
After taking oath as a Member of the Legislative Council, Amit Gorkhe on Sunday said that he will work for the upliftment of the Hindu Matang community and scheduled castes. After taking the oath, newly elected MLC Amit Gorkhe said, "BJP has given this representation to our society and I will work very hard to uplift them. Our caste community is known as "Hindu Matang". I will work for the upliftment of the scheduled castes. There are 59 scheduled castes in Maharashtra and we will work for the upliftment of all, whether it is education, water, or any facilities. This journey has just begun; we have to move ahead now." Gorkhe further stated that only Devendra Fadnavis can give justice to both OBCs and Marathas in Maharashtra and the opposition is setting false narratives against him. "When Devendra Fadnavis was the CM, he gave reservations to Marathas. The people know that OBCs are with the BJP. The opposition is spreading a narrative that they (Marathas) are against Devendra Fadnavis, but no one will buy this narrative. Only Devendra Fadnavis can bring quality to both the communities (OBCs and Marathas) and rest, our community (Matang) is with BJP, because all the work for our community has been done by the BJP," told Amit Gorkhe to ANI. In the MLC elections held on July 13, the Mahayuti Alliance led by BJP, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) secured nine out of 11 seats. All five candidates fielded by BJP and two each by Sena and NCP won the election. Overall, a total of 12 candidates were in the fray in a major contest between the Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi alliances. (ANI)
Ahead of the local body elections, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said that the state government would waive farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh by August. CM Revanth Reddy was speaking at a public meeting at Kalwakurthy, Nagarkurnool, on Sunday. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said, "We have already waived farm loans up to Rs 1 lakh. Farm loans up to Rs 1.50 lakh will be waived by July 31. A total loan waiver of Rs 2 lakh will be completed by August. The agony of BRS leaders after losing power is visible. People will reject the opposition in panchayat polls. I appeal to all Congress activists to get ready for the upcoming local body elections." He said that funds had been sanctioned for the construction of roads and guest houses in Kalwakurthi. "Sanctioned Rs 10 crore to improve facilities in government schools in Madgula mandal. Developed road network from all village panchayats to mandal centres in the constituency. Developed four lines of roads between Kalwakurthi and Hyderabad. We will develop Kandra School with Rs. 5 crores, where I studied, and also set up Young India Skill University in the Mucherla area on August 1. The Skill University is being developed on 50 acres with Rs. 100 crores." He lauded late Congress leader S. Jaipal Reddy who was an MLA from Kalwakurthi. CM Reddy said, "I am the son of Nallamala and the brother of all of you. Senior Congress leader S. Jaipal Reddy continued in public life till his last breath, whether he was in power or in opposition. Jaipal Reddy strictly believed in his principles and pursued a political career accordingly. The national leader brought laurels to every post he stepped into. Jaipal Reddy gave priority to values in politics." He further said that Congress would have come to power in the 2014 assembly elections if Jaipal Reddy had been announced as the CM candidate in Telangana state. Reddy said, "It was Jaipal Reddy who suggested the closure of doors and cut live telecast at the time of adopting a bill for separate Telangana in Lok Sabha. Expected results did not come in assembly elections after Telangana formation. Jaipal Reddy expressed unhappiness over losing the opportunity to become Chief Minister from Kalwakurthy. A 100-bed hospital will be set up in Kalwakurthi." (ANI)
After Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma received death threats reportedly from Shyalawas Jail in Dausa, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Lalsot Lokesh Sonwal said that the police have identified the accused and recovered nine mobile phones from the spot. ASP Lalsot Lokesh Sonwal said, "Today morning at 7.30 a.m. Dausa SP Ranjita Sharma received a phone call from higher officials in Jaipur that a person had issued a threat to a control room from the location of Central Jail Shyalawas. She gave directions to verify the threat. The local CEO and SHO went to the spot. A search was conducted at the spot along with jail authorities." He further said that the mobile and the SIM were seized, from which the threat was given. "The mobile and sim was seized and the person was identified who issued the threat. An FIR has been issued and an investigation is going on. We carried out a search operation in which ADM, SDM and DIG were involved. 9 mobile phones were unearthed from the ground. The name of the accused cannot be revealed," he added. He further revealed that the accused is serving a sentence under 376 and that he is from Darjeeling. He further said that due to security reasons, the name of the person and other details cannot be revealed. (ANI)
In a ceremony to mark the International Meet of leading medical celebrities, professionals and Medicos from all over the country and abroad, Union Minister Jitendra Singh was conferred the prestigious "Lifetime Achievement Award", an official statement said. According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the award was conferred in recognition of his exemplary dedication to the advancement of diabetology, diabetes care and diabetes research which earned him acknowledgement across the country and overseas. The citation read out by Dr V. Mohan, Chairman of Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Speciality Centre and Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, described Singh as a teacher professor, researcher and practitioner of Diabetology, who rose from the grassroots to earn a name for himself as well as the State and country to which belongs. The citation further mentioned that falling in the genre of the great Dr B C Roy, Dr Jitendra Singh is another rare example of a nationally known Medical Professional, who proved equally successful in public life by being popularly elected to the House of People (Lok Sabha) for three consecutive terms with a decisive margin and also being among the few in the country and first in Jammu and Kashmir to find a berth in Union Council of Ministers consequently for the third term. Known for his clean image and impeccable integrity, Singh had earned the respect and love of three generations of colleagues who have worked with him. The citation also mentioned the unique distinction conferred on Singh as the Lifetime Pattern of RSSDI (Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India), the largest academic association of Diabetologists. The citation read out for Singh, during the ceremony, described him as a versatile personality, simultaneously known as an outstanding academician, researcher, Medical teacher, author and brilliant orator. The various awards received by him in the past include "Gold Medal for Oration" from Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER) Puducherry and coveted "Jamna Devi Gian Devi Award" for journalism. The citation described Singh as an author of eight books and three Monograms on various aspects of Diabetes. He has written chapters on Diabetes in leading textbooks of Medicine and before becoming a Minister, he consecutively wrote a chapter on Diabetes in twelve successive editions of the prestigious "API Textbook of Medicine" published by the Association of Physicians of India .Among the Diabetes awareness books written by Singh, one of the books titled "Diabetes Made Easy" was included in the Best-seller section of the World Book Fair held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Jitendra Singh's pioneering work on "Stress Diabetes in Kashmiri Migrants" was hailed by the World Health Organization (WHO). He was also a member of the DIPSY Group of researchers who finalised the "Guidelines for Management of Diabetes in Pregnancy" and the same Guidelines were then approved for referral by the WHO. As a teacher of Medicine and Diabetes, Singh has been a guide for the thesis to nearly two dozen scholars. The citation also referred to Singh's contribution as a Parliamentarian and a Minister in the Government of India and lauded his brilliant interventions and presentations in the Parliament. It also commended Singh's impressive handling of a number of Departments and Ministries under his charge in the Government of India. His hard work, focused approach and down-to-earth attitude had endeared him to all cross sections of society, said the citation. The citation also described Singh as someone highly revered for his unassuming nature, and practical and human approach, both in words and deeds, which makes him a "true son" of India. Soon after rendering of the citation, when the Gold Medal for "Lifetime Achievement Award" was placed around the neck of Singh, the entire audience, comprising virtually the who's who from different walks of life, stood up to accord a standing ovation and kept clapping endlessly for several minutes. The audience burst into cheers and applause when the compere conducting the programme announced that Singh owed his academic education to Chennai and happened to be an alumnus of the prestigious Stanley Medical College. Bowing his head down in response to the standing ovation to the audience, an overwhelmed Singh, in his "acceptance speech", said that the award was too big for him and he could accept it only with utmost modesty and humility at his command. He said, in a journey of nearly four decades, it was a divine blessing to grow under the shadow of some of the tallest medical professionals in the country and to rub shoulders with some of the most illustrious seniors and colleagues. Singh said he will continue his endeavour to live up to the high expectations of his colleagues and prove worthy of the honour conferred on him. (ANI)
In the meeting, Saha emphasised the significant strides made under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (gramin) in the north-eastern state, highlighting that thousands of urban and rural households in Tripura had been provided with affordable housing.

Saha further discussed the Jal Jeevan Mission, which had been another focus area, ensuring that every rural household in Tripura has access to safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections.

He also stated that under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, Tripura had made remarkable progress in providing health coverage to the economically weaker sections, ensuring them access to quality healthcare services.

Saha also said that the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana has seen substantial developments, with numerous rural roads being constructed and upgraded, thereby enhancing connectivity and facilitating smoother transportation of goods and people in rural areas.

He said that for farmers, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi had provided crucial financial support, bolstering agricultural productivity and economic stability. The Kisan Credit Card (Agri), along with extensions to Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, had empowered farmers with accessible credit, promoting diversified and sustainable farming practices, Saha added.

He also said that the implementation of the PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana has provided life insurance coverage to many citizens, ensuring financial security for their families.

He also provided details regarding the Swamitva scheme, Bharat Net, Soil Health Card, Atal Pension Yojana and SvaNidhi schemes.

The meeting was attended by BJP National President JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of BJP ruled states under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI)
The centre operational within the campus of Dantewada District Hospital has helped over persons, including children, deal with physical challenges.

The centre was started in 2017 with the initiative of the district collector and the support of the Chhattisgarh Government, said Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Sanjay Basak.

The centre of Dantewada is famous across Chhattisgarh and so far, it has provided artificial limbs to over 1400 people, said the CMHO.

Along with Chhattisgarh, people from Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh reach here for the treatment, stated Basak.

After proper measurement, the centre's incharge Anirrudh prepared artificial limbs for patients and also giving them know-how about the use, elaborated Basak.

The CMHO further informed that the artificial limbs prepared here at the centre are very lightweight, durable and free of cost. The centre is continuously gaining popularity in the region. With the support of the state government and District Collector Mayank Chaturvedi, the centre is expected to grow.

After the Mana centre in Raipur, the second centre started in Dantewada, said senior prosthetic and orthotics Anirudh Prasad. (ANI)
Breaking news Houston Chronicle

A Utah agency confirmed investigators recently found the remains of Pearland resident Miranda Ankofski who had been missing in June.

Miranda Ankofki and her husband, Ray, were last seen June 21 in Moab, Utah, before going missing during a flash flood, according to a GoFundMe started by their daughter, Ashlynn Ankofski.

In a release on July 22, the Grand County Sheriff's Office claimed to have found remains in the Millcreek Canyon. The agency followed up on Saturday, confirming that the remains were those of Miranda Ankofski.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Ashlynn Ankofski took to Facebook to thank people who supported her "during this most difficult time this past month."

"At this time, there will be no formal celebration of my parents, as we have chosen to honor them in other ways more fitting to who they were," she wrote in the Facebook post. "Thank you again to everyone who has reached out, I appreciate you greatly."

According to the GoFundMe page, the couple had gone on their annual trip to Moab when they went missing.

"My parents were 2 amazing people doing something they loved and we are devastated that this is the current circumstances," according to the GoFundMe post.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi is likely to speak on the Union Budget 2024 at 2 pm in the Lower House today. According to the sources, Congress MPs believe that, as the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul must address the House. Earlier, in a meeting with Congress Lok Sabha MPs, Rahul Gandhi stated that since he has already spoken during the special session of Parliament, he believes others should also be given a chance on a rotational basis, instead of him speaking every time. As per the sources, party MPs are insisting that Rahul's address will have a significant impact as the Leader of the Opposition, and thus he should speak. According to sources, Rahul has not made a final decision yet, but due to the pressure from MPs, he will decide today morning. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi hit out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party over the Union Budget presented on Tuesday, saying that it is an attack on the "dignity of India's federal structure". "This budget is an attack on the dignity of India's federal structure - in the greed to save power, there is neglect of other states of the country, there is discrimination against them," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on Facebook. The Congress MP participated in an INDIA bloc protest against the Budget at the Parliament complex on Friday. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged discrimination with opposition ruled states in the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and said her speech mentioned projects for only two states. Speaking briefly in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge, who is Leader of Opposition in the House, alleged such budget has never been presented and it has been done to save the BJP-led government, which is dependent on support of JD-U and TDP for its survival. (ANI)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], July 28 (ANI/WAM): The fourth UAE aid ship bound for Gaza arrived on Thursday at the port of Arish in the Egyptian governorate of North Sinai, in preparation for the entry of its cargo into the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing, in coordination with the Egyptian authorities. The ship set sail from the port of Fujairah in the UAE on 8th July as part of Operation "Chivalrous Knight 3," launched by the UAE to support the Palestinian people in Gaza amidst the difficult circumstances they have been experiencing. The ship is the fourth to arrive in Arish as part of the "Chivalrous Knight 3" initiative and the eighth UAE aid ship to the Gaza Strip. It is also the largest UAE aid ship sent to Gaza in terms of cargo and diversity of contents. The ship is carrying 5,340 tonnes of relief and food supplies, including 4,134 tonnes of food parcels totaling 145,000 packages, 145 tonnes of rice and flour, 110 tonnes of water distributed over 200,000 packages, more than 4,000 tents, 42,000 health packages for women and children, 18 tons of sun, wind, and dust-resistant covers, and 1,600 relief bags. The cargo of the ship was provided by the Emirates Red Crescent, the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, and the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, and was transported by 313 trucks that unloaded their cargo onto the ship. Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri, Secretary-General of the ERC, said, "Since the beginning of the difficult circumstances experienced by our Palestinian brothers, the UAE has continued to fulfill its humanitarian and relief role in helping them by all available means, which is in accordance with the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to alleviate the severity of the humanitarian conditions suffered by our brothers in the Gaza Strip." Al Mansouri stressed that the arrival of the fourth ship to the Gaza Strip is an important step, as it is the largest in terms of cargo and the diversity of aid, covering various needs of the Palestinians. As part of Operation "Chivalrous Knight 3", the UAE has launched a number of initiatives, including the establishment of two field hospitals, one inside the Gaza Strip and the other a floating hospital off the coast of Al Arish city, in addition to the establishment of five automatic bakeries. Flour has also been provided to eight existing bakeries in Gaza, and six desalination plants have been established that produce 1.2 million gallons per day, which are pumped into the Gaza Strip and benefit more than 600,000 people. The Joint Operations Command had also launched Operation "Birds of Goodness" to airdrop humanitarian aid to isolated areas in the northern Gaza Strip that cannot be reached by land. The total amount of aid dropped so far is 3,382 tonnes of relief and humanitarian supplies. (ANI/WAM)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], July 28 (ANI/WAM): The United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Morocco have finalised the terms of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that will launch a new chapter of mutually beneficial trade and investment ties between the two countries. The conclusion of negotiations was confirmed by the signing of a joint statement by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Kingdom of Morocco. Upon implementation, the UAE-Morocco CEPA will facilitate the free flow of goods and services by reducing or removing tariffs, eliminating unnecessary barriers to trade, improving market access for services, enhancing customs harmonisation and establishing flexible rules of origin for goods. It will also establish platforms for investment and private-sector collaboration in priority sectors such as renewable energy, tourism, infrastructure, mining, food security, transport, logistics, and ICT. The two nations shared USD 1.3 billion in non-oil trade in 2023, an increase of 30 percent on 2022 and 83 percent more than was recorded in 2019. The UAE is the largest Arab investor in Morocco with more than USD 15 billion invested in a variety of strategic projects. Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi welcomed the latest step in the UAE's foreign agenda. He said, "The UAE-Morocco Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is a valuable addition to our CEPA program. Our two brotherly nations already enjoy strong bilateral economic relations, and this agreement will enable us to further develop areas of mutual benefit, particularly in sectors such as tourism, energy, manufacturing and agriculture, and generate long-term prosperity for both peoples. Morocco is one the largest and most competitive economies in Africa and we look forward to working in unison to create new opportunities for our private sectors." Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Kingdom of Morocco, stated, "I signed today with my brother, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, a joint declaration announcing the conclusion of negotiations between our two countries on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement." This Agreement is part of the implementation of the Declaration signed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI and President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on December 4, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, which aims to establish an innovative, renewed and solid partnership between the two brotherly countries. "The agreement, which strengthens the legal arsenal between the two countries, aims to support the development of trade and investment, by opening new opportunities to upgrade the level of joint cooperation in economic and commercial fields," he added. Morocco is the sixth largest economy on the African continent. In 2023, its GDP was US$ 152.4 billion and is expected to grow by a further 3.5 percent in 2024. While agriculture remains the largest employer, the services sector is the largest contributor to GDP accounting for 54 percent, with the industrial sector contributing 23 percent. The UAE's CEPA programme aims to increase the country's non-oil foreign trade to AED4 trillion by expanding relations with strategically important markets around the world. In 2023, the UAE's non-oil trade in goods reached an all-time high of US$710 billion, a 12.6 percent increase on 2022 - and 34.7 percent more than 2021. Morocco is the latest African nation to conclude CEPA terms with the UAE, following Mauritius, Kenya and Congo-Brazzaville. (ANI/WAM)
Caravans from across Balochistan are slowly making their way to Gwadar for the Baloch National Gathering on Sunday. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee says, the Baloch people, will not remain silent against the Baloch genocide and their exploitation and to raise their voice this national gathering has been called for. The Baloch National Assembly will be a historic public referendum against Baloch genocide, exploitation of Baloch coast and resources in the form of so-called mega projects and turning Balochistan into a prison in the name of security, say the Yakjehti Committee. On Saturday caravans carrying several Balochi people departed from various districts for Gwadar. The organisers alleged that they had to face harassment and intimidation by the state but the Baloch were determined to join the historic gathering. The Balochistan Post reported that Pakistani forces had detained several organizers and volunteers in a crackdown ahead of the national gathering. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and Balochistan police had previously announced that the state's authority would not be challenged and that force would be used to prevent the 'gathering. Activist Mehrang Baloch who is at the centre of the protest said this was not a time to be silent but to resist. The State of Pakistan is using all its resources and power to thwart the Baloch National Gathering, which clearly shows the state's cowardice and fear. If we remain silent in the face of oppression, oppression, and brutality of the state of Pakistan today, the consequences will be felt by our present and future generations. So, this is not the time to be silent, but to resist. She further announced that on Sunday there would be a shutter down strike in all parts of the state except Gwadar. "We announce a shutter down strike in respect of Baloch Gathering in entire Makran except Gwadar on July 28. We believe that Baloch National Gathering is the beginning of an organized public struggle against Baloch genocide, unity and consensus among the Baloch nation, and the reconstruction of the Baloch nation. Therefore, in respect of this Raji Machi, all shopkeepers, entrepreneurs, and business community of Baloch Raj should strike shutter down on voluntary basis and play their role in the struggle of Baloch national survival," she said. Meanwhile, the gathering gets underway, the Balochistan Post has released its report on the crisis of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. The report states that the Genocide continues to cast a dark shadow over the region and that these disappearances have targeted individuals from various walks of life, including students, activists, journalists, and politicians. According to the report, 19 individuals were forcibly disappeared in the past two weeks and continue to be missing. Four individuals who were kidnapped were later released and returned to the safety of their homes, while six bodies were found. The average number of abductions for the first two weeks of July stood at 1.36 per day. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday unveiled the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Freedom Plaza in Edogawa, Tokyo on the sidelines of the Quad Foreign Ministers meeting. Jaishankar attended the ceremony in the presence of Edogawa Mayor, Takeshi Saito, Sibi George, the Ambassador of India to Japan and other ministers, with a group of schoolchildren singing Gandhi's favourite prayer, "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram." The Indian Embassy in Tokyo in a post on X said, "Unveiling of bust of Mahatma Gandhi by Hon'ble External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar @DrSJaishankar at Freedom Plaza in Edogawa, Tokyo. Watch the live telecast here - https://youtube.com/live/vgvOrysLVPo?si=Ks7t4Vp5vQPvgzSs #ConnectingHimalayasWithMountFuji" https://x.com/IndianEmbTokyo/status/1817371425264804204 Jaishankar said that through this gesture, Japan wishes to deepen its ties with India. "We have gathered here today because Edogawa ward and Mayor Takeshi Saito have decided that they will build a relationship with India by having this wonderful statue of the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi. At this venue and at this park, which they will be naming after him." Jaishankar said that Gandhi is a global icon as his messages through his life are timeless. "We have to ask ourselves today, why is it important to have this statue here... the achievements of Gandhi have far outlived his times, with the passage of time, they have become more important. What he taught us, was important then as well as now. I was told that this place is called 'Little India'. I hope it becomes bigger!" The venue is a place where the Indian community in Tokyo gathers in large numbers. Jaishankar said that without Gandhi, Indian independence struggle would have taken "much longer" or could have gone to a "different direction." "Indian independence was the beginning of a very momentous event as it began a cycle of decolonization of the world. When India became free, other parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America became free. Today as we say India is the 5th largest economy in the world, the world is heading towards multipolarity and when the G7 becomes G20, in a way, all this started as a result of what Gandhi did in his life," he said. Jaishankar said that Gandhi's message that no solution comes from the battlefield and that no era should be that of war applies today as much as it did 80 years ago. "At a time when there is so much conflict, tension, polarization and bloodshed in the world, it is important that we apply Gandhi's message into practice," he said. The EAM said that Gandhi was an original Prophet of sustainable growth. "We all think of sustainability, climate friendliness, green growth and policies. Gandhi was the greatest advocate of how to live in harmony with nature. The message of Gandhi was that this is not what just government should do, it was for everyone to do in personal lives," he said. Jaishankar added that Gandhi was an advocate of inclusiveness. "We see this practise in India and abroad." He jested that Japan is not 'like' his second home, but is one. "I want to thank all our Japanese friends. But most of all I want to say to the community, for me this is a very rushed visit, it's always good to come here, you know this is not like a second home, it is a second home. So it's great to be back, I wish I could have spent a little more time, but I expect to have more opportunities in the coming times. Addressing the Indian diaspora he said, "India-Japan relations are not just built by ministers, it is built by all of you." (ANI)
No PLA aircraft were detected in the given timeframe.

In a post on X, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said, "9 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly. Today's illustration of flight path is not provided due to no PLA aircraft operation around Taiwan were detected during this timeframe."

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1817364844858966494

The Ministry did not specify the types of aircraft involved in the incident but assured that the situation was under close surveillance. Incursions by PLA military aircraft and vessels into Taiwan's ADIZ are not uncommon but have escalated tensions in the region, reflecting ongoing geopolitical tensions between Taiwan and China.

On Saturday, Taiwan's Defence Ministry detected four PLAN vessels in its territory. However, no PLA flight operation was reported.

The Taiwan Strait, separating Taiwan from mainland China, has been a frequent area of contention, with Beijing viewing Taiwan as a breakaway province and asserting sovereignty over the island.

The latest incident comes amid heightened regional security concerns and underscores Taiwan's ongoing vigilance in defending its airspace and territorial integrity against Chinese military activities.

As tensions persist, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence remains on high alert, prepared to respond to any further escalations in the region.

Amid the growing threat, Taiwan, starting Monday, began military exercises to test its war-fighting capabilities.

Amid rising tensions across the Taiwan Strait, China has increased its military presence and conducted frequent drills in the region. The manoeuvres are seen as part of Beijing's ongoing pressure campaign against Taiwan, which China views as a renegade province. (ANI)
14 members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee who were en route to attend a rally in Gwadar on Saturday were injured after they came under fire at Mastung, Pakistan-based daily, Dawn reported. A blame game ensued after the injured accused the security forces of opening fire at them. Kalat Deputy Commissioner Shayak Baloch said in a press note that the BYC convoy attacked a Levies checkpoint near Matsung, Dawn reported. Leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, Bebarg Baloch said that "a law enforcement agency officer" opened fire on the convoy while they were on the way to Quetta-Karachi highway, Dawn reported. Dawn reported that a hospital spokesperson said that five of them were critically injured. The leader said that when the convoy was stopped at Thana Sona Khan area, he was also a part of it. He said that they were not allowed to travel to Mastung and accused the security forces of using baton-charge and teargas shelling. In a post on X, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee said that the state army and police attacked the peaceful convoys going to Baloch Raji Machi and fired directly at the peaceful people. https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1817259232292679797 Mahrang Baloch, another leader of the BYC, said that the security personnel arrested "over 200 people bound for Gwadar". Balochistan government spokesperson, Shahid Rind said that the BYC's claims of firing was false news. "No such orders have been given by Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti or the provincial government. Our doors are still open for negotiations, as the Chief Minister said in the policy statement in the Assembly, peaceful protest is the right of the people, the right of the administration to choose the place under the law. BYC only wants to recognize its right and is not ready to recognize the right of the administration." https://x.com/ShahidRind/status/1817115163138343076 Rind said that Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti had already given a policy statement on the Baloch issue and said that the government is ready to hold negotiations in the Balochistan Assembly, Dawn reported. The government imposed Section 144 of the Constitution on Saturday in Quetta, banning all types of gatherings, processions and rallies, sealing all roads leading to the "Red Zone", Dawn reported. A BYC member said they were instructed to hold their public meeting somewhere else instead of Gwadar. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday in Tokyo ahead of the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Jaishankar said that they had a wide ranging discussion on regional and global issues. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "Great to catch up with @SecBlinken in Tokyo today. Our bilateral agenda progresses steadily. Also had a wide ranging discussion on regional and global issues. Look forward to attending the Quad FMM tomorrow." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1817440239750676617 Earlier on Sunday, EAM S Jaishankar unveiled the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Freedom Plaza in Edogawa, Tokyo on the sidelines of the Quad Foreign Ministers meeting. Jaishankar attended the ceremony in the presence of Edogawa Mayor, Takeshi Saito, Sibi George, the Ambassador of India to Japan and other ministers, with a group of schoolchildren singing Gandhi's favourite prayer, "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram." Jaishankar said that through this gesture, Japan wishes to deepen its ties with India. "We have gathered here today because Edogawa ward and Mayor Takeshi Saito have decided that they will build a relationship with India by having this wonderful statue of the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi. At this venue and at this park, which they will be naming after him." Jaishankar said that Mahatma Gandhi is a global icon as his messages through his life are timeless. "We have to ask ourselves today, why is it important to have this statue here... the achievements of Gandhi have far outlived his times, with the passage of time, they have become more important. What he taught us, was important then as well as now." Quad is a diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States committed to supporting an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient, according to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (ANI)
Media reports from Pakistan have said that at least 14 Baloch protestors were injured as the Baloch protest march to Gwadar came under fire in Mastung. The Baloch Yakhjeti Committee, which called for the protest march, claimed that several of its cadre are critical after security forces fired at their convoy. "Abdul Mutalib Baloch was shot in the head and is in critical condition, admitted to the ICU. In the brutal massacre at Mastung and other locations, several peaceful participants of the Baloch National Gathering were shot. This brutal attack on the Baloch people reflects the reality of the Baloch genocide. Another participant, Naseer Ahmed, son of Salih, was shot and killed by the army at the Talar checkpoint. His lifeless body is at Turbat Civil Hospital," a post on X by the BYC claimed. Pakistan authorities, however, have not confirmed the death of any protestor but several are said to be critical. The Human Rights Committee of Pakistan expressed deep concern on the reports of the firing and called on the government not to deny the Baloch the right to protest. "HRCP is gravely concerned by the situation unfolding in Balochistan, particularly in Gwadar, Mastung and Turbat, as Baloch citizens continue attempting to gather for the planned Baloch National Gathering. We have received reports of violence against protestors, resulting in injuries, and alleged attempts by state authorities to intimidate leaders of the Baloch Yakjhjeti Committee into calling off the gathering, including through arrests and enforced disappearances," a statement from the HRCP said. "While it is difficult to confirm all such reports, given the connectivity blackout in parts of the province, HRCP calls urgently on the federal and provincial governments not to repeat past mistakes and instead to constitute a high-level parliamentary delegation to meet Baloch representatives and listen carefully to their demands. In any event, as citizens of Pakistan, the protestors should not be denied their constitutional right to assemble peacefully," the statement added. However, the government of Balochistan has denied issuing any orders to security forces to fire on the protest march and said its doors were open for negotiation. "Our doors are still open for negotiations, as the Chief Minister said in the policy statement in the Assembly, peaceful protest is the right of the people, the right of the administration to choose the place under the law. BYC only wants to recognize its right and is not ready to recognize the right of the administration," said Shahid Rind, a spokesperson for the government of Balochistan. Meanwhile, according to the BYC, convoys of Khuzdar, Kalat, Sorab, Chagai, Kharan and Besima have left for Gwadar from Panjgur late last night. The BYC also said that a sit-in protest is going on in Mastung against the alleged state brutality on the Quetta convoy. It was further reported that caravans of the Baloch had successfully crossed the barricades placed after meeting severe restrictions and were headed for Gwadar. https://x.com/mi_baloch13/status/1817437566339039394 A Baloch activist, said on X, that the Marine Drive in Gwadar was completely blocked by Pakistani security forces. Security vehicles are patrolling throughout the city, and hundreds of trucks carrying army personnel in civilian clothing can be seen. However, the BYC remain steadfast and in their last statement said, "Our struggle is for our survival, they cannot break our resolve. We resist because we are left with no other option." (ANI)
The Chinese government has shut down Gangjong Sherig Norbu Lobling, also known as Jigme Gyaltsen Nationalities Vocational School, a reputed Tibetan private school with a history spanning three decades located in Golok Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. A Tibetan human rights activist told ANI that the forced closure of this renowned school signals the intensification of the Chinese government's systematic campaign to assimilate Tibetan cultural identity into the dominant Han Chinese majority. On July 12, four days after the school held its 27th graduation ceremony, its founder and principal, Jigme Gyaltsen, announced the school's closure following government directives. Within two days of the announcement, a hurried closing ceremony was held, with numerous government officials present to observe the closure. On July 14, images and videos on social media showed students and teachers shedding tears and looking distressed. Executive director of the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Dharamshala, Tenzin Dawa, said, "We have received an update... that a highly reputed 30-year-old Tibetan private educational school has been forced to shut down by Chinese authorities inside Tibet... due to the school being run by the Tibetans and for the Tibetans." Dawa added that it was an all-boys school, that had students from both Leh and the monastic community. "This school had contributed a lot in terms of the protection and preservation of the Tibetan language and culture. When we heard the news regarding the closure of the school, Tibetan people were devastated," he said. Dawa said China must implement what their Constitution and regional law provide for the people of ethnic minorities. "It [the closure] was deliberately done by the Chinese authorities with a larger goal to assimilate and close every avenue for Tibetans inside Tibet to practice and preserve their own language and culture. We want to call upon China to implement what their Constitution and regional law provide for the people of ethnic minorities and remind them that they are part of the international community and they have a big obligation in terms of the international treaties that they have signed so they have a right and obligation to respect that," he said. Dawa added, "Anything that violates the rights of the Tibetans inside Tibet will not be forgotten by the Tibetans outside and that we will continue to focus our attention on the Tibetans inside and we will advocate and make sure that these violations are disseminated in the international community." Deputy director of the Tibet Policy Institute in Dharamshala, Tempa Gyaltsen, said that the school closure is to marginalise the Tibetans. "The Chinese government has ordered to close a very prominent educational institute...we believe [reasons] for the closure of this institute is to marginalise Tibetans and to harm the Tibetan culture because Tibetan culture is the core of the Tibetan identity. It will have an immense impact of Tibetans because there is already a very little option for the Tibetans to study Tibetan language and culture. With this closure, there are no or very few institutions that are specifically focused on Tibetan language," Gyaltsen said. Gyaltsen said that the Chinese government has launched a boarding school system and thus wants to turn every community under their occupation, particularly Tibetans, into Chinese. "This is a clear message that they want to turn every Tibetan into Chinese. The Tibet Policy Institute wants to convey to the leadership in Beijing that this is a great mistake because Tibet culture and language is one of the richest cultures to exist and it has a historical heritage that can contribute immensely not only for Tibetans but also for the progress of China." The school closure announcement came one month after President Xi Jinping's June visit to Siling (Ch: Xining), where he visited the government-run Golok Ethnic Middle School and the Tsongkha Tsechen Dargyeling monastery. (ANI)
Members of rap artist Trae the Truths ReliefGang cut apart limbs from a fallen tree from Hurricane Beryl, as the group traveled the city for the Trae Day Weekend Operation Cleanup efforts on July 20 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Even though its been more than two weeks since Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Texas on July 8, the window to prepare for the next tropical storm can be short. Thats why weather experts want to use this crucial prep time to dispel misconceptions people have about hurricanes.

You dont want to assume anything about a particular storm, AccuWeather chief meteorologist Jon Porter said. People can make a lot of assumptions about their previous experiences with a storm and project that forward to future storms.

While the Houston Chronicles online Hurricane Guide provides plenty of information on how to prepare for a hurricane, here are seven hurricane misconceptions that need truth-testing:

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Myth: Youre safe outside of the storms projected track

Every tropical storm and hurricane has its unique signature and characteristics that make them dangerous and cause certain types of impacts, Porter said. Thats why its important to evaluate each storm on its own merits.

Some storms bring intense and life-threatening winds, while others can be slow-moving and bring prolonged rainfall that can lead to devastating flooding.

Although the center of Hurricane Beryl tracked just west of Houston, major portions of the Texas Gulf Coast all the way to Louisiana experienced high winds and tidal flooding because of the storm. The National Hurricane Centers coordination meteorologist Robbie Berg told the Chronicle that the cone of uncertainty, which represents the potential track of a rotating center of a storm, only encompasses about two-thirds of the potential track of a storm.

Determining where a storm may go solely by the cone of uncertainty can be problematic because the cone doesnt indicate anything specific about wind speeds, storm surge, rainfall, potential tornadoes or any other hazards the storms could bring.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Myth: Tropical storms arent as bad as hurricanes

Hurricane categories are based on wind intensity, and if a hurricane is downgraded to a tropical storm, that doesnt mean the dangers of the storm decrease. It also doesnt mean that the storm will continue to downgrade.

Dont assume anything based on wind intensity, Porter said. There are other factors, such as if the storm is intensifying, is it in a steady or weak state, if its weakening as it makes landfall..

When Beryl was downgraded to a tropical storm a few days before it made landfall in Texas, the National Hurricane Center strongly suspected the storm would regain strength and Porter was concerned that Texas Gulf Coast residents would not prepare as well as they could.

As it neared landfall, although Beryl brought a lot of dry air to its circulation, which reduced wind intensity and storm surge, we stressed that the 12 to 18 hours prior to the storm making landfall that the storm would be entering an area where it would be much more favorable for intensification, Porter said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Tropical storms themselves can also be devastating, as longtime Houston residents are aware after Tropical Storm Allison in 2001. The storm dropped a record rainfall over Houston that inundated homes and roads and caused catastrophic flooding for days.

Myth: Beryl took out weak trees, so trees will survive next storm

The tree damage caused by Hurricane Beryl contributed to millions of people losing power across the Greater Houston area. But if a tree didnt fall during that hurricane, it doesnt mean it wont fall during the next, Porter said.

Its possible that other trees and branches that didnt come down in this storm may have been weakened substantially by the wind and they might come down in the next storm, Porter said.

Wind direction also matters, Porter said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Trees might have a root system that is set up a certain way to provide more structure and reinforcement based upon where the wind direction typically comes from, Porter said. When you get gusty and high winds from other unusual directions, that can result in outsized impacts in terms of bringing trees down, especially with saturated ground.

Myth: We already had a hurricane, were done for the year

Since more reliable weather record-keeping began in 1850, those records show only six years when multiple hurricanes hit Texas in a season: 1854, 1886, 1909, 1942, 1989 and 2008.

However, it only takes one hurricane to make landfall to regret not being prepared, said Houston Chronicle meteorologist Justin Ballard.

Especially in a season where were expecting a historic number of named storms, its really important to not let your guard down and not get caught up in a common line of thinking, he said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Although its rare for multiple hurricanes to make landfall in the same season, Ballard said the possibility of tropical storms damaging the same areas is a real threat.

Myth: Storms that start in the Gulf of Mexico will be weaker at landfall

The idea that a hurricane originating in the Gulf of Mexico wont be as intense as one that begins in the tropical Atlantic comes from the thought that a hurricane that begins in the Gulf may not have enough time to intensify before it makes landfall, Ballard said.

Ballard used Hurricane Harvey as an example: Harvey began developing as a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in August 2017. It intensified from a tropical depression to a major hurricane in around 40 hours after swiping Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula earlier in the month as a tropical storm.

Just because a hurricane develops in the Gulf doesnt mean it cant become a major hurricane, it just means you have less time to prepare, Ballard said.

Myth: Only coastal cities need to worry about hurricanes

Even though Houston is about 50 miles from the coast, the center of Hurricane Beryl passed just west of Houston and continued traveling north until becoming downgraded to a tropical storm around Huntsville, and then a tropical depression just south of Longview, more than 260 miles from the coast.

Very rarely do you see hurricane impacts west of San Antonio or Austin, but east of those cities is where you see almost 90% of impacts, Ballard said. From flooding, rain, wind, tornadoes, and storm surges along the coast.

Myth: Wind is the deadliest threat of a hurricane

Although powerful winds can be deadly and contribute to knocking down trees and power lines to trigger widespread outages, the greatest threat to life from a hurricane comes from storm surges.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, storm surges are produced when water from the ocean is pushed toward the shore by the force of winds swirling around a hurricane. A strong storm surge that hit the Southeast Texas coastline in June in Surfside Beach was caused by Tropical Storm Alberto. Parts of the beach were under as much as 4 feet of water.
Prominent Uyghur rights organisation Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) has appreciated the unanimous endorsement of the US Senate Appropriations Committee (USSC) over restricting US visas for Chinese officials related to the detention of Gulshan Abbas, an Uyghur activist sentenced to over 20 years imprisonment by China. The support from the USSC was headed by US Senator Dick Durbin, who condemned the arbitrary detentions of Uyghurs in China. The USSC is a standing committee in the US Senate having jurisdiction over all discretionary spending legislation in the Senate. According to CFU's press statement, Gulshan Abbas was unjustly detained on September 10, 2018, following her sister, CFU Executive Director Rushan Abbas' condemnation of the mass internment and genocidal policies against Uyghurs in China. Gulshan, now aged around 62, suffers from severe medical conditions that necessitate continuous care. Her detention underscores the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) disturbing practice of transnational repression, targeting dissidents and their families beyond China's borders through methods of kin punishment. "I extend my deepest gratitude to Senator Durbin for his commitment to my sister's case. The Senate Appropriations Committee's unanimous decision is a victory and a resounding affirmation of the U.S. government's support for the Uyghur people. Gulshan has remained in unjust detention for far too long. We cannot and will not rest until she and all other unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs are freed. This amendment delivers a stark message to the CCP: detaining innocent people will have consequences," CFU's press statement quoted Rushan Abbas as saying The CFU executive director commended the support shown by the US committee, calling it hope for her family and all Uyghurs who have been suffering due to the CCP's oppression. In another statement, the President of the Uyghur Academy and brother of Dr Gulshan Abbas said, "This amendment is not just about my sister; it's about sending a clear signal that the international community stands with the Uyghur people both within the United States and within the Uyghur region." The issue of Gulshan Abbas's imprisonment has been gathering international attention. Previously, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Mary Lawlor, issued a statement urging China to disclose information about Dr Abbas' condition. In her statement, she mentioned, "Nearly six years after her detention, Dr Abbas' family members still do not have information on where she is being imprisoned, the evidence used to convict her, or most worryingly of all, her health condition." In her statement, Lawlor cited former High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet's 2022 report, which highlighted a pattern of "intimidations, threats, and reprisals" against relatives of Uyghurs in exile who spoke out about human rights abuses in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). The call from the UN Special Rapporteur underscores ongoing international concerns about human rights violations against the Uyghur population in China. (ANI)
Ahead of the scheduled Baloch National Gathering (Rajai Machi) that was to be held on Sunday, several incidents of brutality against the participants were reported from various areas of Balochistan. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in a post on X, expressed grave concerns and condemnation over such acts of violence allegedly inflicted by the Pakistani defence forces. The HRCP said, "HRCP is gravely concerned by the situation unfolding in Balochistan, particularly in Gwadar, Mastung and Turbat, as Baloch citizens continue attempting to gather for the planned Baloch Rajai Muchi. We have received reports of violence against protestors, resulting in injuries, and alleged attempts by state authorities to intimidate leaders of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee into calling off the gathering, including through arrests and enforced disappearances". https://x.com/hrcp87/status/1817272485928378819?s=46&t=nbusnwoIYo9hUrDuoWfhwQ Another statement stated that "While it is difficult to confirm all such reports, given the connectivity blackout in parts of the province, HRCP calls urgently on the federal and provincial governments not to repeat past mistakes and instead to constitute a high-level parliamentary delegation to meet Baloch representatives and listen carefully to their demands. In any event, as citizens of Pakistan, the protestors should not be denied their constitutional right to assemble peacefully." Similar concerns were raised by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) on the brutalities in Balochistan, in a post on X. "For the past 48 hours, the entire Balochistan has been severely subjected to the brutality and oppression of the Pakistani state. All caravans participating in the Baloch National Gathering have been stopped in various areas of Balochistan. In Mastung, Talar, and Turbat, caravans have been fired upon directly, subjected to violence, and targeted with tear gas shells. In Mastung, direct firing has left 11 individuals critically injured, with two in highly critical condition. The situation in Talar is also dire, with reports of numerous injuries, but complete details are unavailable due to the internet shutdown." https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1817245342665965929 The BYC also informed that several people in the Balochistan province have been subjected to arrests, and enforced disappearances, numerous homes have been raided, with women and children being harassed. BYC added that in the Gwadar and Turbat districts, blackouts and curfews have been imposed for the last two days along with a shutdown on the internet. Gwadar city has been completely sieged, and a curfew has been imposed. Helicopters continuously fly over Gwadar and Turbat. https://x.com/hyrbyair_marri/status/1817273988445581467?s=46&t=nbusnwoIYo9hUrDuoWfhwQ Another prominent Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri in a post on X also condemned the actions of the state by calling it an action of the coward. He said, "Coward Punjabis, today you attacked our #Baloch mothers, sisters, and daughters and you abducted and murdered our brothers. Don't forget that you also have women and children as well. You craven #Punjabis shooting and murdering Baloch civilians. Balochistan is Not Pakistan".(ANI)
Shopkeepers and entrepreneurs have observed a shutterdown strike in most areas of Balochistan, including Khuzdar, Kalat, Mangchar, Nushki, Dalbandin, Mastung and Kharan, against state oppression and brutality at the Baloch National Gathering and the imposition of curfew in Makran, including Gwadar, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has said on Sunday. The BYC said that the state cannot stop the struggle against the Baloch genocide by use of force, violence and false propaganda. It further stated that this struggle will end the Baloch genocide. In the video shared by BYC, shops were shut as people proceeded to attend the Baloch National Gathering. Taking to X, the BYC stated, "Voluntary foundations by shopkeepers and entrepreneurs in most areas of Balochistan including Khuzdar, Kalat, Mangchar, Nushki, Dalbandin, Mastung, Kharan today against the state oppression and brutality on Baloch Raji Machi caravans and the imposition of curfew in Makran including Gwadar. But the shutter down strike is going on. "This is a people's struggle against Baloch genocide, which has all the support and support of the Baloch people. The state cannot stop this struggle either by using force and violence or by false propaganda and narrative. The Baloch Raji Machi held in Gwadar on July 28 has spread throughout Balochistan today. This struggle will completely end the Baloch genocide on the Baloch land with the power and strength of the people. https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1817466966774276219 On Saturday, caravans carrying several Balochi people departed from various districts for Gwadar to participate in Baloch National Gathering. The organisers alleged that they had to face harassment and intimidation by the state but the Baloch were determined to join the historic gathering. Pakistani forces had detained several organisers and volunteers in a crackdown ahead of the national gathering, The Balochistan Post reported. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and Balochistan police had previously announced that the state's authority would not be challenged and that force would be used to prevent the 'gathering. Activist Mahrang Baloch, who is at the centre of the protest, said this was not a time to be silent but to resist. As many as 14 members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee who were en route to attend a rally in Gwadar on Saturday were injured after they came under fire at Mastung, Pakistan-based daily, Dawn reported. A blame game ensued after the injured accused the security forces of opening fire at them. Kalat Deputy Commissioner Shayak Baloch said in a press note that the BYC convoy attacked a Levies checkpoint near Matsung, Dawn reported. Leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, Bebarg Baloch said that "a law enforcement agency officer" opened fire on the convoy while they were on the way to Quetta-Karachi highway, Dawn reported. A hospital spokesperson said that five of them were critically injured, Dawn reported. The leader said that when the convoy was stopped in the Thana Sona Khan area, he was also a part of it. He said that they were not allowed to travel to Mastung and accused the security forces of using baton-charge and teargas shelling. In a post on X, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee said that the state army and police attacked the peaceful convoys going to Baloch Raji Machi and fired directly at the peaceful people. Mahrang Baloch said that the security personnel arrested "over 200 people bound for Gwadar." Balochistan government spokesperson, Shahid Rind said that the BYC's claims of firing was false news. "No such orders have been given by Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti or the provincial government. Our doors are still open for negotiations, as the Chief Minister said in the policy statement in the Assembly, peaceful protest is the right of the people, the right of the administration to choose the place under the law. BYC only wants to recognize its right and is not ready to recognize the right of the administration," Shahid Rind posted on X. https://x.com/ShahidRind/status/1817115163138343076 The government imposed Section 144 of the Constitution on Saturday in Quetta, banning all types of gatherings, processions and rallies, sealing all roads leading to the "Red Zone", Dawn reported. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with his US counterpart Antony Blinken in Tokyo on Sunday and expressed commitment to promoting a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed upcoming opportunities to strengthen collaboration between India and the US on shared priorities, according to the statement released by the US State Department. In a statement, the US State Department said, "Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar today in Tokyo. Secretary Blinken and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar affirmed the United States and India's commitment to promoting a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region." "The Secretary and the External Affairs Minister discussed upcoming opportunities to deepen U.S.-India collaboration on shared priorities. Secretary Blinken underscored the importance of realizing a just and enduring peace for Ukraine consistent with the UN Charter," it added. US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu and US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller were present in the meeting. In a post on X, Blinken stated, "Met with Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankarto deepen U.S.-India collaboration and affirm our shared commitment to regional peace, security, and prosperity." EAM Jaishankar said that he and Blinken held talks on regional and global issues. Jaishankar said that he looked forward to attending the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting on Monday. Taking to X, Jaishankar stated, "Great to catch up with @SecBlinken in Tokyo today. Our bilateral agenda progresses steadily. Also had a wide ranging discussion on regional and global issues. Look forward to attending the Quad FMM tomorrow." Quad is a diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States committed to supporting an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient, according to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Earlier in the day, Jaishankar unveiled the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Freedom Plaza in Edogawa, Tokyo. He attended the ceremony in the presence of Edogawa Mayor, Takeshi Saito, Sibi George, the Ambassador of India to Japan and other ministers, with a group of schoolchildren singing Gandhi's favourite prayer, "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram." In a post on X, Jaishankar stated, "Started my visit to Tokyo in Edogawa, unveiling bust of Gandhiji. Bapu's achievements continue to inspire us to this day and his message of peace and non-violence is timeless. His principles are even more relevant today when the world sees so much conflict, tension and polarization." "Thank Mayor Takeshi Saito, Parliamentary Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Masahiro Komura, Member of Parliament Hideo Onishi, members of the Indian community and friends of India for joining us. Happy to learn from the Mayor that the Park, close to the heart of Indian community in Tokyo, would also be soon named as the Gandhi Park," he added. He also met members of Indian community in Japan. In a post on X, Jaishankar stated, "The Little India in Edogawa is thriving. Happy to see the strong people-to-people bonds." (ANI)
A participant in the Baloch National Gathering who was heading to Gwadar from Karachi has accused the Pakistani security forces of abducting the people and forcing them to not participate in the gathering. The forces opened fire at the Baloch National Gathering after the participants refused to go back. In a video posted by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a participant of Baloch National Gathering stated, "The participants of Baloch National Gathering reached Kund Malir last night. After this, the Army FC blocked roads and they are not letting our people go at all. The people sitting there are hungry and thirsty since last night. They don't even have water." "The army is forcefully telling them to go back. But, the people said that they want to go ahead. So, the forces started open firing. After open firing, they are taking our people in a vehicle to unknown places. We don't know where the forces are taking them whether they are sending them back or taking them to another place," a participant added. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee said that Baloch National Gathering has become successful even before it started. They stated that the brutality and oppression cannot do anything to the ideology of Baloch people and requested the people of Balochistan to participate in Baloch National Gathering. While sharing the video on X, BYC stated, "A participant of the Baloch Raaji Muchi Karachi caravan is updating the current situation from Kund Malir. Pakistani security forces have opened fire multiple times, and they are firing on the caravan again." "Pakistani Security forces have abducted many participants of the caravan, Once again, BYC clarify to the state that our Baloch Raaji Muchi has been successful even before it started, and your brutality and oppression cannot do anything to the ideology of the Baloch people. They will die but never stay silent. Furthermore, we want to request the people of Balochistan to come out of their homes and show solidarity with the Baloch Raaji Muchi," it added. https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1817466966774276219 Earlier in the day, the BYC said that shopkeepers and entrepreneurs have observed a shutterdown strike in most areas of Balochistan, including Khuzdar, Kalat, Mangchar, Nushki, Dalbandin, Mastung and Kharan, against state oppression and brutality at the Baloch National Gathering and the imposition of curfew in Makran, including Gwadar. The BYC said that the state cannot stop the struggle against the Baloch genocide by use of force, violence and false propaganda. It further stated that this struggle will end the Baloch genocide. In the video shared by BYC, shops were shut as people proceeded to attend the Baloch National Gathering. Taking to X, the BYC stated, "Voluntary foundations by shopkeepers and entrepreneurs in most areas of Balochistan including Khuzdar, Kalat, Mangchar, Nushki, Dalbandin, Mastung, Kharan today against the state oppression and brutality on Baloch Raji Machi caravans and the imposition of curfew in Makran including Gwadar. But the shutter down strike is going on." "This is a people's struggle against Baloch genocide, which has all the support and support of the Baloch people. The state cannot stop this struggle either by using force and violence or by false propaganda and narrative. The Baloch Raji Machi held in Gwadar on July 28 has spread throughout Balochistan today. This struggle will completely end the Baloch genocide on the Baloch land with the power and strength of the people," it added. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed grave concerns over acts of violence allegedly inflicted by the Pakistani forces. In a post on X, the HRCP said, "HRCP is gravely concerned by the situation unfolding in Balochistan, particularly in Gwadar, Mastung and Turbat, as Baloch citizens continue attempting to gather for the planned Baloch Rajai Muchi. We have received reports of violence against protestors, resulting in injuries, and alleged attempts by state authorities to intimidate leaders of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee into calling off the gathering, including through arrests and enforced disappearances." (ANI)
As part of the USD 3.1 billion 31 MQ-9B Predator drone deal between India and the US, American side is proposing to provide consultancy to Indian entities for developing an indigenous advanced unmanned aerial vehicle. India and the US have been holding discussions for the drone deal for the last few years, under which the three services will get the 31 drones, with the Navy getting 15 birds and the Air Force and Army and Air Force getting two each. The American offer to provide consultancy to Indian entities for developing an advanced Indian drone as part of the project is expected to be taken up for discussion and clearance at the Defence Acquisition Council meeting scheduled to be held on Monday, defence sources told ANI. This would be the first meeting of the DAC under Narendra Modi 3.0 and is expected to provide boost to the indigenization process in defence sector under Rajnath Singh. Sources said that the consultancy is expected to cut down the time taken for development of a highly advanced drone by a significant margin. The MQ-9B drones are planned to be deployed at four places, including INS Rajaji near Chennai and Porbandar in Gujarat, by the Indian Navy, while the other two services will keep them jointly at two bases in Sarsawa and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh at Air Force bases due to long runway requirements. The American firm involved in the government-to-government deal is General Atomics, whose officials held discussions with Indian side in the last few weeks in this regard, the sources said.Sarsawa and Gorakhpur as bases will help in boosting military surveillance capabilities all along the Line of Actual Control with China, from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh. The drone deal is being done at the tri-service level, with the Indian Navy leading the negotiations for it with the American side. The MQ-9B drones require a significant runway length for take off and landing which are available with the Indian Air Force. As per the drone deal with the US, 31 MQ-9B drones are being acquired of which 15 would be for coverage of the maritime zone and would be deployed by the Indian Navy. The IAF and the Army will have eight each of these highly capable long endurance drones and would be able to cover almost all the areas of interest along the LAC with support from other existing assets. The American side has given its letter of acceptance to the Indian side at a price tag of around USD 4 billion but India is not planning to take the entire package and the cost for it would be lower than that. With a flight time of over 36 hours at heights over 40,000 feet, the drones can be armed with Hellfire air-to-ground missiles and smart bombs, this fighter-sized drone specializes in(intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) missions. The Predator drones are expected to significantly enhance India's ability to conduct unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance patrols, particularly in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and along its land borders with China and Pakistan. MQ-9B has proven to be a critical asset in safeguarding India's security interests, as it was used to extensively to monitor anti-piracy operations from naval headquarters to get a clear picture of the actions taking place almost 3,000 km from Indian shores. (ANI)
Svenska Uyghur Kommitten, a Uyghur rights organisation, has urged the Swedish government to recognise the ongoing Uyghur genocide in East Tukistan. In the statement, Svenska Uyghur Kommitten has called on the Swiss government and international community to acknowledge the expansionist policies of China in East Turkistan and demand transparency and accountability from China. In a post on X, the Svenska Uyghur Kommitten stated, "We call on the Swedish government and the international community to not overlook these grave injustices. It is imperative that Sweden recognizes #China's systematic campaign of genocide against the Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples, and acknowledges the unlawful #occupation of East Turkistan. Silence and inaction in the face of such profound suffering are unacceptable". https://x.com/suyghurcommitte/status/1817533293866156320 Svenska Uyghur Kommitten further said, "The world must stand united in demanding transparency, accountability, and an end to these egregious human rights violations. We honour the memory of our martyrs who died in Yarkand and pledge to continue our fight for independence, justice and freedom". Uyghur rights organisation urged political leaders, human rights organisations, and people around the world to raise their voices against the ongoing atrocities in the East Turkistan region. The statement came on the sidelines of the Yarkand Massacre. In the statement, Svenska Uyghur Kommitten stated, "Yarkand Massacre was a brutal and dark chapter in the history of East Turkistan. On July 28, 2014, Chinese government forces began ruthlessly massacring thousands of innocent Uyghurs in Yarkand County, occupied East Turkistan. This tragic event serves as a reminder of the depths of violence and oppression the Uyghur and other Turkic peoples are facing at the hands of the Chinese government". "The massacre began when Chinese police brutally invaded a wedding in Yarkand's Ilishqo, East Turkistan, killing around 150 young innocent Uyghurs in the most brutal ways. In response, their relatives from four villages in Yarkand took to the streets, peacefully protesting against the horrors, torture, and dehumanization they endured. Their demands for freedom and justice were met with a brutal response. The Chinese government, in a gross display of force, unleashed a wave of violence that resulted in the loss of at least 3,000 innocent Uyghur lives," it added. In the statement, the Uyghur rights organisation said that Uyghurs were tortured further, as after the demonstration, a three-day purge ensued, during which Chinese police carried out house-to-house searches, shooting the Uyghurs who had participated in the demonstration as well as those who had not. The number of arrests made during this massacre remains unknown to this day. It is said that after all this, there was almost no one left in Yarkand's Ilishqo, as many had disappeared and gone missing. (ANI)
Thousands of Baloch people have gathered near Gwadar port city for the Baloch National Gathering, popularly known as Baloch Raaji Muchi. However, the participants who were not able to reach the scheduled venue in Gwadar due to hinderances created by the Pakistani state have been reported to organise sit-ins on the spot where they are being stopped, creating multiple peaceful protest locations across Balochistan. In a post on X, Focal Person Baloch National Movement's Foreign Committee, Hakeem Baloch said, "All the tactics used by the state to disperse and defeat the Baloch Raji Muchi have failed. Baloch are now protesting across Balochistan against state brutality and Baloch genocide. On the other hand, thousands of people have arrived in Gwadar." "All the barbarities, including kidnapping, intimidation and shooting of people by the Pakistani state seem unsuccessful and helpless in front of the peaceful struggle of the Baloch Solidarity Committee. While the caravan of Baloch mothers, sisters and daughters is moving towards the destination with success," he added. https://x.com/HakeemWadhela/status/1817536068243112095 An exiled Baloch leader and media head of the Baloch National Movement, Jamal Baloch, highlighted the critical situation in Balochistan. He said that a large number of people gathered on Marine Drive are moving towards Padi Zirr in Gwadar. In a post on X, Jamal Baloch stated, "Gwadar #Balochistan: Thousands of people have gathered on Marine Drive, moving towards the gathering place, Padi Zirr in Gwadar. Meanwhile, Padi Zirr is surrounded by a large number of Pakistani forces to prevent people from assembling." https://x.com/Jam__Baloch/status/1817513321894998060 Earlier in the day, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee said that shopkeepers and entrepreneurs have observed a shutterdown strike in most areas of Balochistan, including Khuzdar, Kalat, Mangchar, Nushki, Dalbandin, Mastung and Kharan, against state oppression and brutality at the Baloch National Gathering and the imposition of curfew in Makran, including Gwadar. The BYC said that the state cannot stop the struggle against the Baloch genocide by use of force, violence and false propaganda. It further stated that this struggle will end the Baloch genocide. In the video shared by BYC, shops were shut as people proceeded to attend the Baloch National Gathering. https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1817466966774276219 Taking to X, the BYC stated, "Voluntary foundations by shopkeepers and entrepreneurs in most areas of Balochistan including Khuzdar, Kalat, Mangchar, Nushki, Dalbandin, Mastung, Kharan today against the state oppression and brutality on Baloch Raji Machi caravans and the imposition of curfew in Makran including Gwadar. But the shutter down strike is going on." "This is a people's struggle against Baloch genocide, which has all the support and support of the Baloch people. The state cannot stop this struggle either by using force and violence or by false propaganda and narrative. The Baloch Raji Machi held in Gwadar on July 28 has spread throughout Balochistan today. This struggle will completely end the Baloch genocide on the Baloch land with the power and strength of the people," it added. (ANI)
A member of the minority Ahmadiyya community was shot dead by two motorcyclists at a dental clinic in Alipur village near Lalamusa City in Pakistan's Punjab on Saturday, Pakistan-based Dawn reported. According to the police, Zakaur Rehman, a medical dispenser, was present in his clinic along the GT Road when two gunmen reached the spot. One of the gunmen entered the clinic and opened fire at him. The assailants fled from the spot after committing the crime. Zakaur Rehman (53) received three bullets in the upper part of his body and died on the spot. A team of Lalamusa Saddar police arrived at the site of the crime and shifted the body to the Kharian Tehsil Headquarters Hospital for a post-mortem, according to Dawn report. In addition, a team from the Punjab Forensic Science Agency arrived at the site and gathering forensic evidence from the spot. A Gujrat police spokesman said there was no security camera inside the clinic and CCTV footage had been obtained from nearby shops to identify the gunmen. Gujrat District Police Officer Mustanser Atta Bajwa inspected the site of the incident and formed different teams under the SP investigation to find the suspects, Dawn reported. According to the police official, victim owned the clinic and had hired a dentist. The official said the victim assisted the dentist as a dispenser. However, the local residents called him a 'doctor.' Jamaat Ahmadiyya Pakistan spokesman has condemned the killing of Zakaur Rehman. He said that the victim was an official of the local Jamaat chapter. He is survived by a widow, a son and three daughters, Dawn reported. The spokesperson added that the attacks on the Ahmadiyya community have witnessed a rise after a Supreme Court decision to release a community member on bail after his review petition was accepted. He called on the government and superior judiciary to take notice of the attacks on Ahmaddiya community members. (ANI)
US President Joe Biden has expressed gratitude to the people of the US for their support. Biden said that he has given his heart and soul to the nation. In a post on X, Biden stated, "Like so many others, I have given my heart and my soul to our nation. And I have been blessed a million times in return with the love and support of the American people. I hope you have some idea how grateful I am to all of you." His statement comes days after Biden announced his decision to not seek a second term and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the presidential nominee for the Democratic Party. US Presidential elections is scheduled to take place on November 5. Earlier this week, Joe Biden emphasised that he has decided to pass the torch to a new generation, adding that his decision to step aside from his campaign is a matter of democracy. Addressing the nation from the Oval Office, the first since he announced his withdrawal from the 2024 election race and endorsed Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party nominee as the country's president, Biden said that this is the best way to unite our nation. "I've decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That's the best way to unite our nation. You know, there is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life. There's also a time and a place for new voices, fresh voices, yes, younger voices and that time and place is now," he said. Biden, who returned to the White House on Tuesday after testing negative for COVID-19, addressed his decision to step aside from his campaign and said that he was framing the 2024 election as a choice "between moving forward and backwards, between hope and hate" and casting his decision as a matter of democracy. "My fellow Americans, it has been the privilege of my life to serve this nation for over 50 years. Nowhere else on earth could a kid with a stutter from modest beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware, one day sit behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office as president of the United States," the US President said. Biden recalled the extraordinary American presidents, including Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt. "In this sacred space, I'm surrounded by portraits of extraordinary American presidents. Thomas Jefferson wrote the immortal words that guide this nation. George Washington showed us that presidents are not kings. Abraham Lincoln, who implored us to reject malice, and Franklin Roosevelt, who inspired us to reject fear, I revere this office, but I love my country more," Biden said. The US President added that in defence of democracy, which is at stake, it is more important than any title. "It's been the honour of my life to serve as your president. But in defence of democracy, which is at stake and is more important than any title. I draw strength and I find joy in working for the American people," he said. "This sacred task of perfecting our union is not about me. It is about you. Your families. Your futures. It is about 'we, the people," he added. "We are a great nation because we are good people. When you elected me to this office, I promised to always level with you, to tell you the truth. The truth, the sacred cause of this country, is larger than any one of us," he said, adding that "We must unite to protect it." Biden further noted that now, in just a few months, the Americans will choose the course of America's future.He also championed his vice president, who's now taking his place on the ticket, and said that he has made his choice and has made his views known. Calling the US Vice President tough and capable, Biden said, "I would like to thank our great vice president, Kamala Harris. She's experienced. She's tough, and she's capable. She's been an incredible partner to me and a leader for our country. Now the choice is up to you, the American people." Further, Biden also highlighted that over the next six months, he will be focused on his job as US President. "Over the next six months, I will be focused on doing my job as president. That means I will continue to lower costs for hard-working families and grow our economy. I will keep defending our personal freedoms and our civil rights, from the right to vote to the right to choose," he said. (ANI)
You have to be a special kind of crazy to be in hospitality. Above: Pico's Restaurant lost electricity for a week following Hurricane Beryl. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Houston stays empowered

Regarding Tony Buzbees class-action lawsuit against CenterPoint now includes more than 100 restaurants (July 17): After our latest tussle with Hurricane Beryl, I overheard my mother dealing with an insurance agent who was trying to negotiate down our claim. You might not understand this being so far removed, but we are living in a scared city right now, she told the agent.

I wondered why, in the face of enormous disruptions to life and business, Houston always pulls through and stands strong. Neighbors firmly support and lift each other through every storm or mass disruption (looking at you, COVID). When these disruptive forces show up, Houston shows up. Community and neighborly love have been woven into our DNA, uniting us and strengthening the fabric of who we are. This is whats special about our city. If youre not a Houstonian, you might not fully get it until youre here. We give Texas Tough a whole new meaning.

In light of the recent mass outages, Id like to acknowledge the unique challenges faced by those of us working in restaurants. You have to be a special kind of crazy to be in hospitality, and you dont need to watch The Bear to know that restaurants are a beast. But in Houston, its a mythical, three-headed beast of epic proportions. Why? Because of the world-class competition (welcome to the party, Michelin Guide Texas  better late than never) and the challenges of running a refrigeration-based business in a city where losing power can be a monthly occurrence. It takes a certain resilience, grit and pain tolerance to keep showing up.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Despite our challenges, Houston is never a scared city. We are the Clutch City. We always pull through.

Iman Yarjani, CEO, Ember & Greens Restaurant and Bar

Bibi goes to Washington

Regarding Israel PM rips anti-war protests (July 25): Inviting the architect of the ongoing atrocities in Gaza to a joint session of Congress is a national disgrace.

Instead of applause for this war criminal, our elected representatives should clasp their hands in prayer for thousands of Palestinian children who no longer have hands to clap, thanks to indiscriminate shelling of Gazan schools, hospitals and playgrounds. Instead of standing ovations, they should stay seated with bowed heads in tribute to countless Palestinians who no longer have legs to stand on, thanks to the blast of 500-pound bombs made in the USA. Instead of cheers, they should observe a solemn moment of silence for all the innocent voices forever stilled by the Israel Defense Forces, like that of 6-year-old Hind Rajab, murdered in a hail of bullets from a nearby Israeli tank as she was crying for rescue on her dead cousins cellphone.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

By honoring this heartless brute, Congress confesses its complicity in his bloody misdeeds. Shame on them all.

Steve Smith, Sugar Land

Prime Minister Netanyahu was incorrectly quoted as saying American opponents of the war in Gaza are idiots. This is a gross mischaracterization of his intent which was, in fact, much more targeted. His actual quote was:

I have a message for these protesters: When the tyrants of Tehran, who hang gays from cranes and murder women for not covering their hair are praising, promoting and funding you, you have officially become Irans useful idiots.

The term useful idiots, usually attributed to Vladimir Lenin, refers to those who are unknowingly advancing agendas they do not fully understand. As a result, useful idiots are acting as pawns for entities spreading propaganda, in this case most likely Palestinian proxies such as Iran. We have seen in interviews with many of these protesters they have no real concept as to what they are protesting (which river, which sea?). This is a whole different level of idiocy.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Carole Paul Vesely, Houston
United States and Japan on Sunday emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the South China Sea amid China's assertiveness in the region. The two countries agreed Sunday to upgrade the command functions of the US forces in Japan for better coordination of the US-Japan bilateral alliance. A US-Japan Security Consultative Committee meeting also referred to as the "2+2" in Tokyo today was attended by the US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Japan Minister of Defence Kihara Minoru apart from US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and the Japanese foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa. Following the 2+2 Security talks, the foreign and defence ministers of the two countries vowed to explore ways to strengthen the US-Japan Alliance deterrence and response capabilities to uphold the free and open rules-based international order. The US Defence Secretary and his counterparts underscored bilateral progress to build a global partnership for the future, including upgrading the command and control functions (C2) of the US forces in Japan, deepening defence industry and advanced technology cooperation, and enhancing cross-domain operations. The extended deterrence includes US nuclear protection provided to Japan. As per the joint statement of the US-Japan ministerial meeting on extended deterrence, the foreign and defence ministers of the two countries shared assessments of "an increasingly deteriorating regional security environment." The statement mentioned China's accelerating and opaque expansion of its nuclear arsenal, and Russia's undermining of arms control and the global nonproliferation regime, including through its expanding military cooperation and unlawful arms transfers with North Korea. It also noted North Korea's continued destabilizing behaviour and sustained pursuit of its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The United States and Japan reiterated the need to reinforce the Alliance's deterrence posture, and manage existing and emerging strategic threats through deterrence, arms control, risk reduction, and non-proliferation. The foreign and defence ministers of both the countries confirmed that US and Japan, through the Extended Deterrence Dialogue (EDD), will continue to explore how best to reinforce extended deterrence in order to promote regional stability and deter the outbreak of conflict. Since 2010, US and Japanese officials have coordinated on extended deterrence policy primarily through the US-Japan EDD. "We held a separate two-plus-two ministerial level meeting on extended deterrence, and that has never been done before," US Defence Secretary Austin said addressing a joint press conference with Blinken and the two Japanese ministers after the high level meetings. "During that meeting, I reaffirmed our ironclad commitment to defend Japan with the full range of our capabilities, including our nuclear capabilities," Austin said. The new joint force headquarters, Austin said, will be commanded by a three-star officer and will serve as a counterpart to Japan's own Japan Self-Defence Forces Joint Operations Command. Headquartered in Yokota Air Base in the suburbs of Tokyo, the joint force headquarters according to Austin will "facilitate deeper interoperability and cooperation on joint bilateral operations (with Japan) in peacetime and during contingencies." It will be commanded by a three-star officer who will report to the commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, the US Defence Secretary said. According to a joint statement of the Security Consultative Committee Tokyo and Washington will explore co-production opportunities to expand production capacity of both the advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles and the Patriot advanced capability-3 ground-based interceptor missiles, both developed in the United States. Japan and the United States reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The ministers emphasized Taiwan's political transition period "should not be used as a pretext for provocative actions across the Taiwan Strait." Immediately after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's inauguration in May, China had conducted a military drill around the self-governed island. Chinese military drill surrounding the island that took place after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's inauguration in May. US and Japanese ministers also expressed serious concerns about the dismantling of Hong Kong's autonomy and freedoms as well as "China's human rights issues, including in Xinjiang and Tibet." Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko today in Tokyo and exchanged views on the bilateral alliance between the two countries and its role as the cornerstone of security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that Blinken and Kamikawa committed to continuing progress on security commitments made during Japanese PM Fumio Kishida's official visit to Washington, DC, in April this year as well as the Security 2+2 ministerial conference in Tokyo today. (ANI)
Amidst China's assertiveness in the East and South China seas, Japan, the US and South Korea on Sunday signed a memorandum institutionalizing their trilateral defence ties to sustain policy consultations, information-sharing and joint exercises. The meeting was the "first of its kind in 15 years," reported CNN and came nearly one year after a landmark summit between the three countries held by US President Joe Biden at Camp David. In their July 28 meeting, the defence chiefs of US, Japan and South Korea vowed to strengthen cooperation to deter "nuclear and missile threats" from North Korea and formalized a trilateral agreement that reaffirms the "unwavering nature of the new era of trilateral cooperation," as per a joint statement. "By signing this memorandum, our trilateral cooperation...has become more solidified and will not waver, even under changes in international circumstances," Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara was cited by Kyodo news agency following his meeting with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won Sik. Apparently with China's forceful stance in the East and South China seas in mind, they also reaffirmed in the Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework that they "strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the waters of the Indo-Pacific." The Japanese news agency explained that tensions have been running high over China's maritime claims in the South China sea amid confrontation between Chinese and Philippine vessels. Chinese vessels have also repeatedly intruded into Japanese territorial waters around the Tokyo-controlled, Beijing-claimed uninhabited Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, Kyodo said. Kihara, Austin and Shin had agreed to institutionalize trilateral security cooperation when they last met in June in Singapore. In June this year, US, Japan and South Korea conducted a new annual joint military exercise dubbed "Freedom Edge," spanning aerial, naval and cyber domains in areas including the East China Sea. Also, yesterday in Tokyo, the US Defence Secretary Austin, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and their Japanese counterparts Minoru Kihara and Yoko Kamikawa met to deepen US-Japan defence cooperation. In a joint statement after the meeting in Tokyo on Sunday the two countries termed China's "political, economic, and military coercion" as the "greatest strategic challenge" in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, as per a report in the CNN. Austin in a press conference in Tokyo following a "2+2" meeting in the Japanese capital said today that US forces in Japan would be "reconstituted" as a joint force headquarters reporting to the Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command. "This will be the most significant change to US Forces Japan since its creation, and one of the strongest improvements in our military ties with Japan in 70 years," Austin said. As per CNN, China was repeatedly mentioned with pointed language in the joint statement, with the ministers outlining shared concerns including what they described as Beijing's "intensifying attempts to unilaterally change the status quo" in the East China Sea, its "threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea," and its "support for Russia's defense industrial base." (ANI)
A Hong Kong court has rejected jailed pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai's legal bid to end his ongoing national security trial, which is widely seen as politically motivated, VOA News reported. Lai's legal team attempted to end the proceedings by stating that the prosecution did not have enough evidence. However, the court rejected the argument of Lai's lawyers, saying it believes prosecutors do have enough evidence to support the three charges against Lai, per VOA News report. Judge Esther Toh, one of a panel of three hand-picked judges hearing the case, said, "Having considered all the submissions, we ruled that the first defendant [Lai] has a case to answer on all the charges." Lai's national security trial, which started in Hong Kong in December 2023, is set to resume on November 20, when Lai is expected to present evidence, according to VOA News report. Jimmy Lai's national security trial began in Hong Kong in December 2023. It is set to resume on November 20, when Lai is expected to give evidence. The 76-year-old UK citizen has pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiracy to plan with foreign forces and a less severe charge of conspiracy to publish seditious materials. If pro-democracy publisher is convicted, he could face life in prison. Press freedom groups have condemned Lai's trial, calling it a sham. US and UK governments have called for the immediate release of Jimmi Lai. In a statement, Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, who leads Lai's international legal team, said, "The authorities have done all they can to silence Jimmy Lai. They have introduced a draconian law to criminalise dissent. They have shut down his newspaper. They have subjected him to a barrage of spurious prosecutions. And his current trial has been beset by repeated delays." Lai is the founder of the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, which authorities closed in 2021. He is facing trial under Hong Kong's harsh national security law, which was implemented in 2020 and has resulted in a rapid deterioration in press freedom. However, the authorities in Hong Kong and China have stressed that the national security law has fostered stability in Hong Kong. Officials in Hong Kong have insisted that Lai's trial is fair. Jimmy Lai has been in solitary confinement for over three and a half years. He is serving a sentence of five years and nine months after he was convicted for violating a lease contract for Apple Daily's office. Lai's son Sebastien voiced concern regarding the continued delays in what he termed his father's "show trial". In a statement, he said, "At a time when most people get to enjoy their retirement and spend time with family, my father is in solitary confinement in a Hong Kong prison." He further said, "Now we learn of a four month delay within the trial itself, so this unfair process drags on even longer." Sebastien urged the UK government to take action to end the "farce" and secure his father's release. He said, "My father should not be in prison in the first place. I implore the UK Government to take action to end this farce and secure my father's immediate release." (ANI)
Polling for Venezuela's presidential elections opened on Sunday, as incumbent Nicolas Maduro faces his toughest electoral battle after coming to power 11 years ago amid an ongoing economic crisis, Al Jazeera reported. Queues of voters were seen outside polling stations in six different locations around the country on Sunday. Nearly 21 million people are registered to vote in the polls. This comes as a reinvigorated opposition trying to end the 25-year rule by the United Socialist Party with the promise to end the decade-long economic crisis that forced 7 million people to migrate from the country. Polls close at 6 pm (local time) and results could be published late on Sunday night or in the following days. Authorities set Sunday's election to coincide with what would have been the 70th birthday of former President Hugo Chavez, the revered leftist leader who died of cancer in 2013. Maduro, 61, who took over after Chavez's death, is seeking a third term in office. The two-time president is up against an opposition that has managed to line up behind a single candidate after years of intraparty divisions and election boycotts that torpedoed their ambitions to topple the governing party, as reported by Al Jazeera. President Maduro's main challenger is 74-year-old Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who was declared opposition bloc candidate after the main opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, was banned from holding public office. However, the opposition and observers have raised concerns about whether the vote will be fair, saying decisions by electoral authorities and the arrests of opposition staff are meant to create obstacles, according to Al Jazeera. Maduro's government has presided over an economic collapse, the migration of about a third of the population, and a sharp deterioration in diplomatic relations. Sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union and others have crippled an already struggling oil industry. Maduro - whose 2018 re-election is considered 'fraudulent' by the US, among others - has said the country has the "world's most transparent" electoral system and has warned of a "bloodbath" if he were to lose. Maduro has said he will guarantee peace and economic growth, making Venezuela less dependent on oil income. He also said he would recognise the result of the presidential election and urged other candidates to publicly declare the same. The incumbent president has claimed "no one is going to create chaos in Venezuela" after the voting on Sunday, as reported by Al Jazeera. "I recognise and will recognise the electoral referee, the official announcements," and that he would make sure the result is recognised. He called on the other nine candidates "to respect, to make respected and to declare publicly that they will respect the official announcement" of the winner. (ANI)
FILE PHOTO: A plane believed to have carried Mexican drug lord Mexican drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" and Joaquin Guzman Lopez arrested in El Paso, is seen in Santa Teresa

FILE PHOTO: A plane believed to have carried Mexican drug lord Mexican drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" and Joaquin Guzman Lopez arrested in El Paso, is seen in Santa Teresa

By Drazen Jorgic

(Reuters) - As a propeller plane on Thursday whirred towards the U.S.-Mexico border to cross illegally, U.S. agents raced to meet it at a small municipal airport near El Paso, Texas, and arrest two men who were part of Mexican drug trafficking royalty.

The son of jailed former Sinaloa Cartel kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman planned to give himself up upon landing. The other passenger - legendary septuagenarian trafficker Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada  did not and was duped into getting on the plane by the younger man, according to two current and two former U.S. officials familiar with the situation.

Zambada's arrest followed lengthy surrender talks between U.S. authorities and El Chapo's son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the sources said. But many American officials had given up hope on Joaquin turning himself in, and were caught unaware when he sent a last-minute message that he would arrive with a kingpin U.S. authorities had been chasing for four decades.

"El Mayo was the cherry on top," said one U.S. official, who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the arrests. "It wasn't expected at all."

Guzman Lopez had convinced Zambada to board the plane by telling him that they were flying to see real estate in northern Mexico, according to the two current and one former U.S. officials.

Reuters was the first news organization to report the arrests, ahead of a Department of Justice statement on Thursday evening that confirmed the two men had been detained in El Paso. The news agency spoke to current and former officials to piece together a detailed account of the operation.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the two agencies who carried out the operation, scrambled agents from their local El Paso offices and barely reached the airport by the time the private plane was landing, according to a fifth source, a U.S. official who declined to give further details on the arrests.

One worker at the Dona Ana County International Jetport, near El Paso, told Reuters he saw a Beechcraft King Air plane land on Thursday afternoon on the runway, where federal agents were already waiting.

"Two individuals got off the plane ... and were calmly taken into custody," said the man, who declined to share his name out of concern for his safety.

The unexpected arrest of El Mayo, in his late 70s, and the way he appears to have been betrayed by Guzman Lopez, who is about 38 years old, has jolted the Mexican drug trafficking world, triggering fears of a bloody fissure in the Sinaloa Cartel between the two families that control the group's biggest power bases.

Zambada is accused of being one of the most consequential traffickers in Mexico's history, having co-founded the Sinaloa Cartel with "El Chapo" Guzman, who was extradited to the U.S. in 2017 and is serving a life sentence in a maximum security prison in Colorado.

Reuters could not determine why Guzman Lopez betrayed his father's long-time partner, though the four current and former sources said it was likely due to his desire to obtain a more favourable plea bargain deal from U.S. authorities and help his brother, Ovidio, who was arrested and extradited to the United States in 2023.

U.S. authorities have made drug bosses key targets, frequently striking plea bargain deals with them in exchange for information that leads to the capture of other high-ranking cartel figures.

The back-channel communication between American officials and Guzman Lopez was carried out through lawyers, the first official said. Jeffrey Lichtman, who represents both Guzman brothers, declined to comment.

Zambada, who was in a wheelchair, pleaded not guilty on Friday in a Texas courtroom to drug charges, including continuing criminal enterprise, narcotics importation conspiracy and money laundering.

His lawyer, Frank Perez, said on Friday that Zambada did not come to the U.S. voluntarily. On Saturday night, Perez said Guzman Lopez had "forcibly kidnapped" in Mexico and brought him to the United States against his will.

Guzman Lopez is due to appear in court next week in Chicago, where he was first indicted on drugs charges around 6 years ago.

Guzman Lopez is one of four sons of El Chapo - known as Los Chapitos, or Little Chapos - who inherited their father's faction of the cartel. Joaquin and Ovidio have the same mother, while the other two siblings  Ivan and Jesus Alfredo  hail from El Chapo's first marriage.

The brothers have in recent years come under ferocious pressure from U.S. authorities, who have made them their main anti-narcotics targets, portraying them and the Sinaloa Cartel as the biggest traffickers of fentanyl into the United States. Fentanyl overdoses have surged to become the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45.

Ray Donovan, a former high-ranking U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) official, said the defeats suffered by key Sinaloa Cartel bosses in recent past are mainly down to their embrace of fentanyl, which has risen up the political agenda in Washington as the death told has mounted on U.S. streets.

"The number of Americans dying has put a lot more pressure," Donovan said. "Fentanyl brought them down."

On Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden heralded the arrests and vowed to continue combating "the scourge of fentanyl".

NEW GENERATION OF NARCOS

El Chapo's sons are known to be more violent and hot-headed than Zambada, who had a reputation as a shrewd operator that liked to stay in the shadows. Guzman Lopez was also seen as less important than his other three brothers.

The U.S. authorities had a $15 million reward for the capture of Zambada, who co-founded the Sinaloa Cartel in the late 1980s with El Chapo. Guzman Lopez had a $5 million bounty on his head. Both men face multiple indictments in the United States.

The first U.S. official cautioned that there are still many questions unanswered about how or why Zambada, an ultra-cautious and experienced cartel chieftain, found himself on that plane.

Mexican Security Minister Rosa Rodriguez said that Mexico was informed of the detentions by the U.S. government, but that Mexican authorities did not participate in the operation.

Outgoing Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has taken a cautious approach to tackling the powerful cartels, curbing security cooperation with U.S. authorities on fears that the previous U.S.-Mexico strategy of targeting powerful kingpins was triggering more nationwide violence.

In Oct. 2019, Mexico's military arrested Ovidio but were forced to release him after hundreds of Sinaloa Cartel foot soldiers blocked roads and fought running gun battles with soldiers as they to lay siege to the city of Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa. The military arrested Ovidio again in Jan. 2023 and he was extradited in September last year.

Matthew Allen, a former Special Agent in Charge of HSI's Arizona division that built indictments against Guzman Lopez and other Sinaloa Cartel figures, said both Zambada and Guzman Lopez had had periodic conversations with U.S. officials about surrendering over the years.

Allen, who maintains regular contact with former colleagues at HSI, said many traffickers, especially those from the younger generation, realize that giving themselves up, serving some time in jail and then spending their wealth is a better option than risking death from rivals in Mexico or capture by authorities that can lead to lifelong prison terms. Some informants are allowed to enter witness protection programs.

"They're seeing that this way you can do your time and do not have to look over your shoulder for the rest of your life," he said.

(Reporting by Drazen Jorgic in London; Additional reporting by Luc Cohen in New York, Laura Gottesdiener and Ana Isabel Martinez in Mexico City; Editing by Daniel Flynn)
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.  The St. Louis County Police Department arrested a juvenile for escaping confinement and stealing a guards vehicle. The juvenile, who escaped from the Missouri Division of Youth Services, has since been re-arrested. The escape happened on April 2.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, the juvenile was in custody at the facility when they pushed a guard to the ground, causing her to hit her head. While the guard was on the ground, the juvenile and another juvenile took the guards car keys from her pocket. The two escapees then stole the guards vehicle, a red 2012 Nissan Rogue.

A waiting game for St. Louis County senior tax freeze applications

The victim reported that the two juveniles also took her cellphone, backpack, and keys, and shoved her twice.

One of the juveniles has been arrested and is being held without bond. The arrested juvenile is charged with robbery, attempting to escape from confinement, auto theft, and assault.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
A viral video of Aftandil Sabyrbekov proposing to Lazzat Nurgozhoeva sparked the fury of the president

Kyrgyzstans president has imprisoned his nieces fiance after he staged an embarrassingly ostentatious marriage proposal while deadly mudslides hit the south of the country.

Sadyr Japarov was furious when Aftandil Sabyrbekov, the partner of his beauty queen niece, used a government helicopter for the elaborate wedding proposal last month.

I apologise to the people for my niece, the leader of the former Soviet Central Asian state said in media interviews. She also listens to peoples opinions. I believe that she will draw the right conclusions from this.

When Mr Sabyrbekov failed to issue his own public apology, Mr Japarov lost patience and ordered his arrest a fortnight later on drug-related charges.

Mr Japarov also briefed the media that Mr Sabyrbekov did not love his niece and had only proposed to her because he wanted to build political patronage to protect himself and to hide his illegal activities.

People convicted of drug-related crimes in Kyrgyzstan usually spend years in prison.

Mr Japarov has made a show of admonishing politicians for wasting money since he seized power in a coup nearly four years ago - Richard Bord/Getty Images

The engagement video that sparked Mr Japrovs fury showed the young couple dressed in white flying to a mountainside location on one of only three Kyrgyz Emergencies Ministry helicopters that they had rented for 1,500 per hour.

After hopping out of the helicopter, they strolled down a wooden walkway hand-in-hand and kissed next to a giant white heart as friends clapped and cheered as fireworks exploded in the background.

The video went viral in Kyrgyzstan and infuriated Mr Japarov, who has made a show of admonishing politicians for wasting money since he seized power in a coup nearly four years ago.

His 23-year-old niece, Lazzat Nurgozhoeva, who was Miss Kyrgyzstan 2020, has deleted the video from her Instagram channel but analysts said that Mr Japarov needed to be seen to impose discipline, just as his role model Vladimir Putin had done in December when he punished Russian TV personalities and presenters for their decadent nearly naked Christmas party.

Lots of people discussed the lavish marriage proposal that seemed to use state assets as a sign of high-level corruption, said Erica Marat, a Central Asia expert and associate professor at the National Defense University in Washington. The arrest of his nieces fiance is a move to quell domestic criticism.

People are evacuated to safety by search and rescue teams after heavy rains caused flooding in Nookat on July 1 - Anadolu via Getty Images

Edward Lemon, an associate professor at Texas A&M University, agreed. He said that Mr Japarov wanted to present himself as a man of the people.

In reality, his regime is deeply corrupt. They just prefer their kleptocratic activities to take place outside of the public eye, he said.

Kyrgyzstan is one of the poorest countries in Asia, with an average monthly GDP of 930 per person. Cash sent back by Kyrgyz working in Russia is a major source of income and when David Cameron visited Bishkek in April as foreign secretary, he discussed organising a flow of migrant workers to Britain from Kyrgyzstan.

The West has been trying to woo Kyrgyzstan and the four other former Soviet Central Asian states since Russias invasion of Ukraine, but Mr Japarovs natural authoritarian bent has made this complicated.

This year Mr Japarov has imposed a Kremlin-inspired foreign agents Bill that will give the government more power to interfere with NGOs by forcing those that receive funding from overseas to register with a special government body, and he regularly arrests critical journalists.

Some Western NGOs have already quit Kyrgyzstan, once held up by the US as a beacon of democracy in the region, complaining that it was now impossible for them to continue working under the new rules.

This includes George Soross Open Society Foundations which had given out grants in Kyrgyzstan worth roughly 100 million over 30 years.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Imagine waking up one day to find that people who dont live in your city, who may have never even visited, suddenly have the power to decide how roughly $40 million of your citys tax dollars are spent. But this isnt a bad dream  its the reality that Kansas City faces if Amendment 4 passes on Aug. 6.

As the Mayor of Kansas City, Ive witnessed firsthand the challenges our community faces and the innovative solutions weve developed to address them. But because the State of Missouri refuses to give our city control of our police department, we have to tackle public safety challenges with one hand tied behind our back. Amendment 4 attempts to tie our other hand, too. It threatens to undermine our ability to address the unique needs of our city, which is why I urge you to vote No on Aug. 6.

Whats at stake?

Amendment 4 proposes to increase the minimum funding the City of Kansas City must allocate to the police department from 20% to 25% of our general revenues. This might sound like a minor change, but it would cost our taxpayers an additional $40 million each year  money that could otherwise support our firefighters, maintain our parks, or repair our roads.

Let me be clear: Ive always supported our police department. Since becoming mayor in 2019, Ive voted to increase the police budget every year. This year alone, I raised officer starting salaries from $50,000 to $65,000. Our current police budget is 20% higher than it was when I took office.

But heres the crux of the issue: Amendment 4 is not about supporting police. Its about giving more power to Jefferson City bureaucrats and taking power from you through your local elections.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas

The anti-Kansas City (and anti-local government) agenda

Currently, Kansas City is unique in Missouri  and indeed, in the entire country  in that our police department is controlled by a state-appointed board rather than by local elected officials. This system dilutes the voices of Kansas City residents when determining our public safety priorities.

The system has a financial component, too. Kansas City has to write KCPD a $200+ million blank check every year, representing 20% of our general revenues. We cant require that the police spend it responsibly by, for example, increasing officer salaries, improving community policing, improving 911 hold times, or investing in cutting-edge crime prevention technologies. We write a check and hope for the best.

We can, and often do, spend more than 20% of general revenues on KCPD. But spending that extra money is our choice. We evaluate our citys priorities and needs, ask KCPD what they would do with extra non-mandatory funding, and decide whether or not to put our money toward policing.

Amendment 4 would put an end to even that limited exercise of local control. It would increase mandatory funding from 20% to 25%, forcing our hand regardless of our citys changing needs or priorities. Its a power grab disguised as a public safety measure.

This isnt just a Kansas City issue. If Amendment 4 passes, it sets a dangerous precedent. Today, its Kansas City. Tomorrow, it could be Springfield, Nixa, or Ozark. The fundamental principle of local governance  that communities should have the power to make decisions about their own affairs  is at stake.

Why Im noting No, and you should too

When you step into the voting booth on Aug. 6, youre not just deciding on a budget allocation. Youre deciding on the future of local control in Missouri.

A No vote on Amendment 4 is a vote for local control and accountability. Its a vote for flexible, responsive city budgeting. And its a vote affirming that local people should decide their communitys future, not unelected Jefferson City appointees.

Two years ago, Kansas City residents rejected the same measure by 61%. But voters from across the state, many unfamiliar with the complexities of our local governance, were misled into approving it. The Missouri Supreme Court struck down that vote due to misleading language. Now, we have another chance to make our voices heard.

As Mayor of Kansas City, Im asking you to join me in voting No on Amendment 4. Lets send a clear message that we believe in local solutions for local problems, and that we trust our communities to govern themselves.

The future of our city  and the principle of local governance across Missouri  depends on it.

Quinton Lucas is mayor of Kansas City.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Lucas: A 'Yes' vote on Missouri Amendment 4 threatens local democracy
Surrounding states bracing for spike in demand as Iowa abortion ban set to take effect

Surrounding states bracing for spike in demand as Iowa abortion ban set to take effect

Abortion providers are bracing for Iowas near total abortion ban to take effect on Monday.

In Illinois, the Chicago Abortion Fund, a group which provides referrals and funds to those seeking abortions, saw a 165 percent increase in support requests from patients in Iowa this month, it told The Washington Post.

Its staggering even to me, the groups executive director Megan Jeyifo said.

Last month, the Iowa Supreme Court lifted a hold on a 2023 state law, banning abortions in most cases after six weeks, after a lower court temporarily blocked the law.

The ban will now take effect Monday morning.

In preparation, Planned Parenthood told NBC News its expanding services in surrounding states like Illinois, Minnesota, and Nebraska.

We are standing by ready to help patients receive access to care, even if that means traveling out of state, Ruth Richardson, president of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said.

The Emma Goldman Clinic, based in Iowa City, said it will seek to support patients who need to travel out of state now for care.

We will help those for whom we are unable to provide abortion services to navigate the logistics of seeking care in other states, it said in a statement.

Prior to the 2023 law, which contains exceptions for rape, incest, fetal abnormality, and lethal risks to the mother, Iowa banned abortions after 22 weeks.

Abortions expected to drop 97 percent once the new law takes effect, according to Planned Parenthood.
President Joe Biden prays by the flag-draped coffin of the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, with her widower, Elwyn Lee and children Erica Lee and Jason Lee, in the rotunda of Houston City Hall Monday, July 29, 2024, in Houston. Jackson Lee died on July 19 after battling pancreatic cancer. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer President Joe Biden carries a bouquet of flowers to the flag-draped coffin of the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee in the rotunda of Houston City Hall Monday, July 29, 2024, in Houston. Jackson Lee died on July 19 after battling pancreatic cancer. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer President Joe Biden places a bouquet of flowers by the flag-draped coffin of the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, with her widower, Elwyn Lee and children Erica Lee and Jason Lee, in the rotunda of Houston City Hall Monday, July 29, 2024, in Houston. Jackson Lee died on July 19 after battling pancreatic cancer. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer A Houston Police Honor Guard officer stands by the flag-draped coffin of the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee as she lay in state in the rotunda of Houston City Hall Monday, July 29, 2024, in Houston. Jackson Lee died on July 19 after battling pancreatic cancer. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer President Joe Biden places a bouquet of flowers by the flag-draped coffin of the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, with her widower, Elwyn Lee and children Erica Lee and Jason Lee, in the rotunda of Houston City Hall Monday, July 29, 2024, in Houston. Jackson Lee died on July 19 after battling pancreatic cancer. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer A Houston Police Honor Guard officer stands by the flag-draped coffin of the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee as she lay in state in the rotunda of Houston City Hall Monday, July 29, 2024, in Houston. Jackson Lee died on July 19 after battling pancreatic cancer. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer President Joe Biden carries a bouquet of flowers to the flag-draped coffin of the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee in the rotunda of Houston City Hall Monday, July 29, 2024, in Houston. Jackson Lee died on July 19 after battling pancreatic cancer. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer President Joe Biden exits Air Force 1 upon arrival at Ellington Field on Monday, July 29, 2024, in Houston. Biden came to Houston to pay his respects to the late U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee as she lies in state in the rotunda of Houston City Hall. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer President Joe Biden exits Air Force 1 upon arrival at Ellington Field on Monday, July 29, 2024, in Houston. Biden came to Houston to pay his respects to the late U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee as she lies in state in the rotunda of Houston City Hall. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Houston Mayor John Whitmire, left, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, second from left, and others greet President Joe Biden at Ellington Field on Monday, July 29, 2024, in Houston. Biden came to Houston to pay his respects to the late U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee as she lies in state in the rotunda of Houston City Hall. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

President Joe Biden will be in Houston on Monday night to pay his respects to U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and her family.

The White House confirmed on Sunday that Biden will travel to Houston after making a speech in Austin at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Jackson Lee died July 19 at the age of 74 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She served Houstons 18th Congressional District for nearly 30 years.

Sheila Jackson Lee was a great American, Biden said in a statement. I had the honor of working with her during her nearly 30 years in Congress. No matter the issue  from delivering racial justice to building an economy for working people  she was unrelenting in her leadership.

In 2021, Biden signed legislation that Jackson Lee had authored to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.

It will be Bidens fourth trip to Texas this year. In January he attended a memorial service for former U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas. In February he was in Brownsville to promote a bipartisan border security bill that failed in Congress. And in March he attended fundraisers in Dallas and Houston over two days.

It will be Bidens first visit to Texas since he announced on July 21 that he would not seek re-election to the White House.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running for president in Biden's place, is scheduled to attend a celebration of life service for Jackson Lee on Thursday. Former President Bill Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are among others who have confirmed they will attend that ceremony.
A brown-headed cowbird rests on the back of a bison on July 09, 2024, at Yellowstone National Park. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Yellowstone National Park released its new bison management plan Wednesday which has been in the works for more than two years and will aim to keep around 5,000 bison in the parks herds and continue prioritizing the use of a program to transfer healthy bison to tribes across the country.

The park will keep the bison population in a range of between 3,500 and 6,000 animals after calving, which will keep the population in line with the average of about 5,000 bison that has been largely maintained during the past 10 years.

The record of decision contains most of the same goals as the final environmental impact statement released in June, but the Gianforte administration continues to express its displeasure with the plan and its involvement.

The new plan, which was ordered to be completed following lawsuits that challenged the adequacy of the original proposal, is the first update since the last one was completed in 2000. The park chose the second of three alternatives that were available.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Park officials said new scientific information showing no Yellowstone bison had transferred brucellosis to cattle, and changes to the land surrounding the park and the addition of tribal hunting were factors that went into the management changes.

Brucellosis is a disease present in 60% of adult female bison and many elk in the park that can cause abortions in pregnant animals and can spread to other animals. Montana has for years fought an increased bison population over fears they would spread the disease to Montana cattle.

This new plan solidifies much of the progress made over the past two decades and provides a foundation for future decision making, Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly said in a statement. We appreciate the significant engagement on this plan by our affiliated Tribes, partners, and the general public.

Details of the plan

In addition to setting population boundaries, the plan aims to keep the Bison Conservation Transfer Program at full capacity  capturing and holding from 100 to 300 bison for the program each year that will eventually be sent to Native American tribes in 12 different states to establish their own herds. The Interagency Bison Management Plan team would continue its operations and biannual planning.

The plan would continue the Tribal Food Transfer Program by which brucellosis-positive bison are sent to tribes like the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to be processed for food, and also continue to manage the herds through tribal and State of Montana hunting when bison leave the park boundary in the winter. That program is also beneficial, Sholly said, because it keeps the incident rates of brucellosis down within the population.

Bison on Blacktail Deer Plateau (NPS/Diane Renkin)

If the population sits at 5,200 or more at the start of winter, the park would establish an assurance threshold and would manage the population to decrease it so there are not more than 6,000 bison after calving and rely more on hunting than capturing bison for the transfer program or to keep them in the park.

Were on the same page of conserving those animals. We believe the park can accommodate a great number of animals, and then what they cant accommodate, we believe should be translocated to the tribes, InterTribal Buffalo Council attorney Majel Russell told the Daily Montanan in June.

When the population nears 3,000 late in the winter during severe winters like that of 2022-23, the park would protect the animals inside the park and encourage a reduction in hunting outside of it. The plan would cap removals at 25% of the population but could be further limited to account for sex, age and herd structure.

I feel even though its not necessarily maybe perfect, I dont know if you ever get to perfect on bison, to be honest, in this area. But I think it does solidify a lot of the good things that have happened over 24 years, Sholly said in an interview Thursday.  Im comfortable with the (environmental impact statement process). I think its a foundation for the future, whatever that might hold.

Gianforte says Montana felt shut out of process

The park said public feedback played a key role in the record of decision and process along the way  more than 27,000 comments were submitted during last years comment period  but Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has derided the Department of interior and National Park Service over the plan and what he says amounted to Montana getting shut out of the process as a cooperating agency.

A spokesperson for Gianforte said Thursday he and his office were still reviewing the decision but provided a letter Gianforte sent to the leaders of the Interior Department and National Park Service on July 1, after the final environmental impact statement was released, criticizing the decision itself and what he says was the park services failure to uphold its cooperative responsibilities.

Gianforte has written Sholly and other agency leaders numerous times over the past 2  years giving opinions on the plan, asking for meetings, threatening to do away with tolerance zone agreements  a buffer zone where bison are allowed outside of park boundaries  asking the park to keep less than 3,000 bison in the population, and now criticizing the final plan for what he says is a lack of what his administration had hoped for in the new plan.

Gianforte wrote in the July 1 letter that Yellowstone avoided discussions with Montana scientists and advisers at every turn and offered meetings when decisions were fully cooked. He claimed the chosen alternative was pre-plotted before the National Environmental Policy Act process that led to the new environmental impact statement ever started.

The condescending and disingenuous methods of NPS, and other agencies, is forcing a new day in the West. Gone are the opportunities for States and affected stakeholders to show up and earnestly engage in collaborative process, Gianforte wrote.

Repeated and continuous procedural abuses, like those outlined above, have hardened those who once believed in fair play. Instead, states like Montana will now show up prepared for marginalized participation, short-changed processes, dishonest brokerage, and ultimately, litigation, he continued, concluding his letter.

Sholly says plan accounted for some of Montanas concerns

Sholly told the Daily Montanan that Gianforte and his administration had submitted comments and written letters and that the final record of decision included further analysis the park service conducted based on some of those comments.

They can say, you know, this is great, or this is not great. Thats part of the process. Theyve made it very clear that they didnt like any three of the alternatives, Sholly said.

Let us know what you think...

He contended that he had offered Montana a chance for a different alternative at an IBMP meeting in 2022, had been to Helena and sent biologists here several times to try to work toward a solution. The State of Montana is one of eight cooperating agencies that contributed to the plan.

Sholly said he thinks if Montana looks at the plan closely, officials will see that it does account for the states concerns. He said the park was committed to continuing to work with Montana and other partners to successfully manage a wild and free-ranging bison population while keeping bison-to-cattle brucellosis transmission to zero.

Weve obviously kept all tools on the table despite considerable public discontent with some of the tools that are used like ship-and-slaughter. And were committed to continuing to work together basically in the same paradigm that weve been in. I would think that the state would recognize that and see what happens as we move forward. Sholly said.  I appreciate the partnership with the state; its something weve got to work on together. This does not dramatically shift where weve been.

Sholly said hes heard displeasure from all different sides over the plan and more often the population goals; some people and groups want fewer than 3,000 bison, while others would like to see more than 10,000 in the park on an annual basis. He said he believes the plan strikes the right balance and is in line with where populations have largely sat for the past decade. In the last eight years, the population has ranged from 4,400 to 5,900 after the calving season.

And he noted that surveys have found seeing bison were among the top reasons visitors wanted to go to Yellowstone, that visitor numbers could break an all-time record this year, and those visits benefit Montanas economy as well.

I get it; not everybodys happy on either side. This is where we are at this point in time, and the plan does allow for adaptive management like the last EIS did, Sholly said. And as opportunities present themselves over time, with partners we can make adjustments and make changes based on what conditions are happening on the ground.

The two alternatives not chosen

There were two other alternatives considered in the environmental impact statement that the park did not choose.

The first was a no-action alternative and would essentially have kept management operations the way they are currently, setting a population range goal of from 3,500 and 5,000 bison after calving, sending live and harvested animals to tribes, working with Montana on brucellosis mitigation, and allowing for tribal hunting.

Alternative 3 would have kept the park bison population from 3,500 and 7,000, but the park service would capture fewer bison for the transfer program and rely more on natural selection and tribal hunting to manage the population. That alternative, according to the document, would have increased the risk of brucellosis spreading to cattle as more bison would likely wander out of the park.

Record-of-Decision-for-Bison-Management_YELL_July-2024_508_FINAL

Daily Montanan is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com. Follow Daily Montanan on Facebook and X.

DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST
TOKYO, Jul 28 (News On Japan) - Tokyo's summer tradition, the Sumida River Fireworks Festival, was held on Saturday night, drawing approximately 910,000 people to the Asakusa area, where strict security measures were enforced.

When about 20,000 fireworks were launched into the night sky, loud cheers erupted from the spectators.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department implemented precautions to prevent incidents and accidents as around 910,000 people gathered in the Asakusa area.

To manage the large crowd and prevent congestion, the police directed traffic to be one-way on surrounding roads and bridges. Additionally, the "DJ Police" were deployed to urge people not to stop and linger.

Source: ANN
TOKYO, Jul 28 (News On Japan) - Starting from the 27th, Nippon TV is hosting 'NTV Kids Week,' focusing on various themes related to children. On the 27th, the spotlight was on education and generative AI. We investigated strategies for children to use AI effectively.

We visited Ayaho Shimizu, a fifth grader, who was working on her summer homework using a tablet.

Shimizu: 'We hardly get any paper homework.'

At Shimizus school, generative AI has been incorporated into classes. In a writing class, for instance:

Teacher Hideki Suzuki: 'Let's have AI write today.'

Students: 'Yay!!'

Students learn through trial and error, receiving hints from their teacher about how to give instructions to the AI for it to generate appropriate content.

However, for summer homework...

Shimizu: 'The teacher told us not to use AI at home.'

Shimizus mother: 'I feel secure knowing it's only used at school, but I wonder if it might affect their ability to think for themselves.'

Parents are concerned about the potential for AI to hinder their childrens independent thinking.

Last year, there was a reported case of generative AI being used in a reading essay competition.

However, developing tools to detect AI-generated Japanese text is still a work in progress.

Meanwhile, a middle school in Gifu Prefecture uses a type of generative AI that 'doesn't give answers.'

For example, in math problems, it provides hints on how to solve them rather than giving the solution directly, encouraging students to think for themselves. A student remarked:

Student: 'Just knowing the answer doesn't help me learn.'

Hideki Suzuki, a teacher at Shimizus school, shared his thoughts on balancing AI use:

Teacher Hideki Suzuki: 'It's important to teach students to discern when to do the work themselves and when to let AI handle it, so they can focus their energy where it's needed.'

Source: NEWS
TOKYO, Jul 28 (News On Japan) - In a recent "2+2" meeting in Tokyo, Japanese and US foreign and defense ministers condemned China for attempting to reshape the international order for its own benefit.

They agreed to enhance the Japan-US alliance, restructure US forces in Japan to improve command and control with the Self-Defense Forces, and expand the production of PAC-3 interceptor missiles in Japan to support US aid to Ukraine. This meeting also marked the first ministerial discussion on the "extended deterrence" provided by US nuclear capabilities to protect Japan. A joint press conference by the ministers is scheduled to follow.

Source: FNN
FUKUOKA, Jul 29 (News On Japan) - A helicopter crash in Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture, claimed the lives of two people, believed to be the pilot and a mechanic.

A cameraman at the scene reported, "The propeller is bent, and the fuselage is completely burned out."

At around 4 p.m. yesterday, a report came in from Shonan-cho, Yanagawa City, stating, "A helicopter has crashed and smoke is rising." The helicopter caught fire after crashing, but the flames were extinguished by firefighters. Two bodies were found near the wreckage.

A nearby resident commented, "I heard a noise like a motorcycle, and a few minutes later, I heard the sound of fire trucks. When I looked outside, there was smoke."

According to officials from Saga Prefecture, the helicopter belonged to SGC Saga Aviation, based at Saga Airport. The helicopter was carrying a 50-year-old pilot and a 70-year-old mechanic and was returning from a sightseeing flight in Hita City, Oita Prefecture.

The crash site is about six kilometers from Saga Airport in a farmland area. The Japan Transport Safety Board has dispatched two investigators to determine the cause of the accident.

Source: TBS
The Lagos State Government has revoked all existing building permits and ordered builders to reapply for validation to continue construction.

The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, announced this during a visit to the collapsed building site in Maryland, Ikeja, on Saturday.

Babatunde was accompanied by Mr Gbolahun Oki, the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, and some executive members.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a building under construction collapsed on Thursday at 13 Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, Lagos, killing five workers.

He said, All commencement certificates in Lagos are revoked effective immediately. This applies to everyone with a construction site, including those in the big five category.

Return to the LASBCA office to revalidate that document. If you decide not to go for the revalidation of that documentation, we are going to seal that site.

He expressed deep sorrow over the incident and emphasised that such occurrences should not happen.

Babatunde, who acknowledged the governments responsibility in preventing building collapses, blamed property owners and developers for negligence and for violating building regulations.

He stressed the importance of obtaining a Certificate of Completion or Fitness for Habitation before occupying a building.

Babatunde added that the government would prosecute anyone found violating this rule.

He noted that the government had strict regulations regarding building construction and occupancy.

Babatunde said that buildings must be certified by LASBCA before habitation and that failure to comply is a criminal offence.

He disclosed that LASBCA would increase enforcement, including using private consultants to inspect buildings.

Babatunde said that the agency had taken steps to enforce building regulations, including issuing stop-work orders and sealing buildings.

He stated that the agency was still faced with some challenges due to limited resources and hostile developers.

He called on private professionals to collaborate with the government to strengthen building regulation enforcement in the state.
Vice President Kamala Harris reacts to the applause as she prepares to address the members of the American Federation of Teachers at George R. Brown Convention Center on Thursday, July 25, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Just days after her departure, Vice President Kamala Harris was already making plans to return to Houston this week to pay her respects to U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.

Harris is among the dignitaries attending an invitation-only Celebration of Life Funeral Service on Thursday morning at Fallbrook Church in Houston.

Former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are also expected to attend the services on Thursday.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

She was relentless  one of our nations fiercest, smartest, and most strategic leaders in the way she thought about how to make progress happen, Harris said in a statement about Jackson Lee. There was never a trite or trivial conversation with the Congresswoman. She was always fighting for the people of Houston and the people of America.

Jackson Lee died July 19 at the age of 74 after battling pancreatic cancer. She served Houstons 18th Congressional District for nearly 30 years.

Harris and Jackson Lee worked together frequently as members of the Congressional Black Caucus and both were part of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Before that event, Harris is expected to attend a private fundraiser on Wednesday evening. Details of that visit have not been released but it would be her second visit in a week if she returns Wednesday.

Harris was just in Houston on Wednesday and Thursday to receive a briefing on Hurricane Beryl recovery efforts and speak to the American Federation of Teachers in her first week as the Democrats presumptive nominee to take on former President Donald Trump in the fall.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

President Joe Biden also is expected to meet with Jackson Lees family this week. Biden already had been expected to visit Austin on Monday night to deliver the keynote address at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in Austin to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. Sources familiar with the trip said Biden is expected to stop in Houston, although the White House has not officially announced those plans.

The trip could be one of Bidens final visits to the Bayou City, at least as president. He has a long history with the city. Even before running for the White House in 2020, he and his family regularly went to Houston, where his son Beau received treatments at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center starting in 2013.

"M.D. Anderson is not just the best cancer center in the world, but it's the way in which the staff really cared about Beau, Biden said in a speech in Sugar Land in 2017 as he thanked the doctors who helped his son.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
 demands sack of NMDPRAs boss, warns IOCs against economic sabotage

The Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) has urged the Federal Government to back the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and other domestic refineries to end the reliance on imported petrol, diesel, and other refined products.

The group pointed out the long-standing issues with government-owned refineries, which have been inactive for over two decades. Despite being a leading crude oil producer in Africa, Nigeria continues to depend on imports for its refined product needs.

During a visit to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Ibeju Lekki, which has a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, HOSTCOMs leadership emphasised the need for Nigeria to refine its crude locally.

The National President of HOSTCOM, Dr. Benjamin Tamaramiebi, accompanied by his executives and traditional rulers from the Niger Delta, toured both the refinery and the Dangote Fertiliser Limited complex. Notable traditional rulers included the Chairman of the Niger Delta Monarchs Forum, HRM Frank Okorakpo; Deputy Chairman of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON), HRM Obafemi Ogaro; and Egbesuwei Gbanraun X Agadagba Pere, HRM (Capt) Frank Okiakpe, among others.

In a statement following the tour, HOSTCOMs president called for nationwide support for the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to eliminate the need for imported refined products.

The group expressed gratitude to the National Assembly and Nigerians but warned against any acts of sabotage that could hinder the countrys progress towards self-sufficiency in refined products.

We are grateful to the 10th National Assembly, good-spirited individuals, and associations that have been rallying support for Aliko Dangote. We HOSTCOM have come today to drum up support for Dangote Refinery. We will stand with Dangote to put an end to continuous importation of less quality and costly refined petroleum products into Nigeria, stated the group.

The group, comprising all states producing oil and gas in Nigeria, lamented that despite the billions of dollars spent on turnaround maintenance of Nigerias refineries, the country remains reliant on importing refined products. This persistent issue, it argues, highlights the widespread corruption within Nigerias oil and gas industry, allegedly orchestrated by influential cabals who are intent on maintaining the status quo of exporting crude oil while importing refined petroleum products. HOSTCOM warned that it will not hesitate to publicly name these identified cabals if necessary.

Our visit today to the largest and magnificent 650,000 bpd private refinery in Africa (DANGOTE REFINERY) has opened our eyes to several ills, particularly to the monumental corruption going on in the Nigeria oil and gas industry. It is obvious why the existing Federal Government Refinery in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna can never work or operate maximally, despite the billions of dollars that have been spent on so-called turn-around maintenance over the years. It is now clear that some persons in government and outside government have been identified as the Cabal holding the Nigeria oil in the Jugular; we have identified them, and we shall make their names known to the people of Nigeria, it said.

HOSTCOM, which emphasised that every Nigerians aspiration is for the country to refine its own crude oil for the benefit of its people, warned that any individual who opposes this national desire will face the wrath of the masses.

The group also lampooned the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, over his recent statement that the government would not halt the importation of refined petroleum products. HOSTCOM called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove Ahmed from his position, arguing that his previous associations with key players in the sector make him unfit to effectively regulate the downstream industry.

We therefore unequivocally call for the immediate sack of Farouk Ahmed. It is now clear that he, as the CEO of NMDPRA, is responsible for issuing import licenses to his cronies outside the government to continue to import substandard refined petroleum products into the country. In hindsight, this is not surprising given that he has served on the boards of some downstream companies in the past. He is therefore obviously conflicted and incapable of performing the duties of a regulator for the downstream sector. It is important to immediately replace him with an individual who is not encumbered by such conflict, the group added.

The group praised the President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, for his patriotism in investing in and constructing the refinery in Nigeria, noting that his endeavour has significantly contributed to the countrys economic growth and development. It emphasised that the refinery is crucial in providing local solutions to Nigerias refining needs, thereby reducing the nations dependency on imported refined petroleum products.

The group urged President Tinubu to support the project, highlighting that it will enhance the economy, create thousands of jobs, ensure the sustainability and affordability of products, and bring substantial benefits to the host communities, among other positive effects.

We called on President Bola Tinubu to support and sustain this refinery, which is in his own state. He must do something with the cabals holding the oil sector to ransom, it added.

The group further asserted that the President must not tolerate the economic sabotage being carried out by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria, which have refused to sell crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and other modular refineries. They condemned this as an affront to the Nigerian people and a deliberate attempt to undermine the presidents renewed hope agenda, which aims to revive the economy.

We call on Mr President to direct NNPC or NNPCL to compel the IOCs operating in our communities to sell and supply crude Oil to Dangote refineries and other local refineries in line with Section 109 of the Petroleum Industry Act PIA 2021, particularly Section 109(4)(b), the supply of crude oil shall be commercially negotiated between the lessee and the crude oil refining licensee, having regard to the prevailing international market price for similar grades of crude oil, it added.

It also pointed out that, despite the PIA, the IOCs continue to lack transparency and accountability, alleging ongoing exploitation of oil-producing communities. The group warned that if the IOCs fail to supply crude oil to domestic refineries, host communities will be forced to take decisive action.

In conclusion, if the NNPC and the IOC fail to abide by the domestic crude oil supply obligation to sell and supply crude Oil to modular refineries and Dangote Refinery, we HOSTCOM will begin agitation for greater autonomy and control of our resources, it added.

The VP of Gas and Oil at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, who hosted the delegates, explained that the refinery was established primarily to source and refine local crudes for the benefit of Nigeria, while also exporting excess production to boost the economy. He noted that the lack of sufficient Nigerian crude supplies has necessitated importing crude from other countries and continents. He said that if the refinery had not been designed to process a wide range of crudes, including various African and Middle Eastern crudes as well as US Light Tight Oil, it would have become inactive due to the lack of Nigerian crude supplies.

Edwin said that products from the refinery are of superior quality and meet international standards, conforming to Euro V specifications. This high standard has enabled the refinery to export jet fuel to Europe and the United States.

Edwin added that the refinery is committed to environmental protection as it is designed to comply with US EPA regulations, European emission standards, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) emission norms, and African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) standards.

He also noted that the refinery, dedicated to enhancing local content, has made substantial contributions to its host communities and significantly boosted employment opportunities within the country.
By Rachel Okporu Fadoju

Some Boko Haram terrorists have reportedly attacked Jakana Police station in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, killing a policeman and a woman, while carting away arms and ammunition.

Naija News learnt that the terrorists ambushed the security operatives as they arrived at the police station around 1:00am and engaged in a gun duel with the officers until 3:00 am.

Security sources who spoke with Daily Trust said the insurgents also set ablaze two patrol vehicles and a motorcycle.

The source said, They overpowered them and gained access into the police station and looted arms and ammunition and destroyed 2 patrol vehicles.

One of the vehicles belong to the police and the other for the members of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).

Confirming the incident to journalists, the Chairman of Konduga Local government, Hon Abbas Ali Abari, said more details regarding the attack will be released soon.

Meanwhile, the Borno State command Police Public Relations Officer, Nahun Kenneth, has yet to issue any statement regarding the attack.
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke

By Ignatius Igwe

Ahead of the planned nationwide protests, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, will on Monday meet with organisers and stakeholders from the security and civil societies.

Disclosing this in a statement on Sunday, the governors spokesman, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, said his principal has instructed his team members to reach out to representatives of various civil society groups and student bodies for a dialogue session on the state of the economy.

Adeleke also asked key commanders of police and other security services to attend the session where stakeholders will be free to make recommendations on grievances and expected responses from the government at all levels.

I have instructed my team to organise a dialogue session on Monday where stakeholders can meet as part of peacemaking in the exercise of constitutional rights. The session will allow parties to list grievances and what they expect the government at all levels to do.

We will convey outcomes of the session to government leaders from myself to Mr President in Abuja. It will also be an opportunity to tell stakeholders what we are doing as a government to resolve the economic hardship facing our people, Adeleke was quoted as saying.

The governor reaffirmed his firm belief in the national constitution and the rights and liberties enshrined in it, stressing the need for peace and non-violent actions among which are dialogue sessions slated for Monday.

He said, Osun is a peaceful state where proactive steps are ongoing on food security, economic revival and state building to deliver good governance and dividends of democracy.

We have to sustain the peace even as we make our feelings about the state of the nation known to the leadership. We will listen and we will act in the best interest of the citizenry.

In the midst of positive transformation ongoing in our dear state, we cannot afford any criminal hijacking of liberty processions. That is why the Monday dialogue promises to achieve a lot.
By Fashola MC POSCABA

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that the widespread anger and hunger across the country is the main reason for the planned protest.

Makinde made this declaration while speaking at the grand finale of the 2024 Ibadan Cultural Week, organised by Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII).

August 1 has been fixed as the day for a nationwide protest against hunger across the country.

Makinde, while addressing the audience at the event held on Saturday at Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, the state capital, maintained that people have the right to protest.

He said that Nigerians planning to protest over hardship in the country should exercise their rights in a peaceful manner and not resort to violence or destruction of public facilities.

He advised the protesters not to destroy government property.

Makinde said, Nigeria could be in this situation for now. We could be experiencing anger and hunger in the land and that is why our people want to protest.

Yes, protest is everybodys right. But remember that we used your money to build all the structures and facilities we have put in place in this state, not mine.

So, if you want to protest, it must be peaceful.

If you begin your protest, dont destroy government properties, otherwise, we will have to use the money we are supposed to spend on meaningful projects to replace facilities that may get destroyed.
Gov Umo Eno

By Chioma Onuegbu Uyo

AHEAD of the planned August 1, 2024 nationwide protest, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has sued for unity of purpose in tackling the prevailing economic hardship in the country, expressing worries that the protest could escalate to destruction of lives and property.

According to a statement on Saturday in Uyo, governor Eno spoke to his press corps on arrival at the Victor Attah International Airport from Abuja where he attended the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) meeting.

He acknowledged the right of citizens to protest but recalled the ugly scenario which played out during the #EndSARS protest, after it was hijacked by hoodlums.

He explained that both Federal and State governments were implementing measures to find plausible solutions to the current economic hardship, and highlighted the initiatives undertaken by his administration to alleviate the economic pressure on citizens.

His words, I would like to say that protest is the right of the people but we want to appeal to our people to let us give peace a chance.

The truth is, when we do this protest, hoodlums and those who dont see anything good in government will hijack it and then destroy government property.

Once we destroy government property, they would be replaced and the hunger would deepen. We must not forget our experience from the #EndSARS protest where we lost a lot of things.

So, I appeal to Akwa Ibom people not to resort to protest but to give peace a chance knowing that we are in this together, and together, we will find a common solution to this issues that have bedeviled us.

We want to say that in Akwa Ibom, we have done and we are still doing our very best to address the hunger that is in the land. We have rolled out palliatives, and we are supporting the citizenry in many ways.

We are supporting the elderly, we are giving food vouchers, we are trying to ensure that we create jobs for our people. Once government is on that path, which is the right path, we would overcome,
The United Arab Emirates and Morocco have finalized the terms of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that will usher in a new era of mutually beneficial trade and investment ties between the two countries, reported the UAE news agency WAM.

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, and Moroccos Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, inked in Rabat on Saturday a joint statement confirming the conclusion of the negotiations.

Upon implementation, the UAE-Morocco CEPA will facilitate the free flow of goods and services by reducing or removing tariffs, eliminating unnecessary barriers to trade, improving market access for services, enhancing customs harmonization, and establishing flexible rules of origin for goods.

It will also establish platforms for investment and private-sector collaboration in priority sectors such as renewable energy, tourism, infrastructure, mining, food security, transport, logistics, and ICT.

The two nations trade amounted to $1.3 billion in non-oil trade in 2023, an increase of 30 percent compared to 2022 and 83 percent more than was recorded in 2019. The UAE is the largest Arab investor in Morocco with more than $15 billion invested in a variety of strategic projects, WAM underlined.

The two officials welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on the CEPA, which is part of the implementation of the Declaration signed by King Mohammed VI and President of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on 4th December, 2023 in Abu Dhabi. The Declaration was designed to establish an innovative, renewed, and solid partnership between the two brotherly countries.

The UAE-Morocco Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is a valuable addition to our CEPA program. Our two brotherly nations already enjoy strong bilateral economic relations, and this agreement will enable us to further develop areas of mutual benefit, particularly in sectors such as tourism, energy, manufacturing and agriculture, and generate long-term prosperity for both peoples, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said, underlining that Morocco is one of the largest and most competitive economies in Africa and we look forward to working in unison to create new opportunities for our private sectors.

Ryad Mezzour on his part said that the agreement, which strengthens the legal arsenal between the two countries, aims to support the development of trade and investment, by opening new opportunities to upgrade the level of joint cooperation in economic and commercial fields.

Morocco is the sixth largest economy on the African continent. In 2023, its GDP was $152.4 billion and is expected to grow by a further 3.5 percent in 2024. While agriculture remains the largest employer, the services sector is the largest contributor to GDP accounting for 54 percent, with the industrial sector contributing 23 percent.

The UAEs CEPA program aims to increase the countrys non-oil foreign trade to AED4 trillion by expanding relations with strategically important markets around the world. In 2023, the UAEs non-oil trade in goods reached an all-time high of $710 billion, a 12.6 percent increase on 2022  and 34.7 percent more than 2021. Morocco is the latest African nation to conclude CEPA terms with the UAE, following Mauritius, Kenya and Congo-Brazzaville.
Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, has attached utmost priority to sustainable water management in the context of recurrent drought and adverse climate change impact.

Morocco, already one of the most water-stressed globally, has seen a sharp decline in rainfall, impacting water reserves, leading to a depletion of groundwater and undermining the agricultural sector.

The King has been at the forefront of Moroccos pre-emptive water strategies. Building on the legacy of his father late King Hassan II, King Mohammed VI urged building more dams designed to supply urban centers and farms as well as the use of non-conventional water resources, notably desalination.

Acting on the monarchs directives, the state has allocated 14 billion dollars over 2020-2027 to securing water resources and improving water management.

As part of that program, Crown Prince Moulay El Hasan kicked off in June construction works to build Casablancas desalination plant with a capacity of 300 cubic meters, enough to meet the fresh water needs of 7.5 million people.

Following the example of an operating desalination plant in Agadir and a developing one in Dakhla, Casablancas plant will allocate 50 million cubic meters to irrigation.

The program also provides for building different sizes of dams across the country and investing in water saving.

As for waterways, works are ongoing to connect the Bouregreg basin to Oum Rabia and press ahead with desalination plants as well as wastewater treatment.

Thanks to a farsighted approach, Moroccos second largest tourist hub, Agadir, was spared water rationing and water cuts after a desalination plant started pumping fresh water to households and adjacent farms in 2021.

Morocco also invested in waterways, linking the water-rich Sebou basin to the Moulay Abdellah Dam near Rabat, which also supplies Casablanca.

Morocco also plans to increase its wastewater treatment capacity to 85% to be used in irrigation of farmlands.
Free Algerian Army has announced its breakaway from the Army to liberate the country from the ruling military gang, signaling doom and gloom awaiting the Algerians risking another Black Decade.

In a press release posted Saturday on X, the dissident group claimed responsibility for the deadly attack that rocked lately Oran military base and for blowing up a weapon warehouse in MSila province (northern Algeria).

Footage of these two events went viral on social media networks, but state media outlets were muzzled as press freedoms are severely restricted in the country.

The Free Algerian Army says its goal is to retrieve the hijacked Algeria from the ruling military gang blamed for making Algerian people suffering thirst and starvation in an oil-gas producing country.

The military group also accuses the ruling junta of stealing the Algerian peoples wealth, kidnapping, jailing and killing thousands of opponents, pushing countless disillusioned others to flee the country.

The creation of Free Algerian Army comes amid a series of diplomatic setbacks suffered by the Algerian regime over the Sahara issue, making Algerian people realize that their feckless rulers have squandered billions of US dollars on a lost cause, the Polisario militias theses.
Do these two big weirdos know what theyre doing? Photo: Emily Elconin/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The replacement of Joe Biden with Kamala Harris as Democrats presumptive presidential nominee has created a veritable frenzy of speculation about the new strategic options her candidacy might open up for her party. And its very clear from all the carping about a coup that Republicans who have been planning a campaign against Biden for years have been wrong-footed by the switcheroo. But does the new Democratic ticket significantly change the Trump-Vance strategy or message? Lets consider the likely ramifications:

.

To the extent he didnt already undermine it with his nasty off-script rant at the RNC, Trump will likely abandon any further national unity messaging. It was based on the idea of a mellowed and softened 45th president offering a reasonably safe harbor for voters alarmed by Bidens alleged senility-driven incompetence. So such talk likely went away for good the moment Biden withdrew from the contest.

It might still make abundant good sense for Trump to make some unprecedented effort to seize the center with less rabid rhetoric, given the doubts that already exist about Harriss ideological positioning. But it fits Trumps personality vastly better to seize the center purely and simply by pushing Harris out with intense attacks on her as a radical.

.

Early polling indicates that Harris may be within shouting distance of Trump in the Sun Belt battleground states (Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina) where Biden was losing badly, in no small part because of her stronger appeal to Black, Latino and under-30 voters. This is very significant since Bidens only path to 270 electoral votes appeared to be via a sweep of the Rust Belt battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

But just as Harris can recoup some of Bidens impending losses among Democratic base voters, theres an opportunity for the Trump campaign to keep her from hanging onto the small but critical slice of white working-class voters who voted for Biden in 2020 and were still open to supporting him in 2024. As Ron Brownstein points out, if Harris slips to Hillary Clinton levels of support among non-college-educated white voters she could lose the Rust Belt states just as HRC did.

.

The Trump campaign has chosen to hold back its campaign treasury for the stretch drive to the general election even as the Biden campaign was spending freely to shore up his position. The odds are good now that Republicans will cut open the purse-strings and spend massively to define Kamala Harris before she can fully define herself.

That means now, prior to Harriss big moment in the sun at the Democratic National Convention that begins on August 19 (following a virtual roll call vote nominating her a couple of weeks earlier). Team Trump will want to get a clear sense of how vulnerable she is to pure negative messaging before re-framing the choice of candidates for the final stage of the campaign.

.

Republicans have a lot of experience, both positive and negative, in waging pure ideological warfare on Democratic presidential candidates. Pounding them as too liberal worked extremely well against Mike Dukakis in 1988, and reasonably well against John Kerry in 2004. It did not work against Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at all, in part because both those candidates made impressive efforts to position themselves as moderates open to a bipartisanship that swing voters craved even if Republicans spurned it.

Its likely that the Trump campaign will calculate that Harris is more like Dukakis and Kerry than Clinton and Obama. Theyve done reasonably well in convincing voters that Joe Biden is too liberal. Harris with her California background and vulnerable issue positions should be an easier target, at least unless she counter-punches fiercely.

Trump, to be clear, has a strong head start in labeling Harris as a lefty, having called her a communist in 2020. And just this week he said this about her at Truth Social: Were not ready for a Marxist President, and Lyin Kamala Harris is a RADICAL LEFT MARXIST, AND WORSE! Hell keep this up whether or not his campaign makes it a centerpiece. Its objectively moronic, but thats never stopped Trump before.

.

We already know that Kamala Harris will lean on her extensive experience as a state and local prosecutor to depict herself as a tough defender of the law and of basic rights on a mission to hold the convicted felon Trump accountable and keep him out of office. So you can definitely expect Republicans to go directly after this strong point of her background by characterizing her as a rogue progressive prosecutor bent on justifying illegal behavior and emptying the prisons. Already the Trump campaign and its allies are scouring the public records for anything they can use to accuse her of wanting to defund or hamstring the police, secure short sentences or early release for violent criminals, or decriminalize misconduct entirely.

For some persuadable voters the whole ballgame may boil down to whether Harris comes across as Kamala the Cop or Kamala the Border Czar. And its worth remembering that Trumps co-campaign manager, Chris LaCivita, was a major player in the 2004 Swift Boat assault on the military record of war hero John Kerry.

.

Its been interesting to watch some Republicans shush other Republicans from going right to the racism and sexism with attacks on Harris as a DEI hire or someone strictly defined by her ethnicity and gender. But even if they mute the overt stuff (including, believe it or not, birther smears about her eligibility to serve as president), its going to linger in the background just as it did in Republican campaigns against Obama and HRC. Finding ways to reinforce personal fears about Harris among diversity-averse voters without diving directly into the cesspool will be a tricky business for Team Trump, particularly among the less-inhibited MAGA social media warriors (like X owner Elon Musk).

The earlier question about Trumps demographic strategy could help determine how far his fans go in drawing attention to Harriss identity. If Republicans wind up doubling down on white working-class voters and largely abandoning Black voters, it could get really ugly.

.

When Trump chose J.D. Vance as his running-mate, the idea was to display a young, vibrant, cerebral demagogue who could go feral against Uncle Joe and hold his own in a debate with Kamala Harris. Now it doesnt look like as smart a move. Vances rich history of extremism and incautious rhetoric is becoming a problem for a Trump campaign trying to project stability, and its likely Vance will be debating someone resolutely normie like Roy Cooper, Mark Kelly, or Tim Walz. Given Trumps own erratic personality, the last thing Republicans need is the perception that with a world of options to serve as the former presidents successor, they settled on a big weirdo.

.

Probably the smartest strategy for the Trump-Vance ticket is to remember that substantive concerns about the condition of the country under Joe Bidens administration (along with friendly amnesia about the Trump administration) have given Republicans the upper hand for most of this election cycle. Panicking and going medieval on Kamala Harris could squander that advantage and make the election a choice about the kind of change Americans want instead of a simple referendum on an unpopular presidency.

Whats unclear is whether Trump and his MAGA minions have the temperament to stay the course instead of making the final stages of the 2024 campaign 100 days that feel like January 6.








So what do we think "exhaustion" is a euphemism for? Because it always is, y/n? omg this karma-destroying postSo what do we think "exhaustion" is a euphemism for? Because it always is, y/n?

Reply

Thread

Link

She pulled something during Ex Sex with Adam.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Number 1 sus: hospital selfies.

Reply

Thread

Link

SCREAMING @ [citation needed]

Reply

Thread

Link

ICU

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I honestly don't understand why they even admit people for 'exhaustion'. Like drink some water and take a damn nap! Maybe even some Flinestones gummies if you need to.

Reply

Thread

Link

I'm an RN and I've never seen 'exhaustion' written in anyone's chart. I'm interested to know if anyone else has seen it lol

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I'm an RN too and back when I was in the adult world, I never saw it. I mean dehydration or electrolyte imbalances, sure, but never just plain old exhaustion.

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

I'm an MD and I've never seen it either. From my experience you have to be really damn specific in the ED as to why you are trying to take up a bed (and for someone who is 'exhausted' lol, the whole ED staff is exhausted, bih). I'm sure the chart would be more specific.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

MD here, emergency doc at that, and it's BS. "exhaustion" ain't no admitting diagnosis.



it's also bothering me ridiculously that she's not even in a hospital gown.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

i hope she feels better.



Reply

Thread

Link

you're literally the only one.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Exhaustion from what?



She isn't touring.

She has no new music.



Is she still exhausted from filming her 10 second spot in the 50 Shades of Grey film?

Reply

Thread

Link













Edited at 2016-06-30 08:39 pm (UTC)

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

i cant wait to do crazy amounts of coke this weekend while on vacation

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

umaamu

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

illuminati pawn getting reprogrammed lbr

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

And her 10-second spot in Southpaw!

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

They live on Dune while we drown in a Waterworld obviously.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

i too can get exhausted from doing nothing

Reply

Thread

Link

lmao i was about to write this comment

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link





The shade of those [citation needed] tags.

Reply

Thread

Link

lmao omg @ this post! I'm glad she's okay though

Reply

Thread

Link

This exhaustion erasure! OP does not understand how much work it takes to be that desperate all the time. Having suffered from exhaustion myself after a six day nasal workout retreat, I totally understand Rita's plight.

Reply

Thread

Link

OP does not understand how much work it takes to be that desperate all the time

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

i'm sorry bb. i need to learn and check my exhaustion privilege. :/

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

the gif lmaoo

Reply

Thread

Link

OP, sis, what happened to your recovery? I thought we did an intervention and everything?!?!



Reply

Thread

Link

no worries sis i did not RIHlapse. both Rita posts were pop emergencies. i'm just reporting the facts and not stanning tbh!

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link





But I'm still keeping an eye out for you. <3 Hmmmm...But I'm still keeping an eye out for you. <3

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the State House Medical Centre revert to a clinic to serve the original purpose of its establishment.

According to a senior presidency official, the original purpose of the facility was to serve only the families of the president and vice president.

The permanent secretary, State House, Jalal Arabi, announced this Monday in Abuja when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs for the 2019 budget defence.

The permanent secretary disclosed that without prejudice to what is currently obtainable at SHMC, the intention to revert to a clinic is a Presidential directive. This is to make sure that the facility is functional and serves the purpose for which it was established, ab initio.

Later, Mr Arabi explained to journalists after the budget defence that the reversal of the Centre to a Clinic was a case of cutting ones coat according to your cloth.

It was initially meant to serve the first and second families and those working within and around the Villa.

The overstretching of facilities at the Medical Centre by patients is some of the challenges the Centre has been going through. It wasnt meant for that purpose.

Nobody was charging anyone for any services and relying on appropriation means, we will depend on subvention when it comes to run the Centre.

Whatever comes is what you utilise and if the last patient comes in to take the last drugs based on the last budgetary release, that is it and we have to wait till another release is done.

But this new development means that services will be streamlined to a clinic that will serve those that it was meant to serve when it was conceived, the permanent secretary said.

The State House Clinic was in the news in 2017 over allegations of mismanagement and lack of essential drugs and facilities.

President Buharis wife, Aisha, at the time accused the hospital management of not taking care of the facility in spite all the allocations to the hospital.

Mrs. Buhari called for a probe of the hospital management saying the facility lacked basic amenities.

In 2016, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the amount budgeted for the hospital in the proposed budget was more than what was budgeted for all the 16 federal teaching hospitals in the country.

The management of the clinic however said that between 2015 to 2017, the facility only received N1.2 billion as funds for expenditure.

On Monday, the Centre was a focal point during the two-hour presentation and budget defence by the Permanent Secretary before the Senate Committee.

Mr Arabi disclosed that the Centre had a total budget of N1.03 billion in the 2018 appropriation, with N698 million as capital expenditure and N331.7 million as overhead cost.

The total overhead expenditure released for the Centre from January-December 2018 is N331.7 million, representing 99.9 per cent while the capital releases on projects is N231.9 million, representing 33.2 per cent.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Danjuma Laah (PDPKaduna South) welcomed the proposal to make the SHMC fully functional and ensure that members of the first and second families use the facilities at the clinic.

Mr Laah assured that committee will support full funding for the Clinic and commended the 2018 budget performance in State House, compared to previous years, despite revenue challenges.

Considering the strategic importance of State House they are not supposed to lack funds and we will keep encouraging them to utilise releases effectively, he said.

The State House 2019 budget proposal of N14.3 billion is slightly lower than the 2018 Appropriation of 15.47 billion by 7.1 per cent.
<! Deyemi Okanlawon and his family >

By Taiwo Okanlawon

Nollywood actor Deyemi Okanlawon is a year older today and the actor who is married with two kids is celebrating with an adorable photo of his family.

Taking to his Instagram, Deyemi wrote: My God in me, my family around me, the world before me Im blessed and highly favoured! #birthdayboy

Born and raised in Lagos, Deyemi is best known for his roles in the TV Series Gidi Up and An African City, with several his work being nominated and awarded by prominent Nigerian and Pan-African film bodies including the hit web-series GidiUp (NdaniTV), Knock Knock (Inkblot Productions) and Kpians Premonition (Stanlee Ohikhuare) as well as short films Blink (Tolu Ajayi) and In Iredu (Abiola Sobo).

In 2013, he was awarded Best Actor in a Short Film at the In-Short film festival for his portrayal of a violent psychotic husband in the short film thriller, Blink. Blink was also nominated for Best Short Film at the 2013 NMA (Nollywood Movies Awards), Kpians Premonition was nominated in the Best New Media Online Video category of the AMVCA, while In Iredu was in the top 5 finalists of the Afrinolly short film competition and won Best Animation.

In 2014, Gidi Up was nominated for Best TV Series at the 2014 NMA while he was nominated for Best Youth Act, Movie (TUSH Awards) for his work in Gidi Up. Blink, Oblivious and Kpians Premonition were shortlisted in the Best Short Film category at the 2014 AFRIFF.

His skills include; Shotokan Karate, Swimming, Motor Bike, Saxophone, Guitar, and his interests and hobbies include; Reading, Film, Theatre, Sales, Marketing, Social Media, MCing, and Travelling.
Interior Minister Henry Quartey has warned Police officers to desist from bringing their dirty behaviour in their barracks to the new housing facility that the government has handed over to them.



According to him, the unkept behaviour of the police will not be countenanced by the government.



In a stern public warning to personnel of the service during the handing-over ceremony at the depot in Accra on Tuesday, Quartey said officers will be compelled to maintain the facility at all times.



Oftentimes you go to Police barracks and you see antidiant hanging around the building, fridges, freezers, bicycles all manner of things hanging around the buildings. The minister tasked the IGP to ensure that these buildings do not see those types of things we see in police barracks.



President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday commissioned 320 housing units for Officers of the Ghana Police Service at the Police Training School, Tesano in Accra.



The housing units, which are part of the Security Services Housing Project Phase Three, comprise 112 two-bedroom and 208 three-bedroom units. Additional facilities include an officers mess, a social centre, two multipurpose playing courts, and a kindergarten.



The project is expected to impact the lives of Police Officers and their families positively. It is a testament to the Governments dedication to supporting the security services.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









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

Featured Video
The world has at least 58 million US dollar millionaires, accounting for 1.5 percent of the global adult population, according to the 2024 UBS Global Wealth Report (PDF), which sampled 56 markets that account for 92 percent of global wealth.



The United States has the highest number of millionaires, with some 21.95 million individuals having wealth in seven figures or more. China comes at a distant second with some 6.01 million millionaires, followed by the United Kingdom (3.06 million), France (2.87 million) and Japan (2.83 million).



UBS defines wealth as the value of financial assets and real assets minus debts held by a household.



Global wealth, in dollar terms, grew by 4.2 percent in 2023 after a decline of 3 percent in 2022, according to UBS.



If you think of millionaires or the wealthy in general, theres kind of an indigenous, core of millionaires that has a strong attachment to the country. Then there is a more mobile element that globally [is able to] fairly easily switch domiciles, Samuel Adams, an economist at UBS, told Al Jazeera.



By 2028, the UK is expected to lose the most millionaires  nearly one in six of its millionaires will lose that status. The Netherlands is another country set to lose 4 percent of its millionaires by 2028.



The point here with the Netherlands and the UK that were making is that both of these countries already have a lot of millionaires  they have a growing core. But then you have a very mobile [element] working around that. And it might be that, in the global competition for wealth, they could see some outflows of the more mobile element of the wealthy.



Which doesnt necessarily mean the economy isnt working. Theres still wealth being created in those countries. Its just that the people who are mobile might consider all the places that they want to domicile to.



How is wealth divided globally?



Almost half of the worlds wealth, 47.5 percent or $213 trillion, is held by just 1.5 percent of the global adult population, according to the Global Wealth Report. These are households that hold more than $1m.



In contrast, those with a wealth of less than $10,000 hold just 0.5 percent ($2.4 trillion) of global wealth, but make up 39.5 percent of the worlds adults.



Households with a wealth of between $10,000 and $100,000, representing 42.7 percent of adults, account for 12.6 percent of global wealth or $56.2 trillion.



The fastest-growing millionaires (2000-23)



In terms of wealth per adult, the worlds population has made substantial progress since the beginning of the millennium. The percentage of adults whose wealth exceeds $1m tripled from 0.5 percent to 1.5 percent.



Since 2000, Qatar saw the greatest increase in the number of millionaires, which rose from 46 to 26,163. China saw the second largest increase, from 39,000 to 6,013,282 millionaires, followed by Kazakhstan (918 to 44,307).



I think its important to appreciate that in general, wealth grows kind of proportionate to economic growth, as well as kind of vaguely to asset price growth, Adams said.



Emerging market economies such as China, especially if we think back to the 2000s, which was in a very different stage, Russia equally, tend to see more wealth growth in general, and then it also helps if you have a certain concentration in a sector, for example, that sees particular growth. So commodity exporters  thinking of Russia, but also some Middle Eastern countries  tend to see very fast accumulation of wealth, particularly in the top 10 percent of the wealth bracket, which supports millionaire growth.



UBS said over that the 15 years that it has published its report, the Asia Pacific region has posted the biggest growth in wealth, up almost 177 percent, followed by the Americas at nearly 146 percent, while Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) was up just 44 percent.



The highest share of millionaires



The US hosts 38 percent of the worlds millionaires, Western Europe 28 percent and China 10 percent.



By country, in percentage terms, Switzerland has the highest share of millionaires, with 12 in every 100 people having a wealth of more than $1m. This is followed by Hong Kong, where eight in every 100 people are millionaires, Australia (seven in 100), the Netherlands (seven in 100) and the US (six in 100).







Source: aljazeera.com









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

Featured Video
A political communication analyst, Dr. Margaret Coomson, says the NDC's deliberate attempt to label the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has failed to make an impact because the NDC has consistently been proven wrong in "everything" it has accused Dr. Bawumia of lying about.



In an extensive piece analyzing the "orchestrated political labelling," Dr. Coomson recalled an investigative work by a research group, the African Academy for Open-Source Investigations (AAOSI), in conjunction with Joy FM, which published an expose on how elements within the NDC plotted to label Bawumia a liar to limit his growing popularity in the political space.



However, Dr. Coomson analyzed that the NDC has not been able to effectively carry through its "negative plot" of branding Dr. Bawumia a liar in the eyes of "discerning Ghanaians."



Branding the NDC's effort as a "lazy and ineffective political communication approach," Dr. Coomson said the NDC's "sustained, but weak attempts" at calling Bawumia a liar "only excite the ears of the orchestrators and some base of the NDC" and have made no impact on tarnishing Bawumia because his image and popularity continue to soar.



Dr. Coomson concluded the analysis by providing 23 issues the NDC said Dr. Bawumia was lying about, but the Vice President turned out to be on the side of the truth, as he was vindicated in the end.



Below is the full analysis by Dr. Margaret Coomson



Why attempts by NDC to label Dr. Bawumia a liar have failed



By Dr. Margaret Coomson (Political Analyst)



In June last year, multiple publications released findings from research by the African Academy for Open-Source Investigations (AAOSI) in collaboration with Joy FM, which uncovered how the Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, and hirelings affiliated with the NDC, planned and orchestrated organized tweets aimed at discrediting Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.



The research, which was part of AAOSI's efforts to combat misinformation and strengthen democracy in Africa, delved into the origin of the deliberate labelling of Vice President Bawumia as a liar with a "#Bawuliar" hashtag created by the NDC to drive fake trends on Twitter.



The joint investigative work discovered that it was a coordinated plan by the NDC, led by its Communications Director, Sammy Gyamfi, through his Twitter handle @sammygyamfi2017, which the report said had metamorphosed to @SammyGyamfi.



Interestingly, the investigative work further revealed that the negative description of Bawumia as a liar was deliberately deployed by the NDC to paint Bawumia black and discredit him due to his growing threat to the NDC.



"During the investigation, we observed almost every comment the Vice President made about the economy was met with a spike in #Bawuliar tweets. This investigation looks into whether the trend of #Bawuliar is organic or an attempt orchestrated by political opponents to cast a slur on the credibility of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia," the report said while exposing Sammy Gyamfi's orchestration.



"We identified Twitter user @sammygyamfi2017 as the second most influential account with respect to the #Bawuliar trend. @sammygyamfi2017, per our checks, used to be the username of the Twitter account of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi. Currently, the accounts username is @SammyGyamfi_. This is supported by the archived tweets on Wayback Machine, from when the accounts username used to be @sammygyamfi2017.



@SammyGyamfi has tweeted #Bawuliar 11 times. The top three #Bawuliar tweets were by @SammyGyamfi. The most popular #Bawuliar tweet was @SammyGyamfis reaction to Dr. Bawumias claim that Ghanaians could use the Ghana card as a travel document in lieu of a passport. The 12th February 2022 tweet described Dr. Bawumia as being allergic to the truth, with lies being embedded in his DNA. The tweet garnered 171 retweets and 727 likes.



"Our investigation revealed that @sammygyamfi2017 and @SammyGyamfi are both usernames that belong to the same Twitter account belonging to the communications director of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi. Thus, the username of the account was changed from @sammygyamfi2017 to @SammyGyamfi. This was confirmed by archived versions of tweets by the account from when its username used to be @sammygyamfi2017," the findings disclosed.



Clearly, the detailed research findings of the African Academy for Open-Source Investigations (AAOSI) expose the NDC and how ineffective their strategy has been.



The NDC, for over 5 years now, has tried everything possible to paint Bawumia as a liar to Ghanaians, yet Bawumia continues to endear himself and his popularity is rather on the ascendency.



In political communication, negative labeling is supposed to have a negative effect on the person being targeted, but in the case of the NDC and their labeling of Bawumia as a liar, it is obvious Bawumia is unaffected.



The more the likes of former President John Mahama's spokesperson, Joyce Moctari, spend time on their social media accounts calling Bawumia a liar, the cleaner and more popular he emerges.



In my own research and analysis, I have been asking myself how serious the NDC is in political communication when they call Bawumia a liar and they are unable to provide examples.



How do you label someone a liar when he has been vindicated in all the things you said he was lying about?



At the last count, I listed over 23 known issues which the NDC said Bawumia was lying about, but which the general public knew Bawumia was rather on the side of the truth, because the truth was obvious.



Below are some topical issues which the NDC said Bawumia was lying about, but time later exonerated him, thus exposing the NDC:



1. Dr. Bawumia said the Ghanacard could be used to travel from abroad into Ghana. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



2. Dr. Bawumia said that he would introduce mobile money interoperability between bank accounts and momo accounts. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



3. Dr. Bawumia said that through mobile money interoperability, every adult Ghanaian will be able to have a bank account. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



4. Dr. Bawumia said Ghana was the first country in Africa to have mobile interoperability between momo and bank accounts. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



5. Dr. Bawumia said he was going to introduce a Digital Address System to Ghana. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



6. Dr. Bawumia said he was going to introduce the Zipline Drones to deliver medicines. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



7. Dr. Bawumia said he was going to introduce an E-Pharmacy platform for all pharmacies in Ghana. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



8. Dr. Bawumia said the government will network and digitalize medical records of patients in all teaching, regional, and district hospitals. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



9. Dr. Bawumia said the government will issue tablets to all senior high school students. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



10. Dr. Bawumia said the government will restore teacher and nursing trainee allowances. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



11. Dr. Bawumia said the NPP will introduce Free Senior High School education. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



12. Dr. Bawumia said the NPP will introduce Agenda 111. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



13. Dr. Bawumia said the government will build hostels for Kayayei. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



14. Dr. Bawumia said the government will introduce a rental assistance scheme to help people rent without having to pay one or two years in advance. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



15. Dr. Bawumia said the government will introduce a Zongo Development Fund. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



16. Dr. Bawumia said the government would introduce a Gold for Oil policy. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



17. Dr. Bawumia said newborn babies would be issued Ghanacard numbers and birth certificates at birth. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



18. Dr. Bawumia said Ghanaians will be able to buy electricity on their mobile phones. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



19. Dr. Bawumia said Ghanaians will be able to enroll for and renew their national health insurance on their mobile phones. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



20. Dr. Bawumia said Ghanaians will be able to check the insurance status of any vehicle instantaneously on a mobile phone. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



21. Dr. Bawumia said the NPP will create over one million jobs. The NDC said he was lying, but he has been proven right!



22. Dr. Bawumia said the government will introduce an exchange program for Okada riders to provide them with vehicles. The NDC said he was lying, but it is on course to happen soon! He will be proven right.



23. Dr. Bawumia says the government will introduce an individualized credit scoring system for Ghana. The NDC said he was lying, but yet again, he will be proven right!



CONCLUSION



From the above, it is obvious the NDC's deliberate communication objective to brand Bawumia a liar has failed to achieve its objectives because the accusation of "lies" cannot be substantiated.



Branding Bawumia a liar and calling him Bawuliar may sound interesting, like music to the ears of only the NDC and those who orchestrated it. Its impact, however, can only excite a section of the NDC, who continue to push such weak labeling.

Source: Ghanaweb









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

Featured Video
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially launched its campaign ahead of the 2024 elections.



The event, which took place on Saturday, July 27th at the Tamale Jubilee Park, brought together key leaders and stalwarts of the party.



The event was climaxed by the speech of the flagbearer of the party, John Mahama. During his address, he eloquently outlined the party's goals and strategic plans for the future, igniting a sense of purpose and determination among party supporters.



He then officially launched the partys campaign saying "On this occasion as the flagbearer of the NDC, I declare the NDC campaign duly and officially launched"



Meanwhile, the party plans to launch its manifesto in the Central Region by August.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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

Featured Video
Two of the leading candidates of this year's presidential election, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and John Dramani Mahama had separate events in the North as the 2024 campaign heats up.



The NPP flagbearer, Dr. Bawumia, who has been touring the Northern part of the country, held a community connect event on Friday in Yagaba in the Yagaba Kubore Constituency of the North East Region while NDC Flagbearer, former President Mahama and his party launched their 2024 campaign in Tamale.



Dr. Bawumia's campaign, even though a constituency-based, pulled a mammoth crowd which became the talk of the town.



On Saturday, the NDC's rally, a national event, also attracted a huge crowd with supporters traveling to Tamale from all over the country.



With the two sets of crowd coming just a day in-between the two campaigns in the North, people have begun juxtaposing them.



Some find it intriguing that Dr. Bawumia's event held within a constituency, the Yagaba Kubore, pulled larger crowd than the NDC's national event which gathered attendees from all the 16 Regions.



This, to political critics, is worth noting as the momentum for the December 7 polls builds up.





Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

Featured Video
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako a.k.a Chairman Wontumi has asked former President John Dramani Mahama to accept the debate challenge so that he can have the opportunity to expose the so-called lies of the Vice President.



According to the NPP Regional Chairman, the debate will provide a perfect platform for the former President to adequately substantiate the claims by him and his party that the Vice President and the NPP presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is a liar.



"I think Mr. Mahama has a very fine opportunity to sink Dr. Bawumia once and for all and I will encourage him to accept the challenge without hesitation, Chairman Wontumi asserted.



The Regional Chairman added he is ready to quit the ruling party and join the opposition NDC if former President Mahama accepts the debate challenge and succeeds in exposing Vice President Bawumia as a liar as they have always professed.



"I am ready to join Mr. Mahama and the NDC if they are able to engage Dr. Bawumia and expose him as a liar. I am daring the former President to take up the challenge", Chairman Wontumi stated.



There have been loud calls for the NDC flagbearer to accede to the challenge by Dr. Bawumia to engage in a one-on-one debate on the economy.



Though the opposition party has declined the challenge, describing it as a bait, many observers hold the view it will be a good platform to assess the two leading candidates going into the crucial elections come December 7, 2024.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

Featured Video
Information available indicates a mixed bag of joy and apprehension amongst young Police recruits in Ashanti Region who are fervently praying for the ruling New Patriotic Party to retain power.



The young recruits call for NPPs retention in government so as to replicate the magnificent Police housing project in the Region.



Many young Police officers, according to sources, are impressed with this beautiful gesture by government for the Police in the Greater Accra Region and are yearning to have a similar one in the Ashanti Region.



For their dream to be come true, it is premised on the NPP winning the upcoming December 7 elections.



It is on the heels of this that these young recruits pray for NPPs victory as, to them, they fear a change in leadership will ruin their hope.



During the inauguration of the spectacular 320-unit Police housing project at Tesano in Accra last week, the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare praised the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the NPP, describing their investments and support to the Police Service as unprecedented.



The houses, located in the premises of the Police Training School, is fitted with state-of-the-art facilities and expected to address the decade-long housing challenges which had bedeviled the Service.



Some officers, speaking on the projects with their identities concealed, were hopeful the NPPs next administration under the leadership of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will extend this helpful initiative to the Ashanti Region.



"We have seen the beautiful housing project at Tesano and we pray that similar one can be done here in Kumasi for us to also enjoy. This government has done a lot for the Police and other security agencies and we hope they can stay in power so that we can also benefit from them", the officers said.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

Featured Video
When DJ Anyaloko....the journalist interviewing 2Face Idibia asked him why he chose to marry Annie Idibia out of all the women in his life ?



He relaxed back on his sit, took a deep breathe in reflection and gently answered her with this:

You see, Perro Adeniyi who gave birth to my first son graduated from a top UK University as a medical student and is now a doctor.



She is very beautiful and intelligent from a very wealthy family. He continued Sandra who gave birth to my other two kids is a dealer in expensive diamond and gold jewelries. She was already a multi-millionaire when I met her, she owns one of the most expensive houses in Banana Island. Her family too are very well to do. He took another deep breathe and continued Sumbo who gave birth to 2 kids for me is also a very intelligent first class Lawyer. She has worked on and won many big cases for so many wealthy men and women in this country and abroad, thats how she made her money and she Too is very beautiful as well.



Then with a loving gentle smile on his Face he took another deep breathe and said this But you see Annie is from an average background like myself, we both started from nothing.

She stuck by me through it all. When there was no car she hopped on bikes, took the bus and trekked with me, when there was no money or house or hit songs or or millions of albums sold or big awards and accolades, when I used to repeat just 3 sets of clothes, she would always hold my head, look into my eyes and tell me things will be fine one day. When I wasnt handsome, she would call me her Prince Charming, when I wasnt celebrated, she called me her KING and said she is my number one fan and to this day she still is. Even when I made it big as a musician and started misbehaving and controversies almost destroyed my career, she would go down on her knees and pray to God to show me the way and give me victory over my enemies.



Now if I was still that poor boy struggling to make it like every other young chap on the streets of Lagos, do you think a Doctor, a Lawyer and a multi-millionaire business woman will want to look at me twice or even have my kids? NO. So to answer your question, I didnt chose who had more to offer me, I chose Annie because she offered me her all when we had very little Tuface Idibia you're the man, God bless you for sticking with Annie.









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

Featured Video
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Humidity forecasts over North America and the northeast Pacific Ocean. Credit: Kochov et al. / Nature

A new system for forecasting weather and predicting future climate uses artificial intelligence (AI) to achieve results comparable with the best existing models while using much less computer power, according to its creators.

In a paper published in Nature, a team of researchers from Google, MIT, Harvard and the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts say their model offers enormous "computational savings" and can "enhance the large-scale physical simulations that are essential for understanding and predicting the Earth system."

The NeuralGCM model is the latest in a steady stream of research models that use advances in machine learning to make weather and climate predictions faster and cheaper.

What is NeuralGCM?

The NeuralGCM model aims to combine the best features of traditional models with a machine-learning approach.

At its core, NeuralGCM is what is called a "general circulation model." It contains a mathematical description of the physical state of Earth's atmosphere, and it solves complicated equations to predict what will happen in the future.

However, NeuralGCM also uses machine learninga process of searching out patterns and regularities in vast troves of datafor some less well-understood physical processes, such as cloud formation. The hybrid approach makes sure that the output of the machine learning modules will be consistent with the laws of physics.

Google researchers explain the NeuralGCM model.

The resulting model can then be used for making forecasts of weather days and weeks in advance, as well as looking months and years ahead for climate predictions.

The researchers compared NeuralGCM against other models using a standardized set of forecasting tests called WeatherBench 2. For three- and five-day forecasts, NeuralGCM did about as well as other machine-learning weather models such as Pangu and GraphCast. For longer-range forecasts, over ten and 15 days, NeuralGCM was about as accurate as the best existing traditional models.

NeuralGCM was also quite successful in forecasting less-common weather phenomena, such as tropical cyclones and atmospheric rivers.

Why machine learning?

Machine learning models are based on algorithms that learn patterns in the data they are fed with, then use this learning to make predictions. Because climate and weather systems are highly complex, machine learning models require vast amounts of historical observations and satellite data for training.

The training process is very expensive and requires a lot of computer power. However, after a model is trained, using it to make predictions is fast and cheap. This is a large part of their appeal for weather forecasting.

A comparison of how NeuralGCM compares with leading models (AMIP) and real data (ERA5) at capturing climate change between 1980 and 2020. Credit: Google Research

The high cost of training and low cost of use is similar to other kinds of machine learning models. GPT-4, for example, reportedly took several months to train at a cost of more than US$100 million, but can respond to a query in moments.

A weakness of machine learning models is that they often struggle in unfamiliar situationsor in this case, extreme or unprecedented weather conditions. To do this, a model needs to be able to generalize, or extrapolate beyond the data it was trained on.

NeuralGCM appears to be better at this than other machine learning models, because its physics-based core provides some grounding in reality. As Earth's climate changes, unprecedented weather conditions will become more common, and we don't know how well machine learning models will keep up.

Nobody is actually using machine learning-based weather models for day-to-day forecasting yet. However, it is a very active area of researchand one way or another, we can be confident that the forecasts of the future will involve machine learning.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Kathmandu: Mr. KIKUTA Yutaka, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, paid a courtesy call on Hon. Ms. Bidhya Bhattarai, Minister for Education, Science and Technology of Nepal on July 26, 2024, accompanied by the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) members including Vice President.





On this occasion, Ambassador Kikuta expressed his congratulatory wishes to Hon. Minister Bhattarai on her inauguration and Hon. Minister Bhattarai expressed the appreciation for the congratulations.





Ambassador Kikuta emphasized that educational exchange is one of the important pillars that support the friendship between Japan and Nepal. As one of the examples, the Ambassador introduced APU, a unique university of Japan where half of the students are international students including Nepali. Mr. OKAMURA Yoshifumi, the Vice President of APU informed that now graduates are establishing Nepal Chapter of the APU Alumni Association to strengthen

their ties.








Guwahati: As Bangladesh has slowly returned to normalcy after deadly unrest for many days, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called for an impartial probe into alleged human rights violations across the south Asian nation. He also called on the government in Dhaka to restore full Internet access to enable free communication for all including the media persons in accordance with international law. The UN rights chief also called on the Sheikh Hasina- led government to urgently disclose full details about the crackdown on protests.





Meanwhile, Amnesty International (AI) claimed that the Bangladesh police unlawfully used lethal and less-lethal weapons against student protesters amid six days of shutdown and communication restrictions, during the quota-reform protest across the country. The nationwide internet access was partially restored on 23 July 2024 after a volatile period marked by the crackdown on protesters, deployment of army personnel amidst a curfew with the shoot-on-sight order.





The London-based human rights organization responded to the evolving situation in Bangladesh through verification and analysis of available video and photographic evidence. It verified videos of three incidents of unlawful use of lethal and less-lethal weapons by law enforcement agencies while policing the protests. Media reports claim that nearly 200 people died and several thousand sustained injuries due to the unrest engulfing Bangladesh since 1 July, where the authorities have arrested around 2,500 persons.





AI urges the government to respect the right to protest, end this violent crackdown and immediately lift all communications restrictions. Deprose Muchena of Amnesty International argued that the continued verification and analysis of video and photographic evidence provides a grim picture. The egregious human rights records of Bangla government and Rapid Action Battalion, which has been deployed to police the protests, provides little reassurance that the protesters' rights would be protected in the absence of active international monitoring with internet and communication restrictions still partially in place.





AI also asked the authorities to immediately lift the shoot-on-sight orders, fully restore internet access across Bangladesh and end the use of army and paramilitary forces in the policing of protests. The organization also demanded an independent and impartial investigation into all human rights violations committed by security forces, including the high death toll of protesters and punish all those found responsible under the law.





Amidst the chaos, a young reporter named Hasan Mehedi was killed at Jatrabari area of Dhaka on 18 July. Mehedi, who worked for Bangla digital media outlet Dhaka Times was covering the clashes erupted between the police forces and agitating students and died of bullet injuries in his head. Various global media safety and rights bodies including Paris-based Reporters sans/without Borders (RSF) and Geneva- Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) expressed shock and grief over the killing of Mehedi and demanded a fair probe into the incident that led to his death.




Body with threat message found abandoned in Puerto Aventuras

Puerto Aventuras, Q.R.  Solidaridad police were sent to an establishment Friday night after the report of a dead body. The body of a man was found wrapped in a plastic bag and left near the towns entrance.

The person who found the body called 9-1-1 around midnight. Police were sent to verify the finding, which turned out to be that of an adult male. Beside the body was a handwritten threat message left likely by those responsible.

The large message was written on a white piece of cloth with references to state officials they accuse of working with cartel members, taking payroll and giving them protection in the hotel zone.

The body was found abandoned beside a threat message. Photo: July 26, 2024.

Authorities have not made any public comment on the deceased or the message left behind.
BEIJING, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Shortly after China's key policy meeting concluded last week, a U.S. business delegation visited China and had conversations with a number of ministries, indicating that they have received the signal of China's further opening up and are confident in continuing to deepen cooperation with China. As Sino-U.S. relations arrive at a critical juncture, and the third plenum of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee reaffirms China's commitment to opening up, the visit by U.S. corporate leaders is not only timely, but also conducive to the two countries developing a correct perception of each other. Economic and trade ties were long regarded as the "ballast stone" of bilateral relations. But in recent years, the U.S. administration has taken many unilateral moves to hinder two-way trade and investment. While some in the West alleged that China is shutting its door to the world, Beijing's latest message is loud and clear: Opening up has been a defining feature of China's rapid development and remains a hallmark of Chinese modernization. According to the recent plenum, China will steadily expand institutional opening up, deepen foreign trade structural reform, further reform the management systems for inward and outward investment, improve planning for regional opening up, and refine the mechanisms for high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. As China opens its goods, services, capital and labor markets to the rest of the world in an orderly manner, it will bring more business opportunities to the world, including U.S. companies. It's certainly good news for boosting Sino-U.S. economic and trade ties. Members of the U.S.-China Business Council, consisting of CEOs and presidents of leading U.S. companies, formed the first delegation from the U.S. business community to visit China after the plenum. Face-to-face meetings and field studies are the best way to clear up any misunderstandings and correct misconceptions. Such interactions are good for the two sides to reduce opportunity costs and elevate cooperation to a higher quality level. Members of the delegation have voiced their confidence in continuing to deepen cooperation with China in fields such as economy, trade, investment, green development, health, education and people-to-people exchanges. The enduring nature of China-U.S. economic and trade relations is mutual benefit while the common interests of the two countries far outweigh their differences in the economic and trade field. Even when there are economic and trade frictions, the "ballast stone" role of trade and economic cooperation should be strengthened rather than weakened. Whether China and the United States can work together to achieve common prosperity and tackle global challenges is a matter that concerns the interests of the two peoples and the future of humanity. From the daily lives of the people to the global economic outlook, the impact of China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation is both significant and far-reaching. The two sides need to bolster the anchor of China-U.S. relations to raise economic and trade cooperation to new heights. With U.S. business leaders eager to seize the opportunities of China's comprehensive deepening of reforms and optimistic about future cooperation with China, politicians in Washington should truly listen to the voices of the U.S. business community, handle the U.S.-China relationship from a long-term perspective, and do some good things for the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. If the "ballast stone" is damaged or even lost, it will not only harm the interests of the business people and consumers of the two countries, but also have a disastrous impact on the global economy.
Two types of memory are commonly used in today's electronics: Dynamic-random access memory (DRAM), and NAND. The former has gotten a lot of recent attention, due to it being used in high-bandwidth-memory chips used in AI processors made by companies like Nvidia.

But NANDcommonly used in electronics like mobile deviceshas a role to play in the AI boom too, Chen Kok Sing, country manager for Micron in Singapore, says.

Almost all of Micron Technologys NAND memory is made in Singapore. NAND contributed $2.1 billion to Microns revenue last quarter, representing 30% of its revenue.

"AI generates a lot of information data and they all need to be stored, so then NAND comes in to play a part in the terms of the storage capabilities," Chen says.

Microns Singapore products are used in data centers and products that are intelligent edge, like smart home systems, Chen says. In its June earnings presentation, Micron forecast industry growth for both DRAM and NAND to be in the mid-teens percentage range in the short-term.

Singapore benefits from Micron too: Its presence gives the Southeast Asian country its footprint in the AI chip market. According to HSBC, Micron helps give Singapore a 10% share in the high-end global memory market.

Why is Micron Technology in Singapore?

Micron's presence in Singapore dates back to 1998, when the firm took over Texas Instruments' global memory business. (Texas Instruments started operations in Singapore in 1969)

Since then, Micron's footprint grew from two manufacturing plants and an assembly and testing site to now include four wafer fabs and more advanced automated test facilities. About 9,000 employees work in Micron's Singapore sites.

The Micron Singapore plant plays a very critical role in our global leadership strategy, Chen says.

Microns facility in Singapore is also its NAND center of excellence, combining technological development, product engineering, and manufacturing.

Chen, who joined Micron straight out of college, says Microns Singapore success is thanks to the citys talent ecosystem. Chen points to Singapores universities and polytechnics as an important source of STEM talent, with electrical engineering students spending time as interns at the company.

Why memory matters

All this memory, be it DRAM or NAND, is used in every device, Chen says. Mobile phones, data centres, solid state drives, the internet of things, a lot of these things require data to be manipulated and data to be stored.

Micron also produces high-bandwidth-memory chips (HBM), used in the graphics processing units that now power AI applications. Microns HBM production takes place across three regions with design and process development in the U.S., memory fabrication in Japan, and advanced packaging and testing in Taiwan. DRAM chips, which includes HBM, drove almost 70% of Micron's revenue last quarter.

Story continues

Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are the largest firms in the memory chip sector. Shares in Micron, headquartered in Idaho, have risen around 30% this year so far thanks to surging demand for memory chips.

Singapores tech and AI push

While Singapore hasn't announced blockbuster chip subsidies like the U.S., Europe, or India, the country can count on something else: Decades of experience in the semiconductor sector. Chipmaking accounts for 40% of added value in Singapore's manufacturing sector. Manufacturing makes up about 20% of the countrys GDP.

Micron's operation in Singapore is the only one in the country producing leading-edge NAND technology.

Yet in addition to the cutting-edge, Singapore also produces mature chips, with manufacturers like United Microelectronics Corporation and GlobalFoundries announcing multi-billion dollar investments on the island in recent years. Companies that already have operations in Singapore are finding it easier to expand than to set up an entirely new operation in another location.

Dutch bank ING forecasts that AI chip demand will remain strong until at least 2025, and that could continue lifting the earnings of chipmakers like Micron.

After investing more than $30 billion into its Singapore operations over two decades, is the chipmaker open to investing more? We are always on the lookout for additional opportunities given the right time and space, Chen says.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240728/golan-attack-inflection-point-threatens-to-trigger-large-scale-war-pull-others-into-quagmire-1119548778.html

Golan Attack Inflection Point Threatens to Trigger Large-Scale War, Pull Others Into Quagmire

Golan Attack Inflection Point Threatens to Trigger Large-Scale War, Pull Others Into Quagmire

Sputnik International

A full-scale Israel-Hezbollah war threatens to devastate both sides and spiral into a regional war, Lebanese American University political science and international affairs assistant professor Joseph Helou told Sputnik.

2024-07-28T19:01+0000

2024-07-28T19:01+0000

2024-07-28T19:18+0000

analysis

benjamin netanyahu

middle east

israel

lebanon

golan heights

hezbollah

israel defense forces (idf)

hamas

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107584/24/1075842411_0:0:2721:1532_1920x0_80_0_0_af3863910e9fa3a4493873a3a51dbfb8.jpg

A full-scale Israel-Hezbollah war threatens to devastate both sides and spiral into a regional war, and world powers must do everything in their power to prevent such an eventuality from taking place, Lebanese American University political science and international affairs assistant professor Joseph Helou told Sputnik, commenting on the precarious situation in the region after Saturdays attack on Majdal Shams.Since 7 October 2023, Hezbollah has joined the war in support of Gaza. Ever since, several critical moments seemed to present themselves as the inflection point that could escalate into a large-scale war in the region. Yet, both Hezbollah and Israel seem to confine this war to the implicit rules of engagement, restricting the combat to south Lebanon and north Israel, with occasional violations of these rules, but without reaching the tip of the iceberg, Dr. Helou explained.Unlike Hamas, for example, whose Spartan fighting forces have used a combination of assault rifles, shoulder-launched anti-tank missiles, simple garage-built rockets and a vast underground tunnel network for their war against Israel in Gaza, Hezbollahs paramilitary wing has racked up years of combined experience fighting both Israel and US-sponsored terrorist proxies in Syria.Moreover, unlike Hamas, which is confined to Gaza and forced to smuggle in its weapons, Hezbollah faces far fewer restrictions in its access to sophisticated armaments, and is estimated to have amassed a missile, rocket and drone arsenal potentially powerful enough to overwhelm Israels sophisticated air defenses.The international community must continue the strong diplomatic efforts being taken to extinguish the conflagration before it escalates any further, Dr. Helou said. While this does not preclude the possibility of a large-scale attack, it fosters an environment in which the conflicting parties have to recalculate their moves.The United States  Israels chief military and economic sponsor, blamed Hezbollah for Saturdays attack, but said it was working on a diplomatic solution to the tensions on the Lebanon-Israel border  home to over nine months of skirmishes between the IDF and Hezbollah since October.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told journalists on Sunday that there appear to be no prospects for stopping this bloodshed, saying Russia condemns all terrorist actions undertaken by any organization, and adding that the root cause of the crisis stems from the ongoing war in Gaza and Prime Minister Netanyahus unrealistic plan to completely destroy Hamas.Hezbollah and the Lebanese government have rejected Israels claims about the militias purported responsibility for Saturdays attack, and Beirut has called for an international investigation.Israel has already launched large-scale strikes against Hezbollah positions, and slapped the militia with an ultimatum on Sunday, demanding a complete withdraw Hezbollah forces from the border area.This is unrealistic, Dr. Helou said.It is very unlikely that Hezbollah will withdraw their forces, specifically the Radwan elite forces, from the borders without a package deal. The group regards Israel to be in a situation conducive for a negotiated settlement, specifically with regards to disputed border points, gas drilling and the [Israeli-occupied] Shebaa Farms. While these topics may not be tabled for discussion in a comprehensive manner, Hezbollah believes that it should receive some concessions before conceding, the observer explained.Asked to comment on reports from Hezbollahs allies and friendly media that the attack on Majdal Shams may have been a fabricated scenario designed to distract from Israeli actions in Gaza, or even a false-flag to justify a full-scale intervention in Lebanon, Dr. Helou said that while he could not confirm the authenticity of such claims, it is clear that some actors may have an interest in taking action against Hezbollah.The Israeli PM is in a fragile political condition in Israeli politics, a matter that may incentivize him to launch a large-scale attack against Hezbollah to shore up his legitimacy, Helou said.Israeli Druze politician and Knesset member Akram Hasson takes the opposite view, expressing certainty about Hezbollahs responsibility for Saturday's shelling, and support for Netanyahu, saying the PM has promised that the Israeli army will not stop attacking Lebanon and [are] going to attack Hezbollah very hard.Israeli media investigating Saturdays incident in Majdal Shams have not questioned the government narrative that Hezbollah was responsible for the attack, but have asked why the IDFs Northern Command did not issue an early warning to residents to seek shelter, as typically occurs when an incoming missile or rocket threat is detected.Partially occupied by Israel since 1967 and formally annexed in 1982, the Golan Heights is home to a large Syrian Druze community. Many Druze continue to reject Israels occupation of their communities, refusing Israeli citizenship, service in the military, and holding protests demanding reunification with Syria.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240728/netanyahu-urgently-returns-to-israel-to-assess-security-after-golan-heights-attack-1119548490.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240728/israeli-foreign-ministry-announces-last-chance-to-prevent-war-with-lebanon-1119539863.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240726/israel-privately-pressuring-biden-administration-to-fast-track-supply-of-weapons---reports-1119513033.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20181006/druze-gather-in-golan-1068666245.html

israel

lebanon

golan heights

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Ilya Tsukanov

Ilya Tsukanov

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

Ilya Tsukanov

attack on majdal shams, israel lebanon tensions, idf hezballah escalation, israeli lebanese border tensions, joseph helou, what is happening between israel and lebanon, war on middle east
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240728/israeli-foreign-ministry-announces-last-chance-to-prevent-war-with-lebanon-1119539863.html

Israeli Foreign Ministry Announces Last Chance to Prevent War With Lebanon

Israeli Foreign Ministry Announces Last Chance to Prevent War With Lebanon

Sputnik International

Israel, in connection with the attack on Golan Heights, has declared that the only way to prevent a potential war with Lebanon is for the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah to withdraw its forces, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said on Sunday.

2024-07-28T08:34+0000

2024-07-28T08:34+0000

2024-07-28T08:34+0000

world

middle east

lebanon

israel

golan heights

hezbollah

israeli foreign ministry

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/1c/1119539989_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_a1ccd1b230d1acbb8e11b328facb5000.jpg

According to the Israeli army, 12 young people and children were killed on Saturday in the Golan Heights as a result of shelling from Lebanon. Hezbollah has denied involvement in the attack. "The only way that the world can prevent a full scale war which would be devastating also to Lebanon is by forcing Hezbollah to implement Security Council Resolution 1701. Now is the very last minute to do so diplomatically," Marmorstein said on X.

lebanon

israel

golan heights

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

irael lebanon war, irael lebanon hostilities, golan heights attack, golan heights shelling
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240728/israeli-military-surprised-by-hamass-tunnel-building-prowess-likens-network-to-spiders-web-1119547977.html

Israeli Military Surprised by Hamass Tunnel-Building Prowess, Likens Network to Spiders Web

Israeli Military Surprised by Hamass Tunnel-Building Prowess, Likens Network to Spiders Web

Sputnik International

Israels Channel 12 likened Hamass tunnel network to a spiders web into which fighters disappear and suddenly reappear to wage attacks on maneuvering Israeli forces in a coordinated manner.

2024-07-28T17:54+0000

2024-07-28T17:54+0000

2024-07-28T17:54+0000

world

benjamin netanyahu

middle east

israel

lebanon

gaza strip

hamas

israel defense forces (idf)

hezbollah

tunnel

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/1c/1119548134_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_1d1025d62143c1a96b67f85332b23f60.jpg

An in-depth report by Israels Hebrew language Channel 12 this week has likened Hamass tunnel network to a spiders web into which fighters disappear underground and suddenly reappear somewhere else to wage attacks on maneuvering Israeli forces in a coordinated manner.The investigation, citing anonymous Israeli security and defense officials with intimate knowledge of the tunnel network, credits the sophisticated Hamas infrastructure with enabling Hamas to wage a systematic defensive battle underground.Channel 12 emphasized that even more than nine months into the war in Gaza, the IDF knows that they do not know everything about the huge tunnel project.The report compared the Gaza tunnel network to a similar network dug by South Vietnamese partisans fighting the US military in the 1960s, suggesting that this low-tech strategy was back in fashion, this time in Gaza, and that the Israeli military has been forced to adapt.The Hamas tunnel network is said to run the entirety of the Gaza Strip, allowing the militia and its allies to transport fighters and logistics under cover and away from the watchful eye of Israeli intelligence, and to maintain communications underground to aid in commanders planningThe militia has been able to set up entire weapons production facilities underground, according to the report, with Israeli officials estimating that basic tunnel cost at roughly $275,000 per kilometer, and more in the case of connecting tunnels, production sites and strategic points.We encountered a lot of things we knew we would encounter, but in much larger quantities than we estimated: obstructions, top doors, chargers, the amount of shafts [to the outside world], the defense source added.When asked why the military had failed to address the Gaza tunnel network despite claiming to know about its extent ahead of time, an officer told Channel 12 that the military was in the midst of an internal investigation on the events of October 7 and the events proceeding them.One source said that while destroying the entirety of the Hamas tunnel network is technically possible, it would take many more years. Accordingly, they said, the military has sought to focus on the centers of gravity instead of each and every separate tunnel.The war in Gaza is set to enter its tenth month in a week-and-a-half, with militants led by Hamas complemented by over half a dozen other Palestinian militias facing off against the Israeli military in the tunnels and above ground in the ruins of Gazas cities. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict to date, the vast majority of them civilians in Gaza, according to the local authorities.Bombshell-reporting by Israeli media in April revealed that the Israeli military has been using an AI-generated kill list system known as Lavender to direct the bombardment of Gaza, with the program having little to no human oversight, and affording generous tolerances in which it is deemed acceptable to kill 15, 20 or even 100 civilians to eliminate a single suspected Hamas terrorist operative.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240726/hamas-rejects-israels-new-conditions-for-ceasefire-in-gaza---movement-representative-1119518708.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240723/hamas-fatah-reconciliation-china-solidifies-role-as-mideast-peace-broker-1119473091.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/israel-uses-military-ai-in-gaza-tool-of-genocide-or-simply-a-database-1117831884.html

israel

lebanon

gaza strip

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Ilya Tsukanov

Ilya Tsukanov

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

Ilya Tsukanov

how extensive is hamas's tunnel network, what does israel know about hamas's tunnels, how much do hamas tunnels cost, can israel defeat hamas, why can't israel beat hamas
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240728/major-us-tech-company-to-pull-advertising-from-paris-olympics-after-last-supper-mockery-1119539511.html

Major US Tech Company to Pull Advertising From Paris Olympics After Last Supper 'Mockery'

Major US Tech Company to Pull Advertising From Paris Olympics After Last Supper 'Mockery'

Sputnik International

One of the largest US telecommunications companies, C Spire, has announced the decision to withdraw its advertising from the Summer Olympic Games in Paris after the controversial parody of the Last Supper during the opening ceremony, saying that its employees were shocked by the performance.

2024-07-28T08:24+0000

2024-07-28T08:24+0000

2024-07-28T08:24+0000

world

elon musk

it

telecommunications

it and telecom

christians

christianity

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/1c/1119539602_0:0:3522:1981_1920x0_80_0_0_8ceb4e7592b50d25f30ca1214293e834.jpg

"We were shocked by the mockery of the Last Supper during the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics. C Spire will be pulling our advertising from the Olympics," the company said in a statement on X late Saturday. The opening ceremony took place on Friday and many social media users expressed their outrage at the parody of "The Last Supper," which featured representatives of the LGBT* movement. US billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk said on X that the scene was extremely disrespectful to Christians. *banned in Russia as extremist organization

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

paris olympics, paris olympics opening ceremony, scandal at paris olympics, last supper at olympics
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240728/malaysia-sends-letter-of-application-to-join-brics-to-russia---prime-minister-1119547156.html

Malaysia Sends Letter of Application to Join BRICS to Russia - Prime Minister

Malaysia Sends Letter of Application to Join BRICS to Russia - Prime Minister

Sputnik International

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Sunday that the country had sent a letter of application to join BRICS, expressing readiness to become the groups strategic partner.

2024-07-28T15:29+0000

2024-07-28T15:29+0000

2024-07-28T15:29+0000

world

malaysia

brics

sergey lavrov

russia

brazil

india

china

south africa

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/07/1118849168_0:173:3030:1877_1920x0_80_0_0_0cf36ff8ca02c86b10b70209db2f0a73.jpg

"Malaysia has sent a letter of application to join the [BRICS] organisation to Russia as the BRICS chairman, besides expressing openness to participate as a member country or strategic partner," the prime minister was quoted as saying by the state-run Bernama news agency. Malaysias intention to join BRICS was the main topic of his talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is currently on a visit to the Asian country, Ibrahim said.Russia assumed the bloc's rotating presidency on January 1. On the same day, BRICS expanded its membership to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has not formalized its participation but has been taking part in BRICS meetings.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240711/russian-brics-chairmanship-what-has-been-achieved-for-six-months-1119339297.html

malaysia

russia

brazil

china

south africa

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

brics enlargement, brics expansion, ethiopia joins brics, ethiopia in bricks, ethiopia becomes brics member, what countries are in brics, new brics members, what's brics, what does brics do, brics currency, brics payment system
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240728/netanyahu-urgently-returns-to-israel-to-assess-security-after-golan-heights-attack-1119548490.html

Netanyahu Urgently Returns to Israel to Assess Security After Golan Heights Attack

Netanyahu Urgently Returns to Israel to Assess Security After Golan Heights Attack

Sputnik International

Israeli PM Netanyahu returned to Israel ahead of schedule from his trip to the US and is heading to the defense ministry headquarters to assess the security situation.

2024-07-28T18:17+0000

2024-07-28T18:17+0000

2024-07-28T18:17+0000

world

israel

lebanon

golan heights

hezbollah

israel defense forces (idf)

benjamin netanyahu

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/07/1116035190_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_ee658cf5eb68c38e759e20ad789c7e85.jpg

According to the Israeli military, 12 young people and children were killed on Saturday in the Golan Heights as a result of shelling from Lebanon. Hezbollah has denied involvement in the attack. The security assessment at the Kirya was held in the afternoon, his office said later in the day. "Participating in the discussion were the Defense Minister, the Prime Minister's Chief-of-Staff, the Director the National Security Council, the Director of the Mossad, the Director of the ISA [Israeli Security Agency], the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] Chief-of-Staff, the Prime Minister's Military Secretary, the Head of IDF Intelligence, the Head of IDF Operations, the Head of the IDF Strategy Directorate, the Head of Research at IDF Intelligence and the Defense Ministry Director General," Netanyahus office said in a statement.The situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border worsened after the start of Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip in October 2023. The Israeli army and Lebanese Hezbollah fighters exchange fire almost daily in areas along the border since then.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240727/israel-claims-lebanons-hezbollah-responsible-for-golan-heights-attack-1119535697.html

israel

lebanon

golan heights

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

netanyahu returned to israel, netanyahu trip to us, netanyahu response to lebanon, israel lebanon tensions
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240728/obama-threatened-biden-with-removal-from-office-under-25th-amendment---sy-hersh-1119537682.html

Obama Threatened Biden with Removal from Office Under 25th Amendment - Sy Hersh

Obama Threatened Biden with Removal from Office Under 25th Amendment - Sy Hersh

Sputnik International

Former US President Barack Obama threatened Joe Biden with removal from office under the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution if he did not withdraw from the presidential race, US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh has claimed.

2024-07-28T01:20+0000

2024-07-28T01:20+0000

2024-07-28T04:11+0000

us

newsfeed

joe biden

barack obama

seymour hersh

democrats

democratic party

25th amendment

2024 us presidential election

americas

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1d/1109933465_0:0:1376:775_1920x0_80_0_0_2a32956690b1644bedbad0f93502cc04.jpg

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Former President Barack Obama threatened Joe Biden with removal from office under the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution if he did not withdraw from the presidential race, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh has claimed. Obama told Biden he had gotten the approval of Vice President Kamala Harris to invoke the safeguard against presidential incapacity, Hersh wrote in a blog post on Substack. The journalist noted that, in accordance with the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, the US president may be removed from power in the event they are judged to no longer be able to carry out their duties, with the vice president stepping into the role. Hersh claimed that by the time Obama called Biden, it was already clear Harris would receive Democratic leaders' approval to run as the party's candidate.Obama's call to Biden came amid discontent among Democratic Party donors, who threatened to withhold funding over concerns about Biden's health.The US presidential election will take place November 5. It was assumed Biden would again appear on the ballot, but figures within the party began to express concern after a widely-panned debate performance against former President Donald Trump in June. Biden announced his intention to drop out of the race July 21 and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the party's nominee.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240207/hersh-wests-hesitance-to-conclude-nord-stream-probe-implicates-culprits-1116642115.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240725/biden-promises-stronger-more-powerful-nato-in-speech-passing-torch-to-harris-1119493706.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

us, newsfeed, joe biden, barack obama, seymour hersh, democrats, democratic party, 25th amendment, 2024 us presidential election
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240728/trump-won-sympathy-of-us-crypto-community-but-needs-to-be-consistent---expert-1119540260.html

Trump Won Sympathy of US Crypto Community, But Needs to Be Consistent - Expert

Trump Won Sympathy of US Crypto Community, But Needs to Be Consistent - Expert

Sputnik International

Former US President Donald Trump is currently considered by the crypto community as the most preferred candidate for the post of head of state, but it is important that the politician's campaign promises are followed by real actions, US entrepreneur and cryptocurrency analyst Rich Rines told Sputnik.

2024-07-28T08:39+0000

2024-07-28T08:39+0000

2024-07-28T08:39+0000

americas

us

donald trump

republican party

bitcoin

crypto currency

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/0e/1119374355_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_5631e919e0de4cc2be6e07c8275ace48.jpg

"It is a hard question. I did see that RFK [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] actually recently mentioned that the majority of his wealth is in Bitcoin, which is pretty awesome. I loved to hear that. I was not expecting that. I think overall, Trump right now seems to be the winner," Rines said on the sidelines of a major annual Bitcoin Conference, which is taking place in Nashville from July 25-27. At the same time, he said that politicians' statements alone are not enough, because you can vote based on those statements, but it comes down to the actions that follow. The cost of Bitcoin, the first capitalization of the cryptocurrency, at the opening of the US exchange on Saturday exceeded $69,000 in anticipation of Trump's speech on the final day of the Bitcoin Conference in Nashville. The politician made cryptocurrencies part of his election campaign, and a number of analysts expect that after his speech on the final day of the conference, the cost of Bitcoin may rise sharply. At the same time, other industry analysts are urging the crypto community not to make rosy plans for Donald Trump's tenure as US president. In particular, back in 2020, the Republican president was one step away from making a decision to ban Bitcoin.

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

trump-2024, is trump running for president, why is trump banned from election, who's banning trump from election, why is trump banned from election, who's against trump in presidential election, was trump behind january 6, who organized january 6, why is trump banned from election, trumps court case, why is trump investigated, republicans vs democrats at the elections, who will win in 2024 elections, trump vs biden, trump biden debate, presidential debate, biden drops out, joe biden dropped out of presidential race, who will replace biden, who will be new democratic candidate, kamala harris replaces biden, biden quits, harris new democratic candidate, will harris run for office
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240728/ukraine-west-doubt-f-16s-to-change-situation-on-battlefield---reports-1119541435.html

Ukraine, West Doubt F-16s to Change Situation on Battlefield - Reports

Ukraine, West Doubt F-16s to Change Situation on Battlefield - Reports

Sputnik International

Ukrainian and Western officials have expressed skepticism about the potential impact of F-16 fighter planes on the situation on the battlefield, The Washington Post reported on Sunday.

2024-07-28T10:09+0000

2024-07-28T10:09+0000

2024-07-28T10:09+0000

military

sergey lavrov

ukraine

russia

kiev

nato

f-16

f-16 fighting falcon

f-16 fighter jet

military aid

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0b/07/1114791738_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_332887d1422a2c62259130dd1e564b34.jpg

The long-awaited F-16 fighter jets are due to arrive in Ukraine in a few weeks, but Ukrainian and Western officials warn that the aircraft, which Kiev once called a turning point, are unlikely to have an immediate impact on the battlefield due to limited supply and a significant number of Russian air defenses, the newspaper reported. The first F-16s are expected to be used primarily for strengthening Ukraine's air defenses and are unlikely to fly too close to the front line, according to the officials. The officials have refused to specify the number of fighters that Ukraine will receive this year, but it will be no more than one squadron, about 20 jets. In mid-July, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned the United States and its NATO allies of catastrophic consequences of a direct armed clash with Russia, adding that Moscow sees the presence of nuclear capable F-16s in Ukraine as a nuclear threat.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240724/why-ukraine-plans-to-station-f-16-jets-at-starokonstantinov-airfield-and-how-could-russia-respond-1119486001.html

ukraine

russia

kiev

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

military aid for ukraine, is us giving more money to ukraine, why is us giving more money to kiev, whats happening to money given to kiev, will us give more money to kiev, how much money does ukraine get, how much money us gives to ukraine, how much money eu gives to ukraine, how much money europe gives to ukraine, what weapons does ukraine receive, does us give ukraine new weapons, f-16 sent to ukraine, f-16 aided to kiev
It may have been a compact field of six, but the $37,500 Open Pace at Eldorado Scioto Downs did not disappoint on Saturday, July 27. Seafire and Beau Brown came flying down the stretch on the far outside to win in a career-best 1:48.4.

[Track announcer] Barry [Vicroy] wears his emotions on his sleeve during these great races, said Jason Roth, Sciotos Director of Racing. You can hear the excitement, and sometimes disbelief, when the horses do what they do. Everyone listening to his calls can tell its not just a job for him, he absolutely enjoys the racing.

It was a calvary charge at the start on Saturday with half the field vying for position, going three-wide until midway through the first turn. Stars Align A (Dan Noble) protected the rail, with favourite Charlie May (Eric Goodell) parked from the four-hole and Chase H Hanover (Luke Hanners) on the far outside from post five. Chase H Hanover made the front by the :25.2 opening quarter and got down to the pylons as the field straightened out in the stretch for the first time.

Santana Hanover (Josh Sutton) pulled from sixth and flushed out Stars Align A as the field went to the :54.1 half. Heading down the backside, the field was three in and three out.

By the time Chase H Hanover tripped the beam at the three-quarters in 1:21, Santana Hanover was three-wide with Seafire tipping four-wide from the back of the pack. The hard-charging Seafire came home in :27 to win by a length and three-quarters at odds of 5-1. In a four-horse blanket finish, Charlie May came out on top to finish second and Santana Hanover was third.

Seafire, a four-year-old stallion by Downbytheseaside out of the Towners Big Guy mare Wildfire Princess, is trained by Brian Brown and owned by Country Club Acres, Joelyn Ridder, Mark Kantrowitz and Scott Davis. Enos Weaver bred the nine-time winner, who did not race at two. He now has $187,511 earned in 17 lifetime starts.

The close finish in Saturdays Open comes on the heels of a great finish in the Fillies and Mares Open on Friday night.

Fans unable to attend the track can experience Vicroys great calls, and the amazing races, via replays for free on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.

Ohio State Fair racing comes to Scioto this next week, with the two-year-old fillies taking center stage on Thursday, two-year-old colts and the three-year-old filly trot racing on Friday while Saturdays races include the three-year-old pacers and the three-year-old colt trotters. Scioto is partnering with the Ohio Harness Horsemens Association to provide a free horseshoe decorating center on Friday and Saturday from 5:30-8 p.m. next to the program stand. On Saturday, there will be a bounce house, petting zoo and food trucks. Post time is 5:45 p.m. each day.

(With files from Scioto Downs)
(TBTCO) - Theo bao cao tai chinh hop nhat quy III/2024 moi uoc cong bo, Cong ty CP Tong cong ty ia oc Sai Gon (ma CK: SGR) ghi nhan doanh thu gap 3 lan va loi nhuan sau thue tang hon 2 lan so voi cung ky nam truoc. Tuy nhien, du ket qua kinh doanh quy III kha quan nhung SGR van con mot chang uong dai e at uoc muc tieu nam, khi moi chi hoan thanh uoc 13,1% ke hoach e ra.
You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber.



Not a subscriber?



Subscribe today for access to:

Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles).


Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (Zatca), in collaboration with National Centre for Privatization & PPP (NCP), has announced that 54 top developers have expressed interest in a key Saudi Land Ports Water and Sewage Treatment Plants Project.

The project will come up on 10 land ports across the kingdom - Al Batha, Salwa, Al Khafji, Al Raqi, Jadidat Arar, Al Hadithah, Halat Ammar, Al Durrah, Al Wadiah, and Empty Quarter, stated NCP in a statement.

Of these 54 developers, 20 are major global industry players including Spanish infrastructure giants - Acciona Construccion; FCC Aqualia; GS Inima Environment; French utility majors Thales and Saur; Swiss group Pini; US-based Tamasuk Holding as well as Japanese group Marubeni, Singapore's Meinhardt and Metito Utilities Limited (United Kingdom).

Among the regional players, in the fray are Bahrain's Lamar Holding, KAMS Global and Abrdn Investcorp Infrastructure Investments; Egyptian groups - Orascom; Hassan Allam Hoding and DesalEgypt for Water Desalination and Treatment; and Turkish groups - Alke Insaat Sanayi Ticaret and Turmaks Insaat, along with Kuwait's Alghanim international; UAE-based Contrax International DMCC.

The project will be tendered under a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain-Transfer (DBFOMT) model, with a contract duration of 15 years, including the construction period, stated NCP.

The project encompasses the design, construction, expansion, and refurbishment of plants and related assets, including networks. Additionally, it will include the supervision of the construction activities, it added.

According to NCP, the top Saudi bidders comprise Al Bawani; Al Gihaz Holding; Al Kifah Holding; Al Yamama Company; Al-Ayuni Investment & Contracting Company; Al Rajhi Building and Constructions; Alfanar; Alkawther; Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies; Alkobraish Investment and Construction; Alrawaf Company; Arabtech Jardaneh and Partners for Engineering Consultancy; Asr Taqa Contracting Company; BEC Arabia Buhur for Investment; Civil Works Company; Consolidated Contracting Solutions; Erada Advanced Projects; Fas Energy & Infrastructure; Gulf Consolidated Contractors; Haji Abdullah Alireza & Company as well as International Water Distribution; Miahona and Mohammed Ali Al Swailem Trading & Contracting (Masco).

The list also includes Mowah Company; Nesma Company; Rio Arabia For Contracting; Samama Company for Operation & Management; Samaya Investment Company; Sener Engineering and Systems and his partner for Engineering Consulting Tatweer Building Company; Twaik M. Al Otaibi for Contracting; Urbas Middle East and Washnah.

Accordng to Saudi NCP, the scope of work for the winning bidder includes design, construction, operation and maintenance of water and sewage treatment plants at 10 land ports in Saudi Arabia.

In addition, the work involves overseeing the daily operations of the plants and related assets, management of network operations, recording and reporting on operations, and ensuring alternative water and sewage treatment supply in case of interruption.

Furthermore, it includes the performance of preventive maintenance for plants, networks, and related assets, cleaning of civil structures and plants, provision of spare parts and replacements, recording and reporting of maintenance, execution of lifecycle replacements and repairs, and monitoring of maintenance activities, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) has recorded solid growth for the first half with a 6% jump in its revenue which soared to SAR5.03 billion (($1.34 billion) supported by better shipping rates in oil and chemicals markets and larger volumes in dry bulk and logistics.

Saudi Arabias premier shipping and logistics company, Bahri comprises four business units (BUs) - oil, chemicals, integrated logistics and dry bulk  as well as a ship management function shared company-wide.

Announcing its financial results for the six-month period ended June 30, 2024, Bahri said the revenue growth was mainly driven by the 24% YoY rise in sales from the Chemicals BU and improved contributions from dry bulk and integrated logistics.

For the first six months, the Saudi shipper's net profit surged by 20% to SAR1.19 billion boosted by the ebitda margin expansion to 48% in H1 2024 versus 44% last year.

Margin expansion was driven by improvements in cost efficiencies and higher shipping rates for oil and chemicals, partly offset by reduced profitability in dry bulk and integrated logistics, and a lower earnings contribution from equity-accounted affiliates.

Key revenue growth factors for the company were favourable supply-demand price dynamics in oil and chemicals shipping market, larger chemicals and dry bulk volumes transported and increased logistics transactions during the period, it added.

For the second quarter, its net profit grew by 48% on the back of growth in shipped volumes, higher oil and chemicals shipping rates, and improved cost efficiencies compared to the second quarter of 2023.

The Q2 revenue increased 15% YoY to SAR2.71 billion, driven by chemical revenue growth and contributions from dry bulk and integrated logistics, likewise supported by favorable supply-demand dynamics in the oil and chemicals shipping market, and larger chemicals and dry bulk volumes transported, and increased logistics transactions compared to the second quarter of last year.

On a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis, Q2 revenue was higher by 17%, driven by increases across all BUs on the back of higher shipping rates and larger cargo and logistics volumes.

On the solid performance, CEO Engineer Ahmed Ali Al Subaey said: "Bahri had a good first half of this year and delivered commendable operational performance across our divisions. Our success was driven by optimized fleet management and route efficiency, supported by improved market conditions for VLCCs and chemical tankers."

"From our solid base, we are focused on value-accretive growth through strategic fleet expansion and modernization, as well as in strengthening our presence in core and adjacent markets. By pursuing strategic partnerships and leveraging opportunities aligned with Saudi Arabias Vision 2030, we aim to support the development of the Kingdoms maritime ecosystem as Saudi Arabias pre-eminent shipping and logistics champion, he added.
Helmerich & Payne, a leading US petroleum contract drilling company based in Oklahoma, has announced that it has reached an agreement with KCA Deutag International, a diverse global drilling company with rigs across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Caspian Sea, Latin America and Canada, to acquire the firm for $1.9725 billion in cash.

KCA Deutag, which has its headquarters in Aberdeen, UK, boasts a significant land drilling presence in the Middle East, representing approximately two-thirds of the companys calendar year 2023 operating ebitda, with additional operations in South America, Europe and Africa.

In addition to its land operations, KCA Deutag has asset-light offshore management contract operations in the North Sea, Angola, Azerbaijan and Canada, with super major customers and long-term earnings visibility through a robust backlog.

The UK-based group's Kenera segment comprises manufacturing and engineering businesses, including Bentec, with three facilities serving the energy industry, representing a longer-term growth opportunity.

On the takeover, H&P President and CEO John Lindsay said: "This is a historic and transformative transaction for the company, and we are excited about what this means for H&Ps future, as it accelerates our international expansion particularly in the Middle East and enhances the companys global leadership in onshore drilling solutions."

"KCA Deutags assets and operations will add resilient revenues, providing greater earnings visibility and cash flow generation. As a result, we expect to generate sizeable incremental cash flows and are confident this transaction will deliver near- and long-term growth and value creation for H&P shareholders," he stated.

Lindsay said H&P has a history of having a thoughtful and managed approach to running and investing in the business and is well versed in the challenges brought about by crude oil and natural gas volatility.

"Our experience in the industry combined with a Middle East market poised for continued growth should be indicative of the importance and the compelling reasons for executing on this acquisition at this time," he stated.

According to him, the KCA Deutag buy gives H&P immediate scale in core Middle East markets in a way that would be challenging to replicate organically.

"Furthermore, as there is very little geographic overlap, we view this transaction more than just acquiring assets, but rather acquiring operations with quality people," he stated.

KCA Deutag CEO Joseph Elkhoury said: "This announcement represents a significant milestone in our strategic transformation journey and delivers benefits to all stakeholders: our employees, customers, shareholders and the communities where we live and work."

"We look forward to joining H&P, combining the strengths of our people together with our geographical footprint, to create an organization with an unrivalled global network, service capability and technology offering," he stated.

"The size, scale and financial strength of the combined organization will provide a stable foundation for long-term growth and diversification to safeguard a sustainable and prosperous future for our people," observed Elkhoury.

"With similar customer-centric cultures, focused on safety and delivering incident-free, quality services and innovative technology, we will leverage H&Ps operational processes and practices to accelerate efficiencies and optimize operational excellence for our customers," he said.

"Once completed, this transaction is expected to deliver multiple growth opportunities for our people and customers while facilitating value realization for our investors," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
UN Tourism continues to deliver on its Agenda for Africa, bringing the regions members together around a focus on investments, multilateral cooperation and education.

The 67th meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa (July 22-24) welcomed public and private sector leaders from across the region.

The member states met as Africa's tourism sector experiences strong recovery. During the first quarter of 2024, arrivals were up 5% compared to pre-pandemic levels. This positions the continent as the second-best performer globally, surpassing all regions except the Middle East.

Zambia, as the whole African region, is an excellent example of the positive impact of tourism, which leads to new investments and job creation.

UN Tourism Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili stated: Zambia, as the whole African region, is an excellent example of the positive impact of tourism, which leads to new investments and job creation. Furthermore, our Members come together in Livingstone as Zambia is celebrates 60 years of peace and independence, an inspiration as we get set to mark World Tourism Day around the theme of tourism and peace in September.

Investing in African tourism

In the last 10 years alone, Africa has attracted over 160 greenfield projects in tourism, representing a total capital investment of $10.7 billion, and the potential to create over 24,000 jobs. Recognising this positive trend, the Commission Meeting Session featured a special Ministerial-level discussion focused on global tourism investment trends, with a special emphasis on the promising tourism outlook in Zambia. The session offered insights into sustainable development opportunities and strategies to attract and secure tourism investments. Key talking points included sustainable tourism development strategies, enhancing Africa's global tourism competitiveness and innovation in tourism marketing and branding.

The meeting also saw the launch of a new set of the Investment Guidelines for Zambia. The publication focuses on tourism and inclusive growth in Zambia, which aligns with the UN Tourism Agenda for Africa, identifying opportunities for global investors.

New tourism academies planned for Africa

At the meeting, memorandums of understanding were signed for the creation of the Tourism Centre of Excellence in Livingstone, Zambia and the Academy for Culinary Arts in Zimbabwe.

The academies will add to the growing network of education centres supported by UN Tourism, helping give workers the skills they need to thrive in the sector and so drive economic growth and social opportunity. Secretary-General Pololikashviki also announced 100 scholarships for the UN Tourism Online Academy to each of the countries.

Technical support for African members

Out of 50 technical cooperation projects worldwide, UN Tourism is currently working on 13 in 10 African countries covering areas such as tourism statistics, digital transformation or skills development. Several technical cooperation projects are currently being developed in the region, aligning with the five pillars of the Agenda for Africa: branding, connectivity, innovation, education, and investments. Secretary-General Pololikashvili also confirmed that UN Tourism will work with its Members across the region to develop and implement a new communication strategy designed to showcase the uniqueness of African destinations.

Additionally, members embraced the Secretariats emphasis on safety and security recommendations in the UN Tourism Agenda for Africa which includes a tourism police initiative in collaboration with The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD).

With the aim of widening the portfolio and expanding on-the-ground presence of the organization, the establishment of a new Regional Office in Marrakesh is currently under discussion.

Expanding global cooperation

Looking ahead, UN Tourism will hold a first joint meeting of its Regional Departments for Africa and the Americas (Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, October 3-5). Here, members of both commissions will meet to discuss South-South cooperation through investments, education, cultural roots, creative industries, and innovation. - TradeArabia News Service
Jordan's Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) received a total of 4.15 million passengers until June, down 4.6% when compared to the same period last year mainly due to the ongoing Gaza war.

QAIA also reported 35,562 aircraft movements (ACM) and 38,424 tons of cargo, down 4.5% and up 23.5%, respectively, against the same period the previous year.

Jordan-based Airport International Group has announced that Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) received a total of 4.15 million passengers until June, down 4.6% drop over the same period last year.

QAIA also reported 35,562 aircraft movements (ACM) and 38,424 tons of cargo, down 4.5% and up 23.5%, respectively, against the same period the previous year, said the Airport International Group.

In June, QAIA had welcomed 860,446 passengers, reflecting a 1.4% rise compared to 2023 figures. During the same month, QAIA recorded 7,244 ACM and handled 5,755 tonnes of cargo, showing a 0.9% increase and a 5.6% decrease, respectively, against the previous year.

The first half of the year also saw the introduction of new direct routes to the QAIA destination network - notably to London Stansted and Manchester in the United Kingdom, as well as to AlUla in Saudi Arabia, via Royal Jordanian.

Additionally, a new direct route to Moscow was established through Jordan Aviation. These developments underscore Airport International Groups commitment to enhancing connectivity and providing more diverse travel options for passengers.

On the decline in pssenger numbers, Airport International Group CEO Nicolas Deviller said the ongoing Gaza war had hit them badly as it still continues to disrupt airline operations and tourism flow to and from the kingdom.

"Despite these hurdles, our dedication to operational excellence and passenger satisfaction remains unwavering. We will continue our efforts to expand QAIAs airline and destination networks by introducing leading carriers and new direct routes to major global hubs, boosting inbound tourism to Jordan and catering to the needs of both leisure and business travelers," stated Deviller.

"Our goal is to ensure a welcoming travel experience that feels like home for all passengers journeying through Jordans prime gateway to the world," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
TRINIDAD Petroleum Holdings Limited (TPHL) has put the matter of Patriotic Energy Services Company Limited submitting allegedly fraudulent documents in its bid to acquire the former Petrotrin refinery in the hands of its legal team.

The claim, first made by Energy Minister Stuart Young during the budget debate last Friday, was again denied yesterday by Oilfields Workers Trade Union (OWTU) president Ancel Roget. TPHL stated in a media release yesterday that it had received a document submitted by Patriotic Energies in its non-binding offer for the refinery, which specifically identified as evidence a wire transfer of US$1.5 billion into a local bank, and which document identified Patriotic Energies as the beneficiary.
The first-ever joint declaration by G20 finance leaders vowing to cooperate on effectively taxing the world's largest fortunes on Friday papered over deeper disagreement about the right forum to advance the agenda.

Finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of 20 major economies agreed to reference fair taxation of "ultra-high-net-worth individuals" in both their joint communique and a separate declaration on international tax cooperation on Friday.

"We will seek to engage cooperatively to ensure that ultra-high-net-worth individuals are effectively taxed," said the final draft of the G20 ministerial declaration in Rio de Janeiro, seen by Reuters.

However, fault lines have already emerged about whether to do that in talks at the United Nations or via the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a group of wealthier democracies founded by U.S. and European allies.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Reuters on the sidelines of the G20 meeting that she believes the OECD, which shepherded negotiations for a global two-part corporate tax deal for the past three years, is better placed to handle such talks.

"We don't want to see this shifted to the UN," Yellen said, adding that the OECD "is a consensus-based organization. We've made a huge amount of progress, and the UN doesn't have the technical expertise to do this."

Major developing nations have already bristled at that approach, according to an official familiar with the matter, who said Brazil should use its G20 presidency to advance discussion at both the UN and OECD.

Some of the most vocal advocates of a global minimum tax on billionaires, including Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, insisted that the UN was the proper forum for global tax cooperation.

"We call on G20 leaders to align with the progress being made at the UN and establish a truly democratic process for setting global standards on taxing the ultra-rich," said Oxfam International's Tax Policy Lead Susana Ruiz.

"Entrusting this task to the OECD  the club of mostly rich countries  would simply not be good enough," she added.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen at the G20 finance leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 26, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Brazilian Finance Ministry official Guilherme Mello, said that the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation represented a victory for the developing nations of the "Global South" who seek a venue where they are better represented, as most countries are not members of the OECD.

Still, Mello recognized both the OECD and the UN as legitimate forums, and he said an ongoing discussion of how to effectively tax the super-rich is progress, whatever the forum.

"The shape this will take depends on many dialogues that will be held," he added.

Some observers remained skeptical about the chances for a global "billionaire tax" targeting the world's largest fortunes.

European officials pointed out that not even the 27-nation European Union has power of taxation as a bloc. Although France lent early support to a global minimum wealth tax, Germans have offered stiff resistance.

"It seems that it might be very difficult to bring this forward," said one European official at the G20 meetings.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, along with a U.S. delegation sent by President Joe Biden, on Saturday evening offered incense in tribute to General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and extended condolences to the late Party leader's spouse Ngo Thi Man, as well as his family at their residence on Thien Quang Street in Hanoi.

Blinken conveyed U.S. President Joe Bidens condolences to Ngo Thi Man and her family over the passing of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He stressed that the leaders and officials of the U.S. government, including President Biden, always regarded General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as a friend and trusted partner.

Blinken added that under the Party chief's vision and leadership, the friendship and relations between Vietnam and the U.S. were nurtured and developed robustly, reaching a comprehensive strategic partnership, the highest level in Vietnam's international relations.

The U.S. diplomat hailed Party General Secretary Trong as a model for reconciliation between the two countries and a bridge builder between their peoples.

He affirmed that President Biden, the U.S. administration, and the American people would always remember and honor the legacy of the Vietnamese Party leader.

He also said that they cherish the good memories of the late Party chief, who created historical milestones in the relations between Hanoi and Washington.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken (L) offers condolences to Ngo Thi Man, the spouse of Vietnams Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, over the Vietnamese Party leader's passing on July 19, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

On behalf of the family, Ngo Thi Man expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the kind sentiments from the U.S., President Biden, and Secretary Blinken toward her husband.

She remarked that during his lifetime, the late Party leader was dedicated to fostering the Vietnam-U.S. relationship, adding that he and President Biden issued a joint statement on the elevation of the Vietnam-U.S. relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2023.

She believed that the two nations would continue to effectively implement the joint statement to further promote and deepen their cooperative ties in the best interests of their peoples.

The U.S. Department of State had earlier announced that Blinken would travel to Vietnam on July 24 to attend the state funeral of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, held on July 25 and 26.

However, he delayed the trip to attend a meeting between President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on July 25.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken (R, 2nd) talks with Ngo Thi Man, the spouse of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at her home in Hanoi, July 27, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

Over the past few days, nearly 100 international delegations have arrived in Vietnam to pay respects to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who passed away at 1:38 pm on July 19 in Hanoi at the age of 80.

More than 3,000 delegations have paid tribute to the Vietnamese Party chief at 94 Vietnamese representative agencies abroad.

Over 100 countries and territories, together with 21 international organizations and forums, have sent nearly 400 telegrams, letters, and messages of condolence to Vietnam.

Ngo Thi Man (R), the spouse of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, extends her sincere thanks and best wishes to U.S. President Biden, his spouse, and their family from her home in Hanoi, July 27, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
On behalf of Vietnamese Party and state leaders, President To Lam hosted a reception in Hanoi on Saturday for U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who came to Vietnam to offer condolences and pay tribute to late General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong.

General Secretary Trong passed away on July 19 in Hanoi at the age of 80.

At the reception, Secretary Blinken conveyed U.S. President Joe Bidens letter of condolence on the passing of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to President To Lam.

In the letter, President Biden reminisced about his first meeting with General Secretary Trong in Washington D.C. in 2015.

He expressed his pride in having stood side by side with the general secretary during his visit to Hanoi in 2023 where they together opened up a new era of cooperation between the two countries.

President Biden called this event a testament to the two countries' shared desire for peace and prosperity for all, saying that it also reflected General Secretary Trong's determination to elevate the bilateral relations to the highest level, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The U.S. president affirmed that Washington will never forget his leadership and fully supports a strong, resilient, and independent Vietnam to which General Secretary Trong dedicated his life.

Secretary Blinken personally expressed his sorrow over the loss of a visionary leader and valued General Secretary Trong's contributions to strengthening and fostering Vietnam-U.S. relations and the friendship between the two countries' people.

President Lam conveyed his heartfelt thanks to President Biden for his kind sentiments and deep condolences over the passing of General Secretary Trong, as well as to Secretary Blinken for traveling to Vietnam to offer condolences to the General Secretarys family during this sorrowful time.

President To Lam shared that during his lifetime, General Secretary Trong highly valued developing relations with the U.S. and often spoke fondly of President Biden.

The historic visit to the U.S. in 2015 by General Secretary Trong provided a strong impetus for the two countries to develop vigorously and become Comprehensive Strategic Partners as they are today.

Secretary Blinken affirmed that the U.S. values its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam and looks forward to further deepening this important bilateral relationship.

He expressed confidence that both sides will continue to uphold and nurture the Vietnam-U.S. relations, strengthening the friendship between the two peoples according to General Secretary Trongs wishes.

The U.S. diplomat noted that the passing of General Secretary Trong is a great loss for the bilateral relations, asserting that the U.S. government and people would always remember and honor General Secretary Trongs legacy, particularly his efforts to promote reconciliation and build a future of peace, stability, and prosperity for the region and the world

On this occasion, President Lam and Secretary Blinken expressed their pleasure at the positive development in the bilateral relations in recent times across various fields, including politics-diplomacy, economy-trade-investment, security-defense, and war legacy remediation.

President Lam reaffirmed that Vietnam considers the U.S. a top strategic partner and welcomes Washingtons continued commitment to supporting a strong, independent, resilient, and prosperous Vietnam.

He expressed the desire to closely coordinate in fulfilling the commitments of General Secretary Trong and President Biden to deepen and stabilize the new framework of relations.

Secretary Blinken thanked President Lam for his support of the good Vietnam-U.S. partnership and stressed that the U.S. regards Vietnam as a top partner in the region.

He affirmed the U.S. commitment to working with Vietnam to further strengthen the bilateral relations and enhance cooperation in regional and international forums on shared concerns, contributing to promoting dialogue, peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world, including frameworks such as the Mekong-U.S. Partnership, ASEAN, APEC, and the United Nations, for the common peace, stability, and prosperity of the region and the world.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Vietnamese called on countries to advocate ASEANs central role and join the bloc in addressing common challenges to build an open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based regional architecture, amid complex global developments, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet said on Saturday.

Deputy Minister Viet, who is also head of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam, made the suggestion while attending the ASEAN-U.S. Foreign Ministers Meeting, ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers Meeting, East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers Meeting, and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, on Saturday, within the framework of the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM-57), which commenced on July 24.

Participants in these events spent considerable time discussing and expressing their views on the East Vietnam Sea, Myanmar, the Middle East, the Korean Peninsula, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

They shared concerns about currently complicated developments and their impacts on peace, security, stability, and development.

Delegates also emphasized principles such as compliance with international law, self-restraint, and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Highlighting the central role of ASEAN in regional and world issues, Deputy Minister Viet suggested countries work together with the grouping in dealing with common challenges, promoting dialogue, cooperation, and trust, while building a regional architecture that is open, transparent, inclusive, and based on rules, amid the complex and uncertain global context.

He called on the blocs partners to support and respect ASEANs stance on the East Vietnam Sea issue, particularly amid current complex developments. He also urged support for ASEAN's efforts to transform the East Vietnam Sea into a region of peace, stability, cooperation, and sustainable development.

The Vietnamese diplomat underscored the need to create a favorable environment for negotiations on an effective, substantive Code of Conduct (COC) for the East Vietnam Sea in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS, while continuing to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea.

Speaking at the ASEAN-U.S. Foreign Ministers Meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed that Washington attaches importance to its relationship with ASEAN.

Delegates hold hands at the 25th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, July 27, 2024. Photo: Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The U.S. considers ASEAN a focus in its Indo-Pacific Strategy and will support ASEAN's central role as well as the blocs vision on the Indo-Pacific region, Blinken said.

At the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers Meeting between the grouping and its three partners China, Japan, and South Korea, delegates agreed to boost cooperation in trade, investment, finance, transnational crime prevention, and non-traditional security challenges, among others.

They also underlined the need to strengthen regional financial stability mechanisms and expand cooperation in new areas.

During their discussion at the EAS Foreign Ministers Meeting, officials agreed to coordinate efforts to effectively harness the great cooperation potential in investment, trade, digital transformation, energy transition, green transformation, climate change response, and sustainable development.

At the ARF Foreign Ministers Meeting, the parties approved a list of mid-term activities for 2024-25, with nearly 30 activities in areas such as climate change response, disaster relief, cybersecurity, and maritime security, among others.

Among these activities, Vietnam will co-organize a number of activities including the implementation of the 1982 UNCLOS as well as the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

At the conclusion of the aforementioned meetings, the AMM-57 wrapped up on Saturday with the issuance of a Joint Communique that reflects discussions on the progress of building the ASEAN Community, cooperation between ASEAN countries, the blocs external relations, and various regional and global issues.

As the 2024 Chair of ASEAN, Laos also released the Chairmans Statement on all the events within the AMM-57.

ASEAN, fully known as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, consists of 10 member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Vietnam has been a full member of ASEAN since July 28, 1995.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Four earthquakes in the magnitude-3.3 to -5 range struck Kon Plong District under Kon Tum Province in the Central Highlands of Vietnam on Sunday, while the most powerful tremor was felt in many localities such as Dak Lak Province, Da Nang City, Quang Nam Province, Binh Dinh Province, and Phu Yen Province, according to the Institute of Geophysics.

Among them, two quakes measuring five and 4.1 on the Richter scale occurred around noon on Sunday, while the two others slightly rattled Kon Tum in the morning.

Nguyen Xuan Anh, head of the Institute of Geophysics, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Sunday that Kon Plong District experienced a magnitude-5 earthquake at 11:35 am at a depth of 8.1 kilometers.

He noted that the quake posed a level-two disaster risk around its epicenter and the surrounding area.

A magnitude-4.1 aftershock, at a depth of 8.3 kilometers, was recorded at 11:17 am in the district.

The Vietnam Earthquake Information and Tsunami Warning Center under the Institute of Geophysics is keeping a close watch on these tremors in the province.

Many residents in Kon Tum, as well as nearby Binh Dinh and Phu Yen Provinces in south-central Vietnam, reported feeling the vibrations from the magnitude-5 earthquake.

Nguyen Hong Phuc, a resident of Quy Nhon City in Binh Dinh Province, recounted that the furniture in his house shook slightly.

I was sitting on a chair watching TV when the chair rocked. I thought the chair was broken, so I checked it. However, it was fine," Phuc said.

This is the first time I have experienced shaking like this.

In Vietnam, tremors with magnitudes ranging from five to 5.9 are assessed as moderate and capable of causing minor to moderate damage.

Meanwhile, quakes with magnitude-4 to -4.9 are seen as small tremors.

Among the residents in Phu Yen Province who experienced the magnitude-5 quake in Kon Tum, Hoang Vu Phuong, 42, said he and his family felt the tremors for about seven seconds around 11:35 am, causing many objects in their house to shake.

Quach Thuy Kieu, a 27-year-old from Buon Ma Thuot City in Dak Lak Province, also witnessed the strong trembling at 11:35 am.

She mentioned that her relatives and friends felt the aftershock as well.

This is the first time I have experienced shaking like what Ive seen in films. Beds and other objects in my house shook, she said, expressing her worry.

Many dwellers of an apartment block in Da Nang City, central Vietnam run outside after experiencing the shaking of a quake on July 28, 2024. Photo: Supplied

Many residents in Quang Nam, Da Nang, and Thua Thien-Hue in central Vietnam quickly ran outside after feeling the tremors.

Several people in Quang Nam Province took to Facebook to express their anxiety.

I was having lunch on the floor of my house when I felt the suddering for five or ten seconds. I intended to run out of the house, one Facebook user wrote.

Another user posted, There has been a quake. Did you feel the tremor?

Due to the quake, many residents in Da Nang ran outside in panic. They recounted seeing the walls of their houses rocking.

Residents in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam feel the strong juddering of a quake originating from neighboring Kon Tum Province on July 28, 2024. Photo: Le Trung / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Thanh Thuy, a 32-year-old resident of Hai Chau District in Da Nang, said she was working at home at 11:30 a.m. when a bottle of water began to shake.

I felt the room jiggle, so I quickly left my home. Many of my neighbors hastily ran outside too, she elaborated.

Nguyen Thi Nhung, who lives in an apartment building on Nguyen Chanh Street in Da Nang, said she rapidly grabbed her child and escaped the building after feeling the quivering.

Meanwhile, Quang Ngai City in Quang Ngai Province recorded strong shaking for the first time on Sunday.

Nhi, a resident of the city, shared that she and many neighbors ran out of their houses in panic due to the vibrations triggered by the strong tremor in Kon Tum.

Do Thanh Vuot, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Son Long Commune in Son Tay District, Quang Ngai Province, which borders Kon Tum Provinces Kon Plong District, said the quake produced the most powerful shaking ever experienced in the area.

Everything rocked, frightening residents in the commune, he said.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
What you need to know today in Vietnam:

Politics

-- U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, along with a U.S. delegation sent by President Joe Biden, on Saturday evening offered incense in tribute to General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and extended condolences to the late Party leader's spouse Ngo Thi Man, as well as his family at their residence on Thien Quang Street in Hanoi.

-- Vietnamese State President To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Saturday hosted separate receptions for U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, who came to Hanoi to extend condolences to the government and people of Vietnam as well as the family of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong over the Vietnamese Party leader's passing on July 19.

Society

-- Whirlwinds coupled with heavy rain on Saturday swept through various communes in Cai Be District, Tien Giang Province, southern Vietnam, causing 33 houses to collapse or have their roofs blown off, injuring a resident, and uprooting 260 fruit trees, the provincial steering committee for natural disaster prevention and control reported the same day.

-- Police in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City said on Saturday that they had fined and deported a 24-year-old New Zealander and a 26-year-old Frenchman for vandalizing local properties with graffiti.

-- The Ministry of Transport has sought the government's approval for an adjustment to the estimated investment in the My Thuan - Can Tho Expressway project in southern Vietnam by an additional VND999 billion (US$39.5 million) to nearly VND5.9 trillion ($233.2 million) to develop an intersection and collector roads along the expressway.

-- Police in Ha Tinh Province, north-central Vietnam said on Saturday that they had cooperated with Lao police to burst a drug trafficking ring, arresting a Lao suspect and seizing 209 kilograms of drugs.

Lifestyle

-- The second competition of the Nha Trang International Light Bay Festival, Vietnams first international drone light show contest, between France and the United Arab Emirates as well as the closing ceremony for the festival will take place on August 3 on Hon Tre Island in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam, the provincial administration announced. The competition was earlier planned to be held on July 20.

Sports

-- The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics drew 28.6 million U.S. viewers, Reuters reported, citing preliminary data from Comcast's NBCUniversal on Saturday, which the company said was the most-watched start to a summer Games since London in 2012.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Police in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City said on Saturday that they had fined and deported a 24-year-old New Zealander and a 26-year-old Frenchman for vandalizing local properties with graffiti.

The New Zealander, Tardieu Kerrigan Marcus Trevor, and the Frenchman, Extrammiana Pablo, were fined for engaging in activities in Vietnam without local authorities permission.

They were also required to restore the original condition of the local properties they had smeared with graffiti.

At about 11:00 pm on July 22, a patrol team from the District 1 police bureau caught the two individuals spraying paint and scrawling graffiti on the roll-up door of a house on Pho Duc Chinh Street in the district.

The patrol team seized 23 spray paint bottles from them and brought them to the police station for questioning.

Trevor admitted to scrawling graffiti on roll-up doors of local houses, fences surrounding unoccupied land lots, and surfaces at parks.

The two foreigners were fined and deported from Vietnam. Photo: Supplied

Pablo said he got acquainted with Trevor via social media.

As they share a hobby of graffiti, they smeared the roll-up door of the house on Pho Duc Chinh Street after drinking beer together on July 22.

Trevor brought 13 spray paint bottles, while Pablo brought 10.

After checking Trevors mobile phone, police found that his Instagram account, which had 2,000 subscribers, mainly featured graffiti pictures in South Korea, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

The two had hired hotel rooms on Nguyen Thai Binh and Suong Nguyet Anh Streets in District 1, but the hotel owners did not register temporary residence for the foreigners.

Earlier, police in Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City had also levied an administrative fine on a 28-year-old New Zealander who sullied the roll-up door of the house at 114 Nguyen Du Street.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The appearance of Cau Pagoda, a bridge more than 400 years old in Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam, after restoration has provoked mixed opinions from the public over the past few days.

After the construction barriers were removed, revealing the pagoda, residents and tourists have left their opinions in groups on social media.

Some said the pagoda was more beautiful and imposing, while others claimed the pagoda to be different from its previous version.

Many people praised the citys efforts to restore the pagoda as it had been severely dilapidated.

We pass through Cau Pagoda every day, so we know how the relic site had degraded," a Hoi An resident said.

Every time I walked through it, I was nervous and felt like it was about to collapse. Fortunately, it was restored promptly.

Restoration involves replacing old elements with new ones, he noted, adding that people might initially find it difficult to adjust to the mix of old and new. However, over time, the relic site will blend seamlessly with the surroundings of Hoi An Ancient Town, where the pagoda is located.

The old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated in Hoi An City's Minh An Ward.

Cau Pagoda before the restoration

Quang Phu, a resident of Da Nang, a neighbor of Quang Nam, who often travels to Hoi An, praised the restorers of the pagoda.

Regarding the new color of some parts of the pagoda, Phu said it was normal.

"Time and climate will soon make the pagoda look as ancient as before," Phu added.

He mentioned having seen similar situations at relic sites in central Thua Thien-Hue Province and Hanoi.

In a group of expats who enjoy exploring Hoi An, many expressed their disappointment with the renovation of Cau Pagoda.

They noted that some new details created an inconsistency. Tiles, walls, and other components looked too new, making the pagoda lose its ancient charm.

Cau Pagoda after the restoration

Some experts knowledgeable about Hoi An told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that it is necessary to wait before assessing whether the restoration of Cau Pagoda is a success or not.

However, it is evident that the post-restoration Cau Pagoda differs from its previous version.

Nguyen Duc Minh, former deputy director of the Hoi An Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation, said the wooden structure at the pagoda was well handled, but tourists paid more attention to the exterior.

Restorers are fully capable of restoring the pagoda to its previous color.

They have made great efforts, but frankly, [the pagoda] is not beautiful," Minh noted.

Its problematic if we have to wait three to four years for the color to fade naturally. It would be better if the restored pagoda resembled its previous version from the start.

If I were to give the renovated pagoda a grade, I would give it six out of ten."

Tran Phuoc Thao, a resident of Hoi An City, claimed that all restored projects in Hoi An need time to harmonize with the surrounding space.

The roof of the pagoda looks modern.

A Hoi An official told Tuoi Tre that the city would reopen the pagoda for tourists on August 3.

Local workers are tidying up the construction site of the Cau Pagoda renovation project.

The official informed that as the pagoda was opened for tourism purposes for a long time, coupled with floods in Hoi An, many components seriously deteriorated and had to be replaced.

In late 2022, Quang Nam Province approved a plan to renovate the pagoda on a large scale at a cost of over VND20 billion (US$790,400).

The pagoda was originally built on a bridge over a small creek by Japanese tradesmen in the 17th century.

Cau Pagoda is an icon of Hoi An and Vietnamese tourism.

The whole pagoda and bridge are made of painted wood and sculpted with sophisticated patterns.

Tourists walk through the pagoda before it was renovated.

The floor of the pagoda after the restoration

The back of Cau Pagoda

Workers pay attention to every detail of the pagoda during the restoration.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Peoples Procuracy in Vietnam has proposed 24-26 years in prison for Trinh Van Quyet, former chairman of FLC Group JSC, on charges of fraudulent appropriation of property and stock market manipulation.

The charges, which could lead to a long sentence for 49-year-old Quyet, were revealed at the first-instance trial in Hanoi on Friday, which saw 50 defendants standing accused.

Quyet's case was part of a broader investigation into financial misconduct at FLC Group JSC.

He faces a proposed prison sentence of 5-6 years for stock market manipulation and 19-20 years for fraudulent appropriation of property.

Alongside Quyet, seven other prominent figures were prosecuted.

Trinh Thi Minh Hue and Trinh Thuy Nga, Quyet's sisters, may be sentenced to 17-19 years and 10-12 years in jail, respectively.

Former permanent chairwoman of FLC Group Huong Tran Kieu Dung could be jailed for 11-13 years, while Trinh Van Dai, deputy director of Faros Construction JSC, may receive 14-16 years.

Nguyen Van Manh, head of FLC Land's material purchasing division, and Trinh Tuan, former FLC Land director, are looking at 7-9 years and 6-7.5 years respectively.

Nguyen Thi Hong Dung, a Hanoi resident, may be jailed for 5-6.5 years.

The remaining 42 defendants face varying prison terms from 18 months to nine years for charges including fraudulent appropriation of property, stock market manipulation, abuse of power or position while performing official duties, and intentional dissemination of false information or concealment of information in securities activities.

According to the indictment, Quyet orchestrated a scheme from 2014 to September 2016 to falsify capital contribution documents, inflating Faros' chartered capital from VND1.5 billion (US$59,253) to VND4.3 trillion ($170 million).

This falsified capital led to the approval of Faros' registration as a public company, with over 430 million shares listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange.

Between September 2016 and March 2022, Quyet and his accomplices sold over 391 million shares, misappropriating more than VND3.6 trillion ($142 million) from investors.

Quyet also engaged in stock market manipulation from May 2017 to January 2022.

He directed his sister, Hue, and other accomplices to use the identities of 45 individuals to create 20 companies and open 500 securities accounts.

Through these accounts, Hue manipulated the market for five stocks: AMD, HAI, GAB, FLC, and ART, resulting in illicit gains of over VND723 billion ($28.6 million).

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Much-loved actress Janet Andrewartha, best known for Neighbours has died, aged 72.

The Herald Sun reports she passed away peacefully at home on Friday, surrounded by family.

Janet appeared as Lyn Scully on Neighbours from 1999 until 2006 and then made sporadic returns to the show up until 2019.

She graduated from the National Theatre in 1979 then bagan to pick up roles in television, including at 10s Nunawading studios.

I think something like 1984 I came here to do Prisoner, she told TV Tonight in 2010. Then in 1999 I started as Lyn Scully (on Neighbours) and I did seven years consecutively. Then I went away for theatre and other stuff for nearly three years and came back about mid-way through 2009.

I think Carsons Law was being shot here, it was marvelous. I did one episode of that. I dont think Id done any other TV. I might have done some education stuff for the ABC, but I hadnt done much screen. I was only just a new graduate, she said.

I got one episode playing Val Jellays daughter, I think. She was a stage person but she could do the small screen really well. It was incredible. Then she ended up coming into Neighbours for a while, playing my mother. Which I thought was hilarious.

She would juggle both stage and television work during her time on and off the 10 soap, including or the Melbourne Theatre Company.

The last one I did was Arthur Millers All My Sons and Id never done Miller. Id done some other American playwrights but never Arthur Miller. What a jewel. Remarkable writing, she said.

Ive had some lucky breaks with theatre. I seem to get some terrific roles, so I feel very fortunate. Same with TV. The characters I seem to be asked to play are so different to each other. The one before this character was Marion Stewart in Embassy. It was a Grundy-ABC co-production.

She was the ambassadors wife and she was upper middle class with a very good education and a lot of money, so it was a completely different character to scrubber Lynnie! When Lyn first came in she was a working class girl and of course before that was (Prisoners) Reb Keene who was a middle class girl but practically a psychotic. I just love the fact that I get to do the variety.

Other credits included Seven Types of Ambiguity, Patrol Boat, Blue Heelers, Janus, Harrow, State Coroner, A Country Practice, Ground Zero and Amy.

She most recently featured in Fake and Safe Home both produced by Kindling Pictures. Producer Imogen Banks said, Its so sad. She was an absolute delight and I feel very lucky to have worked with her. 

Yet her regular return to Neighbours for guest appearances in 2016, 2017 and 2019 means she is always indelibly synonymous with the character of Lyn Scully.

The essential core of Lyn is that shes about good, old-fashioned ideals and morals and attending to religious beliefs. Shes following the rules and loving her children above everything else and putting family values first and has a strong sense of fair play and loyalty, she said.

People love coming back to this show. Its a big family. Its the cast which can change and change back and so on, and Ive got good friends on the crew here. Its amazing but its a great co-operative venture, the whole thing.

Im not behind bars anymore, just the coffee shop counter. Could do worse.

Everyone at Neighbours is deeply saddened by the passing of Janet Andrewartha. A wonderful colleague and a beautiful friend to many on the show, we remember her incredible talent as well as her love and laughter. You couldnt help but smile around Janet. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this very difficult time, said Executive Producer Jason Herbison.

Janet was one of the finest actors of her generation, but more than that, she was an extraordinary woman. Passionate, political, curious, delightfully eccentric, generous and fun. To me she was a steadfast friend for over 45 years. I will miss her every day said Jackie Woodburne.

Casting Director Jan Russ said, It was devastating to hear this news (of her passing). She was such a vibrant, serene person and she will be greatly missed in the industry.

RIP dearest Janet. Forever in our hearts and great memories.

This post updates.

Photo: Marnya Roth Photography
Auqib Javeed, TwoCircles.net

Srinagar: More than a decade since Jammu and Kashmir regained the right to elect its own government, a wave of militant attacks in the Jammu region has cast a shadow over anticipated elections, plunging both the people and regional political parties into uncertainty.

Support TwoCircles



On August 5, 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government revoked the regions special status under Article 370, which granted limited autonomy to the former state and reorganized it into two union territories (UTs)  Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Following the abrogation of Article 370, security forces in the Kashmir launched extensive operations against militants and their supporters. Numerous local and foreign militants were neutralized in encounters across the valley, while their sympathizers faced incarceration. The heightened security measures compelled militants to explore new strategies, according to a former Army officer with experience in Kashmir.

In recent years, the region has witnessed attacks where over 50 soldiers and a dozen civilians lost their lives in gun battles spread across Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi and other areas, highlighting the persistent volatility in the region.

On July 8, five Army personnel were killed and five injured in an ambush on their vehicle in the remote and hilly terrain of Kathua district. Just a week later, on July 16, an Army officer and three soldiers lost their lives in an encounter in Uran Baggi in the dense forests of Doda district.

These consecutive attacks have profoundly unsettled the entire security establishment in Jammu and Kashmir. The surge in militant activities comes at a critical juncture with assembly elections looming and scheduled tentatively for September. However, experts caution that the ongoing security challenges could potentially delay the elections.

Professor Noor Ahmad Baba, a political scientist from Kashmir, emphasized the need for the Centre to assess the situation carefully before deciding on the electoral process. Elections were held during the peak of militancy in the 1990s, so unless the situation is deemed too severe by the government, I believe the elections in Jammu should proceed, he remarked.

Contrarily, Zafar Choudhary, a political analyst and journalist from Jammu, believes that the Modi-led government is determined to proceed with the assembly elections after the conclusion of the Amarnath Yatra. I dont foresee the current security situation in Jammu deterring the government from conducting the elections, Choudhary asserted.

It is noteworthy that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), on July 12, made significant amendments empowering the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir under the Union Territorys Rules of Business.

The last assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were held in 2014, leading to the formation of a coalition government between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, due to irreconcilable differences, the coalition dissolved in 2018, resulting in direct governance by New Delhi through a Lieutenant Governor.

In December 2023, the Supreme Court directed the Union government to conduct elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024, and restore its statehood promptly.

Despite the electoral process being initiated, the recent spike in militant attacks has cast a shadow over the eagerly awaited elections, leaving the populace and regional political parties in turmoil.

Junaid Ahmad, a businessman from Srinagar, expressed frustration, stating, We have been awaiting assembly elections for a decade. It is our democratic right, and the central government must ensure they are held without further delay.

Ahmad highlighted the significant voter turnout witnessed in the recent parliamentary elections across Kashmir, demonstrating the peoples faith in democracy. Now, the government should respect the Supreme Courts rulings and proceed promptly, he added.

During the parliamentary elections, Kashmir recorded record-breaking voter turnouts across constituencies like Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag-Rajouri, with a voter percentage exceeding 58.46%.

Notably, even members of separatist organizations like Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) participated in significant numbers in the elections.

The upcoming assembly elections hold profound significance in the former state, marking a return after a decade-long hiatus. However, Opposition parties accuse the BJP of attempting to sabotage the elections in anticipation of potential defeat.

The BJP, on the other hand, denies these allegations, asserting its determination to form its own government in Jammu and Kashmir, including the appointment of a Hindu chief minister in the Muslim-majority region.

It is essential to note that the decision by the right-wing party on August 5 to revoke the regions special status under Article 370 remains deeply contentious among the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sony Delivers 'Legends of the Fall' and 'Talk of the Town' on 4K UHD December 3rd
India Today Ranking 2024: AMU 1st in Best Colleges of India list

The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has secured the first place in the India Today Ranking 2024 of the Best Colleges of India published in its July special issue recently

Sunday July 28, 2024 10:55 PM , ummid.com News Network

Aligarh: The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has secured the first place in the India Today Ranking 2024 of the Best Colleges of India published in its July special issue recently.

AMU has been at the forefront since its inception, in its quest to provide topmost quality education and that too at low cost, and this year is no different.

The Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology (ZHCET), AMU has got the Rank 1 under several categories. It has received number one position in the list of Top Ten Colleges with Lowest Course Fees (Govt.) in terms of course fee (entire duration), in the list of Top Ten Colleges with Best Value for Money (Govt.) in terms of Return on Investment (RoI), and its Department of Architecture has been placed at Rank 1 in the list of Top Ten Government Colleges with Lowest Course fees in terms of course fee (entire duration).

Similarly, in the field of Mass Communication, the Department of Mass Communication, has been placed at Rank 1 in the list of Top Ten Colleges with Lowest Course fees  in terms of course fee (entire duration) and in the list of Top Ten Colleges with Best Value of Money in terms of Return on Investment (RoI).

AMU was founded as the Madrasatul Uloom in 1875 in Aligarh, and evolved into the Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College in 1877. The College later became AMU in 1920 by an Act of federal Assembly. This Act was passed on the proposal of Muslims who deposited Rs. 30 lakhs with the government as required by the government.

Today, AMU is among the top universities in India - at the 9th rank in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2023, an improvement of 02 spots as compared to its rank in 2022.

Expressing satisfaction on the AMU ranking, Vice Chancellor Prof Naima Khatoon urged the faculty members and research scholars to work hard to earn the number one place for the university in the country for its academic quality, innovation and result oriented research.

Prof M. Salim Beg, Chairman, Committee for Ranking of the University, said this is a matter of great pride for AMU fraternity for getting topmost positions in the above ranking. The credit goes to all the stakeholders, the University administration, teachers, non-teaching staff, students and alumni.

Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
Is Mid-Term Polls Only Option Left in Bangladesh?

In an interview with Indian English daily, The Hindu, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus suggested that Bangladesh should hold a mid-term election within a short time to overcome the crisis by restoring democracy with a public mandate

Sunday July 28, 2024 8:17 PM , Saleem Samad

In a bombshell opinion, the countrys lone Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus has reached out to world leaders, including the Indian government, to restore democracy in Bangladesh.

In an interview with Indian English daily, The Hindu, Yunus suggested that Bangladesh should hold a mid-term election within a short time to overcome the crisis by restoring democracy with a public mandate. Democracy laid down all solutions.

Prof Yunus, inventor of social business and pioneer in micro-credit for the poor, appealed for the international community, particularly India, to reach out to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to call for calm.

India and Bangladesh are historical friends and should urge to restrain from committing crimes against the people, he remarked.

Dr Yunus condemned the killing of students and the common public as an invading force from another country.

"We see police firing innocent students raising their hands and shooting at close range because they have the power to shoot to kill. Thats what we see", he said.

Regarding the recent student protest in Dhaka , the economist condemned the killing of students and innocent people by the police, paramilitary and army.

The issue is democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and the role of the judiciary. People have the right to express their views and the Government has no right to kill them for their views", he said.

Angered by the law enforcement exercise of excessive force to quell the student protest, he said:

Demonstrators were not out there to kill anybody. Their demand may be unpleasant to the government, but that doesnt allow the government to shoot them to kill.

The Noble Laureate appealed to the world leaders to observe the random killing in Bangladesh. He urged all members of South Asian countries to investigate the recent incidents in Dhaka as neighbouring countries.

Dr Yunus is hopeful that global leaders can use their informal relationships and informal channels to restrain our leaders and make them aware of the serious departure from the norm of democracy.

Without dubbing Bangladesh as governed by an autocratic regime, he questioned the legitimacy of the government of Sheikh Hasina, which held three sham elections sans the opposition to participate in the elections  which lacks the credibility of inclusive elections.

Yunus, literally rubbed salt into the wound, for reaching out to global leaders to ensure calm in Bangladesh has irked the government.

The government in a loud voice said Yunus rhetoric at the time of ferocity of the crisis this month has been deemed as an anti-state statement.

Of course, the election is the ultimate solution to all political problems. When something doesnt work, you go back to the people to seek their instructions", he said.

"They are the ultimate owners of the country. Make sure it is a genuine election, not an election of a magician, Prof Yunus told Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor of The Hindu from the French capital, where he was attending the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics as a Special Guest.

Whether youre freshly elected or youre not elected, or you are abusing your position without the consent of the people, does not matter in a democracy. You are a government responsible for protecting people, not killing people. You cannot just pick up somebody because he belongs to the opposition party, so he is liable to be arrested, he retorted.

Yunus did not hesitate to ask, why the army is tackling students. Pointing his finger at Hasina, he said that democracy cant flourish with a magician.

Why do you have to bring in an army to tackle the student demonstration? Now you say, there are some enemies inside. Who are those enemies? Identify them and deal with them, not by killing students, added Dr Yunus.

Yunus, despised by Hasina, mentioned that the people in Bangladesh have committed themselves to democracy and to stay with democracy.

If democracy fails, Dr Yunus believes that the politicians should go back to the people again to get the mandate of the people, credibility of the people, the government doesnt have any credibility left at this moment.

Hasina won a fourth consecutive term amid controversies after the main opposition party and allies boycotted the election in January this year. Her tenure will go down with Guinness World Records for becoming the longest-serving woman prime minister in the world.

In the latest block raid, over 9,000 people were arrested including leaders of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) for allegedly spearheading recent street violence, vandalism and arson of government properties, including two pride mega-projects and several government buildings.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged that the arrested leaders, members and supporters of the opposition are being tortured and maimed before being brought to court and are being tortured again after obtaining remand orders.

The challenger of Hasina also urged the government to Get the peoples mandate, freely and fairly. Thats it. Democracy cures problems by getting peoples instructions because the state belongs to the people, not to some people in the government.

In the interview with eminent Indian journalist Suhasini Haidar, the economist claimed that Bangladesh authorities have been suppressing the locals with bullets alike foreign forces evading from another country.

I cannot bear to see it, I cant see millions of Bangladeshis living in terror. Democracy puts peoples lives as the highest priority. Democracy is about protecting people, all people, irrespective of religion, political opinion, or any other differences of opinion. If a citizen is about to kill another person, the states first responsibility is to protect the person under attack, he said criticising the incumbent regime in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, fourteen missions in Dhaka, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Australia and the European Union (EU) in a joint letter to Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, urged the protection of human rights and fair trials for those arrested in the wake of last weeks violent clashes.

On the other hand, India and China have stated that this is an internal affair of Bangladesh.

[The writer, Saleem Samad, is an award-winning independent journalist based in Bangladesh. A media rights defender with the Reporters Without Borders (@RSF_inter). Recipient of Ashoka Fellowship and Hellman-Hammett Award. He could be reached at saleemsamad@hotmail.com; Twitter (X): @saleemsamad. First published in Northeast News, Guwahati, India, 28 July 2024]



Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
Muslim women hailed for lowest proportion of female foeticide

Brinda Karat, former Member of Parliament, praised the Muslim community for having the lowest proportion of female foeticide

Sunday July 28, 2024 10:25 AM , Pervez Bari

New Delhi: Brinda Karat, addressing women's issues in the country, brought attention to the alarming practices of female foeticide and domestic violence against women.

Karat, former Member of Parliament, praised the Muslim community for having the lowest proportion of female foeticide.

Binda Karat was addressing the AIMWA Convention on Champions of Change 2024 held in New Delhi on July 19, 2024 as special guest.

In her speech, Karat also shed light on other issues faced by women, such as unpaid household work, and urged for their rights and respect within society.

At the same time, Karat also praised Bilkis Banu of Gujarat who was a victim of rape but fought like a warrior to get justice from the Supreme Court.

Besides Brinda Karat, Salman Khurshid, Ex-MP and Supreme Court Advocate, and Sophia Firdous, newly elected MLA in Orissa Assembly, participated as special guests in the convention. The "Champion of Change" awards were presented to proficient Muslim women across various fields at the convention.

Delivering the Presidential address at AIMWA Convention on Champions of Change 2024, Dr. Asma Zehra, President of All India Muslim Women's Association, (AIMWA), said Indian Muslims are currently facing new challenges.

Muslim households are being demolished by bulldozers. Laws are being imposed to stop veiled Hijabi women and girls on colleges and schools campuses. In some educational institutions, Muslim students are being treated with utmost disrespect, she said.

Dr. Zehra opined that the false propaganda against Muslims in the media, which started in 2014, continues unabated. Decisions and discretionary laws are being made to change Muslim Personal Law. Efforts are ongoing all the time to eliminate laws of inheritance and endowment waqf etc. Innocent young Muslims have been imprisoned for many years without evidence or trial. After the election results of June 4 this year, oppression, barbarism, injustice, and violations of rights have significantly increased, she pointed out.

Dr. Zehra made the above remarks in her presidential address at the 3-day AIMWA convention attended by over 300 delegates, scholars, homemakers, doctors, students and mothers from 18 states across the country.

Continuing Dr. Zehra said achieving great tasks in life requires equally great sacrifices. Upholding the supremacy of Allah's word also demands sacrifices step by step, which are integral to successful social efforts. She underscored the importance of sacrifices for societal and religious responsibilities and emphasized the need for continuous social efforts to protect and promote Islamic values and rights.

The need of the hour is for an immense struggle to bring about transformation in Muslim and Indian Muslim society. We, as sisters and mothers, are standing up. She emphasized that with faith, righteous deeds, Islamic teachings and culture and civilization, Allah's signs, mosques and calls to prayer, cemeteries, schools, our attire, food and drink, and promoting the Islamic identity of the youth, we fulfil our role in safeguarding and ensuring the existence and survival of Muslims, she added.

Salman Khurshid speaking on the occasion congratulated the organizers on the successful event and highlighted the numerous challenges facing Muslims in the country today. He stressed the importance of upholding ethics and conduct across all aspects of life and understanding and exercising the freedoms enshrined in the country's constitution.

Sophia Firdous, the first female MLA from Orissa , who was a special guest on the occasion, encouraged women through her speech. She emphasized hard work, dedication to achieve success while narrating her political journey to reach the Orissa Legislative Assembly.

Uzma Parekh, General Secretary, Nagpur, presented a report on the past year's activities of the AIMWA. She highlighted the various educational, developmental, and cultural programs conducted for women and students across multiple states.

Vision 2030

Afroz Jaffari, vice president of AIMWA, illuminated Vision 2030 and announced that AIMWA will organize both online and offline programs to reach 7-8 crore Muslim women in India. These programs will focus on education, upbringing, reform, protection, rights, defence and sustainability.

Forums for capable educated women, doctors, lawyers, journalists, and politically inclined sisters will be connected with AIMWA.

A list of 100 districts with higher Muslim population has been compiled, where active sisters will be linked with the Development Agenda. Efforts are underway in the education sector to improve educational standards, establish schools, reading rooms, and libraries, and to set up schools of higher education.

Similarly, Afroz Jaffari said in the health sector, services of Muslim lady doctors, health clinics, hospital establishments, free-chat systems for distressed sisters, and self-help groups are being established. AIMWA aims to become the voice of Muslim women in national issues and to represent women's issues in courts and with state and central governments.

Zeenat Mehtab expressed gratitude in her concluding remarks. While emphasizing the responsibility of educated women, she said it is our duty to stand up for mothers and daughters when they face any issue.

The opening session concluded with a commitment to ongoing efforts towards the community's development, equity and resilience in the face of contemporary challenges.

At the outset of the inaugural session, held on July 19, 2024 at the India Islamic Cultural Centre (IISC) New Delhi featured a recitation of the Holy Quran by Ifa Lule.

Mahmooda Majid, Vice President of the All India Muslim Women's Association, welcomed delegates and participants, emphasizing their presence as a testament to their concern for their community's welfare and future.

Huda Rawal, Secretary of AIMWA, introduced the organization, its objectives, and recognized coordinators and executives from various departments.

Activities of sisters from 15 states showcased

In the third session of the convention, the activities of sisters from 15 states presented by their coordinators were showcased. From Hyderabad, Tehniyat Athar highlighted the efforts and struggles of students and women, including the Muslim Girls Association, the Shariat Committee (for Women), the Muslim Personnel Board's public movement during the divorce bill, reports on Salama Schools and Salamah Hospitals, and the Muslim Women Development Society's report on economic issues.

She said that our work is our identity, and if we use our time, abilities and skills in the right direction, the future of the nation can shine brightly and brilliantly.

Nikhat Khan presented the report on Patna, Bihar; Uzma Parikh, General Secretary presented the report of Nagpu; Huda Rawal, Secretary, presented the report of Mumbai; Rabiya Mulla presented the report of Kolhapur, Maharashtra; Hawwa Matin, Secretary, presented the report of Kolkata; Umaima Fahad presented the report of Muradabad; Fatima presented the report of Kerala; Mubeena Ramadan presented the report of Srinagar while Zeenat Mehtab presented the report of Delhi. Umme Mohammad and Asma Nadim and other sisters detailed the activities in their respective regions.

The fourth session of the convention featured a panel discussion, with experts in the field of education taking part. Wahida Syed from Mumbai, Prof. Rafique Unnisa from Hyderabad and Shabana Patil were included.

The session of lawyers was moderated by Dr. Nilam Ghazala, Vice President. Advocates Rashida Suhail and Zakia Moin addressed issues related to Muslim personnel, Divorce regarding divorce cases in recent Supreme Court decisions, Hijab, and violence against Muslim women etc.

Hawwa Matin, the Secretary, presented the Children's Circle report. Afroz Jaffari presented reports on parenting sessions.

Tasneem, Secretary of Youth, and Ifa Lule, Joint Secretary, introduced the Bintul Muslim Council. They presented details of special sessions for students in schools and colleges through online workshops, empowerment programs, and Girls Get Together. They emphasized the need for religious education, Quranic recitation, Quranic study sessions, and reformative gatherings for students in every state and stressed that AIMWA's platform will fulfill this important need of the community.

Society's objectives & aims explained

Asma Nadeem, Secretary of Muslim Women Development Society, explained the society's objectives and aims, saying "Make poverty history" is a thought, a movement, and the best slogan. She advocated striving for economic prosperity and avoiding wastefulness, leading to savings among women. She stressed that women play an important role in every society and family's economic issues.

"If women start thinking about progress today, they will avoid extravagance and develop a desire for savings", she said.

In the fifth session, a plan of action for the coming year was laid out. Emphasis was placed on expanding activities in districts, villages, and rural areas. There was a commitment to strengthen and organize various departments of the organization and to work effectively across every state and union territory of the country.

Zeenat Mehtab thanked the participants of the convention, and the convention concluded with a Dua by Dr. Nilam Ghazala saheba.

Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
VIENTIANE  The Viet Nam  Laos Trade Fair 2024 (VIETLAO EXPO), the largest annual trade promotion event co-hosted by the two countries Ministries of Industry and Trade, is being held in Vientiane from July 25 to 29.

At the opening ceremony on July 25, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung said economic cooperation has become a longstanding foundation in the bilateral relationship and is showing sound development. Viet Nam has consistently been one of Laos's top three largest trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching US$928 million by the end of June, an annual increase of 11 per cent.

Hung expressed his hope that trade volume would exceed the 10 per cent growth target set for this year by senior leaders at the 46th meeting of the Viet Nam-Laos intergovernmental committee.

The diplomat noted that many Vietnamese investment projects in Laos are operating effectively, significantly contributing to the local socio-economic development, creating jobs, raising incomes for thousands of workers and increasing the Lao state budget's revenue. Looking ahead, the two governments aim to raise the bilateral trade to $2 billion by maximising the two sides potential for commercial cooperation.

The expo features around 250 booths of businesses, with the Vietnamese section comprising 120 standard booths of nearly 80 reputable companies across various sectors such as pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, agro-forestry-fishery and processed foods, textiles and fashion, handicrafts, interior and exterior decoration and consumer goods, among many others.

Vietnamese businesses participating in the expo aim to promote the national image, boost exports, expand distribution networks in Laos and northeastern Thailand, and showcase the strengths of Vietnamese industries. The event serves as an effective bridge for trade organisations, manufacturers, and investors from both countries to exchange experiences, transfer technology, and explore investment opportunities.  VNS
by Luong Huong

Carefully using a spatula to fold the banh xeo (literally translated as sizzling cake) into a half-moon shape, Gary Mok then garnished it with fresh herbs and enjoyed the dish he made for the first time.

Together with seven other learners from various countries, he was taught how to make banh xeo  or Vietnamese crepe, a popular southern food made of rice batter, pork, shrimp, mung bean sprouts, and onions  at a cooking class for foreigners in District 1 of HCM City.

I like Vietnamese food because it is very fresh and has a well-balanced taste. I feel great when eating Vietnamese food like com tam (broken rice) and my Quang (Quang Nam-style flat rice noodles)," the Singaporean tourist said.

"Today, I made banh xeo. I didn't know if I could make the dish until today, and I was so surprised that it tasted so good. This is my first time cooking Vietnamese food. This class has given me many skills and information on how to make it. I will take it home and make it for my family."

Since its opening in 2017, M.O.M Cooking Class has attracted 20,000 foreign learners from around the world, including South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, and the US.

From a small studio located on the top floor of a building on e Tham Street, dubbed "Foreigners Street", the cooking class has opened another rooftop branch on Co Bac Street and then a 300sq.m location on 119/2 Yersin Street, District 1, just 20 months later.

Nestled in a small alley next to Ben Thanh Market, the M.O.M Cooking Class studio is designed with a friendly, rustic, and nature-close ambience.

The class offers learners the most authentic experiences of Vietnamese culture and cuisine. From the smallest utensils to the cooking ingredients, everything is orderly arranged and adheres strictly to food safety and hygiene regulations, which have long been key to the M.O.M Cooking Class brand's reputation.

Two of its founders, Le Hoa and Trong Nghia, surprisingly, have no prior experience in the culinary industry. They graduated from different universities  Hoa with a degree in Interior Design from Van Lang University, and Nghia with a degree in Human Resource Management from the National Academy of Public Administration  but they share a passion for Vietnamese traditional food.

"During volunteer cooking trips with a group of tourists, Nghia and I met and shared a common joy in seeing the tourists enthusiastically follow our guidance and practise cooking Vietnamese dishes," Hoa said.

"We nurtured the plan to create a place where tourists could experience the culture of different regions through cuisine and cook it themselves. However, the path was not easy for us, as recent graduates. We had to realise our dream step-by-step."

After graduating, Hoa worked for an interior design company during the day and at a restaurant selling Vietnamese dishes in the evening. He then moved to Singapore to work as a head chef for two years to hone his skills and business acumen.

On returning home, he took on the role of general manager for one year to help establish a cooking studio for the CHC Group and Luke Nguyen, a renowned Vietnamese-Australian chef, best known for his television series Luke Nguyens Vietnam, Luke Nguyens Greater Mekong, and Luke Nguyens France.

Meanwhile, Nghia completed his bachelor's degree from the National Academy of Public Administration and worked at an event management company to gain more experience in event planning and marketing.

"In 2017, when we felt we had acquired enough experience and knowledge, we established M.O.M Cooking Studio," Hoa said.

However, when the business model started operating smoothly, the pandemic hit. M.O.M and its team faced many difficulties as work was suspended and there were no tourists.

"Struggling to adapt, we had to switch to selling homemade food, from raw ingredients to finished dishes. The pandemic was a time when many individuals and businesses faced challenges. This period tested our ability to 'survive' and be flexible in face of unfavourable changes. The home-style food business did quite well during the pandemic. Everything was under control, but when the pandemic was over, I was unsure whether to continue running cooking classes or expand the business model further. Finally, I decided to keep the model of cooking classes for international tourists and open more facilities," Hoa said.

By 2020, M.O.M Cooking Class had redefined its development direction. Instead of following temporary trends, it aimed to reflect the characteristics of Vietnamese cuisine in terms of decor, course content, and cooking instruction.

The cooking instructors are carefully selected with a minimum of two years of experience in the culinary field, including teaching and cooking experience. After each class, learners' feedback is a key factor in evaluating the instructors, who are also regularly sent to study and hone their culinary knowledge with traditional master cooks.

To date, the class has received Tripadvisor's Certificate of Excellence three times in 2017, 2018 and 2020. It has also been ranked the No. 1 cooking class on the Klook travel e-commerce platform and recognized as a 5-star reputable address on Google.

Notably, it was invited to accompany the HCM City Tourism Promotion Centre in the 2024 Roadshow programme held in Sydney and Melbourne. At the event, M.O.M chefs demonstrated and served Vietnamese fresh spring rolls to the leaders of HCM City, the Australian Consulate, and international friends.

"M.O.M Cooking Studio will continue to collaborate with the HCM City Department of Tourism and the HCM City Tourism Promotion Centre to promote Vietnamese cuisine during Roadshow events in South Korea, the US, Singapore, Europe, and other locations," Hoa said.

"Besides perfecting the existing Vietnamese cooking class studios, the studio will also expand to other tourist cities like a Nang and Ha Noi, while opening authentic Japanese-style baking classes for domestic customers." VNS
Nguyen Thanh Vu, 29, is a painter who quit a career in architecture to pursue art. His paintings are mostly influenced by traditional culture. They have gone on show at many exhibitions around the country. Vu wants to exhibit his works abroad to both show off his own art and present Vietnamese culture to a wider audience. Viet Nam News reporter Thu Ngan speaks with Vu about his love for art and plans for the future.

Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

I was born in the central province of Quang Ngai, was originally an architect, have a deep passion for drawing, and I'm currently better known as an artist.

I believe that painting is also culture, reflecting the true nature of the times. Pursuing post-impressionism, I focus on emotions and the inner power of colours and artworks and I'm often known for my paintings.

I hope my paintings can convey positive, vital and peaceful energies to beholders.

Why did you decide to change to painting after working as an architect?

After graduating with a major in architecture, I worked as an architect for a while but felt architecture wasn't suitable for the office environment, and so decided to change direction.

I remember it was during the COVID-19 quarantine period. I chose to paint partly to relieve stress and partly because it was the only job I could do at that time, posting pictures on social networking platforms. I received a lot of responses from people, and so I kept on painting, and am painting until now.

It is said that an architect is a person with one leg as an engineer and one as an artist. They can't fly too far, they believe in reality and possibility. But that's not the case with artists; painting for me is not just about playing with colours, but also a way to tell stories and best reflect one's ego.

From a desire to go beyond the normal limits of an architect, I chose a life full of dreams and freedom, and painting helped me do that.

What inspired you to focus on post-impressionism and what are the main materials used in your creations?

It is no exaggeration to say that a painting is a copy of the author's inner mind or spirit. Anyone who paints can indirectly express their inner feelings, or more simply, their immediate mood at the time of painting. I just draw and paint as freely as possible, more precisely, paint in a way that is my own without worrying about the opinions of others.

Post-impressionism allows me to realistically portray emotional content, and so I have focused on this style.

I had the opportunity to come into contact with oil paints when I was a student, and felt emotional about a material that is both smooth and strong, durable over time. So I chose this material to practise painting.

How have your experiences working as an architect helped you in your painting career?

An interesting question. I am very passionate about architecture, and architecture is very much related to other fields, including culture and history. After that, I fell in love with this field and chose this topic to paint throughout my painting career.

The architectural work environment allows me the opportunity to access many tools to help manage work, come up with drawing ideas, expand to communicate effectively with customers. Architecture also helps me be rational in solving problems I think I wouldn't if I were purely an artist.

In addition, as an architect, I know which paintings will suit which spaces, which is very helpful in choosing the topic as well as the size of a painting when creating one.

Your passion for Vietnamese cultural themes is evident. Can we expect your future creations to continue exploring this theme?

Culture and history will be my topics throughout my artistic journey. I've been planning for the next collection, which will introduce Vietnamese songs, that have been around since before I was born. I want to transform those songs into paintings so that people can get a different feeling about putting music into paintings and not just poetry into music. I want the timbre, pitch, rhythm, and lyrics of the song to be expressed in the form of artwork, a painting.

This is also an opportunity for me to access the arts of the nation and introduce them to everyone, especially young people, so that they can understand about their own origins and heritage.

What do you think about the current interest in paintings and art collection?

From the perspective of an artist, I see rapid development in the Vietnamese painting market, with more and more exhibitions taking place every year and the public responding increasingly, which proves that the masses have transformed and become more interested in the country's art though the economy is facing challenges.

The Vietnamese painting market is considered a child that is gradually growing up.

Collectors can invest by buying works by famous artists. With new collectors entering the market, they can choose to buy sketches, one-of-a-kind prints or small-scale paintings by young and not famous artists, paintings are not receiving attention, and so their value is not high.

But over time these collectibles will likely increase in value. The problem is only a matter of perception, evaluation and, of course, knowledge and understanding.

The history of world painting has seen many events and investments in painting. Vietnamese are behind in this field, but it is good to learn from the lessons of the past. VNS
Thanh Nga

In recent years, the trend of 'quiet luxury' has gained popularity among the wealthy, who seek to showcase their affluence in a subtle, unobtrusive manner.

However, a new trend is emerging that encourages ordinary, middle-class individuals to openly manage their spending and achieve important financial goals without guilt or shame. This trend, known as 'loud budgeting', is receiving mixed reactions.

In 2023, the quiet luxury trend, which refers to the discreet expression of wealth, was embraced by young people in Viet Nam and around the world. Yet, as 2024 approached, a new phenomenon began to bloom on social media platforms  loud budgeting. This trend sees people with more modest budgets proudly adopting a frugal lifestyle and openly discussing their spending habits.

The shift in attitude towards money is remarkable. In the past, individuals often felt shy or embarrassed to discuss their finances, fearing that they would be perceived as poor or irresponsible. However, this stigma is now being challenged, as people are no longer ashamed to publicly disclose their monthly budgets and actively seek out sales and bargains to find the best quality items at the lowest prices.

Loud budgeting represents a departure from the spending patterns of those with greater financial resources, which can sometimes lead to a sense of overwhelming pressure or disruption of one's financial plans. By openly discussing money with their family and friends, individuals are reclaiming their financial power and finding a sense of community in their shared experiences.

For instance, a person may reduce the number of social gatherings with friends or a family may opt for purchasing used items or shopping more strategically at local markets, openly sharing their reasoning with those around them.

This trend is not limited to Viet Nam, as Vietnamese youth are also quickly embracing the loud budgeting movement. Ha Noi, known as the most expensive city in the country, has become a leading example of this phenomenon. Many young people in the capital find it entirely appropriate and even praiseworthy to adjust their spending habits.

Nguyen Anh Huy, a resident of Ha Noi, shared his experience of adopting the loud budgeting lifestyle, even at the cost of feeling isolated from his social circle. He has refused numerous invitations to his friends' parties, some of whom have reacted with anger or dissatisfaction. Huy believes that if his friends cannot understand the importance of his savings, they are not worthy of being his friends any more.

To implement his new lifestyle, Huy decided to sell his television set to fund the purchase of a dehumidifier, which he believes will have a more practical impact than a TV. Additionally, Huy has significantly reduced his electricity and water consumption at home, even going to the office to shower and make landline phone calls.

Another example is Nguyen Mai Phuong, who since the beginning of 2024, has been saying "no" to unnecessary expenses in order to focus her time, money, and energy on truly worthwhile goals. Instead of shopping multiple times a month, she now combines her purchases, minimising costly spending. When it comes to cosmetic items, she carefully researches different stores to find the best prices.

The most popular way to showcase savings on social media platforms is by sharing images of homemade, budget-friendly meals. The simple, yet startlingly inexpensive rice dishes often attract significant attention online.

Furthermore, some individuals are even showcasing their ability to purchase a house and a car despite having a monthly income of only VN10 million (US$430).

On savings-focused online communities, many users are not hesitant to seek advice on spending or escaping poverty.

The TikTok channel "Quality Poor People", owned by Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha, has recently gained a large following. On her channel, she frequently posts loud budgeting themed videos, such as how to manage a monthly budget of VN3 million (US$130) or how to spend only VN50,000 (US$2) per day on food.

"The word 'saving' is currently being used a bit negatively, sometimes it is associated with the word 'skimp.' Young people rarely talk about saving, and perhaps for that reason, the trend of 'loud budgeting' is a necessary counterweight for young people to realise that they can freely discuss and live to the best of their ability, even if they are just financially modest," Ha said.

The rise of loud budgeting represents a significant shift in societal attitudes towards money and personal finance. By embracing this trend, individuals are challenging the stigma associated with discussing and managing their finances, and finding empowerment in their ability to achieve their financial goals without shame or guilt.

In a difficult economic context, especially after the pandemic, saving is important and necessary. However, saving should not be equated with frugality or cutting costs excessively. The true nature of saving is about streamlining one's needs, not just cutting spending.

As Nguyen Huu Tri, founder of Awake Your Power Academy, explained, those who truly understand savings will go inward and refine their needs, eliminating things that are not necessary or cannot bring lasting happiness. Streamlining needs is the essence of savings.

Financial experts, like Dr Truong Tuan Anh, confirmed that having clear financial goals and being willing to make sacrifices is the 'loud budgeting' trend, especially among younger generations who are now focused on financial peace of mind.

However, consumer spending and a certain lifestyle can also have value in terms of personal development and economic growth. The key is to align one's spending with their actual circumstances and needs, rather than just following passing trends.

Ultimately, the choice between saving and spending should be a personal one, based on individual circumstances and priorities. The goal should be to find a balanced approach that meets one's financial and personal needs sustainably. VNS
Determined to make the most of her first-ever Olympics appearance, former Alabama gymnast Luisa Blanco qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics all-around gymnastics final on Sunday afternoon.

With an all-around score of 51.698 in the Sundays qualifying round, Blanco is now set to represent Colombia and compete against the best artistic gymnasts in the world during the all-around final on Aug. 1.

In punching her ticket to the final, Blanco becomes the first-ever to represent Colombia in the womens all-around final at the Olympics.

Luisa Blanco haciendo historia para la gimnasia artistica colombiana clasificando a la final  Extraordinaria en todo el sentido de la palabra. Mejor dicho, como agradezco que decidio representarnos. Aqui los 4 aparatos que ejecuto para nuestro deleite : pic.twitter.com/IdOVATdwjE  Diana Carvajal (@Dianita2928) July 28, 2024

Blancos trip to Paris, where she is representing her parents home country, comes immediately on the heels of her college career with the Crimson Tide.

First arriving to Tuscaloosa in 2020, Blanco was immediately recognized as one of the best in the SEC conference and was named to the SECs All-Freshman team in 2020.

Throughout her career, Blanco cemented herself as one of the best to ever compete for the Crimson Tide as she won a trio of SEC titles in 2021 (all-around, uneven bars, balance beam and vault) and went on to be named the SECs Gymnast of the Year that same season.

Blanco capped off her decorated 2021 season as an NCAA champion on the balance beam.

Before graduating last season, Blanco was a three-time All-SEC honoree and a two-time first-team All-American for all-around.
There could be a new tropical depression or storm to watch later this week  and theres a chance it could eventually head toward the United States.

The National Hurricane Center on Sunday said a tropical depression could form by mid- to late week near the northern Leeward Islands in the Caribbean. As of Sunday afternoon, however, it was just an unorganized disturbance in the central Atlantic.

The hurricane centers forecast shows the system taking a path to the west-northwest. If that happens the system would move near or over Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Hispaniola, Cuba and eventually Florida.

Its too soon to say if the system will definitely affect the continental U.S., however. Unorganized systems provide a big challenge for forecasters, and if it did affect the U.S. it wouldnt be until late this week. A lot could happen in that timeframe to change things.

Its also too soon to say if it could move into the Gulf of Mexico or track closer the Atlantic coast.

The hurricane center said that on Sunday afternoon the disturbance is expected to run into a tropical wave in the next few days. Forecasters said conditions in that part of the Atlantic would be conducive for development, and a tropical depression could form around mid-week or late week.

The system is expected to be near the northern Leeward Islands of the Greater Antilles by that time.

The National Weather Service in Mobile didnt mention the disturbance in its Sunday forecast discussion, but the weather service office in Miami expected the system to approach South Florida late this week.

Forecasters said models are still at odds regarding any potential development/organization of this wave and (not surprisingly) its track.

Models could get a better handle on the system if and when it gets more organized.

A tropical system has to have a defined center of circulation and winds of at least 39 mph to be considered a tropical storm and get a name. The next name on the 2024 storm list is Debby.

There has been one hurricane, Beryl, and two tropical storms (Alberto and Chris) so far this season, but the past few weeks have seen no tropical activity.

However, August is typically the time when tropical activity really begins to increase in the Atlantic.

Atlantic hurricane and tropical storm activity chart showing the likelihood of tropical cyclones during the hurricane season.Courtesy National Hurricane Center

NOAA is forecasting a very active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, with 17-25 named storms, eight to 13 hurricanes and four to seven major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger storms).
An argument between friends in the parking lot of a downtown Tuscaloosa hotel left one man dead and another in jail.

Tuscaloosa police at 9:10 p.m. Saturday were called to the parking lot of Embassy Suites at 2410 University Boulevard on a report of a shooting.

When they arrived, they found Howell Booth Holland III, 21, of Fayette, dead on the scene, said Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Capt. Jack Kennedy.

Kennedy said the suspect  18-year-old Jackson Luke Overton of Winfield  and multiple witnesses were interviewed by investigators.

Detectives learned that all involved were visiting downtown clubs and bars in Tuscaloosa and had parked their vehicle in the Embassy Suites parking lot. None of those involved were staying at the hotel, Kennedy said.

Holland and Overton got into an argument. Kennedy said Overton retrieved a gun from his vehicle and shot Holland one time.

The shooting was witnessed by multiple people, Kennedy said.

Overton is charged with murder. He was booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail early Sunday and remains held without bond pending an Aniahs Law hearing.
A suspect is behind bars after a man was found in a pool of blood in east Alabama Saturday night.

Calhoun County sheriffs deputies were dispatched about 8:30 p.m. to the 400 block of Church Street in Hobson City, said Sheriff Matthew Wade.

The victim was found in the road with a stab wound to the chest.

A deputy rendered aid to the man until Oxford EMS arrived. He was taken to UAB Hospital in Birmingham with life-threatening injuries.

Wade said deputies found a witness that identified Oshae Dontrell Ball, 31, as the suspect. A lookout bulletin was issued, and Oxford police officers later took him into custody.

B.O.L.O. was issued for Ball and a short time later Oxford Police located and detained Ball.

Ball was booked into the Calhoun County Jail on a charge of first-degree assault. He remains held on a $20,000 cash bond.
The controversy surrounding what appears to be a depiction of the Last Supper by drag performers at the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics is the result of a misunderstanding, a popular Birmingham business owner posted on Facebook.

The scene in question was not a depiction of the Last Supper but rather an ancient Greek Bacchanal. This choice reflects the Olympics historical roots in ancient Greece, Johnny Grimes wrote on Saturday.

Grimes is among the business partners who in 2023 purchased WorkPlay bar and music hall.

In 2020, when his downtown business Wheelhouse Salon was vandalized after the murder of George Floyd, Grimes had a mural of Floyd with the words Bham Strong on plywood placed where the stores windows once were.

Grimes wrote that he did a study tour through Greece in grad school. We actually visited Olympia, the place where the Olympics were created.

That experience showed him the performance was a rendition of Bacchanalia celebration honoring Bacchus, the god of wine, also known as Dionysus in Greek mythology. These festivals were characterized by their exuberance and festivities, often lasting for several days.

Additionally, the figure you saw was not Death on a pale horse, but Sequana, the Goddess of the Seine River. Her presence was intended to symbolize the Olympic spirit and the river where the procession took place.

Paris organizers apologized Sunday, saying they meant no disrespect to Christian believers.

The Olympics ceremony has been widely criticized by Alabama political leaders.

This was an intentional choice to mock Christianity and Christians, Sen. Katie Britt posted on X.

Its disgraceful. And its the same kind of bizarre craziness thats being pushed on children and teenagers across America. We need to turn our eyes back to God and restore common sense, Britt wrote.

Grimes said he decided to offer his take on Facebook, where he sees incredibly diverse, offering perspectives across the entire spectrum, in order to help (his) Evangelical/Conservative friends understand the depiction they saw.

Im putting myself out there. Let the fiery arrows loose, Grimes wrote. Its always beneficial to seek understanding before jumping to conclusions.
Cruising down Logan Martin Lake toward Choccolocco Creek, past million-dollar lakefront vacation houses and boats that cost more than most cars, it doesnt feel like the entrance to one of the most polluted sites in the country.

But it is.

It is sort of tragic, said Justinn Overton, executive director and staff riverkeeper at Coosa Riverkeeper.

Were standing here and its such a beautiful day and this is a beautiful stretch of creek and so many people are unaware that that sediment at the bottom of this creek is contaminated with a known carcinogen, she said.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed an $85.2 million plan to remove PCB contamination from the soil and creek beds of Choccolocco Creek, including where it flows into the Coosa River at Logan Martin Lake. Coosa Riverkeeper Justinn Overton says her group strives to inform fishermen about the risks of eating fish from the contaminated creek.Dennis Pillion

But one of Alabamas most contaminated sites could finally see remediation in the upcoming years.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has put forth an estimated $85.2 million proposal  paid for by the responsible party, not tax dollars  to clean up the area by removing contaminated soils and sediments.

The EPA has designated the area around Choccolocco Creek as the Anniston PCB site under its Superfund program, thanks to decades of pollution where man-made chemicals called PCBs entered the creek and surrounding areas.

The site is considered a Superfund Alternative Site, rather than being listed on the EPAs National Priorities List of the most contaminated sites in the country. The EPA says that the Anniston site is eligible for the National Priorities List based on the amount of contamination. But the creek was not listed because the agency reached a settlement with the responsible parties who have agreed to pay for the cleanup.

The chemical plant that produced the contaminants was initially operated by Monsanto, but is now run by a company called Solutia, a subsidiary of the Eastman Chemical Company.

Solutia would pay contractors to carry out the cleanup according to the EPAs plan. Thats thanks to a 2000 settlement agreement between the company and the EPA.

Residences on Logan Martin Lake near where Choccolocco Creek enters the Coosa River.Dennis Pillion

The EPA cleanup plan is not yet finalized and is available for public comment until July 30.

This is a very important time for folks to explain how they use Choccolocco Creek how they use Logan Martin Lake, as well as advocate for the most removal of PCB-laden sediment and the best public notifications, Overton said.

What are PCBs?

PCBs  which dont break down naturally -- have been shown to cause cancer in animals and the EPA considers them a probable human carcinogen. Its possible to absorb these PCBs from contact with the skin, but the most common method of exposure is from eating fish that have absorbed the chemicals into their bodies.

The Alabama Department of Public Health and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management have warned residents for years not to eat any fish caught in Choccolocco Creek, and fish consumption advisories are often issued in nearby waters due to PCB contamination.

The contamination is extensive, as a chemical plant in Anniston manufactured PCBs from 1929 until 1971, as questions about the health impacts of PCB exposure began to grow. PCB manufacturing was banned in the United States in 1979.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed an $85.2 million plan to remove PCB contamination from the soil and creek beds of Choccolocco Creek, including where it flows into the Coosa River at Logan Martin Lake.Dennis Pillion

Whats the plan?

The EPA cleanup plan involves digging out contaminated soil from industrial and residential properties in the area, as well as dredging contaminated sediment from the creek and creek banks, into where Choccolocco Creek enters the Coosa River at Logan Martin Lake.

Solutias remediation manager Gayle Macolly said the EPA has conducted extensive soil testing around the creek to determine where soils need to be removed and how much.

She emphasized that the EPA, not Solutia, is deciding how much contaminated material needs to go.

Everything is guided by and overseen by EPA, and we have to follow their guidelines, Macolly said.

Overton said the comment period is an important opportunity to advocate for a thorough removal of contaminated soil and better public notifications about the dangers of PCB exposure.

Its very important that if you look to the river not just for fun, but also for food, that you make a comment and you tell the EPA that we need all of these PCBs removed from our waterways, she said.

Overton said her group is concerned that the clean up plan may not remove enough of the contaminated soil from the site area, and that every precaution should be taken to prevent releasing more PCBs downstream while the work is taking place.

We anticipate the levels will go up [once the work begins], Overton said. " Coosa Riverkeeper will be playing a very active role in advocating not only for the most aggressive remediation but also the ongoing monitoring that will need to take place to determine if its effective or not.

Macolly said the EPA plan is very protective of human health and the environment.

EPA performed the human health risk assessment, and there was an ecological risk assessment, and thats what they consider, is the risk to people and the environment, Macolly said. And then they pick the remedial action thats needed Based on the human health and ecological risk assessments.

How long will it take?

The cleanup is expected to take years, if not decades, to be complete.

This is going to have ripples in the community of Anniston, Oxford, the communities downstream as well as Logan Martin Lake, Overton said. Were looking at potentially 30 to 40 years before this remediation plan is completely finished, with ongoing monitoring once the active work is done.

Macolly was more optimistic, saying Solutia hopes to finish the cleanup in 10 years or less, but that since the cleanup requires getting permission from private property owners to access their lands for testing and to remove contaminated soil.

The sooner we get access from property owners, the quicker we can start, Macolly said. Thats probably the biggest delay, because some people just dont, dont want us on their property.

Macolly said the EPA process was thorough and protective, if not fast.

This is a very long and thoughtful process, Macolly said. It doesnt go as quick as some people would like, but a part of that is because EPA wants to make sure that everything is looked at and evaluated, so that things arent missed.
I first heard that ivermectin (IVM) has significant potential to treat cancer in an Epoch Times video interview featuring Dr. Kathleen Ruddy, who has partnered with the FLCCC (Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance) to research it. Recall that IVM is the same horse dewormer the FDA and others in the medical industrial complex went to great lengths to discourage as a Covid-19 treatment. In the video, Dr. Ruddy suggested why so little research is being done on it: the pharmaceutical industries were not going to invest in a $0.10 pill. If the pharmaceutical industries were not willing to do that, no one else was going to do it, because pharma funds everyone that is doing research.

As a prostate cancer survivor, I was especially drawn to her first example of Paul Mann who was perfectly healthy with no family history of cancer and suddenly diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. He went through all the known cancer treatments with no success so his status was terminal with his cancer metastasizing to 11 bones. Pauls PSA (Prostrate-Specific Antigen Test) was off the charts between 700 and 800. To put Pauls PSA number in perspective, when mine spiked past 12, my urologist gave me only two options, either schedule surgery or start radiation.

It was very obvious that Paul was totally out of options and by chance he had a friend who was acquainted with Dr. Ruddy and knew of her cancer research. He connected the two. They discussed his past treatments and symptoms at length telephonically and in one of those consultations Dr. Ruddy asked; Paul, I dont know if this [IVM] is going to help you, but I know its not going to hurt you. He agreed to try it and two months later his PSA number was down to 1.3, meaning he was in biochemical remission. However, he still had the bone metastasis. Nine months later, he gets a head-to-toe scan that found three bone cancers were totally gone and the rest could be treated with radiation. Now he is back to work and doing well.

Getting a prescription for IVM in 2022 was difficult. Paul had to go to Tennessee because it was available

there without a prescription due to passage of a new law signed in April 2022. Although the law may sound reckless, state legislators had much expert assistance from highly respected medical professionals including Dr. Robert Malone, Dr. Ryan Cole, Dr. Richard Urso, Dr. Pierre Kory, Dr. John Little and many others. These doctors assured that the law included safeguards requiring a description of the patients symptoms, a list of any preexisting conditions and list of other medications being taken so the right dosage could be determined by the pharmacist. Pauls IVM prescription even showed up in his oncologists records in Missouri without being requested.

More personal research found that the FLCCC was not the first to discover the potential of IVM for treating cancer. A September 2020 study in the NIH National Library of Medicine revealed similar encouraging evidence:

Abstract: Ivermectin has powerful antitumor effects, including the inhibition of proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenic activity, in a variety of cancer cells. This may be related to the regulation of multiple signaling pathways by ivermectin through PAK1 kinase. On the other hand, ivermectin promotes programmed cancer cell death, including apoptosis, autophagy and pyroptosis. Ivermectin induces apoptosis and autophagy is mutually regulated. Interestingly, ivermectin can also inhibit tumor stem cells and reverse multidrug resistance and exerts the optimal effect when used in combination with other chemotherapy drugs. Cancer types where IVM was tested and found to be effective: 2.1 Breast cancer 2.2 Digestive system cancer 2.3 Urinary system [including prostate] cancer 2.4 Hematological [leukemia] cancer 2.5 Reproductive system cancer 2.6 Brain glioma 2.7 Respiratory system cancer 2.8 Melanoma

Even earlier in June 2019, the Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research had also published similar positive news about IVM and cancer. Thus, ivermectin, a FDA-approved antiparasitic drug, could potentially be used in combination with chemotherapeutic agents to treat cancers and in particular, the drug-resistant cancers.

After learning of these multiple breakthrough findings, I could not help but wonder why so little about this discovery has been mentioned in the legacy media. Apparently, I am not alone in suspecting the news is being suppressed. However, the influential Associated Press furnished an answer in Feb. 2023 in its half-truth assessment:

CLAIM: Searches on the National Institutes of Health website show that ivermectin is a cure for cancer but it is being suppressed. APS ASSESSMENT: False. The website shows that some studies have explored the use of ivermectin in relation to cancer. There are no studies demonstrating the drug cures cancer in humans, experts say, but some are researching the use of ivermectin in combination with other therapies to treat breast cancer.

Is the APs negative assessment a sign that there will be resistance preventing IVM from being used as a cancer treatment? After all, there are conflicts of interest. (1) If IVM is approved and proves to be an effective cancer cure it could cut into healthcare industry profits. (2) From the patients perspective, IVM could save millions of lives or at a minimum it could reduce the lengthy, painful, and extremely expensive cancer treatments. And those downstream cost savings for the patient will likely benefit taxpayer funded Medicaid/Medicare and private health insurance providers as well.

For now, nothing will change immediately for most cancer patients because the FDA drug approval process is lengthy and subject to pressure from lobbyists. However, as many as 28 states are considering legislation to get around the FDA similar to the Tennessee law, according to Becker's Hospital Review, a newsletter catering to healthcare professionals. However, the article regrettably did not list the states. Of interest, some of the reader comments in their newsletter were a mixed bag, including some very hostile to IVM and the FLCCC.

Regardless, we should thank God there are still conscientious medical personnel like those in the FLCCC and similar organizations with the courage to independently do the necessary cancer research on IVM despite the lack of grant money from either big pharma or the government.

Image: Bundesministerium fur Finanzen
To use the words of a small boy speaking to his idol, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Say it aint so, Joe!

Yep, its so. Joe Biden and the Democrats failed (on purpose?) to groom Kamala Harris to lead the party into the future. Joe and they viewed her only as a DIE hire who could get votes, as a throw-away. Biden passed the torch to Harris, but before that, he showed less interest in grooming her as a successor than in crude racial patronage. Democrats know that Harris isnt the best person to represent the party. Yet convention delegates must support her because of Bidens endorsement and because theyre shackled by their partys radical embrace of identity politics. Can they support Kamala Harris without making it seem like the convention was rigged?

Joe Bidens mental acuity was questionable when he ran for president. He and the Democrats should have spent the past three-plus years grooming his potential successor. Instead, he (or Jill) thought he was immortal, so they sidelined his vice president, didnt do anything to showcase Harris as a governing partner to the oldest president in history. Kamala Harris is not very competent and not a particularly compelling leader. However, Biden knew that skipping over her had the potential to anger and alienate core Democrat constituencies like black and female voters. But she had already introduced herself to the American public, and no voters, core Democrat constituencies or otherwise, have rallied behind her.

Ron Klain, Bidens former chief of staff, admitted that the White House should have worked harder to groom Kamala Harris for the future. Said Klain (who is known to be an advocate of Harris), Promoting ones vice president is always hard. Obviously, I wish, you know  you could always do more, and you should do more. As a consequence, many Americans, after three years of Bidens and the Democrats poor stewardship of Harris, are now looking at her as if for the first time.

Lack of grooming has made Harris poor at diplomacy. When Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the U.S. Congress, Harris failed to preside over the Senate chamber for Netanyahus speech. She chose instead to address a sorority event in Indianapolis. This is not the first time Harris has failed at foreign policy. She attempted to convince Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to refrain from striking Russian oil refineries and putting upward pressure on global energy prices. And she was characterized as invisible by Isabel Schnabel, an executive board member of the European Central Bank.

Biden and Democrats insist that Harriss vice presidency has been minimized by design. She has been relegated to warm-up speaker and Biden stand-in, delivered remarks at White House events while Biden attended summits, or visited foreign leaders when Biden was on a vacation, or, after the debate, brought in to do clean-up. Despite Biden saying that he wanted his second-in-command to be a governing partner during the 2020 campaign, she got the border czar assignment, at which she failed miserably. Longtime Harris supporters dont see what shes done or has tried to do as vice president. Harris has, in an effort to deflect criticism, said the V.P. job comes with outsized scrutiny and no forgiveness for even small errors.

Harris hasnt been a particularly exciting vice president. However, as Bidens partner for the last three and a half years, she has had no choice but to support and defend the agenda, policies, and actions of a president who is very unpopular.

Now that her turn at the top of the ticket has unavoidably come, its quite clear that she is woefully inadequate for the job of president. And the tight election timeline will magnify any missteps she will make. Harris has managed to become known for only three things: word salads, cackling at the wrong time, and abortion.

As for word salads, she served up another one at the Essence Festival of Culture music festival in New Orleans, giving a repetitive definition of the word culture. Culture is  it is a reflection of our moment in our time, right? And in present culture is the way we express how were feeling about the moment.

As for cackling at the wrong time, she cackled during a joint press conference with Polish president Andrzej Duda in Warsaw. The cackle led Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskys former press secretary to say it would be a tragedy if she ever became president.

Harris managed to combine abortion with word salad when delivering an address at Howard University: So I think its very important, as you have heard from so many incredible leaders, for us at every moment in time  and certainly this one  to see the moment in time in which we exist and are present, and to be able to contextualize it, to understand where we exist in the history and in the moment as it relates not only to the past, but the future.

Biden did groom her on one characteristic: his ability to outright lie, and to lie by taking Trumps remarks out of context. Harriss propensity to lie reached new heights after she told a crowd that Donald Trump would terminate the Constitution. Her remark came from a comment Trump posted on Truth Social in 2022 regarding his belief that the 2020 election had been stolen. She conveniently omitted all the context from her lie. She misrepresented Trumps stance on abortion by claiming he would ban abortion nationwide when he expressly has said that he opposes a nationwide ban.

What Harris doesnt realize is that these misrepresentations of the truth weaken her anti-Trump arguments by impairing her credibility.

With only a few months to wage a campaign against Trump, Harris cant afford to repeat the mistakes that sank her previous presidential bid. There will be little time to recover. She will need to be virtually error-free as she sprints to Election Day. However, that prospect will, at best, be slim, since she wasnt groomed to be at the top of any campaign.

No matter how diligently the Democrats and the MSM groom her, its too late. After Bidens withdrawal, they have worked to transform Harriss image from a dud to a dynamic presidential candidate who can take on Donald Trump and win over battleground states voters with a moderate and modern message. A repackaged Kamala Harris has hit the campaign trail as Democrats work to bury her reputation as Bidens ineffective second-in-command and burnish her image for the top of the ticket.

Warren Beatty has created a web page that facilitates quick responses and/or comments to anything you consider outrageous: quick-rant.atwebpages.com.

Image via Picryl.
From Gibbon to Lincoln, Oswald Spengler to James Burnham, it has been repeatedly noted that Western civilization in its various iterations of decline and fall has, like the structure of an infested house, been hollowed out internally before succumbing to catastrophic external invasion. The grotesque bread-and-circus bloodlust of the Coliseum and widely chronicled perversions of the Roman elite  like the Emperor Elagabalus, who reputedly offered half the empires treasure to any surgeon who could turn him into a woman  had sufficiently weakened Romes moral and spiritual fiber over the centuries that Alaric and the Visigoths in A.D. 410 put the miserable carcass that was once the glory of Rome out of its self-immolating misery.

Back in those days, when the chariot and horse were the most rapid means of transporting goods, armies, and information, it took some 200 years to go from Elagabalus to Alaric, from decadence to collapse. With the coruscating speed of todays internet and worldwide web, I fear  unless a prompt and encompassing change of course is made at the eleventh hour  that a warp-speed descent awaits us in the West as we go from slippery slope to a rush off the cliff.

This grim calculus was firmly in mind as I watched the opening ceremonies of the 33rd Summer Olympic Games in Paris. In the conservative press, much has been made of the signature sacrilege of this scabrous spectacle: an obscene parody of one of the Wests signature religious icons, Leonardos Last Supper, with drag queens impersonating the apostles and a female Jabba the Hut-like mountain of blubber ensconced in the center as Christ, the Redeemer. Could the calculating, Satanic intent to hoist a space shuttle-sized middle finger at the foundational center of the Wests spiritual core be any more apparent?

No doubt the secular Left and New World Order globalists are quietly smiling at this latest manifestation of Voltaires infamous exhortation to ecrasez linfame  crush the infamous Catholic Church and clergy. Have at it, you good little Jacobins, and the elite betters who keep these cultural arsonists well fed and protected from consequential justice. Enjoy your laughter and pyrrhic victories while you can. But beware the vagaries of unintended consequences. For a revolution once unleashed has a tendency to eat not merely its young, but its elders as well.

To wit: Did Monsieur Macron and Frau Von Der Leyen  champions of the Enlightenment secularism that freed Western culture from religious superstition and allowed its civilization to flourish as never before  not notice that a hallmark and centerpiece of that enlightened culture  Leonardos Mona Lisa  was treated to an equivalent desecration to what The Last Supper got? For in one of the broadcasts, including many hallucinatory sequences attempting to chronicle the historic treasures of French culture, a masked and hooded spectral figure was coursing through the Louvre in search of Leonardos great masterpiece, only to find it purloined from its protective casing. Minutes later  after an obscure interlude, where the painting became a prop in an animated burlesque with the Minions cartoon characters  the audience witnessed another jarring sacrilege: a forlorn and discarded Mona Lisa floating face up and forgotten in the Seine, bobbing like so much fecal matter that is contributing to the high E. coli levels coursing through the heart of the City of Light. How cosmically perfect that it continuously rained on this macabre parade.

In sum, at it reaches its cultural climax, the godless Left destroys the capacity for not just religious transcendence, but also secular transcendence. In its regressive primacy  the apotheosis of Rousseaus not so noble savage  the Left is the destroyer of all aiming upward, of all transcendence, sublimation, civilization, refinement, and holiness. Donald Trump said it plainly in his inimitable Queens patois: Everything woke turns to s---.

After witnessing this depressing, infuriating, incoherent spectacle, I saw the sand in our Western cultural hourglass go from 25 to 75 percent spent. Something is going to have to be done to stanch the bleeding and reverse the damage.

Perhaps we could take courage from the riveting performance by a true icon of the ancient regime, Celine Dion, that closed these anti-festivities. Fighting a withering neurologic illness, she emerged from seclusion like some avatar of our eternal soul and from the elevated heights of the Eiffel Tower electrified the throng with her glorious voice and heroic emotive ferocity. Here was somebody, in Frances and the Wests dark hour, who sang as if she knew what was at stake and gave us all that she had of her surpassing talent and passion for the cause  the cause of excellence, of the transcendent, of an artistry that lifts and inspires rather than sullies and degrades us.

May God bless her soul, and may the West rise again, as it has in the past, from its existential crisis.

Image via Pxhere.
On Friday, Trump spoke to a Turning Point USA Faith Believers Summit (i.e., an Evangelical Christian group). In the last minutes of his speech, according to Democrats, he announced that, if elected, hell end all elections, becoming a dictator for life. Of course, if you listen to Trump, he said something quite different: He will work to end election fraud so that, going forward, all true votes in America will be counted and Republicans can win, even if, as is usually he case, 40% of potential Evangelical voters stay home.

The WaPo sums up the hysteria:

Democratic lawmakers and Vice President Harriss campaign joined a chorus of online critics in calling out remarks Donald Trump aimed at a Christian audience on Friday, arguing that the former president and current Republican presidential nominee had implied he would end elections in the United States if he won a second term. At the conclusion of his speech at the Believers Summit in West Palm Beach, Fla., Trump said, Christians, get out and vote, just this time. You wont have to do it anymore.  You got to get out and vote. In four years, you dont have to vote again. Well have it fixed so good youre not going to have to vote. [snip] Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who is running for Senate, shared the clip of Trumps speech on X, writing, This year democracy is on the ballot, and if we are to save it, we must vote against authoritarianism. Here Trump helpfully reminds us that the alternative is never having the chance to vote again. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) called Trumps comments terrifying. And Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) said, The only way you wont have to vote anymore is if Donald Trump becomes a dictator.

Although the WaPo quotes Trump accurately, it does so using deception through omission. I went to the full speech to see what Trump had said in context.

What Trump said is that cheating is rampant in American elections. His goal, if elected, is to return to paper ballots and demand voter ID, all to ensure that real people, who are citizens, vote and that their votes are honestly counted. Thats not about ending elections and creating a dictatorship; thats about ensuring honest elections, and not Kabuki theater with a pre-determined outcome that invariably favors Democrats. (So, you can see, of course, why Democrats are panicking.)

Image: YouTube screen grab (cropped).

Thus, Trump said, I will secure our elections. Our goal will be, as I said, one-day voting with paper ballots, proof of citizenship, and a thing called voter ID. From there, he went on a Trumpian riff about the Democrats resistance to voter ID, even though, at their own conventions, they mandate huge, comprehensive ID tags for every attendee. Following that riff, Trump continued, They don't want to approve voter ID. Thats because they want to cheat.

It was in this context that Trump then said that Republicans must get out and vote in overwhelming numbers, with the unspoken subtext being that this is the only way to exceed the margin of error that allows cheating:

Until then [that is, until Trump can clean up election fraud], Republicans must win. We have to win this electionmost important election ever. We want a landslide thats too big to rig. If you want to save America, get your friends, get your family, get everyone you know, and vote. Vote early, vote absentee, vote on Election Day. I dont care how, but you have to get out and vote.

And what about that point about Christians never needing to vote again? Well, yes, he seemingly said it:

And again, Christians get out and vote, just this time. You wont have to do it anymore. Four more years. You know what, itll be fixed. Itll be fine. You wont have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians. [snip] In four years, you dont have to vote again. Well have it fixed so good, youre not going to have to vote.

Its obvious that what Trump was speaking about when he said, Christians get out and vote, just this time, was the Evangelical Christians historical reluctance to vote. That changed, of course, with Ralph Reeds Christian Coalition, which galvanized Christian voters in Reagans favor.

Since then, however, while Evangelical Christians have supported the Republican agenda, even at the best of times, only about 60% of them are voting. As an article in Roll Call noted last year, depending on polls, Evangelical Christians are only 20-24% of the electorate, compared to the combined heft of black, Hispanic, and union voters (38-40% of the electorate). Moreover, the white evangelical vote has been stunningly static in its share of the electorate.

What this boils down to is Trumps recognition that, even at the best of times, roughly 40% of Evangelical voters, who are at most 24% of the electorate, will sit out the election. What he told them on Friday is that the missing 40% must show up in November 2024.

After that, once Trump has returned honest voting (citizens only, voter ID, paper ballots), which will substantially diminish cheating, that same 40% can again lapse into passivity. But for now, every Evangelical vote matters. No one can stay home.

Bottom line: Trump is not promising to end elections forever. Hes promising to clean up elections, which should ensure future Republican victories with or without those 40% of stay-at-home Evangelical Christians.
Anyone else ever get tired of hearing about public servants and the selflessness of teachers, nearly all of whose salaries are paid by hardworking taxpayers, many of whom reside in flyover country?

The Chicago Teachers Union, via Union President Stacy Davis Gates, recently demanded a new contract granting them an extra $50 billion and 9% raises through at least 2028. And thats only the beginning. Incredibly, CTU is also demanding free abortions for all teachers, an expanded slate of LGBTQ-related requirements and training in the classroom, housing for and $2,000 per undocumented migrant, mandatory gender-neutral bathrooms, full coverage for storage of embryos, implementation of policies that would prohibit any member from being compelled to tell parents when a student rejects his or her sex  and more. WTH?

The $50 billion the Chicago Teachers Union is demanding is virtually equal to the total base tax receipts for the entire state of Illinois last year ($50.7 billion) and would push average yearly teacher salaries to over $144,000, more than double the median household income in Chicago. (Davis, who has called school choice racist, sends her own son to a private school. Of course.)

Chicagoland teachers already receive up to 45 days off, have 15 forms of leave  and an annual maximum of 244 sick days. And they have the nerve to make these demands while only about one in five eighth graders in the city are proficient in reading, though the district spends $21,000 a year per student, almost half-again as much as the national average.

And teachers are not just in bed with their students, they share a bed with the Democrat party-- or at least their unions do. And have for many decades now.

Teachers unions are nothing more than the propaganda arm of todays highly undemocratic Democrat party. And getting ever more radical.

Chicago schools, already among the most politicized in the country, now seek to go beyond ideological indoctrination and perform voter outreach. The CTUs 142-page list of demands includes this one: [Schools] shall designate a day of civic action to assist students who are of age to register to vote and cast votes. (Illinois allows 17-year-olds to vote in primaries and 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote.)

CTU, like most teachers unions, is already a massive taxpayer-subsidized voter turnout and electoral machine for Democrats, yet it now wants to exploit the students that it is supposed to serve in order to essentially rig elections.

The union has deep ties to Mayor Brandon Johnson -- whose campaign it lavishly funded -- and, during his push for a tax hike referendum, teachers took students out of class and marched them off to vote. In fact, CTUs vice president proudly announced a Parade to the Polls, where students will march to an early voting site and urged teachers to organize a group of voting age students. Guess who these kids will vote for?

Weve come a long way from one-room schoolhouses with dedicated and chaste schoolmarms deeply concerned with teaching their charges how to think, not what to think. Though there are still many excellent individual teachers around, teachers unions are almost uniformly greedy, self-centered, and bent on pushing a radical, far-left agenda no matter the cost.

The unions themselves have dispensed with any notion of reading, writing, and arithmetic. Now they push unfettered abortion, transgenderism, and Marxism. Community organizing, DEI, and left-wing activism have replaced instruction in the Western Canon, American government, and civic duty. Clearly, they are hell-bent ... on achieving a one-party, authoritarian state where voting is rendered moot.

These are sad times, indeed, when teachers and higher (and lower) education are the gravest threat to the healthy development of students minds and bodies.

And the continued existence of the republic.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
Isnt it time that race truly shouldnt matter anymore in America?

Isnt it time that the preposterously biased media is told to go away?

Isnt it time that the federal government is returned to what it was supposed to be, a limited body constrained by the Constitution and of, by, and for the people?

Isnt it time that the folks that try to strangle democracy in the guise of saving it are put in their place?

Isnt it time that we acknowledge that devout Christians silently praying outside of abortion centers are not domestic terrorists, but that those who deface our monuments, assault police officers, and burn down our buildings are?

Isnt it time to recognize the necessary and divine primacy of two genders/sexes instead of pretending there are an unlimited number of them?

Isnt it time to admit that experts and professors are anything but infallible?

Isnt it time to assert that, no, after-school Satan clubs do not have the same right to our schools and libraries as any other group, because there is such a thing as objective morality?

Isnt it time that someone noted that our climate has always been changing, often much faster than it has been recently? That the lakes of, say, Minnesota were created when, due to remarkably swift global warming, the two-mile-thick glaciers that had previously advanced as far as Missouri retreated to northern Canada many thousands of years ago?

Isnt it time for college students to understand that, if they wish to be cutting edge and radical, they would now have to be conservative and traditional?

Isnt it time to admit that, if invasive species are devastating our lands and waters, maybe every illegal immigrant from everywhere in the world isnt necessarily a boon to our society?

Isnt it time to honestly examine the long history of the Democratic Party  which is anything but democratic  or decent, for that matter?

Isnt it time to objectively look at the history of Capitalism vis a vis Socialism and Communism and acknowledge that the former has been responsible for bringing billions out of poverty while the latter has been responsible for returning hundreds of millions to poverty  and for the deaths of many millions more?

Isnt it time to acknowledge that, yes, America was founded on Christian values, which were responsible for much of its success (see Judeo-Christian work ethic) -- but that it does not have an official state religion? And that progressives are pressing for their beliefs to be institutionalized as an unofficial state religion?

Isnt it time to make America great again?

Perhaps most importantly, isnt it time that people were more afraid of the consequences of choosing to lie than of the consequences of choosing to tell the truth?

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
Heres an ad parody that simply destroys the un-Democratic partys first ad with undeniable humor.

A masterful sendup of Counterfeit Kamalas first ad is out on YouTube, and its comedy gold.

Get a load:

Or view it here:

Kamala Harris Campaign Ad PARODY pic.twitter.com/5lBxvyTZ3o  Mr Reagan  (@MrReaganUSA) July 26, 2024

Youve probably heard that the left cant meme. As of late, theyre also having a lot of trouble with humor in general. Sure, for years the story was that the left had a corner on comedy  according to the left. The problem for them is twofold, one they weaponized comedy against the pro-freedom right, and after a while thats just become unfunny. The other thing is that they have to worry about all their DEI dictates; because navigating that has taken the laughter out of the left. Note that the title of the video is clearly labeled: Kamala Harris Ad PARODY.

The current media contest is going to be a David and Goliath or Rebels against the Empire in terms of the early Star Wars trilogy. Most amusingly, Counterfeit Kamala is going to be the lefts biggest liability. There is so much material to work with, even if she is over-produced, the previous cringe will be her undoing. Not to mention that the Un-democratic partys Kremlin coup shows they are complete frauds  which only makes for more fodder in the funnies.

This is one of those videos youre going to want to share everywhere.

D. Parker is an engineer, inventor, wordsmith, and student of history, former director of communications for a civil rights organization, and a long-time contributor to conservative websites. Find him on Substack.

Image: Screen shot from Mr. Reagan video, via YouTube
Kamala Harris is remarkable. Shes the most incredible, qualified, brilliant, accomplished, mostly Asian but sort-of-black woman ever to run for President. I know because suddenly, the media cant stop praising her. Yesterday she was as incomprehensible as Joe Biden, but without the excuse of dementia, and today shes the ultimate, highest-ranking expression of DEI virtue ever.

Graphic: X Screenshot

Joe Biden said he was going to appoint a black womanwhat better qualifications for Vice President or the Supreme Court?--and he kept that promise, yet Kamala is a walking contradiction.

DEI is the most noble, virtuous height to which human beings can reach, yet anyone mentioning Kamalas towering achievement is racist and sexist. Kamala has innumerable accomplishments as Vice President, yet she doesnt. On the Afghanistan debacle, she was the last person in the room, Bidens indispensable adviser, yet suddenly, she had nothing to do with Afghanistan.

Graphic: X Screenshot

She was the most liberal US Senator, to the left of Bernie Sanders and proud of it! And suddenly, shes a life-long moderate.

Graphic: X Screenshot

She kept Russia from invading Ukraine---ooops. Theyre not mentioning that notable foreign policy accomplishment anymore.

Graphic: X Screenshot

She was the Border Czar, boldly finding the root causes of illegal immigration, but suddenly, thats all a Republican lie

Graphic: X Screenshot

Except:

Graphic: X Screenshot

Apparently, theyve forgotten about digital video and the Internet.

So Kamala Harris, whose brilliance shines brighter than the sun and who has so many amazing accomplishments no one can recount them, really didnt do anything at all as Vice President, or until now, for that matter.

But who is Kamala Harris, the woman who cant reliably pronounce her own first name? Discover The Networks is a project of the David Horowitz Freedom Center. It tracks, and provides voluminous background information on, leftist organizations and people. Its an invaluable source of facts the left does its best to disappear. Their site on Kamala is informative indeed. Here are some lowlights:

* Served as San Francisco District Attorney from 2004-2011

* Served as Attorney General of California from 2011-2017

* Was elected U.S. Senator from California in 2016

* Was elected U.S. Vice President in 2020

* Became the Democratic Partys presidential nominee in July 2024, replacing Joe Biden on the ticket

* Views America as a nation thoroughly infested with racism

Kamalas parents were well-off leftist activists:

Both of Harris parents were far leftists who, in the early 1960s, were active in the Berkeley-based Afro-American Association (AAA), which, according to one former member, consisted of many people who looked to Fidel Castro and Che Guevara as their heroes. We would talk about Black Muslims, the liberation movements going on in Africa, everything, this member recalls. AAA leader Donald Warden mentored two of the groups members, Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, who in 1966 would collaborate to establish the Black Panther Party. Years thereafter, Warden  who by then had changed his name to Khalid al-Mansour  would use his influence to help Barack Obama gain admission to Harvard Law School.

And of course, theres a China connection:

Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, is an attorney with the law firm DLA Piper, which, according to Natalie Winters in the National Pulse, boasts nearly 30 years of experience in China and over 140 lawyers dedicated to its China Investment Services branch. Adds Winters: To facilitate DLA Pipers China practicewhich has received countless prestigious awards from the China Business Law Journal and China Law and Practicethe company employs a host of former Chinese Communist Party officials.

As is widely known, Kamalas association with California king maker Willie Brown was instrumental in her political rise.

Brown was a long-time communist sympathizer. He was first elected to public office with the help of the Communist Party USA youth wing. He was funded by Dr. Carlton Goodlett, a communist newspaper owner who was once awarded the Lenin Prize by the government of the former Soviet Union. Several years after his affair with Harris, Brown was still openly sponsoring Communist Party fundraisers in the Bay Area while serving as San Francisco mayor. Today, Brown is widely regarded as one of the Chinese Communist Partys best friends in the Bay Area.

DTN also notes Kamala was notoriously soft on crime and has ties to a variety of communist people and organizations. She is even more hostile to the Second Amendment than Joe Biden. As early as 2011, she demonstrated her anti-Israel antisemitism and her hatred for law enforcement and border enforcement. She is also an ardent enthusiast for the Iran nuclear deal, and very much pro-Islam. Her Climate Crisis credentials are unassailable as is her hatred for American energy independence.

Space prevents listing more, but if you take the time to take the link, youll discover why Kamala was a perfect ideological, DEI, fit for Joe Bidens handlers. Youll also see why electing her President will do immeasurable damage to America.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
Google has confirmed that its email verification system was bypassed. In other words, the malicious actors were able to circumvent security protocols.

Google acknowledges email verification bypassed

Google has a simple yet highly robust and reliable email verification system that can confirm ownership of an email account. However, threat actors could bypass this process to fraudulently associate with legitimate accounts.

The security breach allowed hackers to create Google Workspace accounts. Additionally, malicious actors accessed third-party services without the involvement of the actual owner of the Google account.

Attention, everyone! Crooks found a sneaky way to bypass Google's email verification for Workspace accounts, accessing third-party services! Read the full scoop here: https://t.co/ucHpfh9BUv #CyberSecurity #GoogleWorkspace  Frank Cisco  (@fcarmona) July 26, 2024

Google has acknowledged it is aware of the new exploit by releasing a statement, reported KrebsOnSecurity:

In the last few weeks, we identified a small-scale abuse campaign whereby bad actors circumvented the email verification step in our account creation flow for Email Verified (EV) Google Workspace accounts using a specially constructed request. These EV users could then be used to gain access to third-party applications using Sign In with Google.

Zscaler researchers have observed new activity from Kimsuky. The group used a new Google Chrome extension, TRANSLATEXT, that can bypass security measures for email service providers like Gmail, Kakao & Naver (popular in South Korea) to steal information. https://t.co/Qgopi4RdOM pic.twitter.com/38IciVfUsQ  Virus Bulletin (@virusbtn) June 28, 2024

Anu Yamunan, director of abuse and safety protections at Google Workspace indicated the malicious activity began last month. Although an exact figure might not come forth, according to Yamunan, a few thousand Workspace accounts were created without being domain-verified.

How do you stay protected from the latest security threat?

Google not only acknowledged the security threat but plugged the exploit within 72 hours of its discovery. The search giant claims it has deployed additional detection protocols to shield users from such authentication bypass techniques.

This means internet users who rely on email verification need not worry. Regardless of whether Google patches the exploit, it would be wise to exercise caution for the next few weeks. Internet users should pay attention to emails that confirm subscriptions, logins, or purchases.

Unmasking *Tycoon 2FA : A Stealthy Phishing Kit Used to Bypass Microsoft 365 and Google MFA : https://t.co/3DDoW1pY9h *Tycoon 2FA: an in-depth analysis of the latest version of the AiTM phishing kit : https://t.co/KcqpsbBEyB pic.twitter.com/N6o5I4kyDA  Binni Shah (@binitamshah) May 11, 2024

One of the victims reportedly claimed malicious actors created an unauthorized Workspace account. They associated a legitimate domain with this account and attempted to sign into synced third-party services.

Over the next few days, internet users may receive legitimate emails from authentic service providers informing them of purchases or logins from unrecognized or suspicious locations. It would be prudent to check possible unauthorized access and change passwords if necessary.
A recent leak revealed the design and name of the Google TV Streamer, the next-gen Chromecast product. Google is reportedly ditching the classic brand name in favor of Google TV. Now, a new report has revealed that the Google TV Streamer will feature an Ethernet port and other key specs.

The FCC reportedly received the device last week for certification. According to 9to5Google, the Google TV Streamer has the model number GRS6B, in line with what weve seen on products from the brand. They usually include G and four alphanumeric characters in the model number. The listing also includes a schematic showing the input and output ports on the set-top box.

The Google TV Streamer might be the first Chromecast with an Ethernet port

The schematic shows that, among all the Google TV Streamer ports, theres an Ethernet port. This would be the first time a Chromecast device includes one, which is logical since previous models relied on the dongle format. Now, with the new set-top box design, theres additional space for more components.

Interestingly, the device would also feature a Thread radio. This would allow it to take full advantage of the capabilities of the Matter standard for Smart Home ecosystems. The Google Pixel 9 series is also expected to feature Thread radios, making them the first Android devices to do so. It seems that Google wants to bet on this technology in favor of IoT setups with better performance.

Another welcome addition might be a USB-C port, enabling more possibilities for content transfer and peripheral connection. This would also make it easier to sideload APKs. On the other hand, there seems to be no UWB (Ultra-wideband), so it wont support features like Pixel Tablets Tap to Cast. This is a shame, as the design of the product seems ideal to use the feature. There also doesnt seem to be support for Wi-Fi 6 or 7, so youll only be able to use the classic dual-band 2.4GHz/5GHz.

Sadly, the FCC listing offers no details on the Google TV Streamer chip or RAM capacity. More key specs of the device will probably emerge in the coming days.
Any pet owner understands just how bittersweet it is to go out of town. On the one hand, it can be fun and memorable to take a break from the humdrum of daily routine, but the downside is that your furry friend usually has to stay home. For short trips, your pet may be able to stay with a trusted friend or family member, but it can be harder to find a boarding facility to care for your pet for longer trips.

I know I've experienced anxiety about my dogs' well-being while on a relaxing vacation, and I also know I'm not alone. It can be hard to know whether you've chosen the right kennel or dog hotel, but one dog's owner now has no doubt that she chose well.

On July 16, the team from Brooklyn-based boarding facility @ivypets posted the sweetest video of one of their caretakers having an epic dance battle with temporary resident Manolo. It's too cute!

OMG, now this looks like a good time! Manolo perfectly matched his caretaker's energy, and their third friend was vibing, too. Both chill dogs and outgoing ones will find a friend at this boarding facility!

Related: Dog Daycare in Virginia Shares the Reasons Parents Boarded Their Pets and It's Too Cute

The viewers of this post kept the vibes going with comments like "For every pet parent that dances with the furry babyraise your hands." LOL! @7thwardjocelyn knows what she's talking about for sure. Dogs match their owner's energy all the time, and they're always down to join when you feel like dancing.

On the other end of the spectrum, dogs will also be a great listening ear and shoulder to cry on. They won't interrupt while you're venting about your day, and they won't judge your reactions and emotions. In fact, your dog will show you that they love you no matter what!

Choosing the Right Boarding Facility

While fun videos like this would put any dog owner's mind at ease while they're out of town, not every dog is able to get the same kind of one-on-one time. Some dogs become extra shy and shut down when their owners are away, while others decide they're not fond of their new friends.

Most of the time, a dog owner can purchase certain packages that include time in a play yard, with a group of dogs, etc. No two kennels or boarding facilities work the exact same way, so it's important to do your research before leaving your dog with a babysitter or caretaker. If you're in the Brooklyn, New York area, though, it's easy to see why you'd want to give Ivy Pets a call!

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos.

Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
Holly Valance has paid tribute to Neighbours co-star Janet Andrewartha following her death at the age of 72.

Australian actress Andrewartha played hairdresser Lyn Scully for around 20 years from 1999.

Lyn entered the fictional Melbourne neighbourhood of Erinsborough as the mother of Stephanie (Carla Bonner), Felicity (Valance), and Michelle (Kate Keltie), and was married to Joe (Shane Connor).

On X, formerly Twitter, Valance wrote that the loss was deeply sad, while sharing an image of the two of them together.

Deeply sad losing Janet Andrewartha. She was a superb human being who taught me so much from the age of 15. I'll treasure her last trip to the UK forever. Precious memories I'm so grateful for. A beautiful, talented, hilarious & kind woman. I'm so glad it was you who played my pic.twitter.com/WYzSbCcxqU  Holly Candy (@hollycandy) July 28, 2024

She added: She was a superb human being who taught me so much from the age of 15. Ill treasure her last trip to the UK forever. Precious memories Im so grateful for. A beautiful, talented, hilarious & kind woman.

Im so glad it was you who played my mum. You were the real deal. Made us feel safe. And looked after us when we were all so young in the industry. It was an honour to work beside you and call you a friend.

The Neighbours official account on Instagram said: Everyone at Neighbours is deeply saddened by the passing of Janet Andrewartha.

Beloved by viewers for her role as Ramsay Streets Lyn Scully, Janet will be remembered for her wide body of work, which includes her memorable turn as Reb Keane in Prisoner.

It added that she had many friendships at Neighbours and one of her most enduring bonds was with Jackie Woodburne, who played teacher Susan Kennedy.

Woodburne, also known for female inmate soap Prisoner and hospital-set The Young Doctors, said: Janet was one of the finest actors of her generation but, more than that, she was an extraordinary woman.

Passionate, political, curious, delightfully eccentric, generous and fun. To me she was a steadfast friend for over 45 years.

I will miss her every day.

Andrewarthas character had a storyline where she tries to blackmail businessman Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) over an affair.

Dennis paid tribute, writing: So very upset to lose the lovely Janet.

As Jackie said, she truly was an exceptional actress who was a pleasure work with and to be around. We will all miss you dear girl.

Prisoner and Neighbours star Colette Mann said she was shocked to hear this news.

She added: I can only echo Jackies words about Janet brilliant, crazy in the best way, a good friend and great colleague.
Tributes have been paid to acclaimed Irish novelist Edna OBrien who has died aged 93.

President of Ireland Michael D Higgins said she was one of the outstanding writers of modern times while Irish premier Simon Harris said Ireland had lost an icon.

The author died peacefully on Saturday following a long illness, a statement from her agent and publishing house said.

Our thoughts are with her family and friends, in particular her sons Marcus and Carlo.

Statement by President Michael D. Higgins on the death of Edna OBrien https://t.co/UUfpbBK75N pic.twitter.com/nqxIE2XGQF  President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) July 28, 2024

OBrien  a novelist, short story writer, memoirist, poet and playwright  is best known for her portrayal of womens lives against repressive expectations in Irish society.

Her first novel, The Country Girls, was published in 1960 and became part of a trilogy that was banned in Ireland for their references to sex and social issues.

OBrien, who has lived in London since 1958, described an outraged response from people in Ireland in contrast to the books international success.

Mr Higgins praised OBrien as a fearless and superb writer who possessed the moral courage to confront Irish society with realities long ignored and suppressed.

Through that deeply insightful work, rich in humanity, Edna OBrien was one of the first writers to provide a true voice to the experiences of women in Ireland in their different generations and played an important role in transforming the status of women across Irish society.

While the beauty of her work was immediately recognised abroad, it is important to remember the hostile reaction it provoked among those who wished for the lived experience of women to remain far from the world of Irish literature, with her books shamefully banned upon their early publication.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said that Ireland has lost one of its most celebrated writers.

She wrote her debut novel The Country Girls in just three weeks. Sixty-four years on it is not only a remarkable piece of work but still a landmark moment for Irish women and society, he said.

The book would be banned and burned but Edna OBrien would never be silenced.

Most people would have stopped and hidden away from the misogyny she faced, but Edna OBrien kept working on her artistry and became one of modern Irelands most celebrated and honoured writers.

He added: Edna said that her writing was her breathing and in recent years while promoting her novel Girl she told interviewers I want to go out as someone who spoke the truth.

With the passing of Edna OBrien, Ireland has lost one of its greatest writers. A gifted story teller, Edna was a modernising force in Irish society who fearlessly advanced the cause of equality. My deepest sympathies to her family and many friends Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam pic.twitter.com/3pFDXKU8Dj  Catherine Martin TD (@cathmartingreen) July 28, 2024

Publishing house Faber described OBrien as one of the greatest writers of our age.

She revolutionised Irish literature, capturing the lives of women and the complexities of the human condition in prose that was luminous and spare, and which had a profound influence on so many writers who followed her.

A defiant and courageous spirit, Edna constantly strove to break new artistic ground, to write truthfully, from a place of deep feeling.

The vitality of her prose was a mirror of her zest for life: she was the very best company, kind, generous, mischievous, brave.

Edna was a dear friend to us all, and we will miss her dreadfully. It is Fabers huge privilege to publish her, and her bold and brilliant body of work lives on.

Her agent Caroline Michel at PFD said: In Girl With Green Eyes, the immortal centrepiece of the masterful Country Girls trilogy, Edna writes: We all leave one another. We die If I do leave you, I will have passed on to you something of myself; you will be a different person because of knowing me; its inescapable.

Edna is inescapable once read, once met, she is forever rebelliously and joyously in your life.

OBrien was a member of Aosdana, an Irish association of elite artists, and was presented with the associations highest honour, the Torc of the Saoi, in 2015.

She was also presented with a Presidential Distinguished Service Award in 2018 as well as several literary and arts awards in Ireland, the UK and France.
Johnny Depp has sent love to the family of his Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides co-star Tamayo Perry, an Hawaiian actor who died following a shark attack.

The American actor, 61, has played the conniving Captain Jack Sparrow in the pirate franchise since its first film in 2003.

Perry died in June, after surfing at Malaekahana Beach on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, and was survived by his wife, Emilia.

Depp posted an Instagram story, sharing a black and white photo of Perry with a surf board, on Sunday and wrote: Even though it was some years ago now, I remember Tamayo well.

A lovely man, with a huge heart and zest for life Emilia, I send you all my love and strength. You are in my thoughts. With love, Johnny.

He also shared a link to his 28.6 million followers that went to a GoFundMe page, set up to raise funds for Emilia as she navigates the future without Tamayo; her husband, best friend and provider.

The total raised has been 112,643 US dollars (87,622), with a target set at 200,000 US dollars (155,575).

It is unclear if Depp donated, but there were anonymous amounts given to the fundraise of more than 2,000 US dollars (1,555).

The death of legendary waterman Perry, also known for The Bridge, Blue Crush and Hawaii Five-0, was called a tragic loss by local Mayor Rick Blangiardi.

Johnny Depp on the set of a Pirates Of The Caribbean film (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Depp has not appeared in the films as Sparrow since 2017s Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, which was reportedly to be followed by a sixth film.

During his 2022 defamation trial, against former wife and The Rum Diary co-star Amber Heard, he claimed he would not return to the franchise.

He also told the court: They didnt remove my character from the rides. They didnt stop selling merchandise of Captain Jack Sparrow. They didnt stop selling dolls of Captain Jack Sparrow.

They didnt stop selling anything. They just didnt want there to be something trailing behind me that theyd find.

Depp successfully sued his former partner over a 2018 article she wrote for The Washington Post about her experiences as a survivor of domestic abuse, which his lawyers said falsely accused him of being an abuser.

He has since returned to feature films in French historical drama Jeanne Du Barry, in which he plays King Louis XV.

The producer of the Pirates of Caribbean films, Jerry Bruckheimer, has expressed interest in Depp returning.
Lewis Hamilton was handed one of the most dramatic victories of his career on Sunday evening after Mercedes team-mate George Russell was disqualified for running an illegal car at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Russell appeared to have taken just the third F1 win of his life following a fascinating race where the young Briton rolled the strategy dice to beat Hamilton by just half a second.

But two and a half hours after the chequered flag fell at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, and with both Hamilton and Russell already heading back home to Monaco, the latter was thrown out of the official result. Russells Mercedes was found to be 1.5 kilograms underweight.

Unfortunately George has been disqualified for his car being below the minimum required weight. Heres Totos reaction. pic.twitter.com/a3qJLyrwr8  Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) July 28, 2024

The stewards decision provided Hamilton with his second win from his last three appearances, and a record-extending 105th of his career, but denied the Silver Arrows their first one-two finish since the penultimate round of the 2022 season in Brazil.

We have to take it on the chin, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said. A mistake has happened and a one-two would have been a great result going into the summer break.

We have to learn from that. As a team there were positives but for George it is a massive blow for it to be taken away. He is going to win more.

Russell celebrates on the podium alongside Hamilton (left) and Oscar Piastri (right) (Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP)

Russell, still dressed in his Mercedes overalls, had just completed his media rounds  where he lauded his display as the best of his career  when he was told his triumph was in grave danger.

A report from the FIAs technical delegate Jo Bauer published at 17:50 local time (16:50 BST) spelled doom for the Englishman.

Russells car had breached the regulations and all those at Mercedes knew it was a slam-dunk disqualification.

Ron Meadows, the teams sporting director, was summoned to the stewards at 18:10 local time and, at 18:55, Russells fate was officially sealed.
Georgia Mann moved to Thailand without her boyfriend, George. (SWNS)

A British woman who moved to Thailand without her boyfriend has said their relationship is stronger than ever.

Georgia Mann, 27, first visited South East Asia as part of her university course, and decided she wanted to go back when she found herself unhappy in her job.

"I did a project in South East Asia and went to Cambodia and Vietnam, she explains. "[After university] I was working in sales and I wasn't very good at it. I was quite unhappy."

Mann met her partner, George Keane, 26, at university, and the pair had been together for four years before Mann made the decision to move.

While Keane, who works in finance, thought the decision would mean a break up, the couple ultimately decided to try a long distance relationship

"It was a difficult conversation, Mann explains. "When I initially brought it up he said 'well, should we break up then?'.

Georgia spent nine months in Thailand. (SWNS)

"I said 'I'm not going to be out there forever'. It was a bold move looking back on it. People kept questioning it and asking what about George and I? I believe if it's meant to be it will be.

Mann believed going to Thailand would heal a massive part of her, and says the experience helped to push her out of her comfort zone.

"I knew I had to get out there and do something and fulfil my dream of going to Thailand, Mann explains.

"I'm so glad I went. It was the best thing I have ever done. George knew how unhappy I was. Sometimes you have to be a bit selfish."

Mann spent nine months teaching in Thailand before returning to England where she now works as a client services executive and is based in Kent.

Georgia says the move made their relationship 'stronger than ever'. (SWNS)

"I think sometimes you go through difficult times and sometimes that can lead to better things, she adds.

"It can help strengthen your relationship. In the grand scheme of things a year or a few months is not long if you're going to be with that person forever.

"It's worth taking that time out if it means a lot to you. You only live one life  there is a big world out there. Put yourself and your happiness first."

Additional reporting by SWNS.

Relationships: Read more
The emotional toll was clearly visible on Adam Peaty's face after the race - Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

The Popeye of the pool suddenly looked human. Im an older man now, wept Adam Peaty, his once-insuperable powers now diminished. Here was a swimmer who used to be celebrated for his comic-book qualities, who at one stage held the top 20 times in the history of the 100 metres breaststroke on his own. He set a world record of 56.88 seconds at a time when nobody else had even dipped under 58. But that era of absurd dominance definitively ended here at La Defense Arena, with Peaty squeezed out of a third straight Olympic gold by an unheralded Italian he would once have crushed for fun.

Nicolo Martinenghi deserved his moment, springing a remarkable comeback over the final desperate strokes. But the winning time of 59.03 seconds was one at which prime Peaty would have scoffed. Do not forget how, in his mid-20s, he set himself the quest of Project 56, which suggested an ambition bordering on delusion. And yet he achieved it in 2019, breaking a 57-second barrier that had been deemed impregnable. By those standards, the task that faced him in Paris looked straightforward. With nobody in this field boasting a personal best that could compare, he surely just needed to swim without errors to prevail. The fact that he could not deliver, miscuing his start and never recovering, will cut him to the core.

It was amusing, in one sense, to hear him sound so fatalistic about his age. Peaty is just 29 years old. He is not exactly ready to be put out to pasture. But swimming is a sport that disproportionately rewards the first flush of youth. Martinenghi is 24, and that five-year gap proved crucial in the final reckoning. At the Italians age, Peaty felt positively invincible, even talking about Project Immortal. But that period in which anything seems possible is all too transient. Three Olympic Games represents a lifetime in this realm, and the colossus of breaststroke has given the first inkling that he is, physically, on the wane.

Prime Peaty would have powered past his rivals in Paris - Getty Images/Quinn Rooney

To his credit, he concedes it himself. Its very hard to compete with the younger ones, so Im very happy with that, Peaty reflected. I cant have that relentless pursuit every single day without a sacrifice of some sort. They come in every single form. There is no shame in that acknowledgement. Peaty has been a magnificent champion, the most prodigious force in the pool Britain has ever possessed. But there is only so long you can haul yourself up for morning training at 5am and keep staring at that black line beneath you in the water. Just ask Rebecca Adlington, who retired at 23. Peaty, having gone on for an Olympic cycle-and-a-half longer, has earned the right to dial the intensity down a notch.

It is a sobering moment, contemplating whether to give up on the only life you have ever known. The 100m breaststroke is Peatys cherished event, the one he conquered to such an extent that until the Tokyo Games, his only battle looked to be with himself. He had taken gold in Rio in 57.13 seconds, with what Michael Phelps hailed, in his jock vernacular, as one of the grossest swims Ive ever seen. Praise from a titan such as Phelps encouraged him to believe he could achieve anything. I definitely feel I can maintain it until Paris, and probably until Los Angeles in 2028, he told me in 2021. Youre only as old as you think you are, and youre only as young as you want to be. Ive still got a very boisterous side to me.

Second best  for once  Peaty congratulates winner Nicolo Martinenghi and fellow silver-medal winner Nic Fink - AP/Petr David Josek

That irrepressible side has never left him. Even though he has opened up recently about his darkest hours, talking of leaning on his faith to overcome a creeping self-doubt, he has retained an effervescent spirit. To see him in your minds eye is to picture him performing those absurd leaping press-ups, showing such strength in his core that you could propel himself up into the air and then land back in the required position with perfect technique. He has always revelled in such freakish gifts. The knowledge that they might no longer be sufficient to keep him at the very top is difficult for this alpha athlete to accept.

But there were, true to form, no tantrums in the aftermath of this shock result. Peaty has an ego, of course, and yet he still understands how to lose gracefully. This was a result decided by the most slender of margins, with Martinenghi surging to the wall to pip a tiring Peaty by two hundredths of a second. Peatys body of work dwarfs that of the Italian, but he still lauded his rival for producing the swim of his life when it mattered most. It was, even with the agony of silver when he had come here only for gold, the hallmark of a champion.
Fire engines drive through the Park fire in Tehama county, California, on 26 July 2024. Photograph: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

Cooler temperatures brought some relief to the thousands of firefighters battling the Park fire in northern California after it exploded in size, becoming the largest in the state and prompting the governor to make an emergency declaration for three counties.

The intensity and dramatic spread of the wildfire led officials to make unwelcome comparisons to the disastrous Camp fire, which burned out of control in nearby Paradise in 2018, killing 85 people and destroying 11,000 homes.

Paradise again was near the danger zone. The entire town was under an evacuation warning, one affecting several communities in Butte county. Evacuation orders were also issued in Plumas, Tehama and Shasta counties. An evacuation warning calls for people to prepare to evacuate and await instructions, while an evacuation order means to leave immediately.

Newsoms emergency declaration for the counties of Plumas, Butte and Tehama came as thousands of residents were fleeing their homes. The California department of forestry and fire protection (Cal Fire) reported 134 buildings had been destroyed as of Saturday afternoon and thousands were still under threat, however no deaths have been reported.

We are using every available tool to protect lives and property as our fire and emergency response teams work around the clock to combat these challenging fires, Newsom said in a statement.

The Park fire, currently the largest of the year in California, was ravaging more than 350,000 acres (124,238 hectares)  an area nearly the size of Los Angeles  across Butte and Tehama counties as of early Saturday. Dry conditions had spurred the fire to increase at an alarmingly rapid pace overnight, according to Cal Fire.

However, Jeremy Pierce, a Cal Fire operations section chief, said firefighters were taking advantage of the cooler weather: Were having great success today. Our crews are strong and going out there and getting this while the weather is in our favor.

Temperatures are expected to be cooler than average through the middle of next week, but that doesnt mean that fires that are existing will go away, said Marc Chenard, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.

Billy See, an incident commander with Cal Fire, said at a briefing that every hour since its inception, the blaze had been advancing 8 sq miles (21 sq kms). But there was cautious optimism as weather conditions slowed the fire in some areas, and firefighters were able to plan and deploy additional personnel. Nearly 2,500 firefighters were battling the blaze, aided by 16 helicopters and numerous air tankers.

While lightning caused some of Californias ongoing wildfires, arson sparked the Park blaze, authorities said.

Investigators allege that the fire started when a man identified as Ronnie Dean Stout was seen pushing a burning car into a ravine near Chico on Wednesday, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Police said they arrested him Thursday after he fled the scene with others as the fire spread.

Stout remained in the Butte county jail on Saturday and was scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.

Amanda Brown, who lives in the community where Stout was arrested, said she was stunned that someone would set a fire in a region where memories of Paradise are still fresh.

That anyone could deliberately put our community through that again is incredibly cruel. I dont understand it, said Brown, 61, who lives about a mile (1.6 kms) from the fire but had not been ordered to evacuate.

The evolving threat forced many residents to flee their homes, including Carli Parker.

Parker told the Associated Press that she decided to leave her home in Forest Ranch with her family when the fire began burning across the street. I think I felt like I was in danger because the police had come to our house because we had signed up for early evacuation warnings, and they were running to their vehicle after telling us that we need to self-evacuate, and they wouldnt come back, Parker, a mother of five, said.

She said she had little hope that her home would remain unscathed by the fire.

Another Forest Ranch evacuee, Sherry Alpers, said that she had chosen to stay in her car outside a Red Cross shelter in Chico with her 12 small dogs when she learned animals were not allowed inside.

She added that she doesnt know whether her home was still standing, but that as long as her dogs were safe, she didnt care about the material things. Im kind of worried, but not that much, she said. If its gone, its gone.

Smoke from the Park fire had begun to have an effect on air quality by early Saturday. The Tehama county air pollution control district said conditions would range from moderate to very unhealthy in the morning and evening hours as smoke drifted over the region.

Meanwhile, the Gold Complex fires, caused by lightning, were burning across 3,000 acres in the Plumas national forest. Fire crews had made progress battling that cluster of fires, 50 miles (80km) north-west of Reno.

In fact, most of the 1,000 residents who had evacuated the area were returning to their homes Friday, according to the Associated Press.

A total of more than 110 fires covering 2,800 sq miles (7,250 sq kms) were burning in the US on Friday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Oregons Durkee fire, which started on 17 July, has been the largest active fire in the US  it was about 20% contained on Friday, according to officials.

Heatwaves and historic drought stemming from climate change, caused by the burning of fossil fuels, have made wildfires in the US west more challenging to fight.

Associated Press contributed to this report
Premier League teams with front-of-shirt gambling sponsorship deals include, from left: Leicester City, Brentford, Everton, Wolverhampton, West Ham and Nottingham Forest. Composite: Rex; Getty; Alamy

Official figures on rates of problem gambling in Britain  which have been put as low as 0.3%  can mask the scale of harms by including people who never bet, a report published by the industry regulator has warned.

Various surveys suggest a problem gambling rate in Britain in a range of between 0.3% to 2.5%. But in the new report that figure rose sharply when non-gamblers were excluded  and was even higher among those who gambled on online casinos.

The report produced by the National Centre for Social Research and the University of Glasgow found that 2.5% of British adults may have struggled with problem gambling, eight times higher than previously thought. But the estimated rate of problem gambling was 4.1% for those who had gambled during the last year.

The Gambling Commission has warned that the latest figures use a different methodology from previous work and gambling harms may be overstated, or that prior surveys may have underestimated gambling harms.

The survey reported that 24.5% of respondents who had played online slots in the last year appear to show signs of problem gambling, nearly six times higher than the rate for all those who had gambled in the same period.

The industry has used the population-wide figures to try to fight off proposals for stricter gambling regulation. But the rates of problem gambling are significantly higher when non-gamblers are excluded and riskier forms of gambling are examined.

A recent international study published in the Lancet has found that globally about one in six people (15.8%) who play online casino games or slots experience gambling disorder.

An Australian government report warned as far back as 2010 of the risk of using population-wide statistics for assessing the harms caused by gambling.

It said it could be misleading for policy purposes given that many people do not gamble or do not engage in activities with higher rates of problem gambling.

The Gambling Survey for Great Britain published on Thursday by the Gambling Commission stated: Focus on population prevalence rates masks the strengths of associations between gambling and [problem gambling severity index] scores because they include people who do not gamble or gamble very infrequently.

Will Prochaska, of the Coalition Against Gambling Ads, said there needed to be an overhaul of legislation to ensure gambling was permitted but not promoted. He said a review of gambling legislation by the last government appeared to have been based on figures which may have significantly understated gambling harms. He said: We need a new gambling act which puts the protection of the public at its heart.

Don Foster, the Liberal Democrat peer and chair of the Peers for Gambling Reform group, said the figures in the new survey were a wake-up call for urgent action.

He said ministers should implement the previous governments plan for a 100m-a-year levy on gambling firms to deliver research, prevention and treatment to reduce gambling-related harms.

He said: We also need to ban direct marketing and any form of sponsorship in sport. Gambling should be treated as a public health issue in the same way as drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

Related: Only one in 200 problem gamblers in England get specialist treatment

Premier League clubs were last week accused of greed after it emerged that 11 clubs will have a front-of-shirt gambling sponsor for the coming season. A ban for front-of-shirt sponsorship will be introduced for the 2026-27 season.

A spokesperson for the Betting & Gaming Council said it was concerned there was a significant risk that the latest findings in the Gambling Survey for Great Britain overstated gambling harms.

The spokesperson said: Our members are committed to raising standards and we welcome any robust study that accurately gauges betting and gaming participation and problem gambling prevalence.

The Gambling Commission said a new methodology was being used for the survey. It said: This methodology is new, and it is too early to use it in isolation to make policy or regulatory changes.
Steven van de Velde was booed by the Paris crowd at the beach volleyball - PA/David Davies

The sunlight bathing the Eiffel Tower felt an incongruous backdrop to one of the bleakest Olympic stories ever told. Beach volleyball under a pristine sky, at the foot of the great soaring symbol of Paris: what was not to love? The boos from the crowd, sporadic at first but then insistent, soon told you. For there in his vivid orange strip was Steven van de Velde, a Dutch player defined by less by his top-10 world ranking than by his status as a convicted child rapist.

It beggared belief, frankly, that this moment had come to pass. Eight years earlier, a judge in Aylesbury, sentencing him to four years in prison for raping a 12-year-old girl he had travelled from Amsterdam to Milton Keynes to meet, had told him: You were training as a potential Olympian. Your hopes of representing your country now lie as a shattered dream. And yet here he was, chosen by the Netherlands to uphold their honour on the loftiest stage of all.

The message endlessly repeated by the Dutch delegation is that Van de Velde is a changed man. Aged 19 when he committed the rape, he is now 29, having completed what his nations Olympic Committee describe as a closely-supervised path of rehabilitation. He is married to Kim, a German international in beach volleyball, and the couple have a two-year-old son. Such are the principles of restorative justice, the Dutch argue, where even an offender whose crime triggers profound revulsion is allowed to rebuild his life and be reintegrated into the community.

There is a world of difference, though, between rejoining society and being feted as an Olympian. Article seven of the Athletes Declaration that all competitors in Paris must sign is unambiguous: Act as a role model. A free man he may be, but role model is one label that Van de Velde has irrevocably forfeited.

Van de Velde and his playing partner, Matthew Immers, ended up losing their opening round-robin match to Italy. The result, though, was a mere prelude to some extraordinarily tense scenes in the post-match interview area. Van de Velde was hastened off the premises by three security guards ordered to shield him from scrutiny. As such, it fell to Immers and John van Vliet, the Dutch press attache, to try to justify why a convicted rapist was being kept from answering legitimate questions.

The spectacle was more painful than anyone could have predicted. The optics of this dont look good was among the comments made to a besieged Van Vliet. We are protecting a convicted child rapist, yes, he replied. To do his sport as best as possible, at a tournament he qualified for. It would be difficult to script a more astounding statement in the context of an Olympic Games. Here is an event that has indulged all manner of undesirables, from dictators to drug cheats. But seldom has the involvement of someone with an unsavoury past been excused in such stark terms.

Ultimately, the fault did not rest with the put-upon press man. For eight minutes Van Vliet was left to defend the indefensible. Why, when all athletes were mandated to walk through mixed zones after the events, did Van de Velde have a free pass to swerve the inquisition? Van Vliet struggled to provide an answer, saying only that a different situation has been created for Steven. But by whom? The Dutch, or the International Olympic Committee?

Van de Velde acknowledging the crowd in Paris after being kept clear of media questioning - Getty Images/Cameron Spencer

Van Vliet confirmed that the arrangements had been explained to the IOC. But the global governing body have made every effort to divorce themselves from the scandal. Mark Adams, the IOCs spokesman, sounded irritated at being asked about it, saying: Ive already expressed our view. Its clearly the Dutch NOC who make the original choice. They have given a long statement about what extra safeguarding measures are in place. Not to excuse it in any way, but this took place 10 years ago, and I think we have to allow for the possibility of rehabilitation.

It is an inadequate response, given the molten fury Van de Veldes inclusion has provoked. Not only has he been lionised by the Dutch through his Olympic selection, he has received dispensations denied to any other participant. Quite apart from skipping obligatory media duties, he has been permitted to stay away from the athletes village. Van Vliet confirmed he was still allowed to attend the team compound for meetings.

The difference in cultural sensitivities is striking. Where Van de Veldes elevation to the Olympic stage has drawn astonishment in Britain, the United States and Australia, the prevailing reaction in the Netherlands is one of bewilderment at all the fuss. Immers, 23, who has likened his pairing with Van de Velde to playing alongside a second father, stressed repeatedly that he was disappointed at the magnitude the story had assumed. But did this dismay extend to his partners crime? No, not at all, he said. I dont want to talk about those actions at this point, and all the big attention. Ive known the guy for four years now, weve played every tournament, and right now they make a really big discussion of it.

It is a discussion that refuses to relent, due to the spinelessness of the authorities who created this situation. Van de Veldes history is such that he should have been nowhere near these Games. In the end, he not only took centre stage, but found himself exempt from cross-examination. It all added up to the grisliest day of shame.
Sir Keir Starmer held discussions on a bilateral youth mobility pact with the Spanish prime minister - Kin Cheung/AP

Brussels said the EUs offer to the UK of a youth free movement deal was still on the table on Sunday after it emerged Sir Keir Starmer had discussed a similar pact with the Spanish.

A European Commission spokesman confirmed proposals for a bloc-wide youth mobility scheme remained despite previous rejections by Labour.

The commission made a proposal to the council for a proposal related to youth mobility. After this proposal is adopted by the council, the commission will be able to engage in negotiations with the United Kingdom, the official said.

The Telegraph revealed yesterday the Prime Minister held discussions on a bilateral youth mobility pact with Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister, on the sidelines of a meeting of the European Political Community at Blenheim Palace.

Meanwhile, former Brexit negotiators have expressed fears that Sir Keir will give too much away in an attempt to reset relations with the EU.

Bolster post-Brexit relations

Details of the discussed youth mobility arrangement remain unclear, but it is likely that Brussels will insist its member states do not sign bilateral agreements while there are efforts in process to bolster post-Brexit EU-UK relations.

Agreeing a free movement pact for 18 to 30-year-olds is understood to be one of the EUs offensive interests in any renegotiations with Sir Keirs government.

The commission only moved to propose an EU-wide scheme in April 2023 because the previous Conservative government had attempted to pick off individual member states, such as Poland, for similar plans.

Germany and Spain had previously been tempted by past offers from the UK, but resisted the overtures unless an EU-wide scheme was agreed.

In a question and answer document circulated by the commission at the time, Eurocrats said their proposal would go further than any bilateral youth mobility deals offered by the UK to European capitals.

The European-wide model on offer would have eliminated costly visa fees and a surcharge for migrants to be eligible to use the NHS.

It demands that EU students would pay the same 9,250 a year university fees as British students instead of the overseas figure of two or three times that.

The EUs scheme would also do away with quotas, meaning an unlimited number of young Europeans would be free to travel to the UK.

Architects of the trade deal agreed by Boris Johnson expressed fears the Prime Minister could surrender their hard-won freedoms while attempting to curry favour with Brussels.

Starmers plan seems to be to turn up in Brussels like the new kid trying to make the right impression on his first day at school, with neatly slicked-back hair, a smile on his face and a pocket full of concessions to hand out like sweets to get in with the big boys, a former British negotiator told the Telegraph.

Unfortunately for the UK, hes about to get a rude awakening on what negotiating with the EU is actually like. Any concessions will be swiftly pocketed and then itll be his  and our  lunch money next.

The Sunday Telegraph last week revealed that the EUs negotiation team would first demand continued access to Britains fishing waters  with the current deal expiring in 2026  before addressing Sir Keirs ideas to renegotiate Mr Johnsons Brexit pacts.

Show more willingness to bloc

Brussels is also likely to pressure the Government into accepting a youth mobility scheme with no limits placed on 18 to 30-year-olds coming to work or study in Britain for four years, with rights to bring their families.

Sir Keir has pledged to reset relations with the EU, which suffered under his Conservative predecessors.

The Prime Minister wants to show more willingness to work with the bloc in order to strike deals for closer ties on agricultural standards, trade in chemicals and professional qualifications, as well as a new security and foreign cooperation pact.



Lord Frost, the former Brexit minister who oversaw the conclusion of Britains divorce deal and subsequent trade pact, said Brussels would exploit any attempt by Sir Keir to offer friendly gestures in future negotiations.



The EU never reciprocates good will, Lord Frost told the Telegraph.



It is a very bad tactic to make concessions up front to improve the atmosphere in the hope theyll be reciprocated later. The EU side will just pocket them and carry on as before.

If Keir Starmer wants to get anything out of the EU he will have to be ruthlessly transactional.

Talks between the UK and EU are unlikely to make any significant progress over the summer as Ursula von der Leyen, the commissions president, is in the process of overhauling her top team.

Officials in Brussels have also said Sir Keirs team have yet to communicate potential areas of negotiation in serious detail.

Sir Keir and Mrs von der Leyen could meet as early as August 2024 or early September.

David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, could also join a gathering of EU counterparts in October to discuss the planned security pact.
Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis - FREUD MUSEUM LONDON

He may be known for controversial theories including desiring ones mother, but Sigmund Freud was not as obsessed with sex as people think, an expert has claimed.

Mistranslations in the work of the Austrian founder of psychoanalysis have been blamed for giving a wrong impression of his views.

Mark Solms, a psychoanalyst himself, has re-examined Freuds key work The Interpretation of Dreams and added greater context to a new translation of the book.

He told The Guardian: Freud had a very broad understanding of sexuality.

For him, any activity that was pleasure-seeking in its own right  anything that one does for the purposes of pleasure alone, as opposed to practical purposes  was sexual.

This extended the word so far beyond common usage that it led to significant misunderstanding of his theories. Late in his life, Freud acknowledged as much.

In light of this, activities that were purely pleasurable but not sexual in the commonly understood sense, were grouped in the misleading category, he said.

Freud was well-known for The Interpretation of Dreams, which is generally regarded as his greatest work - HULTON DEUTSCH/CORBIS HISTORICAL

Mr Solms has claimed that the radical idea that everything was linked to libido is a misreading of Freuds theory and his personality.

Speaking of the artists who took Freud as an inspiration, he said: None of them understood that Freud was a rather conservative gentleman and shared none of their revolutionary social inclinations.

His taste in art, too, was really very conservative. Freud described Dali as a fanatic.

One of Freuds best-known theories is that of the Oedipus complex, named after the tragic Greek hero who inadvertently slept with his mother and murdered his father.

In Freuds The Interpretation of Dreams, Freud posited that children harbour sexual desire for their mother and hostility toward their father.

Such theories have made him a controversial thinker, but Mr Solm hopes to rehabilitate Freud, saying: There are some people who would rather see Freud forgotten than retranslated. They would prefer it if he was airbrushed out of history.
The fire spreads near Paynes Creek in Tehama County, California - Noah Berger/FR34727 AP

Thousands of firefighters battling a huge wildfire in northern California received some help from the weather hours after it exploded in size, scorching an area greater than the size of Los Angeles.

The blaze was one of several tearing through the western United States and Canada, powered by wind and heat.

Cooler temperatures and an increase in humidity could help slow the Park Fire, the largest this year in California. Its intensity and dramatic spread led fire officials to make unwelcome comparisons to the Camp Fire, which burned out of control in nearby Paradise in 2018, killing 85 people and torching 11,000 homes.

Paradise again was near the danger zone on Saturday. The entire town was under an evacuation warning, one of several communities in Butte County. Evacuation orders were also issued in Plumas, Tehama and Shasta counties.

Temperatures are expected to be cooler than average through to the middle of the coming week, but that doesnt mean that fires that are existing will go away, said Marc Chenard, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Centre in Maryland.

As of Saturday, the Park Fire had scorched 547 square miles and destroyed 134 structures since igniting Wednesday, when authorities said a man pushed a burning car into a gully in Chico and then fled. It was 10pc contained and moving to the north and east near Chico, the Associated Press reported.

A man was arrested on Thursday on suspicion that he had started the Park Fire by pushing the car into the gully on Wednesday afternoon.

Nearly 2,500 firefighters were battling the blaze, aided by 16 helicopters and numerous air tankers.

Jeremy Pierce, a Cal Fire operations section chief, said firefighters were taking advantage of the cooler weather while it lasts: Were having great success today.

S

Californias governor, Gavin Newsom, has declared a state of emergency for two counties, and authorities have ordered evacuations in four of the states 58 counties.

Horses are evacuated as the Park Fire tears though the Cohasset community in Butte County, California - Noah Berger/FR34727 AP

Extreme weather phenomena from raging fires to severe droughts and heavy rainfalls have swept across the globe in recent years  an impact of climate change.

Some wildfires have been caused by increased lightning strikes and record summer heat, which is creating bone-dry conditions.

Over this past week, the world broke the record for the Earths hottest day ever  twice in a row, first on July 21, then on the following day.

Californias Park Fire was one of 104 active fires burning in the US on Saturday, covering a total of 2,845 square miles, according to the US National Interagency Fire Center.

A hillside burned in a previous wildfire in Tehama County, California - Noah Berger/FR34727 AP

North of California in the state of Oregon, firefighters are scrambling to contain the biggest active fire in the US right now  the Durkee Fire, which combined with the Cow Fire,has burned through 630 square miles.

About 20 per cent of the fire had been contained as of Friday.

In Oregon, one pilot was found dead in a small air tanker plane that crashed while fighting one of the wildfires spreading across the US West.

Fires are also raging in Canadas Alberta province, with flames licking through the Canadian Rockies town of Jasper, prompting authorities to warn of a wall of fire but which reportedly has since been contained.

A man pauses to drink water while evacuating near Paynes Creek in Tehama County, California - Noah Berger/FR34727 AP

So far this year, more than 27,000 fires have burned down more than 5,800 square miles in the US, according to US authorities.

In Canada, more than 3,700 fires have burned down more than 8,000 square miles this year, according to Canadian authorities.
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
Donald Trump dances after speaking during a campaign rally in St Cloud, Minnesota, on Saturday - ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Former cryptocurrency sceptic Donald Trump says he will be a pro-Bitcoin president if elected in November, pitching to an industry limited by US regulations.

The Biden-Harris administrations repression of crypto and Bitcoin is wrong, and its very bad for our country, Mr Trump said to cheers at a conference in Tennessee on Saturday.

The ex-president likened cryptocurrencies to the growth of the steel industry of 100 years ago, and said Bitcoin stands for freedom, sovereignty and independence from government coercion and control, Agence France-Press reported.

Mr Trump said if he was in the White House, he would not allow the US government to sell its Bitcoin holdings.

This will serve in effect as the core of the strategic national Bitcoin stockpile, Mr Trump said.

The proposal was more limited than one offered the day before by third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who said he would seek to build a stockpile of 4 million Bitcoin.

If we dont embrace crypto and Bitcoin technology, China will, other countries will, theyll dominate, and we cannot let China dominate, Mr Trump said.

If crypto is going to define the future, I want it to be mined, minted and made in the USA.

Secret service members stand guard as t Donald Trump speaks in St Cloud, Minnesota - Carlos Osorio/Reuters

Acknowledging the price of electricity as a key factor in where cryptocurrency mining operations are located, Mr Trump vowed to make US energy the cheapest of any nation on Earth by increasing fossil fuel production and through nuclear energy.

Well be doing it in an environmentally friendly way, but we will be creating so much electricity that youll be saying, please, please, Mr President, we dont want any more electricity.

He said on his first day in office, he would fire Gary Gensler, the chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, a frequent target of cryptocurrency industry outrage over his cautiously slow approach to implementing regulations.

The crowd roared with approval at the proposal, prompting Mr Trump to joke: I didnt know he was that unpopular.

Let me say it again. On day one, I will fire Gary Gensler, he said, with the crowd erupting again.

A crowd outside is displayed on a monitor Donald Trump speaks in Minnesota - ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

He also targeted Vice President Kamala Harris, who is set to replace Joe Biden atop the Democratic ticket following the 81-year-old presidents shock exit from the campaign.

We have to fight and we have to win, and I pledge to the bitcoin community that the day I take the oath of office, Joe Biden, Kamala Harriss anti-crypto crusade will be over, it will end, itll be done, Mr Trump told the crowd.

Youre going to be very happy with me.
A group of people being brought in to Dover, Kent, on Saturday by a Border Force vessel after a small boat incident in the Channel. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

A woman has died trying to cross the Channel in an overcrowded dinghy, as a number of small boats made the dangerous journey over the weekend.

Thirty-four others were rescued from what was described as a migrant boat off the northern French port of Calais, after a call for help was made in the early hours of Sunday morning, according to French authorities.

The person who lost their life is understood to be a Syrian woman who was suffocated. The majority of those onboard were also from Syria, including members of her family.

The latest incident follows the deaths of at least six people in three separate incidents in the Channel between 12 and 19 July. Children were among a group of about 50 people who were brought into Dover on Saturday onboard a UK Border Force vessel.

The woman who died on Sunday was found unconscious during the rescue operation in the early hours of the morning, the French maritime authority Premar said. The authority told the Agence France-Presse media agency that the death had been the result of a new phenomenon of people dying at sea not by drowning [but] by illness or in a crush.

They were declared dead after being airlifted to Boulogne-sur-Mer hospital by a French naval helicopter.

The organisation Alarm Phone, which passes on information about small boats in distress to rescue services, said a number of recent incidents involved overcrowded boats with as many as 86 people onboard. They alleged the extreme overcrowding was linked to an increase in efforts by authorities since Britain and France reached a stop the boats deal at the start of the year.

While some people were taken off, several were said to have refused the assistance offered during the rescue and the vessel was allowed to continue, under surveillance by a French patrol boat.

Given the risks of falling overboard or injury to people in the event of forced intervention, the decision was made to let the other people on the boat continue on their way, Premar said in a statement.

One Syrian asylum seeker, who was trying to get into a dinghy at a similar time to the woman who died, told the Guardian smugglers were taking greater risks to avoid being caught by the French police.

The smugglers took us through the forest and I thought there were 15 of us getting into the boat. But when we got to the beach there were 100. The French police destroyed two of the dinghies so we could not travel, they said, adding that they were still determined to cross.

In the week up to Saturday, 342 people crossed the Channel in seven boats, UK Home Office figures show. More than 12,000 people have made the crossing so far this year, according to provisional figures released in mid-June.

The figure was 18% higher than for the equivalent point last year, by which time 10,472 people had made the crossing.
Murdo Fraser said the Scottish Conservatives had 'suffered too much in the past from top-down decision making' - Ken Jack/Getty Images Europe

A senior Scottish Tory mooted as the next party leader has called for a commission to be set up to examine loosening links with the UK Conservatives.

Murdo Fraser said an experienced and independent party figure should lead the group, which would be charged with examining all the potential ways forward.

Writing in The Telegraph, he said this would include his suggestion of the Tories standing candidates in Scotland in UK general elections but a new centre-Right party fighting Holyrood elections.

Mr Fraser said the commissions recommendations would then be put to a vote of Scottish Tory members to give them the final say over any changes.

Move would prevent party in-fighting

He argued that setting up an independent commission would prevent blue-on-blue in-fighting on the issue during the forthcoming contest to replace Douglas Ross as Scottish Tory leader.

It would also give members a say over what they want to happen rather than allowing the new leader to dictate his or her preference, he said, adding that the party had suffered too much in the past from top-down decision making.

Mr Fraser wrote that no changes would be made until after the 2026 Holyrood election, following criticism that immediately breaking links with the UK Conservatives would damage the partys prospects in the contest.

The shadow business secretary stood unsuccessfully for the leadership against Ruth Davidson in 2011, when he called for the Scottish Tories to be replaced entirely with a new party.

Mr Fraser, who is weighing up another leadership bid, acknowledged that it was too radical a step for most party members and said he no longer thought it was the correct move.

Murdo Fraser is weighing up another bid to lead the Scottish Tories, after losing out to Ruth Davidson in 2011

However, he noted that potential candidates had already been expressing views on the issue, including front-runner Russell Findlay, who said earlier this month: It makes sense to have a sensible review of the best relationship between the Scottish and UK outfit.

Several other MSPs believe a breakaway party should be debated again following the UK Conservatives general election drubbing. Although their seat tally dropped by only one to five in Scotland, their vote share nearly halved, to 12.7 per cent.

Liam Kerr, the shadow education secretary, has warned that the Tories struggled to win more than 24 per cent of the popular vote even when the popular Ms Davidson was leader.

He said many felt that it was unlikely that the Scottish Tory vehicle would ever achieve power and also called for a new Holyrood centre-Right party focused solely and exclusively on matters devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

Party in a dire position

The UKs most eminent polling expert has also suggested that the Scottish Tories may need to reconsider their relationship with the UK party if they want to be more than an also-ran at Holyrood.

Prof Sir John Curtice told The Herald on Sunday that the party was in a dire position and that there was a big question over how much a new leader in the Scottish Parliament could do to repair the situation.

However, allies of Mr Findlay, the only declared candidate so far, have lambasted Mr Frasers proposal for a new party to fight Holyrood elections.

Ms Davidson, who is now Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links, has also warned against any sort of split, saying that a divided party is a short route to electoral suicide.

Up to nine MSPs are considering standing for the Scottish Tory leadership, with the partys management board meeting on Wednesday to decide the contests rules and timetable.

Party chiefs are keen to have Mr Rosss successor in place in time for the UK Conservative conference at the end of September.

Divisive issue

Mr Fraser said his proposal for a new party fighting Holyrood elections echoed the situation in Canada, where there is a distinction between parties fighting provincial and federal elections.

While there is clearly a willingness to have this debate among leadership contenders, two things are clear. Firstly, this is a divisive issue amongst party members, with no clear consensus as to the way forward, he wrote.

Secondly, even if there was an appetite for change, it is simply impractical to suggest that this could be done in a realistic and credible fashion in time for the 2026 Holyrood elections, just 21 months away.

So I would suggest that rather than make this the focus of the leadership campaign, instead we establish a commission under a suitably experienced and senior independent party figure, who would look at all these issues and come back and report in due course on the pros and cons of potential ways forward, to be implemented after 2026. This would allow a detailed examination of all the issues, and allow all members to have their say.

Mr Fraser also said the party should review current rules that mean the Scottish leader theoretically has authority over all Tory MPs and MSPs north of the border.

Raising the theoretical prospect of a Scottish Tory MP becoming prime minister, he said it was for the birds that they would take orders from Mr Rosss successor.

A much-needed breakaway from the old routine

By Murdo Fraser

Every time there is a discussion about the future of the Scottish Conservatives, the question of our relationship with the UK party features.

It is legitimate to discuss why Scotland seems to be the only country in the Western world where the sole party of the centre-Right attracts such paltry support, particularly relevant in a context where, in this months general election, we slumped to our lowest vote share in history, of just 12.7 per cent.

Candidates and potential candidates for the party leadership have already been expressing their views on this matter. My colleague Liam Kerr MSP has said that this is a debate that needs to be revisited.

Last week, another colleague, Jamie Greene, wrote: There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that the Scottish Conservatives need to renegotiate their partnership with the party south of the border.

And the only declared candidate thus far, Russell Findlay MSP, has stated: It makes sense to have a sensible review of the best relationship between the Scottish and UK outfit.

When I stood for the Scottish Conservative leadership in 2011, I proposed a model akin to that which exists in Germany between the Christian Democrats and the Christian Social Union in Bavaria, of two distinct parties in a permanent coalition in the UK Parliament.

While that idea attracted substantial support at the time, it was too radical a step for most party members.

In the intervening period, I have reflected on the position and am no longer convinced that the Bavarian model is the correct one.

I do think it is important that people in all parts of the United Kingdom have the opportunity to vote for the party that will form the UK government. And there should be no barrier to MPs elected as Scottish Conservatives playing a full part in the government of the UK.

There are, however, other models that could be looked at, such as the situation in Canada, with a distinction between the parties operating at a federal level and those fighting provincial elections.

Best of both worlds

This potentially gives a best of both worlds scenario, with two parallel, sister parties each focusing on their own strengths. It works well in Quebec, where we have seen the separation movement slide in support in recent years.

While there is clearly a willingness to have this debate among leadership contenders, two things are clear. First, this is a divisive issue among party members, with no clear consensus as to the way forward.

Second, even if there were an appetite for change, it is simply impractical to suggest that this could be done in a realistic and credible fashion in time for the 2026 Holyrood elections, just 21 months away.

So I would suggest that rather than make this the focus of the leadership campaign, instead we establish a commission under a suitably experienced and senior independent party figure, who would look at all these issues and come back and report in due course on the pros and cons of potential ways forward, to be implemented after 2026. This would allow a detailed examination of all the issues, and allow all members to have their say.

Crucially, this would avoid the impression that these matters are for any one individual to determine. The Scottish Conservative Party has suffered too much in the past from top-down decision making. Any questions of structural change are ones for the membership as a whole, not just the leader.

Relationships with the UK party aside, there are clearly other aspects of the party constitution that need to be looked at by any commission. Under current rules, the Scottish leader has authority over the entire party, MPs as well as MSPs. While this is the legal position, it simply does not reflect practice.

In theory, a future Scottish Conservative MP achieving the office of prime minister would be under the authority of whichever MSP is Scottish leader. The notion that, say, Prime Minister Bowie would take orders from Scottish leader Kerr at Holyrood is for the birds.

An issue that needs to be looked at

We also need to see a much-enhanced role for senior volunteers. Until the most recent set of constitutional changes, there was a position of deputy chairman directly elected by the Tory membership; a position of authority which attracted senior figures including former MPs such as Bill Walker and George Kynoch. I would like to see such a position recreated to give the grass-roots membership a stronger say in the running of the party.

With those potentially fighting to be leader all agreeing that this is an issue that needs to be looked at, I will be asking all those declaring a candidacy to commit to the establishment of a constitutional review, to consider these matters carefully and in full consultation with the membership, in the interests of party unity.

Ultimately, the forthcoming leadership election needs to be a battle of ideas about how we best face our current challenges, not least the twin threats of a resurgent Labour Party and the emergence of Reform UK.

What we stand for is always going to be more important than what we stand as. Let us have that positive debate that the party now needs.

Murdo Fraser is a Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party MSP and shadow business secretary
More than simply tuning out nuisance noise, advances in technology have given the impression that hearing environments should be regulatable and within our rights to control

In a charming Welsh market town on the banks of the River Severn, a local landmark has been causing a stir. The 19th-century clock in the centre of Newtown was a gift to mark Queen Victorias Diamond Jubilee and is beloved by many locals, who consider it intrinsic to the regions history  but not everyone feels the same. And in recent years, a debate has bubbled over the sound of its chimes.

Hannah Lovatt works in a bed and breakfast owned by her mother Tina, just a few doors away from the clock tower. She says that when they set up the business, they had no idea how disruptive the noise would be to guests  so much so that some have complained they can hear it with the windows closed and television on.

We didnt realise [the clock] ran through the night, she says. It chimes every 15 minutes and its very loud. People refused to stay with us again because of the noise. We put in a request to see if anything could be done by the council and they offered to stop it totally.

This, she says, wasnt a reasonable solution, because its a massive part of town history. To us in the daytime, its a comforting, reassuring noise. We just wanted it to be quiet at night. In the end we paid for a mechanism to stop it at night only.

The clock in Newtown, Powys, goes off at every quarter of the hour - Alamy

Lovatt says they contributed 2,000 and other B&Bs chipped in to reach the total. But she claims not everyone was happy about the change  and some were positively irate. One man who lived a few miles away turned up at the B&B, Hannah claims. [He] had a go at my mum, saying he had read about the clock in the town paper and wanted to tell her in person how angry he was. Although he calmed down when told it would only be stopped in the evenings. People just think we wanted it stopped [They] said its been there longer than we have, so its not for us to say it should be switched off.

Around the country  and the world  other micro-wars on noise are being waged. In the Devonshire village of Witheridge, a similar debate broke out over a clock that had chimed for 150 years. It was silenced temporarily after a complaint was lodged to the council, then restarted after a local petition was set up in support of the chimes  but with adjusted timings.

Edinburgh Castles daily one oclock gun salute, a 160-year-old tradition, narrowly escaped its end earlier this year. A safety notice was issued following concerns over its volume and subsequent trials by the Army environmental noise team. The salute was rescued only when Grant Shapps, then defence secretary, intervened to stop what one reported Ministry of Defence source described as health and safety killjoys. It was reported that the gun will now use quieter ammunition, with spectators confined to ear-safe viewing zones.

Further afield, last year a centuries-old belltower in Tuscany was silenced at night to conform to Italian noise pollution rules, which demand silence between midnight and 7am.

The restrictions placed on Pienza's belltower provoked outrage from some locals - Alamy

The question of silence has never been more pertinent  and tech designed to help achieve it is booming. In 2021 the global market for noise-cancelling headphones generated $13.1 billion  it is projected to be worth at least three times this by 2031.

More than simply tuning out nuisance noise, advances in technology have given the impression that hearing environments should be regulatable and within our rights to control.

The Noise Abatement Act of 1960, which established noise meant that for the first time local councils could issue notices to have it stopped. But conversations around the subject date back earlier.

In 1935, the Science Museum in London staged an exhibition on the theme of noise abatement, featuring an array of weird and wonderful noise-cancelling objects: silenced typewriters, automatic doorstops, and a two-storey house that demonstrated advances in acoustic technology, with an upper floor that was constructed to muffle footsteps.

The exhibition was put on by a voluntary health organisation called the Anti-Noise League, says Dr Tim Boon, head of research and public history at the Science Museum. This pressure group was concerned with the effect of noise on people in ordinary life, to the extent that they managed to convince the museum to put on a show making that point.

Anti-noise groups date back to at least 1965, when one organisation set up an exhibition at the Science Museum - iStock

The exhibition proved popular, attracting more than 44,000 visitors in a month, according to a photoelectric counter. In fact, anti-noise groups were very much a feature of interwar health culture in Britain and America, Boon explains. Following both the First and Second World Wars, when cities had been louder than ever with the sound of bombs, calls for silence abounded. Boon believes that there is a clear line between the demands made back then and the noise complaints of today.

Lisa Lavia is managing director of the Noise Abatement Society, whose founder, John Connell, lobbied for the original Noise Abatement Act. The society was set up in 1959 to address the issue of noise nuisance and tackle the lack of legislation to deal with it, according to its website.

Britain at the time was a far different-sounding place, as demonstrated by the British Librarys sound archive  an extraordinary collection of more than six million recordings. The clips show just how loud streets were in the earlier part of that century too, though in a different way to today: they were filled with the sounds of steam engines as well as cars, newspaper vendors and street sellers shouting to passers-by. There were more factories too, in contrast to the office blocks of today with their hum of computer equipment and air conditioning.

John Drever, formerly professor of acoustic ecology at Goldsmiths, University of London, argues that Britain sounds more orderly today. He has investigated sound levels and their impact in all sorts of places  from cattle grids in Dartmoor to busy London hospitals.

A striking discovery came from measuring noise at two busy places in London  Leicester Square and Beauchamp Place, near Harrods  every year since 1928. Things werent louder or quieter then, says Professor Drever, who joined the longstanding project. Rather, they were more cacophonous. Today things are more regulated, and diesel taxis, some of the noisiest things, have almost disappeared. Back then it was all horns and beeps, and chaos.

Edinburgh Castle's daily one o'clock gun salute will now use 'quieter' ammunition - Alamy

In future, everyday street sounds will surely be even more orderly, as petrol cars are increasingly replaced with quieter electric ones. The start of this decade, during the Covid-19 lockdowns, was also a period of unusual silence, as roads were temporarily almost empty and many planes were grounded.

And yet noise seems to bother people more today than it did decades ago: as Professor Drever points out, while aircraft sounds have become quieter in the last decade, the number of complaints about them have risen.

But Lavia believes different solutions are needed now. Today the Noise Abatement Society focuses on noise mitigation and soundscape management, she explains, rather than trying to simply shut down or turn off the noise altogether. What were trying to convey is that nobody wants to live in a soundless, colourless box in absolute silence.

One project focused on West Street in Brighton, once an upmarket residential area but now a popular nightlife spot. The Society worked with Brighton and Hove council on an ambient sound project, where specially composed music was broadcast on one of the areas busiest nights. This didnt affect the volume of the sound from the bars and clubs, which continued in the background, but it masked the sounds slightly.

Lavia reports that there was a reduction in noise complaints and reports of antisocial behaviour as a result. She also claimed that feedback from local residents found they were happier with the noise levels, even though they could still hear the sounds of bars and clubs behind the music.

What people want in terms of their sound environment comes down to local values, Lavia says. Brighton is very creative, and it became apparent as we were speaking with communities that they didnt want a solution that was going to cut one group off from another. The society found similar results when it trialled playing classical music or jazz in a pedestrian tunnel to counter antisocial behaviour. The downside is that such solutions can be costly: the council has been unable to install either project full-time.

Another part of the problem with setting rules and finding solutions is that different people have different levels of tolerance  and not everyone agrees that there is a problem in the first place. Lavia says she is highly sensitive to certain noises herself. Ive always been very affected by sound and wanted to have a greater understanding of it, so I have personal empathy with people who get very bothered.

Little is known about why some people experience sound differently to others and what causes the vast range of different tolerance levels. About a third of the human response is related to the level of sound itself, and at least a third, probably more, is related to non-acoustic, cognitive factors and other factors in our environments, says Lavia, who recently finished a PhD in studies of urban soundscapes. All this affects how people respond to a particular sound, at a particular time.

Specially composed music is played on Brighton's West Street to mitigate noise pollution on busier nights - Alamy

She cites the bitter fight over the Newtown clock as an example of environmental differences. For some people its very evocative, while others, who dont have a sense of attachment to that sound source evoking a memory or connection to a place, can have a very different reaction.

Hearing ability exists on a broad spectrum, from deafness to those who have golden ears and are employed to test music speakers. What everyone has in common is that sound can seriously affect them  and in some cases hinder learning. A study of aircraft and road traffic noise and childrens health, published in medical journal The Lancet in 2005, found that schools exposed to high levels of aircraft noise are not healthy educational environments, and that chronic aircraft noise could impair cognitive development, and in particular reading ability.

A five-decibel increase in aircraft noise at school was associated with a one-to-two-month delay in reading age, says Charlotte Clark, a professor of epidemiology in the Population Health Research Institute of St Georges, University of London, who was involved in the study.

Concerns around the health impact of noise have been discussed by medics for years. A pamphlet written by Thomas Horder, chairman of the Anti-Noise League and physician to King Edward VIII, published in 1937, reads: Doctors are definitely convinced that noise wears down the human nervous system, so that both the natural resistance to disease, and the natural power of recovery from disease, are lowered.

Today we know far more about the specific risks. Professor Clark explains some of them: When you hear noise, you have typical stress responses. Your adrenalin goes up and your system starts releasing cortisol, which causes cardiovascular changes associated with your hormones. It affects your sleep at night, which causes your heart rate to go up and there are a host of chronic illnesses associated with that.

Its bad news for our ears too. A survey conducted this year by Eargym, a hearing health app, found that 70 per cent of people struggle to hear conversations in noisy places. This inability to focus on a particular stimulus (like speech) while filtering out other stimuli (like background noise) is known as the cocktail party effect, first identified in the 1950s.

There may yet be a solution. At the University of Washington in Seattle, Dr Shyam Gollakota, who is head of the Mobile Intelligence Lab, is working on the next generation of technology that is about noise selecting, rather than noise cancelling. This could help give back some control, he argues.

The problem with most noise-cancelling headphones is that they block, or partially block, all sounds, including those we may want to hear. Noise-selecting ones, by contrast, can let the user tune into the sounds they want to listen to  such as birdsong or music  and use AI-powered technology to tune out the rest.

I thought it would take five more years for technology to catch up with the interest in this, says Dr Gollakota. [But now] I can see these being sold in the next year.

So is this the holy grail in the quest for silence? Perhaps, but there will always be those who love sound  and long for as much of it as possible. Dr Gollakota enjoys living in a relatively quiet part of Seattle, for example, whereas his parents live in a particularly busy, noisy part of India. I was visiting them after a while in America and I was shocked, because you can hear traffic all the time, he says. My parents werent bothered at all. They didnt know what they were missing until they visited me but they didnt necessarily like the quiet.
Tommy Robinson has been arrested under anti-terror laws, according to his supporters, after a protest at which a film was allegedly screened in contempt of court.

His detention was made public in a post on his verified X account and follows a march led by Mr Robinson and a counter-protest in central London on Saturday which attracted thousands of people.

A complaint was later made over a film which was allegedly shown to the crowd in breach of a High Court order, with police saying officers were making further inquiries.

EMERGENCY ADMIN POST  PLEASE SHARE FAR AND WIDE!!!! We can confirm that Tommy Robinson has been detained by Police using powers afforded to them under the Terrorism Act 2000. That's right, you read that correctly, Tommy is being held by Police using counter terrorism pic.twitter.com/i3nagtBbXY  Tommy Robinson  (@TRobinsonNewEra) July 28, 2024

Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, also on Saturday afternoon posted a one hour 45 minute film on X, in which he said he had previously avoided publishing the video because he was scared.

A post on his X account on Sunday said: We can confirm that Tommy Robinson has been detained by police using powers afforded to them under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Thats right, you read that correctly, Tommy is being held by police using counter terrorism legislation.

We will update you as and when we can.

Good evening Nick, thanks for your message. We did not know what films would be shown during the event. Organisers of protests are not required to share those details in advance. There is no power for us to compel them to do so. Officers on duty for the event couldnt  Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) July 27, 2024

The Metropolitan Police did not immediately confirm his arrest when asked by the PA news agency.

In response to a complaint about the film on X on Saturday evening, the Met said: We did not know what films would be shown during the event. Organisers of protests are not required to share those details in advance. There is no power for us to compel them to do so.

Officers on duty for the event couldnt reasonably have been aware of civil proceedings ongoing in relation to a particular film, but having now been made aware were making further inquiries to determine what action we need to take.
SANTA TERESA, N.M.  Two "VIPs" were set to arrive at a sleepy airport in the desert near the U.S.-Mexico border.

That's all airport manager Bill Provance knew Thursday before the twin-engine plane touched down and law enforcement swarmed the tarmac. The "VIPs" turned out to be Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, one of the world's most elusive and dangerous drug kingpins, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of Zambada's partner-in-crime, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

"I went out to see what was going on," said Provance, manager of the Dona Ana County International Jetport. The federal agents gave him a vague response. "They said, 'We've got VIPs coming in.'"

Former law enforcement officials involved in the decadeslong hunt for Zambada say his arrest Thursday is as monumental as the 2016 capture of "El Chapo" Guzman given his role as the chief strategic thinker of what is universally considered to be the worlds most powerful organized crime organization.

But Zambadas arrest is also shaping up to be a story of epic betrayal by one of Chapo's sons, one key player told USA TODAY  and a direct result of their business strategy to flood the U.S. with deadly fentanyl over the past decade. That galvanized the U.S. government to launch a scorched-earth campaign to go after them.

Chains on the plane that carried alleged drug kingpin Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada to the U.S. on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

Media reports initially suggested the two were arrested in El Paso, Texas, and speculated that Guzman Lopez tricked Zambada into going for a plane ride to look at real estate on the Mexico side of the border before crossing into the United States. But law enforcement actually took the men into custody on the tarmac of this small airport in New Mexico where El Paso's wealthiest residents keep their private planes.

And late Saturday, criminal defense lawyer Frank Perez of Dallas told USA TODAY that his client, Zambada, did not get on the Beechcraft plane of his own accord, but as part of a deal by the son of El Chapo to negotiate a better plea agreement with U.S. authorities for himself.

"My client neither surrendered nor negotiated any terms with the U.S. government," Perez said in a statement given exclusively to USA TODAY. "Joaquin Guzman Lopez forcibly kidnapped my client. He was ambushed, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed by six men in military uniforms and Joaquin."

After that, Perez said, Zambada's "legs were tied, and a black bag was placed over his head. He was then thrown into the back of a pickup truck and taken to a landing strip. There, he was forced onto a plane, his legs tied to the seat by Joaquin, and brought to the U.S. against his will. The only people on the plane were the pilot, Joaquin and my client."

In an interview, Perez said Zambada was meeting someone for breakfast and that instead of that person showing up, Guzman Lopez and his aides appeared and assaulted him.

That caught Zambada and his small security detail off guard, and he was tied up, thrown in the back of a pickup truck and driven about 20 minutes away to an airport, where he was put on the plane with Guzman Lopez, Perez said.

He was the one who set up the meeting to get Zambada to come out, Perez said of Guzman Lopez. He said the son of El Chapo then personally tied his fathers longtime partner to the chair of the aircraft so he couldnt escape.

Jeffrey Lichtman, a lawyer representing Guzman Lopez, had no comment on Perez's specific claims. "He's free to employ any defense he sees fit to defend against the charges," Lichtman told USA TODAY.

Neither Zambada nor Guzman Lopez have been convicted of any crimes in the U.S. and the Justice Department, per policy, says the charges are only allegations and that they are innocent until proven guilty. The Justice Department did not immediately return a request for comment.

Flying in from the south

The plane with a royal blue tail flew in from the south and then parked in front of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection building at the airport, according to a local pilot who watched from the tarmac.

It was a hot, clear afternoon. On board the aircraft, Zambada would have been able to see the rusted steel border fence cutting through orange sand below as the plane entered U.S. airspace. Sprawling twin plants lay between the border fence and the airport, warehouses and factories connected to industrial manufacturing in Ciudad Juarez across the border.

The local pilot saw one man, who he later understood to be Guzman Lopez, deplane first.

"He shook all the hands of the law enforcement," said the pilot, who asked his name be withheld out of fear of retribution by organized crime. The man he later understood to be Zambada "remained on board. Obviously, he came out later and was calmly taken into custody."

Inside the plane, there were snacks including chips and Gansitos, Mexican vanilla cakes covered in chocolate. There also appeared to be unused plastic zip ties in a convenience store bag.

Many details of the arrest of the two Sinaloa Cartel leaders remain steeped in secrecy.

But already, the case has caused reverberations from Washington to the border and deep into Mexico, where the government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said it was not involved.

The brains behind the Sinaloa Cartels rise  and the American fentanyl crisis

Current and former federal authorities say Zambada was the brains and the elder Guzman, now locked up in a U.S. federal prison, was the muscle of one of the deadliest worldwide fentanyl trafficking organizations, the Sinaloa Cartel.

"The cartels generating billions of dollars from fentanyl and killing hundreds of thousands of Americans is, to me, what ultimately brought these guys down," said former Drug Enforcement Administration Chief of Operations Ray Donovan, who led the government-wide effort against Sinaloa Cartel until his retirement in April 2023.

"Chapo was more the brawn of the cartel and Mayo was the brains, the methodic business-minded leader who generated the revenues," Donovan told USA TODAY on Saturday. "The Sinaloa cartel would not be as powerful as it became if not for El Mayo."

Zambada eluded U.S. and Mexican authorities for decades. Even in the era of cellphone cameras and social media, only one photograph had ever emerged  until Thursday. The Mexican government released a photo provided by the U.S., according to Mexican officials, of Zambada with dark hair and a mustache, wearing a blue polo-style with the word "Boss" embroidered on the chest.

Now that Zambada is in U.S. custody, it is likely to start another bloody power struggle between factions within the cartel, according to Donovan and others familiar with its operations.

"Now that their leader is gone, Ivan Guzman, Chapo's oldest son, is a young, hard-charging violent leader and he's going to want to consolidate power," Donovan said. "And either Mayo's faction of the cartel is going to fall in line or they're going to fight."

A cat-and-mouse hunt for Ismael Zambada

Former federal law enforcement officials familiar with the cat-and-mouse hunt for Zambada in recent decades said he and his family already had been experiencing increasing internal tensions with the Sinaloa Cartel faction led by El Chapo and his sons, especially over the lethal drug fentanyl.

El Mayo, El Chapo and a third man known as El Azul, or Juan Jose Esparragoza Moreno, launched what is now known as the Sinaloa Cartel after being brought together by major trafficker Felix Gallardo, who headed the feared Pacific Cartel in the 1980s.

The three branched off from Gallardo and created the Federation, which transformed into the Sinaloa Cartel as it became a global juggernaut that grew, manufactured and sold much of the marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine headed for the United States.

Zambada was responsible for much of the business growth of the organization, remaining behind the scenes while El Chapo became the public and more violent face of Sinaloa. Zambada, according to Donovan, was very much about the business, generating revenue even as El Chapos violence made him the stuff of Mexican folklore.

As the fentanyl epidemic reached crisis proportions by 2017, federal law enforcement agencies ramped up their efforts to neutralize those responsible for it. That effort was led by the DEA and its multiagency Special Operations Division nerve center in Chantilly, Virginia, but the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security also played crucial roles, Donovan said.

We increased the reward money. We put in a whole-of-government approach to trying to go after these guys. A lot more resources and efforts into zeroing in on them, Donovan said.

Turning up the heat, gaining the cooperation of insiders

One of the first big breaks came in the case of Zambadas son, Jesus Vicente Zambada Niebla, or "El Vicentillo", who was arrested in Mexico City in 2009. Eager to minimize his time in U.S. prisons, he began cooperating with authorities and testified against fellow members of the Sinaloa Cartel.

The younger Zambada testified against El Chapo at the historic trial in New York that led to his conviction and long prison sentence, said Derek Maltz, the former head of DEAs Special Operations Division.

In recent years, as U.S. law enforcement agents continued to hunt for El Vicentillos father, they also focused intensively on the Chapitos, the sons of El Chapo who inherited much of the control of the Sinaloa Cartel empire from their father  including the U.S.-bound fentanyl trafficking business.

Another big break came with the capture of one of the Chapitos, Ovidio Guzman. He was initially arrested by Mexican authorities in 2019 but later released after heavily armed Sinaloa gunmen engaged in violent clashes with Mexican authorities. Once captured again in 2023 and extradited to the United States to face trial, he too allegedly began cooperating.

And as U.S. law enforcement authorities continued to extract information and intelligence from his brother Ovidio, they also ramped up back-channel negotiations with Guzman Lopez, The New York Times reported, citing three people familiar with his situation.

"It's very clear, based on my knowledge and experience, that they were developing a plan to get not only the kid, Joaquin Junior, to surrender, as part of Ovidio's good faith cooperation with the government, but then you have Joaquin Junior down there also figuring that I can come up with a plan to take Mayo down too," Maltz told USA TODAY.

The lure of a potential deal

Officials at the FBI and Department of Homeland Security declined to comment when reached by USA TODAY about the circumstances of what led to the Thursday arrests, and Attorney General Merrick Garland did not mention them in his videotaped statement on the case.

Both men are facing multiple charges in the United States for leading the cartels criminal operations, including its deadly drug manufacturing and trafficking networks, Garland said before vowing to continue to go after their associates who continue to traffick metric tons worth of the lethal synthetic opioid across the southern border. The Justice Department will not rest until every single cartel leader, member and associate responsible for poisoning our communities is held accountable.

But two current and two former U.S. officials familiar with the situation told Reuters  which first reported the arrests  that Guzman Lopez planned to give himself up upon landing and duped Zambada into getting on the plane under the pretense of looking at real estate in northern Mexico near the border.

Guzman Lopez had engaged in lengthy surrender talks with U.S. authorities, as is often the case in these protracted efforts to capture them, Reuters said, but authorities were not hopeful that El Chapo's son actually would surrender. They were caught unaware when Guzman Lopez sent a last-minute message saying he would be flying to the U.S. airport, Reuters reported, and bringing the infamous Zambada with him.

"El Mayo was the cherry on top," one U.S. official, who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the arrests, told Reuters. "It wasn't expected at all."

That set off a mad scramble as U.S. agents from the FBI and DHS investigative arm, Homeland Security Investigations or HSI, raced to the scene just in time for the tiny Beechcraft King Air plane to land on the runway Thursday afternoon.

Provance, the airport manager watched the scene through the floor-to-ceiling windows of his corner office. "The plane landed, and that was it."

There was no gunfight, no drama and no resistance.

Law enforcement officers wrapped a chain around the propeller, and the plane remained parked in the same spot on the tarmac for more than 24 hours before it was ferried into a hangar.

Border residents, curious about the notorious Mexican drug lord, parked at the county's War Eagles Air Museum. They walked up to a chain link fence for a glimpse of the plane Zambada came in on.

El Paso Times reporter Omar Ornelas contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sinaloa Cartel leader 'El Mayo' kidnapped before US arrest: lawyer
Key West, Florida  In quirky Key West, Florida, it's not just tourists flocking to town, feral chickens have found their tropical paradise.

And Key West City Commissioner Clayton Lopez has got a beef. They're "everywhere," he says, with entire chicken families often seen crossing roads.

A resolution introduced by Lopez, which is now law, bans feeding chickens on public property.

"What I am looking to do is to try and address the health issues of humans, as well as the chickens," Lopez said.



The chickens can cause property damage and their droppings can spread disease. The chickens are sometimes run over by cars, and chicks can fall into storm drains. Then there are the roosters, which crow at all hours.

While rescued chickens are sent to farms in mainland Florida, it's impossible to catch them all.

But how did it get like this?



'It's the oldest image we have of chickens in Key West," said Corey Malcolm, lead historian for the Florida Keys History Center, explaining that it's a tale of tail feathers.



"Chickens were very much a part of early Key West," Malcolm said.

They were brought in the 1820s by the first settlers, who according to Malcom "would sell them by the dozen to the residents here." Then in the 1860s came a Cuban migration.

"One of the traditions that came from Cuba was cockfighting," Malcolm said. "...The tradition of raising chickens carries on from the early 1900s into around World War II."



By then, the ease of getting eggs and meat from supermarkets meant homeowners let their chickens loose in a two-by-four mile island with no natural predators.



In 1986, Florida banned cockfighting and roosters were set free. Then in 1998, Hurricane George spread them all throughout the island, and they have been multiplying ever since.

Mitigation has failed, and a city-employed chicken catcher in the 2000s quit after swift backlash from chicken enthusiasts.



Now, the chickens are as much a tourist attraction as the Southernmost Point Buoy. They're also a popular sight in souvenir shops.

"They're everywhere, yes, that's good for me," said Arthur Bakala, who owns three chicken-themed shops in Key West.



At his chicken-themed wine and coffee bar, there are statues, paintings, t-shirts, mugs and everything in between, all part of the island's chicken culture.



In Key West, it's the chickens' world, and we're just living in it.



2 Sinaloa cartel leaders, including son of "El Chapo," arrested in Texas

New details reveal troubled past for deputy charged with murder in Sonya Massey shooting

Olympic Games get underway in Paris
ST. CLOUD  Not only is former President Donald Trump crisscrossing the country, traveling from rally to rally, but so is Uncle Sam. On Saturday, they both stopped in St. Cloud.

Entertainer and voice actor Duane Schwingel has traveled to more than 50 rallies dressed as Uncle Sam. Each time, he is pulled aside by Trump supporters for photos and a laugh.

Uncle Sam always comes to the country's aid when its in need, Schwingel said.

St. Cloud City Council candidate Scott Brodeen posing with "Uncle Sam" at the July 27, 2024 Trump rally.

Schwingel, who resides in Florida, said he isnt paid for his efforts and engages with the crowd free of charge. He said his efforts are funded in part by small supporter donations, a dollar here and there, adding up over time.

More: Trump speaks in St. Cloud, Sat. Trump will hold St. Cloud rally as GOP eyes Minn. political races

I've always been an entertainer all my life, Schwingel said. Now at least, I'm focusing on something important and being a good steward of my town (by supporting a candidate I believe in.)

Schwingel told the St. Cloud Times he decided to go on the trail to support Trump because hes an outsider, not a typical politician. The former presidents business ventures also appeal to the entertainer, saying the president cannot be bought out because he doesnt need the money.

He's an outsider. He's a billionaire, so he can't be bought, Schwingel said. I like that.

Although Schwingel said he hasn't had much time to explore St. Cloud, he said he's enjoyed talking to locals he's met while in Central Minnesota.

Corey Schmidt covers local government for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Florida man dressed as Uncle Sam travels the country to Trump rallies
Vice President Kamala Harris at a campaign fundraiser in Pittsfield, Mass., on July 27, 2024. Credit - Stephanie ScarbroughPool/AFP/Getty Images

Outside a campaign fundraiser in Pittsfield, Mass., a supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris held up a simple white sign with crisp blue letters. It read: Trump is Weird.

Inside the packed theater, Harris made clear she was embracing the adjective for her Republican opponents, as the attacks against her ramp up a week into her campaign for President. Both former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, are trying to define Harris, a former prosecutor, as soft on crime and illegal immigration. Vance has also suggested Harris, who is a stepmother, doesnt understand the needs of biological parents, having described her in 2021 as one of the childless cat ladies who want to make the rest of the country miserable too.

You may have noticed, Donald Trump has been resorting to some wild lies about my record, Harris told the enthusiastic crowd at the Berkshires fundraiser. And some of what he and his running mate are saying, well, it's just plain weird. I mean that's the box you put that in.

Harris and her campaign are working to quickly redefine the race, partly by bringing more attention to the idiosyncrasies of Trumps speeches and interviews, which veer from nationalist fervor, to odd anecdotes about sharks and Hannibal Lecter. After a Fox News appearance this week, Harris campaign released a press release that included the rhetorical questions, Is Donald Trump ok? and Trump is old and quite weird?

Read more: How the Olympics Could Help and Hurt Kamala Harris' Campaign

On Friday, Harris' campaign wrote "JD Vance is weird and creepy," on X, formerly known as Twitter, along with a press release highlighting Vance's past statements favoring laws to restrict abortion access.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who is said to be on Harris shortlist of potential running mates, was early in deploying weird as an attack on Trump and Vance. These guys are just weird, he said on MSNBC on Tuesday. Theyre running for He-Man women-haters club or something. Thats what they go at. Thats not what people are interested in.

Harris is also now trying to paint Trump as running scared from a debate with her. Trump this week backed out of a planned Sept. 10 debate that had been originally scheduled against President Joe Biden, before Biden dropped out and endorsed Harris.

"You may have seen he just pulled out of our debate, Harris said Saturday at the fundraiser, where she was introduced by musician James Taylor. I hope he reconsiders because we have a lot to talk about.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) has risen to near the top of the list of possible running mates as Vice President Harris considers whom she wants to run alongside her.

Kelly has been sent vetting materials as one of a handful of Democrats under consideration for the role. A veteran and former astronaut, Kelly brings a background that is unique compared to other possibilities being considered.

He also enjoys strong popularity in his purple battleground state of Arizona, one that could help decide the winner of the November election.

I think you need someone thats got national ID and has been tested to a degree, and I think [Kelly] brings that, said Democratic strategist Matt Grodsky, a former communications director for the state Democratic Party.

Democrats have expressed enthusiasm around Kelly since he first won his Senate seat in a 2020 special election to serve the remainder of the late Sen. John McCains (R-Ariz.) term. He was then elected to a full term in the Senate in 2022.

In both cases, he won by a few points and performed better than President Biden in the state in 2020 and now-Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) in 2022.

Strategists and other observers said Kellys ability to perform well in a swing state demonstrates a political prowess that could carry over to other key states outside Arizona.

Kelly served in the Navy and took part in dozens of missions in Operation Desert Storm during the Persian Gulf War before being selected as an astronaut for NASA, according to his biography on his Senate website. He traveled into space four times and retired in 2011.

Grodsky said Kellys background gives him a certain legitimacy to be able to speak about issues concerning the military, national defense and foreign policy that other choices dont have and could bring added crossover appeal to the ticket.

That does have appeal across the aisle, with moderate Republicans, independents, people that are in more of that John McCain mold, which I think is crucial not just for picking up Arizona or swing state votes but across the country, he said.

Kelly has brushed off the veepstakes speculation around him but did not rule out being open to serve as Harriss running mate if he were offered the role.

This is not about me. But Ive always, always, when Ive had the chance to serve, I think thats very important to do, he told reporters on Thursday.

Kelly has also caught attention for slamming Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), who is the GOP running mate, over various issues, including Vances position on Ukraine and comments the Ohio senator made in 2021 that childless cat ladies were running the country.

Kelly is one of several Democratic names that has received attention about potentially joining Harris, a group that includes Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D).

Kelly has received praise from some of his Senate colleagues. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) emphasized Kellys ability to bring in voters outside the Democratic base in a key swing state.

Thats a record that you want, somebody whos been able to show that ability to get votes, enthusiasm among Democrats, but also votes beyond that, he said.

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) said Kelly is an effective and capable senator whose strong national security background would help in improving Democrats chances in battleground states including Pennsylvania.

Both of Kellys electoral victories illustrated his ability to bring in more voters to his coalition. He was able to flip the populous Maricopa County in 2020, as did Biden that year, after the county voted for Republican candidates for decades.

In 2022, Kelly won reelection by nearly 5 points, carrying two congressional districts that elected Republicans to the House.

Strategists said Kellys record on policy explains his appeal.

Democratic consultant Adam Kinsey, a former executive director of the Pima County Democratic Party in Arizona, said Kelly is in a unique position to be able to discuss the issue of border security as a senator who comes from a border state and pushed for the immigration bill that Senate Democrats and Republicans agreed upon.

It briefly appeared that the legislation had a chance to move forward, but after former President Trump came out against it as a catastrophe waiting to happen, it failed. Democrats have seized on Trumps opposition to the bill as evidence that Trump wants to run on the issue of immigration, a potential vulnerability for Democrats, more than solve it.

Mark is in a great position to expose that, say, Look, I represent the border state down there. Im very aware of whats going on, Kinsey said. And I think it really gives him, it gives Democrats sort of a way to really have somebody whos an expert on the situation speak authoritatively.

Kelly also has a personal connection to political violence, an issue that has gained renewed attention in the aftermath of the shooting at Trumps rally earlier this month. Kellys wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.), was shot in the head in 2011 in Tucson, an event that received widespread national attention.

Giffords and Kelly founded a nonprofit organization to support gun control measures soon after the shooting, and Kelly has advocated for measures like enhanced background checks and red flag laws. But he is also a gun owner and sought to position himself as a supporter of the Second Amendment despite his calls for reform.

Theres the narrative that Republicans often try to use against Democrats of the gun grabbers, Kinsey said. Thats not Sen. Kelly. Hes not cut from that cloth, but he is very passionate about gun safety.

At the same time, one potential drawback may be that if elected, Kelly would leave his Senate seat, requiring the governor to appoint an interim replacement and a special election in 2026 that Republicans may be able to win. That could be especially perilous with Democrats already holding such a narrow majority in the Senate.

But he may still be deemed the right choice for the current moment. Kelly was also particularly effective at raising large amounts of money, taking in about $90 million during his 2022 campaign.

Youve got somebody with, frankly, the gravitas, legislative record of Mark Kelly, really compelling backstory and the ability to raise money and match up against these guys on the other side, he looks like the best choice, Kinsey said.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
When Bill Saiff, 65, a management consultant in Washington, D.C., was nearing his milestone birthday in December, the anxiety over what he needed to do about signing up for Medicare was palpable.

Medicare is so unnecessarily difficult, he told Yahoo Finance. My health insurance coverage is through my spouse's employer, and it offers a much better medical plan for now, so staying on her plan is a better deal for me than Medicare, but the confusion over what to do was frustrating.

Saiffs scenario  including his confusion  is prevalent. And with 4.1 million Americans turning 65 this year  a record number  the decision is front and center in many households.

The transition from employer-sponsored health insurance to Medicare is really complicated and actually can be kind of treacherous, said Mark Miller, a retirement expert and author of "Retirement Reboot: Commonsense Financial Strategies for Getting Back on Track." Same if youre transitioning from an Affordable Care Act plan to Medicare.

Medicare is my poster child for complexity in the retirement system, Miller said. Bar none, its the most complicated.

Medicare enrollment basics

Medicare coverage begins for most Americans at 65 who are not actively covered by an employer-provided healthcare plan. The initial enrollment period is the three months before, the month of, and the three months after your 65th birthday.

Miss your sign-up and you start racking up late enrollment penalties and risk gaps in coverage.

The timing of your enrollment involves a host of factors, including whether youre currently receiving Social Security benefits, whether you're still working and are actively covered by an employers plan, or whether you have coverage under your spouses plan, as Saiff does, and whether that insurance is required to pay claims for people who are eligible for Medicare, but not enrolled.

Medicare provides great insurance, but it's not a one-size-fits-all program, Philip Moeller, a Medicare and Social Security expert and principal author of the "Get Whats Yours" book series, told Yahoo Finance.

There are exceptions to the mandatory sign-up period.

For example, if you're still working at 65, you could opt to stay on your employers (or your spouses employers) health insurance past age 65, as Saiff did. But youll need proof that you were covered when you enroll in Medicare later to avoid late enrollment penalties. Moreover, if you work for an employer with 20 or fewer employees, you must enroll in Medicare at 65.

Bottom line: Unless you are still working with employer health coverage or are covered under your spouses, you likely need to enroll at 65.

You also need to decide whether to enroll in traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage, the all-in-one managed-care alternative to the traditional program that is offered by health insurance companies.

If you enroll in an Advantage plan, its difficult to transition back to traditional Medicare, which I will get to shortly.

Missing the enrollment window can lead to costly late-enrollment penalties on the premiums you pay, and risky  potentially large  gaps in your insurance coverage. (Getty Creative) (Jacob Wackerhausen via Getty Images)

How it works

Medicare has three parts that cover the essentials. Part A covers inpatient hospitalizations, skilled nursing facility services, and home health and hospice care. Part B covers preventive services, outpatient hospital and physician services, and drugs administered by doctors. Part D covers prescription drugs that you take on your own.

Traditional Medicare has more moving parts to it, but it is the gold standard from the standpoint of the widest possible access to healthcare providers and the minimum of bureaucratic hassle from middlemen insurance companies, Miller said.

However, if you pick traditional Medicare over Medicare Advantage, youll need to purchase supplemental coverage to protect from potentially high out-of-pocket costs.

Known as Medigap, these are health insurance policies sold by private insurance companies that pay part or all of certain leftover costs after Medicare pays. They can cover outstanding deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments, and may also cover healthcare costs that Medicare does not cover at all, like medical care received when traveling out of the US.

With Medicare Advantage, you agree to see health providers in the insurers network. Advantage plans typically combine Part A and B services and often Part D prescription drugs. These plans must cover all the services covered under traditional Medicare, but what attracts many seniors is that many offer extras, such as dental, vision, or hearing coverage. Most also include prescription drug coverage or health club memberships.

Retirees who receive health insurance benefits from former employers are typically automatically enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. These plans often offer more extensive networks of physicians than a typical Medicare Advantage plan.

Traditional Medicare has no restrictions on the doctors who care for you.

What attracts many seniors to Medicare Advantage plans are that many offer extra services, such as dental, vision, or hearing coverage. Most also include prescription drug coverage or health club memberships. (Getty Creative) (Thomas Barwick via Getty Images)

Comparing costs

People with traditional Medicare generally pay a monthly premium for physician coverage, Part B, and for whatever prescription drug plan they choose. Some people also pay a monthly premium for inpatient hospital coverage, Part A.

Each year the Part B premium, deductible, and coinsurance rates are reset. For 2024, the standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B is $174.70. Part B premiums typically are deducted from monthly Social Security benefits. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries is $240 this year.

If your income is above a certain amount  $103,000 for individuals and $206,000 for couples  you may owe extra premium amounts for Part B and Part D.

Medicare Advantage is typically cheaper because you wont be paying for separate Medigap supplemental coverage, and you might not need a separate prescription drug plan. But you will face managed care networks that limit your choice of providers and make you struggle to get prior authorization for some procedures and treatments, and possibly be denied care.

What trips up our clients is they went for a Medicare Advantage plan with a gym membership and the dental and the vision, and who knows what at 65, Melinda Caughill, co-founder of the Medicare advice website 65 Incorporated, told Yahoo Finance. Now, at 75 they have cancer, and they want to be able to pick their doctors.

Changing plans after initial enrollment

If you join a Medicare Advantage plan during your initial enrollment period, you can change to another Medicare Advantage plan or go to traditional Medicare within the first three months.

The federal government also offers two enrollment periods every year for switching plans. Medicare Advantage enrollees can switch plans or transfer to traditional Medicare during the open enrollment period from Jan. 1 to March 31. To switch from the original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, the enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.

About half of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries jumped ship from the plan they initially enrolled in after five years, according to a study published in the JAMA Health Forum.

Thats most likely due to standalone access to healthcare providers, especially specialists not included in the initial network.

The problem for people who want to switch from Medicare Advantage to traditional Medicare is that in most states, the time to buy a Medigap policy is when you first sign up for Medicare Part B.

That's because Medicare does not permit Medigap plans from rejecting you or charging a higher premium because of a pre-existing condition, Miller said.

After the initial sign-up period, however, Medigap plans in most states can flat-out reject you if you have a pre-existing condition, such as diabetes. The exceptions are New York, Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts.

Have a question about about retirement? Personal finances? Anything career-related? Drop Kerry Hannon a note.

Getting help

The sheer number of Medicare and Medicare Advantage plan choices can be overwhelming. The average Medicare beneficiary has a choice of close to 60 Medicare plans with Part D drug coverage in 2024, including 21 Medicare standalone drug plans and 36 Medicare Advantage drug plans, according to KFF.

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program network (SHIP) provides one-on-one counseling in every state. You can find your local SHIP here.

The Medicare Rights Center offers a free consumer helpline: (800-333-4114.) You can also contact Medicare directly at 800-633-4227 to find Medicare Advantage and Part D Plans in your area and to enroll directly.

Medicares online searchable Plan Finder on the Medicare.gov site allows you to review Medicare plan options.

Health care is one of the most significant expenses in retirement, Miller said, and making smart choices about your Medicare enrollment can help avoid the penalties and costs that arise from the misunderstandings about when to sign up if you dont have active employer coverage.

Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist, and the author of 14 books, including "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in The New World of Work" and "Never Too Old To Get Rich." Follow her on X @kerryhannon.

Click here for the latest personal finance news to help you with investing, paying off debt, buying a home, retirement, and more

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
New York Citys mayor issued an emergency order Saturday suspending parts of a new law intended to ban solitary confinement in local jails a day before it was to take effect, citing concerns for the safety of staff and detainees.

Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency and signed an order that suspended parts of the law that set a four-hour time limit on holding prisoners who pose safety concerns in de-escalation confinement and limit the use of restraints on prisoners while they are transported to courts or within jails.

The four-hour limit could only be exceeded only in exceptional circumstances." In those circumstances, prisoners would be released from de-escalation confinement as soon as practicable and when they no longer pose an imminent risk of serious injury to themselves or others, according to the mayor's order.

Adams also suspended a part of the law that prohibited jail officials from placing a prisoner in longer-term restrictive housing for more than a total of 60 days in any 12-month period. His order says jail officials must review a prisoner's placement in restrictive housing every 15 days.

It is of the utmost importance to protect the health and safety of all persons in the custody of the Department of Correction and of all officers and persons who work in the City of New York jails and who transport persons in custody to court and other facilities, and the public, Adams wrote in his state of emergency declaration.

Adams had vetoed the City Council's approval of the bill, but the council overrode the veto in January.

City Council leaders did not immediately return messages seeking comment Saturday.

But council spokesperson Shirley Limongi issued a statement sharply criticizing Adams.

Each day Mayor Adams Administration shows how little respect it has for the laws and democracy, it sets more hypocritical double standards for complying with the law that leave New Yorkers worse off. In this case, our city and everyone in its dysfunctional and dangerous jail system, including staff, are left less safe. The reality is that the law already included broad safety exemptions that make this emergency order unnecessary and another example of Mayor Adams overusing executive orders without justification, the statement said.

The bill had been introduced by New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who argued solitary confinement amounts to torture for those subjected to lengthy hours in isolation in small jail cells.

Williams and other supporters of the new law, including prominent members of New Yorks congressional delegation, have pointed to research showing solitary confinement, even only for a few days, increases the likelihood an inmate will die by suicide, violence or overdose. It also leads to acute anxiety, depression, psychosis and other impairments that may reduce an inmates ability to reintegrate into society when they are released, they said.

Adams has insisted there has been no solitary confinement in jails since it was eliminated in 2019. He said solitary confinement is defined as 22 hours or more per day in a locked cell and without meaningful human contact. He said de-escalation confinement and longer-term restrictive housing are needed to keep violent prisoners from harming other prisoners and staff.

Jail officials, the guards' union and a federal monitor appointed to evaluate operations at city jails objected to parts of the new law, also citing safety concerns.

The law places a four-hour limit on isolating inmates who pose an immediate risk of violence to others or themselves in de-escalation units. Only those involved in violent incidents could be placed in longer-term restrictive housing, and they would need to be allowed out of their cells for 14 hours each day and get access to the same programming available to other inmates.

Adams' state of emergency declaration will remain in effect for up to 30 days or until it is rescinded, whichever is earlier, with 30-day extensions possible. The order suspending parts of the new law will be in effect for five days unless terminated or modified earlier.
How did an alleged cartel kingpin who evaded capture for more than half a century end up in the hands of US federal agents?

According to officials, it started with an act of betrayal.

Details are still emerging about what led last week to one of the most significant and stunning cartel busts in recent memory.

US officials whove spoken with CNN say a key player in the operation to arrest Sinaloa cartel co-founder Ismael El Mayo Zambada was another major cartel figure who was arrested beside him.

Joaquin Guzman Lopez, one of the sons of convicted cartel boss Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, duped Zambada and orchestrated their arrest, officials told CNN.

Zambadas lawyer described what happened in harsher terms Sunday, accusing Guzman Lopez of kidnapping.

Joaquin Guzman Lopez forcibly kidnapped my client. He was ambushed, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed by six men in military uniforms and Joaquin. His legs were tied, and a black bag was placed over his head, attorney Frank Perez said in a statement sent to CNN.

He was then thrown into the back of a pickup truck and taken to a landing strip. There, he was forced onto a plane, his legs tied to the seat by Joaquin, and brought to the U.S. against his will. The only people on the plane were the pilot, Joaquin and my client, Perez added.

U.S. officials had previously told CNN that Zambada, 76, thought he and Guzman Lopez were flying to northern Mexico to look at real estate. But instead, the officials said, their small private plane landed north of the border near El Paso, Texas, where US authorities were waiting on the tarmac.

So far, we havent heard Guzman Lopezs account of what happened. The 38-year-old is expected to appear in federal court Tuesday in Chicago, his attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, told CNN.

Lichtman said in an email Saturday that hed appear in court with Guzman Lopez and added, Im looking forward to seeing Joaquin and working on the case with him. He declined further comment.

Zambada pleaded not guilty to all charges in his first federal court appearance Friday. Sundays accusation from his attorney was the latest twist in a case that seems to get murkier with each account that emerges.

One cartel expert told CNN hes dubious of some details officials have shared.

It would not surprise me at all if the story changes from today to tomorrow, or next week, said InSight Crimes Steven Dudley, whos spent more than a decade investigating drug trafficking and organized crime.

And as reporters pressed for answers in a contentious press conference Friday, Mexicos president suggested he, too, has many questions about what occurred.

The government of the United States has to give a complete report. It cant be just general statements, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said. There has to be transparency.

This much is clear: The arrests of Zambada and Guzman Lopez mark a major development in decades-long efforts to capture and prosecute alleged cartel bosses. And the details revealed so far about what led to this dramatic moment offer a telling glimpse into the inner workings of what authorities describe as one of the worlds most notorious and nefarious criminal enterprises.

The front pages of Mexican newspapers showed the news of the capture of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. - Rodrigo Oropeza/AFP/Getty Images

Authorities had closed in on El Mayo before

It wasnt the first time authorities had Zambada in their sights.

In a 2010 interview with the Mexican magazine Proceso, Zambada said Mexicos military had come close to capturing him at least four times before.

I fled through the highlands, where I know the branches, the streams, the rocks, everything. They catch me if I am still or if I am careless, like El Chapo, he said.

At the time, Zambada told Proceso that fear about being captured weighed on him constantly.

Im terrified that theyll lock me up, he said.

That 2010 interview was one of the last known public appearances for the notably lower-profile Zambada. His name surged into international headlines in 2018 and 2019 during the high-profile trial of Guzman, whose lawyer argued that Zambada was the cartels true leader.

Lichtman, the defense attorney, also represented the elder Guzman and alleged at the time that Zambada had bribed the Mexican government to frame El Chapo and remain free to run the cartel.

In 2021, US authorities raised the reward for information leading to Zambadas arrest to $15 million.

Over the years, Zambadas storied ability to evade capture was referenced in narcocorrido ballads about him. The 2022 corrido Senor Zambada, performed by El Fantasma and Enigma Norteno from Zambadas perspective, includes the lines: I know very well that they want to catch me, that the government wanted to lock me up. But they are going to keep wanting that, because no matter how much they look, they are not going to find me.

His elusive reputation also caught the attention of his enemies, former Drug Enforcement Administration agent Mike Vigil told CNN.

Mayo Zambada, prior to (Thursday) and over 50 years of involvement in the drug trade had never been captured, never served any time, Vigil said, so he is highly respected even by his rivals.

Dudley of InSight Crime pointed to this aspect of Zambadas past when he told CNN en Espanol he was skeptical of accounts that painted the Sinaloa cartel leader as an unwitting victim who was tricked into being captured.

Im not 100% convinced thats what happened. I see in El Mayo Zambada a person whos older. Hes 76. I see a person whos also experienced, a person who knows exactly when and from where any deception is coming, Dudley said. Thats why hes never stepped foot in a jail until yesterday. So I have my doubts. That is to say, I think that were still missing information.

Officials say they exploited a rift in the cartel

Officials who spoke with CNN said Zambada boarded a plane with Guzman Lopez Thursday thinking theyd be inspecting property together near the border. Zambada didnt realize US investigators had exploited a rift in the Sinaloa cartel, one official said, and that Guzman Lopez was in fact helping with Zambadas capture.

A long-simmering power struggle between Zambada and El Chapos sons, also known as the Chapitos, was about to boil over.

Agents from Homeland Security Investigations, which led the operation, were skeptical at first when Guzman Lopez made the offer, an official familiar with the operation told CNN.

But as the plane they were flying in landed at the Santa Teresa airport near El Paso, Texas, on Thursday, federal agents were waiting.

One worker at the airport told Reuters that he saw a Beechcraft King Air land Thursday afternoon on the runway, where federal agents were already waiting.

Two individuals got off the plane and were calmly taken into custody, said the man, who declined to share his name out of concern for his safety.

It seemed like a pretty calm, arranged thing, he added.

The entire operation, one source told CNN, went off surprisingly smoothly given the gravity of the arrests and the disruption it could cause to drug trafficking from Mexico.

Now that Zambada and Guzman Lopez are in US custody, authorities are ready to make the case against them.

Both Zambada and Guzman Lopez face charges in the US for allegedly leading the cartels criminal operations, including its deadly fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement after the arrests.

Top US officials trumpeted the arrests as a major victory. But some analysts were more measured in their assessment of the potential impact.

Its a historic capture, of course, and symbolic. But is it going to create a collateral effect or have an impact on drug trafficking? I really doubt that, Dudley said. As much because El Mayo had pulled back already from the day-to-day operations, and the world of drug trafficking is really now a different world from when he started. Its much more decentralized. Its much more like a franchise. There are contractors, subcontractors, other contractors. There are many parts that can be easily replaced.

Speculating on what could happen next, Mexicos president pointed to Zambadas own words in the 2010 Proceso interview. If he were captured or killed, Zambada said that effectively nothing would happen. In the world of drug trafficking, he said, whether capos are locked up, dead, or extradited, their replacements are already out there.

Experts say theres little doubt that these arrests, like past high-profile kingpin takedowns, will spur a new wave of violence as rival groups vie for territory and power.

And no matter what new details emerge about how they happened, the surprising and dramatic arrests wont soon be forgotten.

CNNs Ione Molinares, Fidel Gutierrez, Abel Alvarado and Amanda Musa contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Former President Donald Trump on Saturday laid out his plans to wholeheartedly embrace cryptocurrency if elected for a second term, telling hundreds of cheering supporters of the digital tokens that he wants the U.S. to be a bitcoin superpower under his leadership.

In his keynote address at a bitcoin conference in Nashville, Tennessee, the Republican presidential nominee promised to make the United States the crypto capital of the planet and create a bitcoin strategic reserve using the currency that the government currently holds.

He also promised to remove Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler if elected and implement a crypto advisory council, teasing the crowd by asking attendees if anyone wanted to join.

We will have regulations, but from now on the rules will be written by people who love your industry, not hate your industry, he said.

Trump's keynote address at the Bitcoin 2024 conference showed how radically his position on cryptocurrency has changed over time.

He was not always a fan of cryptocurrencies, writing on social media in 2019 that their value is highly volatile and based on thin air.

He has embraced the digital currency in recent years, and in May, his campaign began accepting donations in cryptocurrency.

Throughout the nearly 50-minute speech, Trump repeatedly sought to contrast his support of cryptocurrency to the Bidens administration efforts to regulate the industry, telling the crowd that the federal government was blocking your way. Trump said he wanted cryptocurrency mined, minted and made in the United States.

The former president appealed to bitcoin fans by pointing to U.S. law enforcement seizures of the digital token.

They took it away from you, he said. So, as I take steps to transform that vast wealth into a permanent national asset to benefit all Americans, today I repeat my promise to commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht.

Ulbricht created the underground drug-selling website Silk Road but was sentenced to life in prison after a judge held him responsible for six overdose deaths linked to his website. Some of the nearly 800 attendees who flocked to downtown Nashville to hear Trump speak wore Free Ross Day One hats, in a nod to Ulbricht's prison sentence.

Tennessees U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn called Trumps announcement of a bitcoin strategic reserve a historic moment.

Trump's remarks came a day after independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed the conference and also pitched launching a strategic bitcoin reserve.

___

Associated Press writer Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report.
The United States will overhaul its military forces in Japan as the two countries move to deepen defense cooperation, Washington and Tokyo said Sunday, in a sweeping step to modernize their alliance in the face of mounting security threats in Asia.

The announcement comes as Japan and the US warily eye a region where China is seen as increasingly aggressive in asserting its disputed territorial claims and North Korea continues its illegal weapons program  while both tighten ties with Russia as it wages war in Ukraine.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and their Japanese counterparts Minoru Kihara and Yoko Kamikawa announced the plan in a joint statement following a meeting in Tokyo, where they also called Chinas political, economic, and military coercion the greatest strategic challenge in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

The move is likely to stoke the ire of Beijing, which has watched warily as the US has bolstered ties with regional allies in a part of the world where observers say China seeks to be the dominant power  and where its accused the US of fostering a Cold War-style bloc mentality.

Under the new plan, US forces in Japan would be reconstituted as a joint force headquarters reporting to the Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command to facilitate deeper interoperability and cooperation on joint bilateral operations in peacetime and during contingencies, according to the statement.

In a press conference following the meeting, Austin hailed the countries move to modernize their alliance command and control as an historic decision.

This will be the most significant change to US Forces Japan since its creation, and one of the strongest improvements in our military ties with Japan in 70 years, Austin said.

He pointed both to the upgrade of US Forces Japan with expanded missions and operational responsibilities, announced Sunday, and Japans new Joint Operations Command, saying that the countries were reinforcing their combined ability to deter and respond to coercive behavior in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

The announcement follows an April summit in Washington between US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, where the two vowed to upgrade their respective command-and-control framework to strengthen deterrence and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific in the face of pressing regional security challenges.

Details of the implementation would be figured out in working groups led by US Indo-Pacific Command, a senior US defense official said ahead of Sundays announcement, adding that there is no intention to integrate Japanese forces into the US commands.

US Forces Japan (USFJ), whose headquarters is Yokota Air Base, consists of approximately 54,000 military personnel stationed in Japan under a 1960 mutual cooperation and security treaty.

The expected reconfiguration comes as Japan shifts its defense posture, veering away from the pacifist constitution imposed on it by the United States in the aftermath of World War II, with a plan to boost defense spending to about 2% of its GDP by 2027 and acquire counterstrike capabilities.

These changes have cemented Japans centrality to Washingtons regional security strategy and its push for increasing coordination with allies and partners amid rising regional tensions  and as it increasingly sees security in Europe and Asia as intertwined in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

The latest move also comes months ahead of the US presidential election, which American allies around the world have been watching closely, as Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump has repeatedly questioned the cost of US alliances.

When asked whether the elections could impact US-Japan relations, Blinken said the long-standing alliance was stronger than its even been and would be sustained irrespective of the outcome of elections in either of our countries.

The reason for that is because its manifestly in the interests of our people, the Japanese people, the American people, and people well beyond our countries, he said.

Rising regional tensions

China was repeatedly mentioned with pointed language in the joint statement, with the ministers outlining shared concerns including what they described as Beijings intensifying attempts to unilaterally change the status quo in the East China Sea, its threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea, and its support for Russias defense industrial base.

China has been aggressively asserting its claims in the contested waters of the South China Sea and maintaining an extended presence near Japanese-controlled islands Beijing claims in the East China Sea. Western leaders have accused Beijing of enabling Moscows war in Ukraine through the provision of dual-use goods, a charge Beijing denies.

The ministers also said Taiwans political transition period should not be used as a pretext for provocative actions across the Taiwan Strait, a statement that follows Chinese military drills encircling the self-ruled democracy Beijing claims just days after Taiwan swore in a new president in May.

When asked during the press conference about the relationship between the new command and concerns about China, Austin said the decision to strengthen the command was not based upon any threat from China. Its based on our desire and our ability to work closer together and to be more effective, the defense chief said.

In the statement, the ministers also condemned North Koreas missile testing and nuclear weapons programs, and condemned deepening Russia-North Korea cooperation, including Russias procurement of ballistic missiles and other materiel from North Korea for use in Ukraine.

The meeting follows a trilateral meeting earlier Sunday between defense chiefs from the United States, Japan and South Korea, the first of its kind in Tokyo  and yet another sign of the tightening coordination of regional US allies.

That came nearly one year after a landmark summit between the three countries held by Biden at Camp David. The burgeoning trilateral coordination between the US, Japan and South Korea marks a shift in regional relations, with Seoul and Tokyo  both long-standing US allies  widely seen as working to put aside historic animosity and mistrust to better address shared security threats.

On Sunday, the three defense chiefs vowed to strengthen cooperation to deter nuclear and missile threats from North Korea and formalized a trilateral agreement that reaffirms the unwavering nature of the new era of trilateral cooperation, according to a joint statement.

This would institutionalize trilateral security cooperation among their countries defense authorities, including senior-level policy consultations, information sharing, trilateral exercises, and defense exchange cooperation.

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that this is the first meeting on its kind in Tokyo

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  Protests and vigils continued around the country Sunday in remembrance of Sonya Massey, a Black woman whose fatal shooting by a white sheriff's deputy in her Illinois home has drawn national outrage  as the sheriff's union pushes for the deputy to be reinstated.

Controversy surrounding the shooting intensified after the release last week of a body camera video that captured the gruesome July 6 incident. Activists have declared Sunday a National Day of Mourning for Massey, and gatherings were planned in New York, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Massey's home of Springfield and elsewhere.

About 350 people attended the Springfield rally at Comer Cox Park, many wearing purple, Massey's favorite color. The supporters were expected to march to the Illinois Capitol Building a few blocks away. Austin Randolph, president of the Springfield NAACP, said there was no excuse, no explanation, no reason'' for Massey's death and called on the crowd to keep their "eye on the prize" as the deputy's trial plays out.

Hundreds rallied over the weekend in Chicago, Brooklyn and other cities. At a Chicago "Justice for Sonya Massey" rally Saturday in Federal Plaza, Black Lives Matter organizer Troy Gatson told ABC 7's Eyewitness News residents came together "to hear the voices of the community, so we can push back to stop the killings."

On July 17, Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean P. Grayson was fired and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct in Massey's death. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond.

The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police also filed a grievance saying Grayson was fired "without just cause." The document seeks his reinstatement, payment of lost wages and benefits and "any other appropriate relief."

Fresh heartache: Sonya Massey's killing is painful for Breonna Taylor, George Floyd activists

The Massey family's lawyer Ben Crump said Massey had an encounter with police over a mental health issue the day before the shooting. Crump said Massey had driven herself to HSHS St. John's Hospital seeking help but returned home later that day.

An autopsy revealed she was killed by a bullet that entered under her left eye. "She needed a helping hand, not a bullet to the face," Crump said.

A protester stands in front of a Chicago police officer while taking part in a rally following the death of Sonya Massey on July 27, 2024.

Communities across US hold National Day of Mourning

Communities across the country gathered on Sunday as part of a nationwide day of mourning for Massey.

Dameon Johnson, of Springfield, Illinois, said he didn't know Sonya Massey. But when Johnson got word that a group out of New York City was putting together a National Day of Mourning for Massey, he said he knew he had to act.

"All that I've read, all that I've seen, she seems like she's my little sister and I took personal attachment to this issue, to this tragedy," Johnson said to a crowd of about 350 people at Comer Cox Park on Sunday. "Look, this is ground zero. If you look around here, this is truly amazing."

Many attendees in purple were wearing "Say Her Name: Sonya Massey" shirts. Massey's mother, Donna, thanked the crowd for the support.

"This is not just for Sonya," she said. "This is for all of us. We still haven't gotten justice and it's time."

Vigils and protests were also held in New York, Illinois, Georgia and Virginia. CBS News reported that hundreds rallied at Washington Square Park in New York City, calling for justice.

"I'm just so sick and tired of this happening over and over and over again and nothing is being done about it," Charlene Woodruff told the news station.

Local news stations in Champaign, Illinois, and Atlanta reported that dozens of community members gathered for vigils in honor of Massey. In Norfolk, Virginia, an activist group organized a march in solidarity for justice, according to television station WVEC.

Why was Sonya Massey shot?

Three weeks ago Massey, a 36-year-old mother of two, called 911 to report a possible intruder in her home. Bodycam video from the scene shows Grayson and another responding deputy speaking calmly with Massey outside the home. They enter the residence and continue to speak with Massey, asking for her identification card. Grayson sees a pot of water boiling and tells Massey to move it to avoid a fire. She moves it as the deputies move away, and asks where they are going.

"Away from your hot steaming water, Grayson says, to which Massey responds: "Away from the hot steaming water? Oh, Ill rebuke you in the name of Jesus.

"You better ... not or I swear to God Ill ... shoot you in the ... face," Grayson says, then takes out his gun.

Massey ducks and says, Im sorry," as the deputies yell at her to drop the pot. Three three gunshots are heard.

Grayson is then heard calling for EMS and the other deputy says, "Im gonna go get my kit."

"Shes done. You can go get it, but thats a headshot," Grayson responds.

Who is Sean Grayson?

Grayson, 30, served in the Army from 2014 to 2016. According to his personnel file and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, Grayson worked part-time for four different police departments before he began working for the Auburn, Illinois, police department in July 2021. He later worked as a deputy in Logan County and then joined the Sangamon County Sheriffs Office in May 2023.

He twice pleaded guilty to charges he was driving under the influence, one while he was in the U.S. Army, records show. A sheet from his personnel file, obtained by The State Journal-Register, part of the USA TODAY Network, through a Freedom of Information Act request, listed "misconduct (serious offense)" as his reason for separation from the Army on Feb. 27, 2016.

Grayson's former sergeant, in writing a recommendation letter for him for the Auburn Police Department, noted that "aside from Mr. Grayson's DUI, there were no other issues that he had during his tenure in the U.S. Army."

Jeff Wilhite, a spokesman for Sangamon County, said the sheriff's office knew about both DUIs.

Federal investigation underway as supporters mourn loss

Massey's death is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice. A DOJ committee and a Springfield church are hosting a listening session for the community Monday evening. Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell, whose hiring of Grayson has been scrutinized, is expected to attend.

Joe Feiden of Springfield came to Sundays rally with a Campbell resign sign.

The Illinois state constitution doesnt allow for impeachment, Feiden said. A sheriff can be removed if theres a lynching when a person is in his custody. I would argue that this is a modern-day lynching.

K.J. Moore of Springfield said she lived several blocks from Massey and her own daughter had a mental health crisis last spring.

Springfield police came twice to her home in 48 hours, Moore said, but "it was a totally different scenario,'' because in her case they showed compassion."

"If I had not been an advocate or voice for her, the same thing (that happened to Massey) couldve happened."

Rekindling memories of Breonna Taylor

For activists like Hannah Drake, Massey's killing by a law enforcement officer in her own home brings back painful memories of Breonna Taylor, the Louisville, Kentucky, emergency medical technician who in March 2020 was shot dead by police officers who rammed their way into her apartment during a raid.

Taylor's killing led to large protests as part of the national reckoning over police brutality and racial injustice during the summer of 2020 sparked by the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Though Louisville banned no-knock warrants following the uproar over Taylor's shooting, policy changes at the federal level have been slow to come by.

It's like we're in a domestic violence relationship with America, Drake said. It's like a honeymoon phase, and then it's right back to violence.

Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, Karissa Waddick and Olivia Evans of USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sonya Massey shooting: Vigils honor Black woman killed by police
Indian Pauline heads the Madrid-based SOBICAIN, which disseminates the Holy Scriptures and promotes biblical culture. In an interview with MattersIndia he talks about his commitment to expand the dissemination of the Bible in various languages and countries in the footsteps of Fr Alberione

Rome (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The Catholic Bible Society International (SOBICAIN), founded a century ago by Blessed James Alberione, has for the first time an Asian and Indian director. Fr. Jose Pottayil, a member of the India-Great Britain-Ireland province of the Pauline Society, officially took office as director on 1 May 2024. The appointment had been announced by the Superior General of the Pauline Society, Fr. Dominic Solliman, on 16 January.

P. Fr. Pottayil has a rich career of experience and leadership roles within the congregation. He has served as general councillor, vicar general, provincial of India, as well as director of the apostolate and animator of several communities and groups. In an interview with Fr Joe Eruppakkatt published by the Catholic website MattersIndia, he discussed his new appointment, outlining the importance, objectives and operations of SOBICAIN.

The company, based in Madrid, is dedicated to the dissemination of the Holy Scriptures and the promotion of biblical culture through publications and educational initiatives. Father Pottayil's appointment marks a significant moment in SOBICAIN's history, reflecting the growing diversity and inclusiveness within the Catholic Church and the Pauline Society.

Speaking to MattersIndia about the priorities for the Catholic Bible Society International, the newly appointed director says: My first priority is to know the various activities and coordinate with our general government and the various provincial governments for the growth and expansion of SOBICAIN. He added that there is a great desire in the world to know the Word of God in depth, no part of it excluded.

"The need and demand are inexhaustible. Therefore, I also intend to expand the SOBICAIN network to translate, produce and distribute the Holy Bible in many other languages and countries of the world, so that the Word of God can be proclaimed, known and experienced by people of every nation and language, he continued. The interview concludes by mentioning that the project outlined is what the founder of SOBICAIN wished for, with his dreams and hopes. The company will spare no effort to realise his vision, he concludes.
The chief of Kazakhstan's Food Contract Corporation, Assylkhan Dzhuvashev, announced at the Agricultural Forum in Baku that the company is prepared to deliver up to 1 million tons of wheat to Azerbaijan, Azernews reports citing Kazinform News Agency.

The wheat will primarily be transported through JSC Ak Biday-Terminal, which specializes in handling and storing grain crops and corn.

This terminal network, managed by the Food Contract Corporation, includes facilities in Kazakhstan (Port of Aktau), Azerbaijan (Baku Grain Terminal LLC), and Iran (Amirabad Grain Terminal Kish LLC).

Assylkhan Dzhuvashev said that this grain storage and sale system will ensure efficient wheat supplies to Azerbaijan.

For instance, annual transshipment capacity of the Baku Grain Terminal, located in Hovsan Port, is approximately 600 thousand tons, while its mill processes up to 50 thousand tons of products per annum. The terminal operates around the clock and is equipped with an automated process control system, which guarantees high quality services.

"Historically, Kazakhstan has shipped more than 1 million tons of grain to Azerbaijan. We are working to return to our previous positions to once again become competitive in the Azerbaijani market," he stressed.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Somalia Ahmed Moallim Fiqi has visited Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park, Azernews reports.

The Azerbaijani Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ruslan Nasibov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Economic Zones Development Agency (IZIA) Elkiyar Ziyadov informed the guests about the industrial zones operating in the country, the existing favorable investment opportunities for entrepreneurs, and a presentation of IZIA was held.

The issues of mutual interest in the industrial sector were discussed at the meeting, and the advantages of using the industrial zone model were noted.

In conclusion, the guests got acquainted with the work carried out in the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park and the activities of the sheet glass production enterprise Azerfloat CJSC, which is a resident of the industrial park.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
28 July 2024 16:35 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and IDPs and the Special Representative Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Kalbajar district have conducted an information for a group of sculptors and artists to Kalbajar district, Azernews reports.

During the tour, participants were briefed on the ongoing restoration and construction projects in the district under President Ilham Aliyev's guidance, as well as the efforts to facilitate the return of local residents to their homeland.

The artists had the opportunity to explore Kalbajar's captivating natural beauty, witness the aftermath of Armenian atrocities, engage with local residents, and capture the scenery through various artistic mediums.

The group visited key sites such as the city of Kalbajar, the ancient Khudaveng Monastery, and the Sarsang water reservoir, expressing satisfaction with the informative and productive trip.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
28 July 2024 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

Preparations for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) were discussed at the event "World Heritage, Biodiversity and Climate: Mobilizing Action and Finance" organized within the framework of the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC46), Azernews reports.

"Today Azerbaijan delegation attended side event World Heritage, Biodiversity and Climate: Mobilizing Action and Finance held in the framework of UNESCO WHC46. Representative of Azerbaijan Mr Faig Mutallimov spoke about policy of Azerbaijan on this issue. He informed [the attendees] about COP29" reads a post by National Commission of Azerbaijan for UNESCO on X.

The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Baku in November 2024.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
28 July 2024 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

"A total of 6,516,567 ballot papers will be printed for the snap parliamentary elections scheduled for September 1, 2024," Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission (CEC) Rovzat Gasimov said at a meeting, Azernews reports.

On June 28, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed an Order on dissolving the sixth convocation of the Azerbaijani Parliament and setting snap parliamentary elections.

Under the presidential Order, the sixth convocation Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall be dissolved and the snap parliamentary elections in the Azerbaijani parliament shall be scheduled for September 1, 2024.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
28 July 2024 10:54 (UTC+04:00)

In a bid to bolster the efforts of Azerbaijans government agencies to align with global climate goals, the COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company has rolled out an extensive training programme focused on enhancing sustainability competencies, Azernews reports citing COP29 official website.

Spanning a three-week period from the 8th to the 26th of July, the programme included a blend of online training sessions and live information-sharing modules.

The intensive training initiative, spearheaded by the COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company and international experts, sought to familiarize various government entities with the COP process and ensure their effective participation in the event. Additionally, the programme aimed to raise awareness and build the sustainability capacities of these agencies.

Covering a wide range of domains, including climate, sustainability, governance, and social aspects, the programme featured tailored sessions for representatives from eight government agencies. This comprehensive approach served to deepen the understanding of climate-related issues and catalyze the development of effective response strategies.

The training programme, hosted by the COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company, has been attended by a total of 49 agencies spanning various sectors, including transportation, energy, climate and emergencies, climate finance and economics, food security and agriculture, healthcare, tourism, migration, youth, and education.

Alongside the training sessions, the programme also kick-started a series of information-sharing sessions with the COP29 Organizing Committee. These sessions delved into the key focus areas of climate action, the thematic days of COP29, the agenda of the COP29 Azerbaijan Presidency, and the portfolio of new initiatives.

It is worth noting that this training and capacity-building programme for government agencies is the first of its kind in Azerbaijan, aimed at providing clarity and addressing the questions surrounding the upcoming COP29 climate conference.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
28 July 2024 12:00 (UTC+04:00)

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Peru Dina Ercilia Boluarte Segarra on the occasion of the national holiday of Peru - Independence Day, Azernews reports.

The letter reads as follows:

Dear madam President,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I cordially congratulate you, and through you, all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Peru - Independence Day.

I believe that we will continue to make joint efforts to develop Azerbaijan-Peru relations in the spirit of friendship in line with the interests of our peoples, and continue our cooperation both bilaterally and within the framework of multilateral institutions.

On such a remarkable day, I wish You robust health, happiness, success in your activities, and friendly people of Peru everlasting peace and prosperity.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 25 July 2024

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
28 July 2024 11:48 (UTC+04:00)

Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) Director General Kiril Valchev and Rector of the National Academy of Art (NAA) in Sofia Prof. Georgi Yankov signed an agreement to have a new typeface created that for the time being is known as BTA, Azernews reports, citing Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).

At the signing, which took place at BTA's press club in Burgas on Saturday, Valchev and Yankov said that the goal is to BTA an institution with a unified new look based on Bulgarian traditions.

According to the agreement, the font will be developed on the basis of the Cyrillic alphabetic system and will include elements from the time of its creation in the 9th century AD by the disciples of Cyril and Methodius, who the Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates every year on July 27.

At the signing, Valchev said: "We already have experience with different fonts. On the BTA website, for example, we use the Sofia Sans font, which was developed with the participation of specialists from the NAA for Sofia Municipality. In LIK magazine we use various fonts such as Pliska, Monserrat, Bitter, and in our correspondence, we use Times New Roman. In fact, at this point, BTA is doing what all institutions do in this country - using fonts haphazardly. We have virtually no unified visual identity. Often we also use fonts based on other countries' designs."

Valchev said that while this may seem like a minor issue amid the vast pool of other problems that the country faces, it is still a part of the Bulgarian people's self-respect. He added: "To use others' fonts, even though we gave the Cyrillic alphabet to the world, is obviously ridiculous to say the least, so I hope that our example will be used by other institutions."

The term of the contract is five months, which means the project should be completed by the end of the year. The new typeface will then be patented and can be used by other institutions.

Yankov said the NAA has the capacity to make the state "play in harmony in terms of graphic design". He also shared his joy at the fact that institutions such as BTA and the NAA are helping to represent Bulgaria's typography tradition.

The NAA Rector said: "Bulgaria is still the first country admitted to the European Union whose official alphabet is not Latin, but Cyrillic. This is an exceptional opportunity to showcase our graphic standards and label [...]"

Yankov reported that the main person involved in the development of the BTA font was Assoc. Prof. Svetlin Balezdrov, who is also currently working on the design for Latvia's euro coin.

Prof. Kristina Borisova compared BTA to world leaders of mass media such as the BBC and CNN, who also commissioned the creation of their own corporate fonts. She praised BTA for choosing to work with the NAA, the country's most prestigious institution in the visual arts, instead of a typography studio.

Borisova shared that in terms of style, the new font will be a bearer of local traditions, but it will also have the simplicity and clarity of Frutiger, the rigour of Helvetica and the harmony of Optima.

Before the official signing, the July issue of LIK magazine was presented, which is dedicated to the 55th anniversary of the Black Sea resort of Albena.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
28 July 2024 22:27 (UTC+04:00)

British journalist Tommy Robinson, the person who repeatedly called for provocation and action against the Azerbaijani embassy in Great Britain was arrested on charges of terrorism.

Azernews reports that Robinson, one of the most well-known right-wing activists in Great Britain, has been detained on charges of terrorism and is under investigation.

According to foreign media sources, relevant information about this was spread on his X. It is clear from the information that he was arrested under anti-terrorism laws.

It should be noted that Tommy Robinson, who is known as a journalist, repeatedly called for provocation against the Azerbaijani embassy in Britain. Tommy Robinson supported the actions held by Islamophobic and racist forces living in London in front of the building of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Holland Park on May 25 of this year and called on his supporters to participate in the protest actions.

In the second action held by that group on July 20, they were called to "unite Christians of the world against the genocide of Christian Armenians by Islamist Azerbaijan."

Background

Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, is a British anti-Islam campaigner, convicted criminal, and one of the UKs most prominent far-right activists. He was a political advisor to former UK Independence Party leader Gerard Batten.

Robinson has been active in far-right politics for many years. He was a member of the British National Party (BNP), a British fascist political party, from 2004 to 2005.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
More than 5,000 students will be accommodated at the site when completed

A sketch of the Fallowfield redevelopment project, for which NI construction company Graham has been selected as the preferred bidder

Co Down construction company Graham has been selected as the preferred bidder for a major student accommodation building project.

The Fallowfield campus redevelopment is the UKs largest student accommodation development, and will see 5,400 student beds provided upon completion.

The University of Manchester has chosen Graham for the project, alongside infrastructure company Equitix and facilities management company Derwent.

The Fallowfield site is nearby Manchester Universitys main buildings. The redevelopment will see new rooms added, as well as 3,300 bedrooms being updated.

The University of Manchester say this is a much needed update to one of our most popular student campuses, and add that they will work with the neighbours to ensure the surrounding community can benefit as much as possible from the redevelopment project.

There will be several phases to the project, beginning with the ongoing demolition of the Owens Park Tower and the surrounding buildings.

The buildings have been closed for several years, and the demolition work is due to be finished in early 2025.

Graham is a construction company headquartered in Hillsborough, Co Down, that employs around 2,300 people.

It had a turnover in 2023 of 1.1bn, resulting in a pre-tax profit of 15.1m. It cam 35th in the Belfast Telegraphs list of the Top 100 Companies in Northern Ireland 2024.

Graham CEO Andrew Bill said: Graham is delighted to be working in partnership with the University of Manchester to deliver its vision for the Fallowfield Residences Redevelopment Programme.

"Together, we will focus on creating an exemplar sustainable campus that will enhance the experience of the Universitys next generation of students.

Dr Simon Merrywest, director for the student experience at the University of Manchester said: We are delighted to have reached another key milestone in the progression of our plans for the Fallowfield Campus Redevelopment with the selection of Viridis as preferred bidder and our delivery partner.

"Clearly, there remains a lot of work to do in order to reach financial close on this exciting programme by summer 2025.
Mr Brett was shot dead in Glengormley in 2001

Phyllis Brett pictured making an appeal about her son's murder in 2008

The mother of a teenager murdered by loyalist gunmen has pleaded with people to help her find peace by turning over his killers.

Gavin Brett - the brother of a DUP MLA - was shot dead in Glengormley on July 29 2001 but the South East Antrim UDA gang which carried out the killing has never been caught.

The 18-year-old had been standing with a group of friends near the entrance of a GAA club opposite Hollybrook Road when they came under fire in a drive-by shooting by loyalists who assumed he was a Catholic.

Ahead of the 23rd anniversary, Mr Brett's mother Phyllis issued an emotional appeal for information.

She said: So much time has passed since my son was murdered. Someone must know who is responsible.

Please come forward and speak to the police, please help my family find peace.

Mr Bretts father Michael, a paramedic, had tried to revive his son. He died in 2007, never seeing his son's killers brought to justice.

The victims brother, Phillip, is now a DUP MLA for North Belfast.

Detective Chief Inspector Byrne from Legacy Investigation Branch said: Gavin was enjoying an evening with his friends when a dark-coloured saloon type car travelled towards them from the direction of the Upper Hightown Road.

Read more Man dies in Co Armagh farm tragedy

As the car passed the friends, an occupant of the vehicle fired a number of shots in their direction before making off at speed towards Glengormley.

Gavin tragically died at the scene despite medical treatment after he was shot twice. A second 18-year-old man was treated in hospital for a gunshot wound to his ankle.

Phyllis Brett pictured making an appeal about her son's murder in 2008

DCI Byrne continued: We understand two gunmen were involved in Gavins horrific murder, and as part of our enquiries at the time  a Vauxhall vehicle was observed shortly before the attack driving in a reckless manner at the Sandyknowes Roundabout.

A day later on Monday, July 30, a dark blue Vauxhall Nova saloon vehicle was located burnt out behind shops at Ballyearl Drive, New Mossley. We also believe this car was connected to the investigation.

A number of suspects have been arrested in the years since Mr Bretts murder but no one has been convicted.

This was a brutal and harrowing attack on an innocent young man as he enjoyed a night with friends, DCI Byrne added.

His adult life was beginning and he had so much to live for. Gavins father also sadly died never seeing his sons killers brought to justice.

Despite the amount of time that has passed since Gavins murder it is not too late, if anyone now feels they are able to talk to us about any information they may have, we are ready to listen.

Today I am appealing for anyone who may have been in the Hollybrook Road area or the surrounding streets before or after Gavins murder and who may have seen the attackers to speak with police.

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 or you can also submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/.
Russia may deploy new strike weapons in response to the planned US stationing of longer-range and hypersonic missiles in Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik/Kremlin Pool/AP)

Russia may deploy new strike weapons in response to the planned US stationing of longer-range and hypersonic missiles in Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

Speaking at a naval parade in St Petersburg on Sunday, Mr Putin vowed mirror measures after the US earlier this month announced it will start deploying the weapons in 2026, to affirm its commitment to Nato and European defence following Moscows all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Mr Putin said: If the US implements such plans, we will consider ourselves free from the previously imposed unilateral moratorium on the deployment of intermediate and shorter-range strike weapons, including increasing the capability of the coastal forces of our navy.

He added that Moscows development of suitable systems is in its final stage.

President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech flanked by Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, right, during the Navy Day parade in St Petersburg (Dmitri Lovetsky/Pool/AP)

Both Washington and Moscow have in recent weeks signalled readiness to deploy intermediate-range ground-based weapons that were banned for decades under a 1987 US-Soviet treaty.

The US pulled out of the agreement in 2019, accusing Moscow of conducting missile tests that violated it.

The allegations, which Russia denied, came as tensions mounted between Moscow and the West in the wake of the downing of a Malaysian airliner carrying 298 people over war-torn eastern Ukraine.

Two Russians and a pro-Moscow Ukrainian were ultimately convicted over their role in the attack.

Washington and Berlin said in a joint statement this month that the US weapons to be placed in Germany would ultimately include SM-6 missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles and developmental hypersonic weapons, including those with a significantly longer range than the ones currently deployed across Europe.

Most of Russias missile systems are capable of carrying either conventional or nuclear warheads.

President Vladimir Putin and Russian officials wave to spectators during Navy Day in St Petersburg (Dmitri Lovetsky/Pool/AP)

Russias deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said last week the Kremlin does not rule out new deployments of nuclear missiles in response to the US move.

Mr Ryabkov added that defending Kaliningrad, Russias heavily militarised exclave wedged between Nato members Poland and Lithuania, is of particular concern.

Mr Putin has for years cast US deployment of missile infrastructure in Europe as an aggressive move aimed at hamstringing Moscows capabilities.

The news about the planned stationing of new weapons in Germany came at a Nato summit in Washington earlier this month.

At the same event, allies announced that a new US base in Poland, Ukraines western neighbour, is ready to enter operation and will be capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.
Blog Archive: Oct 2024 (45) Sep 2024 (149) Aug 2024 (155) Jul 2024 (155) Jun 2024 (150) May 2024 (153) Apr 2024 (149) Mar 2024 (155) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (156) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55)
Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has formally endorsed Masoud Pezeshkian as president (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP)

Irans Supreme Leader has formally endorsed Masoud Pezeshkian as president, allowing the reformist politician and heart surgeon to take charge of a country weakened by economic sanctions over its nuclear programme.

During an endorsement ceremony in the capital, Tehran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Mr Pezeshkian to prioritise neighbours, African and Asian nations as well as countries that have supported and helped Iran in Tehrans foreign relations policies.

Ayatollah Khamenei criticised European nations for behaving badly to us by adopting sanctions, an oil embargo and for calling out alleged human rights abuses.

He also condemned Israel for its actions in Gaza and the deaths of children, women and hospital patients who did not shoot a single bullet against Israeli forces.

The Zionist regime is showing its ugliest face as a war criminal, he said, accusing Israel of setting a new record in assassinations and cruelty.

He also denounced the US Congress for allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address the legislative body.

Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, gives his official seal of approval to President Masoud Pezeshkian, watched by acting president Mohammad Mokhber (left) (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP)

Speaking at the same ceremony, Mr Pezeshkian paid homage to General Qassem Soleimani, the architect of Irans regional military activities, who was killed in a US drone attack in 2020.

He reiterated his promise to pursue a constructive and efficient foreign policy, bolster the rule of law, offer equal opportunities to citizens, support families and protect the environment.

In his first official act in office, he appointed Mohammad Reza Aref as his first vice-president.

The 72-year-old, who is considered a moderate reformist, held the post between 2001-2005 under former president Mohammad Khatami, and has a doctorate in engineering from Stanford University.

Mr Pezeshkian takes over from his predecessor, Ebrahim Raisi, whose death in a helicopter crash in May sparked the early election.

He will take the oath of office in parliament on Tuesday and will have two weeks to form his own cabinet for a vote of confidence in parliament.

The new Iranian president pledged in his election campaign that he would make no radical changes to Irans Shiite theocracy, embracing Ayatollah Khamenei as the final arbiter in all matters of state.

(L to R) Acting Iranian president Mohammad Mokhber, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf listen to the national anthem at the start of the endorsement ceremony (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP)

Mr Pezeshkian could bend Irans foreign policy towards either confrontation or collaboration with the West and faces the constant challenge of hard-liners still pulling the strings in government.

He has tried to walk the line between hard-liners and reformists with whom he has identified.

He has repeatedly criticized the US while praising Irans powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard for shooting down a US drone in 2019 which he called a strong punch in the mouth of the Americans.

Among the pressing challenges the new president faces is the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and Western fears over enriching uranium to near-weapons-grade levels with enough of a stockpile to produce several nuclear weapons if it chose.

In April, Iran launched its first-ever direct attack on Israel over the war in Gaza, while militia groups armed by Tehran  including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Yemens Houthi rebels  have stepped up their own attacks.

Iran has held indirect talks with US President Joe Bidens administration over its nuclear programme but there has been no progress in lifting tough economic sanctions against Tehran.
Widely loathed as it is, scrapping legislation would expose doublespeak of Dublin which publicly denounces Troubles amnesty while privately operating one

When King Charles said from his gilded throne in the Palace of Westminster that his government would repeal the legislation, it was welcomed by unionist and nationalist, by northerner and southerner, locally and internationally, and by victims of all those responsible for Troubles killings.
Charges date back to the Eighties

This is the Co Down woman accused of indecent assault on a child dating back four decades.

Hazel Templeton is also charged with inciting the child to engage in acts of gross indecency with her between July and August 1984.
Declassified Files: David Trimble claimed republican Colin Duffy was behind a dozen murders

Former first minister told Tony Blair dissident was personally responsible for string of killings

Colin Duffy

David O'Dornan Sun 28 Jul 2024 at 10:22

David Trimble told Tony Blair high-profile republican Colin Duffy was probably responsible for a dozen murders, it has emerged.
Dundonald death driver back behind bars after temporary release

Picture exclusive: Killer allowed out to visit his grandmother in hospital spotted returning to jail

Steven Cunningham

John Toner Sun 28 Jul 2024 at 11:00







This is the death driver who killed a woman and then removed her body from the scene heading back into jail after getting out to visit his grandmother in hospital.
The suspected owner of a teeth-whitening clinic in Belfast has been ordered to pay a customer left badly burned 8,500 compensation within a week.

A legal letter sent to Edith Montgomery warned that if she failed to pay, she could be arrested by the police and investigated by HMRC.
Hundreds of people are reportedly being arrested every night in so-called block raids.

Momotaz Nahar (left), mother of the detained Bangladesh quota reform movement leader Nahid Islam, speaks to journalists as she arrives at the Detective Branch office of Bangladesh police, where Nahid is held, in Dhaka, July 28, 2024.

Bangladesh's home minister announced Sunday that 147 people had been killed in civil unrest that rocked Bangladesh in mid-July, as the prime minister attempted to comfort relatives of the dead at her official residence in Dhaka.

It was the first time Bangladeshi authorities released a death toll for the crisis, the countrys worst civil unrest in over a decade and a major challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed's 15-year hold on power.

BenarNews reporters have confirmed 212 deaths, based on various sources, including hospitals and police. Hospital wards and morgues are full of gunshot victims.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said authorities were still investigating the deaths, and the count might be updated.

So far, we have preliminary reports of 147 deaths, he told a press conference. The dead include students, policemen, and people from various professions.

Bangladesh has been hit by its deadliest unrest in more than a decade as student protests against a discriminatory quota system for government jobs escalated into clashes with pro-government groups and security forces. The military is now deployed in the streets and partial curfews are in force.

Some 9,000 people have been detained across the country, most of them opposition leaders-workers and general students, according to police and local media.

On Sunday, at her official residence in Dhaka, Hasina met with the families of 34 people killed during the unrest.

The families included that of Abu Sayed, a student shot dead by police officers in the northwestern city of Rangpur on July 16.

The killing of 25-year-old, unarmed Sayed was caught on video and sparked public outrage.

My effort will be to find those involved in [these killings], and [the] killers must be punished, Hasina told the gathering.

Hasina said the deaths in the unrest reminded her of the assassination of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the countrys first president, and the killing of her family members in August 1975.

I understand your pain, it's my misery that I have to see your tears, Hasina said.

For some, Hasinas performance as comforter-in-chief rang hollow.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina consoles a relative of those killed in the recent anti-quota agitation, after inviting 34 such families to her official residence in Dhaka, July 28, 2024. [Bangladesh Prime Ministers Office/Handout]

The government is arresting and torturing quota reform activists even after giving a commitment that the students would not be harassed. But, not a single law enforcer and those who openly killed students by shooting have been arrested yet, Bangladesh Nationalist Party Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said in a statement Sunday.

Bangladeshis meanwhile began regaining mobile connectivity on their phones, more than a week after the Bangladesh government shut down the internet to quell the unrest. However, major social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok remained blocked for most people.

Junaid Ahmed Palak, the minister of state for posts, telecommunications and information technology, announced the restoration of mobile networks early Sunday, but said major social media apps would remain blocked until company representatives explained why violent content had not been removed.

He said representatives of Meta (the parent company of Facebook) and TikTok had been summoned to his office on July 31 to explain this.

However, senior police officials, government ministers and student activists were posting on Facebook and other platforms on Sunday.

Late Sunday, Dhaka Metropolitan Polices detective branch chief Harun-or-Rashid posted photographs of six lead organizers of the student protests, all of whom have been detained, eating dinner in his office.

Coordinators of the Students Movement Against Discrimination were suffering from insecurity. So we brought them to the Detective Branch office and talked to them, the Facebook post said. After listening to them and informing them about our various plans for the safety of the students, their concerns were relieved.

Minutes after the post came online, journalists received a statement asserting that student protesters had canceled planned programs, because their main demands had been met. But several prominent student activists rejected this.

The student community would not accept the statement made under gunpoint, Abdul Hannan Masud said.
Hundreds of thousands of refugees live in prison-like camps nearly seven years after fleeing Myanmar.

The hundreds of thousands of Rohingya forced to flee Myanmar to live in camps in Bangladesh appear no closer to a having chance to return home nearly seven years later as global attention on the humanitarian crisis wanes, activists said Wednesday.

Speaking at an event hosted by Refugees International ahead of the seventh anniversary of the Myanmar militarys August 2017 atrocities against the Muslim ethnic minority, the overseas activists said they feared Rohingya may never again return to Myanmar.

The atrocities, which the United States in 2022 termed a  genocide , included soldiers raping, torturing and killing thousands of Rohingya.

Since August 2017, about 740,000 Rohingya fled into neighboring Bangladesh. Today, about 1 million Rohingya live in refugee camps in and around Coxs Bazar.

Tun Khin, the president of the Burmese Rohingya Organization UK, said that the Rohingya who remain in internally displaced persons, or IDP camps, in Myanmar were being targeted by the military and were even being killed by anti-junta forces amid the civil war.

Rohingya Muslims pray during Eid al-Adha at a wholesale market in Kuala Lumpur, June 17, 2024. [Annice Lyn/Getty Images]

In 2017, the international community was well aware, because people fled to Bangladesh and the media were there and were able to get that communication to everyone, Tun Khin said, explaining that news about the atrocities meant resources flowed rapidly to refugees.

But there was now a total blackout because of the civil war, he added, even as Rohingya are being forcibly conscripted by Myanmars military junta to fight against rebel forces opposed to the February 2021 coup.

He said he believed the conscription effort was in part to further stoke ethnic tensions in Rakhine state, and that it was in any case putting strains on displaced Rohingya families already torn apart.

No media is paying attention, and this is happening under the pretext of getting rid of the military dictatorship, he said. Of course, we want to see this military gotten rid of; we want to rebuild Rakhine state with all the minorities, but Rohingya lives should not be wiped out.

Genocide is not over

Lucky Karim, a Rohingya who lives in Illinois, said she feared for the future of her people, with more and more Rohingya being killed or displaced within Myanmar, while the many refugees in Bangladesh are there effectively as prisoners.

Rohingya look through the debris of their houses charred by a fire at the Ukhia camp in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, May 24, 2024. [AFP]

For Rohingya forced to live in the often lawless camps and survive on rations of $10 a month of food administered by the World Food Program, Karim said, a resolution to their problems seemed as far away now as it did seven years ago when they fled.

When we all fled to Bangladesh in 2017, the genocide was not over. It was just the beginning, she said. People have limited access to transportation, limited access to education, and of course, the rations of food they get from WFP is never enough for every family.

She said there needed to be more opportunities for Rohingya to live normalized lives in Bangladesh, given that the opportunity to return to their homes to Myanmar was appearing to become a pipe dream.

If we talk about solutions, livelihoods is the main one, she said. If you provide livelihood opportunities to families, they can make their own money, and it will help them to prevent human trafficking, child forced marriage and everything that is happening in the refugee camps.

International campaign

There remains some efforts to hold Myanmar accountable and force the junta to allow Rohingya to safely return to their homes.

The Gambia in 2022 brought a genocide case against Myanmars government to the International Court of Justice, which the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Denmark and the Maldives have since signed on for as external participants.

Rohingya in Kuala Lumpur tie parts of a slaughtered cow leg during Eid al-Adha, June 17, 2024. [Annice Lyn/Getty Images]

A federal court in Argentina last year also began hearing testimony against Myanmars military in a criminal trial for its atrocities brought there under a legal principle called  universal jurisdiction .

But both of those cases have their limitations, the forum heard.

Many of the survivor community, they really just want to go home, right? They want to go to their homes, and they want to go home as soon as possible. And some of these processes arent going to really achieve that, said Arsalan Suleman, a Washington-based lawyer representing The Gambia in its ICJ case against Myanmar.

The [Argentine] criminal processes are meant to put people in jail and have criminal accountability, he said. That, directly is not going to get some of the people out of the camps and into their homes.

Similarly for the ICJ case, the Gambia has asked the court to order Myanmar to repatriate the refugees and allow them to go back to their homes, but we are not sure exactly what the court will order, he said.

With the case still before the court, it could be too little and too late.

For Karim, if Rohingya cannot escape the camps in Bangladesh and return safely to their homes in Myanmar any time soon, the final part of the genocide may be around the corner.

If we dont have any single member in Rakhine state from our community, from our religion or from our ethnicity, she said, I just fear that Rohingya will be disappeared from this world very soon.
Front pages of Papua New Guinea's national newspapers Post Courier and The National on July 24, 2024.

Women and girls were reportedly raped and among more than two dozen people killed during days of violence in Papua New Guineas north-west.

Front pages on both of the countrys daily papers report the massacre began on July 17 in a remote area on the Sepik River and continued for several days from village to village.

Deadly clashes between tribes regularly occur in the Pacific island nation of about 12 million people, including 49 killed in February in the mountainous Highlands. At least 16 people died in rioting in the capital Port Moresby a month earlier.

The Post Courier newspaper quoted East Sepik Provincial Police Commander Senior Inspector James Baugen as saying that a number of decapitated women were among at least 26 dead.

Most of those that were killed were breastfeeding babies and young children with their mothers, Baugen reportedly said.

The crime scene is rotting with dead bodies. Some of the bodies were seen floating down the Sepik River and taken by crocodiles.

Speaking to the National Broadcasting Corporation provincial radio station NBC Wewak, Baugen said the killings were ignited by unresolved ongoing conflict between three villages.

He confirmed eight adults and 18 children died.

The National newspaper reported a number of women and girls were raped before being killed

Tamara village near the town of Angoram in East Sepik Province came under attack first, with 32 houses torched, followed by Tambari and Agrumara, by a group estimated to number 30 youths.

Those responsible remain at-large and survivors have sought shelter in Angoram

Local member of parliament Salio Waipo in a statement called for calm and said he is in talks with the countrys police commander David Manning to deploy officers to end the violence.

Waipo said police would need to clear and secure the killing zone before help could be sent to the villagers.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Papua New Guinea Richard Howard in a social media post condemned the brutal slaughter and called for a swift and thorough investigation and justice.

Papua New Guinea has one police officer for about every 1,800 people, nearly four times less than the level recommended by the United Nations to ensure law and order, according to a Griffith Asia Institute report released last year.

The ratio of police to people has declined substantially in the past half century since independence in 1975, as Papua New Guineas population more than tripled.

Many remote and inaccessible areas in the country have been largely outside central government control for decades.
The first 13-hour journey from the Lao capital was so popular that officials provided an additional carriage.

The first Laos-Thailand cross-border passenger train arrives at Khamsavath railway station in Vientiane, Laos, July 20, 2024.

The first direct passenger train between Bangkok and Vientiane arrived earlier this month.

Previously, passengers could ride from Bangkok to the Thai city of Nong Kai on the border with Laos. But now they can travel straight into Vientiane  and also have the option of transferring to the high-speed rail line that travels north to Kunming in southwest China.

The first State Railway of Thailand train began servicing the route on July 19. A return train on July 20 left Vientiane at about 6:25 p.m. and arrived in Bangkok at about 7:35 a.m. the next day.

Prices ranged from between 158,000 kip (U.S. $7) to 530 million ($24) kip. It was so popular that officials provided an additional carriage after passengers bought most of the available tickets.

I always commuted by train when I was studying, one Lao passenger told Radio Free Asia. I wanted my kids to take this train, so they could experience it.

Eventually, passengers could travel from Bangkok and Vientiane on a high-speed rail line.

Earlier this year, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Thailands prime minister that he hopes to speed up construction of a high-speed rail line in Thailand that would connect with Laos high speed line, which China built in 2021 as part of its Belt & Road Initiative.

China has said that it plans to construct and connect a 3,000-kms (1,864-miles) pan-Asian railway network, in which Chinese rail lines would extend all the way to the tip of the Malay Peninsula, linking Beijing to Singapore.

RFA Lao, part of Radio Free Asia, a news organization affiliated with BenarNews, produced this report.
Pressure built on Thailand Thursday over the detention of a detained Vietnamese dissident fighting extradition back home, with one human rights advocate warning of a stain on the government if it deported him.

Y Quynh Bdap, from Vietnams Ede minority, was detained on June 11 and is being held in a special prison in Bangkok while a court decides his fate.

In January, Vietnam sentenced the 32-year-old to 10 years in prison in absentia on terrorism charges, accusing him of involvement in 2023 attacks on two public agencies in Dak Lak province in which nine people were killed.

Bdap has been in Thailand since 2018 and denied any involvement in the 2023 attacks. The U.N. refugee agency has recognized him as a person of concern.

Put simply, if he is sent back, chances are he dies, disappears, is tortured. That will stain the hands of the Thai government, Sunai Phasuk, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, told a seminar in Bangkok.

The Thai government did not respond to a request for comment from Radio Free Asia.

RELATED STORIES

Thai court postpones Vietnamese activists extradition hearing



Rights groups call on Thailand not to extradite Vietnamese activist



10 defendants given life sentences for Dak Lak attacks

Sunai said the terrorism charges that Bdap is facing at home did not meet international standards of justice. Referring to a previous military government in Thailand that was intolerant of dissent, he said he questioned the behavior of the civilian administration that replaced it.

On July 15, a Bangkok court postponed Bdaps extradition hearing until Aug. 1. He is also facing an immigration offense related to overstaying his visa.

Bdaps lawyer, Nadthasiri Bergman, told a hearing this month the case reflected intensified transnational repression, through which governments exert their influence across borders to silence dissent.

A Thai senator, Angkhana Neelapaijit, told the seminar that Thailand should live up to international standards on human rights, ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention, update its immigration law to take into account enforced disappearance and torture, and insist that all extradition requests from other countries go through its Court of Justice.

Thailand and Vietnam have not signed an extradition treaty but regularly exchange each others nationals on a reciprocal basis.

Vietnamese officials have not made a public comment on Bdaps case but Sunai and Bergman said they believed Vietnam was exerting pressure for the extradition case to be resolved in their countrys favor.

Radio Free Asia is a news service affiliated with BenarNews.
Norman Rockwell's famous "Freedom of Speech" painting, used on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post magazine in 1943, has gone viral as an internet meme. According to Rockwell Museum leaders, it's used by the left and the right as an image promoting civil discourse.
Neighbours actress Janet Andrewartha has died at the age of 72, the long-running Australian soap has announced.

The actress played hairdresser Lyn Scully, who was the mother of Stephanie (Carla Bonner), Felicity (Holly Valance), and Michelle (Kate Keltie), and was married to Joe (Shane Connor), for around 20 years from 1999.

Advertisement

The Neighbours official account on Instagram said: Everyone at Neighbours is deeply saddened by the passing of Janet Andrewartha.

Beloved by viewers for her role as Ramsay Streets Lyn Scully, Janet will be remembered for her wide body of work, which includes her memorable turn as Reb Keane in Prisoner.

It added that she had many friendships at Neighbours and one of her most enduring bonds was with Jackie Woodburne, who played teacher Susan Kennedy.

Advertisement

Woodburne, also known for female inmate soap Prisoner and hospital-set The Young Doctors, said: Janet was one of the finest actors of her generation but, more than that, she was an extraordinary woman.

Passionate, political, curious, delightfully eccentric, generous and fun. To me she was a steadfast friend for over 45 years.

I will miss her every day.

Underneath the post, Stefan Dennis, known for playing mean businessman Paul Robinson in Neighbours, wrote: So very upset to lose the lovely Janet.

Advertisement

As Jackie said, she truly was an exceptional actress who was a pleasure work with and to be around. We will all miss you dear girl.

Prisoner and Neighbours star Colette Mann said she was shocked to hear this news.

She added: I can only echo Jackies words about Janet  brilliant, crazy in the best way, a good friend and great colleague.
A body has been recovered from the sea off Co Clare as the search for a missing boy resumed for a sixth day.

At around 10am today, the occupants of a pleasure craft reported seeing something in the water off the Clare coast around 2km north of Doolin from where the Garda-led search was being coordinated. The skipper of the boat immediately raised the alarm.

Advertisement

Watch officers at the Irish Coast Guards marine rescue coordination centre in Kerry alerted the Doolin unit of the service as well as the RNLI and gardai. Doolin Coast Guard launched their Delta rigid inflatable boat (rib) while the RNLI dispatched its all-weather lifeboat based at Kilronan on Inis Mor.

On arriving at the location provided to them, Doolin Coast Guard personnel soon located a body.

With the assistance of RNLI volunteers, the remains were taken on board the Doolin Delta boat and recovered to Doolin Pier. The body was then taken to the nearby Coast Guard station. The RNLI lifeboat also travelled to Doolin with the Coast Guard boat.

The body has been removed by hearse to University Hospital Limerick where formal identification will be made, and a postmortem examination carried out.

Advertisement

The multi-agency operation involved personnel from a total of eight counties who had been searching for the 12-year-old who was reported missing after he became separated from his mother during a visit to the Cliffs of Moher last Tuesday.

A land, air and sea search and rescue operation was mounted at around 2pm on Tuesday and continued until evening when sea conditions had started to deteriorate.

That initial search involved the Irish Coast Guards Doolin unit, the Aran Islands RNLI all-weather lifeboat, Rescue 115 and gardai. On Wednesday morning, Clare Civil Defence dispatched members of their unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) team to launch a drone.

Divers from the Garda Water Unit and Doolin Coast Guard carried also undertook searches of the shoreline at the base of the cliffs on Wednesday. However, low cloud and mist hampered that operation.

Advertisement

The Cleggan unit of the Coast Guard in Galway travelled to Clare to assist their Doolin colleagues using high-spec drones to search the cliff base and wider coastline.

During the week, Civil Defence teams from Cork North, Cork West and Kerry dispatched drone teams to assist in the operation. Further Civil Defence teams from Laois and Wicklow joined the search effort while another unit from Dublin was due to travel to Clare on Sunday.

Meanwhile, members of Galway and Mayo Civil Defence carried out searches of the Galway Bay coastline as part of the operation.

The Costello Bay unit of the Irish Coast Guard also searched areas along the Galway coastline while members of the Inis Oirr (Aran Islands) unit carried out shoreline searches in their area. That unit is land based and is managed by Doolin Coast Guard.

Advertisement

Watch officers at the Irish Coast Guards marine rescue coordination centre in Kerry, who have been coordinating the air and sea searches, used drift modelling software in an effort to establish what direction a body might be carried.

The Shannon based Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115 had also been carrying out searches along the Clare coastline and in Galway Bay.
A woman who was arrested in connection with the fatal assault of a man in south Dublin has been released without charge.

Jordan Ronan, aged in his 20s, died in the incident in the Drumcairn Estate area in Tallaght in the early hours of Friday morning.

Advertisement

He was pronounced dead at Tallaght University Hospital.

Patrick Murphy, 36, with an address at Drumcairn Parade in Tallaght, appeared in court on Saturday charged with his murder.

The woman aged in her 30s who was arrested in relation to the investigation was released without charge on Sunday, gardai said.

A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Advertisement

Gardai have appealed for witnesses to come forward, particularly those with video footage.
Italian highjumper Gianmarco Tamberi issued a heartfelt apology to his wife after losing his wedding ring during the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday.

The 32-year-old was named as flagbearer for Italy alongside Arianna Errigo at the Paris 2024 opening ceremony, where 85 boats sailed along the River Seine carrying team delegations.

Advertisement

However, in an Instagram post addressed to his wife Chiara Bontempi Tamberi, the highjumper revealed that during his ceremony duties his wedding ring flew into the Seine.

Im sorry my love, Im terribly sorry, Tamberini posted.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by HALFSHAVE (@gianmarcotamberi)

Advertisement

Too much water, too many kilos lost in the last few months or perhaps the uncontainable enthusiasm of what we were doing. Probably all three, the fact remains that I heard it slip away, I saw it fly I followed it with my eyes until I saw it bounce inside the boat.

A tinkle of hope But unfortunately the bounce was in the wrong direction and floating more than a thousand times in the air I saw it dive into the water as if that was the only place it wanted to be. A few moments that lasted forever.

Tamberi hit the headlines at Tokyo 2021 after he and Qatars Mutaz Essa Barshim elected to share gold rather than face a jump-off.

He is set to begin his medal defence at the Stade de France on August 7.

Advertisement

Despite his Paris 2024 experience getting off to a bumpy start, the Italian looked on the flip side in his post, suggesting the rings loss could present the ideal opportunity for the couple to renew their vows.

Tamberi shared gold at Tokyo 2020 (Martin Rickett/PA)

But if it really had to happen, if I really had to lose this faith, I couldnt imagine a better place, Tamberi continued.

Advertisement

It will remain forever in the riverbed of the city of love, flown away while I was trying to carry the Italian tricolor as high as possible during the opening ceremony of the most important sporting event in the world.

If I had to make up an excuse I would never have been able to be so imaginative.

I think there could be a huge poetic side behind yesterdays misdeed and if you want we will throw yours into that river too so that they will be together forever and we will have one more excuse to, as you have always asked me, renew our promises and get married again.

May it be a good omen for returning home with an even bigger gold!

Advertisement

Tamberis wife appeared to forgive the high jumper and replied in the comments, saying: Only you can turn something like this into something romantic.
Irans Supreme Leader has formally endorsed Masoud Pezeshkian as president, allowing the reformist politician and heart surgeon to take charge of a country weakened by economic sanctions over its nuclear programme.

During an endorsement ceremony in the capital, Tehran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Mr Pezeshkian to prioritise neighbours, African and Asian nations as well as countries that have supported and helped Iran in Tehrans foreign relations policies.

Advertisement

Ayatollah Khamenei criticised European nations for behaving badly to us by adopting sanctions, an oil embargo and for calling out alleged human rights abuses.

He also condemned Israel for its actions in Gaza and the deaths of children, women and hospital patients who did not shoot a single bullet against Israeli forces.

The Zionist regime is showing its ugliest face as a war criminal, he said, accusing Israel of setting a new record in assassinations and cruelty.

He also denounced the US Congress for allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address the legislative body.

Advertisement



Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, gives his official seal of approval to President Masoud Pezeshkian, watched by acting president Mohammad Mokhber (left) (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP)

Speaking at the same ceremony, Mr Pezeshkian paid homage to General Qassem Soleimani, the architect of Irans regional military activities, who was killed in a US drone attack in 2020.

He reiterated his promise to pursue a constructive and efficient foreign policy, bolster the rule of law, offer equal opportunities to citizens, support families and protect the environment.

Advertisement

In his first official act in office, he appointed Mohammad Reza Aref as his first vice-president.

The 72-year-old, who is considered a moderate reformist, held the post between 2001-2005 under former president Mohammad Khatami, and has a doctorate in engineering from Stanford University.

Mr Pezeshkian takes over from his predecessor, Ebrahim Raisi, whose death in a helicopter crash in May sparked the early election.

He will take the oath of office in parliament on Tuesday and will have two weeks to form his own cabinet for a vote of confidence in parliament.

Advertisement

The new Iranian president pledged in his election campaign that he would make no radical changes to Irans Shiite theocracy, embracing Ayatollah Khamenei as the final arbiter in all matters of state.



(L to R) Acting Iranian president Mohammad Mokhber, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf listen to the national anthem at the start of the endorsement ceremony (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP)

Mr Pezeshkian could bend Irans foreign policy towards either confrontation or collaboration with the West and faces the constant challenge of hard-liners still pulling the strings in government.

Advertisement

He has tried to walk the line between hard-liners and reformists with whom he has identified.

He has repeatedly criticized the US while praising Irans powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard for shooting down a US drone in 2019 which he called a strong punch in the mouth of the Americans.

Among the pressing challenges the new president faces is the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and Western fears over enriching uranium to near-weapons-grade levels with enough of a stockpile to produce several nuclear weapons if it chose.

In April, Iran launched its first-ever direct attack on Israel over the war in Gaza, while militia groups armed by Tehran  including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Yemens Houthi rebels  have stepped up their own attacks.

Iran has held indirect talks with US President Joe Bidens administration over its nuclear programme but there has been no progress in lifting tough economic sanctions against Tehran.
Tommy Robinson has been arrested under anti-terror laws, according to his supporters, after a protest at which a film was allegedly screened in contempt of court.

His detention was made public in a post on his verified X account and follows a march led by Robinson and a counter-protest in central London on Saturday which attracted thousands of people.

Advertisement

A complaint was later made over a film which was allegedly shown to the crowd in breach of a UK High Court order, with police saying officers were making further inquiries.

EMERGENCY ADMIN POST - PLEASE SHARE FAR AND WIDE!!!!



We can confirm that Tommy Robinson has been detained by Police using powers afforded to them under the Terrorism Act 2000.



That's right, you read that correctly, Tommy is being held by Police using counter terrorism pic.twitter.com/i3nagtBbXY  Tommy Robinson  (@TRobinsonNewEra) July 28, 2024 Advertisement

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, also on Saturday afternoon posted a one hour 45-minute film on X, in which he said he had previously avoided publishing the video because he was scared.

It is unclear whether Robinsons arrest is related to the film, which centres on the case of Jamal Hijazi, who was a schoolboy when he was assaulted at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in October 2018.

Advertisement

A post on his X account on Sunday said: We can confirm that Tommy Robinson has been detained by police using powers afforded to them under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Thats right, you read that correctly, Tommy is being held by police using counter terrorism legislation.

We will update you as and when we can.

Advertisement

Good evening Nick, thanks for your message.



We did not know what films would be shown during the event. Organisers of protests are not required to share those details in advance. There is no power for us to compel them to do so.



Officers on duty for the event couldnt  Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) July 27, 2024

Advertisement

The Metropolitan Police said there was no Met involvement in reference to the post about Robinsons arrest.

In response to a complaint about the film on X on Saturday evening, the Met said: We did not know what films would be shown during the event. Organisers of protests are not required to share those details in advance. There is no power for us to compel them to do so.

Officers on duty for the event couldnt reasonably have been aware of civil proceedings ongoing in relation to a particular film, but having now been made aware were making further inquiries to determine what action we need to take.

Syrian refugee Mr Hijazi successfully sued Robinson in 2021 after he made false claims, including about Mr Hijazi attacking girls in his school.

The court also ordered an injunction preventing Mr Robinson from repeating the allegations he made against the then-teenager.

In August 2022, Robinson was fined 900 for failing to turn up at a High Court hearing to be questioned about his finances related to pre-trial costs in the case of around 43,000.

In June this year, the Attorney Generals Office (AGO) filed papers to begin potential contempt proceedings against Robinson over allegations he breached the court order from 2021.

He is due to appear at the High Court in London for a directions hearing in that case on Monday.
Tony Burke will take on a super portfolio of home affairs and immigration in a ministerial reshuffle Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will use to build momentum against the Coalition heading into the next federal election.

Burke, the minister for employment and workplace relations, will take on the new portfolio which brings two of the most politically challenging areas under the control of one minister.

Tony Burke will take on a new super portfolio of immigration and home affairs. Credit: Oscar Colman

Albanese said Burke was up for the challenge of his new job and praised his performance in employment and workplace relations.

Tony, of course, is a senior minister whos been focused on a range of portfolios, has done a great job in employment and workplace relations. He has held similar portfolios in the past and hes someone who will bring that experience to what remains a challenging portfolio, Albanese said at a press conference in Parliament House in Canberra on Sunday.
Blinken Warns China Over Taiwan and Russia Support in High-Stakes Laos Meeting (Photo: U.S. Department of State from United States / Public domain)

In a crucial meeting on the sidelines of a regional summit in Vientiane, Laos, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi tackled a series of contentious issues, including Taiwan, China's support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict, and maritime tensions in the South China Sea. This was their sixth meeting since June 2023, highlighting ongoing efforts to manage strained relations between the world's two largest economies.

During the 80-minute discussion, Blinken reiterated Washington's concerns over Beijing's actions toward Taiwan and its backing of Russia's war in Ukraine. A senior U.S. State Department official described the conversation as "open and productive" but noted that no significant agreements were reached.

Blinken underscored recent "provocative" actions by China, such as a simulated blockade during the inauguration of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. "In every discussion, Taiwan is the issue that they care most about. They see it as ... an internal China issue," the official said. China views Taiwan as an inviolable part of its territory, a stance firmly rejected by Taiwan.

The meeting also addressed the sensitive issue of military-to-military ties. While both sides agreed to continue making progress, they did not discuss nuclear arms control talks, which China has halted in protest over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

Blinken stressed the importance of a stable U.S.-China relationship and a rules-based international order, echoing the sentiments of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. He also voiced concerns about China's support for Russia's defense industrial base, warning of further U.S. actions if Beijing does not curtail this support. The U.S. has already sanctioned China-based companies supplying semiconductors to Russia, aiming to undermine Moscow's military capabilities.

"There was no commitment by the Chinese to take action," the U.S. official noted, highlighting the ongoing challenges in securing Beijing's cooperation on this front. Blinken also addressed U.S. concerns over human rights in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Tibet, and emphasized the need for more progress from Beijing on counter-narcotics efforts, including the issue of fentanyl precursors coming out of China.

The meeting between Blinken and Wang Yi came amid Blinken's broader tour of East Asia, aimed at reassuring U.S. allies of American commitment despite domestic political uncertainties. Blinken's itinerary includes stops in Vietnam, Japan, and the Philippines, where he will hold security talks alongside Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

While in Laos, Blinken praised a recent agreement between China and the Philippines that allowed the latter to make a supply trip to a disputed area in the South China Sea without confronting Chinese forces. "We are pleased to take note of the successful resupply today at the Second Thomas Shoal," Blinken told the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers.

Despite this positive note, Blinken condemned China's "escalatory and unlawful actions" in the South China Sea, affirming U.S. support for freedom of navigation and the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law.

Blinken's tour follows President Biden's announcement that he would not seek re-election, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate. Although this political shift was not a topic of discussion in the meetings, Blinken highlighted Harris's experience with China and her previous meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The U.S. remains wary of China's potential influence over global affairs through platforms like TikTok, as evidenced by recent legal actions against the social media giant for data privacy concerns. Blinken reiterated the administration's stance that U.S. interests and values, along with those of its allies and partners, would continue to be safeguarded.
Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman of Ashok Leyland, expects the budget to have a positive impact on the commercial vehicle industry during the current financial year. The company is set to launch a light commercial vehicle in every two months this year. In an exclusive telephonic interview with Shine Jacob, Hinduja talks about the Red Sea crisis, the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric (And Hybrid) Vehicles (FAME) scheme, and industry growth this fiscal year. Edited Excerpts:

We were expecting a formal announcement on FAME III in the budget as the interim scheme did not cover cars and commercial
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Chennai, has provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs 298.21 crore (approx.) of M/s. South India Corporation Ltd. (SICPL), a group company of M/s. Chettinad Group, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the agency said in a release on Saturday. According to the release, the ED initiated an investigation based on an FIR registered by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), Chennai, under various sections of IPC, 1860, and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, against the former officials of Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation, Chennai (TANGEDCO) and SICPL. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

ED investigation revealed that in 2001, a contract for handling the coal at the Vizag Port during its transportation via rail-sea-rail route was awarded to M/s. SICPL for the period of five months only. However, even before the opening of the bids in the said tender, M/s Western Agencies Madras Pvt Ltd., filed a Civil Suit before the City Civil Court, Chennai, the Court had ordered time to time injunction till 2019, the ED said in its release.

M/s SICPL has paid an amount of Rs 217.31 crore (approx.) as levy to Vishakapattinam Port Trust for the period between 2011-12 and 2018-19, whereas TANGEDCO had paid an amount of Rs 1126.10 crore (approx.) to M/s SICPL as reimbursement of levy. Thus, the difference between the above-mentioned amount, that is Rs 908.79 crore (approx.) was the loss caused to TANGEDCO and the wrongful gain to SIC Ltd., the ED said.

In April 2023, ED conducted searches on various premises belonging to SICPL and others, and resultantly, an amount of Rs 358.20 crore held in the form of fixed deposits lying with the bank account of SCIPL was frozen, the ED said.

Further investigation is under progress, it added.
The startup, which is valued at over $7 billion, is intensifying its efforts to achieve profitability in all its businesses and move its domicile to India, as it is planning an initial public offering (IPO) in 2-3 years.

Fintech giant Razorpay is eyeing to capture a significant portion of Indias digital P2M (person-to-merchant) payments market and expects its payment volume to grow to about $750 billion by that time. The Bengaluru-based firm estimates that the country's P2M payments market will likely reach $4 trillion by 2030. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

We believe Razorpay could easily garner 15 per cent to 20 per cent of that market. We expect our payments volume could grow to $750 billion by 2030, said Arpit Chug, chief financial officer, Razorpay.

Razorpay is an omnichannel payment and banking platform for businesses. Established in 2014, the company provides technology payment solutions to millions of businesses. These range from a Kirana shop in Kashmir collecting payments on its POS (point of sale) device to a textile exporter in Kanyakumari accepting dollars through its international payments product. Razorpay has already achieved an annualised Total Payment Volume (TPV) of $150 billion.

Razorpay reported consolidated revenue of Rs 2,279 crore in FY2023, up nearly 53 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) from Rs 1,481 crore in FY22. This was mainly on account of a rise in enterprise and small and medium enterprise customers. It reported a net profit of Rs 7.3 crore for FY23. This was flat compared to Rs 7.2 crore posted in the previous financial year.

Its total expenses increased 54.6 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 2,283 crore in FY23. Employee benefit expense contributed around 28 per cent of the total expenses at Rs 638 crore in FY23.

Profitability

When asked about the profitability strategy, Chug said that Razorpays online payments business is already profitable. But the firm is also making investments in new areas such as expansion into international markets and scaling up of neo-banking. The firm is investing in new businesses such as RazorpayPOS and the business banking platform RazorpayX.

We believe that, over the next couple of years, these businesses will organically move towards profitability, said Chug, a former American Express executive.

In 2022, Razorpay acquired Ezetap, a leading offline Point-Of-Sale (POS) company, in a transaction valued at around $200 million.

Regarding improving efficiency in operations and keeping the burn rate at a minimum, Chug said the company has implemented various strategies. The firm has taken a measured approach to scale up its headcount.

We've never had a situation where we needed to cut costs or (lay off) people, said Chug. We've generally been conservative on not hiring ahead of time or having an excess number of people and then worrying about that.

Chug said the firm has also been very proactive in leveraging a lot of artificial intelligence tools to improve productivity.

It is also implementing AI-related tools to improve customer experience. The firm this year unveiled Ray, an AI assistant for e-commerce businesses that resolves issues related to payments, payouts, payroll, and vendor payments. It answers questions in English and Hindi and will soon be offered in regional languages too.

Razorpay is also using AI against fraud. It has launched AI-powered products that will reduce chargebacks and safeguard businesses from potential frauds and RTOs (return to origin), where the product fails to reach the customer.

IPO

Currently, the companys payment business is profitable. It is intensifying its efforts to achieve profitability in all its businesses as it is planning an initial public offering (IPO) in 2-3 years. As part of those efforts, it has also initiated the process to move its parent entity to India from the United States.

We have enough cash in the bank and have very patient investors. We are going about it (IPO) in a very thoughtful way and not rushing towards it, said Chug. Before we think about an IPO, we are focusing on consolidated profitability and domicile shift.

Founded by alumni of IIT Roorkee, Shashank Kumar, and Harshil Mathur, Razorpay has raised a total funding of about $742 million from marquee investors such as TCV, GIC, Tiger Global and Peak XV. The startup was last valued at about $7.1 billion. Overall, it competes with players such as Pine Labs, PayU, JusPay, and BillDesk.

The company is also scaling up its efforts for international expansion. India's complex payments market and a tough regulatory ecosystem have emboldened Razorpay and are helping the fintech firms planned expansions into Southeast Asia and West Asia. Razorpay made its foray into Malaysia in 2022 and is already seeing huge traction there.

The entire Southeast Asia market is at a (point) where India was 7-8 years ago. The experience in one market has given us a lot of confidence. You would hear about us going deeper into Southeast Asia in the coming years, said Chug. Another area of growth for us is supporting our India-based merchants who operate in these markets.

Last year in December, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lifted a ban on Razorpay from onboarding newer merchants for its payment aggregator business. After the embargo was lifted, the company onboarded 1.5 lakh merchants in just a month and a half.

We've had terrific growth in the last couple of quarters since then, said Chug.
In his post on X, Blinken wrote that he met Jaishankar "to deepen U.S.-India collaboration and affirm our shared commitment to regional peace, security, and prosperity." | Photo: X (@DrSJaishankar)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday held "wide-ranging" talks with his American counterpart Antony Blinken against the backdrop of an unease in India-US ties following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia three weeks back. Jaishankar and Blinken are in Tokyo to attend a meeting of foreign ministers of the four-nation grouping Quad or Quadrilateral coalition on Monday. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The talks between the external affairs minister and the US secretary of state also came amid Washington consistently seeking accountability from New Delhi in the case relating to the alleged foiled plot to kill Sikh extremist Gurupatwant Singh Pannun in New York.

It is not immediately clear whether Prime Minister Modi's visit to Russia and the murder-for-hire plot figured in the Jaishankar-Blinken talks. In a post on 'X', Jaishankar said he and Blinken had a wide-ranging discussion on regional and global issues.

"Great to catch up with@SecBlinken in Tokyo today," he said.

"Our bilateral agenda progresses steadily. Also had a wide-ranging discussion on regional and global issues," Jaishankar added.

In his post on X, Blinken wrote that he met Jaishankar "to deepen U.S.-India collaboration and affirm our shared commitment to regional peace, security, and prosperity."



It is learnt that the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the overall situation in Gaza figured in the talks.





ALSO READ: EAM Jaishankar discusses cooperation, issue of trafficking with Laos PM The US and several of its allies were outraged over the timing of Modi's July 8 to 9 visit to Moscow as it coincided with the NATO summit in Washington. Some Western capitals were also learnt to be peeved over Modi choosing Russia for his first bilateral trip in his third term.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu told a US Congressional hearing on Tuesday that the US was disappointed by the "symbolism" and "timing" of Modi's visit to Russia.

The Biden administration official especially highlighted that the Indian prime minister paid the visit to Moscow when Washington was hosting a summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

New Delhi on Thursday rejected Lu's comments and asserted that all countries have the "freedom of choice" in a multipolar world and everyone should be mindful of such realities.

Meanwhile, India and Ukraine are planning a visit to Kyiv by the Indian prime minister next month.

The India-US ties also came under some unease following the alleged murder-for-hire plot.

In November last year, US federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun in New York.

Pannun, wanted in India on terror charges, holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada.

Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic in June last year, was extradited to the US last month.

Following the allegations by the US, India appointed a high-level inquiry committee to look into the inputs provided by the US on the plot.

In April, The Washington Post named an Indian official for the alleged plot.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is monitoring loans with a ticket size of up to Rs 50,000 on the books of banks and fintech lenders. A majority of consumers in this segment services three live loans, and it is suspected this could be an indication of evergreening with the possibility of diversion into capital markets.

The scrutiny should be seen in the context of the RBI in November asking regulated entities (REs) to review their exposure limits for consumer credit and put in place board-approved limits for various sub-segments, specifically unsecured consumer credit exposures, by February 29,
Five out of 12 Centres of Excellence (COEs) formed to treat patients suffering from rare diseases have utilised less than 35 per cent of the funds allotted to them by the Centre over the last three years, according to patient advocacy groups and data from a reply given in Parliament.

These centres were created under the National Policy for Rare Disease (NPRD) in 2021. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

According to data accessed by Business Standard, the maximum fund utilisation was seen at Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (IPGMER), Kolkata at 93.65 per cent. The next in the chart was King Edward Medical Hospital, Mumbai at 93.55 per cent.

But five institutes at the bottom have spent less than 35 per cent of the fund allotted to them. (see the chart).

Hyderabad-based Centre for DNA Fingerprinting & Diagnostics with Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences stands last in the list with only 4.53 per cent funds utilisation. Followed by Delhis Maulana Azad Medical College at 17.62 per cent.

According to a reply given by the health ministry in Parliament, as of February this year these centres have utilised only 48% of around Rs 109 crore disbursed in the last three years.

COEs are institutions identified by the central government to actively treat patients suffering from rare diseases. Currently, 12 such centres have a quota of 2,420 rare disease patients from six categories across three groups.

While the government has set up CoEs to treat patients with rare diseases, patients with Group 3a conditions are still experiencing inordinate delay in procedural formalities across these centres, a member associated with an advocacy group for patients with Group 3a conditions said.

According to the rare disease policy enacted in 2021, Group 3a includes conditions such as Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs) for which definitive treatment is available but challenges are to make optimal patient selection for benefit, very high cost, and lifelong therapy.





There are currently around 454 eligible rare disease patients with LSDs such as Pompe disease, Fabry disease, Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type I and type II in India, to be put on immediate life-saving therapy as per the National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021, the member added.

The human cost

According to data available on the governments digital portal for crowdfunding and voluntary donations for patients of rare diseases, more than 300 out of 454 LSD patients currently eligible for funding under Group 3a are not getting any treatment in CoEs.

Currently, only 98 LSD patients are on government-approved treatment.

The delay in the commencement of the treatment process and uncertainties around sustainable funding of Group 3a disorders are turning fatal, with around 28 of these 454 patients reported to have lost their lives in the last few months awaiting treatment support, an official said.

The groups have asked the government to direct CoEs to ensure efficient utilisation of funds provisioned by the ministry.

This comes after several caregivers and advocacy groups for patients with 3a conditions had written a letter to Union Health Minister JP Nadda last month, citing the inordinate delays being faced by patients eligible for treatment under the NPRD.

The letter had stated that several patients across the CoEs have been put off life-saving therapies after the one-time support of Rs 50 lakh was exhausted.

Missing urgency

No urgency being shown by centres, a distressed parent said.

A Delhi-based parent, whose six-year old child is diagnosed with MPS-2, said that he has been waiting to get the child on-boarded at the ministry's designated CoE for treatment, despite his child being eligible to be put on life-saving therapy as per the guidelines of the NPRD.

My child deserves to lead a near-normal life and I urge the government to intervene in the matter to save the lives of hundreds of other children as well, he added.

Similarly, a Hyderabad-based parent of an eight-year old Pompe disease patient said that while his child is eligible for Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) with the available Rs 50 lakh funding, he is still running from pillar to post.

My child could be saved if he gets regular ERT sessions. But I do not see any urgency by the hospital despite available funds. We are in distress as we are concerned about our kids life, his health is deteriorating, he added.

Highlighting the need to ensure timely treatment for patients with Group 3a disorders, a medical expert said that patients with LSDs are largely young children and the delay in medical treatment could lead to life-threatening complications.

These diseases have therapies approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and are available in India with proven clinical outcomes, as well as available government funding. Despite this, it is disappointing to see patients waiting for the inevitable, he said.
The government buildings shall be installed with Rooftop Solar Projects of different capacities aimed at leveraging the vast rooftop spaces of government establishments for solar energy generation, the spokesman said.

Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday approved a Rs 400 crore project under which grid-tier rooftop solar power systems will be installed on all government buildings in the union territory. "The Administrative Council, which met here under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, approved solarizing of all government buildings in Jammu and Kashmir by installation of Grid-Tied Rooftop solar power systems of an aggregate capacity of 70 MW in Capex mode at a project cost of Rs 400 crore and 200 MW in RESCO mode," an official spokesman said. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp He said the project shall be implemented by Jammu & Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JKEDA).

The government buildings shall be installed with Rooftop Solar Projects of different capacities aimed at leveraging the vast rooftop spaces of government establishments for solar energy generation, the spokesman said.

These solar power systems shall have bi-directional smart meters and the Virtual Net Metering (VNM) benefit would be provided by the DISCOMs to adjust the additional energy generated by the solar panels at a particular site against the other electrical connections of different buildings of the same department.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of December 2025 and shall subsequently be maintained free of cost for five years by JAKEDA through the empanelled vendors.

The project sites developed under RESCO (Renewable Energy Service Company) mode through Solar power developers shall have to execute power Purchase Agreements for 25 years with the respective departments on the tariff to be determined through a bidding process.

With the implementation of the project, the reduction in carbon emissions by installing 270 MW Solar Power Plants will be around 8.3 million tons over a period of 25 years. More than 10,800 jobs shall be created by implementing this project for highly skilled, skilled and unskilled personnel, the spokesman said.

He said several additional job roles would be created by solar PV grid-connected projects in secondary and tertiary segments along with the manufacturing and supply of system equipment such as inverters, cables, trackers, and other parts.
Two friends, Ram and Shyam, were travelling on a train when robbers started looting its passengers. Shyam owed some money to Ram. Before the robbers could reach them, Shyam took the money from his pocket and repaid his loan to Ram. Ram could not refuse the money, even though he knew he would shortly lose it to the robbers.

The debate about removing indexation benefits reminded me of this amusing story. There are three main ways in which capital gains taxation is levied worldwide. Each method seeks to acknowledge that the real capital gains are lower than the
The chief minister has rubbished the allegation and said he had no information about it. | Photo: PTI

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman lashed out at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asking him whether it was Nyay' (justice) to siphon off money belonging to the tribal Valmiki community. Referring to the Rs 187 crore scam in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Corporation including the illegal transfer of Rs 88 crore, Sitharaman accused Siddaramaiah of concealing facts and trying to pass the blame on to the central government because bank officials of a nationalised bank were involved. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp On Siddaramaiah's charge that the union finance minister should be held accountable because banks were involved, Sitharaman said, He can say that because he is used to talking like this That's so irresponsive. You have your minister resigned. You have your people saying that the money has been siphoned into private accounts.

The minister said that action has already been taken as a first step against the conniving bank officials and further action will be taken against them. "No protection will be offered to them for sure."



She, however, sought to know, A minister had to resign under whose oversight? Attempt to deny, attempt to shift blame, or to say that no scandal has taken place. It's SC/ST money. Whose money was taken away Valmiki community's. Is there no sense of outrage?



They (Congress) talk about Nyay' (justice) during election campaign. Is this Nyay for the SC/ST communities? Sitharaman said.

During the Lok Sabha election, the Congress had the slogan Ab Hoga Nyay' to do justice for downtrodden communities and to enact policies for their upliftment.

Stating that the bank is already on the job of taking action against the erring officials, the FM asked Siddaramaiah how the minister involved in the scam and the chief minister who holds finance portfolio did not stop the bank from illegally transferring money.

You denied the whole thing, your minister did not even resign. And regarding the money which has gone into the private accounts, you go to the assembly to say it's not Rs 180 crore or Rs 140 crore, it's only some Rs 80 crore. You are concealing it, sir. This is the outrageous thing that is happening particularly with the SC/ST money, the FM said.

Rs 187.33 crore of the Valmiki Corporation kept in different accounts, including Rs 40 crore in the government treasury, is said to have been diverted towards the Union Bank of India's MG Road branch in the scam.

Of the Rs 187.33 crore, Rs 88.63 crore was illegally transferred to at least 217 bank accounts in Telangana including that of 18 firms.

Former Karnataka minister B Nagendra, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate, is in judicial custody in connection with the case.

The scam came to light after the Accounts Superintendent of Valmiki Corporation Chandrasekharan P died by suicide.

In his suicide note, he explained in detail how the money was transferred and what role the corporation and the bank officials had played in the scam.

The opposition BJP has accused the ruling Congress of being involved in the scam. It has alleged that the transfer of money could not have happened without the knowledge of Siddaramaiah, who heads the finance ministry.

The chief minister has rubbished the allegation and said he had no information about it.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators march Saturday in an Arrest Netanyahu protest outside the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building in San Francisco in response to the Israeli prime ministers visit to Washington this week. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle Pro-Palestinian demonstrators march in an Arrest Netanyahu protest outside the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building in San Francisco in response to the Israeli prime ministers visit to Washington this week. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle An Arrest Netanyahu demonstrator walks by an unfinished Help Palestine message at the corner of Montgomery and Sacramento streets. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched Saturday in San Francisco to call for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu days after his appearance before Congress.

The Arrest Netanyahu protest, backed by local groups including the Arab Resource and Organizing Center and Jewish Voice for Peace Bay Area, also called for immediate action by the Biden administration to stop sending weapons to Israel so the prime minister can reach a cease-fire in the war with Hamas.

Roughly 1,000 protesters gathered at the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building in the South of Market neighborhood before heading along Seventh Street and down Market Street, then turning on Kearny Street en route to the Israeli Consulate on Montgomery Street, with many chanting Netanyahu, you cant hide, we charge you with genocide. The consulate was barricaded by police officers in preparation.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Muni buses and the F-Market streetcar stopped as the crowd passed, with one bus passenger giving a thumbs-up out the window. Onlookers on Market Street took photos as they stopped to watch the protesters, who later marched to the Embarcadero.

Arrest Netayanhu demonstrators march on San Franciscos Market Street during a protest over the Israeli prime ministers visit to Washington this week. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

The rhetoric (politicians) are employing is simply not enough, said Wassim Hage, an organizer with the Arab Resource and Organizing Center. The cease-fire needs to be forced through a complete cessation of arms to Israel.

Netanyahu sparked an uproar Wednesday when he spoke before Congress to defend the war in Gaza in retaliation for the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants, who killed an estimated 1,200 Israelis and took about 250 people hostage. Israels subsequent military response has killed at least 39,000 Palestinians, health authorities say.

Academics estimated in a Lancet article from July that, even if the bombs stopped, the number of indirect deaths caused by factors such as malnutrition, disease and medicine shortages could reach 186,000.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Suzanne Ali of San Francisco, an organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement, has family members in Gaza who are sheltering in tents.

Jim Martinez of San Francisco pumps his fist as pro-Palestinian demonstrators march on Market Street during the Arrest Netanyahu protest. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Theyre just trying to survive, Ali said. Seeing whats being done to them  its being done to all these people. Its been 10 months now. Its unconscionable.

In his speech, Netanyahu falsely claimed that there were essentially no civilian deaths in Rafah, home to many displaced Palestinians, and that Israel is not blocking food and aid into Gaza, according to analyses by ABC News and CNN.

Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas military capabilities and its rule in Gaza and bring all our hostages home, Netanyahu told Congress. Thats what total victory means. And we will settle for nothing less.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi called it by far the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary invited and honored with the privilege of addressing Congress of the United States. She had skipped the appearance so she could meet with the families of Israeli hostages.

A pedestrian passes Free Gaza graffiti sprayed on a building on San Franciscos Market Street during the Arrest Netanyahu protest Saturday. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

These families are asking for a ceasefire deal that will bring the hostages home, Pelosi said on X, and we hope the prime minister would spend his time achieving that goal.

Netanyahus appearance was met with thousands of protesters in Washington, D.C., including some from the Bay Area, who called for his arrest. The International Criminal Court  an intergovernmental organization that prosecutes those accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide  sought arrest warrants in May for Netanyahu, his defense chief and three leaders of Hamas. The warrants followed a March report from a United Nations human rights expert who concluded that Israel met the threshold for genocidal acts, which the country denied.

Ariel Koren, an organizer with the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, expressed anger toward Vice President Kamala Harris for meeting with Netanyahu and condemning protesters who burned the U.S. flag. President Joe Biden, who withdrew from the presidential race last weekend, has endorsed Harris as the Democratic nominee to run against former President Donald Trump.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag at the corner of Montgomery and Sacramento streets during the Arrest Netanyahu protest. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Most in the crowd erupted into a loud boo when speaker Rosa Astra, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, mentioned Harris, who drew pro-Palestinian protesters last month during a fundraiser in the Mission District. Astra denounced Harris history as San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general, adding that the vice president has been hand-in-hand with the Biden administrations response to Gaza.

Koren echoed demands for further action to secure a permanent cease-fire.

Anything short of that is handing the election to Trump, Koren said. Netanyahu wouldnt be able to continue doing this if we werent arming him. When will it be enough?
If he wins the presidency, Trump would have significant sway over the top regulators for the burgeoning industry. Image: Bloomberg

By Teresa Xie, Stephanie Lai and Alicia Diaz



Donald Trump said he would fire the Securities and Exchange Commission chair and pick crypto-friendly regulators if he returns to the White House in a bid to court virtual currency enthusiasts and harness the industrys growing influence in the political arena.

This afternoon, Im laying out my plan to ensure that the United States will be the crypto capital of the planet and the Bitcoin superpower of the world and well get it done, Trump said at a Bitcoin conference in Nashville on Saturday. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

The assembled crowd cheered loudly as Trump said he would fire SEC Chair Gary Gensler, whose term is not up until 2026. If he wins the presidency, Trump would have significant sway over the top regulators for the burgeoning industry.

We will have regulations, but from now on, the rules will be written by people who love your industry, not hate your industry, Trump said.

He also pledged to form a crypto industry presidential advisory council, create a stablecoin framework, and called for a scale-back in enforcement.

Zachary Bradford, the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bitcoin miner Cleanspark, described Trumps speech as a historic moment. Trump made repeated references to miners, and said that America will become the worlds undisputed Bitcoin mining powerhouse.

Tone Shift



The remarks in Nashville are the latest demonstration of how the former president has embraced the technology and sought to position himself as an advocate for crypto interests.





ALSO READ: Trump calls for US to become crypto capital at Nashville bitcoin conference Trump voiced skepticism about cryptocurrencies in office, claiming he was not a fan and that their values were based on thin air, but in his 2024 presidential campaign hes reversed course, increasingly highlighting Bitcoin on the trail and actively wooing the crypto sector.

That shift reflects the industrys increased prominence on the US political scene as executives push to get candidates with policies supportive of digital assets elected to office through ever bigger donations, in part through the Fairshake super political action committee, as well as Trumps desire to reach out to new voters in his third run for the presidency.

Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, who attended the Nashville conference, said she plans to draft a bill requiring the government to build a stockpile of up to 1 million Bitcoin over five years. The bill would require the government to hold the cryptocurrency for 20 years, and during those two decades it could only be used to reduce the national debt.

The goal is to recognize the fact that Bitcoin is a durable asset, she said on the sidelines of the conference. Its digital gold and its a hard asset that can back the US dollar and provide assurance around the world that the US dollar remains worthy of being a world currency.

Bitcoin, which rose as much as 2.9 per cent earlier on Saturday prior to Trumps speech, was little changed near $68,000 by the end of the speech.

Political Power



Crypto industry donors have poured more money into the 2024 election than in all prior cycles combined, according to OpenSecrets.

Trumps economic agenda, which promises to reduce tax rates and slash government regulation, has found a receptive audience among Wall Street and business interests eager for an alternative to the policies of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the likely Democratic nominee.

The crypto industry has bristled at what it sees as heavy-handed regulation under Biden, following the collapse of the FTX exchange and other scandals. Trump has pledged to promote Bitcoin mining in the US, protect self-custody of cryptocurrencies and prevent the Federal Reserve from issuing a central-bank digital currency that would compete with the industry.

I think it was pretty positive for the industry, pretty bullish going forward, said Paul Veradittakit, a managing partner at Pantera Capital Management who watched a live stream of Trumps speech. He said he was most excited about him wanting America to be the crypto capital.

Trumps appearance at the conference comes during a frenetic stretch of the 2024 race that saw a failed assassination attempt against the Republican former president and on Sunday Bidens announcement that he would not longer seek reelection. The Democratic incumbent endorsed Harris, 59, who is nearly two decades younger than Trump and threatens to undercut the inroads he has made with young voters and people of color.

Trump has discussed cryptocurrency policy with Tesla Inc. chief executive officer Elon Musk, according to a person familiar with the talks. Hes also hosted crypto-mining executives at his Mar-a-Lago resort and vowed to commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, who is serving a life sentence after he was convicted of running the Silk Road marketplace, where customers used virtual currencies to buy illegal drugs and hacker tools.

Most significantly, Trumps campaign said in May that it would begin accepting donations in digital assets. Since then, it has raised $4 million from a mix of digital tokens, according to a campaign aide, who detailed the amount on condition of anonymity.

Among Trumps prominent contributors have been billionaire twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who run Winklevoss Capital Management and are large investors in Bitcoin. In his Nashville speech, Trump hailed the brothers by name and described them as looking like male models with a brain.

Both said they donated the equivalent of $1 million of the cryptocurrency to a pro-Trump group  an amount which exceeded the maximum allowed. The amount over the limit was refunded to the brothers.

Prior to the speech, Trump was slated to meet with crypto industry donors on Saturday at a fundraiser where seats went for up to $844,600. Guests are expected to include the Republican nominees running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, who has also taken an interest in cryptocurrency and positioned himself as a supporter of the sector.
film

The Embassy of Spain and the Embassy of Finland, in collaboration with the ETI Services, are proud to announce the successful culmination of "The Inclusive Lens: Bringing Disability in Focus", a pioneering film festival dedicated to highlighting the experiences and stories of people with disabilities.Cinema is not just a visual medium of expression; it is an exploration of the many lives a character has lived, and wants to live. In this exploration, the lives of people with disabilities have seldom found a space. A space to showcase their mundanity, their complexities, and the colors of their everyday challenges  their reds, blues, yellows, and others -- in between and beyond. The film festival was a platform to embrace the landscape of disability through the lens of cinema, alongside the voices, and visions of expert panelists who get together in the hope of an inclusive future.The festival, held from 26th July - 27th July 2024, at the Instituto Cervantes, New Delhi showcased a diverse selection of films from Spain, Finland and India, celebrating the talents and creativity of filmmakers who portray the multifaceted lives of people with disabilities. The event aimed to foster greater awareness, understanding, and inclusion through the powerful medium of cinema.The Honourable Ambassador of Spain, H.E. Juan Antonio March Pujol remarked, In Spain, disability inclusion is a priority. That is why in 2022, the Government of Spain approved the Spanish Disability Strategy 2022-2030. Within that framework, in the Embassy of Spain, we are dedicated to supporting initiatives that promote the rights and well-being of people with disabilities. This festival is part of a larger, sustained effort to raise awareness and advocate for disability rights throughout the year. It is not a one-time event but a commitment to continuous engagement and support.The Honorable Ambassador of Finland, Kimmo Lahdevirta stated, In Finland, we have long recognized the importance of disability inclusion, not only in our policies and workplaces, but also in our cultural expressions. Finnish cinema has been a pioneer in presenting authentic and diverse stories, ensuring that persons with disabilities are represented not just as characters, but as real, multi-faceted individuals.Dr Sukriti Chauhan, CEO, ETI Services remarked, "The Inclusive Lens' transcends the boundaries of a traditional film festival; it stands as a powerful testament to the resilience and diversity of the human spirit. By centre-staging the narratives of individuals with disabilities, we are not only celebrating their stories but also challenging societal perceptions and promoting a more inclusive world. We are deeply honored to have partnered with the Embassies of Spain and Finland in this endeavor, and we believe that through such initiatives, we can foster greater empathy, understanding, and ultimately, a more equitable society."The festival featured a range of activities, including the screenings of Spanish film Campeonex (dir: Javier Fesser, 2023), FinnishThe Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See The Titanic (dir: Teemu Nikki, 2021), and the Indian film Margarita With A Straw (dir: Shonali Bose, 2014), a lively panel discussion with members from the disability community, academicians and youth leaders, where the panelists discussed the representation of disability in cinema, and highlighted how authentic and nuanced representation, informed by empathy and inclusion, should form the cornerstone of production of films about disability. The festival also had an interactive Q&A session with filmmaker Shonali Bose, a theatrical puppetry performance by Kayakalp and stalls from organizations working in the disability sector. Audiences were moved by the compelling narratives and powerful performances that highlighted the richness and diversity of the disability experience.
A power outage closed multiple BART stations in Oakland on Saturday evening, leading to service delays systemwide until the stations reopened Sunday morning. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle 2020

Four BART stations reopened Sunday morning after a power outage Saturday night caused by an electrical room fire led to major delays.

BART service between 19th Street Oakland and Fruitvale stations stopped around 5 p.m. Saturday but reopened around 10:30 a.m. Sunday, the transit agency said. Power loss between the tracks forced the closure of the 12th Street Oakland City Center, 19th Street Oakland, Lake Merritt and Fruitvale stations.

BART was experiencing service delays throughout its system as a result of the closures. Service on the Green Line between Berryessa and Daly City and Red Line between Richmond and Millbrae was stopped. Trains approaching MacArthur, West Oakland and Coliseum stations were turning back, according to the agency.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Red Line service between Richmond and Millbrae was not available Sunday morning.

AC Transit announced that it had canceled bus trips on several lines due to the BART service disruption. The transit agency was providing parallel bus service and a bus bridge between West Oakland MacArthur and West Oakland and Fruitvale stations.

The Oakland Fire Department responded to the incident, finding and extinguishing a fire in an unidentified electrical room, according to spokesperson Michael Hunt. It was unclear which station this occurred at, and if trains were involved in the fire.

There were reports of smoke visible between 12th Street and 19th Street stations but no reports of a fire, BART spokesperson Cheryl Stalter said just before 7 p.m. Saturday

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

There were no reports of injuries or anyone transported. About 300 people were evacuated off trains and platforms, Hunt said.

Shanti Singh, a San Francisco resident, said she was in front of the 12th Street station around 5 p.m. Saturday when someone she knew tried to get on a train. As firefighters told the friend to go back up, she noticed a distinct odor.

I absolutely picked up burning plastic smell, Singh said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
WE LIVE in extraordinary times; our world seems to be coming increasingly polemical. Looking at live news commentary of Donald Trump's attempted assassination seemed almost surreal. Extremism is part and parcel of life and indeed is very worrying. We must never become desensitised to the consequences of extremity. The plight of innocent children and vulnerable citizens in Gaza is horrendous. Recent escalation of brutal violence in Ukraine again highlights this reality. We may well be overwhelmed and humbly ask what we can do in order to change this complex culture.

Earlier in the summer, students at Trinity College Dublin blockaded the library where the Book of Kells is displayed and set up an encampment of tents on the central lawn of the campus. They were protesting the colleges connections to Israel, in the light of the ongoing slaughter in Palestine. The students were particularly upset that Trinity had invested some of its considerable wealth in firms associated with the onslaught on Gaza, including an engineering firm, a bank and an electricity company that developed a site on occupied land in the Golan Heights. All three firms are on the UN blacklist and they were delivering healthy dividends to the university.

The protest attracted a lot of attention, but it was admirably peaceful and the students were articulate and convincing in their argument that there is no need for Irish universities to make such investments. Within a few days of setting up camp, they prevailed. The administration of the college agreed to reconsider its investment policy and the students agreed to pack up their tents and end the blockade.

This is an example of a new kind of social activism called divestment. It uses the power of money to achieve just political change. Abba used to sing about how we live in the rich mans world. Divestment tactics take that song literally and suggest that if we dont invest our money in firms that are causing harm, those firms will fail. And more importantly, competing firms will be put on notice that they, too, must avoid grave injustice in their pursuit of profit.

Of course, Christians understand this principle. As a biblical teaching Jesus said, where our money is, there we will find our hearts (Mt 6:21). If our heart is for justice, then we will be sure to invest our money in companies that are on the side of good. The place where this strategy has been most effective is in environmentalism. Since Pope Francis published his groundbreaking environmental letter Laudato Si in 2015, there has been a concerted effort to remove investments from fossil-fuel companies. This is a global movement, but Christian churches have been at the forefront of it, including the Church of England, the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, while many Catholic religious orders and dioceses have gone through the process of ensuring their wealth is dedicated only towards the production of sustainable energy.

Speaking about the need for a collective response for the greater good, St John Paul II once said: Solidarity is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say, to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all. Together we are stronger. It is in the spirit of unity and common purpose; wonderful results are manifested. We are all blessed in the communities we live in. The temptation is often to give too much credence to the negative and forget the overwhelming positive good things that happen every day around us. These evenings, I witness many local volunteers maintaining, in a voluntary capacity, the beautiful town of Abbeyleix, Irelands tidiest town. This sense of volunteerism and contributing to our local environment is real and very positive. I pray that we all will err on the side of kindness and compassion. Do not be overwhelmed. In doing the little things well great things will follow!

A prayer confirming that all things will be well

Jesus said to me most reassuringly: I am able to make everything well and I know how to make everything well and I wish to make everything well and I shall make everything well and You shall see for yourself that all manner of things shall be well.
By Rebecca Black, PA

The Irish Government has been urged to give more than face value cooperation to the Omagh bomb inquiry.

The UK government ordered an independent inquiry into the 1998 outrage in the Co Tyrone town which claimed 29 lives, including unborn twins.

Earlier this month, the Cabinet formally agreed to provide assistance to the inquiry which is to examine alleged security failings that led a High Court judge to conclude the outrage could plausibly have been prevented.

The first public hearing of the inquiry is set to take place in Omagh on Tuesday.

Mr Gallagher said full cooperation from the Irish Government is vital given the belief that the dissident republican bomb was planned, prepared and delivered in the Republic.

He has called for Garda officers, those involved in intelligence and politicians to assist the inquiry.

Campaigner Michael Gallagher (Oliver McVeigh/PA)

We believe that it is hugely important that the Irish government engage because this was a cross-border crime, he said.

It was planned, prepared and delivered from the Republic and the bombers spent less than 40 minutes in Northern Ireland, and they were probably back in the Republic before the bomb detonated.

On that basis, 80 per cent of the evidential opportunities lie within the Republic so it is important they co-operate not just at face value, but we need full co-operation, the same as we expect here in Northern Ireland.

We expect that Garda officers and people working in intelligence and even politicians will come and assist the inquiry with their work.

Mr Gallagher said he intends to press to ensure there are no delays or misunderstandings around the level of co-operation needed.

Disappointment has been expressed with the level of co-operation from the Irish government in probes into Troubles atrocities, including the inquest into the Kingsmill shootings in Co Armagh.

These are fine words, but in substance what do they really mean? he asked.

Im aware in the Kingsmill inquest the families felt that the Irish government did not co-operate in an open and transparent way that they expected.

Were aware of that and we feel there needs to be in-depth discussions with the families and with the inquiry team as to how the Irish government is going to manage this process.

Mr Gallagher added: I have told the Secretary of State and I have told the Tanaiste that the British and Irish governments are not our enemies, so lets work together to get the truth.

There will be embarrassments in the Omagh inquiry for the British government and for the Irish government, but what are those embarrassments compared to what the families have had to suffer for over 25 years.
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

Acclaimed Irish novelist Edna OBrien has died aged 93 after a long illness.

The author died peacefully on Saturday, according to a joint statement from her agent and publishing house.

Our thoughts are with her family and friends, in particular her sons Marcus and Carlo, it said.

Statement by President Michael D. Higgins on the death of Edna OBrien https://t.co/UUfpbBK75N pic.twitter.com/nqxIE2XGQF  President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) July 28, 2024

Ms OBrien  a novelist, short story writer, memoirist, poet and playwright  is best known for her portrayal of womens lives against repressive expectations in Irish society.

Her first novel, The Country Girls, was published in 1960 and became the part of a trilogy that was banned in Ireland for their references to sex and social issues.

President Michael D Higgins called Ms OBrien a fearless and superb writer who possessed of the moral courage to confront Irish society with realities long ignored and suppressed.

He said she was one of the outstanding writers of modern times.

Through that deeply insightful work, rich in humanity, Edna OBrien was one of the first writers to provide a true voice to the experiences of women in Ireland in their different generations and played an important role in transforming the status of women across Irish society.

While the beauty of her work was immediately recognised abroad, it is important to remember the hostile reaction it provoked among those who wished for the lived experience of women to remain far from the world of Irish literature, with her books shamefully banned upon their early publication.

Ms OBrien was a member of Aosdana, an Irish association of elite artists, and was presented with the associations highest honour, the Torc of the Saoi, in 2015.

She was also presented with a Presidential Distinguished Service Award in 2018.

Publishing house Faber described Ms OBrien as one of the greatest writers of our age.

She revolutionised Irish literature, capturing the lives of women and the complexities of the human condition in prose that was luminous and spare, and which had a profound influence on so many writers who followed her.

A defiant and courageous spirit, Edna constantly strove to break new artistic ground, to write truthfully, from a place of deep feeling.

The vitality of her prose was a mirror of her zest for life: she was the very best company, kind, generous, mischievous, brave.

Edna was a dear friend to us all, and we will miss her dreadfully. It is Fabers huge privilege to publish her, and her bold and brilliant body of work lives on.

Her agent Caroline Michel at PFD said: In Girl with Green Eyes, the immortal centrepiece of the masterful Country Girls trilogy, Edna writes:

We all leave one another. We die If I do leave you, I will have passed on to you something of myself; you will be a different person because of knowing me; its inescapable.

Edna is inescapable once read, once met, she is forever rebelliously and joyously in your life.
Members of the Beckwourth Hotshots work a firing operation Sunday along Highway 32 near Lomo (Butte County) while battling the Park Fire. Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle Brandon Negrete, 28, a Ventura County Fire Department hand crew member, fires a flare gun during a firing operation Sunday while fighting the Park Fire along Highway 32 near Forest Ranch (Butte County). Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle Ventura County Fire Department hand crew members Joseph Casas, 25, and Brandon Negrete, 28, reload their flare guns Sunday while fighting the Park Fire along Highway 32 near Forest Ranch (Butte County). Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle Ventura County Fire Department hand crew member Brandon Negrete, 28, walks through the burning forest Sunday while battling the Park Fire along Highway 32 near Forest Ranch (Butte County). Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle Ventura County Fire Department hand crew members Brandon Negrete, 28, and Joseph Casas, 25, prepare flare rounds Sunday while battling against the Park Fire along Highway 32 near Forest Ranch (Butte County). Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle A member of the Ventura County Fire Department loads a shell into a flare gun Sunday while fighting the Park Fire along Highway 32 near Forest Ranch (Butte County). Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle Members of a Ventura County Fire Department hand crew listen to a briefing Saturday while fighting the Park Fire along Highway 32 near Forest Ranch (Butte County). Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle Members of a Ventura County Fire Department hand crew watch for spotting Saturday while fighting the Park Fire along Highway 32 near Forest Ranch (Butte County). Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle A hot spot flares up Saturday near a vista point in Tehama County during the Park Fire. Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle The sun sets through smoke over a charred landscape Saturday in Tehama County. Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle

PARK FIRE UPDATE: Hotter weather to challenge crews fighting massive California blaze

CHICO  The Park Fire jumped Highway 32, a crucial firebreak, on Sunday afternoon as cooler weather helped crews increase containment of the blaze slightly, officials said.

Lower temperatures, higher humidity levels and calmer winds reduced fire activity, helping a crew of 3,927 firefighters increase containment to 12%, according to a Cal Fire incident report. The blaze has charred more than 360,000 acres in Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama counties as of Sunday evening.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Yesterday was the best day weve had since the start of this incident, Jed Gaines, a Cal Fire battalion chief in charge of night operations, told hundreds of firefighters at a Sunday morning briefing.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

As skies above the eastern portion of the Park Fire cleared Sunday afternoon, embers jumped Highway 32, which had served as a firebreak, spreading the flames into the Butte Meadows area. Bulldozers, fire crews and engines battled spot fires in the area, said incident commander Billy See of Cal Fire.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said his office had been preparing to downgrade evacuation orders to warnings in the Forest Ranch and Butte Meadows area until the fire jumped the state highway at Humboldt Road.

It just goes to show you how quickly things can change, he said.

Cal Fire said 100 structures have been confirmed destroyed, though the number could rise in the coming days as crews assess damage.

The fire turned skies orange and blanketed the region with smoke over the weekend, with air quality turning hazardous in parts of Shasta County.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Smoke from the Park Fire spread over the greater Bay Area on Sunday morning and remained in place all day, according to the National Weather Service, which added that it was at a high enough elevation that Bay Area air quality remained good.

After Saturdays cool weather improved firefighting conditions Saturday, temperatures were running about 10 degrees higher Sunday. The fire was burning hot on the northeast corner around the community of Lomo, where another pyrocumulus cloud developed.

On Monday, temperatures will reach the 80s to low 90s with relative humidity dropping to the 15% to 25% range. Southwest winds of 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph are expected in the afternoon.

Temperatures will continue to rise through the week. Thunderstorms will reenter the forecast by Friday, which may result in additional pyrocumulus clouds created by the fires heat. Pyrocumulus clouds rise tens of thousands of feet into the sky and can deposit embers and ash downwind from a blaze, sparking new fires.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A pyrocumulus cloud develops over the community of Lomo (Butte County) during the Park Fire on Sunday. Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

The seventh-largest wildfire in Californias history, the Park Fire broke out Wednesday afternoon and was allegedly sparked by a man  Ronnie Stout, 42, of Chico  who pushed a burning car into a gully, authorities said. The investigation is ongoing.

The 2021 Dixie Fire consumed a large swath of Lassen Volcanic National Park, and now the Park Fire to the west is threatening the unburned western portion of the park. Manzanita Lake and Mineral Headquarters are threatened, according to park officials.

The Park Fire is burning north of the 2018 Camp Fire, which incinerated the Butte County community of Paradise, many of whose residents were prepared to evacuate again.

A tanker drops retardant Sunday on the Park Fire near Lomo (Butte County). Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle

The Paradise evacuation warnings were issued over an abundance of caution, Cal Fire spokesperson Rick Carhart said. I dont think there is any expectation that the fire will reach there.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Park Fire is so big and spread out that fire officials split their firefighting efforts, with some concentrating on Butte County and others on Tehama County. Each effort has its own base, its own weather and fire condition predictions, and its own priorities.

The priority on the south end was to keep the fire from jumping Highway 32, which protects the towns of Forest Ranch and Butte Meadows as well as the outskirts of Paradise.

Crews were setting backfires  controlled fires that deprive the blaze of fuel and prevent its spread  for a 10-mile stretch along the highway.

We have a couple of days to do it while the weather is in our favor, a Cal Fire operations manager said. Lets continue what our last crew did, lets take advantage of this weather.

A Ventura County Fire Department hand crew member walks through the burning forest Sunday during a firing operation while fighting the Park Fire along Highway 32 near Forest Ranch (Butte County). Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle

On the north end of the blaze, fire officials hope to keep the flames, which have jumped Highway 36, from reaching Highway 44.

Weve got a lot of work ahead of us, but we are going to get through this, said Buddy Bloxham, the Cal Fire battalion chief who led the Sunday morning briefing.

Overall our priority is just stopping the spread of the fire, which is moving north, Carhart said.
A Wyoming plane crash Friday claimed the lives of seven people, including Larry Haynie, the Georgia Department of corrections board chairman. Also killed were Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark and their daughter Amber, all from Atlanta.

The crash occurred about 1 p.m. in Campbell County, Wy., north of Gillette and about 250 miles (402 kilometers) north of Cheyenne, according to a statement from Campbell County spokesperson Leslie Perkins. The aircraft was identified as a single engine turboprop Pilatus PCZ-12/4E.

The group was on their way to the seven-day Gaither Homecoming Alaskan cruise.

Governor Brian Kemp said, Chairman Larry Haynies impact on our state will not be forgotten. The statement continued by asking the public to pray for the loved ones of those lost in the crash and the gospel music community.

Chairman Haynie was the pilot of the plane, according to a statement by the Nelons' management group. His wife, Melissa Haynie, also died in the crash.

Governor Kemp's full statement said: "Marty, the girls and I are truly saddened to learn of the tragic death of Larry Haynie and his wife, Lisa, along with all those lost in this horrible plane accident. As chairman of the Georgia Department of Corrections Board and through a career of valued service in public safety, Larry's impact on our state will not be forgotten. We will continue to hold his memory and that enduring commitment to his fellow Georgians in our hearts and memories. Our entire family is asking everyone to join us in praying for those who have been lost, for their loved ones and communities, and for those throughout the gospel music community who have lost dear friends in this heartbreaking accident."



Three members of The Nelons -- Kelly Nelon Clark, Jason Clark and their daughter Amber Kistler -- died in the crash. Amber's husband, Nathan Kistler, and the Kistlers' assistant, Melodi Hodges, were also on board.



The fourth member of the Nelons, Autumn Nelon Streetman, was traveling separately with her husband, Jamie Streetman, and her in-laws.



A separate statement on Autumn Nelon Streetman's Instagram, attributed to her, said: "As many of you have heard by now, my father and mother, Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, along with my sister, Amber and brother-in-law, Nathan, as well as our dear friends Melodi Hodges, Larry and Melissa Haynie were involved in a tragic plane crash on Friday. Thank you for the prayers that have been extended already to me, my husband, Jamie, and our soon-to-be-born baby boy, as well as Jasons parents, Dan and Linda Clark. We appreciate your continued prayers, love and support as we navigate the coming days."

According to a news release from Campbell County where the plane is reported to have crashed, a private plane went down north of Gillette, Wyoming, around 1 p.m. on Friday. The crash caused a wildfire that the local fire department was called to put out. There were no survivors.



The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident. The cause of the crash is currently unknown.



The Nelons last Instagram post shows the group standing by the plane on the tarmac, just having landed in Nebraska. Their next stop was supposed to be Montana.



Well check in with you later, Jason Clark said at the end of the vlog-style video.



The Nelons sang in many Chattanooga area churches and appeared at the Memorial Auditorium in 1979 on a Mull Singing Convention.
The 26-year-old man who drowned at Haig Mill Lake Park in Dalton has been identified as Ivan Gonzalez of Calhoun, Ga.Personnel and water craft from the Department of Natural Resources, Gordon County Fire Rescue and the Georgia State Patrol Dive Team assisted Dalton personnel with a search for the victim.Authorities said, "Preliminary information from the investigation indicates that the man was with his brother-in-law using kayaks on the water.The victim had apparently taken off his life jacket while near a dock on the lake near the northern dam.For reasons that arent yet fully clear, at some point the victim swam out into the lake, possibly trying to retrieve a kayak that had drifted away. The victim reportedly became tired and began calling for help. He eventually fell beneath the surface of the water.A person who was fishing on the other side of the lake made a 911 call at 7:02 p.m. to call for help. When first responders from the the Dalton Fire Departments nearby Station 3 arrived there was no sign of the victim."There is no indication of any foul play in the incident, authorities said.
I read that the state of Louisiana has required that the Ten Commandments be posted in all public schools, effective July 1, 2024. I can see nothing wrong with that requirement. I also read that some parents have objected to the Commandments being placed in schools. I did not read that the students will be required to study or even read the Commandments and, therefore, I do not see any constitutional issues regarding separation of church and state.





There is nothing wrong with posting the ancient principles that teach respect for God, for family and for others. Indeed, these truths offer a much better plan for life than the current national trend of ignoring God in favor of self and taking His Name in vain with every breath (as in OMG), disrespecting others and their property, and living in the darkness of "me first."





Indeed, the Commandments stand in stark contrast to the words of a Southern lieutenant governor who recently proclaimed "Some people need killing." Perhaps he should take time to read the Commandments, especially the Sixth One.

Tim McDonald

* * *

The major problem is that you have to realize that there are more than Ten Commandments in the Bible. We tend to emphasize the commandments in Exodus 20, but Moses smashed them when he saw the Israelites worshipping the golden calf. It is necessary to read, carefully, the material in Exodus 20 to Exodus 34 because God told Moses that he would give him the ten that were on the first tablets. The problem is that the Ten Commandments in Exodus 34 are not the same as those in Exodus 20. The difference is radical. The third set is in Deuteronomy 5: 1-21. It is often thought to be a repeat of Exodus 20, but it is not, though it covers the same ground.

Aside from what most know the Ten Commandments (KJV), the Catholic Ten Commandments is a bit different and then, as The Tampa Times says, the Jewish Ten Commandments are different. Which one do you pick for statewide?

There are more than 200 Christian sects in the US and one set of Ten Commandments would not satisfy all of them. In addition to that, there are a myriad of other religions coming from other countries to the United States.

Raleigh Perry

* * *

I believe it was the chief of staff who said that and not Lt. Governor Robinson.

But why not go all out nuclear? Don't stop at placing the Ten Commandments in all schools? Not that it would do much if any good anyway. It didn't do any good when they were allowed in the schools prior to 1980. Didn't stop the lynch mobs of an earlier era.

But if some are going to insist anyway, why not take the advice of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., "A Man Without A Country?" Who once said to the effect: For some reason, the most vocal Christians among us never mention the beatitudes (Matthew 5). But, often with tears in their eyes, they demand that the Ten Commandments be posted in public buildings. And of course, that's Moses, not Jesus. I haven't heard one of them demand that the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, be posted anywhere. 'Blessed are the merciful' in a courtroom? 'Blessed are the peacemakers' in the Pentagon?"

Brenda Washington

* * *

Louisianas decision to post the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms raises several issues:

The Commandments were generally absent in sermons of the Founding Fathers generation and many judicial rulings as well.

As one scholar noted: There is an absence in the historical record of any [emphasis added] evidence the Founders referenced the Ten Commandments when discussing justifications for republican government or the nations legal system. Simply put, the Founders did not see the law as biblically based.

The first four Commandments collide with the First Amendments guarantee of religious liberty and there are some differences between the Protestant, Catholic and Jewish texts. The Protestant Bible itself even has different versions (Exodus 20 v. Exodus 34).

In Stone v. Graham (1980), the Supreme Court ruled that posting the document in public schools violated the First Amendments Establishment Clause. In addition, they stated that the document served no secular legislative purpose and was plainly religious in nature.

Posting the Ten Commandments in a public building secularizes the sacred. As the Baptist Roger Williams observed, it is good to keep a hedge or wall between the garden of the church and the wilderness of the world.



Michael V. Woodward


Attorney Robin Flores said he was inside his office in the 4100 block of Brainerd Road on Sunday afternoon when he heard shots fired.

"There were three shots, then squealing of tires, and three more shots," he said.

Chattanooga Police said they were notified that a gunshot victim arrived at the East Ridge Police Department seeking assistance. The individual was confirmed to be the victim of the Brainerd Road shooting incident.





EMS transported the 18-year-old female victim to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Attorney Flores said he showed police video from a building he owns next to his law office. He said it showed a vehicle leaving the scene.
When shipping magnate Frederick Leylands architect Thomas Jekyll fell ill, he turned to the artist James McNeill Whistler to complete renovations in his London home.

Leyland tasked Whistler with some slight alterations to the dining room. He wanted its leather wall coverings to complement Whistlers artwork, The Princess from the Land of Porcelain.

In 1876, Leyland departed from London, leaving Whistler to do his job. When he returned, he discovered that Whistler had done much more than what was asked of him.

Leylands already lush space had been transformed into what is known as The Peacock Room. Whistlers work ignited a feud between him and Leyland, destroying their friendship forever.

Whistler was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1834. He left the United States in 1855 to study in Paris before moving to London. He was inspired by the art style of Asia, particularly Japan.

Eventually, he developed a close relationship with Leyland and his family. In 1869, Leyland purchased a grand house in London, which was the same home that Whistler decorated.

While Leland was away from home, he received letters from Whistler detailing the dining rooms redesign and its great expense. On October 21, 1876, Leyland wrote back about how unhappy he was with the artist for not letting him know about the elaborate scheme of decoration.

He also emphasized that the renovation was supposed to be small-scale work that would take only a few days to complete.

In 1877, Leyland returned to find his chamber decorated with gold, blue, and green peacock motifs. Peacocks were painted on the shutters, and even the ceiling was covered with designs resembling the birds plumage.

Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
Can you imagine being stuck on a remote island, as a woman, with over 30 men? Its a thought that doesnt evoke many positive feelings. Really, it sounds like the stuff of nightmares. But, believe it or not, such a situation actually happened once before.

Many years ago, one woman lived with a group of 30 or so men on an island by the name of Anatahan. But how did she end up in that living situation? And what became of her? Heres what happened.

During World War I, Japan captured Anatahan Island. The island then became used for the production of copra. Copra is the dried, white flesh of coconuts from which coconut oil is extracted. Of course, many Japanese citizens were interested in the industry.

The Japanese government announced that those who wanted to join the industry and stay on Anatahan Island would be offered special benefits. A girl named Kazuko arrived on the island in 1939 at the age of 16. She would later become known as the Queen of Anatahan.

Later, she got married to 18-year-old Shoichi Higa. Together, the couple supervised the coconut plantation and lived on the island with other coconut farmers. Soon, World War II began, although the island wasnt affected by it at first.

When the United States attacked Japan, Anatahan Island was targeted as well. Kazuko survived the bombings, but Shoichi went missing. After the attacks destroyed the coconut plantation, all the workers left the island.

However, Kazuko and Masami Hinoshibe, Shoichis boss, decided to stay. Masami had a crush on Kazuko. Some speculate that the two killed Shoichi during the airstrike so they could be together.

The food supply on the island had been destroyed by the bombings. So, Kazuko and Masami had to live off of the 40 pigs and 20 chickens that survived. When that was gone, they resorted to catching fish and killing wild animals for food. They also used leaves to cover their bodies since they had no clothing to wear.

In June 1944, around 30 men arrived on Anatahan, a small deserted island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. They were survivors of a shipwreck. American planes had demolished their ship. Once they realized there was no way to return to the mainland, they adapted to life on the island.

Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
A second-grade teacher in San Jose, California, named Lucy Hsu has entered an exclusive club of humans who have visited every nation on Earth. After stepping foot in Syria in May 2023, she has officially been to 193 countries.

Hsu explained that most travel clubs and groups recognize the number 193 because that is how many nations are members of the United Nations.

There is no official tally of who has visited every country in the world, but it is estimated to be roughly 400 people. In comparison, over 600 people have been to outer space.

Hsu is 43-years-old and teaches second grade at Cadwallader Elementary School in San Jose. She got her first passport when she was 23-years-old. As the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, her family couldnt afford international travel.

They were in a new country. They never had formal education, being from Vietnam, like little village kids. They were starting really from zero, Hsu said.

From a young age, Hsu had always been interested in history and geography. After graduating from UC Berkeley and working for a year, she saved up enough money to go on her first international trip to London. The experience inspired her to continue traveling.

She figured out how to plan big trips while keeping costs down. Every summer, during her breaks from teaching, she would visit several countries. After London, her next trip was to Australia and New Zealand. The following summer, she went to another part of Europe. Then, she explored Central America.

I realized if I planned my summers properly, I could travel on a low budget and see a couple of countries that are clustered together, Hsu explained. And then I realized by the time Id traveled for five or six years, Id reached probably 60 to 70 countries.

She also learned about networks of other international travelers in several different clubs. She joined the Century Club, which consisted of people who had been to 100 countries or were working on achieving that goal.

Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
Home News First Baptist Dallas gets approval to try to save exterior of historic church after fire

Amid concerns regarding the fate of the historic 133-year-old First Baptist Dallas, which suffered a fire two Fridays ago, church leadership has received city approval to commence preservation efforts for the structures remaining exterior walls.

In a video update on the churchs Facebook page, Executive Pastor Ben Lovvorn expressed cautious optimism about the preservation efforts.

Now, I can make no guarantees about how that work will go or even if it will be successful  but we do have approval to try, Lovvorn said in the video, also mentioning the personal significance of the building where he both met and married his wife.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

We have made significant progress today in stabilizing and supporting the outer walls of the Historic Sanctuary, the church said in an update Thursday. Crews are working 24 hours a day to continue restoring our campus back to normal operations, focusing primarily on the Worship Center and the Horner Family Center.

Lovvorn described the upcoming changes to the church campus, which will include demolishing and cleaning the site, as crucial for facilitating future Gospel work at First Baptist Dallas.

The pastor said in updates shared on social media that the church would again hold one Sunday worship service at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center today before returning to the church next Sunday for all future services.

Lovvorn appealed to the congregation for continued prayers for the success of the restoration efforts and the safety of the construction crews. He concluded with gratitude for the congregations support.

The historic red brick sanctuary of First Baptist Dallas, a vital part of the downtown Dallas community since 1890, faced a significant threat after a four-alarm fire caused partial collapse last Friday, The Dallas Morning News noted.

The fire, which originated in the basement, caused extensive damage, prompting urgent preservation efforts. However, the pulpit survived the fire. Fire investigators have not determined or disclosed the cause of the fire.

The church has been a cornerstone in the Southern Baptist Convention, often described as the Notre Dame of the denomination. Senior Pastor Robert Jeffress, a former advisor to President Donald Trump, leads the congregation of about 16,000 members.

Reflecting on the fire, Dr. Richard D. Land, a former associate pastor and professor at First Baptist Dallas, shared his personal connection to the church in his weekly column for The Christian Post. Land recounted his years of service and the deep community ties within the church, which have seen generations of families worship and grow in their faith together.

Land said while the church's physical structure has suffered, its congregation's spirit remains unbroken. He told readers that the spiritual essence of the church is not confined to its buildings but embodied by its people and their faith.
Home News Lao pastor warned by authorities to stop 'Christian activities' shot dead, leaves behind wife, 2 children

HONG KONG Pastor Thongkham Philavanh was feeding his chickens and ducks behind his house in Vanghay village, northwestern Laos, on Monday when two men on motorcycles, faces covered, arrived. After a brief exchange, one of the gunmen fired seven shots into his head and body.

The assailants gun was fitted with a silencer. They escaped as Pastor Thongkham was rushed to a provincial hospital, where he died on arrival, leaving behind a wife and two teenagers. Pastor Thongkham was 40.

Police are investigating the killing in Xai District, Oudomxay Province, which comes on the heels of the torture and killing of Pastor Seetoud of Don Keo village in central Laos Khammouane Province in October 2022. Village officials had warned him to stop all Christian gatherings and activities. The case is still unresolved, and the killers are still at large.

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

Pastor Thongkham was tribal Khmu leader and provincial head of the Lao Evangelical Church (LEC). He had been actively sharing the Gospel, showing the Jesus Film and hosting trainings for pastors.

A week before he was killed, LEC leaders had gathered to dedicate the expansion of the church building as the church had grown. Several prominent LEC leaders attended his funeral on Saturday.

According to local Christians, Pastor Thongkham was closely monitored by authorities, and had been warned several times to stop his Christian activities.

Christians across Laos have posted messages of shock and grief on social media.

His profound wisdom, unwavering faith and boundless compassion touched the lives of many, read one Facebook post.

Despite a national law guaranteeing freedom of religion, persecution in Laos has been steadily increasing in the country. Christians continue to be imprisoned in Laos, most of them held for a short period and then released.

Local officials have been driving Protestant Christians from their villages, tearing down and burning their homes and rice silos, leaving families with no place to go. Even though the government has been informed about these incidents, it has allowed this to continue without any charges filed.

The level of fear among Christians has increased since the killing of Pastor Thongkham. Most leaders are taking extra precautions when they travel and stay in constant contact with peers.

A prominent Christian leader from the Baw tribe in Khammouanne Province, central Laos, narrowly escaped death at the hands of government agents. According to local sources, Brother O was warned by a family friend that authorities were planning to kidnap and possibly kill him.

Christians said Brother O and his wife escaped when they saw a group of men waiting in front of their home and fled.

Despite the increased persecution, the church in Laos is rapidly growing every year, with hundreds of Khmu coming to the Lord. Daily live Christian broadcasts on the Khmu Facebook page continue to attract thousands; in one three-day period, 10,000 people were watching.

Discipleship trainings are being held across the country by local teams, which has proven very effective.

Laos was ranked 21st on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

Originally published by Morning Star News
Home Opinion 10 highlights from Netanyahus speech to Congress

This past Wednesday marked the fourth time that Prime Minister Netanyahu has addressed a joint session of Congress, the most of any world leader in history. His staunchest critics have claimed that the real reason for his visit to the States was to enlist domestic American support to keep waging the war rather than to end the war and bring home the hostages. Others have faulted him for failing to deliver anything of substance in terms of a long-term solution, let alone making serious concessions toward the Palestinians. His supporters saw things very differently, with one headline proclaiming, JOINT SESSION: In wartime address to Congress, Netanyahu gives masterclass in global diplomacy, most powerful speech of his career  55 standing ovations.

While the Middle East pundits parse the details, here are some of the most memorable lines from his speech. Bibi sure knows how to fire up the crowd. Indeed, the no fewer than 55 standing ovations marked the most of any such speaker in Congressional history. (Note that he is more popular in America than in Israel, especially among American Evangelicals.)

After his introductory greetings, these were his opening lines: We meet today at a crossroads of history. Our world is in upheaval. In the Middle East, Irans axis of terror confronts America, Israel and our Arab friends. This is not a clash of civilizations. Its a clash between barbarism and civilization. Its a clash between those who glorify death and those who sanctify 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

After introducing several IDF soldiers who were sitting in the audience today, including Lieutenant Yonatan, Jonathan Ben Hamo who lost a leg in Gaza and continued to fight, he said, My friends, these are the soldiers of Israel  unbowed, undaunted, unafraid.

On the difference between good and evil: Defeating our brutal enemies requires both courage and clarity. Clarity begins by knowing the difference between good and evil. Yet incredibly many anti-Israel protesters, many choose to stand with evil. They stand with Hamas. They stand with rapists and murderers. They stand with people who came into the kibbutzim, into a home, the parents hid the children, the two babies, in the attic, in a secret attic. They murdered the family, the parents, they found the secret latch to the hidden attic and then they murdered the babies. These protesters stand with them. They should be ashamed of themselves.

They refuse to make the simple distinction between those who target terrorists and those who target civilians, between the democratic State of Israel and the terrorist thugs of Hamas.

On the misguided protesters: Its amazing, absolutely amazing. Some of these protesters hold up signs proclaiming Gays for Gaza. They might as well hold up signs saying Chickens for KFC.

These protesters chant From the river to the sea. But many dont have a clue what river and what sea theyre talking about. They not only get an F in geography, they get an F in history. They call Israel a colonialist state. Dont they know that the Land of Israel is where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob prayed, where Isaiah and Jeremiah preached and where David and Solomon ruled?

For nearly four thousand years, the land of Israel has been the homeland of the Jewish people. Its always been our home; it will always be our home.

On the misguided justice of the ICC: The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has shamefully accused Israel of deliberately starving the people of Gaza. This is utter complete nonsense. Its a complete fabrication. Israel has enabled more than 40,000 aid trucks to enter Gaza. Thats half a million tons of food, and thats more than 3,000 calories for every man, woman and child in Gaza. If there are Palestinians in Gaza who arent getting enough food, its not because Israel is blocking it, its because Hamas is stealing it.

On the difference between Israel and Hamas: For Israel, every civilian death is a tragedy. For Hamas, its a strategy. They actually want Palestinian civilians to die, so that Israel will be smeared in the international media and be pressured to end the war before its won.

On Irans war with Israel and the world: In the Middle East, Iran is virtually behind all the terrorism, all the turmoil, all the chaos, all the killing. And that should come as no surprise. When he founded the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khomeini pledged, We will export our revolution to the entire world. We will export the Islamic revolution to the entire world. Now, ask yourself, which country ultimately stands in the way of Irans maniacal plans to impose radical Islam on the world? And the answer is clear: Its America, the guardian of Western civilization and the worlds greatest power. Thats why Iran sees America as its greatest enemy.

Last month, I heard a revealing comment, ostensibly about the war in Gaza, but about something else. It came from the foreign minister of Irans proxy, Hezbollah, and he said this: This is not a war with Israel. Israel, he said, is merely a tool. The main war, the real war, is with America.

Continuing with this theme: Thats why the mobs in Tehran chant Death to Israel before they chant Death to America. For Iran Israel is first, America is next. So, when Israel fights Hamas, were fighting Iran. When we fight Hezbollah, were fighting Iran. When we fight the Houthis, were fighting Iran. And when we fight Iran, were fighting the most radical and murderous enemy of the United States of America.

And one more thing. When Israel acts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons that could destroy Israel and threaten every American city, every city that you come from, were not only protecting ourselves. Were protecting you.

My friends, If you remember one thing, one thing from this speech, remember this: Our enemies are your enemies, our fight is your fight, and our victory will be your victory.

In sum, The war in Gaza could end tomorrow if Hamas surrenders, disarms and returns all the hostages. But if they dont, Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas military capabilities and its rule in Gaza and bring all our hostages home.

Thats what total victory means, and we will settle for nothing less.
Home Opinion Americas attention deficit thats killing Ukrainian children

The breaking news cycle is exhausting. Everyday something happens which trumps everything that came before it. This keeps the news cycle fresh, but is anyone stopping to ask, what are we missing?

Just think about two weeks ago. An assassination attempt on a former president Saturday. On Monday, attention shifted to the 2024 Republican National Convention, the announcement of Trumps running mate and entertainers like Kid Rock and Hulk Hogan. To bookend the week, President Biden announced he will drop out of the presidential race and has endorsed Vice President Harris.

So much is happening, and so fast. These events are relevant to our present and future; they deserve our attention. Still, our chronically brief attention span means we move on too quickly from significant events.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

For example, just days before the assassination attempt on the former president, Putins missiles targeted a Ukrainian childrens hospital  a childrens hospital! The BBC reported that 36 people were killed and 140 people were injured.

Even before this terrorist attack, UNICEF noted a 40% rise in the death of Ukrainian children because of Russias war against Ukraine. The trauma of war will scar millions more children and teenagers for a lifetime. As a parent, I cannot imagine putting my children to bed not knowing if they will make it through the night. What happens to the minds, bodies, and souls of children when they must run to bomb shelters daily? If a hospital  a place of healing  isnt safe, what will become of their sense of security and self-worth?

The missile that struck the hospital was one of nearly 40 launched at Ukraine that day, many of which were thankfully shot down by Ukrainian armed forces. But its become harder for Ukraine to defend against Russias missiles on its own. Just weeks before the hospital attack, Iran launched more than 300 missiles and drones at the nation of Israel. Unlike Ukraine, 99% of those missiles and drones were intercepted with the help of Western partners. As a fierce defender of human life, I celebrate the fact that the Iranian attack was thwarted and that lives were preserved, but Im angry at the double standard thats killing Ukrainian children.

At the RNC, Speaker Mike Johnson made a reference to the innate value of human life. Our  and the worlds  muted response to Putins terror attack against children gives one the sense that some human lives dont have the same value as others.

On multiple occasions, President Biden has said that the U.S. will not walk away from Ukraine and will give Ukraine the support it needs. But support has been limited and slow, and for a long time, it has come with restrictions. Former President Trump has claimed that he will end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. Its unclear how he plans to do that while maintaining the territorial sovereignty of Ukraine and ensuring that Russia will be held accountable for its crimes.

The U.S. and its allies know that Russia is killing Ukrainian civilians, including children. Western forces can stop terrorist attacks, as they did in Israel earlier this year. Ukrainians, and Ukrainian children, will keep dying until someone has the moral courage and integrity to provide decisive global leadership.

I dont care if youre a Democrat or a Republican, Ukrainian children shouldnt be pawns in our presidential election. Regardless of who is sworn into office on January 20, 2025, that person must lead with integrity and consistency. This means fewer strong words and more, clear actions. Russia must be stopped from destroying the lives of Ukrainian children. Every single missile and drone that enters Ukrainian airspace must be destroyed with help from allies. Ukraine needs the funding and weapons to defend itself against Russian aggression  not two years from now, but right now.

If, like me, youre frustrated by what youre seeing, you can find a way to make a difference without waiting on the government to intervene. Educate yourself on the real issues surrounding the war against Ukraine. Thoughts and prayers can certainly be encouraging, but you can also use your voice, your hands and your resources to advocate for those in need. Consider investing some of your dollars to deliver aid to Ukrainians in need. At The Renewal Initiative, we see the difference that ordinary people can make by committing to restore dignity and hope where its been stolen or lost.

I dont know the outcome of our November election or what kind of difference it will make in Ukraine, but I want the killing of Ukrainian children to stop. All terrorism must be held to the same standard  whether its terrorism against a presidential candidate, or Israel, or Ukraine, or even against innocent civilians in Gaza. We cannot allow the torrent of breaking news to distract us from appropriately grieving the loss of innocent human life and holding aggressors accountable.

Tyranny advances in a world where evil against others is unaccountable.
Christian leaders in France and UK speak out against 'mockery of Christianity' at Paris Olympics opening ceremony

Christians have continued to speak out against offensive scenes in the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics which included an apparent depiction of The Last Supper featuring drag queens.

The controversial scene contained a line-up of drag queens who writhed suggestively on either side of DJ Barbara Butch, a lesbian activist.

The French Bishops' Conference issued a statement on Saturday in which they suggested that the "wonderful moments of beauty, joy, rich emotions" during the four-hour ceremony were let down by other elements.

"However, this ceremony unfortunately included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity, which we deeply regret," the bishops said.

They added, "We think of all Christians across the continents who were hurt by the excesses and provocation of certain scenes."

In the UK, Christian groups have called for an apology from Games organisers. They include Rev Lynda Rose, Voice for Justice UK, and Helena Croft, of StreetLight UK.

They called the portrayal of the Last Supper "obscene" and "an open expression of contempt for Christianity".

Rev Rose, CEO of Voice for Justice UK, said, "Christianity has been directly and deliberately targeted. The cultural appropriation of men impersonating women is already grossly offensive and insulting to women, but the deliberate mockery of Christ takes this abuse to new depths.

"The Olympic Games' opening ceremony wasn't a celebration of sport, but of corruption, with 'inclusivity' revealed in all its glory as a new religion."

Croft said, "Would they have dared insult Islam like this? Of course not. The hyper-sexualisation that seems to be a hallmark of trans-activism has no place in sport. The attack on Christianity has no place in sport."

On Saturday, the CEO of the UK Evangelical Alliance, Gavin Calver, called the portrayal of the Last Supper "unbelievably crass" and said "it really was appalling to see Christianity so openly mocked in the opening ceremony".

He said the scene was "utterly insensitive, unnecessary and offensive".
Three members of beloved gospel group die in plane crash

The Nelons, a popular family gospel group, has been struck by tragedy after the death of three of its members in a plane crash.

Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, and their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler were killed in the crash while taking a flight to perform on a cruise ship.

The crash also claimed the lives of Nelon Kistler's husband, Nathan Kistler, the band's assistant, Melodi Hodges, pilot Larry Haynie and his wife, Melissa.

They were on their way to Seattle where they were to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska, hosted by gospel veterans Bill and Gloria Gaither.

The fourth member of The Nelons and the Clarks' youngest daughter, Autumn Nelon Streetman, was not on the plane at the time.

She had travelled to Seattle on a different flight with her husband Jamie Streetman, and received the devastating news upon landing.

She said in a statement, "Thank you for the prayers that have been extended already to me, my husband, Jamie, and our soon-to-be-born baby boy, as well as Jason's parents, Dan and Linda Clark.

"We appreciate your continued prayers, love, and support as we navigate the coming days."

Gaither Music Group said: "One of the best loved Gospel music families in America, The Nelons were involved in a tragic, fatal plane crash on Friday afternoon on their way to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska."

It added: "Autumn, Jason and Kelly's youngest daughter, and her husband, Jamie Streetman were not on the plane and arrived safely into Seattle and were notified of the accident.

"They were brought to the hotel where artists were gathered with Bill and Gloria Gaither to pray, sing and embrace them in their grief, pledging to support them in whatever needs arise."

The Pilatus PC-12/47E aircraft came down just north of the town of Gillette, in Campbell County, Wyoming, around 1pm local time on Friday, sparking a wildfire. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the crash.

The Nelons were founded in 1977 by the late Rex Nelon, Kelly Nelon Clark's father. They were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2016.
When two Mediterranean Christians transformed the English Church

The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds Christians that they are surrounded by a great "cloud of witnesses." (NRSV) That "cloud" has continued to grow in size since then. In this monthly column we will be thinking about some of the people and events, over the past 2000 years, that have helped make up this "cloud." People and events that have helped build the community of the Christian church as it exists today.

In the 7th century AD, the Christian Church in England was transformed by the work of two remarkable men. Neither was born in England, or for that matter in the British Isles. The two men in question were Theodore of Tarsus (now in modern Turkey), also known as Theodore 'the Syrian,' and Hadrian 'the African' (from North Africa).

Though well known to historians of early medieval England and Britain, most modern believers in the UK will never have heard of them. Yet, between them, these two Christians from the Mediterranean world helped to transform the Christian community in early England. And their influence spread across the British Isles. They were two remarkable men of faith, learning, and influence.

The British Isles in the 7th century

Politically and culturally, the British Isles in the 7th century were complex, fragmented, multi-cultural, ethnically and linguistically diverse, and experiencing a time of tremendous change.

In the early 5th century, formal Roman rule had ended in Britain. Prior to that, Roman political and military control and cultural influence had dominated what is now England and Wales and had extended well into what is today southern Scotland (none of these countries then existed).

Further north, the highlands of Scotland were never conquered (after a failed Roman attempt in the late 1st century) and remained outside direct imperial control. Ireland was never invaded by Rome. During the time of the Roman Empire in Britain (basically from AD 43410) much of Britain was plugged into a vast, multi-cultural political unit that stretched from southern Scotland to Syria (and at times further east); from the Rhine and Danube frontiers to North Africa and southern Egypt.

As a result, it was possible to find Syrian archers and Tigris boatmen operating on Hadrian's Wall (begun c.122), rubbing shoulders with cavalry drawn from Frisia and even from the steppe lands of modern Ukraine and southern Russia (Sarmatians).

In the Roman provinces, urbanisation was encouraged, a market economy thrived, wealthy local elites bought into the Roman way of life, and this trickled down into wider society. Agricultural production increased to support imperial taxation and the army. Ideas from across the Roman world met and co-existed in the imperial provinces.

In the 5th century this changed dramatically. With the end of imperial rule, unified political control collapsed, as did urban life (it had been in steep decline for over a century) and the market economy. Roman Britain fragmented into a series of warring little states. In the east, rulers bought in 'Germanic muscle' to bolster their positions; in the west the same occurred with the employment of Irish mercenaries.

Settlers from north-western Germany and southern Denmark seem to have accompanied leaders who were carving out a new life in what had once been Roman Britain. Irish settlers arrived in western Wales. How many immigrants arrived is a matter for much heated conjecture.

By the year 600, much of what is now central, southern and eastern England was a patchwork of little kingdoms, in which 'English' was becoming the dominant language (in the 'Old English' form) and culture. It was becoming culturally 'Anglo-Saxon,' even if many in its population were descendants of indigenous communities.

In the west and north, British kingdoms (speaking a language which would develop into Welsh) resisted the incomers, with mixed results. Beyond the old imperial frontiers, Irish immigration was on its way to changing 'Pictland' into 'Scotland.' And the island of Ireland remained a conglomerate of little kingdoms, with those in the north-east strongly connected with those in the south-west of what would become Scotland.

It was a dynamic  if conflicted  time of change and it also witnessed the formation (and re-formation) of identities that survive into modern times.

The backstory of Christian faith in the British Isles

Christianity had a fascinating backstory in Britain. We do not know when the faith reached the islands. It is likely that it first came via traders from the Mediterranean world and from Gaul (modern France). There is no record of formal missionary expeditions to the islands. Around the year 200, the Carthaginian theologian Tertullian (in North Africa) included Britain in a list of places already reached by Christianity. His contemporary, the Greek theologian Origen, wrote something similar.

During the 3rd century persecutions, believers in Britain died for their faith. Alban, Julius and Aaron, three Romano-British Christians (mentioned in early medieval sources), were probably martyred for the faith at this time. After the Edict of Milan, in 313, and accompanying the conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity, the persecution halted.

We know that three British bishops attended the imperial council at Arles in 314. These were probably from what are now York, London and Lincoln (but this is not entirely certain). This reveals that, by the early 4th century, the British Christian community in the imperial provinces was organised on a regional basis under bishops. In the year 391, Emperor Theodosius finally banned all pagan religions throughout the empire. This made Christianity the official Roman religion.

By the end of the Roman Empire, it is likely that Christians (whether nominal or committed) made up a sizeable proportion of the population in Roman Britain. However, these were probably concentrated in urban settings and also among many of the villa-owning class and on their estates, in the army, and in the imperial administration. Out in rural society (making up at least 90% of the population) the picture was probably mixed and our modern word 'pagan' is derived from the Latin for 'country-dweller.'

In the turbulence of the 5th and 6th centuries  as the old political units broke up and reformed  we largely lose sight of Christianity in what is today eastern England. The emerging Germanic (Anglo-Saxon) culture was pagan, worshipping gods such as Woden and Thunor (better known by their Norse names of Odin and Thor) and other gods and goddesses.

In the west and north, the British communities were stridently Christian, signalling their culture as descended from imperial times and sharply differentiated from the 'pagan barbarians' to the east. They seem to have been in no hurry to convert these hated incomers, but things may have been more complex on the ground.

Christian missionaries (most famously Patrick) had had a huge impact in Ireland. From there Christian missionaries then moved the other way, bringing the faith into northern Britain and also influencing northern Anglo-Saxon rulers, who often sought refuge in Ireland, or in Irish-influenced communities such as Iona, during times of dynastic conflict. This is often called the 'Celtic Church,' but no such separate term or organisation existed at the time. They simply considered themselves part of the 'Catholic' (ie universal) Christian Church, in the West. Later labels rather obscure and confuse this.

In 597, official missionaries  sent by the pope in Rome  arrived in Kent. Their job was to work to convert the English kingdoms; bolster British Christian communities that had survived the collapse of Roman rule; and link up with the surviving British Church, to form one united organisation headed by the new arrivals (this last part did not go well for various reasons). This official Christian conversion activity was added to the existing Christian missionary activities taking place in the islands, led by Irish and Gaulish (now Frankish) Christians. A huge religious change was now added to the mix of communities in flux. It was an extraordinary time.

The impact of two remarkable Mediterranean Christians

By the middle of the 7th century a number of the early English kingdoms had converted to Christianity but the new religion had still not firmly put down roots; there were ongoing disputes with the British Church (despite the Synod of Whitby in 664 which decided in favour of the Roman, rather than British Church, in a number of key areas); church organisation was still fairly rudimentary; many people had not yet converted or were in areas thinly covered by clergy; there was a severe shortage of local people trained in scriptural knowledge, liturgy and leadership. It was in this context that a new archbishop of Canterbury (the head church in the country) had died, in 667, while in Rome and before receiving papal authority.

The pope's first choice to replace him was Hadrian 'the African,' an abbot born in North Africa but resident in Italy. Hadrian turned down the job and suggested the 65-year-old Theodore of Tarsus (a place now in modern Turkey). He had been educated at Antioch and in Edessa in Syria and, for this reason, he is sometimes called Theodore 'the Syrian.' Both men had experienced a high level of turbulence in their lives.

Theodore had fled Tarsus after the Persian Empire conquered it and other cities. This Persian advance was followed by Muslim conquests, which reached Tarsus in 637. It is uncertain after which of these conquests he left his native region. After studying in Constantinople, he relocated to Rome. He was a religious refugee fleeing devastating wars.

Hadrian was North African, probably a Berber, and almost certainly from what is now Libya. It is likely that the Arab Islamic invasions of Cyrenaica (AD 642645) caused Hadrian to flee to Italy as a refugee. Consequently, both men's lives resonate remarkably with the turbulent world of the twenty-first century.

In the end, in 668, the pope sent them both. Theodore was to provide the leadership in church government and policy. Hadrian  who was very well versed in the scriptures, a good administrator, and fluent in Latin and Greek  was to transform the knowledge-base of the new Church and educate candidates for manning it and leading it. The early 8th century Northumbrian monk, Bede, wrote that Hadrian had already made two journeys into Gaul (modern France), so was probably experienced as a diplomat as well as being an abbot. It turned out to be a winning combination.

The transformation of the Christian Church in England

Theodore provided strong leadership which  as Bede later commented  "all the English obeyed." He energetically toured the kingdoms, filled vacant bishoprics and presided over the first council of the entire English Church, at Hertford in 673. In addition, he established clear territorial boundaries for the various dioceses, and founded new dioceses where needed. The body of canon law drawn up under his supervision, and his structure of dioceses and pastoral care, set the pattern both for future missionary work and for teaching new converts.

The latter need was taken up by Hadrian, who became the abbot of Saint Peter's and Saint Paul's in Canterbury and started a school there. The Canterbury school taught a wide curriculum: scripture study, theology, poetry, astronomy, and calendar calculation. Sacred music was also taught. Its students (whatever their birth language) learned Latin and Greek, the international languages of study.

Theodore died in 690, aged 88. Hadrian died in 710, of uncertain age. A new generation of Christian scholars and leaders emerged because of their work. These were either taught directly by them, such as Aldhelm (died 709) who later became Bishop of Sherborne (Dorset) and was energetic in missionary work; or who (such as Bede and Alcuin of York) were influenced by their educational programme or by those they had taught.

Alcuin of York later described Hadrian's legacy in Britain as "the light that came out of Africa." What had been a struggling missionary enterprise, had become a well-rooted province of the universal Church. It was a remarkable achievement by these two refugees, who had fled their homes due to warfare and religious upheaval, and then been sent to Britain to reform and revitalise the Christian community there.

Martyn Whittock is a historian and a Licensed Lay Minister in the Church of England. The author, or co-author, of fifty-six books, his work covers a wide range of historical and theological themes. In addition, as a commentator and columnist, he has written for several print and online news platforms and is frequently interviewed on TV and radio news and discussion programmes exploring the interaction of faith and politics. His recent books include: Trump and the Puritans (2020), Daughters of Eve (2021), Jesus The Unauthorized Biography (2021), The End Times, Again? (2021), The Story of the Cross (2021), Apocalyptic Politics (2022), and American Vikings: How the Norse Sailed into the Lands and Imaginations of America (2023). He is currently writing Vikings in the East: From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin, the Origin of a Contested Legacy in Russia and Ukraine (2025 forthcoming).
The rise of Santa Clara-based Nvidia as one of the worlds most valuable companies has contributed to rising home prices in Silicon Valley, some real estate agents say. Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

When a four-bedroom home in Campbell sold in 2019, it fetched a solid $1.6 million  a modest bump from the $1.4 million it had sold for in 2015, according to records from real estate brokerage site Zillow. But when it sold again in 2024, the price tag had ballooned to $2.4 million.

What changed over those five years? One major factor appears to be the rise of Santa Clara-based Nvidia as one of the worlds most valuable companies, some real estate agents say, with workers newfound wealth allowing them to compete for nearby homes.

Nvidias stock price started rising in 2020, but exploded in 2023, rising from less than $20 a share to more than $120 in June 2024. The company produces chips needed for artificial intelligence systems, and has ridden the AI boom to a value of more than $2 trillion.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Nvidias surge in value has contributed to a steep rise in home prices in and around Santa Clara, said John Young, a Realtor with Golden Gate Sothebys International Realty. The typical home in Saratoga  a small town just south of Cupertino  was valued at about $2.7 million in June 2019, increasing by nearly 50% to $4 million as of June 2024, Zillow data shows. That was the biggest jump for that period in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, followed by nearby cities Campbell, Los Gatos and Monte Sereno.

Theres the Nvidia giant elephant in the room, Young said.

Santa Clara County is now the hottest market in the Bay Area, said Patrick Carlisle, chief market analyst with Compass. And that appears especially true for luxury homes. The number of homes in the county selling for at least $5 million soared by 63% in the second quarter of 2024 compared to April-to-June period in 2023, when the market was on a downturn.

With the stock market setting multiple records since late 2023, many workers whove benefited from the AI boom can cash in their equity to buy multimillion dollar homes. Anecdotal reports from real estate agents indicate those purchases are often made in cash, Carlisle added.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Prices are also boosted by a sluggish growth of housing supply in the South Bay. From January to June, Santa Clara County saw about 8,000 new home listings, up from roughly 6,200 for the same period in 2023, but down from the 9,400 before the pandemic. San Mateo County had about 3,100 new listings through June this year, down slightly from the 3,400 through June in 2019.

But not everyone agrees that Nvidias success is behind the jump in prices. Other real estate agents told the Wall Street Journal in February that the rising prices are more a product of limited inventory and proximity to job sites than a single companys stock prices. Home values in Santa Clara itself jumped by 36%  substantial, but slightly less than the 40% increase countywide.

Nikki Edwards, a Realtor with San Jose-based EQ1 Real Estate, said that while she does sell homes to Nvidia employees, thats not the only Silicon Valley company rising in value. Google, Apple, Meta and other tech giants have also seen their stocks jump this year.

I think it goes beyond Nvidia, Edwards said. The tech sector as a whole has done incredibly well.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

But Young, the Golden Gate Sothebys Realtor, argued that Nvidia's still a standout. He pointed to the recent layoffs at other tech companies, which he said have shaken employees confidence and made them less likely to spend millions on a house.
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.
Vaillancourt Fountain remains a polarizing piece of public art along San Franciscos Embarcadero. Two new plans to revise Embarcadero Plaza dont include the currently dry fountain. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle A sign at Vaillancourt Fountain in San Francisco states that the piece of public art is closed. The fountain does not currently have water surging through it. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Skaters enjoy the area around Vaillancourt Fountain in San Francisco on Friday. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle The waterless Vaillancourt Fountain in San Francisco, this month. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Now that theres momentum for a total makeover of the red-brick plateau known as Embarcadero Plaza, count me in. I only have one small request:

Dont get rid of Vaillancourt Fountain.

Yes, Im referring to the oft-ridiculed concoction of overscale concrete pipes from 1971, bent and contorted in angles that bring a full-on collision to mind. The fountain that, in recent years, has been dry more often than not. The one that makeover proponents, I suspect, wish would just go away.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

But heres the flip side: San Francisco is the should-be-proud possessor of one of urban Americas truly bizarre works of public art. Show some affection for the mottled tangled tubes! Rev up the fountain so that waters can gush with theatrical glee! A reimagined fountain could bloom as an exuberant tribute to how the citys waterfront is an incomparable fusion of the present and the past.

Water pours out of the Vaillancourt Fountain at Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco in 2020. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle

The jumbled 40-foot tall fountain is the best reminder that, from 1958 to 1991, the downtown shoreline was hidden behind the clamorous Embarcadero Freeway  an ugly double-deck roadway that curved from the Bay Bridge to Folsom Street and pushed nearly a mile north to Broadway. Picture our view up Market Street to the Ferry Building severed by a 60-foot-tall jersey barrier.

Better yet, dont.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

This history explains why Vaillancourt Fountain strikes such a provocative pose, especially when its 20 or so right-angled spigots would spew 30,000 gallons of water per minute. It was conceived as A fountain to hide a freeway, to quote the 1967 Chronicle piece that announced the selection of Canadian sculptor Armand Vaillancourt. Big and aggressive and loud, the goal was to provide a visual distraction to the elevated ramps behind it while muffling noise from constant traffic.

From opening day in 1971, there were more detractors than defenders. Interestingly, there was similar blowback to two other head-turners of the era: Sutro Tower and the Transamerica Pyramid. The former has become a cult icon; the latter rivals the Golden Gate Bridge as a sculptural symbol of todays city.

A model of the proposed Vaillancourt Fountain was shared in late 1968. Jerry Telfer/The Chronicle

The freeway was dismantled in 1991, thankfully, and the Embarcaderos healing process began. Witness the Ferry Buildings restoration and the promenade thick with joggers and strollers. The Exploratorium draws families to Pier 15.

Residential buildings at all price levels fill land along Folsom Street once shadowed by ramps. Rincon Park features a supersize bow-and-arrow and a bayside lawn where nearby residents let their dogs run free.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

About the only thing that hasnt prospered is, you guessed it, Embarcadero Plaza. Patchy brickwork and institutional lunch tables bolted to the periphery are no match for the magnetic pull of the waterfront show. Nor is the gaunt fountain that looms above two sandwich boards announcing Pardon our mess/This area is closed.

So I applaud Embarcadero Center owner BXP for hiring design firm HOK to draw up conceptual plans for how the plaza and an adjacent park could be reimagined as an enticing 21st century gathering spot.

One where, in the renderings, Vaillancourt Fountain is nowhere to be seen.

A passerby takes in the view of Vaillancourt Fountain as water flows from it in 2017. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

It was designed for a different era, Aaron Fenton, a senior vice president at BXP, said of the plaza in general and the fountain in particular. The fountain was oriented facing the city. It was never meant to be seen from behind.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Phil Ginsburg, longtime general manager of the citys Recreation and Park Department, palpably is no fan of Vaillancourts concrete pyrotechnics.

We need to take a fresh look at this, he said carefully when we spoke. There are a series of tradeoffs. Ginsburg also pointed out that since the last water pump broke in June, the fountain itself is not operable. Its dead.

But lets get real: Vaillancourt Fountain has suffered from not-so-benign neglect for decades. When the jets have been turned on in recent years, the water was often mixed with green or red algae killer. The concrete hasnt received a thorough scrub, I would guess, since U2 frontman Bono spray-painted Rock n Roll Stops the Traffic on one of the cantilevered limbs during a 1987 lunchtime concert.

U2 singer Bono spray paints a message on the Vaillancourt Fountain during a free concert at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco on Nov. 11, 1987. The painting of the fountain was a controversy, and showed up in the U2 concert film Rattle and Hum. Fred Larson/The Chronicle

Now imagine using the makeover to celebrate the fountain as an only-in-San Francisco showcase. Install an energy-efficient mechanical system using recycled water. Bring the fountains backside to life with an interactive childrens play area a la Crown Fountain in Chicagos Millennium Park.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

That clever touch was suggested to me by Dean Macris, San Franciscos former planning director. Hes politically savvy enough to know that civic works of art cant be removed without laborious hearings. So why not turn the ugly duckling into a swaggering swan?

Make the water more important, and make the back as appealing as the front, Macris said. He also talked about how he tried to rally business and philanthropic support for a grand new park between Market Street and the Ferry Building when he was Gavin Newsoms top planner in the early 2000s: Its the heart of the city, he said. We should do something spectacular with it.

Blue water flows out of the Vaillancourt Fountain, which was installed along the Embarcadero in 1971. Peter Hartlaub

Macris was ahead of his time. Now, though, the need to reinvent downtown is front and center in the persistent wake of the pandemic; thats why mayoral candidates Mark Farrell and Aaron Peskin, as well as BXP and the administration of Mayor London Breed, are talking up the idea of an Embarcadero Plaza 2.0.

Another thing: The eye-popping success of Presidio Tunnel Tops shows that the private and public sector, working together, can enhance San Franciscos luster in magnificent ways.
Smoke rises following an Israeli strike on a residential building, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip, in this still picture taken from a video, July 24, 2024.

At least 30 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school housing displaced people in Gaza on Saturday, Palestinian health officials said, an attack that Israel said targeted militants who were using the compound.

The Hamas-run government media office said 15 children and eight women were among those killed in the strike in the central town of Deir Al-Balah. More than 100 people were wounded, the media office and the Gaza health ministry said.

Israel's military said it had targeted militants operating there and that it had taken steps to reduce the risk to civilians.

At Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah, ambulances rushed the wounded in for treatment. Some people arrived on foot, their clothes stained with blood.

Reuters footage showed people returning to the site of the bombing to check on their belongings, and fires burning in the area. Walls were blasted and debris scattered in the schoolyard, where some cars were damaged.

Um Hasan Ali, a displaced woman living at the school, said it had only been a couple of months since she returned to Gaza from Egypt with her daughter who had been taken there for medical treatment. Now her daughter had been wounded in the strike and taken to hospital, she said.

Another woman, Ibtihal Ahmed, told Reuters she was sitting in a neighbour's tent when she heard heavy bombing.

"I started running, my daughter was one place and I was at another, I saw people running towards the place that was struck. The people sheltering in Khadija school are all wounded people, they are innocent and this should not happen to them," she said.

Israel says Hamas uses Gaza's civilians as human shields by operating within densely populated areas, humanitarian zones, schools and hospitals, which Hamas denies.

"Hamas terrorists used the (school) compound as a hiding place to direct and plan numerous attacks against IDF troops and the State of Israel. In parallel, the terrorists developed and stored large quantities of weapons inside the compound," the military said in a statement.
China has, in its own way, signaled it wants to support specific kinds of consumer purchases. Authorities on Thursday announced the equivalent of 300 billion yuan ($41.5 billion) in special bonds would go towards trade-ins and equipment upgrades  a significant expansion of an existing program. "Compared to previous policies on equipment upgrade and consumer goods trade-in, the new policy support is larger in amount (allowance level increased) and the sources of funds are clearly specified," Ding Wenjie, investment strategist for global capital investment at China Asset Management Co., said in a note. "The portion of central government bearing is also higher (central:local =9:1), which would expedite policy execution," Ding said. "The program also covers more areas, such as trucks, machinery, home decoration and smart home appliances, in addition to previously announced auto and home appliances." She expects autos, industrials and home appliances to benefit. The policy at least doubles the subsidies for new energy and traditional fuel-powered vehicle purchases to 20,000 yuan and 15,000 yuan per car, respectively. The policy also laid out specific subsidies for home renovations and consumer purchases of refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, computers, air conditioners and other home appliances. The document said each consumer could get subsidies of up to 2,000 yuan for one purchase in each category. Major Chinese home appliance stocks rose on Friday. The three largest mainland China-traded names in the category  Midea, Gree and Haier  rose by between roughly 5.8% and 8.3%. That's in contrast to mild gains in the broader mainland China indexes. The 300 billion yuan ultra-long bond issuance is not a new government allocation, but rather a more detailed designation of a 1 trillion yuan ultra-long bond program announced earlier this year. "The amount is beyond market expectations; we expect equipment stocks to react positively," Morgan Stanley analysts said in a report Friday. "300 billion yuan is the largest equipment upgrade subsidy from the central government historically," the analysts said. Among the stocks they cover, they expect Inovance is one of a few "to benefit most from higher trade-in subsidies for autos and/or home appliances." Chinese authorities have resisted cash handouts to consumers despite sluggish retail sales growth. Instead, Beijing has made it clear its focus is on building domestic tech capabilities. Even the 300 billion yuan figure is split roughly between consumer-related trade-ins with business-side equipment upgrades. "We see a decent boost to China's household consumption (RMB 150bn equivalent to 0.3% of 2023 annual retail sales) and corporate capex, but likely a limited overall impact on GDP growth, considering funding support for infrastructure may be smaller than otherwise," Tao Wang, head of Asia economics and chief China economist, UBS Investment Bank, said in a note. The latest consumption measures follow China's twice-a-decade Third Plenum, which typically sets the tone for longer-term economic policy. A more near-term-focused Politburo meeting is expected at the end of the month. "The plenum proposed that ensuring and improving people's livelihood during development is a major task of China's path to modernization," said Darius Tang, associate director of Corporates, Fitch Bohua. "Amid the sustained high-speed growth in household savings and relatively sluggish consumption ... we expect that the Chinese government would increase investment in the field of education, healthcare and pension that are directly linked to people's livelihoods and well-being, which is conductive to eliminating residents' worries, boost consumer confidence and convert the current excessive household savings to consumption."  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
Richard Behar Courtesy: Lizzie Cohen

You probably haven't heard Bernie Madoff's name in awhile, but that doesn't mean the infamous fraudster's story is over, or the pain he inflicted. Irving Picard, an 83-old court-appointed trustee, still spends his days trying to claw back money from the those who benefitted from Madoff's Ponzi scheme, and to reduce the staggering losses of others. More than 100 legal battles over the greatest known fraud in history still rage on. Richard Behar, who has just published a new biography, "Madoff: The Final Word," is also still trying to understand how Madoff's mind worked. What allows a person to rip off Elie Wiesel, who survived the Holocaust and went on to become a main chronicler of it? Or to sit with his wife, Ruth, in a theater and enjoy a movie while knowing that he's erased the life savings of thousands of people all over the world? Those questions haunted Behar  who tells CNBC he has long been fascinated by con-artists. So long after most other reporters had turned their attention elsewhere, he reached out to Madoff while the financial criminal served out his 150-year prison sentence in North Carolina.

Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Richard Behar's book 'Madoff: The Final Word.'

Behar started by sending his condolences to Madoff, whose son, Mark, had just died by suicide in Dec. 2010, the second anniversary of his father's arrest. Shortly after, an email subject line popped up in Behar's inbox: "Inmate: MADOFF, BERNARD L." That message was the start to a decade-long relationship between the two men, including roughly 50 phone conversations, hundreds of emails and three in-person visits. When Madoff died in April 2021, Behar was still writing the biography. Madoff often complained to Behar that he was taking too long on the book. "He once joked that he'd be dead when it came out, which of course turned out to be true, although I never planned it that way," Behar said. CNBC interviewed Behar, an award-winning journalist and contributing editor of investigations at Forbes, over email this month. (The conversation has been edited and condensed for style and clarity.)

'He never asked me one personal question'

Annie Nova: You write that you're an investigative reporter with "a special fondness for scammers." Why do you think that is? Richard Behar: I've always been mesmerized by how the brains of scammers work. I'm especially intrigued, maybe obsessed, with scammers who steal from people who are very close to them  like Madoff did. A scamster who I visited in prison in the 1990s did something similar. Until Bernie's arrest, this guy ran the lengthiest known Ponzi scheme ever, for 11 years. He was orphaned and raised by an aunt and uncle, and yet financially devoured them, as well as his cousins, his wife's parents, his best friend  even a nun who he charmed with his alleged faith in god. I wasn't raised by my biological parents either, and spent my childhood in foster homes. I couldn't pretend to imagine doing that to people who stepped up to care for me, but it's endlessly fascinating to me. Maybe that's where that fondness for scammers is rooted.

Bernard Madoff arrives at Manhattan Federal court on March 12, 2009 in New York City. Stephen Chernin | Getty Images News | Getty Images

AN: Did Madoff take any interest in your life? RB: Through a nearly decade-long relationship, he never asked me one personal question. That was mind-boggling. I'd sometimes give him openings, like telling him I grew up in a town not far from his hometown  with a similar but poorer Jewish subculture  but he said nothing. He couldn't care less. I asked a psychologist about this, and she theorized that Bernie was such a malignant narcissist that he couldn't "hold my reality, he could only hold his own." I couldn't be a three-dimensional human being to him, because if he can imagine that, he'd have to imagine the school teacher who has lost a pension. AN: What was the most remorse you saw him show over what he'd done? RB: I once asked if he could ever forgive himself for the Ponzi itself, and he said "No, never." He insisted he felt great remorse for those who he stole from. But I never totally felt it. Never a tear. I asked why he didn't cry at his sentencing, and he snapped: "Of course I didn't cry; I was cried out."

'Prison was a great relief for him'

AN: How did Madoff say life in prison changed him? RB: He never talked about it. He once described himself as feeling numb. I said, "I can't imagine what it would be like." He replied, "You don't want to know, you don't want to know." In some ways, I think being in prison was a great relief for him. Running a half-century Ponzi has got to be exhausting. In prison, he'd typically wake up in his cell at around 4 a.m., make coffee in bed with an instant hot water machine, then read, or listen to NPR until breakfast. He worked in the kitchen, then the laundry room and then oversaw the inmates' computer room. That last job cracked me up because he told me he could barely turn a computer on in his office, which should have been a red flag to everyone at the company that he wasn't actually trading stocks. AN: You write that he was seeing a therapist in prison. Do we know often this was, or for how long it lasted? Did it seem to be helping him? RB: He ended one phone chat abruptly because he had to get to one of his weekly appointments with his psychologist. When he called me afterwards, I asked how it went. He laughed and said it was helpful, that she was a "terrific lady" and that he thinks he should have done therapy years before. But even if the sessions were helpful, he said he never found the answers he sought about why he did the fraud and why he hurt so many people.

NEW YORK - MARCH 12: Financier Bernard Madoff passes the gathered press as he arrives at Manhattan Federal court on March 12, 2009 in New York City. Madoff was expected to plead guilty to all 11 felony charges brought by prosecutors on financial misdoings, and could end up with a sentence of 150 years in prison. Chris Hondros | Getty Images

He was disturbed by press reports that called him a sociopath. He said he asked his therapist, "Am I a sociopath? A lot of clients were friends and family  how could I do this?" Bernie claims that she told him that people have the ability to compartmentalize, like mobsters that kill and then go home and hold their kids. You just put it out of your mind. I asked if she came up with a diagnosis. He said, no, just a compartmentalizer. Maybe she told him that to make him feel better since he wasn't ever getting out. AN: For so many years, it sounded like Madoff was just waiting to be caught. Is that right? Did he always know he wouldn't be able to get away with this? What was living in that suspended state like for him? RB: Bernie said he was under constant stress over the Ponzi, and would talk out loud to himself sometimes in the office, because of the pressure. One of his biggest outlets for relieving the stress was sitting in dark theaters with his wife Ruth, he said, watching movies twice a week. He also said he deluded himself into thinking some "miracle" would come along to bail him out of the Ponzi, but that he knew for at least the last decade before his arrest that he'd never get out from under it.

The only time he truly relaxed, he said, was on weekends when he was out on his yacht. I interviewed a former FBI behavioral analysis expert who suggested Bernie felt safe on the boat because he could see 360 degrees around him, all the way to the horizon, so he'd have a lot of forewarning that a threat was coming.

'Not a single investor' had complained to the SEC

AN: You paint a really interesting portrait of the figure of Irving Picard, an 83-year-old court-appointed trustee, who has spent years trying to get money back for Madoff's investors. Has this been Picard's only job over the years? Why has he made this his life mission? RB: Picard rarely talks with the press. I was just chatting with John Moscow, a former chief white-collar crimes prosecutor for the Manhattan DA's office who worked on some Madoff cases for the trustee. He said: "Irving is a very faithful public servant." He's laser focused on his task. John's words were: "He's not manic about it, but he's very close."

watch now

In my book, I quote a former federal prosecutor saying that you can probe this case for 50 years and still not get to all the truths, but Picard isn't interested in that. It's been his only bankruptcy case since four days after Bernie's arrest in 2008. He is ferocious towards net winners who won't return funds, but he can be a soft teddy bear with those who don't have the money for him to claw back. He may let them pay it over time, or he'll take someone's house but leave them a life interest in it. AN: What do you think people get most wrong about Madoff? RB: A lot of people who lost money get it wrong by blaming him entirely, rather than looking in the mirror and asking themselves how they could have put themselves in such danger. Madoff's consistent and high returns were simply not possible. Even so, many net losers think the government owes them because the SEC didn't capture Bernie. But that agency's mandate has never been to protect people from stupid investment decisions.

Financier Bernard Madoff arrives at Manhattan Federal court on March 12, 2009 in New York City. Madoff is scheduled to enter a guilty plea on 11 felony counts which under federal law can result in a sentence of about 150 years. (Photo by Stephen Chernin/Getty Images) Stephen Chernin | Getty Images
The U.S. stock market has been volatile as of late, as traders grapple with earnings season and the upcoming elections, but dividend-paying stocks may help investors smooth out the ride in their portfolios.

Investors seeking solid dividend payers can rely on top-ranked Wall Street analysts, who make recommendations after thoroughly analyzing a company's ability to generate solid financials and deliver strong returns.

Here are three attractive dividend stocks, according to Wall Street's top pros on TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance.

Western Midstream Partners

This week, we will first look at a limited partnership, Western Midstream Partners (WES). The company owns and operates midstream assets in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.

It is worth noting that for Q1 2024, WES increased its base distribution by 52% compared to the prior quarter to $0.8750 per unit. WES offers a high dividend yield of 8.8%.

Recently, Mizuho analyst Gabriel Moreen increased his price target for WES to $45 from $39 and reaffirmed a buy rating, saying that the stock is the second-best performing name in his coverage on the basis of the year-to-date rally: Shares are up 36% in 2024.

Moreen thinks that there is scope for further moderate distribution hikes by WES over his forecast period, which represents a catalyst for investors keen on this high-yield stock. "Yield is even more of a differentiator given WES' MLP structure that optimizes the tax benefits of a higher yield," the analyst said.

Moreen also highlighted the company's solid Q1 results and revised outlook. He highlighted the company's ability to support its higher distributions, thanks to an investment-grade balance sheet, modest capital expenditure requirements and constructive contracts that offer significant visibility into continued cash payout.

Moreen ranks No. 90 among more than 8,900 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 81% of the time, delivering an average return of 12.8%. (See Western Midstream Financials on TipRanks)

Diamondback Energy

We move to another energy player, Diamondback Energy (FANG). The company is focused on the acquisition, development and exploration of onshore oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin in West Texas. FANG has been in the news for its proposed acquisition of Endeavor Energy, which is expected to strengthen its position in the Permian Basin.

For the first quarter, the company paid a base cash dividend of 90 cents per share and a variable cash dividend of $1.07 per share to its shareholders. Moreover, it repurchased 279,266 shares for $42 million.

Ahead of the company's second-quarter results, RBC Capital analyst Scott Hanold reiterated a buy rating on FANG stock with a price target of $220.

The analyst thinks that FANG's Q2 production gained from faster cycle times and expects 90 well completions, an improvement from his prior forecast of 80 wells. However, the analyst lowered his Q2 2024 EPS and cash flow per share estimates to reflect final commodity price realizations and other adjustments.

Hanold expects Q2 2024 shareholder returns to comprise a fixed dividend of 90 cents a share and a variable dividend of $1.25 per share, with no stock buybacks. He added, "We believe FANG shares should outperform its peer group over the next 12 months."

Hanold ranks No. 11 among more than 8,900 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 70% of the time, delivering an average return of 27.6%. (See Diamondback Energy Options Activity on TipRanks)

Coca-Cola

This week's third pick is beverage giant Coca-Cola (KO), which recently announced better-than-anticipated second-quarter results, reflecting strong demand for its products. The company also increased its full-year organic revenue growth and comparable earnings outlook.

Earlier this year, KO hiked its quarterly dividend by about 5.4% to 48.5 cents per share, marking the 62nd year of consecutive dividend hikes. KO offers a dividend yield of about 2.9%.

In reaction to the upbeat Q2 results, RBC Capital analyst Nik Modi reaffirmed a buy rating on Coca-Cola stock and raised the price target to $68 from $65.

Modi noted the company's better-than-projected global case volumes, including double-digit growth in markets like the Philippines and India. He also highlighted the improvement in KO's gross margin and earnings strength.

Despite pressures in the low-income consumer group in the developed markets and a slowdown in the away-from-home channel, the analyst remains bullish on the company's prospects. "We still believe KO's fundamentals are strong and the company has the momentum and flexibility to deliver against its targets for the year," said Modi.

Modi ranks No. 858 among more than 8,900 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 57% of the time, delivering an average return of 6.1%. (See Coca-Cola Insider Trading on TipRanks)
JAPAN - 2023/02/23: A Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk helicopter with the US Navy Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM-51, known as the War Lords, flying near Naval Air Facility Atsugi airbase.

The United States will unveil a major revamp of its military command structure in Japan and other measures to deepen defense ties with its Asian ally at high-level security talks in Tokyo on Sunday, a U.S. official said.

The overhaul comes as Tokyo looks to establish a new joint headquarters to oversee its armed forces by March to coordinate better with Washington on growing regional threats they see emanating from China and North Korea.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will hold talks with their Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara later on Sunday.

"Secretary Austin plans to announce that the United States intends to reconstitute U.S. Forces Japan as a Joint Force Headquarters, reporting to the commander of U.S. INDOPACOM," the U.S. official told a briefing ahead of the talks.

The command will be headed by a three-star general, the official said, not the four-star rank that Japan had requested.

For the first time, the ministerial talks between the U.S. and Japan will also cover "extended deterrence", a term used to describe the U.S. commitment to use its nuclear forces to deter attacks on allies.

Japan provides a base for the U.S. to project its military power in Asia, hosting 54,000 American troops, hundreds of U.S. aircraft and Washington's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier strike group.

Prompted by China's growing military might and regular missile tests by nuclear-armed North Korea, Japan is stepping back from decades of postwar pacifism. In 2022 it unveiled a plan to double defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product.

Austin and Kihara also met their South Korean counterpart, Shin Won-sik, for talks in Tokyo on Sunday where they signed an agreement to "institutionalize" trilateral cooperation via efforts like real-time sharing of North Korean missile warning data and joint military exercises.

The Biden administration has been pushing for deeper cooperation between Tokyo and Seoul, which have previously been hindered by strained relations dating back to Japan's 1910-1945 occupation of Korea.

"This memorandum, strengthens the cooperation between Japan, the United States and South Korea, making our partnership unshakable no matter how the international situation changes," Kihara told reporters after the meeting.

Washington also wants to tap Japanese industry to help ease pressure on U.S. defense companies stretched by demand generated by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Last month, Tokyo and Washington opened talks on deeper defense industry collaboration under the U.S.-Japan Forum on Defense Industrial Cooperation, Acquisition and Sustainment established in April by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Joe Biden.

After Tokyo, Blinken and Austin will hold security talks with another ally, the Philippines, as the Biden administration seeks to counter an increasingly bold China.

Blinken met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Laos on Saturday and repeated that Washington and its partners want to maintain a "free and open Indo-Pacific," according to a U.S. readout of the meeting.


It cant be great to know that your country doesnt claim sole recognition for its name. This, of course, is the plight of the people of Turkey, who always have to suffer through having an undignified suffix added to its every mention: Turkey, the country.

But what came first  the turkey, or the Turkey? And was it a translation error, a tribute or just a pure unfortunate happenstance?

First, for those who still might be behind on basic edible bird information, turkeys arent native to Turkey. In fact, there arent any wild turkeys in Turkey at all. The turkey, at least by that name, is native to North America, as discovered by pilgrims and colonists. Which makes this all the more confusing, given that though the modern republic of Turkey was formed in 1923, the word itself (and not for the bird) goes back to the 1300s, used to refer to land occupied by the people known as Turks.

Don't Miss

In other words, the Turks had a long, blissful period where no one was confusing them with a type of poultry, because the surrounding continents had never heard of the bird in question.

Internet Archive Book Images What do you mean, like the bird?

But although there were no turkeys living or being sold in Turkey, there were other birds that were synonymous with the Turks, including one in particular that we now know as the guinea fowl. The guinea fowl isnt native to Turkey either, but it was imported from Africa and sold by the Turks to the Europeans. In need of a familiar name for market, they simply combined the seller with a similar product, and sold these guinea fowls under the name of the turkey-cock or turkey-hen.

After all this pre-American history, we finally get to the New World, and settlers find a brand new bird. One that theyd never seen before, but that, to them, looked similar to a guinea fowl, or again, as they called them, turkey-cocks. They kept that name when these turkey-cocks began to be sent back to Europe, resulting, Im sure, in Turkish merchants going, Wait, what the hell is that?

Advertisement

The name stuck, and suddenly the Turks, and their storied and proud empire, had inherited the heritage of a bird that looked like it had testicles hanging off of its beak.
Next year, Garfield creator Jim Davis will celebrate his 80th birthday. The occasion will, no doubt, be a big one given Davis impact on pop culture. There is, however, one big drawback. July 25, 2025 is a Monday, which everyone, especially Garfield, knows is the worst day of the week.

And so, rather than celebrate anything on a Monday, we decided to get a jump on things a year early and honor Davis on his 79th birthday instead, which is a perfectly enjoyable Sunday.

79 Speaking of Days of the Week, Davis Arrived in This World on a Saturday Davis was born on July 28, 1945 in Marion, Indiana. He grew up on a small farm near Fairmont, Indiana.

78 Garfields Ancestors Growing up on the farm, Davis had 25 different cats.

77 Dont Forget Orson the Pig! Davis agricultural upbringing also inspired his farm-set 1980s comic strip U.S. Acres, which starred the aforementioned Orson.

76 How Davis Started to Draw As a kid, I was asthmatic and was forced to stay in bed a lot, away from the farm chores, he wrote in 20 Years & Still Kicking: Garfield's Twentieth Anniversary Collection. During those long bouts, mom would shove a pencil and paper in my hands and urge me to entertain myself. My drawings were so bad at first that I had to label everything. But mom, a talented artist in her own right, showed me how to draw realistically, using shading to give the pictures depth. Id spend hours happily drawing and writing. Advertisement Advertisement

75 His Asthma Was Pretty Serious In fact, he had to travel with his mother 50 miles each week for cortisone treatments.

74 He Overcame Stuttering David also stuttered as a child, but beat it with the help of a sympathetic teacher. Advertisement Advertisement

73 He Grew Up Reading Comic Strips His favorites included Peanuts, Steve Canyon, Beetle Bailey, Prince Valiant and Pogo. He cites their creators as his heroes.

72 He Was a Double Major in College He attended Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, where he studied art and business. Advertisement Advertisement

71 Muncie as Muse Muncie is also where Garfield is set.

70 Odies Stupid Pet Tricks Davis was a classmate of David Letterman at Ball State University. Advertisement Advertisement

69 Post-College, Pre-Cat After graduating, Davis worked for a local advertising agency doing layout and paste-up work.

68 Like a Tumbling Tumbleweed In 1969, Davis became the assistant of cartoonist Tom K. Ryan, creator of Tumbleweeds. Davis did backgrounds and lettering on the strip. Advertisement Advertisement

67 Newspaper Strip 101 The pay may not have been terrific, but it was great experience and taught me the discipline required for a daily strip as well as the business of syndication, David has said of his time working on Tumbleweeds.

66 Gnorm Gnat While working on Tumbleweeds, Davis spent his personal time developing his first cartoon strip, Gnorm Gnat. Advertisement Advertisement

65 Gnorm! Gnorm Gnat ran weekly in The Pendleton Times from 1973 to 1975.

64 The Impact of a Gnat Davis tried to sell Gnorm Gnat to syndicates, but it was met with what Davis has called overwhelming indifference. Advertisement Advertisement

63 Nobody Can Relate to Bugs While trying to sell Gnorm Gnat, Davis said he got sage advice from a publisher that told him: Your art is good, your gags are great, but bugs  nobody can relate to bugs!

62 A Most Fortunate Failure In the foreword to Davis book 20 Years & Still Kicking, cartoonist Mike Peters wrote, We can always be thankful that Jims first strip never made it. You can be sure that Jim would have worked just as hard if the strip were in six newspapers or 2,500 newspapers. Gnorm Gnat has gone down in cartoon folklore as a most fortunate failure. Advertisement Advertisement

61 Animals > People My experience with comics convinced me that nonhuman characters could be placed in many more interesting situations with greater flexibility than human characters, Davis has explained.

60 A Cats Calculation After my experience with Gnorm Gnat, I was looking for a character that would be funny and have broad appeal. I wanted to use an animal. Then it hit me. There were lots of dogs in the comics  Snoopy, Marmaduke, Fred Basset  but very few strips with a cat in the lead. I started sketching and came up with a big, cantankerous, cynical orange cat, Davis once wrote. Advertisement Advertisement

59 No, Garfield Is Not Named After the President (Directly) Davis named Garfield after his grandfather, James A. Garfield Davis, a big, cantankerous, cynical man, as Davis has described him. And so, no, Garfield the cat was not named after President James Garfield  at least not directly, as Davis grandfather was born in October 1880 and was named after the then-presidential candidate.

58 Solids or Stripes? In the earliest drawings of Garfield, he didnt have stripes. Advertisement Advertisement

57 Training Garfield I spent (a) year and a half developing the comic strip, Davis has written, designing and redesigning the characters, and fine-tuning the humor.

56 Garfield Comes Alive Once Davis felt Garfield was ready, he sent a bunch of sample strips to several syndicates and United Feature accepted it on January 24, 1978. Advertisement Advertisement

55 Pretty Fast for Such a Fat Cat Back then, comic strips usually got six months of lead time before a strip debuted to build up a proper backlog as well as to continue to refine the concept. However, Davis was given just two weeks to come up with Garfields first comics.

54 Were Ready to Party, Were Ready Garfield debuted on June 19, 1978 in 41 newspapers. Advertisement Advertisement

53 Irony! The first Garfield strip was published on a Monday.

52 Garfield Grows By 1980, Garfield was in more than 100 newspapers. Three years later, he was in over 1,000. Advertisement Advertisement

51 Gargantuan Garfield At its peak in the early aughts, Garfield was syndicated in about 2,500 newspapers. It has declined since then due to the decline in the number of newspapers overall.

50 Garfield, Guinness World Record Holder In 2003, the Guinness Book of World Records dubbed Garfield the worlds most widely syndicated comic strip, reported Time back in May. Advertisement Advertisement

49 Cat Scratch Fever After three months of test runs in the Chicago Sun-Times, the newspaper decided to discontinue Garfield. It swiftly received angry letters from 1,300 readers demanding Garfields return and the paper began running the strip again. The publicity from the incident would be used to push Garfield to more and more newspapers.

48 General Garfield Reporting for Duty I think part of Garfields appeal was that he was such an accessible character, Davis has explained. I made a conscious effort to include all readers. I kept the gags broad and the humor general and applicable to everyone. Most of the gags were about eating and sleeping. Plus, I avoided any social or political comments. Advertisement Advertisement

47 Garfield the Glutton People love Garfield because he says and does things they want to but cant, Davis has also theorized. People relate to him. Garfield relieves our guilt, too. We live In a world where were made to feel guilty for eating a potato chip. Garfield defends our right to eat not only a chip  but a whole bag! With dip! Sure hes a glutton, but someone has to stand up and defend gluttony!

46 Jon = Jim Jon Arbuckle appears to be patterned after Davis himself as he was also a cartoonist. However, Jons job eventually fades away entirely from the strip. Advertisement Advertisement

45 The Books In 1980, United Feature approached Davis about doing a compilation book collecting the daily and Sunday strips of Garfield. Davis wanted to do it, but he had a stipulation: Id always hated the standard mass-market-paperback comic strip books that stacked the strips vertically. The strip should be read across the page, just as it is in the newspaper. I mocked up a book that displayed the strips in a horizontal format. Next, I put a number one on the cover. The strips would run chronologically in numbered books. I thought it would promote collectibility. There was only one little problem. The book I had designed wouldnt fit in the standard bookstore racks. While United Feature was skeptical, Ballantine Books liked the design and the odd format meant the book was often displayed on its own, commonly near registers, which helped to boost sales. Today in the publishing industry, a book shaped like the Garfield compilation book is called a Garfield Format book, Davis has said.

44 The Cat Was Out of the Bag When the first book came out, Davis went on a 20-city tour that helped to promote Garfield nationwide. This was when Garfield first exploded in popularity. Advertisement Advertisement

43 Garfield Was Born in a Rather Appropriate Place In universe, Garfield was born in the kitchen of Mamma Leonis Italian Restaurant.

42 Culinary Twins Like Garfield, Jim Davis loves lasagna. Advertisement Advertisement

41 Arbuckles Arrival The name Jon Arbuckle came from an old coffee commercial I remembered hearing. Id also used the name as an expert source to add credibility to my speech during debates in my college days, Davis has explained.

40 Here Boy! Odie debuted just six weeks into the ongoing Garfield strip, on August 8, 1978. He was originally the pet of Lyman, Jons new roommate. Advertisement Advertisement

39 Have You Seen This Mustache? Over the next few years, Lyman was featured less and less in the strip. He made his last appearance on April 24, 1983

38 Dont Look in Jons Basement! A number of dark fan theories have circulated online about why Lyman suddenly disappeared from the strip  like Odie or Garfield killing Lyman  but the darkest theories have come from official Garfield merch. For example, 20 Years & Still Kicking offered up the Top Ten Explanations for Lymans Disappearance, and the top reason was Dont look in Jons basement! Advertisement Advertisement

37 They Said Dont Look Even crazier, in 2011, 13 years after 20 Years & Still Kicking was published, a Garfield computer game featured a chained-up Lyman in the basement of a haunted mansion and the follow-up game featured his severed head in an oven.

36 Lyman the Spaceman Lyman made two other more recent appearances in Garfield-related media as well. In 2013, his face was spotted on the cover of a newspaper while Jon was talking about alien abductions, giving rise to an online theory that Lyman was abducted by aliens. A year later, he appeared in a four-part story in The Garfield Show cartoon. Advertisement Advertisement

35 Odie, the Village Idiot Getting back to Odie, Davis liked the name because it connoted stupidity. Additionally: In the early 1970s, I wrote a radio commercial for a local car dealership. The spot featured Odie, the village idiot. I liked the name, so I used it again.

34 Odies Ears Odies ears were originally black, but in the summer of 1979, United Feature asked Davis to change them to brown to be less like Snoopy. Advertisement Advertisement

33 Pooky Pooky, Garfields beloved teddy bear, debuted on October 23, 1978.

32 Nermal Meanwhile, the adorable Nermal arrived about a year later on September 3, 1979. Advertisement Advertisement

31 Nermals Destination A running gag is Garfield trying to mail Nermal to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, which is about 7,270 miles from Muncie.

30 Jons Family Like Davis own parents, Jons parents are farmers. Jon also has a brother named Doc Boy, named for Davis older brother Dave, who was nicknamed Doc. Advertisement Advertisement

29 U.S. Acres Is the Place to Be The aforementioned U.S. Acres doesnt take place on the Arbuckle family farm. However, according to the book Garfields Christmas Tales  where Garfield met Orson and the other characters from U.S. Acres  the U.S. Acres farm is right next to the Arbuckle Farm.

28 It Takes a Village In 1998, when 20 Years & Still Kicking was published, Davis detailed his then-process for creating Garfield strips. Since licensing consumed most of his time, he set aside three consecutive days each month to work on the writing of the Garfield strip. He would have an ideas session with an assistant in which they came up with jokes and themes together, generating three to six weeks worth of ideas. Theyd then rough out the strips themselves and hand the roughs to another assistant who drew the characters and kept them on-model. A third and fourth assistant would ink the strip, and a fifth would ink it and color the Sunday strips. Lastly, Davis would review it, sign it and date it. As of 2018, he still wrote and roughed out every strip. Advertisement Advertisement

27 Garfield Comes to the Small Screen Garfields first TV appearance was on a 1980 special called The Fantastic Funnies, which featured segments with several popular comic strip characters at the time.

26 A Day at the Beach On The Fantastic Funnies, Garfield was voiced by Scott Beach, who later had roles in Mrs. Doubtfire and Stand By Me. Advertisement Advertisement

25 Here Comes Garfield Garfield appeared next in the half-hour TV special Here Comes Garfield in 1982. This time, he was voiced by Lorenzo Music, who would become the voice of Garfield for a generation.

24 Golden Garfield Music, who was also a writer, co-wrote the second Garfield special, Garfield on the Town, with Davis. The special won an Emmy. Advertisement Advertisement

23 More Gold From 1982 to 1991 Garfield starred in a total of 12 TV specials, four of which earned Emmys.

22 Garfield and Friends Garfield and Friends premiered on September 17, 1988. Advertisement Advertisement

21 A Lot of Lasagna Garfield and Friends ran until 1994 and lasted seven seasons and 121 episodes in all.

20 Critics on the Cat Garfield and Friends rapidly became the hub around which the rest of CBS morning lineup was built, wrote media historian Hal Erickson, adding that it seemed to get better with each passing season. Advertisement Advertisement

19 Enter Bill Murray Lorenzo Music died in 2001. And so, when Garfield the Movie was released in 2004, Bill Murray took on the role.

18 Murray vs. Music Comparing Murray and Music, Davis has said, When we were talking voice, we had only one person in mind. It had to be Bill Murray. Otherwise we were going to (look) for a sound-alike like the late Lorenzo Music because there is something very tough about Garfields delivery. Only Bill Murray has it, as far as Im concerned, among major stars  (that) is, the ability to throw a line away, but do it with great comedic timing. Make you laugh if its said in a lazy way, which is very rare. Lorenzo could do it, plus Bill brings the attitude. Advertisement Advertisement

17 More Murray vs. Music Ironically, Garfield wasnt the only role Murray and Music shared as Music also played Peter Venkman on the Ghostbusters cartoon. While unconfirmed, its believed Murray got Music fired from Ghostbusters because he thought his character sounded too much like Garfield.

16 Coen vs. Cohen Murray only agreed to voice Garfield because he thought the movie was written by Joel Coen of the Coen Brothers. It wasnt until he started recording his dialogue that he figured out it was actually written by Joel Cohen, an entirely different person. Advertisement Advertisement

15 A Glutton for Punishment Murray didnt seem to have a problem returning for the role, however, as he voiced Garfield again in the 2006 sequel, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties.

14 Garfield 3: Flabby Tabby Murray later parodied his involvement in the Garfield films when he played himself in Zombieland. In a junket interview in the film, Murray compares the Garfield trilogy to the Godfather trilogy. Advertisement Advertisement

13 Davis Didnt Want an Animated Garfield Movie His reason? Because it would be tough to out-Disney Disney. Instead, he wanted to wait until the technology was there for a computer-generated Garfield. The movie that finally convinced him that such a Garfield movie was doable was Monsters Inc.

12 Frank Welkers Garfield After Murray, the next voice of Garfield was veteran voice actor Frank Welker, who had played several other characters in Garfield and Friends. Welkers voice for the cat was similar to Musics. Advertisement Advertisement

11 Garfields New Voice Welker played Garfield in three direct-to-video films, the 3D animated cartoon The Garfield Show and several video games.

10 The Garfield Show The Garfield Show premiered in 2009. It ran for five seasons and a total of 107 episodes. Advertisement Advertisement

9 A Trip to France Beginning in 2019, Garfield starred in the French cartoon Garfield Originals. The series featured no dialogue and was inspired by silent films.

8 Why Does Garfield Sound Like Star-Lord? MCU and Jurassic World star Chris Pratt took over the role of Garfield for 2024s The Garfield Movie. Advertisement Advertisement

7 Davis on Pratt Chris has great attitude in his voice and incredible timing, Davis said when the film was released. I rate him a 10 for funny. And one of the things he does is really bring the Garfield edge and attitude to the character, and so, he really understood the character and absolutely nailed him.

6 Pratt on Garfield Very early on (director Mark Dindal) let me know that his vision for the sound of this character, the voice that hes always heard coming out of this animation hes been working on for years before I even met him, was my voice, Pratt explained. He said, I want him to sound like you. Youve got a natural sarcastic sort of laziness about your voice that really works for this character. And I thought, Well damn, that makes it look easy. Thats easy  Im not coming in and trying to do anything other than just be myself and breathe my own spirit into the role. Advertisement Advertisement

5 Car Cat The famous plush Garfield with suction cups hit stores in 1987 and became a very popular fad in the late 1980s, selling over two million units in its first year alone.

4 Thats Not Velcro The suction cups were a happy accident, however. As Crackeds own J.M. McNab explained, Garfield creator Jim Davis original idea involved a plush toy with velcro on its paws. That way, people could make it look like Garfield was crawling up their curtains. But it came back from the factory with suction cups, and Davis approved it anyway. Advertisement Advertisement

3 Garfields New Daddy In 2019, Davis sold Garfield to Nickelodeon, though he still continues to work on the strip himself. At the time he said, Im delighted that Garfield is going to be placed in the capable hands of the folks at Nick. They know how to entertain and will be great stewards for the franchise. I am also excited to continue to do the thing that gets me out of bed every morning  the comic strip!

2 Another Serving of Lasagna Nickelodeon is currently developing a new Garfield series. Advertisement Advertisement
WASHINGTON -

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign has raised $200 million since she emerged as the likely Democratic presidential nominee last week, an eyepopping haul in her race against the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.

The campaign, which announced its latest fundraising total on Sunday, said the bulk of the donations  66 per cent  comes from first-time contributors in the 2024 election cycle and were made after President Joe Biden announced his exit from the race and endorsed Harris.

Over 170,000 volunteers have also signed up to help the Harris campaign with phone banking, canvassing and other get-out-the-vote efforts. Election Day is 100 days away.

"The momentum and energy for Vice President Harris is real  and so are the fundamentals of this race: this election will be very close and decided by a small number of voters in just a few states," Michael Tyler, the campaign's communications director, wrote in a memo.

Harris campaigned in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday, drawing hundreds to a fundraiser that had been organized when Biden was still at the top of the Democratic ticket. The fundraiser had originally been expected to raise US$400,000 but ended bringing in about US$1.4 million, according to the campaign.

Harris quickly coalesced Democratic support after Biden, whose candidacy fizzled following his disastrous June 27 debate performance against Trump, exited the race. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former House Minority Whip Jim Clyburn, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were quick to announce their support.

Prodigious Democratic fundraisers former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama announced their endorsement on Friday.

Harris at her Saturday fundraiser said she remained the "underdog" in the race but that her campaign was picking up steam.

Meanwhile, Trump, running mate Sen. JD Vance and their surrogates have stepped up efforts to frame Harris as a far-left politician out of touch with with the American mainstream.

Vance said after a stop at a diner in Waite Park, Minn., on Sunday that Harris has "got a little bit of a bump from her introduction" but predicted it would soon dissipate.

"Look, the people are going to learn her record," Vance said. "They're going to learn that she's a radical. They're going to learn that she's basically a San Francisco liberal who wants to take San Francisco policies to the entire country."

Vance was echoing Trump, who in a campaign appearance with Vance in St. Cloud, Minn.on Saturday, called Harris a "crazy liberal," accused her of wanting to "defund the police" and said she was an "absolute radical" on abortion. The vice president, a vocal proponent of abortion rights, has made clear that she will make Republican-backed efforts to restrict reproductive rights a key plank in her campaign.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Harris is "a nice person, but she's incredibly liberal."

"If you expect Vice President Harris to change the course we're on as a nation, you're going to be sadly disappointed," he said. "There is no liberal horse that she has chosen not to ride."

Trump backer Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., also tried to brand Harris as a full partner for "a lot of the worst decisions of the Biden administration," including the chaotic August 2021 pullout of U.S. troops led to the swift collapse of the Afghan government and military.

Cotton also accused Harris of emboldening Iranian proxies Hamas and Hezbollah by pressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over civilian casualties in the war in Gaza.

Netanyahu met separately with Harris and Biden at the White House on Thursday. Afterward, Harris said she urged Netanyahu to reach a cease-fire deal soon with the militant group Hamas so that dozens of hostages held by the militants in Gaza since Oct. 7 can return home. Harris said she also affirmed Israel's right to defend itself but expressed deep concern about the high death toll in Gaza and the "dire" humanitarian situation there.

Tensions in the Mideast intensified on Saturday after Israeli authorities said a rocket from Lebanon struck a soccer field in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, killing 12 children and teenagers. The strike raised fears of a broader regional war between Israel and Hezbollah, which denied a role in the attack.

"Frankly, it emboldens Iran and terrorist groups like Hezbollah because they believe that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will continue to put more pressure on Israel than it puts on Iran and its terrorists that are encircling Israel with the stated objective to destroy Israel," Cotton said of the calls from Biden and Harris for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Trump at his Saturday rally said the Golan Heights incident "will go down as another moment in history created by a weak and ineffective United States president and vice president." And Vance on Sunday accused Harris of being "a disaster" on the conflict.

Still, some Republicans are concerned that Harris' entrance has given Democrats a spark and that Trump needs to recalibrate.

Gov. Chris Sununu, R-N.H., said Harris is in "honeymoon" period that will probably last a month, but he also acknowledged that both Trump and running mate JD Vance should stop the personal attacks against Harris because those will not drive people to vote. Instead, he said they must stick to the issues and "stay away from the insults.".

He said Trump missed an opportunity to do that in recent campaign events, but "hopefully they can get back on track. I think he was on track for a couple months there. I think that the change in the campaign has kind of fired him up to go against her, personally."

But Sununu also acknowledged that, "nobody can get Donald Trump to do anything. But hopefully the numbers, the polls, will get Donald Trump to realize what was working and what didn't."

Graham was on CBS' "Face the Nation," Sununu was on ABC's "This Week, and Cotton was on CNN's "State of the Union."
July 27, 2024: Personnel of the Ukrainian Security Service also handle propaganda of the accurate variety. They collect and make available combat videos on their web site for the general public and journalists. Most aerial and seagoing drones are equipped with video cameras so their operators can guide them to targets while also looking for and avoiding threats. Many of the drone videos are gruesome because they show Russian soldiers actually getting killed or wounded. In Ukraine, the majority of Russian soldiers killed or wounded are the work of armed drones. The Russians do not respond with similar attacks and still prefer to attack Ukrainian targets with relatively large bombs and missiles. The drones Ukrainians use for attacks on Russian infantry are usually reusable quadcopters. These are often standard commercial DJI models modified by the Ukrainian military to carry and deliver small amounts of explosives, equal to what would be used in a hand grenade. Dropped from above by a Ukrainian drone on individuals or small groups of Russian soldiers, the results are often fatal. Russian troops are horrified at this new development and, when they hear the sound of a DJI drone, they quickly seek shelter or concealment.

Drone attacks are unique as the Ukrainian drone operator can see his targets and the quadcopters are too small a target to reliably shoot down when it is stalking you. One macabre video showed a Russian soldier committing suicide using his assault rifle rather be hunted down and killed by the armed and all-seeing drone that was stalking him. For Russian soldiers, the major source of combat deaths is from these drone attacks. Soldiers are warned by veterans to be watchful for these drones and, if any are detected, to immediately take shelter where the murderous drone cant find and kill you. The drones are also a threat to armored vehicles because they can, at no risk to the lives of their Ukrainian operators, drop explosives down an open hatch or onto the relatively unprotected engine compartment.

Russia responded with electronic jammers to disrupt the control signal between the Ukrainian operator and the drone. The Ukrainians quickly adapted to that by adding a home on jammer capability to their drones as well as equipping some with the decades old fire and forget capability some missiles still used. Missile operators use fire and forget by getting the target in the target viewer and then launch the missile. The missile is homing on an image of the target and, even if the target vehicle moves, the missile will change course and home in before detonating. The tank crew often does not realize they have been targeted by a fire and forget missile. The few tank crewmen that survive such an attack never forget the experience.

Armed drones continue to be a major threat at sea where Ukrainian USV (Unmanned Surface Vessel) drones sank or damaged over a third of the Black Sea Fleet and forced the remaining ships to take shelter in nearby ports like Sevastopol or more distant ones like Novorossiysk. The USVs are still attacking Russian ships in these ports. The Russians have developed countermeasures to these attacks, but not enough to prevent persistent Ukrainian attacks from damaging or destroying Russian warships and support facilities, like drydocks and equipment sheds. Whenever the Russians come up with some way to defeat these attacks, the Ukrainians develop another attack technique.

These techniques and tactics have become a major problem for the Chinese Navy and its plans to attack and capture Taiwan. The U.S. Navy has announced that they have adopted Ukrainian naval combat tactics using USVs. Since the United States is a major supporter of Ukraine and has already provided over a hundred billion dollars in military aid, the Ukrainians are eager to share their new drone manufacturing methods and tactics on how to use them. The American military recently announced that they and the Taiwanese are building over a thousand of these USVs to use against any Chinese attempt to attack and capture Taiwan. The Chinese are not pleased because Chinese military officials have heard vivid descriptions of what Ukrainian USVs did to the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Because so many USVs are equipped with video cameras, there is a lot of video evidence of how this works and any admiral viewing these videos can easily imagine what these devilish USVs could do to their ships.
It took them no time at all. The sheer spiteful, dishonest and militant nastiness of the Starmer government has been revealed within less than a month of the election.

Those who swallowed Sir Keir's pretence of moderation and his Chancellor's smiley pledges of responsibility and restraint can now regret their folly at leisure.

This is, as I warned, a ferociously radical regime and a creepy one, clearly under stern central control. Its new Ministers, mostly clueless, serve their chief Commissars in an absurdly unbalanced Parliament by mouthing the Blairite jargon written for them.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced that the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 has been cancelled by government diktat

But some really know what they're doing. The most frightening sign of the new direction emerged just before the weekend as the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, deliberately strangled a valuable plan to protect free speech in English universities.

Note that this action came in the very early days of the government. It is not an afterthought. It is plainly an urgent desire of the Starmer administration, though I can find no trace of such a policy in the Labour manifesto.

It doesn't seem to be in the King's Speech either. It is a priority, but it is not one the Government wishes to boast about.

The chilly Ms Phillipson is already famous for her spiteful attack on middle-class parents who struggle to afford independent school fees, a stingingly partisan policy whose only important effect is to hurt people who Labour's core voters don't like.

She has now announced that the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 has been cancelled by government diktat. It will not come into force on August 1 and may be repealed.

Remember that this is an actual Act of Parliament, passed into law by both Houses and given Royal Assent. It may be repealed, we are told. But that doesn't really matter. It won't come into force anyway.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer

As Toby Young, of the Free Speech Union, points out, free speech is the most important of all freedoms, as it allows us to protest when any liberty is taken away.

I think this nasty little action is linked to Chancellor Rachel Reeves's cynical and blatantly dishonest claims that she had no idea of the real state of the national finances, and so must wallop us with new taxes in the autumn.

In their hearts, the new government know that they came to power by hiding their true aims. They know that, quite quickly, they are going to face a lot of public and media criticism. And they are not going to like it.

Will they react, do you think, by admitting they are wrong and mending their ways? Or in some other fashion?

It is now 342 days since Lucy Letby was locked up for the rest of her life on the basis of nothing more than a set of theories. She's been brusquely refused permission to appeal. A second trial has taken place in which I cannot see how there was any real presumption of innocence.

Now there are rumours that she may face fresh charges. For what aim? Do they plan to keep her in prison after she is dead? The only effect of such new prosecutions will be to silence, during these trials, the growing chorus of expert voices casting doubt on her conviction.

A movie without a twist

At last, an actually straightforwardly good film, Twisters, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell, ought to fill cinemas. There's no tedious message, the main characters are believable and attractive, the violent fury of tornadoes  and their ability to kill and destroy in a moment  is convincingly shown.

The only fault is that the joke British character, a journalist played by Harry Hadden-Paton, has such perfect American teeth.

New film Twisters, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell

One military occupation the West ignores

We normally love a good anniversary, especially one with military aspects and British connections. So I have been amused to see how few have noticed that 50 years have elapsed since Turkey invaded Cyprus.

It was huge news here. Many Britons on the island were airlifted back to this country by the RAF. It was as illegal as the Anglo-US invasion of Iraq in 2003 (to take an example at random). Turkey said it was responding to an equally lawless putsch in Cyprus by Right-wing thugs with foreign backing.

The event was a close parallel of Russia's seizure of Crimea in 2014, another illegal action. Russia said it was responding to a thuggish Right-wing coup in Kiev  a putsch which was swiftly condoned (and still is) by London and Washington. t

So both Turkey and Russia were doing things they had long wanted to do  but had not dared until the bad actions of others gave them the excuse. Both claimed to be coming to the aid of compatriots threatened by lawless new regimes. They would, wouldn't they?

Well, half a century later, Turkey still has something like 40,000 troops in Cyprus and has unofficially taken over the north of the island. This seizure will probably never be recognised, but there is no real international pressure to end it. There is very little moralising about this in Western capitals because Turkey  despite being roughly as repressive as Putin's Russia at home  is a key Nato member.

I will be told that, by contrasting the West's two-faced attitude to these two similar events, I am doing something bad called 'whataboutery'. This means nothing. If you yourself do or support something wicked, you are in no position to denounce others for doing the same.

My point is this: The West and Nato do not really object on principle to illegal invasions, so there must be another reason for their stance in Ukraine.

What can it be? Yet we cannot discuss this as the official Opposition is no such thing and slavishly supports whatever the Government does in Ukraine. Why, even the Daily Mail's Boris Johnson won't debate it with me.

I promise to be gentle with you, Al.

A new recruit to my surveillance team produces this picture of an extraordinary notice about dog fouling. She asks: 'How are they enforcing it?' Are they in favour, or against? Though as with most such notices, there is no sign of any human being doing anything at all. Or any dogs.
Hot rodent men are old news, replaced by a new incarnation that is sweeter and softer - but still a rodent.

Dubbed the 'Guinea pig man' (GPM), the latest kind of global heartthrob describes a man getting even better with age, with Bond star Daniel Craig, 56, leading the herd.

Are you after an experienced man impassioned by the classics, whether music or film, with a hipster fashion sense and a slight edge? Then you're type is the Guinea pig man.

Daniel Craig's latest campaign with Spanish fashion house Loewe is largely responsible for the term, according to The Times.

In the ad campaign, the actor abandoned the alpha male masculinity associated with 007 for high fashion and much better hair. Free, flowing locks are a defining characteristic of a GPM and a reflection of the inner workings of their personalities.

Daniel Craig has nailed the Guinea Pig Man aesthetic in his latest campaign with Spanish fashion house Loewe (pictured)

Daniel's enviable hair, yellow-tinted glasses, and chunky patterned knits crafted a look so distant from the alpha Bond that fans dubbed him almost unrecognisable.

In one shot, a white vest covers his torso, teamed with bright yellow trousers. In another, his army pants slot into chunky leather boots, as he poses with either hand behind his head as if sunbathing.

It's a sense of nonchalance that only a guinea pig man could display, waving goodbye to the smouldering stares and intensely flexed muscles that alphas often show on perfume ads.

They're full of character, assured of themselves, and fun, making them the ideal heartthrob.

How does GPM differ from hot rodents? The latter are loyal, unconventionally attractive, with sharp eyes and angular faces.

Zendaya's blockbuster film Challengers encouraged the rodent, thanks to leading stars Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor's hot rodent qualities.

Elsewhere, pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter has bagged herself a hot rodent boyfriend with Barry Keoghan, and fans of The Bear consider Carmy, played by Jeremy Allen White, to have an endearing yet rodent-like appearance.

On the flipside, Guinea pig men include the likes of Ryan Gosling, Kit Harrington, and Glen Powell - men that, during their youth, might have been considered a hot rodent, but are now lighter, softer versions.

Game of Thrones star Kit Harrington, 37, also fits the category, thanks to his self-assured nature

The 56-year-old James Bond star debuted his new and improved hairstyle in the Loewe campaign

American actor Glenn Powell, 35, is also a member of the clan, thanks to his fun-loving personality

Game of Throne star Kit Harrington might fall under the category of a Guinea Pig Man.

He attends star-studded events donning designer gear, but the 37-year-old still manages to appear low maintenance.

Kit also ticks the criteria of being self-assured and confident, with his latest job proving how comfortable he is in his own skin.

He's currently performing in Slave Play at the Noel Coward Theatre and ticket holders are said to be provided with a special sticker to cover their phone's cameras upon entry.

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.'

Before adding: 'Management really want to protect his modesty, so they've threatened legal action if anyone is caught filming.'

Elsewhere, the source branded Kit a 'true pro', saying he 'doesn't break character' when it comes to getting naked.

Barbie actor Ryan Gosling isn't afraid to take up less serious roles, including Jacob in Crazy, Stupid, Love

Austin Butler has followed in the footsteps of Ryan Gosling and adopted a quirkier look with sweeping locks

Glenn Powell also fits the bill of a Guinea Pig Man. In line with the pets, the 35-year-old is expressive and friendly.

The actor, who hails from Austin, Texas, has enjoyed a recent transition into super stardom.

But his masculinity does not stop him from enjoying the odd TikTok dance, with him recently welcoming the start of brat girl summer with his Twisters co-stars.

Charli XCX fans have shown their allegiance to brat girl summer via the viral Charli XCX TikTok dance to her hit song Apple.

Created by TikTok user Kelley Heyer last month, the simple routine quickly took the internet by storm.

Powell was no exception, with Daisy Edgar-Jones sharing a video of herself with him and co-star and Anthony Ramos performing the dance to the catchy Charli XCX song.

Daisy captioned the Instagram post, 'Caught the lads up on Brat summer.' Glen cheekily commented, 'Hard to remember my life before this dance. Thank you, Daisy.'

Elsewhere, Ryan Gosling also fits the category, with the actor renowned for his lovable persona.

He's performed in a series of critically acclaimed films, from Bladerunner to La La Land and Drive.

But despite his success, the 43-year-old has no problem in taking less serious, playful roles, like Ken in Barbie.

It makes sense then, that his number one fan in the acting world, Austin Butler, has adopted a similar Guinea Pig look, giving himself a quirky edge like Gosling.

While promoting his latest film The Bikeriders, on Today, the Golden Globe winner, 32, told anchor Savannah Guthrie about one actor he was too shy to talk to after what could have been a spontaneous meeting.

'I was just telling that story about getting starstruck by Ryan Gosling recently,' he said.

'It's when you don't expect to see somebody,' he relayed, adding, 'so I saw him outside of a hotel that I was staying in and I had to go in through another door, I couldn't say "hello."'

'I grew up admiring him so much, so... I love that feeling,' the Dune: Part Two star admitted.

While the 32-year-old has plenty of time to mature into the category, with his characteristic locks and performances in alternative roles, such as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in Dune: Part Two, he's certainly on his way to becoming a certified GPM.
July 27, 2024: Americans are once more complaining that European NATO members depend too much on the United States and not enough on their own resources for defense. This is particularly true when it comes to soldiers trained, equipped, and available for combat. Part of the problem is that Europeans have not been at war since 1945 while the Americans were involved in the 1950-53 Korean War, where over 35,000 American soldiers died, the 1955-1975 Vietnam War where 58,000 American soldiers died, and the 2001-2021 War on Terror in which 7,000 Americans died.

Conscription was in effect in the first two wars. During the Korean War 1.5 million men were inducted into the military and conscription continued after from 1954 to 1961 with another 1,5 million men conscripted. During the Vietnam War 2.2 million American men were conscripted. In the 1970s the United States dropped the unpopular conscription and has relied on volunteers for the last 51 years. This worked during the 2001-2021 war in Afghanistan and the 2013-2017 war in Iraq. Only 2,460 American soldiers died in Afghanistan and 3,500 in Iraq. Because of the major terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, which killed 3,000 American civilians, the United States embarked on the Global War on Terror, which lasted from 2001 to 2021, and led to 7,000 American military deaths. Europe was spared all this violence during the Global War on Terror except for a few terror attacks that killed or wounded fewer than a thousand civilians and security personnel.

Europe suffered from Soviet backed terrorist attacks during the 1949-91 Cold War, but since the 1980s there has been no more of that. Europe is at peace, but now considers the Russians a threat because of the unexpected Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. European NATO members have been major suppliers of military aid to Ukraine. The United States, which is also a NATO member, has supplied more than half of that aid. But while the United States has an army and marine corps of 630,000 well trained and equipped troops, European nations are less well prepared to defend themselves. The number of European soldiers available has declined precipitously since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. The war in Ukraine has forced European nations to rethink their military situation. Although conscription was largely gone by 2021, once Russia invaded Ukraine the Europeans realized they had been too optimistic about how long peace would last and how low they could allow their military readiness to decline. The violence in Ukraine compelled perpetually neutral Sweden to go ahead with reintroducing conscription in 2024.

The number of American army and marine corps infantry troops is more than that of all NATO European nations combined. Another problem is uncertainty about what military manpower can do. The United States has been having little success in getting its European allies to organize their armed forces to be more effective. This is a problem for the United States. For a long time the European nations have taken for granted that the United States would always show up to supply key military capabilities. During the Cold War (1947-91) the U.S. accepted this. Since the 1990s the U.S. has increasingly resented this burden and has been uncharacteristically undiplomatic over the last few years in discussing logistical and equipment shortcomings of its NATO allies.

Decade old examples of how this works could be seen in Mali and Syria. In 2013 the French led liberation of northern Mali was greatly assisted by French warplanes using smart bombs to attack known terrorist bases. This was devastating and led to the rapid collapse of resistance to the French ground forces. But most of the air support would not have been possible without American aerial tankers. There was a similar shortage of aerial reconnaissance aircraft, especially those that could do electronic monitoring to listen to terrorist communications on the ground. In 2013 NATO was under growing pressure to support the Syrian rebels with air support, as they did the Libyans two years earlier. That is not possible without American assistance.

Libya in 2011, was supposed to be just a European operation. NATO was persuaded to take charge of the bombing campaign to fulfill a UN order to stop the Libyan dictator from murdering his own people. While NATO agreed to do this, they found, once more, that they didnt have sufficient military capability to get it done with European resources alone. The U.S. still had to supply most of the refueling and intelligence aircraft, as well as send more smart bombs because most NATO nations dont have very large stocks of these weapons.

This is not a new problem. During the Cold War the U.S. constantly, and usually quietly, complained of how unprepared most NATO members were for actual combat. These nations were quite relieved when the Cold War ended in 1991. But then came the need for peacekeeping in the Balkans throughout the 1990s. The U.S. was implored to pitch in because the European NATO nations couldnt handle this themselves. Then came September 11, 2001. NATO members offered to help in Afghanistan and, to a lesser extent, Iraq. But it was more promise than performance.

European reluctance to send troops to Iraq or Afghanistan was more than just the result of political differences. While all of Europe has nearly as many troops as the United States, they have far fewer fit enough to ship to a combat zone. This was a problem first noted in the 1990s, when there was a big demand for peacekeepers in the Balkans. The Europeans couldn't fob this one off on the Americans and had to come up with combat ready troops. The Europeans had a tough time finding soldiers ready and able to go.

European armed forces are full of people in uniform who have a civil service mentality. That is, they think and act like civilians, not soldiers. Belgium discovered, for example, that 14 percent of its troops were obese, compared to 12 percent of the general population and unfit for many of their duties. Much noise is always being made about getting all the troops in good physical shape. While that is possible, it is less likely that the mentality of the troops will be changed.

During the Cold War, Europe got most of its troops via conscription. Young men came in for two or three years and then left. Anywhere from a third to half the troops were long term professionals, who served for twenty or more years. But even before the Cold War ended, many of the European military professionals were losing their combat edge. When the Soviet Union disappeared in 1991, there was no longer any compelling reason for a European soldier to think and act like one. It was just a job. A government job that was not, or should not, be terribly demanding.

Europeans spend a much higher proportion of their defense dollars on payroll, leaving little money for training, new equipment, and maintenance. It also meant an older, on average, bunch of troops. Going to war and winning requires lots of young, physically fit young men who have undergone months of combat training. Europeans turned their armed forces into another job creation program. There are some exceptions, like Britain and France, demanding that the troops remain fit and maintaining high training standards. Most European nations maintain a few elite infantry units, but these don't add up to much in terms of numbers. Only Britain and France have large rapid reaction forces that can be sent overseas on short notice. The United States has the largest such force, and many European nations are trying to expand theirs.

America also has a leadership advantage on the ground. The U.S. has long maintained an up or out promotion policy, which forces people out of the service if they are not promoted within a certain amount of time. The U.S. also maintains high standards for new recruits. This makes it possible to maintain more combat capable units. The U.S. is able to field more combat troops, and far more combat power, than an equal number of European soldiers, sailors, and airmen.

The Europeans are still producing more excuses than solutions, and that is not expected to change, no matter how much the Americans complain. In fact, it is getting worse. European nations are rapidly downsizing their air forces, and not just in numbers of aircraft, but in money spent on training. For over seventy years the U.S. could depend on European pilots to be well trained and competent. But now Europeans are cutting flying hours and the U.S. has to adapt to Europeans showing up in modern aircraft with poorly trained pilots.

The wartime reality displayed in the Ukraine War left European soldiers with an idea of what is real and what is a counterproductive peacetime delusion. As the Russians discovered, delusions about how much resistance the Ukrainians would produce against an invader, were difficult to calculate. Russians overestimated their abilities and underestimated how much resistance the Ukrainians could generate. Too many misguided delusions can get you killed.
I've never wished for a bottom as big as Kim Kardashian's. As popular as it is on Instagram to sport a surgically enhanced bum the size of two giant beanbags, it's just not a look I aspire to.

And while the pictures on Instagram are usually bikini clad, if you see a genetically modified derriere in normal clothing, such as jeans, it looks like the wearer is waddling about in a nappy instead of knickers.

So I've never been tempted by bottom implants, but dear God, I would love my bum to be a little perkier. A little rounder, a little more lifted. A little, well, cheekier.

However, no matter how much exercise I do, my buttocks look like they're about to slide down the back of my legs. I go to the gym and do deadlifts, lunges and squats, yet my bum cheeks resemble two naan breads. They're like pittas if all the salad fell out, and while boyfriends have been complimentary, I've always felt self-conscious.

So it's with fascination that I watch The Price of Perfection, an ITV series on plastic surgery, presented by former Love Islander Olivia Attwood. There are five episodes, each focusing on a different body area, and - yep, you've guessed it - my attention is grabbed by the episode on bottoms.

Samantha Rea set off on a mission for a perkier butt with the help of central London-based Reshape Clinic

It opens with gruesome footage of a woman from a London suburb getting a Brazilian Butt Lift. This involves taking fat from other areas of the woman's body and putting it into her bum. The woman has paid 26,000 for this operation and afterwards she is so ill with cellulitis - a serious infection - that she has to be hospitalised.

I do not have 26,000 and nor do I want to be hospitalised, so I scratch Brazilian Butt Lift off my list of possible ways to beef up my bum.

Later in the programme we're introduced to someone who's had their bum filled with three litres of silicone in a black market operation. The person has paid 2,000 to have it put in and 10,000 to have it taken out. Now, left with a lumpy bum, they're having a 'threadlift'.

This basically means hoisting up the bum with what looks like a bunch of barbed wires in each bum cheek. Risks include bruising, swelling, discomfort and being unable to sit down for more than 15 minutes.

I cross threadlifts and black market silicone fillers off my Better Bum Brainstorming List.

But what about dermal fillers? People have these in their faces all the time, so surely it must be fine for your bum? Apparently not. We're warned about a woman who got such a severe infection, she had to have her buttocks surgically removed. Worse, it could result in death from septicemia.

OK, so that's Brazilian Butt Lifts, threadlifts, silicone fillers and and dermal fillers all scratched off the list of possible ways to make my bum a bit perkier. But there's another option that looks a lot safer - so much so that Olivia Attwood even tries it herself.

Face down in a black g-string, it looks like Olivia's bum is being electrocuted. She is having a treatment called EmSculpt Neo. This non-invasive treatment, she tells us, claims to give your bum a one year gym workout in under an hour.

Samantha said her 3200 EmSculpt Neo bum-lifting course left her rather disappointed and left her derriere as 'unflattering' as it was before (Pictured left: before her butt sculpting treatment; right: Samantha after her treatment)

The journalist said she never wished for a bottom as big as Kim Kardashian 's but instead was after something perky and lifted (Pictured: Samantha poses for photos before the treatment)

Samantha Rea on a treatment bed with Dr Farah Khater, Lead Doctor at Reshape Clinic in London

The doctor carrying out the treatment echoes this when she claims it's equivalent to 24,000 squats, and apparently it's so popular with celebrities that the clinic has had to move to a discreet location, so all the A-list clients can avoid being snapped by the paparazzi.

This sounds AMAZING! However, it isn't cheap. According to the doctor on the documentary, a course of six treatments costs 3,200.

It's a lot of money. But could it give me the dream bum that's always eluded me? I want to find out!

I look online for clinics offering EmSculpt Neo and find that the Reshape Clinic in central London is offering a course of six treatments for 1,500. It's less than half the price of the clinic in the documentary, and they have a price match guarantee, so in terms of cost, it's likely that this will be my best bet.

And it just gets better, because it turns out that EmSculpt Neo also works on 'saddlebags', that stubborn fat at the top of the thighs.

I've had saddlebags for as long as I can remember, no matter how slim I am or how much I exercise. I've never been able to do anything about them and I'd given up hoping I could - but it turns out that EmSculpt Neo works its magic in different ways, on different areas of the body.

She also had her body composition tested at the University of Westminster. Pictured gathering the results

The body composition test assessed her muscle mass and body fat. She was keen to see the results

The Reshape Clinic explains that EmSculpt Neo can increase muscle by 25% and reduce fat by 30%. We'll be aiming to increase the muscle in my glutes, to give me a perkier bum, and aiming to reduce the fat at the top of my thighs, to finally eradicate my saddlebags.

I am chuffed to bits at the prospect of getting the body I've always wanted!

Arriving for my first session, I hop onto the treatment bed, and lie face down. I have stripped down to a g-string so the applicators can be placed onto my bum cheeks.

The applicators are the instruments of torture that will be contracting the muscles in my glutes. They're flat, oval shaped pads, about the size of small squash rackets, and they're attached to the EmSculpt Neo machine, which, according to the documentary, costs 200,000.

Overseeing the treatment is Farah Khater, the lead doctor at the Reshape Clinic. She starts me off on a low setting to ease me into the treatment, then gradually increases the intensity, checking each time whether I'm happy for her to take it up a notch.

I have my dream body in my sights, so I say YES! each time, until we reach the maximum setting. With the EmSculpt Neo machine whacked up to 100 per cent, my gosh I am feeling it. The contractions come in waves that vary between bearable and am-I-actually-being-electrocuted? At its most intense, I am rendered speechless.

Samantha is pictured in a machine to test her body composition. She was curious to see her before and after results

EMSculpt NEO utilises a combination of high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology and radiofrequency (RF) energy to target both muscle and fat tissues in the treatment area

Dr. Khater explains: 'EmSculpt Neo takes your muscles through seven different patterns of contraction'. This, she says, is to avoid plateau and ensure every single muscle fibre is activated.

'As well as the contractions, there's also the woodpecker sound', she adds, explaining that this is: 'a moment of relief in the treatment that's also designed to remove lactic acid from the muscles'.

Talking me through this, Dr. Khater says: 'Whenever we exercise, our muscles produce waste and that waste product is lactic acid. When that builds up in the muscle, it creates soreness the next day.

'If you imagine doing 20,000 contractions in 30 minutes, which is what EmSculpt Neo does, your muscles would be very sore from all that lactic acid build-up. So, with the EmSculpt Neo machine, it's already built in to remove that lactic acid for you'.

Wonderful! After half an hour on my glutes, Dr. Khater moves the applicators to the side of my thighs, so they can blitz my saddlebags. But how does the machine know what to do? We're meant to be building muscle in my glutes and eliminating the fat on the side of my thighs - how does the machine know what to do where?

Samantha posed after finishing her EMSculpt NEO treatment this month, but the journalist said she saw no difference in the shape or size of her glutes

Dr. Khater explains: 'Different areas will have different requirements. So there's some areas of the body where we don't want to burn fat, especially in the bum. We don't want to have pancake bums, so it's already pre-set by the device not to take the temperature high enough to burn the fat there.

'Whereas other areas, like your saddlebag area, we want to burn fat there and also tone the muscle. So when we turn the machine on and apply the settings, we can take the temperature higher, to burn the fat in certain areas and not others'.

Genius! And is one session really the equivalent of 24,000 squats or a year's gym workout?

'Yes. On average it's 20,000 to 24,000 contractions, so if it's on the glutes you can equate that to squats, and if it's on the abs you can equate that to crunches', says Dr. Khater, who tells me that abs are the most popular area for the treatment.

I leave, after my hour is up, feeling excited about how amazing my bum and my thighs will look in just a few weeks' time. With a course of six sessions booked in, spaced out at a week apart, I could soon be on a beach with a bottom like Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen.

In fact, my bum might be so enviable that I'll have to get it insured. I hear that Kylie Minogue has had her derriere insured for 3 million. Maybe I should speak to her insurance broker to sort out some coverage for myself?!

The treatment promised to offer the results of a year's worth of glute exercises in just 12 weeks

And so it is with this optimism that I return, week after week, to put myself through what feels like an electric shock treatment. Dr. Khater is the friendly face looking after me each session.

She tells me that most people have a course of four to six sessions and: 'Four sessions on the EmSculpt Neo equates to about 12-16 HIIT sessions'. As I am having six sessions, this should equate to 16-24 HIIT sessions. I remind myself of this in moments of peak pain on the treatment table.

After making it through my sixth session, I am excited to see my results, but when I look at my 'before' and 'after' photos side by side, I can't see any difference. I still have a flabby, flat bum. I am gutted, because I wanted so much for this to work.

Luckily there's still a chance that I could sashay away from this with the pert bottom of a Victoria's Secret model. How? Well, Dr. Khater reassures me that patients see their best results 12 weeks after their last session.

I'm reminded to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle, with exercise and healthy eating, and I'm invited to return in 12 weeks for my final follow-up photos.

With a resurgence of optimism, I spend the next 12 weeks running, swimming, practising yoga, doing weights at the gym and going to group exercise classes, including the notoriously hardcore Barry's (formerly known as Barry's Bootcamp).

Samantha said she noticed her thighs were leaner at the end of the 12-week treatment but was ultimately underwhelmed

I'd actually been doing most of this anyway, since November last year, when I finally decided to shake off my lockdown love handles. These came about after I stockpiled Easter eggs from the reduced aisle in Tesco, and ate them every day for a year, washed down with wine.

That's pretty much how I spent the pandemic, and when it was over, my bad habits continued. I thought the weight would magically fall off, until finally in November 2023, I accepted that it wasn't going to, and decided to tackle it.

I switched to healthy eating (the majority of the time) and added in running and weights to the swimming and yoga that I was already doing. Slowly, very slowly, the weight started coming off, at a rate of between about one and three pounds a month.

So during my 12 week waiting period, I carried on as I'd been doing anyway, and looked forward to seeing the results. Could I be a contender for Rear of the Year? I certainly hoped so!

And so in mid-July, 12 weeks after my final session, I made my way back to the Reshape Clinic and stripped down to a g-string for the final comparison pictures. And when I saw the three photos lined up next to each other, my heart sank because my bum still resembled dough, sliding down a wall.

I'd known the 'before' photo would be unflattering, but I'd hoped this would be offset by a dazzling 'after' picture, in which my bum would have the peachy pertness of Linda Lusardi in her heyday. Unfortunately, it was like looking at the 'before' photo in triplicate.

The clinic congratulated me on my results, telling me that my measurements showed a reduction in fat at the top of my thighs. However, as I'd been steadily losing weight since November, it seemed likely that the change in measurements was due to the overall weight loss.

In an effort to understand, I turned to Dr. Bradley Elliott, a senior lecturer in physiology at the University of Westminster, and a research scientist specialising in how and why we lose muscle mass with age, and what can be done to prevent this.

Given his specialism, Dr. Elliott works with equipment that measures body composition, ie muscle mass and body fat.

As I'd been told that EmSculpt Neo would increase muscle by 25 per cent and reduce fat by 30 per cent, I'd been doing tests with Dr. Elliott at the University of Westminster's School of Life Sciences department, to see if I'd achieved these results myself.

My first visit was a few hours ahead of my first EmSculpt treatment, and we measured my 'before' condition in various ways.

The first was with the Bodpod, which is like a little spaceship that you get inside. It looks like something from Flash Gordon, only instead of flying me between galaxies, it measured my fat mass and my fat-free mass.

The second test was on a seca mBCA 515, a gold standard medical body composition analyzer. Like the Bodpod, this measured my fat mass and fat-free mass, however, it went into greater detail, specifiying exactly how much of my fat-free mass was made up of muscle mass, and also specifying the exact mass of various parts of my body.

She added: 'I wish that EmSculpt could have worked for me and given me the glutes and thighs of my dreams, but unfortunately that wasn't the case'. She has since vowed to return to the gym for perkier glutes (pictured: Samantha after the 12-week treatment)

The third test was the 'pinch test', which is pretty much what it says on the tin. Using callipers, my skin was 'pinched' in various places, to measure how much fat I was carrying on different parts of my body.

The last measurement we took was my strength, using an isometric deadlift test. Doing this test used the muscles in my thighs, hamstrings, back and glutes. So if the muscle in my glutes increased by 30 per cent over the course of the EmSculpt sessions, then I'd expect to see an increase in strength in my later test results.

We repeated these tests after my sixth EmSculpt session, and again 12 weeks following that final session.

From the Bodpod, we saw a reduction in my overall fat mass. This was to be expected, as I'd slowly been losing weight since November. The question really was whether I'd especially lost fat mass from the top of my thighs, aka my saddlebags. However, both the pinch test and the seca test showed that weight had come off every area of my body, quite evenly.

So if I hadn't especially reduced my saddlebags, had I at least - contrary to appearances - gained muscle in my glutes? Well, the results of the strength test were pretty much the same for all three tests, so it doesn't seem like it.

I wish that EmSculpt could have worked for me and given me the glutes and thighs of my dreams, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. Maybe there isn't a magic wand and the only answer is to put the work in. For me, that means raising my game at the gy
The Duchess of Sussex wore favourites from her expensive jewellery collection

Meghan Markle showed she meant business as she joined a host of businesspeople and celebrities alike in the Hamptons.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, was the epitome of elegance in a trendy relaxed suit from Australian brand St. Agni as she attended the G9 Ventures Summer Summit hosted by power broker Amy Griffin on Saturday.

She teamed a buttoned vest costing 209 with matching 255 trousers in the same beige colour, and paired her ensemble with an array of glittering jewellery - including Princess Diana's 17,800 Cartier watch.

According to Page Six, Meghan had flown into the millionaires enclave by private jet with entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima, from Santa Barbara.

Sources told the outlet that she is there to pick up tips on her new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard.

The Duchess of Sussex, who was seen alongside designer Misha Nonoo and cosmetics owner Bobbi Brown, wore a vest and trousers combination by St. Agni

Meghan was pictured alongside fashion designer Misha Nonoo and make-up artist and cosmetics owner Bobbi Brown.

Though her smart outfit cost just shy of 500, her extensive shimmering jewellery collection took centre stage - and boasted a whopping price tag.

Among the assortment of accessorises donned by the Duchess was Princess Diana's 17,800 Cartier Gold Tank Francaise watch and her 5,800 Cartier Love Yellow Gold Bracelet.

Also adorning her wrist was her Against Evil Eye Five Eye Diamond Pave Bracelet by celebrity-favourite jeweller Lorraine Schwartz.

The now sold out piece, which retailed for a staggering 15,800, features topaz, as well as both black and white diamonds.

On top of her bangles, Meghan also donned two necklaces, including her 15,500 Cartier Justr Un Clou Necklace. She layered it with her 1,425 Imperial Disc Pendant Necklace from Ariel Gordon Jewellery.

Prepared for the sunny day ahead, Meghan finished off the look with her 175 Santa Barbara Black Frame Sunglasses in Black.

Page Six reported that the annual event is held at the $13 million home (10 million) of Griffin who shares the property with her husband, billionaire hedge fund manager John Griffin.

American entrepreneur, investor, and media personality Jamie Kern Lima (pictured right) poses with Meghan Markle (pictured left) and Spanx founder Sara Blakely (pictured centre)

Meghan's brand soft launched earlier this year with an official Instagram page and website being set up

Other stars in attendance included Gwyneth Paltrow alongside Reese Witherspoon and actress Laura Dern.

Meghan's brand soft launched earlier this year with an official Instagram page and website being set up.

She will no doubt be using the event to help her brand by soaking up tips for her new brand.

Surrounded by people like Griffin will aid her in doing just that, who according to Wall Street Journal is known for her use of 'soft power.'

This includes making introductions, chasing down founders and offering mentorship.

She started angel investing in 2014 and launched G9 three years afterward, telling the WSJ: 'There was a moment where I was sitting at a fundraiser thinking, Wait, I can put money into something, see it grow, and use my skill set and help a founder?.

'And people had said to me, "Why arent you doing this full time? You already help people by buying their products and then sending it to everyone."'

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in Duesseldorf, last year

G9 does not lead huge investment but does contribute smaller amounts, from tens of thousands of dollars to several million, according to the WSJ.

Meghan shared the logo for her company in a 10-second story video while dressed in a black ball gown.

The clip then showed her wearing a simple white outfit while arranging flowers and cooking in a kitchen.

In April, Meghan sent 50 jars of her strawberry jam to influencers and celebrity friends across the United States.

Award-winning actress and comedy writer Mindy Kaling and actress Tracee Ellis Ross, daughter of Diana Ross, revealed on social media they had been gifted jars.

Each jar was labelled with the Californian American Riviera Orchard branding, and numbered out of 50. The jars were secured with a lid and muslin cloth.

Meghan's brand will reportedly feature 'edible oils and fats', jellies, jams and spreads made of legumes, garlic, and sesame, as well as nut and fruit butters.
Meghan Markle was snapped looking smart as she attended a business summit in the Hamptons on Friday.

According to sources, the 42-year-old wife of Prince Harry went to the event to pick up tips on her new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard.

During the G9 Ventures Summer Summit, which was hosted by power broker Amy Griffin, the Duchess of Sussex was photographed with two longtime friends.

An image shared from the high-powered summit showed the mother-of-two smiling as she posed with make-up artist and entrepreneur Bobbi Brown, and designer Misha Nonoo.

Meghan was snapped with both of the women during the early days of her relationship with Prince Harry, and it is believed Meghan shared some details with them as she navigated the unusual experience of dating a member of the British Royal Family.

Meghan Markle (pictured, left) with her OG friends Misha Nonoo (pictured, left) and Bobbi Brown (pictured, centre) at the Ventures Summer Summit, hosted by power broker Amy Griffin in the Hamptons

In 2016, Bobbi Brown (pictured, left) and Meghan Markle (pictured, right) made a video together about applying make-up in a moving car. Bobbi later shared the images on Instagram in a 2018 post wishing the Duchess a happy birthday

Bobbi Brown founded her eponymous cosmetics brand in 1991, before selling to Estee Lauder in 1995.

She worked for the line until 2016, when she left, setting up her range Jones Road (designed to bridge the gap between make-up and skincare) in 2020.

As one of the world's most famous make-up artists, Bobbi has worked with numerous celebrities - among them, Meghan.

In 2016, the make-up artist and Meghan collaborated on a photoshoot for The Coveteur. They made a video in a car, during which Bobbi showed the then-cable TV actress how to apply makeup in the back of the moving Uber.

During the clip, which was filmed while Meghan was on a hiatus from Suits, the actress told Bobbi all about an upcoming movie project that she was hoping to land, a role that she never actually took because, not long after the feature was published, the Duchess quit her acting career to move to the UK and marry Harry.

However, at the time, news of Meghan and Harry's relationship was still limited to rumors and speculation - and was not confirmed until the royal issued a public statement about the romance in November of that same year.

In 2018, Bobbi took to Instagram to share a post in honour of Meghan's 39th birthday - and in the process, she shared an anecdote about the first time she heard the then-actress talking about her relationship with Prince Harry - revealing the Duchess referred to him as 'a fellow she was dating from the UK'.

Alongside a photo of herself with Meghan, which was taken during photoshoot for The Coveteur in 2018, Bobbi wrote: 'Happy Birthday to Meghan Markle who was such a joy to work with. At the time of the shoot she was telling me about a fellow she had just started to date from the UK.'

Meghan (pictured, left) and her friend Misha Nonoo (pictured, right) are seen attending the 12th annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards in New York in 2015

During the early days of her relationship with Harry, Meghan teamed up with Bobbi Brown for the Bobbi Brown x Uber Retouch campaign.

In a video shared on Bobbi Brown's Facebook account, Meghan joined the beauty brand boss in the back of an Uber in New York City.

Meghan donned a blush-coloured blouse and high-waisted skirt in the clip, wearing with her brown hair down around her shoulders.

'We're on hiatus from Suits so I am meeting some producers about a film, fingers crossed!' she told Bobbi during the segment.

Of course, that film never happened for Meghan, though it's not known whether that's because she didn't get the part or because things were getting serious with Prince Harry.

Bobbi told her that she wanted to show her some things from her new Retouching product line during the footage.

'I don't know if you know this, but I do my make-up in the back of a car,' Bobbi said, before handing over a Retouching Wand and a compact to Meghan.

The Suits actress went to to dot some of the product on her chin and forehead, rubbing it in as she raved about how well it blends.

Bobbi next handed her a Retouching Pencil in the medium-to-dark shade, which Meghan usesdto cover a spot on her forehead. She also used a lighter pencil under her eyes, applying it like a pro until Bobbi's phone went off, interrupting the moment.

Meghan opened her mouth in surprise as she hears the Notorious B.I.G.'s song 'Big Poppa' play out of the speakers, dancing to it for a moment until Bobbi turned it off.

The pair also briefly pretended to meditate before applying more make-up.

All set with touch-ups, Meghan gave Bobbi a hug as the make-up guru said to 'text me later,' and Meghan climbed out of the car, studded Valentino heels first.

Not long after the shoot took place, Bobbi got the chance to meet Meghan and Harry as a couple, when she attended the launch party for Soho House's new location in Amsterdam, a three-day event, which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended together.

'Saw them again at a very special @sohohouseamsterdam birthday day. Sweet as always,' she concluded the post.

The shoot is reported as taking place just two months after the Suits actress met Prince Harry for the first time after being set up by a mutual friend. While reports now suggest it was Harry's childhood friend Violet von Westenholz who introduced him to Meghan, it was then believed that designer Misha Nonoo introduced the pair.

Misha worked with the Duchess on her Smart Works charity line, calling Meghan 'wonderful, thoughtful and considerate'

After all, Meghan and Misha's relationship reportedly goes back years, according to biography Finding Freedom.

The book - co-authored by journalists Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand - documented the friendship between the two women.

It alleges that Markus Anderson, Soho House's global membership director, provided Meghan with introductions to many business and cultural elites - both in Canada and further afield.

The authors wrote, 'At a Soho House lunch in Miami, he was the one who sat the actress next to Misha, a budding fashion designer with a vivacious personality and impeccable pedigree.

'The occasion for the December 2014 Miami trip was Art Basel, a decadent art fair that brings the internationally rich and famous for a week of parties and events of all sorts and sizes.

'Markus invited Meghan, an art lover, to stay at the epicenter of the action, Soho Beach House, to set some sun, see some art, and have some fun.

'A perfect place to make new friends and connections, the Soho house event saw Misha and Meghan hit it off immediately.'

The Duchess has continued to support her friend by wearing Misha Nonoo styles over the years and donned the famous 'Boyfriend shirt' for her first appearance alongside Prince Harry, and also wore another of Misha's designs for her final day of meetings in the UK before stepping back from royal duties in 2020.

Meghan Markle famously wore a shirt designed by Misha Nonoo when she attended the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto with Prince Harry

It is believed that Meghan and Harry were guests at Misha's 2019 wedding to oil tycoon Mikey Hess.

And in 2020, Misha Nonoo revealed how she was receiving lots of help from 'supportive' loved-ones to 'adjust to becoming a working mother' following the birth of her and Meke's son Leo in late March that year.

Misha hinted that, like any friend, the Duchess of Sussex supported her through the first few weeks of motherhood.

She told People magazine: 'I am so lucky to have such supportive family and friends who are helping me adjust to my new role as a "Working Mother".'

During her pregnancy, Misha had told the outlet that Meghan had been sharing her advice about becoming a first-time mother.

The designer revealed: 'As with all friendships, you share lots of tips and everything.'

Misha is believed to have been close to Meghan for many years, with the Duchess continuing to support her friend by wearing Misha Nonoo designs over the years.

Meghan donned the famous 'Boyfriend shirt' for her first appearance alongside Prince Harry, and also wore another of Misha's designs for her final day of meetings in the UK before she jetted off to Canada in November.

Misha, who worked with the Duchess on her Smart Works charity line, opened up to FEMAIL in 2020 about her friendship with the royal.

Reflecting on the experience of working together, Misha described Meghan as 'the ultimate professional' and very 'considerate' of the women the collection was helping.

'It was such an ideal, incredibly easy collaboration,' she said. 'It was, from start to finish, wonderful, thoughtful, considerate, as is she.'

And it appears the pair are still on good terms, posing for the snap alongside Bobbi Brown as they attended the G9 Ventures Summer Summit last week.

According to Page Six, Markle had flown into the millionaires enclave from Santa Barbara, California, by private jet with entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima.

Page Six reported that the annual event is held at the $13 million home of Griffin who shares the property with her husband, billionaire hedge fund manager John Griffin.

Other stars in attendance included Gwyneth Paltrow alongside Reese Witherspoon and actress Laura Dern.

Meghan's brand soft launched earlier this year with an official Instagram page and website being set up.

She will no doubt be using the event to help her brand by soaking up tips for her new brand.

Surrounded by people like Griffin will aid her in doing just that, who according to Wall Street Journal is known for her use of 'soft power.'

This includes making introductions, chasing down founders and offering mentorship.

She started angel investing in 2014 and launched G9 three years afterward, telling the WSJ: 'There was a moment where I was sitting at a fundraiser thinking, Wait, I can put money into something, see it grow, and use my skill set and help a founder?.

'And people had said to me, "Why arent you doing this full time? You already help people by buying their products and then sending it to everyone."'

Surrounded by people like Griffin will aid her in doing just that, who according to Wall Street Journal is known for her use of 'soft power.'

This includes making introductions, chasing down founders and offering mentorship.

She started angel investing in 2014 and launched G9 three years afterward, telling the WSJ: 'There was a moment where I was sitting at a fundraiser thinking, Wait, I can put money into something, see it grow, and use my skill set and help a founder?.

'And people had said to me, "Why arent you doing this full time? You already help people by buying their products and then sending it to everyone."'

G9 does not lead huge investment but does contribute smaller amounts, from tens of thousands of dollars to several million, according to the WSJ.

Meghan shared the logo for her company in a 10-second story video while dressed in a black ball gown.

Meghan's brand soft launched earlier this year with an official Instagram page and website being set up

The clip then showed her wearing a simple white outfit while arranging flowers and cooking in the kitchen of her $14.7 million estate.

In April, Meghan sent 50 jars of her strawberry jam to influencers and celebrity friends across the United States.

Award-winning actress and comedy writer Mindy Kaling and actress Tracee Ellis Ross, daughter of Diana Ross, revealed on social media they had been gifted jars.

Each jar was labelled with the Californian American Riviera Orchard branding, and numbered out of 50. The jars are secured with a lid and muslin cloth.

Meghan's brand will reportedly feature 'edible oils and fats', jellies, jams and spreads made of legumes, garlic, and sesame, as well as nut and fruit butters.
A poignant letter from King Charles discussing the 'unbearable emptiness' of grief four months after Princess Diana's death has come to light 27 years on.

Charles tells the recipient, known only as Peter, that his heart 'bleeds' for him following the passing of 'dear Liz' to illness.

He adds that he can imagine the 'agony' he was going through and 'longed to wave a magic wand to transform the situation'.

Charles then laments the 'bewilderment and confusion that accompanies the removal of someone so young from the world'.

He elaborates on his Christian faith and his beliefs on what happens when someone dies, quoting a Bible passage that states 'now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face'.

A poignant letter from King Charles discussing the 'unbearable emptiness' of grief four months after Princess Diana's death has come to light 27 years on

He writes: 'I have been thinking so much of you yesterday and today, knowing how deeply you will be affected by yesterday's tragic news about dear Liz.

'My heart bleeds for you as I can imagine so well the utter agony and despair you must have gone through during all these heart-rendering months that you have known about Liz's illness.

'All of us who know you-and are so fond you both-have felt the agony in a far lesser way of course, but have longed to wave a magic wand to transform the situation.

'I often think that that is the worst part of all-being unable to help in any constructive way except to say constant prayers in the background & to try and surround you both with love & affection & concern.

'I can so well imagine the unbearable emptiness you must feel at this time; the sense of bewilderment & confusion that accompanies the removal of someone still so young from this world.

'Personally, I believe that there is another dimension beyond this physical one & that we will be amazed to discover it for ourselves when we are eventually-or at a moment-called upon to make that certain journey for ourselves.

'As it says in the Bible-'Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face.'

'I can't tell you how pleased & happy I am to have known Liz. She was such a great life-enhancer.

Charles (left) and Princess Diana (right), pictured at home in Kensington Palace in 1985

Charles tells the recipient, known only as Peter, that his heart 'bleeds' for him following the passing of 'dear Liz' to illness

He adds that he can imagine the 'agony' he was going through and 'longed to wave a magic wand to transform the situation'

Charles then laments the 'bewilderment and confusion that accompanies the removal of someone so young from the world'

He elaborates on his Christian faith and his beliefs on what happens when someone dies, quoting a Bible passage that states 'now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face'

An RR spokesperson said: 'This lengthy handwritten letter to 'Peter' expresses his sympathy upon the death of a loved one'

'We shall all have such special memories of her but, above all, Peter, we mind about you & you are so very much in my thoughts and prayers at this most anguishing of times.

'I thought you might just find a very small speck of comfort from this short piece of profoundly wise verse by William Blake and, together with this, I enclose a few 'Highgrove things' as a token of immense, affectionate sympathy.'

It is unclear who the Peter is that Charles is addressing, or the identity of 'dear Liz'.

The three page handwritten letter on Highgrove House letterhead, dated December 8, 1997 and signed 'Charles', has emerged for sale for 1,500 ($2,000) at RR Auction, of Boston, US.

It comes with its original envelope which had Charles's instructions for it to be delivered 'by hand'.

An RR spokesperson said: 'This lengthy handwritten letter to 'Peter' expresses his sympathy upon the death of a loved one.

'Charles was likely particularly emotional at the time he wrote the letter, as Princess Diana had tragically passed away just a few months before in August 1997.'

Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris aged 36 on August 31, 1997.

The timed sale ends on August 14.
Meghan Markle was joined by old and new friends as she stepped out at a business summit in The Hamptons on Saturday.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, was pictured alongside two of her long-time pals, make-up artist and entrepreneur Bobbi Brown and designer Misha Nonoo at the G9 Ventures Summer Summit hosted by power broker Amy Griffin.

But it wasn't just old friends that supported Meghan at the event; the mother-of-two posed up a storm with billionaire Spanx founder Sara Blakely and millionaire IT Cosmetics co-founder Jamie Kern Lima.

According to Page Six, Meghan had flown into the millionaires enclave from Santa Barbara by private jet with entrepreneur Jamie, who was keen to praise the Duchess on her Instagram account following the event.

Sharing a sweet photo of Meghan sitting next to her and holding onto her arm, she wrote on her Stories: 'Love this pic because it captures the essence of friendship. Thank you Meg for being such a supportive and loving friend...

American entrepreneur, investor, and media personality Jamie Kern Lima (pictured right) poses with Meghan Markle (pictured left) and Spanx founder Sara Blakely (pictured centre)

'In this pic for holding my arm with such love as I was about to walk up to stage and speak, and in real life for how generously you show up for your friends!' Jamie concluded.

The former US TV news presenter founded her skin-loving make-up brand, IT Cosmetics, after years of suffering from hereditary rosacea, with no product giving her the make-up results she was looking for.

On her Instagram, the American entrepreneur, 47, shared another photograph with Meghan - this time alongside billionaire Spanx founder Sara Blakely.

She started her company back in 2000 with just $5,000. By 2012, Spanx was reporting 20 per cent profit margins on almost $250 million in annual sales.

Sara - who first came up with the idea for Spanx when she was forced to wear pantyhose while working as a door-to-door saleswoman in Florida - became the youngest self-made woman to join Forbes World Billionaires List that year.

In 2021, news hit the web that Spanx was valued at $1.2 billion - and the founder celebrated by giving all of her 500+ employees first-class plane tickets and $10,000 spending money.

Weeks after the valuation news was announced, Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon invested in shapewear brand.

When working as a saleswoman, Sara liked the way the top of her pantyhose prevented visible panty lines, while making the stomach appear more toned, but didn't want the seamed foot to show when she was wearing open-toed shoes.

Sharing a sweet photo of Meghan sitting next to her and holding onto her arm, Jamie wrote on her Stories: 'Love this pic because it captures the essence of friendship. Thank you Meg for being such a supportive and loving friend...'

The Duchess of Sussex, who was seen alongside designer Misha Nonoo and cosmetics owner Bobbi Brown, wore a vest and trousers combination by St. Agni

The 25-year-old then decided to cut off the feet of her tights for a party, creating the first ever prototype for Spanx.

Blakely has previously recalled how she went around to hosiery mills and relentlessly begged them to produce her product, despite not having any financial backers.

She decided to invest $5,000 of her own money in Spanx, which was her entire life's savings at the time. Since she couldn't afford a lawyer to write her a patent, she did it on her own with the help of a text book on patent law from Barnes & Noble.

But it was all worth it in the end, as after the first year the company fetched $4million in sales and an impressive $10million the following year.

It's unclear when or how Meghan became friends with Sara and Jamie, however Jamie is said to live in the California area of Montecito, where the Duchess is based with her husband Prince Harry and their two children.

Meanwhile, the Duchess previously sent a Clevr gift basket to Sara, who shared a glimpse of the present to her Instagram account and credited Meghan, according to Yahoo.

Prince Harry's wife confirmed in December 2020 that she had invested an undisclosed sum in Clevr Blends, a wellness coffee company which has a range of organic, gluten-free 'SuperLattes' in powder form.

Following Saturday's event, Sources told Page Six that Meghan was there to pick up tips on her new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard.

Meghan's brand soft launched earlier this year with an official Instagram page and website being set up

The publication reported that the annual event was held at the $13 million home (10 million) of Griffin who shares the property with her husband, billionaire hedge fund manager John Griffin.

Other stars in attendance included Gwyneth Paltrow alongside Reese Witherspoon and actress Laura Dern.

Meghan's brand soft launched earlier this year with an official Instagram page and website being set up.

She will no doubt be using the event to help her brand by soaking up tips for her new brand.

Surrounded by people like Griffin will aid her in doing just that, who according to Wall Street Journal is known for her use of 'soft power.'

This includes making introductions, chasing down founders and offering mentorship.

She started angel investing in 2014 and launched G9 three years afterward, telling the WSJ: 'There was a moment where I was sitting at a fundraiser thinking, Wait, I can put money into something, see it grow, and use my skill set and help a founder?.

'And people had said to me, "Why arent you doing this full time? You already help people by buying their products and then sending it to everyone."'

G9 does not lead huge investment but does contribute smaller amounts, from tens of thousands of dollars to several million, according to the WSJ.

Meghan shared the logo for her company in a 10-second story video while dressed in a black ball gown.

The clip then showed her wearing a simple white outfit while arranging flowers and cooking in a kitchen.

In April, Meghan sent 50 jars of her strawberry jam to influencers and celebrity friends across the United States.

Award-winning actress and comedy writer Mindy Kaling and actress Tracee Ellis Ross, daughter of Diana Ross, revealed on social media they had been gifted jars.

Each jar was labelled with the Californian American Riviera Orchard branding, and numbered out of 50. The jars were secured with a lid and muslin cloth.

Meghan's brand will reportedly feature 'edible oils and fats', jellies, jams and spreads made of legumes, garlic, and sesame, as well as nut and fruit butters.
They say you can fool all of the people, some of the time, and some of the people, all of the time  but you cant fool anyone when youre wearing a swimsuit. My body and I have a complicated history, but Ive made peace with it.

Its far from being a perfect beach body, but I dont let my hang-ups keep me off the beach. I live in Margate, and I love swimming, but when it comes to swimwear I dont prioritise looking good  Im thinking about whats easy to get in and out of, under a Dryrobe.

Now, however, with holidays on the horizon, Im thinking about venturing beyond my local coast  and wondering whether its worth investing some time and money in serious swimwear.

After all, Im happy to spend significant sums on a new dress, even though I dont need that to be anything like as supportive and flattering as a swimsuit. Ive just dropped three figures on hiring a Zimmermann dress for my book launch, but on holiday in Sicily last year, I wore the same swimsuit nearly every day for two weeks. It cost about 20 and it was a panic buy from M&S  I grabbed it when I was picking up a bottle of prosecco and a birthday card. Surely this year I can do better than that?

At 39, Im not sure I can get away with something from a supermarket any more. My body might not be in the first flush of youth  but as well as having a bigger bottom, I have a slightly bigger budget. The perfect swimsuit for me must be out there somewhere  if Im prepared to search. Its not easy to try on endless swimsuits, but I had a feeling that it would be worth the effort. Read on to find out what I discovered...

STRAPLESS

Pale blue bandeau suit, 248, odabash.com and, right, olive green costume, 18, direct.asda.com/george

This pale blue bandeau designer suit by Melissa Odabash (248, odabash.com) is beautiful. It looks expensive and its the sort of thing Id want to wear if I was somehow invited to spend my summer lounging around on a billionaires yacht. I cant wait to try it on. I step into it and pull it up. And up. And up. Im sad to say that its not especially flattering, and it doesnt feel good, either.

Even if it looked incredible, Id reject it on the grounds that its anxiety-inducing. Im convinced its going to fall down. So, I try a bandeau suit at the other end of the price spectrum  an 18 olive green one from George at Asda (direct.asda.com/george). The bead detail allows it to punch above its weight. It looks too luxurious to be a supermarket piece. Another point in its favour is that it comes with detachable straps. This suit is much more flattering for my cleavage. Its supportive and its something Id be comfortable sunbathing in. It helps that the fabric is thicker, too.

Pale blue bandeau suit

Rating:

Olive green costume, Asda

Rating:

PINK

Pink underwired suit, 38, freyalingerie.com and, right, neon swimming costume, 10, primark.com

I have high hopes for a pink suit from lingerie brand Freya (38, freyalingerie.com)  its underwired, and I hope the crossed straps at the back might give me a bit of a lift. In fact, the fastening is a bit too tricky for me. This might work for a glamorous beach holiday, but I cant see myself wearing it for a quick dip in Kent. My waist seems to have disappeared entirely, swathed in pink fabric that makes me look shapeless. And where did my cleavage go? Like last years sunglasses, its lost, possibly never to be seen again.

I also try an extremely basic 10 Primark number (primark.com)  neon pink, Hunza G-inspired, with a high leg. Although I adore the colour, its not something Id ever have thought to try. It looks comfy, but its all one layer, and theres no special technology thats going to pull me in or push me up.

I take a deep breath, pull it on and open my eyes, not expecting to like what I see. Its almost perfect! The simplicity of the cut and the smoothness of the fabric is incredibly flattering. The colour pops. I feel happy. In fact, whisper it, I feel sexy! This is something Id feel comfortable wearing on the worlds chicest beaches. It will work in Ibiza. It will work in Broadstairs.

Pink underwired suit, Freya

Rating:

Neon swimming costume, Primark



Rating:

NAVY

Belted navy suit, 80, panache-lingerie.com and, right, buckled costume, 249, odabash.com

The next suit I try is a classic navy number from lingerie brand Panache (80, panache-lingerie.com). I love the belt detail  it elevates the look, and it feels elegant and pulled together. The square neckline is classy, rather than sexy, but I suspect its universally flattering. If I was going on holiday with my family, this is the suit Id pick. The belt enhances my shape and nips in my waist, but I dont feel self-conscious or exposed. My cleavage isnt going to alarm anyone.

The navy Melissa Odabash costume (249, odabash.com) tells a different story. I love it on the hanger  especially the depth of the colour, and the tiny brass buckles on the straps. But this isnt so much Hello, boys as Sorry, boys, it looks like I just missed you. Ill be hanging around for a while, can you come back tomorrow? Its giving me a beach body  but its the beach at the end of the day, filled with deflating Lilos and saggy rubber rings.

Belted navy suit, Panache Lingerie

Rating:

Buckled costume, Odabash

Rating:

BLACK

Ruched halterneck costume, 70, boden.co.uk and, right, black swimsuit, 195, meandem.com

Ive heard good things about Boden swimwear, so I pick out a black suit (70, boden.co.uk), with subtle ruching around the waist and, somehow, it makes me feel like Marilyn Monroe. I notice a layer of mesh at the back of the suit, to make sure everything looks smooth. Clever.

The halterneck gives me a gentle lift and I dont want to take it off, but in the name of research I try another black suit  this time from Me + Em (195, meandem.com). Im excited because I love the brand. I honestly believe that when Im wearing Me + Em trousers, Im more powerful than Superman in his cape.

Sadly, the swimsuit does not make me feel like I can fly. In fact, my body suddenly seems very keen to obey the laws of gravity. Everything is pointing downwards. If I was wearing this in the water, Id be afraid to emerge, in case I fell out. This doesnt make me want to hit the beach. Id sooner find an old-fashioned bathing machine on wheels.

Ruched halterneck costume, Boden

Rating:

Black swimsuit, Me&Em

Rating:

RED

Red halterneck suit, 259, odabash.com and, right, ruched swimming costume, 79, calzedonia.com

I try a bright red Melissa Odabash halterneck suit (259, odabash.com)  its not the most flattering, but I love the design and the colour boosts my mood. My waist is defined, and I have a cleavage, but I feel contained. I could wear this without worrying that Im accidentally going to flash the ice-cream man as he hands over my 99.

Then its on to the ruched suit from Calzedonia (79, calzedonia.com). I cant believe how good this is: I feel so sexy I could audition for Love Island. And so confident that I could probably persuade the ice-cream man to give me an extra flake.

Even though Im nearly 40, this suit makes me feel a thousand times hotter than I did when I wore a bikini in my 20s. The ruching is incredibly flattering, emphasising the curve of my waist. Somehow, the sweetheart neckline gives me a classy cleavage. The straps are slim enough to be sexy, but wide enough to be supportive. And its not too high-cut but somehow it makes my legs look longer. This is The One  and Ill never chuck a cossie in my trolley without trying it on again.

Red halterneck suit, Odabash

Rating:

Ruched swimming costume, Calzedonia

Rating:

Daisy Buchanans new novel Pity Party is out now
When Georgia Carter felt a pain on her right side she assumed she had pulled a muscle by lifting weights at the gym - but instead it was a warning sign of something far more serious.

The pain eventually led the 44-year-old to have ultrasound on her gallbladder which led to a devastating diagnosis of stage four metastatic bowel cancer.

A tumor was found in her bowel along with lesions on her liver, rectum and sigmoid colon as the cancer spread.

She experienced few other symptoms, but told FEMAIL going to the bathroom was never 'fully satisfying' and she had 'felt off' months prior. Looking back, she said there was signs of blood in her stools too but this tended to coincide with her periods.

'Things weren't quite right. I had changed jobs and come from a stressful, high pressure situation so I put a lot of it down to anxiety and stress,' Georgia said.

'Once I moved into a new role that had more of a work-life balance the symptoms popped up and I was confused.'

The diagnosis came as a complete shock as Georgia as she does not have any family history of colon cancer, although her mum had leukaemia.

The ultrasound and CT scan 'uncovered everything that was going on'.

Georgia Carter (pictured) was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer 12 months ago

The 44-year-old from Western Australia said she experienced few common symptoms and doesn't have any family history of cancer

The day after that gallbladder ultrasound twelve months ago, Georgia was called back to what she thought was a routine follow-up appointment.

'I thought they were going to tell me to get my gallbladder removed or something. Being told it's cancer.. the wind gets taken out of your sails really quickly. It's like an instant panic attack, hyperventilation moment,' she said.

'I went to the appointment alone so I called my husband and he dropped everything to join me.

'Ever since that moment I now understand why GPs run late. I stayed for as long as I needed to be there.'

Four days later she was in hospital to get a port put into her chest for chemotherapy treatment.

Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your stools, a change in bowel habit, a lump inside your bowel which can cause an obstructions. Some people also suffer with weight loss as a result of these symptoms

'They couldn't do a proper colonoscopy because the tumour was so big it was blocking the bowel,' Georgia said.

But she did have surgery to insert a stent into her colon to reduce the risk of obstruction.

A week later she started chemotherapy treatment which worked well, killing the cancer cells. However the deadly cells 'tore away' from the stent and perforated her bowel, causing further issues.

'After the second round of chemo I was in extraordinary pain and I wouldn't work out what was going on. Everyone was saying it was from the treatment so I just sucked it up until it got to the point where I couldn't eat anything or keep anything down,' Georgia said.

'I almost died - everything had stopped in my bowels and it was because my bowel had perforated and my abdominal cavity was full.'

Georgia (pictured with her husband) also 'nearly died' when her bowel perforated

She was rushed to emergency surgery where surgeons removed a third of her bowel and the primary tumour - something Georgia described as 'the silver lining' of the ordeal.

She remained in intensive care for five days and in hospital for three weeks in August last year then started treatment mid-September until the end of April.

Since then Georgia has been 'rebuilding her strength' and had surgery three weeks ago to check on her liver which 'wasn't in a great condition' due to treatment.

'The positive news is I'm pretty sure my bowel is completely clear of any tumours. So the cancer is now only in my liver but in awkward positions so doctors aren't able to remove them as easily,' Georgia said.

She has since started treatment again to try reduce the lesions as much as possible.

Now she's taking it one day at a time, is 'focused on getting her mindset into the right place' and will be on treatment for the next six months.

While doctors are confident the chemotherapy will shrink the remaining cancer cells Georgia is still worried it will spread again but is hoping for the best.

The life-changing cancer means she also has to live with a stoma bag and has dealt with physical challenges.

Now she's taking it one day at a time and if 'focused on getting her mindset into the right place' and will be on treatment for the next six months

'I've always been physically strong - I used to life weights and was the strongest woman my PT used to work with, which I was really proud of,' she said.

'Over the last 12 months I've lost 35kg and am no longer that strong person I was. I know I'm stronger in other ways but building that strength is a really impossible mountain to climb at the moment.

'I refuse to let this become my personality and let my sickness be who I am. So I kind of push through it. The days I push myself beyond what I think I can do, I get physically exhausted and then I sleep better,' she added.

'I'm never going to sit around and feel sorry for myself.'

To help get through the difficult times, Georgia recalled a mantra from a book by Sarah Polley: run towards the danger.

'So you face it head on rather than trying to put up mechanisms to hide and shy away from it, because you're never going to get better, you're never going to get stronger if you don't face those issues, or face what you're what you're going through,' Georgia said.
Jo Buena was fit and healthy when she received the life-changing diagnosis at 46

A month after Jo Buena had a double mastectomy to remove three small cancerous tumours in her breasts she felt an immediate sense of 'disconnect' with herself looking in the mirror.

The then 46-year-old became overwhelmed with emotion. 'What did I do to myself? I feel like Frankenstein,' she asked herself.

The fit and healthy sales analyst from Melbourne was diagnosed with breast cancer on January 11, 2023.

Just a few weeks earlier, at Christmas, she felt a small but firm pebble-like lump on her left breast while lying down and rushed to the doctor. It was her only symptom.

A mammogram and X-ray confirmed two malignant tumours in her left breast and a benign tumour in her right and she was scheduled for surgery days later.

'I could only feel one near the surface on my left breast - I had no idea about the other two,' Jo, now 47, said, adding that the doctor suggested a double mastectomy.

'I was in denial [about the cancer] and had no time to panic. Preparing for surgery and packing a bag, it was like like I was going to a hair appointment, there was no time to think about it.

'Before surgery it felt like I was about to lose part of myself - I knew I wasn't going to be the same after it. Even though before I was joking around saying the bright side is I'll have perky boobs for the rest of my life.'

When Jo Buena (pictured) lost her mother to stage three breast cancer she was devastated - but she knew she didn't want to experience the same ill fate she witnessed

The sales analyst from Melbourne received the shocking news just after Christmas in December 2022

Thinking back to when she first noticed the lump, Jo said she 'lay down in bed' and was scratching her left side when she felt it.

'It was hard and it was firm - like a smooth pebble,' she said.

It's common for women to experience breast discomfort during their menstrual cycle due to fluctuating hormone levels - which may also cause areas of lumpy breast tissue that feel tender, sore and swollen.

But Jo knew the lump wasn't just fatty tissue because it 'didn't move' and was 'attached' to her breast.

The fact that she was 46 - the same age as her mother when she was diagnosed with breast cancer - was a coincidence Jo couldn't ignore.

But despite the ordeal she still considers herself 'lucky' because the cancer was caught early and was diagnosed as stage one because it hasn't spread to her lymph nodes

Thinking back to when she first noticed the lump, Jo said she 'laid down in bed' and was scratching her left side when she felt it. 'It was hard and it was firm - like a smooth pebble,' she said (pictured with her partner)

She added that before her mum was diagnosed her family had been free of any cancer or disease.

Then she received her diagnosis along with two aunties and three cousins all around the same time.

'We were scrambling to find a surgeon to see me and luckily my sister who was scheduled in for a BRCA gene test was able to give me her appointment,' Jo said.

At the time there was also a lot of 'backlog' of patients waiting to see doctors due to Covid.

'The day I was diagnosed, my surgeon said to me: 'Ok Jo, we have a problem. This is cancerous. This is how we're going to handle it',' Jo said.

'But even before we had the results she was thinking of the all different options, so I knew I was in good hands. She made it a matter of fact that I wasn't alone and she was going to help me.'

Jo is sharing her story ahead of Daffodil Day on Thursday August 22 to raise awareness and ensure others check their breasts regularly - especially those with family histories of cancer

Knowing her mum passed away in 2004 from the same cancer, the surgeon recommended a double mastectomy 'straight away' to reduce the chance that it could return in future.

'I'm not really spiritual but I knew before I even saw my doctor and got the results because I had a dream about my mom and she just told me, 'I'm sorry',' Jo said.

While being told you have cancer is something no one wants to hear, the news didn't sink in straight away and a wave of emotion hit her while sitting in the hospital.

Doctors were injecting a 'radioactive dye' to check the lymph nodes weren't riddled with any cancerous cells, and in that moment Jo started bawling her eyes out.

A month later when the bandages were removed was when reality hit.

But she knew having a double mastectomy was the 'right decision' - even though the cancer was in the early stages.

Jo said watching her mum go through cancer treatment when it return twice was traumatising to watch - and she didn't want to experience the same fate.

'I thought if I'm going to go through it, I'll go through it once and that's it,' she said.

What are common symptoms of breast cancer? Different people have different symptoms of breast cancer. Some do not have any signs or symptoms at all. Warning signs of breast cancer include: New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)

Thickening or swelling of part of the breast

Irritation or dimpling of breast skin

Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast

Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area

Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood

Any change in the size or the shape of the breast

Pain in any area of the breast Keep in mind that these symptoms can happen with other conditions that are not cancer. Source: CDC Advertisement

In February she also needed to have her ovaries removed because the type of breast cancer she had was responsive to hormones - sending her into early menopause.

This was part of her treatment plan to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.

'I don't want to feel sorry for myself, I'm still lucky - I didn't need chemotherapy or radiotherapy. So I'm not complaining,' she said.

Jo shares her story ahead of Daffodil Day on Thursday August 22 to raise awareness and ensure others check their breasts regularly - especially those with family histories of cancer.

'Checking your breasts should be a habit just like brushing your teeth. Plus that way you know what it feels like and it something feels off or changes,' Jo said.
Bizarre new surgeries giving people cartoon-like features, including pointed faces, overly sculpted jaw lines and Popeye-esque biceps have been criticised by surgeons.

Although the eye-catching looks help influencers gain thousands of followers, surgeons warn these extreme and disturbing procedures can have 'severe mental and physical health consequences', including tissue death.

In the UK it is a crime under the offences against the persons act from the 1850s to perform extreme procedures.

But many still go under the knife to get these unusual procedures overseas.

Here, MailOnline explores some of the most disturbing social media surgery trends.

Russian influencer 'bazooka hands', also known as the Russian Popeye, Kirill Tereshin, 25

The social media user (left) who has 51.3K followers on Instagram, has had oil based injections to get his ripped look rather than built his muscles in the gym

Russian influencer 'bazooka hands', also known as the Russian Popeye, Kirill Tereshin, 25, has built a reputation online for his gigantic biceps and heavy facial work.

The social media user, who has 51.3K followers on Instagram, has apparently used oil based injections to get his ripped look rather than building his muscles in the gym.

'His dramatic look may be attributed to the regular use of steroids and the rumoured injection of around three litres of petroleum jelly into his arms,' Mr Reza Nassab, consultant plastic surgeon at CLNQ Clinic in Manchester, told MailOnline.

But he advises strongly against these type of injections as it could lead to tissue death.

'Injecting petroleum jelly or other non-medical substances can severely compromise blood supply to the muscles, leading to tissue death and other serious health complications,' he added.

Tiago Azevedo, an architect and pop-surrealist painter based in New York, who has 58.3K followers on Instagram has an extreme amount of cheek filler and implants, according to surgeons

Tiago Azevedo, an architect and pop-surrealist painter based in New York, who has 58.3K followers on Instagram, is another influencer taking part in the trend and posts images of his chiseled jaw line, sculpted cheek bones and a pointed chin online.

With his looks comparable to one of his surrealist portrait paintings, surgeons say he has had an extreme amount of cheek filler and implants.

Indonesian TikTok beauty influencer Yuni Jasminebutiq, who has 410.7K followers, is another influencer showing off her pointed chin and narrow jaw in videos.

Experts suggest she has also had filler. But many of her videos also appear to use filters potentially accentuating the affect.

Commenting on the both Azevedo and Jasminebutiq's cartoon-like features Mr Nassab said 'various fillers may have been used'.

TikTok beauty influencer Yuni Jasminebutiq, who has 410.7K followers, shows off her pointed chin and narrow jaw in videos.

Surgeons suggest the influencer has has fillers and warn that these looks do not come without risks

He suggests a 'youthful' and 'alert' expression may have been created with a brow lift using Botox or threads to elevate the brows.

'Cheek fillers can add volume and create a plumper, more youthful appearance. Jawline fillers can help achieve a more contoured and defined jawline, while chin fillers can enhance the overall balance and symmetry of the face,' he added.

Mr Nassab added: 'Additionally, regular lip fillers can enhance the size and volume of the lips, contributing to the exaggerated features often seen in these highly stylised appearances.

'By combining these aesthetic treatments, individuals can achieve a unique, highly stylised appearance that resembles a cartoon-like character.'

Bristol based consultant plastic surgeon Dr Nigel Mercer, who specialises in facial reconstruction surgery, explained the look doesn't come without risks.

He said: 'The chin implants will cause problems with encapsulation and they may extrude due to the pressure.

'Plus they can cause the tooth roots to resorb due to pressure in the jaw bone.'

'Quite what the patient thinks they will be left with when they have to come out (no implant is permanent), it is impossible to know,' he added.

Dr Omar Tillo, Harley Street plastic surgeon and medical director of CREO CLINIC, said it's not just the risk of complications, infections, and tissue damage people need to be aware of.

He added these procedures can also have mental health consequences and he believes surgeons are responsible in ensuring they conduct a psychological evaluation of a patient before considering any extreme changes.

'As a plastic surgeon, it's vital to address the risks of bizarre surgical transformations such as these. Such procedures, often driven by unrealistic expectations or body dysmorphia, can have severe mental and physical health consequences,' he said.

These extreme looks can lead to dissatisfaction, regret, and irreversible changes in appearance, warns Dr Tillo.

He added: 'Prioritizing patient safety and mental well-being, surgeons should encourage realistic expectations and provide thorough psychological evaluation before considering any extreme alterations.'
Two lost cows have sparked a toxic culture war in a sleepy upstate New York town after a vegan activist allegedly held them hostage at her animal sanctuary.

The bizarre and at times comedic dispute between the local farming community and animal rights campaigners has sparked rowdy protests in Newfane, a usually quiet rural neighborhood in Niagara County.

Protesters dressed in cow costumes have taken to holding meaty barbecues outside the animal rescue to taunt its vegan owner.

Actor and renowned vegan Joaquin Phoenix has intervened in the mistaken belief that the cows were named after him.

An even legal proceedings have taken a peculiar twist, with a judge recusing himself from the case after it was revealed he had previously sent the defendant messages on dating website Match.com.

Hornee (left), a steer, and Blackee (right), a cow, wandered out of a farm and into an animal sanctuary, sparking a toxic culture war between vegans and farmers in upstate New York

Animal rights activist Tracy Murphy refused to return the cows after they stumbled into her property, igniting the ire of the local community

Neighbor and farmer Scott Gregson, who owned the animals, was initially frustrated in his attempts to retrieve them

But the matter has also taken a dark turn, with both sides receiving death threats. The farmer who tried to retrieve his cows has had rape threats directed against his children, court documents claim.

The unseemly feud was triggered when a black cow and a golden brown steer wandered off a farm belonging to Scott Gregson, 44, on July 16, 2022.

The antics of 'Blackee' and 'Hornee' were hardly unusual. But they inadvertently sparked all manner of mischief by stumbling into a neighboring animal sanctuary run by Tracy Murphy, 59.

She herded them into a pen and immediately notified the local animal control agency, she told The New York Times.

Six days later, an investigator with the agency came to check on the cows and learned that they had gone missing from Gregson's farm.

But when the farmer asked that they be returned, Murphy refused.

Following legal advice, she asked for evidence that Gregson owned the animals alongside $2,500 as payment for nine days' worth of hay, straw and care.

On July 25, Gregson, a former state trooper, arrived at the sanctuary alongside an animal control investigator and members of his family to negotiate.

It did not go well.

'I'll come get the animals,' Gregson said, according to a video of the exchange filmed by Murphy.

'No, you're not coming to get the animals,' the vegan activist replied.

Murphy then offered an alternative solution: that she buy the cows off Gregson.

After weeks of wrangling and rowdy protests, Gregson did eventually manage to get his cows back. But only after the dispute had ignited an ugly war of words between the two sides

Murphy posted Gregson's home address and phone number on Facebook. Both sides say they have been subject to death threats as a result of the dispute

That never happened, nor did she willingly return them after the farmer showed receipts proving he owned the cows.

She then enlisted the mob, posting a video of her and the animals, whom she had renamed Little Willow and Ismael, letting her 22,000 followers know that law enforcement was 'violating my civil rights'.

Murphy also posted Gregson's home address and phone number.

It wasn't long before the farmer started to receive phone calls to his house threatening to rape and kill his children, according to court documents filed by the Niagara County district attorney's office.

Protesters gathered outside her sanctuary, Asha's Farm, as a parade of cars and tractors rolled past, honking their horns and carrying signs reading 'Nacho Cows' and 'Heifer Hider'.

One motorcyclist performed donuts in Murphy's backyard.

Others left Facebook comments calling for her to be lynched.

Two days after the protest, five state troopers, all colleagues of Gregson, executed a search warrant at Asha Farm and arrested Murphy.

Hornee and Blackee were then taken away by truck to a secret location out of fear for their safety.

Murphy appeared in court that evening in chains and was charged with third-degree larceny, a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison.

The judge imposed a gag order barring her from posting any content, on any subject, on social media.

Others spoke out on her behalf.

When Oscar winner Phoenix mistakenly learned, through misinformation on social media, that Murphy had renamed the cows after him [she does have two other cows named Joaquin and Phoenix] he released a statement to local newspapers.

'To so harshly punish a woman who was simply showing kindness to two individuals who had wandered onto her property is astounding,' he said.

Actor Joaquin Phoenix, a renowned vegan, even weighed in because he mistakenly believed Murphy had renamed the cows after him

Most in Newfane disagreed, however.

Niagara County Farm Bureau board member Jim Bittner, a fruit grower, said in a letter to the Union-Sun & Journal. 'Two cows wandered onto Asha's property. The owners of Asha's know who those cows belong to, but refuse to return them. Let that sink in for a minute. This is just plain wrong.'

Local cattle farmer Ed Pettit said: 'My concern is that they believe that they have a moral right to confiscate animals that come onto their property, and then make things as difficult as possible for the farmer to retrieve them. I don't want that to continue.'

Except it did.

One morning 50 chickens mysteriously disappeared from the farm of Kimberly Simmeth, a local resident.

Two days earlier, she had criticized an event held by Right to Rescue, an activist group that enters farms to 'free suffering animals'.

The event had been organized by Wayne Hsiung, a prominent animal rights-activist and recently signed up member of Murphy's legal team.

Murphy had been a keynote speaker, invited by Hsiung.

The same week, another local farmer, Paul Strobel, spotted two trespassers skulking around his cattle gate, filming his livestock.

He gave chase, but they got away.

Strobel blamed Murphy for bringing the cattle rustlers to Newfane, adding it would be 'all-out war' on farmers if she went unpunished.

Murphy has said it had nothing to do with her.

Hsiung, meanwhile, had his law license suspended after he was convicted of trespassing on a Californian farm last November.

Gregson arrived at Murphy's sanctuary to try to retrieve his animals nine days after they went missing, sparking a tense stand off in which the vegan refused to return them

Locals were quick to side with Gregson, organizing protests outside Murphy's with men dressed in cow costumes while others grilled steaks to taunt the vegan

He no longer represents Murphy.

Newfane Justice Bruce Barnes, who had imposed the gag order, recused himself from the case in September after Murph's attorney argued after that an interaction between the judge and the defendant on Match.com in 2020 rendered a fair judgment from Barnes questionable.

The gag order was dropped and the charge against Murphy reduced to a misdemeanor of petit larceny, which is still punishable by up to a year in prison.

In May, the activist rejected a plea deal in which she would have been convicted of disorderly conduct with a suspended sentence, thereby avoiding the immediate threat of jail.

Murphy took umbrage with a clause that required her to admit that fighting to keep the animals was wrong.

She did not respond to a request for comment by DailyMail.com, but has previously maintained her innocence.

As for Hornee and Blackee, they will play no further part in this sorry saga. Shortly after Gregson retrieved the cows from Asha's Farm, he sold them to the slaughter.
July 28, 2024: Since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, Russian prisons descended into chaos. Problems included a shortage of guards and overcrowding. The overcrowding was caused by the large number of Russians imprisoned for opposing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Most of the new prisoners were political, not criminal and many were Moslems from Russian Central Asian provinces who opposed being mobilized as infantry for the war in Ukraine. Many of these political prisoners were able to organize prisoners to protest poor living conditions, false imprisonment, etc., and demand improvements. This led to a growing number of prison uprisings, some of them including prisoners taking guards and threatening to kill guards if their demands were not met. In one hostage situation the government sent in OMON, which is a force of riot police trained to use non-lethal or lethal force when recovering hostages. On June 16, 2024, six Moslem prisoners seized a senior prison official and a guard and demanded they be released from prison. That never works and OMON was sent in and released the two hostages and killed the six prisoners who were holding the two prison guards hostage.

What was unusual about this incident was that it involved militant Moslem prisoners that the Russians promptly classified as dangerous terrorists. The prisons were once dominated by criminals of one kind or another. But now the influx of ethnic Ukrainians arrested for being Ukrainian (many of them residents of Ukraine conquered by the Russians since 2022), and Moslems suspected of being Islamic terrorists, has tuned many usually docile prisoners into violence prone enemies of the state. The more the government cracks down, the more widespread and violent the prison population becomes. To make matters worse the government tried to suppress information of what was going on in prisons from reaching the public. This lack of information made friends, families and associates of the prisoners angry and believing the worst about what happened to people they knew who were imprisoned.

The government fears that the prisoner unrest could spread and, as it has done a few times in the past, get out of control. Sending in OMON often makes things worse and there are only about 20,000 OMON personnel in a nation of 140 million. A widespread uprising would be more than OMON, prison guards or local police could handle. Calling in the army is a bad idea because the heavy losses in Ukraine have left the army short of troops and more and more military age Russian men are actively avoiding being mobilized into military service. Many are arrested and jailed for trying to avoid service in Ukraine. Ukrainian soldiers captured in the war have been added to the prison population so these prisoners dont have to be treated as prisoners of war. Efforts to mobilize more Russian men to fight Russian and Ukrainian prisoners protesting abusive prison conditions only generate more violence and trouble the prison systems cannot handle.

The lethal combination of more prisoners, especially Moslems, fewer ethnic Russians and fewer guards to confront an increasingly angry and politicized situation is spreading as the government seeks to pretend it isnt happening and everything is under control. The overwhelmed prison guards, who were always corrupt, are now even more eager to make deals with prisoners in order to survive. In the past guards would reward criminal prisoners who would help control, often with violence, political prisoners. Many of the criminals were mobilized into the army over the last two years with the promise of a pardon and freedom from imprisonment if they fought for six months. Many military age guards were mobilized into the army. The reduced the number of criminals in jails and increased the proportion of political prisoners, Ukrainian civilians and Ukrainian POWS being confined by fewer guards. The government decided to not let families know that their sons had been killed in prison violence and often refused to release the bodies to families for burial when the families discovered their imprisoned sons were dead.

The violence in the prisons is a result of the Ukraine war and has become another battlefield in that war whether the government wants to admit it or not.
A young mother-of-three was dealt a devastating blow after she was diagnosed with a life-threatening cancer when she was weeks away from giving birth.

Canberra woman Nivek Johnson, affectionately known as Niv, was 34-weeks pregnant when she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.

The 37-year-old nurse had felt a firm lump in one of her breasts and initially thought it was mastitis - a painful infection of the breast tissue.

'For a week or two I just did some home remedies to try and clear what I thought was a blocked duct,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'It never ended up clearing so I went and saw my GP and I was put on some antibiotics, but those weren't effective.'

An ultrasound, a mammogram and a biopsy the following week revealed the lump was something much more ominous.

Ms Johnson was in disbelief after the doctor told her she had a fast-growing and aggressive tumour.

'It was definitely a rollercoaster coaster of emotions,' she said.

Nivek Johnson was 34-weeks pregnant when she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer

'It was shocking and I'm still trying to wrap my head around it really.'

A week later she met with a team of oncologists who devised a treatment plan for her.

'They decided it was best to start the treatment while my bub was still in utero,' Ms Johnson said.

'I had three chemotherapy infusions while my little baby was still in my belly and then I had a small break in order to deliver him via C-section.'

Ms Johnson's closest friends set up a GoFundMe to help ease the financial burden and take care of her family while she is fighting cancer.

'She is as tough and stoic as they come,' they wrote.

'Less than 10 days after baby Felix arrived safely into the world, Niv resumed her fourth round of chemo, which will be followed by a grueling regime of surgery and radiation.

'It's no secret that adding a newborn into the family dynamics is no easy feat, but having the birth of your child overshadowed by cancer is something nightmares are made of.'

Ms Johnson's oncologists decided to start chemotherapy while her baby was still in utero

Generous Aussies have already donated more than $25,000, which will go towards a meal delivery service, hiring a nanny for the kids and covering any treatment costs.

Ms Johnson expressed her family's profound gratitude for the support they have received during this difficult period.

'We are so appreciative,' she said.

'It's a really odd thing to ask for help, so setting up this GoFundMe is probably not something I would have ever done for myself.

'We're just so blessed and fortunate to have such an amazing support network around us.'

Ms Johnson said juggling the newborn period, sleepless nights and getting used to more intensive chemotherapy has been a challenge.

She said it has been difficult because she isn't able to be as active around the house.

'I was the primary care giver but now sometimes I need to rest or I'm not able to take kids to school,' Ms Johnson said.

Ms Johnson hopes sharing her story will help raise awareness and encourage people to be vigilant and get checked

'I can't keep the houses clean as I usually do, I can't cook as much as I used to and just all those sorts of things.'

She explained her husband has been a huge help and an amazing carer, but he will have to return to work at the end of August.

'At the moment it's just one day at a time, I haven't really looked too far into the future yet,' she said.

'Returning to work after maternity leave was one of my goals and that's sort of been put on the backburner now.'
EXCLUSIVE

The family at the centre of a stomach-churning war with their neighbours have broken their silence to admit the row has blown out of control after it exploded into violence in a Coles supermarket.

Daily Mail Australia last week revealed how a Hindu family in Liverpool, south-west Sydney, had faeces smeared over their mailbox and a used sanitary pad left on top of a religious ornament during a year-long campaign of terror.

Shania Lata, 19, and her family have since fled the unit to a new home in Minto, 20km away - but in videos which have gone viral on TikTok, they claim the neighbours have followed them to continue the alleged harassment.

Now Nawal Tawfeeq and her two adult children, Farah and Adam Abdulhussein, have hit back at the claims, and shared new footage of Ms Tawfeeq allegedly being attacked with a shopping basket by their former neighbour in a local Coles.

They revealed the battle began from a minor dispute over parking at their unit block - but quickly escalated to the series of sickening acts which has now cost one their job, as they now admit: 'We're both at fault.'

Ms Lata posted a series of shocking clips on TikTok and Instagram accusing her ex-neighbours of smearing human faeces in their mailbox, hurling hot water in her face and calling police over false allegations her father pointed a gun at them.

In another sickening act, Miss Lata claims the neighbours allegedly left a soiled sanitary napkin on a religious shrine outside their front door.

The Lata family, who are Hindu, claim that the alleged vile acts were driven by religious bigotry and shared racist, threatening messages they allegedly received.

Shania Lata has shared videos of her year-long dispute with her former neighbours on social media

Ms Lata posted a series of shocking clips on TikTok and Instagram accusing her ex-neighbours of smearing human faeces in their mailbox, hurling hot water in her face (pictured) and calling police over false allegations her father pointed a gun at them

Farah Abdulhussein (pictured left) with her mum Nawal Tawfeeq outside their home in Liverpool

However, Miss Abdulhussein, 23, insists the row isn't about race or religion - but she does admit it has gone too far.

'This began as a standard neighbourly dispute over the downstairs parking and it just escalated from there,' she told Daily Mail Australia from her home in Liverpool in Sydney's west.

'Neither family is innocent, we're both in the wrong.'

Miss Abdulhussein says the backlash triggered by her former neighbours' videos prompted her to hit back and share her family's side of the events.

'My brother had to leave his job becuase his workplace was shared on social media and people were contacting management with lies they'd seen on Tiktok.'

She also claims that the former neighbours also smeared faeces in their mailbox, threw water in their faces and harassed them at all hours at night.

'It was tit for tat, but we were not responsible for the bloody pad (sanitary napkin) or the s*** in the mailbox,' she said.

'But we had to put up cameras to protect ourselves and the accusations they were making about our family to the police and other neighbours in the building.'

According to Miss Abdulhussein, the fight escalated last July when Miss Lata's brother, Bharat Pratap assaulted her mum, Nawal, at Coles supermarket in Casula in Sydney's southwest, prompting them to seek out an apprehended violence order.

Footage of the assualt shows Mr Pratap using a Coles shopping basket to bash Ms Tafook over the head causing her to collapse.

'We're being made look like the bad guys but they're not innocent,' she said.

Neither neighbour is owning up to leaving a soiled sanitary-napkin on a religious shrine

Miss Abdulhussein claims the Lata family smeared faeces in their mailbox (pictured), threw water in their faces and harassed them at all hours at night

The Liverpool unit block where the neighbourly dispute first began

Adam Abdulhussein lost his job at a local juice shop due to the negative backlash he's received from Miss Lata TikTok videos

'We want them to leave our family alone, we still feel traumatised.'

On another occasion Mr Pratap can apparently be seen aggressively kicking down his former neighbours door in the middle of the night.

It's understood police were called to the apartment complex multiple times by both families involved in the ugly dispute, prompting the Latas to relocate to Minto.

However, Miss Lata claims the mud-slinging has continued despite moving over 20km away.

'He still continues to drive past our house and beep the horn, we don't know how they got our new address and the police wont do anything' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'Why are they going out of their way to continue fighting? We want it to stop.'
The following is an excerpt from Dark Tide: Growing up with Ted Bundy.

Bundy's cousin Edna Cowell Martin revealed how, after initially believing his pleas of innocence when the first charges were brought against him, she realized during one chilling conversation that he was a maniacal killer.

Catching up to me on the sidewalk, Ted asked if I was alright, so I assured him I was fine. I just had to run to (here I looked around wildly, trying to remember where in the world we were) the University Bookstore for a few things.

Id only be a minute.

Back in the Squire as I accelerated up the hill towards the U-District, there was silence in the cab.

This was it, I knew. No use avoiding it any longer. It was time to ask the question.

So, Ted. I stared ahead out the windshield. Why was this so hard?

I tried to take comfort from the cheery pedestrians outside, the storefronts decorated for the holidays, life carrying on as usual. I screwed up my courage.

Did you do it?

Serial killer Ted Bundy notoriously conned friends and family into believing his innocence after he came under suspicion for dozens of murders

Bundy's cousin Edna Cowell Martin (pictured in her youth) became the first person who grew up with Bundy to write about her infamous cousin 50 years on from his initial arrest, previously telling DailyMail.com the stories were 'bottled up inside' for decades

That buried voice in my subconscious now screamed. What I was actually asking, but was far too afraid to say, was, Did you kidnap, rape, and murder all those girls like theyre saying?

He didnt respond at first, and in that silence, a part of me died. It struck me then, for the first time, that he could answer yes, and if he did, I had no idea what Id do. I took my eyes off the road to look at him.

He smiled, a very familiar Cowell smile, and shrugged.

"Edna, he said, of course not.

Completely relaxed, he went on to explain that it was all a case of mistaken identity, and that the truth would come out eventually.

He said exactly what Id suspected and hoped. Unaware that Id stopped breathing, I let out a breath so deep I could feel it in my toes. As he continued to reassure me, even teasing me for needing to ask, I experienced a kind of euphoria.

I felt light, filled with helium. What had I been worried about? This was my cousin. The guy whod gone out of his way to visit us in Arkansas and told me my new drawl was cute.

The guy whod regularly shown up on my doorstep in the U-District with a bag of groceries, offering to cook dinner.

I looked over at Ted and beamed. Call it confirmation bias, call it familial immunity, but I believed him. Everything would be fine, I knew then. Just fine.

Although Bundy was known as a charming and charismatic person, his cousin revealed that his reveling in attention led her to question his innocence

Despite having grown up with the killer, Bundy's cousin wrote that when the glass shattered, 'suddenly didnt recognize him in the slightest'

The chilling moment is detailed in Martin's book 'Dark Tide: Growing up with Ted Bundy'

Feeling much better, I parked the Squire in the lot behind the University Bookstore and told Ted Id only be a minute.

As I shut the door behind me, I felt saferthough I wouldnt acknowledge whyknowing Ted was securely tucked away in the shaded back parking lot.

Inside the bookstore, I quickly gathered my purchases and brought them to the line of registers, which fronted floor-to-ceiling windows facing the street.

A clerk greeted me and began to ring me up. I dully registered some commotion outside.

As I dug inside my purse for my wallet, in my peripheral view, a small group of co-eds ran southward past the large windows.

It wasnt until Id finished paying that the events outside finally penetrated my consciousness.

By then, it seemed all pedestrian traffic was flowing in the direction of 43rd Street, attracted to some magnetic pole.

Many people were pointing and angling for view. Just like that, my head began to throb. I was suddenly in a hurry to leave, and I barely remembered to grab my purchases on my way out.

As I stepped onto the sidewalk, I was immediately engulfed into a throng proceeding down University Way.

Whats going on? I asked those around me, but no one seemed to know. I craned my neck to see the other side of the street where the crowds were congealing, but I couldnt make out the cause.

Reaching the end of the block, I had to wait for the light to change to cross. For a brief moment, the sea of bodies on the other side parted such that I caught one small glimpse into the crowds nucleus, and I recognized Ted.

Whats he doing there?

Edna said she realized her beloved cousin was responsible after seeing the way he lapped up attention for the crimes he was accused of. Bundy is pictured striking a pose during his 1978 perp walk in Florida after being charged with further murders in Florida

I looked anxiously at the light, still holding me where I was. I had to get to him. I didnt know why, but I knew I had to stop him.

Finally the light changed, and the crowd advanced, flowing around Ted like water. Many stopped to stare in fascinated horror, forming a kind of standing-room-only arena surrounding him.

Somehow I pushed through them, and there I got my first good look. This is the image that probably haunts me most, the image that still, fifty years later, makes my heart rate surge.

Teds arms were outstretched wide, a street-corner messiah, and he was slowly turning in a circle.

From his smiling lips, he chanted over and over, projecting for all to hear, Im Ted Bundy. Im Ted Bundy. Im Ted Bundy.

My first thought was that he, in fact, wasnt Ted, because I suddenly didnt recognize him in the slightest.

Then instantly my mind raced back to the moment when Id experienced the same disorientation - the night Ted slow-danced with Margie in our apartment after dinner.

Bundy was known as a charming and charismatic individual who had the ability to dramatically change his look, which also helped him evade capture for many years

As he turned on the street corner, I could again picture him turning with Margie in his arms. In both cases, the Ted I knew had completely disappeared.

I knew then with certainty, as I watched him speak those horrible words, that Ted had another side, a darker side, and it was that Ted whom I was seeing.

If, up to that point, Id been viewing the world through rose-colored glasses, this was the moment they shattered.

As my mind reeled, all around me the crowds became a blur, but I was distantly aware they were turning hostile. It was clear that I had to do something.

I felt completely outside myself as I ran into the swarm. Stop it! Shut up!

But he didnt stop.

Desperateand Don couldnt believe me when I told him this laterI slapped a hand over Teds mouth. Who was I, behaving like this in public?

I didnt recognize myself at all. All I knew was that I didnt want the crowds to witness Ted doing whatever it was he was doing.

I didnt want to witness him doing it any longer. Even then, in the chaos of the moment, I knew it had dislodged something important inside me.

Although he denied the murders at the time, Bundy's cousin said she grew concerned because his behavior after he was accused 'showed that he felt proud' of the crimes

Edna (riding a horse) during her childhood in Tacoma, Washington, alongside her brother John (left), a family friend (right), and her cousin, serial killer Ted Bundy (center)

Finally Ted yielded, and the masses parted as I dragged him away, guiding him toward the back lot where Id parked the car. I knew we had an audience, but I couldnt think about that then.

I wanted nothing more than to get away.

What the hell were you doing? I really needed to get a handle on my emotions, but adrenaline still coursed through my veins as I turned on the engine and sped into the street.

Watching the mob shrink in the rearview mirror, I was finally able to take a breath. But the reprieve, I found, was far worse.

In the silence of the car, I realized that buried voice had been knocked right to the surface, and it was now impossible to ignore as it laid out its case.

Fact 1: Id witnessed a completely different side of Ted that day, at lunch but especially outside the bookstore. This was a Ted I didnt recognize or understand. This was a Ted who frightened me.

Fact 2: He operated in a way totally alien to my fundamental moral compass. Women had been brutally raped and murdered, their bodies defiled, yet he seemed to suffer no horror at his association, whether true or not. Indeed, his actions showed that he felt proud.

Fact 3, and this was the one I really didnt want to face; the one I knew then, without a shade of doubt: Ted was guilty.

My cousin, who was more like a brother. My teaser and protector and confidant. My friend. Hed done it. All of it.

The images Id conjured of a nightmare beast resurfaced, and a chill passed down my spine as another truth reared its head.

I was alone with a cold-blooded killer.

Bundy's seen on death row in 1982 in Florida with his wife Carol Ann Boone and their daughter Rose

Me, still barely a hundred pounds. Inch by inch, I turned my head to look at Ted. On my life, I swear it seemed that I was looking as if through the wrong end of a telescope an invisible lens stretching the distance of the Fords bench seatso that Ted appeared a great distance away.

Nothing separated us but vinyl and air. Ted was staring at me. Ted was smiling. But this smile held no family resemblance at all.

No words were spoken, but I knew. Ted knew.

My fear represented a power he had over me, and I could sense he liked it. Suddenly the Squire couldnt go fast enough.

As I drove on, rigid with terror, I kept replaying a scenario in my head: if he moved toward me, Id wrench the wheel and ram my precious car straight into a wall.

Id do it, if I had to. I was ready. I was ready.

I still think about that.
Homebuyers are now flocking to an unlikely paradise - the Appalachian Mountains.

Greg and Missi Moore, once DC suburbanites living in a million-dollar home, have traded city life for mountain bliss.

The couple snagged a stunning Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired pad in West Virginia's Glade Springs for a mere $675,000 - half the price of their former home.

'They call me 'The Anomaly' down here, because I have all my teeth,' Greg Moore, aka 'Big Mo,' told Realtor.com.

The Moores are now living in their affordable mountain retreat where they sit back outdoors and enjoy the fire on their deck, sipping wine and watching the wildlife nearby.

Both from West Virginia originally, they vowed to never come back. Now, Big Mo swears, 'We're never leaving.'

Homebuyers are now flocking to an unlikely paradise - the Appalachian Mountains

Aerial View of Large Vacation Homes on the Side of a Mountain at Wintergreen Resort in Virginia

Greg and Missi Moore, once DC suburbanites living in a million-dollar home, have traded city life for mountain bliss

And they're not alone - Appalachia is seeing a surge of new residents, with hoards of Floridians fleeing sky-high insurance costs and the scorching temperatures.

'Data does seem to show an increase in movers from Florida to Southern Appalachia,' says Hamilton Lombard, a demographer at Weldon Cooper Center at the University of Virginia who studies migration patterns.

Homes in Daniels, WV, are listing for a bargain $319,900 - that's over $100,000 less than Florida's median price.

But it's not just about the money.

Jon Sinko of Bass Sinko Real Estate emphasized the 'Mayberry RFD-type community' feel, with friendly neighbors, low crime, and all four seasons.

'A lot of people are definitely migrating here,' Sinko told the outlet. 'The affordability, the insurance, the simplicity of living in a Mayberry RFD-type community with friendly neighbors and low crime, and the ability to enjoy four seasonsthese are just a few of the factors.'

The Moores are also thrilled to swap gators for ski slopes just 10 miles from their new home.

Appalachia is even becoming a cultural hotspot.

Appalachia is seeing a surge of new residents, with hoards of Floridians fleeing sky-high insurance costs and the scorching temperatures

Whitewater rafts ready for a trip down the river, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Fayette County, West Virginia

New River Gorge - Endless Wall Trail , West Virginia

Berea, KY, was named the No. 1 'small-town art scene' by Newsweek, and a West Virginia chef just snagged a prestigious James Beard award

Southern Appalachia, known for its stunningly beautiful views, is increasingly giving Florida a run for its money

Berea, KY, was named the No. 1 'small-town art scene' by Newsweek, and a West Virginia chef just snagged a prestigious James Beard award.

In March, it was reported that thousands of wealthy retirees were ditching Florida and choosing to spend their golden years in Appalachia instead.

With its warm weather and low tax burden, the sunshine state has long been known as the retirement capital of the US.

Yet Southern Appalachia, known for its stunningly beautiful views, is increasingly giving Florida a run for its money, Wall Street Journal reported.

But not everyone is happy about it.

The population in counties in southern Appalachia designated as retirement or recreational areas grew by 3.8 percent between April 2020 and July 2022 - more than six times the national average, according to Hamilton Lombard, a demographer at the University of Virginia.

But while older populations are attracted by cheaper living and housing costs, lower crime levels and pleasant weather with fewer hurricanes, some locals are furious about the impact this influx is having on property prices, traffic and even restaurant bookings - with one resident saying 'they should go back to where they came from'.

Ed Helms, 75, and his wife moved from Panama City Beach, Florida to a gated community, half of it in Dawson and half in a neighboring county, to escape natural disasters, congestion, and the rising cost of living.

'Our property insurance was going sky high,' Helms, who worked in mergers and acquisitions, told the Wall Street Journal.

'We got tired of being unable to find a place to sit in restaurants. Everything was getting out of reason. We wouldn't go back for anything.'

People like the Helms are often referred to as 'halfbacks' - a nickname for those originally from the Northeast and Midwest who moved to Florida before eventually settling somewhere in the middle.

Autumn fall season at Bear Rocks trail trailhead and candid people hiking in Dolly Sods Wilderness

Whitewater rafts ready for a trip down the river, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Fayette County, West Virginia

The trend back in the early 2000s and then slowed during the recession - but has now picked up again in earnest.

Gayle Manchin, the The Appalachian Regional Commission's co-chair and wife of Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, told WSJ she believes the pandemic has fueled the retirees' interest in moving back to more isolated, nature-filled areas.

According to Lombard of the University of Virginia, who has been tracking the pattern, an average of 328,000 individuals from other regions of the country have relocated to the five-state region of Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee annually since 2020.

The Georgia county of Dawson has proven particularly popular, reporting a 12.5 percent population increase from 2020 to 2022, according to estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau.

But this huge influx has put enormous pressure on local services, leaving some lifelong residents like Helen Anderson unimpressed.

Appalachia is even becoming a cultural hotspot (Pictured: Berea Crafts festival)

Anderson was born and raised in Dawsonville, Georgia, her family making ends meet by farming chicken and selling moonshine from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Atlanta.

'They ought to go back where they come from,' she told the Wall Street Journal when discussing the newcomers.

Manchin told the WSJ that demand for affordable housing has skyrocketed as more workers are needed to serve the influx of halfbacks.

The migration of these wealthy retirees has spread governments thin as they trying to extend healthcare, housing, and other services to its citizens, she added.

But chairman of the Dawson County Board of Commissions Billy Thurmond noted that some of people who stop him to complain about the traffic and development are ironically the same people who moved to the county in recent years.

Glade Springs in West Virginia is a 4,100 acre gated community set amid the splendor of the Allegheny Mountains in West Virginia

According to Lombard of the University of Virginia, who has been tracking the pattern, an average of 328,000 individuals from other regions of the country have relocated to the five-state region of Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee annually since 2020

But while older populations are attracted by cheaper living and housing cost, lower crime levels and pleasant weather with fewer hurricanes, some locals are furious about the impact this influx is having on property prices, traffic and even restaurant bookings - with one resident saying 'they should go back to where they came from'

'People who have moved here now want us to put up a gate and stop anybody else from moving here,' he told WSJ. 'It doesn't work that way.'

County Manager Joey Leverette said medical calls to eldercare facilities in the county are also taking up resources. For that reason, county officials are considering splitting up staff to dedicate some to just emergency calls, freeing up teams to respond to fire calls.

'It's a game changer,' Leverette told WSJ. 'If we don't get the funding, we'll just have to keep plodding along as best we can.'
The family are fundraising on GoFundMe - click here to donate

His family hopes to spend his last moments at home together

A young family has shared their experience of preparing for the death of their baby son, who was born with a severe and rare heart defect.

Skye and Chris Kennewell welcomed their son, Rocco, six weeks early in January after an emergency C-section at Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney's west.

Six months later, the Kennewells are still at the hospital.

Rocco was born with Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome, which means the structures on the right side of his heart are underdeveloped.

Mr Kennewell told Daily Mail Australia that his wife and their two children, five-year-old Arlo and three-year-old Zimi, were hopeful Rocco would recover after undergoing several surgeries to strengthen his heart, but sadly, this wasn't the case.

Rocco successfully underwent his first surgery, but a sudden turn in the middle of the night required him to rely on life support for four days and spend four months recovering in the Intensive Care Unit.

'We weren't sure if we would lose him then or not, but it's as close as you can come,' Mr Kennewell said.

'He has slowly clawed his way back to health.

Rocco Kennewell (pictured) was born with Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome, a congenital heart defect

Rocco's family (pictured) have spent six months in hospital with Rocco but doctors believe there is nothing more they can do to help his condition

'We have been waiting for what should have been the second stage operation but due to high pulmonary pressures and occlusions in his arteries from trauma, his anatomy no longer allows for the it to be done.'

The realisation nothing more could be done to help Rocco was a crushing blow for his family.

Now, they've made it their mission to ensure he fully enjoys the time he has left.

Rocco's father, Chris Kennewell, hopes his family will be able to go home to spend the last of Rocco's time together (pictured, Rocco and his big brother, Arlo)

'We are devastated, we feel like we have pushed him through so much and failed him,' Mr Kennewell said. 'We are working really hard to get him home. He has never been home, seen his house, or been to the beach.'

'It will take a little while for the hospital to sort out proper care and find a local doctor willing to take him on.'

Both Rocco's parents and siblings are grateful for the special six months they've already spent together and are excited to see his bubbly personality continue to shine through.

'He is always smiling and happy. The one lesson he has taught me the most is no matter how bad life gets, you can always find joy,' Mr. Kennewell said. 'He also loves music  Harry Styles, ABBA, Blondie! He loves being sung to.'

While Arlo and Zimi are likely too young to fully understand what's happening with Rocco, Mr Kennewell said they've been an amazing support for their little brother.

'My other kids have been awesome. They're out of home away from their friends for over half a year and they haven't whinged or complained at all,' he said.

'My son is five and is very well connected with his emotions - he hears everyone's conversations and takes it all in.

Rocco (pictured with his mum, Skye Kennewell) underwent the first of three planned surgeries but won't be able to undergo further treatment due to an adverse reaction

Mr Kennewell described Rocco (pictured) as 'always smiling and happy', noting: 'The one lesson he has taught me the most is no matter how bad life gets you can always find joy'

'I have sat down with him and explained that there isn't much more they can do for Rocco and we have to give him all our love while he is still here.

'Our daughter is almost three and probably not able to grasp the gravity of it but she loves Rocco so much, I swear she was born to be a big sister.'

A close friend of the Kennewell family have created a GoFundMe to help cover Rocco's medical fees and any ongoing costs.

'With two other beautiful children to look after, I'm hoping to raise some money to ease the financial burden. Chris is a hard working dad but shouldn't have to leave his family in these precious days to earn money,' the fundraiser reads.

'Rocco has come a long way and those of us that know him have grown to love him and see his little personality which makes this all so much more heartbreaking.

'Despite everything they've been through as a family Skye and Chris have maintained their positive and happy spirit as much as they can.'

Mr Kennewell hopes Rocco's diagnosis can be used to bring more awareness to infant heart problems.

'Almost 50 percent of all Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit cases at Westmead are to do with congenital heart defects,' he said.

'It is a one in 100 chance your baby will be born with a heart condition. There isn't enough awareness.'

He also shared a thank-you to the Ronald McDonald House Westmead, where his family has stayed for the last six months while Rocco underwent treatment.

'They cook the most amazing hearty meals and they are constantly putting on activities for the kids,' Mr Kennewell said.

'They have done mini carnival days here with all vendors and food trucks, they have dance classes, cooking classes, they have a hairdresser that comes every week

'There's a play school where the kids can do normal school-like activities and play together.

'They also organise days at the zoo or to the footy for any kids able to go out.'

While Arlo and Zimi (pictured with Rocco and Mr Kennewell) are likely too young to understand what's happening to their brother, Mr Kennewell said they've been an amazing support

Between 2,400 and 3,000 Australian babies are born with congenital heart defects every year, like Rocco (pictured with Ms Kennewell)

Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome is a congenital disorder, meaning it develops before a baby is born.

Between 2,400 and 3,000 Australian babies are born with congenital heart defects every year, according to Heart Kids, a partner of Healthdirect.

Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome specifically causes babies to have low oxygen levels as the heart cannot send enough blood to the lungs.
Indigenous advocate explains why he fears Jacinta Price will never be PM

EXCLUSIVE

Warren Mundine has broken his silence over his mental breakdown in a shopping centre after the stress of The Voice campaign suddenly caught up with him.

The leading No activist said the bitterness and anger over the divisive referendum had taken a massive toll on him, and fuelled a bitter rift with his estranged daughter.

The 67-year-old - who also railed against 'racist lies' blighting Australia - said he was at breaking point after months of vile abuse over his stance opposing The Voice.

And he said the increasing ugly debate had also driven a wedge between him and his daughter, Garigarra Riley-Mundine.

During a trip to a local shopping centre on Sydney's north shore in May, he was suddenly overwhelmed with grief and anxiety, he told Daily Mail Australia this week.

'I was thinking about her, and I had a panic attack,' he said.

'It was just before Mother's Day and I was thinking about my daughter and I just broke down.

'The police and ambulance came and they took me to Royal North Shore Hospital and they were all amazing.'

Warren Mundine says he is slowly recovering from the vile abuse he received during the Voice campaign

Garigarra Riley-Mundine (pictured), one of Warren Mundine's seven children, distanced herself from her father's No campaign

Mundine issued a public plea to reconnect with his daughter after suffering a panic attack

While receiving treatment at hospital, he made a public attempt to reconnect with Ms Riley-Mundine, posting a photo on X of them together with the caption: 'Garra, or any of Garra's friends, can you ask her to call me please. Her Dad.'

Mr Mundine admits he hadn't spoken with Ms Riley-Mundine in more than four years at the time of the anxiety attack.

But he said he had been distressed by an interview she gave 10News  and that he hadn't even known she had become a mother until he saw her on television.

'My daughter cut herself out of my life, I didn't even know she was pregnant,' he told Daily Mail Australia at the time.

'Deeply personal'

In the interview, Ms Riley-Mundine said the man she saw at the forefront of the No campaign was not the same man she knew growing up and his views no longer represented those she learned while growing up.

She also said her father, who met her mother at a protest, had also begun to surround himself with the very people he railed against in his younger years.

While Mr Mundine said he respected his daughter's opinions, he had found the interview personally hurtful because it was conducted by Narelda Jacobs, who he claims vilified him during a heated debate about The Voice on SBS last October.

The SBS later apologised to Mr Mundine for the treatment he received from Jacobs during the debate, after she accused him 'abusing' fellow panellist Marcia Langdon, who she described as a 'national treasure'.

Mr Mundine said his mental health had now improved in the wake of the Voice debate with the help of a psychiatrist.

But he wouldn't be drawn on how much progress  if any  he had made on mending his relationship with Ms Riley-Mundine since his breakdown.

'It is a deeply personal issue and difficult to talk about,' he admitted.

'But the most important thing now is that my daughter knows that I love her and that I'm very proud of her and of all her success,

'I didn't always agree with my father or my mother but, Mundines, we always support each other. We always look after each other. And we always stick together.

'In the Mundine family, it's always family first. In the end, that's all that matters. And she knows that and that I will always support her no matter what.'

Mundine says the divisive Indigenous Voice to Parliament debate tore communities apart

Narelda Jacobs interview Garigarra Riley-Mundine at the peak of the Voice debate

Despite their differing opinions, Mundine says he is proud of his daughter and her views

'Racist lies'

Mr Mundine spoke out as he unloaded on the 'self-loathing elites' he says are stoking hatred with their 'outright, bloody lies' about Australia being a racist country.

'All these people are doing is talking bulls***,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'If they actually believe Australia is a racist country, then what the hell are they doing here? They should bugger off somewhere else.

'I'm sick of hearing these elite white people saying, 'Oh, you poor black people, we're so sorry that Australia is a racist country.' Australia's not racist, that's a bloody lie.

'Of course, there will always be some racist people - every country has those - but to call Australia a racist country, it's bulls*** and they're f***ing talking nonsense.

'It's not helpful, and they're not helping anyone.'

He blames 'elite' Yes campaigners for fuelling division among families and communities across Australia.

'We've been seeing a great divide among Aboriginals between these more elite, academic-type Aboriginal and public servants pushing their own lines, and the real people who just want to get on with life,' he said.

'Aboriginal people want to work hard and they want to be successful. When you look at it, most Aboriginals aren't radical. They're conservative - they stick up for their communities and the rule of law.'

Silenced by The Voice

He said he believed the Voice debate had actually made many Indigenous Australians feel voiceless.

'They don't make a lot of noise, or get in any trouble, but the Voice to Parliament debate did make them feel voiceless,' he said.

'Then they saw people like Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Senator Kerrynne Liddle come along expressing the views of Aboriginal communities, and fighting for them, and fighting the good fight.

'And so, what's happened, is the majority of conservative Aboriginals have now found their voice. And they're starting to use their voice. We didn't need the government to give us one. We'll use the one we've got.'

Senator Jactina Nampijinpa Price and Warren Mundine rally support during the No campaign

Despite Senator Nampijinpa Price's popularity, Mr Mundine  himself once touted to be the man most likely to become the nation's first Indigenous Prime Minister  said he thought it was unlikely she would ever have the top job.

But that the job she was already doing was just as important.

'Jacinta has fought a great battle and got there by herself,' he said. 'What she does in the Senate is amazing.

'She has walked in like she belongs there  which, of course, she does - and fought for the good of all Australians.

Why Senator Price will never be PM

'Now everyone starts saying, 'Oh, maybe you're going to be Prime Minister.'

'Well, yes, but there are two problems with that: she's in the wrong party, she's with the Country Liberals and sits with the Nationals.

'There will never be a Country Liberals or Nationals prime minister; and, then of course, she's in the Senate. But, let's be honest, none of that really matters.

'What she's doing is showing kids they can achieve anything. That there's nothing stopping Aboriginal kids - or any kid - in this country from doing anything they like, because the opportunities are there. Everything is there.

'What she's doing is showing everyone that Aboriginal people are sensible and strong and smart people, just like everyone else.

'We don't need someone to moddycoddle us and look after us  we can do it ourselves.'
Otherwise uninterested Democratic North Carolinian voters are now feeling a jolt of enthusiasm to head to the polls in November in the days after Kamala Harris entered the presidential race.

The must-win state is one of the seven vital to winning the White House in 2024  and Democrats think they can flip the right-leaning North Carolina blue this election cycle for the first time since 1976.

After President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid on Sunday and endorsed Vice President Harris, the North Carolina Democratic Party saw its volunteer force increase by 20 percent, the campaign told DailyMail.com.

Kimberly, a rideshare driver and student in Charlotte, said that she might come out to vote now that a woman is leading the ticket.

'I wasn't voting for Joe or the other guy,' the 36-year-old told DailyMail.com on Wednesday. 'But if Kamala or Michelle [Obama] are running, I might.'

Vice President Kamala Harris is injecting enthusiasm in North Carolina Democratic voters  but some are still concerned about her chances in November

'The country needs to be nurtured back together. And women are nurturing,' she added.

To underscore the importance of North Carolina to Democrats, the Party started mobilizing a staff to the southern state in January, which is a full six months earlier than in previous presidential election cycles.

Additionally, the campaign pointed to the fact that their 18 offices in North Carolina plan to increase their staff of 100 by double in the next two weeks.

But there is also a sense of nervousness among some voters that a black woman might not be able to win.

'For most of the people I know, we were a little anxious when the announcement first came out,' Charlotte-area voter LaKesha Womack, 46, told DailyMail.com. 'Combining black and woman into one person, it was like how is the country going to react?'

Donald Trump held a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina on July 24  his first since VP Kamala Harris entered the presidential race

The chief strategy officer for a business education and lending service, Womack said she's 'more nervous' having Harris on the ticket.

'I felt pretty confident that people would vote for President Biden, even if they didn't like it, just because I think a lot of people knew what was at stake,' she said. 'But, you know, just understanding the racial undertones in the country, I think I'm a little  and the sexism that exists in this country. I think I'm a little anxious, but I'm definitely hopeful.'

But she said her 18-year-old son who is voting for the first time in November is 'most definitely' feeling more emboldened to vote for Harris even though he was planning to cast his ballot for Biden anyway.
After a decade demurring on the matter, Congress has finally advanced a law to ban themselves from trading stocks following years of members raking in millions using inside information.

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Wednesday advanced a congressional stock trading ban 8-4 through the panel. The measure will now head to the Senate floor for consideration by the full chamber.

The bill, if passed, would ban members of Congress, their spouses and dependents and the president and vice president from buying or owning stocks and other assets.

If enacted the law would force members to liquidate their assets, with one lawmaker noting how it'd crush people like Donald Trump and prevent him from running for office.

But others in the GOP think it's necessary to stamp out corruption and stop people like former Speaker Nancy Pelosi from getting blockbuster returns.

'No Member of Congress should abuse their privilege to profit off of the American people,' Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, the lead Republican on the bill, exclusively told DailyMail.com in a statement.

Two of the youngest senators helped lead negotiations on the proposed stock trading ban

'For too long, politicians of both parties have prioritized their stock portfolios over serving those who elected them.'

'We must put an end to it. This landmark achievement is a strong first step in that direction,' he said.

At 41-years-old Hawley is one of the youngest members of the upper chamber.

In his push for stamping out stock trading he teamed up with similarly aged Georgia Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff, 37, who is leading the measure, to advance the ban.

'This is a historic moment in efforts to reform the ethics laws that govern Congress,' Ossoff said after the vote.

'Georgians overwhelmingly agree that Members of Congress should not be playing the stock market while we legislate and while we have access to confidential and privileged information,' the 37-year-old continued.

The law would be a major departure from the status quo where members are only mandated to disclose trades that amount to more than $1,000 within 30 to 45 days.

Critics have long said that law - the STOCK Act, which bans trading using congressional knowledge - does not go far enough, and the minute fee for breaking the disclosure law, roughly $200 per infraction, is chump change compared to the profit members can turn.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul at a gala in Washington, D.C. She has been a prolific stock trader in recent years, according to her federal disclosures, having bought or sold $100 million in securities since 2020

Sen. Josh Hawley speaks at a press conference announcing the congressional stock trading ban on Wednesday flanked by Democratic co-sponsors including Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Il., Ossoff and Peters

'This is the first time that a Senate committee is marking up legislation to tackle this issue,' Committee Chair Gary Peters, D-Mich., said during the Wednesday meeting where the measure passed.

'Americans deserve to be confident that their federal elected officials are making decisions that are in the best interests of the public and not their own personal interest.'

During the hearing the four Republicans who voted against the stock ban argued it would dissuade business owners from joining Congress, citing how the bill in its current form would require these entrepreneurs to relinquish their stake in their companies.

Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney said the bill was 'a wolf in sheep's clothing,' adding its a 'solution looking for problem,' noting how insider trading and trading using congressional knowledge are already outlawed.

'Have you thought about Donald Trump, for instance?' Romney said during the Wednesday hearing.

'Under this bill, he couldn't become president. He'd have to sell all of his Truth Social stock. He'd have to sell all of his private investments.'

Still, Hawley said that Congress is rife with stock trading corruption.

'Members of Congress are trading daily based on information that the public doesn't have,' Hawley said at the hearing. 'Congress is a rich man's club.'

He noted how former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has disclosed better profit 'returns than anybody in America.'

Sen. Mitt Romney said the law would deter businessmen, like Trump, from running for office

According to data compiled by Quiver, Pelosi's net worth has doubled in the past decade from $123 million in 2014 to nearly $250 million in 2024

Quiver Quantitative's congressional trading dashboards highlight the portfolios of politicians

Pelosi and her husband Paul have seen their net worth more than double over the last decade, according to data from Quiver Quantitative, a congressional money tracker.

Their data shows Pelosi's net worth has doubled in the past decade from $123 million in 2014 to nearly $250 million in 2024.

It should be noted that Paul Pelosi works in venture capital and is credited with making all of the trades revealed in his wife's disclosures.

Still, critics say that family members should also be banned from trading given their proximity to congressional secrets.

Pelosi, according to disclosures, has purchased at least $3.93 million worth of securities so far in 2024, much of it in tech, with specific trades in Palo Alto Networks and Forge Investments - a firm that allows investors to get a piece of private companies like OpenAI - of which she disclosed purchasing between $1 - $5 million worth of shares.

'According to our estimates, Nancy Pelosi has the sixth highest trade volume in Congress over the last year,' Quiver Quantitative co-founder Christopher Kardatzke told DailyMail.com.

'Pelosi doesn't sit on any House technology committees, but she does represent a district in California which covers San Francisco, so obviously there's kind of a question there whether she gets any sort of insights from that position that she holds.'

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has made tens of millions of dollars of profit in office, according to data compiled by Quiver Quantitative

The Pelosis at a party in Beverly Hills, California, in March 2024

Paul Pelosi, shown here, files all of the trades in his name. Since 2020, the Pelosis have traded around $100 million in volume, both buying and selling

'The volume is just crazy. It's often trades of millions of dollars of options or tens of millions of dollars of stock. So obviously that's a lot of volume,' Kardatzke said. 'With Pelosi, it seems like much more intentional, large large bets on particular companies, largely focused in tech.'

Though she does not disclose trade very often, Pelosi does report trades worth hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars when she does.

Republicans have also profited handsomely while in office.

Romney, for example, has increased his estimated net worth from $178 million in 2017 to $245 million in 2024, according to Quiver Quantitative.

And a congressional stock trading ban is widely seen as popular among voters.

A 2023 survey from the University of Maryland found that 86 percent of voters were in favor of enacting such a ban.

Now it is up to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to bring up the bill before the entire chamber.
EXCLUSIVE

A grief-stricken Melbourne dad is urging homicide detectives to 'get off their ar**s' and interrogate a prime suspect he has uncovered in his daughter's brutal murder.

Paul Warren is convinced he has identified the man responsible for his daughter Elly's mysterious death after hiring a sex worker to infiltrate the potential culprit's African crime gang.

'The town where Elly was killed, it's a small place, and nothing happens there without this guy knowing about it,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Either he's murdered my little girl, or he knows who did.'

The retired industrial engineer said he had been forced to conduct his own covert investigation into Elly's death after years of 'inaction' by the Australia Federal Police.

The 20-year-old had been enjoying a night out with friends in the tourist town of Tofo, in southern Mozambique, in 2016, before she disappeared about 1am.

The aspiring marine biologist, who had been in the country on a volunteer program working to save its endangered coastal reefs, was found dead the following morning.

Paul Warren has spent seven years investigating the death of his daughter, Elly

'My greatest regret is that I didn't jump on a plane the moment I found out she was dead, instead I trusted that the AFP would do their job,' he said.

'Looking back at those first few weeks after Elly's death, I'm totally disgusted with their incompetence and their inaction - and I'm still disgusted by it.

'It's been over seven years now, and I'm still the only one doing anything. It shouldn't be up to me to be conducting investigations and interviewing suspects.

'The AFP haven't done a f***ing thing and it's about time they did: they need to get off their a**es and help solve Elly's murder.'

The AFP said they were engaging with the Mozambique investigation through all appropriate channels.

'The investigation into the death of Elly Warren was the jurisdiction of Mozambique authorities,' a spokesperson said.

'The AFP through our senior liaison officer has continued to engage Mozambique authorities regularly since Elly Warrens death in 2016, including offering significant levels of support to Mozambique authorities via on-site meetings and regular communications.

'The AFP is committed to engaging with the foreign law enforcement community and will continue to leverage the AFPs relationships and vast capabilities to support Australians at home and abroad.'

Final farewell

Mr Warren is still haunted by the final moments he spent with his daughter before she headed overseas on what was supposed to be the trip of lifetime.

'I remember Elly's boyfriend picking her up to take her to the airport, she was so excited,' the 63-year-old said.

'She reached in and gave me a big hug and a kiss on cheek and said, 'Don't worry, Dad, I'll be safe'.'

'She knew I was worried about her going somewhere dangerous, but she said, 'Where I'm staying, it's with a group of scientists who have been living and working there for a while now, so I'll be safe. I'll be ok.' And, of course, she wasn't.

'But that's the thing about Elly. She was super smart and super committed.

An aspiring marine biologist, Elly was helping save endangered reefs before she was murdered

Never far from the water, Elly spent six weeks diving off the coast of Mozambique

'Once she had made up her mind to do something, she was doing it. There was no way me - or anyone else - could stop her from following her dreams.'

After arriving in Mozambique in October 2016, Elly spent six weeks diving off the coast of Tofo with marine research group Underwater Africa, documenting the local reefs and the species that call them home.

She was out celebrating the end of the volunteer program on November 8 - just four days before she was due to fly home to Australia - when she disappeared.

She had been drinking on the beach with friends at a popular Tofo night spot, called Victor's Bar, when she was last seen heading inside about 1am to get another drink.

Her body was discovered four hours later by a local fisherman laying face down in the dirt outside a public toilet block across the street from the bar.

She had cuts and bruises on her neck and mouth, her singlet was torn open, and her skirt pulled up with her underwear down around her knees.

Elly's body was found dumped outside this gritty public toilet block near the heart of Tofo

Elly was just days away from returning home after the trip of a lifetime when she was killed

Staged crime scene

The initial police report into Elly's death claimed she died from a drug overdose before two separate toxicology reports revealed there were no drugs in her system.

'It was immediately obvious it wasn't a drug overdose,' Mr Warren said. 'The whole investigation was tainted right from the very start.

'This is when the AFP should have been there - as soon as it was obvious something funny was going on.'

Forensic examinations eventually revealed Elly had choked to death after inhaling sand.

But the sand in her lungs was gold-coloured, while the dirt around the toilet block was black, suggesting her body had been moved after she was murdered.

Mr Warren suspects Elly was killed in a bungled robbery attempt on the beach before being dumped by the toilet block and the scene staged to look like a sexual assault.

'We know from the autopsy that she wasn't raped ... but whoever killed her wanted it to look like a rape,' he said.

'They knew there'd be a tonne of international attention if a foreign tourist just went missing or was found dead on the beach.

'But if it looked like she was raped, the local authorities would want it hushed up so it didn't destroy the place's tourism business.'

Dad's desperate sting

The distraught father has since made two trips to Mozambique and poured his life savings into conducting his own private investigation into Elly's death.

'The AFP kept telling me not to worry, that the Mozambique police would be conducting a proper investigation and I shouldn't go over there and get in the way,' he said.

'But the local police simply weren't equipped to deal with a murder investigation, and I soon realised that the AFP didn't want to get involved. That's when I knew I was going to have to do it myself.

'I reckon I've spent about $80,000 easily on this, and I've been diddled a lot too.

'I know people over there take advantage of me sometimes. They say they have photos or some evidence or something that can help me - but it always comes at a price.

'One guy told me he could get hold of some evidence that had disappeared from the crime scene, and that he could get it for me if I gave him $4,000.

'So of course I gave it to him but, when he sent me pictures of the supposed evidence, straight away I knew it was fake.

'I said, 'You've diddled me.' And he said, 'Yeah, you've got me.' I said, 'Yeah, I have,' but it was too late - he already had the money and I never heard from him again.'

He is convinced they haven't all been false leads. In 2020, he got a tip off that a local crime lord had been overheard boasting about Elly's death.

The man had distinctive tattoos and was known to hang out at a pub just around the corner from where Elly was last seen.

With the world in lockdown, he was unable to return to investigate the lead himself, so teamed up with a private detective to investigate remotely.

Together they hired a sex worker from a nearby village, and paid her to move to Tofo and infiltrate the gang in a bid to try to glean more information about Elly's death.

The sting ran for about a month before the sex worker began to fear for her life and they brought the operation to a close.

Paul Warren says he will never stopping fighting for justice for his murdered daughter, Elly

Murder confession

Since then, thanks in part to Mr Warren's dogged pursuit of his daughter's killer, Mozambique authorities have finally conceded Elly was murdered.

The admission came last year, after AFP officers travelled to the African nation and met with the local investigators.

'Now, they're finally saying, 'Yes, this is a homicide',' Mr Warren said.

'Well, they've known that it's been all along - but it's a big breakthrough that they're finally admitting that.

'They've also confirmed that they've got a couple of suspects but that they don't have enough evidence to charge any of them.

'That's the same situation I have. The suspect I've identified is a dangerous guy and we've collected a lot of intelligence on him.

'But it's all about getting that crucial bit of evidence that can link someone to the murder. We need either the evidence or a confession.

'That's why we need professional AFP investigators - or Interpol investigators - to go over there and interrogate these suspects properly and purge them of information.'

The shrine Paul Warren has built in honour of his daughter Elly in his Melbourne home

Plea for help

'The AFP has been telling everyone they can't get involved ... but the Mozambique government indicated last year that a joint investigation is possible.

'What (the Mozambique authorities) have really been trying to say - without being too obvious - is 'we need help with this homicide' . They need the AFP to help them solve this murder.'

And it is not only the Mozambique authorities that need the AFP's help, he said.

After almost eight years of anguish and heartache, Mr Warren desperately needs their assistance too, and has launched a website, ellywarren.net, to help collate all the evidence.

'I'll never stop fighting for Elly, as difficult as it is, I'm never going to stop,' he said. 'But I really need the AFP's help here. It's all I think about.

'I've erected a little shrine to Elly in my home and I talk to her every morning and every night.

'I tell her, 'We're on the right track, Ell, we're getting close, we just need a little help'.'
Small business owners across the country hoping to make their store stand out from the crowd with a colourful splash of paint are facing a problem.

Pencil pushing councils are bullying them into repainting their stores because of they believe the unnatural colours cause the buildings to look 'garish' and not 'sympathetic to the area's heritage and history'.

The killjoy local authorities use planning regulations to stop entrepreneurs from painting their shop's distinctive colours such as yellow, pink and gold.

Officials have been ordering the business owners who painted their privately-owned listed buildings unapproved colours to repaint them.

The practice has left some owners, already struggling with the cost of living crisis, thousands of pounds out of pocket as they struggle to quickly change their entire shopfront.

The harsh crackdown has left some business owners accusing their council of using heavy-handed techniques to force shopkeepers and landlords to make changes.

 Slide me  One example of the practice was the Beano cafe in Canterbury, Kent, which had become infamous locally for its stand-out bright yellow colour scheme - but it was forced to be repainted white

Cafe owner Mustafa Kovak, 18, has blasted 'killjoy' council bosses who have ordered he repaint his bright yellow shopfront

He forced to repaint the Beano cafe white, after the threat of legal action from the council as part of its crackdown on listed buildings with 'garish' appearances in the city centre

The latest example of the practice was the Beano cafe in Canterbury, Kent, which had become infamous locally for its stand-out bright yellow colour scheme and a sign with the logo of the famous comic which it takes its name from.

But it was forced to be repainted white, after a threat of legal action from the council as part of its campaign against listed buildings with 'garish' appearances.

Mustafa Kovak, 18, says Canterbury City Council gave his family just four weeks in April to repaint the building and install a new hand-painted sign, which cost 600.

He said: 'I thought it was a joke. But they were very serious and have been making legal threats.

'It is ridiculous. But they have been very serious about it. They're killjoys.

'I personally think there are more important issues the city needs to deal with. Rather than the colour of cafes.

'It was so much better before. It stood out and brought in business which can surely only be a good thing for the local economy.

Mr Kovak said: 'I personally think there are more important issues the city needs to deal with. Rather than the colour of cafes'

The cafe in Canterbury, Kent, has become infamous locally for its stand-out colour scheme and a sign with the logo of the famous comic (pictured) which it takes its name from

The Beano is one of 22 businesses warned to change 'inappropriate signage', lights and paintwork, or face prosecution

'Because of the changes, we do not get as many customers. It's because we do not stand out as much.

'We got passing trade because of how it looked.

'Now we don't. I hope they're happy with what they have done.'

The Beano is one of 22 businesses warned to change 'inappropriate signage', lights and paintwork, or face prosecution.

The council said the frontages of some listed buildings have been altered without permission and do not blend in with the heritage and history of the city centre.

It launched an initial crackdown last February, with dozens of high street traders found to have broken planning rules.

Mr Kovak added: 'I will never understand it.

The council said the frontages of some listed buildings have been altered without permission and do not blend in with the heritage and history of the city centre

Mr Kovak said: 'Our cafe looked great. It's very sad what they have made us do. They just want everything simple'

Following the repainting, Mr Kovak said it does not get as many customers because we 'do not stand out as much'

'Our cafe looked great. It's very sad what they have made us do.

'They just want everything simple.'

One customer told Mail Online: 'What the council have done is a joke. I feel very sorry for them.

'They are just trying their best.'

Council deputy leader and Liberal Democrat Michael Dixey said: 'We were all stung by the national headlines that compared Canterbury to a second-rate Las Vegas a few years ago and we all knew action had to be taken.

'We're really pleased that many of the businesses we targeted in the first phase of this crackdown have responded positively.

'After 18 months, the few who have dragged their feet have now been served with enforcement notices.

'Our message is getting across to business owners who are really engaging with us and are genuinely keen to do the right thing.'

Altering a listed building without permission is a criminal offence, which means offenders can ultimately be fined or jailed.

Another example of business owners facing stiff opposition from councils over the colour of their shop was Christopher Nevill in Kent.

The landlord was threatened with prison time by his local council after giving his 16th century shopfront a pink paint job.

Another example of business owners facing stiff opposition from councils over the colour of their shop was Christopher Nevill in Kent. He was threatened with jail time by his local council for painting 16th century shopfront pink

The Grade II-listed buildings - home to a nail salon and hairdressers (pictured) in Canterbury high street - were flagged as part of a crackdown on 'garish' buildings

He secured permission to repaint a nail salon and hairdressers in Canterbury high street with a lighter shade of pink.

However, after starting work on the shopfront he received a shocking warning in the post.

The Grade II-listed buildings were flagged by Canterbury City Council as part of its crackdown on 'garish' buildings.

Mr Nevill said: 'I received the letter on the very same day I was painting the shops with the colour approved by the council. They told me if you don't do the changes you could go to jail or face an unlimited fine.

'They could have just sent me a nice email asking how the progress of the painting was coming along.

'But they are using a sledgehammer to crack a nut even when there is no nut to crack.'

The city council has been cracking down on 'garish shopfronts' for more than 18 months

Mr Nevill was first contacted by the local authority in 2023, having painted the outside of the properties a new shade of bright salmon without permission two years earlier.

Officials said it was not in keeping with the style of the city centre.

Mr Nevill applied for planning permission to recoat the exterior walls the council-approved colour of 'conch parade pink' and make other requested changes regarding the shops' signage and lighting.

His application was granted last July - giving him until July 24 this year to begin painting.

But over a month before the deadline, he received the enforcement notice warning he could face a huge fine or even a spell behind bars.

He added: 'I think this has been a result of incompetence by the council.

'They need to be brought to heel and not exceed their powers. This has all made me feel intimidated and uncomfortable.'

Shoppers in Canterbury had previously raised concerns that overbearing signs, lights and paintwork are turning the high street into a 'second-class Las Vegas'.

Another example of a battle between a business owner and a council over paint involved a star of BBC's The Apprentice.

Another example of a battle between a business owner and a council over paint involved a star of BBC's The Apprentice. Pictured: Marianne Rawlins in the boardroom on the show

Marianne was told the colour of 'cherished gold' was 'harming' the character of a Grade II-listed building in Stamford, Lincolnshire (pictured)

Marianne said she also had several discussions with officers where they discussed compromises, including making the yellow colour darker. Pictured: Marianne outside the shop before it was repainted gold

Mother-of-two Marianne Rawlins was told the colour of 'cherished gold' on her baby and toddler shop was 'harming' the character of a Grade II-listed building in Stamford, Lincolnshire  previously named Britain's most picturesque town.

The 41-year-old businesswoman, who made it to the final weeks of Lord Sugar's infamously antagonistic reality series in 2019, opened her store in September.

The Tudor building had been empty for over two years when she was handed the keys, prompting her to give it a fresh lick of paint.

But the entrepreneur was left shocked when she was told by the local authority that she may have to change it after the council received just a single complaint.

Because of the history of the building, which originates from the 15th/16th Century, and its place in a conservation area, planning permission should have been sought.

She has now been told to repaint the yellow shop frontage by planning bosses after a retrospective planning application proved unsuccessful.

The 41-year-old was ordered to change the colour of her shop after she painted it gold without planning permission: Pictured: Marianne with her husband Simon

Marianne, who chose the paint from Dulux's heritage range, said she was disappointed by the decision.

She added: 'There is a pink shop and others in the town which are very clearly standing out from the rest which have been approved and accepted.

'I have trouble understanding because some of those are listed buildings too. It seems they have some secret magic I don't know about.'

Marianne said she also had several discussions with officers where they discussed compromises, including making the yellow colour darker.

She added: 'They then came back and said 'actually we don't like the black'. If you look at Tudor-style buildings the majority have black so I don't really understand.'

Lodging objections to the building's new look, the town civic society told planning officers 'the so-called heritage colour has a negative impact'.

Marianne made it to the final weeks of Lord Sugar's infamously antagonistic reality series in 2019

Stamford Town Council added: 'Yellow is not an acceptable colour in the conservation area'.

Planning officers at South Kesteven District Council echoed their views, agreeing that the colour scheme is not appropriate for the listed building.

They said historically it would have been fully rendered in a light colour on both the ground and first floor.

Marianne still plans to appeal against the decision and said she hopes 'reason will prevail' although she is '100 per cent happy' to make compromises.

She claims she was unaware of the complexities surrounding Stamford's conservation until she was sent an enforcement notice last year.

Marianne, who originally spent around 2,000 painting the shop, said: 'I'm a little surprised. I think we have done a great job to preserve the heritage of the building.

'The last thing we want to do is detract from the character - we tried to accentuate it more than anything else.

Marianne said she was 'disappointed' by the council's decision. Pictured: Marianne with her husband Simon and children Theo and Hayley

'It wasn't lost on me that this building may be the one of the oldest buildings in arguably the most historically preserved town in the UK. It's absolutely stunning.

'You have to be careful what you do as it's a listed building, so I was careful.'

Stamford was made the first conservation area in the country in 1967 after a successful campaign by the town's civic society, fueled by concerns about the pace of change and the need to preserve its heritage.

About 25 years later, the Stamford Shopfront Design Guide was drawn up by the planning authority at South Kesteven District Council to ensure the heritage was retained.

The guide has remained unaltered since then and is a crucial document used by planning officers when considering applications.

The rules include a recommendation to use white or neutral colours on slender shopfronts, and a single colour for all the major elements of the design.

However, there is no prescriptive colour chart dictating which shades are allowed.

The maximum penalty for breaking the rules is two years in prison and an unlimited fine.
The first Doraemon-themed high-speed trains between Hong Kong and South China's Guangdong province began service on Saturday, transporting passengers to and from Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou on an immersive journey.

Starting from Saturday till Aug. 18, passengers on board of the themed trains are able to travel in style with decorated cabins featuring cartoon character Doraemon on designated days to and from Hong Kong's West Kowloon Station as well as Guangzhou South, Shenzhen North and Futian stations.

On Saturday, the first themed train, G6582, departed from Hong Kong's West Kowloon Station at 8:23 a.m. for Guangzhou South Station. At 9:43 a.m., the southbound G6581 left Guangzhou South for West Kowloon.

MTR Corporation Ltd. said that the cross-boundary carriages with the manga makeover constitute a grand finale to a series of Doraemon-themed major transport events in Hong Kong this summer, following the Light Rail, the East Rail line and the Airport Express. The train is uniquely designed with more than 50 special Doraemon figures to create an immersive atmosphere, along with other playful decorations and little surprises both in and out of the carriages.

Paul Wong Kah-ming, chief of the MTR Corp's cross-boundary segment, has said that as part of Hong Kong's major events this year, it is hoped that this project can attract more mainland visitors to the city over the summer holidays through upgraded service and enhanced experience, and further boost Hong Kong's tourism sector.
Fixing botched plastic surgeries carried out in Turkey costs the NHS 94 million a year and takes much-needed hospital beds away from patients, a leading plastic surgeon has warned.

NHS consultant Dr Rajan Uppal has said that the government needs to act to deal with the worsening trend of people using Britain's health service as an 'insurance policy' when they head to dodgy clinics overseas.

'There are little old ladies sitting in a corridor while British patients who have had boob jobs overseas and made the choice to go there are filling beds,' he told MailOnline. 'It's just not what the public thinks the NHS is for.'

He and fellow doctors at an NHS Trust in Surrey say they see at least see one Brit with complications every month, as thousands continue to jet off to clinics in Turkey - despite the increased risks posed by cut-price surgeries.

With some Turkish clinics offering cosmetic surgery packages for as little as 3,000, and often 'aggressively' marketing and upselling procedures, Dr Uppal said many are 'preying on poor people who can't afford expensive plastic surgery in the UK.'

Doctors at an NHS Trust in Surrey say they see at least see one Brit with complications every month

An audit by BAAPS last year found 324 Brits have needed medical treatment or corrective surgery after having gone under the knife overseas since 2018, though the real figure is expected to be far higher (stock image)

Explaining his workings regarding the true cost of this to the NHS, he said that if one patient a month requires treatment across each of the more than 900 hospitals in the UK, this would lead to an estimated annual cost of 94m and 58,000 days of lost NHS beds.

'It's a scandal really,' he said. 'If it wasn't a burden on the NHS I wouldn't mind, people are grown ups they can do what they want.'

He added that what he found particularly shocking was the apathy of some patients, who come into NHS hospitals expecting to be looked after, and believe they have saved money in the process.

'Patients don't care, they get through it and think 'that's fine, I've got away with it'.

'They come out of surgery and say 'I'm not bothered I got a deal, they feel they've saved 4,000'. It's like buying a cheap car, if it's broken down it doesn't matter.

'Patients are not stupid, they know it's half the price, they know the surgeon might be cheaper, but they are willing to take the risk.

Dr Uppal said that one solution could be to invoice British patients for treatments, in the same way that people coming from abroad who use NHS services are, if they are coming in for help with cosmetic treatments they chose to have done.

Rhinoplasty expert and NHS consultant surgeon Dr Rajan Uppal

'If you're an overseas patient, if you fly in from India or Nigeria or wherever, and try to get healthcare, you're either not allowed or you get an invoice.

'In my hospital there is a department set up to recoup money from foreign nationals. So that office could do the same thing for patients who have had cosmetic surgery abroad, elective boob jobs and tummy tucks.

He said that as it stands, the NHS is the 'underwriter, the insurance policy, for these patients.'

'And actually, it shouldn't be the insurance insurance they should pay for their own insurance.

'That's why it's it costs 3,000 pounds instead of 6,000 in the UK. Because three grand is in the NHS is the cushion.'

Dr Uppal said he and fellow surgeons appealed to the previous government to tackle the issue, but received an unsatisfactory response.

'Hopefully there will be change under the new government,' he said.

'Before no one seemed to care, but now the NHS is a big focus - the broken NHS - every bed matters and every pound matters.'

An audit by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) last year found 324 Brits have needed medical treatment or corrective surgery after having gone under the knife overseas since 2018, though the real figure is expected to be far higher.

This figure has surged 94 per cent in three years, the organisation claimed, despite doctors repeatedly warning of the dangers of getting surgery at often unregulated clinics overseas.

While plastic surgeons in the UK are generally required to undertake 10-15 years of training to become a specialist, some in Turkey may have trained for as little as three years.

Doctors have shared stories of Turkish surgeries leaving patients with life-threatening infections, implants bursting through the skin and blood clots, among other issues.

The NHS is obliged to treat acute medical situations, with people coming back from abroad often requiring urgent care.

But while the NHS can help people to survive injuries which are life-threatening, they are still often left with life-changing scars or other effects which they have to live with.

BAAPS president Dr Marc Pacifico said that patients' choosing to go to Turkey 'comes with significant consequences, not only for the individuals undergoing surgery overseas but also for the NHS, which often bears the burden of correcting complications upon patients' return to the UK.'

BAAPS has put the average cost to the health service of treating a Brit with issues such as these at about 15,000, with the total bill since 2018 at about 4.8million (stock image)

Another possible way to tackle this and deter people from going in the first place, Dr Pacifico suggested, could be to make cosmetic tourism insurance compulsory, in order to either reimburse the NHS or get private care funded.

BAAPS has put the average cost to the health service of treating a Brit with issues such as these at about 15,000, with the total bill since 2018 at about 4.8million.

This represents the cost of resources like medication and dressings, as well as the time surgeons and other NHS staff must spend on such cases.

While the 15,000 figure is an average, surgeons have previously told this website more serious cases can cost upwards of 100,000 to the taxpayer.

Turkey was the largest source of botched ops, BAAPS figures suggested, though other big surgical destinations for Brits included the Czech Republic and Lithuania.

Almost 80 per cent of Brits who needed corrective ops in 2022 were treated originally in surgical tourism hubs like Istanbul and Ankara.

As many as 6,000 are said to be heading out to the country every year - many of whom are unaware of the risks.

The red flags of getting cosmetic surgery abroad All surgery carries risk, but it is important to do your research before hopping on a plane to get cheap plastic surgery. Although it can cost less than getting surgery in the UK, you need to bear in mind that the safety standards may not be the same. Holiday packages You should be cautious of any website that sell cosmetic surgery as part of a holiday, the NHS warns. Some websites sell the idea of sightseeing alongside hotels with breakfast included. NHS advice adds that if you are looking at holiday packages make sure you have a consultation with a surgeon and don't just meet a salesperson. The health service adds that you should not pay to see a surgeon you have never met. The Royal College of Surgeons of England also echoes the NHS's concerns and advises to not agree to cosmetic surgery before meeting the surgeon and visiting the hospital. UK plastic surgeon Veerle Rotsaert said: 'Travelling long-haul overseas to have surgery done, followed by no proper aftercare, that's where often things go wrong. 'Often third party agencies sell surgery without any surgeon ever seeing the patient in person and having a proper consultation until it is actually surgery day.' Extra costs Many of the surgeries offered overseas in countries such as Turkey are more affordable than private clinics in the UK. However, there could be hidden costs. The Royal College of Surgeons of England urges people to consider the cost for additional flights and hotel stays for future corrective, or touch-up procedures. It also warns patients to consider what might happen overseas if they pay ahead of time but change their mind before the operation as their right to a refund could vary in different countries. Choosing the right surgeon Surgeons and clinics are regulated differently in different countries and standards can vary. Before traveling abroad for surgery the NHS says you should ask if the surgeon is fully trained in the surgery you want and how long they have been practicing for. The surgeon should also be fully insured to carry out the surgery you want, says the Royal College of Surgeons of England. It suggests asking to see details of the surgeons insurance. It is also vital you have a proper consultation with your surgeon before you consent to having the surgery, experts warn. Risks of flying Flying and having major surgery increases your risk of getting a blood clot, which can be life threatening. As a result, the NHS warns people should wait five to seven days to fly after procedures such as breast surgery and liposuction and wait seven to 10 days to fly after facial cosmetic procedures or tummy tucks. However, some surgeons suggest waiting between two to six weeks before flying depending on the procedure. Dr Rotsaert explained: 'This is because first of all, you want patients to stay relatively close to their surgeon in case of any immediate post-op issues.' He added: Secondly because of the deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism risk associated with the act of surgery, it's aftermath, as well as prolonged immobilisation.' Drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol and walking about during your flight can help circulation, but this doesn't completely remove the risk of a blood clot especially having major surgery, the British Association of Plastic Reconstruction and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS). Aftercare Follow up care after your surgery is an important part of your treatment. But traveling abroad can make it more complicated. Before getting surgery outside of the UK consider how long it would take you to travel back to your surgeon if there is a complication, says the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Make sure you have a contact for a named doctor that can deal with any complications, rather than a helpline, experts warn. You need to also make sure the clinic will deal with any problems and that they will help if you are not happy with your outcome. In many cases the NHS will not help you unless you have a serious complication which requires emergency or life-saving support. Source: NHS, BAPRAS and Royal College of Surgeons England. Advertisement
A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a woman walking her dog was found unconscious early in the morning in Suffolk.

Police have released a CCTV picture of the victim, Anita Rose, who remains in a critical condition in hospital having sustained a serious head injury.

Officers were called by the East of England Ambulance Service to reports a woman had been found injured and unconscious on a track near Rectory Lane, Brantham shortly after 8am on Wednesday, the force said.

Ms Rose, 57, had left her house around 5am to take her springer spaniel dog, named Bruce, for a walk.

She was found by a member of the public lying on a track road near the sewage works and railway line around 6.25am, and an ambulance was called.

A new CCTV image issued by police of Anita Rose, who was in a critical condition in hospital after being found with unconscious on a remote country path

Officers on the scene where the dog walker was reportedly attacked on Rectory Lane in Brantham, Suffolk

Police combing the scene where Ms Rose, 57, was discovered

The victim was then taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital.

Suffolk Police released an image of Ms Rose, taken on the morning of the incident from a doorbell camera, in an appeal to trace her mobile phone and a pink zip-up jacket.

Ms Rose was discovered at about 6.30am on Wednesday by a member of the public, who called 999 and tried to assist her.

Her dog had stayed with her while she was unconscious and is said to be safe and unharmed.

A 45-year-old man from the Ipswich area was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of attempted murder and is currently being questioned at a local force investigation centre.

It is not believed by police at this time that the suspect was known to the victim.

Detective Superintendent Mike Brown said: 'We are still looking to establish the exact circumstances leading to this incident, but our initial inquiries are under way, and these will continue over the weekend.

Police on the country track where Ms Rose was discovered on Wednesday at around 6.30am by a member of the public

Police issued a photo of Ms Rose in an appeal to trace her mobile phone and zip-up jacket

'We continue to be extremely grateful for the support the community and the media have given us so far.

'This assistance we receive is absolutely key.'

A presence of officers will likely continue in the area for the next few days with reassurance patrols conducting house-to-house inquiries, searching CCTV footage and continuing ongoing forensic work, Mr Brown said.

Anyone who saw any suspicious behaviour in the area or has any knowledge of the incident that could help police with their inquiries has been asked to contact Suffolk Police, quoting 37/41580/24, or get in touch anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A British holidaymaker is understood to be 'fighting for his life' after a 'freak accident' saw him plummet headfirst into a creek whilst playing with his children.

The 46-year-old is said to be in a 'serious condition' and is currently being treated at the Son Espases hospital in Palma.

The father reportedly fell from a 2-foot wall into a creek near a beach close to his hotel on the Majorcan resort of Camp de Mar.

Paramedics hurried to the man's aid after they were called at around 9pm on Wednesday.

The man was stabilised at the scene following the arrival of police and paramedics, after allegedly taking a hard hit to the head as he toppled.

A British father is understood to be fighting for his life after falling from 2-foot wall into a creek (file image)

The 46-year-old was reportedly playing with his kids near a beach in Palma, Majorca before the 'freak accident' occured

His children were assessed by the medical crew before returning to their mother, according to The Sun.

It is understood doctors have discovered several bruises and welts on the man's body.

According to the publication, it is believed the father was playing with his children near a creek before scaling a wall encompassing the water.

Seconds later, he lost his balance and his head struck the rocks.

MailOnline has approached Son Espases hospital for comment.

This comes after a 25-year-old British tourist was left fighting for his life after falling from the third-floor of a Magaluf apartment block.

The man, who was believed to be aged 25, was rushed to hospital with 'very serious' injuries to his face and head and is in a 'critical condition'.

According to Spanish media, the incident occurred in the Majorca party resort at 6am on April 6.

He fell from a flat block known as the Maria Elena building in a street called Federico Garcia Lorca.

The Majorca Daily Bulletin reported that a neighbour at the apartment building called emergency services to report a man lying on the ground who was bleeding heavily.

Despite the injuries, the man was conscious and was taken to Son Espases Hospital in Palma, the Majorcan capital.

The man was stabilised at the scene following the arrival of police and paramedics, after allegedly taking a hard hit to the head as he toppled

Doctors are also said to have discovered several bruises and welts on the man's body

Three Brits previously lost their lives in quick succession after plunging from the notorious Eden Roc apartment block in Magaluf.

Natalie Cormack, 19, from West Kilbride in Scotland, fell to her death in April 2018 after getting locked out of her flat and attempting to climb onto her balcony.

She was doing her second season in the party resort working in a bar.

In June 2018 Welshman Tom Hughes, 20, died when he fell near the entrance after mistaking the building for his hotel.

The following month Thomas Channon, 18, from Rhoose near Barry, South Wales, plunged to his death from a narrow walkway after climbing a low wall with a 'sheer' 50ft drop the other side as he tried to get back to his nearby hotel during a holiday to celebrate finishing his A-levels.
The proposed tunnel under Stonehenge and new hospitals are set to be axed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as part of her bid to fill a 20 billion 'black hole' in public finances she claims the Tories have left.

Ms Reeves will use a Commons statement tomorrow to announce the 'immediate action' she plans to fix 'broke and broken Britain'.

But the move has been dismissed by the Tories as a device to justify raising taxes, with high-earners likely to take the hit.

Having ruled out hiking income tax and National Insurance during the election campaign, Ms Reeves is expected to concentrate in the short-term on axing infrastructure projects such as new hospitals, with the savings helping to fund the 8 billion cost of a 5.5 per cent pay rise for public sector workers.

Ms Reeves will use a Commons statement tomorrow to announce the 'immediate action' she plans to fix 'broke and broken Britain'

The 1.7 billion Stonehenge road tunnel is among the capital projects inherited by the Government that Ms Reeves has concluded are 'unfunded with unfeasible timelines'

The 1.7 billion Stonehenge road tunnel, which would have moved the notoriously congested A303 under part of the World Heritage Site in Wiltshire, is among the capital projects inherited by the Government that Ms Reeves has concluded are 'unfunded with unfeasible timelines'.

The tunnel was first proposed in 1995 and approved in 2020 but has become mired in legal challenges over possible damage to the historic site.

Immediately after the election Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, wrote to Cabinet colleagues asking them to 'bring out the dead' in terms of problems they had found in their departments.

There was a particular focus on projects which are delayed, badly over budget, poor value for money or which have a high risk of fraud.

Ms Reeves is also expected to commission a forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility and announce the timing of the next Budget.

Sources said she will claim that the Government has inherited 'the most acute housing crisis in living memory', with 'a planning system broken by short term and self-interested decisions that have obstructed the delivery of homes and have put a brake on our economy'.

She will add that record levels of sewage are 'poisoning our rivers, lakes and seas'.

Tories even get the blame for leaving Britain 'one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with a third of our wildlife species at risk of extinction and our beautiful countryside in decline'.

Ms Reeves will add that the NHS will require long-term, fundamental reform.

Ms Reeves is also expected to commission a forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility and announce the timing of the next Budget

Ms Reeves is expected to concentrate in the short-term on axing infrastructure projects such as new hospitals, with the savings helping to fund the 8 billion cost of a 5.5 per cent pay rise for public sector workers

On migration, the sources said Labour has inherited 'record small boats crossings...a damning indictment of a Tory party that lost control of Britain's borders so badly that it put economic and national security at risk'.

On education, the 'alarmingly high rate of severe and persistent absence' will be highlighted.

As part of the 'don't blame us' strategy, the Government will also point to 'hollowed-out' Armed Forces and the 'inefficient' transport network.

Shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: 'Their motive is clear: having promised not to raise taxes 50 times before the election they now need a pretext but trying to scam the British people so soon after being elected is a high-risk strategy doomed to fail.'
NSW Premier Chris Minns says new laws seeking to abolish 'no-grounds' evictions will allow the state's renters 'to build a home and life on surer ground', as historically low vacancy rates continue to worsen.

Announced on Saturday, the laws seek to end the right of rental property owners to choose to end a lease 'at any time or (with) no reason at all', instead having to provide 'commonsense or reasonable reasons'.

The Premier said the changes would allow for 'bad tenants' to still be evicted and to protect property owners from bad behaviour, but would give the state's ballooning population of tenants greater peace of mind.

'Anyone who rents in NSW knows just how anxious and challenging renting can be at the moment,' Mr Minns said.

'We've all seen the lines on a Saturday morning with hundreds of people waiting to inspect new properties.'

'We believe this reform gets the balance right, but importantly, this will give both homeowners and renters more certainty, more peace of mind, so they can build a home and a life on surer ground.'

The NSW government said about 33 per cent of the population were renting, an increase of a whopping 17.6 per cent since 2016. Worse still, median rent price grew by about 7 per cent in the past 12 months.

Under the proposed changes, those renters would be protected from groundless evictions on periodic or fixed term leases. Owners would instead have to prove the tenant was in breach of a lease or had damaged property.

NSW Premier Chris Minns says new laws seeking to abolish 'no-grounds' evictions will allow the state's renters 'to build a home and life on surer ground', as historically low vacancy rates continue to worsen (stock image)

Announced on Saturday, the laws seek to end the right of rental property owners to choose to end a lease 'at any time or (with) no reason at all', instead having to provide 'commonsense or reasonable reasons' (stock image)

Other reasons included where there was a non-payment on rent, if the property was being sold or significantly renovated or repaired, change of use, and if the renter is no longer eligible for an affordable housing program.

Housing and Homelessness Minister for Youth Rose Jackson said the proposed changes, an election promise of current Labor government, would help create a fairer rental system which was 'crucial to rebuilding our housing system.'

'For too long renters have faced an unprecedented amount of uncertainty - making it harder to secure jobs, start families and develop community links,' Ms Jackson said

'Renters who do the right thing - pay their rent, look after the house - should not have to be in a constant limbo with the possibility of an eviction for no reason just around the corner. They deserve more security and ending no grounds evictions is an important first step.'

The NSW government said the changes helped bring the state 'into line with other states' including the ACT, South Australia and Victoria where state governments have already legislated their own models to end no grounds evictions.
A anti-abortion activist from Florida is suing Google alleging the company violated state law by shutting down her account without so much as a warning or chance to save her photos and information.

Trudy Perez-Poveda, 76, who has had a Google account since 2012, said losing access to her account has been akin to returning to a house filled with cherished family mementos, only to find it completely empty without explanation.

Perez-Poveda has now filed suit in Duval County Circuit Court in the hopes of having the ban reversed.

It's believed the lawsuit is the first of its kind in Florida following a Supreme Court decision that lifted an injunction blocking the state's deplatforming law.

When Perez asked for a full explanation as to why her account had been shut down, she was given a bizarre response.

Trudy Perez-Poveda, 76, who has had a Google account since 2012, says the company shut her account down without explanation. She is now suing the company

Perez used her account for various activities, including her volunteer work with a an anti-abortion group called Family For Life. Pictured a Jacksonville abortion clinic

'Due to security reasons we are unable to share the exact policy which was violated,' Google shared.

The lawsuit details how Perez used her account for various activities, including her volunteer work with a group called Family For Life.

This group is described as being for 'persons who pray, counsel and sometimes hold Catholic Mass and Eucharistic processions near abortion clinics.'

Last September, Perez emailed members of the group about a planned Mass outside a Jacksonville abortion clinic, A Woman's Choice.

Within an hour she received a note from Google informing her that her account had been suspended without explanation.

Over the course of ten days Perez went back and forth communicating with Google who had initially mentioned the possibility of restoring her service.

Ultimately she was told her account had been permanently disabled for violating the company's acceptable use policy.

Trudy Perez-Poveda received an email from Google telling her account had been suspended

Google were unable to share the exact reason why her account was suspended

Perez has courted controversy in the past with her anti-abortion stance. She was shoved to the ground by a patient of A Woman's Choice in 2021 after taking her photo without permission

'It felt like coming home to a house, which took me twelve years to furnish with family mementos and treasures, and find[ing] it completely empty without even a note explaining why,' Perez stated in her lawsuit.

When Perez asked for specifics about the violation, she was no closer to finding out what policy she may have violated that led to her being shut down.

Perez believed that she is a victim of censorship and is now receiving legal counsel from the Thomas More Society, a firm known for handling issues related to abortion.

Matt Heffron who works as senior counsel at the Thomas More Society says he is concerned over what appears to be a growing trend of censorship in the U.S.

'There is an ominous growth of censorship in this country,' Matt Heffron, senior counsel at Thomas More, said to Jacksonville.com.

'Large social-media companies act as a 'digital public square,' and play a central role in the debate of ideas. Our case  is part of the urgent and overdue pushback against this rising tide of censorship,' Heffron explained.

Your browser does not support iframes.

'Nobody should be treated the way Google treated Trudy Perez.'

Heffron notes that although Google has not explained itself or suggested its actions were directly related to abortion or religious issues, it is a reasonable assumption given the context.

Heffron also says the company is required to give an explanation for is suspension of Perez. So far, Google has not responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

Perez, meanwhile, has courted controversy in the past with her anti-abortion stance.

She was shoved to the ground by a 19-year-old patient of A Woman's Choice in 2021 after taking her photo without permission.

The teen was charged with battery on a person over 65 following the incident.
The Government is sending severely mentally ill patients 'from pillar to post' for vital drugs because pharmacists are not allowed to write prescriptions, says the top UK chemists group.

An antipsychotic drug for patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder is in short supply.

And health officials expect the tablet, quetiapine, which is also given to people with depression, to be missing from pharmacy shelves until September.

It is just one of dozens of crucial medicines that have been hard to access since the Covid pandemic, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), antibiotics and inhalers.

Research suggests that more than half of patients have struggled to have their prescriptions met over the past year.

More than 50 per cent of patients have struggled to get their hands on prescriptions in the past year (Stock Image)

Drugs such as quetiapine are in short supply and expecting to be missing from pharmacy shelves (Stock Image)

Under current law, pharmacists can provide their patients with alternative medicine only if the Government has issued a specific exemption for that drug  known as a severe shortage protocol.

But, according to experts, the protocols are issued well after the shortages have begun  meaning pharmacists have to wait weeks, or even months, before they can offer patients alternative drugs.

Now the National Pharmacy Association is urging the Government to end the severe shortage protocol system and allow chemists to decide for themselves when to provide new prescriptions.

'Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare practitioners who should be permitted to use their professional judgment to supply an appropriate alternative medicine in the event of the prescribed version being unavailable,' says Nick Kaye, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association.

'It's crazy to send patients from pillar to post in pursuit of vital medicines when the answer may be right there in the pharmacy.'

While shortages have largely been triggered by increased global demand and manufacturing issues, experts say it is within Government power to ease the crisis.

That is why The Mail on Sunday has launched its End The Drug Shortage Nightmare campaign.

This newspaper is calling on the Government to give pharmacists the power to make substitutions for patients when drugs are out of stock and to force manufacturers to give advance warning of known shortages or face fines.

We also believe there should be a database for patients to check which pharmacies have drugs in stock  and we say all NHS patients should be allowed to use well-stocked hospital pharmacies to source critical medicines.

Since 2022, the Government has been forced to intervene to issue 50 severe shortage protocols  triple the number published in the two years before that.

While some only lasted for weeks, many extended for months and some for more than a year.

The National Pharmacy Association is also urging the Government to take several other measures to tackle the drug shortage crisis.

'To fix this for the long term, the Health Secretary should instigate an end-to-end review of the medicines supply chain to ensure it's fit for the future,' says Mr Kaye.

'Also, we urge the new Government to appoint a Medicine Shortages Tsar to use this opportunity to bring all the relevant bodies together to tackle this growing, complex crisis once and for all.'

Mail on Sunday is calling on the Government to give pharmacists the power to make substitutions for patients when drugs are out of stock (Stock Image)

The Mail on Sunday has repeatedly asked the new Government about its plans to end the drug shortage crisis. However, MP Karin Smyth (pictured), the Minister responsible for drug shortages, has so far not responded

The Mail on Sunday has repeatedly asked the new Government about its plans to end the drug shortage crisis.

However, MP Karin Smyth, the Minister responsible for drug shortages, has so far not responded.

Instead, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'While current serious shortage protocols allow pharmacists to supply alternative medicines, we are committed to cutting the red tape and to better use the skills of pharmacists.

'That includes making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists.'
The Barefoot Investor has warned a couple who claimed they made $11,000 in profit through a high-risk investment that they have been scammed.

Scott Pape, 46, said the couple should stop investing in the Ponzi scheme after a man wrote to him to share the story of their newfound wealth.

Rick said the couple started trading Contracts For Difference (CFDs) online with a company and began by making an initial $500 investment.

CFDs are a contract between an investor and a CFD provider that allows the investor to predict the value or price movement of a financial asset like shares.

Rick said in a letter published in the Herald Sun they made around $11,400 in profit in just four months after speaking to a broker in Switzerland for a few times a week.

'We have done a withdrawal of $100 to see if we have ready access to the money, and it came through with no problems at all,' he said.

Rick said their broker has since asked the couple to boost their earnings by investing a massive $152,509, which is equal to US$100,000.

'We dont have that kind of money, so he has suggested we set up an SMSF (self-managed super fund) and invest some of our super,' he said.

Scott Pape (pictured) has warned a couple, who claimed they made $11,400 in profit after they started trading Contracts For Difference (CFDs) online, that the investment is a scam

Mr Pape urged the couple to stop investing in the scheme that is designed to steal people's money.

'Somewhere  your name is written on a whiteboard,' Mr Pape wrote.

'These scammers have got you on the hookand now theyre attempting to reel you in'.

Mr Pape said scammers use these types of investments to target superannuation savings that Aussies have worked hard to save.

He pleaded for Rick to contact IDcare, which is Australia and New Zealand's national cyber support service, to protect their identity from scammers.

Investors, who trade CFDs, do not own the financial assets such as shares, stocks and cryptocurrencies they buy or sell.

Mr Pape said scammers use these types of investments to target superannuation savings that Aussies have worked hard to save (stock image)

CFD contracts are legally binding and investors will lose their money if the financial market they are betting on goes against them.

Investors must also pay transaction costs and other fees to a CFD provider when they are purchasing a CFD contract.

Australian's lost more than $2.7billion to scams in 2023 according to a report by the ACCC.

Investment scams claimed the most funds with Aussies losing more than $1.3billion.
Grimes' mom has issued a heartfelt plea to Elon Musk to allow the couple's son to visit his dying great grandmother.

Sandy Garossino tagged Musk in a series of posts begging him to return X, four, to Canada, as the father and son were seen enjoying the Paris Olympics.

Garossino stated that her 93-year-old mother is at end of life care and that her dying wish is to see the youngster and his siblings.

She claimed that X was supposed to be with Grimes, real name Claire Boucher, but that he was whisked away to France by Musk.

'As you know, my 93 year old mother is now at end-of-life palliative care,' Garossino wrote. 'She yearns to see and hold Claires children one last time.

Grimes' mom has issued a heartfelt plea to Elon Musk to allow the couple's son to visit his dying great grandmother. Pictured: The couple debuting their relationship at the 2018 Met Gala

'Especially the youngest, whom she has not yet met. She was thrilled for the kids planned visit to celebrate her birthday this weekend. Today. But those hopes were crushed when the trip was canceled.'

She also claimed the tech mogul has been withholding her grandson's passport.

Musk was spotted partying with X in the crowd at the Olympics on Friday. He shares three children with Grimes.

But Garossino expressed alarm over the location of her other grandchildren.

'Where are the other children, and with whom? They are scheduled to be with their mother. They were expected here in Canada,' she added.

'I write with a grandmothers plea, asking you to honor your agreement, return the children, and provide the documents they need to see their great grandmother before she passes.

Grimes' mom tagged Musk in a series of posts begging him to return X, four, to Canada as the father and son were seen enjoying the Paris Olympics

Sandy Garossino also accused Musk of withholding his son's passport and travel documents

The ex-couple share three children together including X pictured here during his infancy

Garossino took to X to publicly beg Musk on behalf of her mom who she said 'yearns' to see her great-grandchildren

'Please Elon, I beg you. This is so painful for my mother, and concerning for the kids. Time is of the essence now.'

Her pleas were reposted by Grimes, who has been locked in a bitter custody battle over their children since September 2023, when Musk sued his ex-partner in to 'establish the parent-child relationship'.

The couple first got together in 2018 and had an on-and-off relationship until 2022.

Amid the turmoil, Grimes also took to X to beg the Tesla boss to let him see her son, replying to a post by his biographer Walter Isaacson urging him to get Musk to contact her lawyer.

She also targeted the mother of three of Musk's other children, Shivon Zilis, in a post that was later deleted.

Musk has 12 children by three different women, including a transgender daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson, 20, who recently slammed her father for his comments about her transition.

Musk told psychologist and author Jordan Peterson that his son 'died' and that he was 'was essentially tricked into signing documents' to authorize the transition'.

Garossin oclaimed that X was supposed to be with Grimes, real name Claire Boucher, but that he was whisked away to France by Musk. Pictured: Musk and X tour a Tesla plant in Austin, Texas in 2023

Grimes has previously accused Musk of withholding contact with her son. Pictured: Musk and X in 2023

Grimes (pictured with X in Portofino in July 2023 ) begged Musk to let her see her son in a now-deleted post aimed at his current partner Shivon Zilis

Sandy Garossino with her dying mother pictured on Facetime with her great-grandchildren in May

He also claimed that Vivian was 'slightly autistic' and 'born gay', statements she refuted.

Vivian slammed her father stating, 'I look pretty good for a dead b***h'.

She has been vocally supported by Grimes who took to X saying: 'I love and am forever endlessly proud of Vivian'.

She debuted her new relationship with techno artist Anyma in a post to her Instagram earlier this year.
A young man who fell at work and thought he had pulled a hamstring was left stunned after learning his pain was caused by a rare form of cancer.

Nic Cahoon, 25, from Maryborough in Victoria, was working in his printing job when he fell and hurt his thigh in June 2023.

Dismissing the injury at first, he became concerned when his leg was still sore two weeks later, prompting him to make a doctor's appointment, Yahoo reported.

Mr Cahoon underwent numerous blood tests and scans, with doctors soon suspecting bone cancer.

After a bone biopsy was performed on the printer's hip, Mr Cahoon's results were shocking - he had stage one chondrosarcoma.

The 25-year-old had an eight-hour surgery just months later to remove the cancer and soon had to learn to walk again.

The husband first used a wheelchair then crutches before he made a full recovery and could walk unaided once more.

Mr Cahoon 'felt lucky' the cancer was caught in time, giving him the best chance for a full recovery as the growths had not spread and all were removed in surgery.

Nic Cahoon, 25, (pictured right) fell over on a work shift and sought medical attention when his thigh was still hurting two weeks later in June 2023

The young printer (pictured) was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer had had to undergo an eight-hour surgery and then had to learn to walk again

The relieved printer was excited to get back to work in May - nearly 12 months after his initial fall.

But tragically, at a routine medical appointment just one month later in June, Mr Cahoon's doctors recommended further testing.

He and his wife Jayde were given the heartbreaking news that three more pieces of a tumour had been detected, but this time they were deeper in his pelvis.

The bone cancer Mr Cahoon had was now considered even rarer - chondrosarcoma in the soft tissue - which is resistant to treatment methods.

But in one silver lining, the 25-year-old is a candidate for a radiation and chemotherapy trial to be held over 10 weeks in Sydney, with possibly part of it held in Melbourne, depending on how he responds to the treatment.

Family member Michaela said Mr Cahoon is 'nervous' but 'looking forward' to the treatment.

'He has hopes that this experimental treatment will be effective,' she said.

'He is so thankful for all the support he has received from his family and friends during his initial diagnosis and treatment, and the support they continue to show him through the fight.'

Michaela said as the trial is experimental there hasn't been a start time given yet, but it should be 'within the next month or so'.

After a routine medical appointment a year later, doctors told Mr Cahoon (pictured right) that more tumours were present and his cancer was even rarer than first thought

The family member said Mr Cahoon and his wife are a 'hardworking couple' and everyone had been 'impressed' at his strength.

'Nic is the first to crack a joke, and so generous, he would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it,' she said.

'We have been so impressed with his spirit and determination to fight for his health, the journey of learning how to walk again showed real strength.'

Michaela said that the although the cancer Mr Cahoon has is usually resistant to chemotherapy and radiation, there was hope the new trial would be effective.

The survival rates for chondrosarcoma can vary and depends on factors such as the behaviour of the tumour, the patient's age and the stage they were diagnosed at.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help pay for the couple's travel expenses and ongoing costs.
Keir Starmer did not rule out an agreement between Spain and the UK for the free movement of young people - in the latest move to spark fears that Labour is preparing to forge closer ties with the EU.

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez is said to have discussed the possibility of continental youths living in Britain during private talks at Blenheim Palace earlier this month.

And Starmer is said to have agreed to consider it, The Telegraph reports - despite rejecting an EU youth mobility that was suggested by Brussels in April.

The idea has been slammed by Tory opposition, with former Home and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly - a front-running candidate to be the next Conservative leader - telling the broadsheet that it was another 'betrayal' by the Labour leader.

He said: 'Labour said they wanted to bring migration down and ruled out a Youth Mobility Scheme with the EU during the election. Surprise surprise, the U-turn has started already.

Starmer is said to have agreed to consider plans for a youth mobility scheme - despite rejecting an EU youth mobility that was suggested by Brussels in April

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez is said to have discussed the possibility of continental youths living in Britain during private talks at Blenheim Palace earlier this month

'As we have already seen ministers advocating relaxing visa rules, this should not shock anybody. But the British people have been betrayed once again by Starmer.'

The plan would have enabled people between 18 and 30 to travel between the UK and the mainland to live and study - something the Tories and Labour both rejected.

They even pledged in their manifesto that there would be 'no return' to 'freedom of movement', with a spokesperson for the party adding that there were 'no plans for a youth mobility scheme'.

But the move is said to be aligned with Labour's key objective after winning the election - establishing economic growth.

A bilateral deal with Spain would not necessarily break their manifesto promises and the suggestion comes shortly after Germany suggested the idea could help the UK to renegotiate our Brexit deal.

The country's ambassador, Miguel Berger, told Politico a similar scheme would be an idea that is 'in the common interest', and could be included in a new treaty.

The government has played down the idea, with a spokesperson telling The Telegraph: 'We have been clear that we won't rejoin the single market, customs union or reintroduce freedom of movement, and we are not considering a youth mobility scheme.'

A senior source added that he may just have been being polite as he met the world leader for the first time.
A mysterious note was found in the pocket of a grandmother who executed her son's ex-wife as she was loading her baby into a car before turning the gun on herself.

Kathleen Leigh, 65, fatally shot her former daughter-in-law Marisa Galloway, 45 in New York City amid a bitter custody dispute, police said.

Galloway was placing one of her daughters, aged one, into her vehicle during a custody swap when Leigh shot her in the head and back before taking her own life.

Now it has emerged that Leigh, who was terminally ill, was carrying a note which read 'For Police', the New York Post reports.

The contents of the note were not immediately made clear.

A mysterious note was found in the pocket of a grandmother who executed her son's ex-wife Marisa Galloway (pictured) as she was loading her baby into a car before turning the gun on herself.

Galloway has been battling for custody of her four-year-old child with Leigh's son, the father of the child, since 2021. The one-year-old has a different father.

The late mother had a history of domestic violence disputes with her partner related to the custody battle, said NYPD's chief of detectives Joseph Kenny.

Five reports and two complaints had been filed with the NYPD between July 2021 and November, but no arrests were made.

Leigh was pronounced dead at the scene. Galloway was rushed to the hospital, where life saving efforts were made, but she ultimately succumbed to her wounds.

Two guns were recovered at the crime scene - a 9-millimeter gun from the sidewalk and another gun in the tote bag leigh had on her. Police are trying to confirm whether or not Leigh had owned the firearms during her time as a probation officer.

Her family have since paid tribute to Galloway, saying her 'kindness, generosity, and love were unparalleled'.

'She devoted her whole life to her two beautiful daughters, Lili and Mariel...they were her world,' a statement on a GoFundMe states.

Galloway, 45, (pictured) was loading her one-year-old child into a car seat in the back of a parked car when her ex mother-in-law, Kathleen Leigh, 65, shot her in the head. She then killed herself by shooting herself in the head

Galloway has been battling custody of her four-year-old child with Kathleen's son, the father of the child, since 2021. The one year old does not belong to Leigh's son

'Marisa's untimely passing will leave a void in all of our lives. But her memory will live on in her daughters and in all of our hearts. '

Police were called to the apartment, located steps away from Mayor Adam's residence, the Gracie Mansion, in the Yorkville - a neighborhood that has a reputation for being generally safe and quiet - just before 9 am.

The 911 caller reported hearing three gunshots, then looking out the window to see two women lying on the ground in a pool of their own blood.

First responders said Galloway was still breathing when they arrived, but was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Leigh was a retired probation officer from Chicago, and had moved in with her son in their Upper East Side apartment three years ago.

Sources told the New York Post that Leigh had terminal cancer and had been undergoing treatment while living with her son in his doorman building.

The neighbors have been in the know about Galloway and Leigh's ongoing feud.

'She always talked about the fact that she had a former [partner] that was harassing the hell out of her because I had child services at my door one evening asking if I had ever heard any problems next door,' said Galloway's neighbor Meryl Feidelman.

Galloway has been battling custody of her four-year-old child with Kathleen's son, the father of the child, since 2021. The one year old does not belong to Leigh's son

The late mother had a history of domestic violence disputes with her former partner related to the custody battle, said NYPD's chief of detectives Joseph Kenny. Pictured: A gun recovered at the scene

Five reports and two complaints had been filed with the NYPD between July 2021 and November, but no arrests were made. Leigh was pronounced dead at the scene

'I said, 'No, no she's a lovely, lovely mother, a lovely woman.'

Leigh allegedly believed Galloway to be abusive, as several of the reports included complaints from the four-year-old's father, claiming that his daughter would arrive home with bruises on her arm, but investigators found the accusations unfounded.

But residents in the building suggest otherwise, as a neighbor told the New York Post that the mother showed no signs of a cancer diagnosis, and often told others in the building that she thought Galloway was an abuser.

'She used to say things to me like the mother is abusing the child,' the neighbor said, 'which I don't think there was any evidence of that.'

'But I know she did not like the ex-daughter-in-law.'

Her family have since paid tribute to Galloway, saying her 'kindness, generosity, and love were unparalleled'

Sources told the New York Post that the father had custody Friday through Monday, while Galloway had their daughter Tuesday through Thursday.

NYPD investigators reportedly entered the apartment and walked out with a cardboard box of items.

The investigation is still ongoing. No arrests have been made.
A tradie has issued a warning for motorists after he was pulled over by the cops and asked about a missing gear shift sticker.

Nathan Swenson, who works as a carpenter, was driving his Toyota Hilux ute when he was asked to stop for a random breath test in Brisbane last Wednesday.

Mr Swenson uploaded a video to Tiktok last week to describe the confusing moment an officer asked him about the sticker after he didn't see it on the gear knob.

'He's walking around the luxy, comes back to the car... looks inside and says 'where's you're H-sticker?'

'I was like, 'brother what is a H sticker?'

The officer explained he was referring to the sticker that displays the shift pattern on the knob of the gear stick.

The stickers are often found on the top of gear shifts inside manual transmission vehicles to indicate the different gear movements.

The shift pattern is shaped like the letter H, which is how the sticker got its name.

Nathan Swenson (pictured) was stunned when the cops pulled him over in Brisbane last week for a random breath test and asked him about the sticker

Mr Swenson then pointed to the sticker, which was stuck to the console in between the driver's seat before he was allowed to drive off.

He urged motorists to make sure their vehicle complies with all the road rules.

'Keep you car as legal as you can...they even pick you for that small stuff,' he said.

'I was going to take that sticker off when I got the car and I was like no I'm going to leave it there because I know one day... [they're] going to pin me for that'.

Hundreds of commenters expressed their shock after Mr Swenson was questioned about the minor detail.

'Crazy what they can get you for these days,' one person wrote.

'You are the second person recently I've seen them pick on that. I've never heard of that ever,' another person wrote.

'Going to have to get a sticker then. Havent had a knob with the shift pattern for nearly a year now,' a third added.

Police asked Mr Swenson where the sticker was before he pointed to the item, which was stuck to a console in between the driver's seat (stock image)

The encounter fueled speculation about whether it is illegal to not have the appropriate sticker on the gear stick.

A Queensland Police spokesman told Yahoo it is no longer an offence if the sticker is missing from the gear stick.

A police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia they are committed to enforcing road safety ruled to ensure motorists travel safely on roads.

'QPS Officers have the discretion to conduct and issue vehicle defect notices if a vehicle or part of a vehicle does not comply with vehicle standards,' the spokesman said.

'If an officer finds a vehicle to be defective, they may issue a defect notice and/or an on-the-spot fine'.

The stickers (pictured) are often found on the top of gear shifts inside manual transmission vehicles to indicate the different gear movements

A Queensland Transport and Main Roads Department spokesman said the sticker does not need to be displayed.

'In Queensland, it is not illegal for the sticker on a manual vehicles gear stick to be missing; there is no requirement that any sticker be present,' the spokesman said.

Australian Design Rules, which are a set of government issued vehicle safety regulations, do require gear shifts to be marked.

The stickers can be purchased at major auto parts retailers including Repco and Supercheap Auto.
Donald Trump has defended a 'brave' female Secret Service agent who 'shielded' him during his attempted assassination after she was attacked by online trolls.

The former president praised the female agent and said she 'wanted to take a bullet' under fire after critics suggested that women were not qualified for such positions.

Trump managed to survive the attempt on his life during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania and was quickly bundled off stage by the Secret Service.

But many commentators seized on failures leading up to the moment and raised concerns about women's physicality and professionalism in such situations.

'There wasn't one that was slow, a woman that was on my right, a beautiful person,' Trump told the crowd at a rally in St Cloud, Minnesota on Saturday.

Donald Trump has defended a 'brave' female Secret Service agent who 'shielded' him during his attempted assassination after she was attacked by online trolls

Trump managed to survive the attempt on his life during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania and was quickly bundled off stage by the Secret Service agents including a woman who came was criticized for 'not being tall enough' to protect the former president

'She was shielding me with everything she could and she got criticized by the fake news because she wasn't tall enough.

'She was so brave, she was shielding me with everything, she wanted to take a bullet.'

The Republican nominee decided to respond after criticism from pundits, lawmakers and high profile donors.

'There should not be any women in the Secret Service,' Daily Wire show host Matt Walsh posted on X.

'These are supposed to be the very best, and none of the very best at this job are women.'

'Having a small person as body cover for a large man is like an undersized Speedo at the beach  doesn't cover the subject,' X owner Elon Musk, said. 'Could be a man or a woman, to be clear, just needs to be large enough to do the job.'

The former president praised the female agent and said she 'wanted to take a bullet' after critics suggested that women were not qualified for such positions

Right wing commentators seized on failures leading up to the moment and raised concerns about women's physicality and professionalism in active shooter situations

Edited videos, which have racked up millions of views online, showed one female Secret Service agent struggling to holster her gun in the aftermath only reinforced the comments.

Sexist remarks were also made about former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, with many suggesting she was only hired to meet diversity, equality and inclusion targets.

Cheatle resigned in the wake of the massive security breaches which allowed gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks to open fire on the July 13 rally, despite being identified as a suspicious person in the hours before.

She was chased down by Senators at the GOP National Convention by furious lawmakers demanding answers.

'DEI results in D-I-E,' Rep. Cory Mills told Fox News. 'We have to understand this is about meritocracy. This is not about a quota.'

The Secret Service is around 25 percent female, employing around 2,000 women.

Former agent Melanie Burkholder told NewsNation that all candidates are subjected to the same rigorous testing.

Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi also hit back at the sexist analysis.

This 2021 photo provided by Bethel Park School District shows gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks

Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle was the target of unfounded sexist speculation she was only hired to meet diversity targets

'It is an insult to the women of our agency to imply that they are unqualified based on gender. Such baseless assertions undermine the professionalism, dedication and expertise of our workforce,' said in a statement to CNN.

'Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion ensures that we attract the best talent, fostering a robust and effective team that reflects the society we serve.

'We stand united against any attempt to discredit our personnel and their invaluable contributions to our mission and are appalled by the disparaging and disgusting comments against any of our personnel.'

However, the agency has found itself under intense scrutiny in the wake of the shooting and a catalogue of failures which allowed Crooks to proceed unchallenged to the rooftop where he shot at Trump.

While the former president escaped, firefighter Corey Comperatore, 50, was killed while trying to shield his family from the bullets.

It has since emerged that Crooks was spotted lurking hours before the rally, with concerned attendees flagging his presence to law enforcement.

The Secret Service has found itself under intense scrutiny in the wake of the shooting and a catalogue of failures which allowed Crooks to proceed unchallenged to the rooftop where he shot at Trump

It took approaching 30 minutes for those meant to be protecting the former president to notice that his would-be murderer had climbed a roof and got into a position just 100 feet from Donald Trump was speaking

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.'

But despite the speed of the reaction - questions remain over the initial response.

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.

Butler County Sheriff Michael 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.

The roof would have been identified as a potential security risk and so should have been swept, according to experts.
Texans living in million dollar homes got that sinking feeling on Saturday after the ground suddenly collapsed in the middle of their gated community.

Ground in a courtyard area of a Houston development known as Memorial Green suddenly appeared to give way.

Photos from the Houston Fire Department show a grassy area and nearby sidewalk subside about 10 feet during the collapse which appeared to happen without warning.

The ground shifted at about 8:30am and lead to the evacuation of eight homes surrounding the landscaped plaza of the condo community. Nobody was injured.

Ground in a courtyard area of a luxury Houston development known as Memorial Green suddenly appeared to give way on Saturday morning

The ground shifted at about 8:30am leading to the evacuation of eight homes surrounding the landscaped plaza of the condo community

Photos from the Houston Fire Department show a grassy area and nearby sidewalk subsided about 10 feet in the collapse which appeared sudden

Fire officials suggested that persistent rain might have contributed to the incident.

Building engineers were on the scene assessing the damage late on Saturday afternoon.

'That's a big hole. That's a really big hole,' shocked resident Rick Mckee said to ABC13.

Houston Fire Department Captain Beau Moreno explained how a cistern held flood water in the area.

Following a huge amount of rain in the Houston area Moreno said that it appeared the cistern suffered a catastrophic failure.

'It's not a sinkhole,' Moreno explained. 'This is definitely a man-made structure under the ground designed to hold flood water in this area.'

The Houston Fire Department said following a huge amount of rain in the area a cistern had a catastrophic failure

Built in 2016, Memorial Green, features luxury urban homes with prices starting at $1.2 million

Seeing as the ground collapse happened on private property, Houston Public Works has said the community will be responsible for the repairs.

Built in 2016, Memorial Green, features luxury urban homes and includes 91 single-family homes, community parks, together with office and retail spaces spread over 14 acres. Prices for the homes start at $1.2 million.

The closest structures around the area where the collapse occurred are described as three-story homes with 'beautiful exterior elevations, first-floor living, wood floors throughout,' and park views.
A man was horrified after he discovered his ex posted false information about him on a private Facebook group designed to keep women safe from dangerous men.

The woman, who had a restraining order against her, made the false accusations against her former partner on the 'Sis Is This Your Man?' Facebook page.

The group was created to warn women about potentially dangerous men, who caused harm to other women as a solution to the lack of security on dating sites.

The admin of the page known only as Maro Kovo said the page has previously been targeted by people intending to seek revenge against a former partner.

'We had one guy whose ex was posting him on multiple social media sites. She posted him in our group asking if anyone had any info about him,' Ms Kovo said.

'She jumped in the comment section and accused him of a bunch of stuff'.

'He saw my name and reached out. He showed me he had a domestic violence restraining order out on the lady'.

Ms Kovo said she asked for proof about the allegations if the woman wanted the comment to stay up on the page.

An Aussie man was shocked after his ex made false accusations against him on a Facebook group created to warn women about dangerous and violent men (stock image)

'We helped him get posts taken down in all different groups. It is not a man hating page like some people think it is.'

Ms Kovo said admins do their best to try and make sure the group, which is used by more than 16,000 women across Australia, is not used for revenge purposes.

'Every single post must first be screened and checked by the admin team to reduce the likelihood of revenge posts.'

Ms Kovo said several men had reached out to them [group admins] because false information had been posted about them.

The risk of defamation from people posting false information or a person's reputation being damaged is significant.

The administrators of the page work with lawyers to help them navigate any legal risks to avoid being sued, but there are 'rogue' sites that don't.

'We have friends who are lawyers who help us if we have questions and try to run the group as legitimately as we can,' she said.

'Our team is made up of researchers in psychology, counsellors, family and domestic violence support workers and registered nurses'.

One of the admins of the Facebook group said the page has been targeted by users, who intend to seek revenge against a person from a prior relationships (stock image)

Having worked with victims of family and domestic violence, Ms Kovo knows too well the horrors some women face every day.

Figures by leading domestic violence organisation Our Watch, shows two in five women in Australia have experienced violence since the age of 15.

On average, one woman is killed by a current or former partner every nine days in Australia.

Thousands of social media groups have popped up all over Australia to warn women about potentially dangerous men.

Convicted perpetrators, criminals and paedophiles can join popular dating apps and can connect with women, who have no idea about their prior convictions.

'This is why these groups exist, so we can help protect one another as much as we can,' Mr Kovo said.

Ms Kovo spoke about an incident where a man on Tinder was a convicted paedophile and their prospective partner asked if anyone had any information about him.

Another person posted a link to a newspaper article that identified the man and his crimes much to the horror of the woman he was dating, who had children.

'All these dating sites do not offer women protection, and women are desperate to protect themselves,' Ms Kovo said.

Thousands of social media groups have popped up all over Australia to warn women about potentially dangerous men (stock image)

Ms Kovo has seen the horrific realities that some women have lived with.

Many women have sent in 'disturbing material' of sexual assaults, animal abuse, psychical abuse and psychological abuse.

'This is how we confirm what to post and what not to post,' Ms Kovo said.

'It is not the type of thing to run if you do not have experience, because it can be confronting. Even though I work with it daily, it does affect you.'
An inmate at a New York City prison was stabbed 44 times by MS-13 gang members in a horrifying attack which has spotlighted conditions at the notorious jail.

Shocking video obtained by NY Daily News shows the brutal frenzy unfolding at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center in April.

The agonizing attack goes on for 37 seconds before a single corrections officer runs over to intervene.

The victim survived, but his ordeal is being used as evidence of the nightmarish conditions at the jail which lawyers, judges and inmates including sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell have complained about.

The clip shows him sat at a table in the communal area when one of the gang members sidles up and pulls something out of his waistband.

An inmate at a New York City prison was stabbed 44 times by MS-13 gang members in a horrifying attack which has spotlighted conditions at the notorious jail

The attacker, believed to be violent offender Luis 'Inquieto' Rivas, draws back his arm and plunges it into the victim.

As he begins writhing in pain, two other suspects come over to help hold him down and begin sinking their own weapons in.

They pull the victim from his chair and throw him to the ground, all the while furiously stabbing him all over.

The victim continues squirming along the floor as the blows continue to rain down.

Eventually, a lone corrections officer runs over and the group of attackers flee the scene.

Meanwhile, the victim manages to get up and stagger out of the frame leaving splashes of blood on the ground.

Shortly after another officer appears in the frame with his baton raised and begins chasing one of the inmates.

More staff arrive on the scene and eventually one of the suspects is seen being led away in handcuffs.

The brutal frenzy unfolded at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center in April

Rivas, the chief suspect, is currently serving a 35-year sentence for the decapitation of a 16-year-old boy who refused to execute a friend at his gang boss' order.

Rivas was given an additional five years in jail for stabbing a rival gang member at the now shuttered Manhattan Detention Complex, where Jeffrey Epstein was housed prior to his suicide.

Prison guards found two shivs on him and one of the other attackers, one five and half inches long and another which was ten and a half inches.

No additional charges have been filed yet over this latest prison stabbing, but Rivas is facing internal disciplinary action.

MS-13 is an international criminal gang which was founded in Los Angeles by Salvadoran immigrants who came to the US in order to escape the civil war in their home country, according to the DOJ.

The attack at the prison is the latest in a long line of incidents which have prompted complaints about conditions.

One instance saw staff sit on a patient's CT scans which indicated he had cancer, resulting in the mass in his lungs to double in size while awaiting treatment.

Last year, a report indicated that 44 percent of correction officer positions were unfilled.

The Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York

'I've been around for decades. The conditions at the MDC are the worst that I've ever seen,' defense attorney Anthony Ricco told NY Daily News. 'What we're seeing is really a complete breakdown of professionalism at this facility.'

Emery Nelson, a spokesperson for the federal Bureau of Prisons, said the agency has assigned an 'an executive-level after action team' to review the stabbing, and the murders in June and July.

'The assigned team includes high-level supervisory employees external to Brooklyn to review all aspects of the incidents and provide a detailed report for corrective actions to be considered,' he said.
A mother from New York was shocked to find her daughter's Burger King meal was splattered with blood.

The stomach-turning incident occurred at a branch of the popular fast food chain located in Getzville, in the western part of the state.

Everything appeared normal until Tiffany Floyd handed her four-year-old girl, Tay, her kids meal consisting of a burger and fries.

The youngster had requested her food to come without ketchup so was surprised to find her instructions had been ignored.

A mother from New York was shocked to find her daughter's Burger King meal was splattered with blood

Tiffany Floyd handed her four-year-old girl, Tay, her kids meal consisting of a burger and fries but it was covered splattered with blood

It was when her mother took a closer look, she found to her horror the red splashes on her food were not in fact tomato sauce, but blood.

Upon calling the restaurant, the manager appeared to give a logical explanation as he informed Floyd that a cook had cut his hand earlier in the day.

Floyd recounted the entire incident calmly in a short clip posted to TikTok.

'I gave her the bag to eat the food and I heard 'Mom I don't want ketchup', so I take the bag back thinking they've messed up our order and I look and see there is blood all over her bag, the hamburger, the toy, her fries, everything,' Floyd said, while wearing plastic gloves.

'I instantly told her to spit out her food. She did have fries and a bit of her hamburger. And then I looked at my meal, and there was blood on mine too,' she went on.

Tiffany Floyd posted a video to TikTok which has received almost 3 million views

Floyd showed off the blood splattered items including the wrapper to her kids' burger

'I called Burger King and the manager told me that somebody cut his hand and that if I came back he would give me a refund.

'I reached out to our local health department and they filed a report but there's not much more they can do,' Floyd explained while maintaining her composure.

In the video, which has received almost 3 million views, Floyd revealed how her daughter must now undergo monthly blood tests for an entire year to ensure she has not picked up any kind of bloodborne illness.

The Niagara County Department of Health also confirmed that it called the Burger King location and had the manager confirm he had a worker cut their finger but 'didn't think they were bleeding that bad,' Floyd recalled.

'This is a serious issue and now I have to wait a whole month to get my daughter tested for any blood issues.'

Floyd appeared far more angry on Facebook in which she described herself as 'LIVID' at the cavalier way in which Burger King had treated the incident.

Blood splatter can clearly be seen on the wrapper to this kids cheeseburger

Other food items were covered in splashed of blood including the fries

Those commenting online suggested Floyd quickly make plans to sue the restaurant following the incident.

'Contact an attorney - minimally they'll get you a settlement to offset any medical testing costs etc. (also emotional distress) don't engage with Burger King further, attorney first,' suggested one.

'That's a lawsuit.. bodily fluid of any kind on food should be considered a bio-hazard,' agreed a second.

'The level of neglect is terrifying!!! I hope the blood test comes out normal,' wrote another user.

'That's terrifying! I'm not particularly a huge germaphobe over most things, but this would send me into a blind panic,' added a fourth.

Burger King's corporate office has now offered to pay for any medical expenses incurred by the family following the incident.

'We did tell Burger King that medical expenses was not enough,' Floyd said to the New York Post.

The manager of the Burger King, in Getzville, New York, told her how a cook had cut his hand. The location has been closed for the weekend and will reopen on Monday

Those hearing of her story have advised Floyd to seek legal advice and possibly sue the chain

'My daughter has not eaten since this and my anxiety is through the roof and what if my daughter needs professional help from this?'

Burger King has released a statement following the disturbing incident.

'We were deeply upset and concerned. We have been in contact with the Guest and are working with her to resolve this incident. This incident was the result of a team member in the restaurant who injured his finger, and upon noticing immediately stepped away.

'We closed the restaurant to retrain all the team members and hired an external company to complete a deep cleaning,' the company explained.

'We expect the restaurant to re-open Monday and are fully paying team members for any lost shifts during this temporary shut down.'
A mother who nearly starved her three-year-old daughter to death in a filthy, cockroach-infested apartment has been jailed.

Rabyah Nadhirah Muballigh, 26, pleaded no contest to felonious assault and endangering children in the worst case prosecutors had ever seen.

She was jailed for seven to 10-and-a-half years on Thursday, and the girl's father Corey Michael Moody, 29, faces trial on October 7.

The girl weighed just 16lbs when she was rescued from the house of horrors in Fairborn, Ohio, on January 8 when her mother made a fake 911 call.

Shocking body camera footage shows the moment Ohio police found an emaciated 3-year-old girl inside a filthy apartment

The girl weighed just 16lbs when she was rescued from the house of horrors in Fairborn, Ohio, on January 8 when her mother made a fake 911 call

Rabyah Nadhirah Muballigh, 26, pleaded no contest to felonious assault and endangering children in the worst case prosecutors had ever seen

When officers entered the building, one could be heard on shocking bodycam footage gasping 'oh my God' as they waded through the garbage-infested home.

As they entered the child's bedroom, they found her unresponsive huddled in the corner of the room next to a soiled mattress covered in bug bites.

Moody, who also lived in Fairborn, was arrested as well and charged with endangering children, obstruction of justice, and tampering with evidence. He is jail after failing to post a $100,000 bail.

Muballigh made the anonymous 911 call pretending to be a concerned passerby and not the girl's mother.

'There's a child at 308 Wallace that is currently having trouble breathing and she needs to go to a hospital as soon as possible,' she said.

At first police thought the child was dead, but could later be heard saying: 'Oh she's still breathing, she's still breathing, let's go, let's go.'

Police carry the child out of the apartment after rescuing her

Bodycam footage shows mountains of trash throughout the apartment and court documents describe the place as being 'cluttered and filthy'

Trash is seen spewed on the ground in the room where the girl was found

The officers tore down blankets being used as curtains to get more light into the room as the checked on the girl.

'Inside they located a small child that was conscious but not alert and was immediately taken by Fairborn medics and transported to a local hospital,' police said.

The girl's bedroom was littered with bottles, sticky fly traps and the mattress was covered in urine and feces. At one point, a cockroach was running across the wall.

Mountains of trash was scattered throughout the apartment and court documents described it as being 'cluttered and filthy'.

'Various bugs were observed crawling on the walls, floors and beds. A clear infestation of roaches was observed in each of the two bedrooms as well as other areas of the apartment,' the an affidavit read.

'Inside the refrigerator and freezer were visible dead bugs and moldy food.'

The girl's father Corey Michael Moody, 29, faces trial on October 7 charged with endangering children, obstruction of justice, and tampering with evidence

Muballigh is apprehended in front of her apartment block after police convinced her to come back

Police said various bugs were observed crawling on the walls, floors and beds and moldy food was found inside the refrigerator

The apartment was later found to be unfit for human occupancy and was condemned by Fairborn Code Enforcement.

'She's got a long road to recovery, but she is continuing to gain some weight. But again, she's probably going to be hospitalized for quite some time,' Sergeant Nathan Penrod said at the time.

Muballigh left after making the 911 call, but police said they were able to convince her to return then arrested her.

The 25-year-old told police she fled because she was afraid and has post traumatic stress disorder.

Greene County Prosecuting Attorney David Hayes said it was the worst case of child abuse he saw in his 20-year career.

'Muballigh is going to prison for several years, as she should. Her primary responsibility was to care for that child and she failed to do that and caused that child serious physical harm,' he said.

Police open a door and, like the rest of the apartment, do not like what they find

Mountains of trash was scattered throughout the apartment and court documents described it as being 'cluttered and filthy'.

The apartment was later found to be unfit for human occupancy and was condemned by Fairborn Code Enforcement

Muballigh only took her daughter to see a doctor once in her life and instead prayed every night for the little girl for six months.

'I should have gotten help sooner so she wouldn't have been hurt the way she was,' she told the court, WHIO reported.

'I just kind of gave up. I stopped getting out of bed, I stopped showering, I stopped eating. The only time I was getting up was feeding her, but it wasn't enough. I should have done more.'

Muballigh's lawyer Lucas Wilder explained she had 'extreme mental health issues' after a difficult childhood and gave up another child for adoption and had a third stillborn.

The girl was sent to stay with her sister's adoptive family.
Anthony Albanese has copped heavy criticism after he dumped two ministers and gave their jobs to a single MP, who now has four portfolios to manage.

The Prime Minister used a press conference on Sunday afternoon to announce the first cabinet reshuffle since Labor was elected in 2022.

He dumped the Minister for Home Affairs Clare O'Neil and the Minister for Immigration Andrew Giles and gave their portfolios to Tony Burke, who had been managing employment and workplace relations.

Mr Burke is now in charge of home affairs, cyber security, immigration and multicultural affairs, and he will retain his position as arts minister and leader of the house.

When the PM was asked whether Mr Burke was up to the task, he replied: 'He is certainly up for it.'

'What it means is that in terms of a department, there will be one person who will be responsible for it. I gave a lot of thought to the appropriate structure.'

However, not everyone was convinced.

Anthony Albanese (pictured) announced a cabinet reshuffle on Sunday, but not everyone was impressed

Senator James Patterson, the shadow minister for home affairs and cyber security, slammed the decision.

He pointed out that Mr Burke has reprised his role as immigration minister, having first held the job during the Rudd-Gillard Labor government in 2013.

After the press conference on Sunday, he wrote on X: 'Tony Burke is a failed immigration minister from the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd era.

'On his watch, in just 80 days as minister, 6,634 illegal arrivals showed up on 83 boats.

'His appointment to Home Affairs sends a shocking message of weakness to people smugglers.'

Senator Patterson also took aim at the fact that the PM had decided to move ASIO from home affairs to the Attorney-General's department.

He continued: 'And with the news ASIO is moving to Attorney Generals, Tony Burke will be Minister for Home Affairs in name only.

Tony Burke (pictured) was given Ms O'Neil's portfolio, along with three others

'Labor has completed the destruction of the Home Affairs portfolio as they always secretly wanted to - but never bothered to tell the electorate.'

Another social media user said: 'An interesting reshuffle, Tony Burke becomes Labor's anti-Dutton while still keeping leader of the house.

'A sign that Labor have serious concerns about how things have been going.'

Some commented on the size of the workload, while others likened the restructure to reshuffling deckchairs on the Titanic.

But not everyone was skeptical.

Mr Burke received high praise from the unions, with ACTU secretary Sally McManus congratulating him on his 'groundbreaking' work in the employment portfolio.

During his time in employment, Mr Burke delivered a series of policy demands of the union movement which the Coalition largely ignored during almost ten years in office.

Policies included minimum pay rates for gig economy workers, making it easier for casual workers to transition to full-time employment, and a crackdown on labour and contractors.

Ms McManus said: 'Minister Burke methodically went about fixing the broken workplace rules and was influenced only by what was right and necessary to make lives better for workers and for the economy.'

Clare O'Neil (pictured) lost her role as home affairs minister and was moved to the housing portfolio

'I dont believe any Workplace Relations Minister has left such a huge legacy and he has achieved it in just over two years. Working people into the future will benefit from his work, we wish him well in his next portfolio.'

Ben Davison, a long-time union activist who hosts a political podcast with his Guardian columnist wife Van Badham, said: 'Congratulations to Tony Burke on becoming minister for home affairs, immigration, multicultural affairs and cybersecurity while continuing to serve as the Minister for the Arts.'

During the press conference, a reporter asked Mr Albanese what the rationale was for giving Mr Bourke so much responsibility.

'Isn't it a case of a bit of overly fair for your Leader of the House - overloaded there for your Leader of the House?

The PM replied: 'No, he is certainly up for it, and what it means is that in terms of a department, there will be one person who will be responsible for it.

'I gave a lot of thought to the appropriate structure. That is one of the reasons the structure is there. One Minister and then two junior assistants to them is, I think, the right structure.'

He defended Ms O'Neil and Mr Giles, insisting they had not failed in their roles - there was a reshuffle and positions had been rearranged.

The announcement on Sunday was the result of Indigenous Australians minister and skills and training ministers Linda Burney and Brendan O'Connor announcing their resignations on Friday.

Northern Territory senator Malarndirri McCarthy will take over Ms Burney's role and Mr Giles will move into Mr O'Connor's former position.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's cabinet reshuffle has quashed hopes of Australia becoming a republic anytime soon, with the PM admitting he doesn't want to fight another referendum battle.

As part of his cabinet reshuffle announced on Sunday, Mr Albanese axed the 'Minister for the Republic', the Republic assistant ministry, relocating former Assistant Minister for the Republic Matt Thistlethwaite to a different portfolio.

Crushing the spirit of republicans Australia-wide, Mr Albanese announced on Sunday that he will not be holding a referendum for Australia to become a republic.

Mr Albanese defended his decision to scrap the republican ministerial role, which he created following his 2022 election.

'I said before I was elected prime minister, I intended to have one referendum. It is the only thing I committed to.'

Mr Albanese was referring to the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum.

This was a constitutional referendum held on 14 October 2023 for a proposed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

The Australian people rejected the proposal to alter the constitution to create the Voice to Parliament that represented indigenous communities by a 60 per cent majority.

The cabinet reshuffle announced on Sunday by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) has crushed Australia's republic hopes with the PM admitting he didn't want to endure another referendum (pictured during the Voice referendum campaign last year)

King Charles (pictured left with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit Australia with Queen Camilla in October

The Voice referendum - which was defeated in every state and territory except the ACT - cost the Australian taxpayer about $450 million.

On conducting any future referendums, Mr Albanese said, 'Previously, the Labor party went to elections committing to multiple referendums.'

'At the moment, the only person who is committed to another referendum during the next term if he's elected is Peter Dutton.'

The PM is a staunch republican and has made no secret over his time in public life of his dream for Australia to become a republic.

Mr Albanese previously said he would not be a leader who 'presides over just constitutional debates'.

Mr Thistlethwaite was appointed Assistant Minister for the Republic on June 1, 2022.

As part of his cabinet reshuffle announced on Sunday, Mr Albanese axed the Republic assistant ministry, relocating former Assistant Minister for the Republic Matt Thistlethwaite (pictured) to a different portfolio.

As part of Sunday's cabinet reshuffle on Sunday, he will now be assistant minister to Tony Burke covering immigration, citizenship and multicultural affairs.

Australians have already voted against becoming a republic, back in 1999 when the referendum saw a 54 per cent No vote.

The death of the Queen and in-fighting between Princes William and Harry sparked renewed hope amongst anti-monarchists that the tide could once again turn.

And Mr Albanese's decision to appoint an Assistant Minister for the Republic following his election in 2022 was seen as a promising step forward.

Mr Albanese swore allegiance to King Charles at his coronation in May last year in the wake of the Queen's death, and despite being a 'life-long republican', insisted he has 'a great deal of respect' for the King.

At the time, Mr Albanese assured members of the public both in Australia and abroad a referendum on whether Australia should become a republic is out of the question for the near future.

In a further blow to republicans, it was confirmed earlier this month King Charles III and Queen Camilla will travel to Australia later this year.

He has visited 15 times previously and in 1966 spent time at a school in Victoria.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said planning for the visit was well underway.

'I am honoured to welcome the King and Queen on their first royal visit to Australia later this year, they are always welcome visitors,' he said.

'The King has a deep regard for our great nation, and has always spoken warmly of the time he has spent here and the astounding beauty of our extraordinary continent. I look forward welcoming the King and Queen back to Australia for this important visit.'

Charles, 75, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, and his wife, 76, will visit Canberra and NSW in October.

It will be Charles' first visit to Australia since he became king and the first by a reigning monarch since 2011, when Queen Elizabeth II travelled to Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.
Police claim an officer attacked with a knife seconds before a fatal shooting in Sydney's southwest overnight was 'very close to something that could have been fatal'.

The 33-year-old senior constable was behind the wheel of a police vehicle in Middleton Grange when he was allegedly attacked twice on his shoulder by a man armed with a knife.

Officers exited the vehicle before verbally confronting and then Tasering 34-year-old Marco Bindi-Fortoni. Mere 'seconds' later, the senior constable fired two rounds.

Neighbours said they heard Mr Bindi-Fortoni's mother 'howling' as she sat in the gutter outside her home after her son was shot, reported The Daily Telegraph.

'I could hear her, she was hysterical  saying ''they killed my boy, they killed my boy'',' a neighbour said.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said the 'situation escalated very quickly' and that there was a 'real threat' to the police officer.

'We are very close to something that could have been either fatal or certainly life threatening in terms of injuries he could have sustained given that the damage to his operational vest around the right shoulder right collarbone area ... we're talking centimetres to hitting another part of his body and causing catastrophic injuries,' he said.

Police performed CPR on the 34-year-old man until paramedics arrived at the scene to take over, however he could not be revived.

A 33-year-old senior constable was behind the wheel of a police vehicle when he was allegedly attacked twice on his shoulder by a man, 34, armed with a knife

Mr McFadden backed the actions of the 'experienced and capable' police at the scene who he said had 'stopped the threat'.

'The tactical options that were available to police really became very limited upon the taser not being effective,' he said.

'There was a very real threat to life and well being of the police officer and another technical option has been used - the firearm was used.'

Mr McFadden said the alleged attacker, who has not been identified, was known to police but would not confirm whether he had a history of mental health.

He went on to add that the family of the man had been contacted and that an 'extensive and comprehensive' review into the shooting would take place.

Marco Bindi-Fortoni, 34, died on Saturday night just metres from his home at Middleton Grange. His parents released a picture of their son sleeping with his dog

NSW police at the scene on Saturday night after the man attacked an officer

Emergency services were called to Bird Walton Ave at Middleton Grange about 11pm on Saturday after reports of a man with a knife.

In an earlier statement, police said they were confronted by the 34-year-old man who allegedly threatened officers with the blade.

Police said early information indicated the man then struck a 33-year-old male officer with the knife; the officer was fortunately protected by his vest.

Officers proceeded to use a Taser on the man and when that 'proved ineffective' the man was shot by police.

Police conducted CPR at the scene until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived and took over; but he could not be revived.

A critical incident has since been declared with the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad now investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The investigation will be subject to an independent review, with the officer allegedly attacked in the confrontation not 'physically injured'.
Andy Burnham reissued calls for calm this morning amid growing fears that 'tensions could boil over' after shocking new footage from Manchester Airport emerged last night.

Dramatic CCTV footage revealed that three police officers were 'viciously' attacked - leaving one with a broken nose and one slumped on the floor - moments before one of them kicked a teenager in the head.

It sheds new light on the situation that provoked uproar with allegations of police brutality and racism being made when videos of part of the violent ordeal were shared online as officers attempted to arrest 19-year-old Fahir Muhammed Amas.

The footage provoked uproar, with a series of anti-police protests held in Rochdale, where Fahir and his brother Ammad - who was also involved in the clash - are from.

Tensions were then raised further when Akhmed Yakoob, a controversial lawyer representing the two men, claimed that the incident had been an 'attempted assassination'.

While senior police sources admitted one of officer seen kicking the teenager appears to have lost control, they insist the full picture is far more complicated than initially portrayed.

'All three of the officers have been violently attacked,' a well-connected source told the Mail this weekend. Sources believe some of the officers may even have temporarily lost consciousness during the outburst.

The new footage comes as the brother's controversial TikTok lawyer - Akhmed Yakoob - insisted he was not stoking tensions when he claimed that the incident had been an 'attempted assassination'.

In a video published last night, Mr Yakoob - who refused to comment on the latest footage uncovered by the Mail on Sunday - he claimed 'I do not promote violence' purporting that he had tried to deescalate tensions.

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham once again insisted there were 'two sides' to this 'complicated situation' which escalated 'very quickly' and became a 'very violent situation'

Lawyer Akhmed Yakoob (centre) with Fahir (left) and Amaad Khan (right). He has said 'justice must prevail' after footage of the Manchester Airport incident went viral

'I have been behind the de-escalation of the whole situation,' he told TikTok followers. 'I urged protesters at Rochdale Police Station to go home.

'I attended a protest in Manchester City Centre attempting to stop trams from operating. I urged them not to do so and calmed them down and they went home.

'I've urged everyone not to attend the protest at Manchester Airport. We are not here to put the public life into difficulty, we want justice for the family.'

In a bid to quell tensions, Mr Burnham once again insisted there were 'two sides' to this 'complicated situation' which escalated 'very quickly' and became a 'very violent situation'.

'These situations can be quite dangerous. people's careers are put on the line in these situations,' the mayor told BBC Breakfast this morning.

'We all feel for the police officers who were injured as a result of what happens and there is a whole lot of stuff that comes together and it's really important we do it better the next time.'

When probed on how long the police investigation could take, Mr Burnham said 'you can't put a timeline on these things' but hoped it would be completed 'as quickly as possible given the huge interest in the whole issue'.

He went on to criticise the 'social media age', calling for people to consider the whole picture before making a snap judgement.

Mr Burnham added: 'We live in a world where we see a fragment and everyone rushes to judgement.'

'If the whole picture had been put out straight away it would enabled people to make a more rounded judgement. But it is not always as easy as that because sometimes footage could be used in a trial and it can't be put out as could impact potential proceedings.

'The social media age we are living in now, people end up taking a side, but life is more complicated and the truth often lies in between. And did tell people to be careful and that it was a very complicated situation.'

The two brothers are being represented by 'TikTok lawyer' Akhmed Yakoob

The lawyer insisted last night he was not stoking tensions when he claimed that the incident had been an 'attempted assassination'

The dramatic CCTV footage, which emerged online last night, shows:

Fahir punching a female police officer in the face, breaking her nose, before knocking down a second woman officer;

His brother Amaad throwing a barrage of 'full-blooded' punches at an armed male officer, leaving him stunned and slumped on the floor;

Fahir punching the male officer and grabbing him by the neck in a 'chokehold', which he released only when one of the female officers tasered him.

Mr Burnham added while speaking on Sky News: 'It's a complicated situation, a very violent situation and there were issues on both sides.

'And that's why I asked other people not to rush tojudgement because of the complexity of it.

'And simply nobody out there - everyone who's having their say - nobody has got the facts'.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) was plunged into crisis last week after several videos of the violence, recorded on mobile phones by onlookers, were posted online.

They showed Fahir being kicked in the head and stamped on by a male officer as he lay on the ground in an airport car park on Tuesday night.

Fahir (pictured) is seen punching a female police officer in the face, breaking her nose, before knocking down a second woman office

Mr Burnham this morning criticised the 'social media age' where people are able to view just a 'fragment' of a situation

Amid chaotic scenes, the same male officer was then seen ordering Amaad, 25, on to the floor, stamping on his thigh and hitting him on the back of his head.

Despite their lawyer Mr Yakoob being accused of sparking more chaos on the streets of Rochdale, in a TikTok video last night the lawyer insisted he 'does not promote violence'.

He claimed he had been 'behind the deescalation of the whole situation' by 'urging protesters to go home'

'Definitely at some points there was a concern that the tensions might boil over - there's not hiding from that,' Neil Emmott, the leader of Rochdale borough council said.

Fahir's family had urged protesters not to attend any more protests at Manchester Airport in a statement on Friday night, telling people to 'refrain' from attending the planned demonstration.

'We would not like anyone to be inconvenienced as a result,' they wrote on social media.

Meanwhile Muslim community leaders condemned the 'absolute condemnation of the horrific actions' of some GMP officers before reassuring locals that a 'full and proper investigation will take place with community engagement'.

As Ammad Amas throws a barrage of punches at a male police officer, his brother Fahir Muhammed Amas smashes a female officer in the face, breaking her nose and making her fall to the ground

Fahir immediately rounds on a female firearms officer and lets fly with a thumping right-handed punch

He then unleashes a devastating left-hander and knocks her to her knees

Fahir now rounds on the male officer, who has a Taser trained on his brother Amaad, and jumps on his back

He puts a chokehold on the male officer and begins dragging him away from his brother

The female firearms officer staggers to her feet and tasers Fahir, bringing him crashing to the ground

The male officer has been told by the Independent Office for Police Conduct watchdog (IOPC) that he is facing a criminal probe for assault and will be interviewed under caution 'as soon as possible'.

Until last night, little has been known about what happened in the moments leading up to the events captured by other passengers on their mobile phones  or how things escalated.

The Mail on Sunday, however, has spoken to a well-informed source with detailed knowledge of the controversial incident.

Last night, as the extraordinary CCTV footage emerged online, the source gave the first blow-by-blow account of what is alleged to have happened.

It is understood that Fahir and Amaad travelled to Manchester Airport to meet their mother, who is believed to have flown there from Pakistan via Doha in Qatar on a Qatar Airways flight.

Words are said to have been exchanged between their mother and a male passenger on board the flight, which landed at 7.20pm.

The argument is thought to have continued in the baggage hall of Terminal 2, with claims that the male passenger pushed his trolley into the men's mother.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham last night described the incident as 'a complicated situation with two sides to it', adding: 'It is why I urged people not to rush to judgement'

Anti-police protesters throw eggs at Rochdale Police Station on Thursday night

Demonstrators hold Union Flags with the words 'No Justice No Peace' in Manchester on Thursday

At 8.22pm, after the woman met her two sons and told them about the incident on the flight, a 'violent altercation' erupted in a Starbucks coffee shop within the terminal. Two armed police officers, a man and a woman, along with a female patrol officer responded to the call and intercepted the woman passenger and her two sons at 8.28pm on the ground floor of Terminal 2's West car park.

The CCTV footage reveals the three officers attempted to arrest Fahir as he used a car park ticket machine.

He is shown resisting before Amaad throws a barrage of at least six punches at the male police officer, who crumples on to a row of metal seats.

'The male police officer went forward to arrest him and put hands on him,' the source said. 'The lad resisted arrest and rained absolute full-blooded punches at the officer. The officer slumped down at the side of the vending machine while that lad was raining punches on him.'

Fahir is then shown lashing out, first punching one female officer in the side of the head and then smashing the second woman officer in the face, knocking her off her feet and leaving her sprawled on the floor.

The second female officer, who has red hair and is seen in the mobile phone footage apparently dazed and holding her head, suffered a broken nose.

'All the punches were full-blooded haymakers,' the source said. 'He smashed the red-haired officer in the face, poleaxed her basically, flattened her out and broke her nose. How can you smash a woman police officer in the face? It is vile.'

The footage then shows Fahir throwing at least another four punches at the first female officer, who is knocked to her knees.

'He was pummelling her,' the source said. 'And I'm told she has temporarily lost consciousness.

'So he has broken the red-haired officer's nose and then, when he is grabbed by the firearms officer, he has launched in on her, raining vicious blows on her.'

Last night Paul Waugh, the newly elected Labour MP for Rochdale, said: 'All our communities in Rochdale are united in a strong belief in the rule of law, that the criminal justice system should follow the evidence wherever it leads, that offenders should be punished appropriately'

By this point the male officer had got back to his feet and was aiming his Taser at Amaad. Fahir, however, is shown charging into the back of the male officer, punching him in the head before grabbing him around the neck.

'He [the male police officer] doesn't know what is happening other than he is being choked from behind,' the source said.

It is claimed the male officer suffered a suspected broken jaw and may also have been temporarily knocked out.

The fight ended only when the first female officer was able to stagger back to her feet and fire her Taser at Fahir, which knocked him over.

'She tasered him,' the source said. 'That knocked him down to the ground, so he released the chokehold.' It is at this point  as seen by millions in the mobile phone footage  that the male police officer kicks Fahir in the head and apparently stamps on him as he lies on the floor.

The source conceded the officer  who has since been suspended by GMP  appeared to have been gripped by a 'red mist' but stressed that airports are 'high risk' locations and that the two armed officers would have been concerned about having their firearms snatched from them.

'You can't have people attacking, choking a police officer, who has got a firearm on his side,' the source said. 'If that had been a French or an Italian airport, the police officers would possibly have shot them dead.'

Sources also fear that the officers involved could be forced into hiding  in a disturbing echo of an incident in 2021 when a religious studies teacher at Batley Grammar School in West Yorkshire was forced to leave his home after showing a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad in class.

'We could end up with another Batley Grammar School situation here,' the source said.

Chants of 'We want them sacked' were heard during a huge protest in Manchester on Thursday

Some protesters built a makeshift barricade outside Rochdale Police Station on Thursday night

Other sources have suggested that the new revelations might still not be the full picture of what was a hugely chaotic incident.

One source last week reportedly claimed the brothers said their mother had been 'hit in the face and we were being treated unfairly'.

A family member yesterday denied the brother had instigated the violence. 'No, they did not fight first,' they said. 'The police officer hurt his mum and that's when he tried to protect his mum. I don't know the full story.'

Mr Yakoob  who has been dubbed the 'TikTok lawyer' because of his regular social media videos  declined to comment on the account given to the MoS. However, he added: 'Right now the brothers are resting after going through a lot of trauma.'

On Wednesday, a large crowd gathered outside Rochdale police station, reportedly shouting 'GMP shame on you', while on Thursday demonstrators blocked roads and tram lines which started outside Mr Burnham's office in central Manchester.

Last night Paul Waugh, the newly elected Labour MP for Rochdale, said: 'All our communities in Rochdale are united in a strong belief in the rule of law, that the criminal justice system should follow the evidence wherever it leads, that offenders should be punished appropriately.

'No one should be above the law, whether that is the police or anyone else.

'When I met the Assistant Chief Constable on Thursday, I passed on my concerns for the female police officer and others injured in the run-up to this incident.

'As I've said consistently throughout this, the police face a very difficult job every day in keeping us all safe and both the investigation by GMP and the IOPC investigation into the police officer's conduct should gather the full facts.

'The footage of the officer kicking a man on the ground remains shocking. It's right that the case was referred to the IOPC and that the officer was suspended.'

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of assault, assault of an emergency worker, affray and obstructing police. Two other men have been arrested on suspicion of affray and assault of an emergency worker.

The four men, aged between 19 and 31, have since been bailed.

Mr Burnham said: 'It is frustrating that we have not been able to put more video into the public domain but that is because this is a live investigation.

'People need to step back and allow the IOPC's criminal investigation into the officer's conduct to move forward, alongside the parallel GMP investigation into other potential offences, so that a complete picture can be presented.'

GMP last week said three officers 'were subject to a violent assault, where they were punched to the ground' and taken to hospital.

In a new statement issued on Friday night, GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson added: 'It is a source of profound regret that this week's incident at Manchester Airport has caused shock and upset in some of our communities.

'While we are constrained in releasing further information or footage about the incident due to the conduct and criminal investigations, we are committed to providing the fullest practical assistance to the IOPC.'
A map has revealed the locations of six Cineworld sites that are set to close as part of a restructuring plan to save the beleaguered cinema chain.

Cinemas in Glasgow Parkhead, Bedford, Hinckley, Loughborough, Yate, and Swindon Circus will be closing down in the coming months.

The company said it is beginning a consultation process with employees at those sites and it will offer as many redeployment opportunities to nearby locations as possible.

But the company has warned the total number of impacted sites cannot be confirmed until the restructuring process is complete.

Last week it was revealed that Cineworld, which currently runs around 100 sites across the country, was originally expected to close 25.

A map showing the locations of the six Cineworld sites to close

The company has said it now beginning a consultation process with employees at those sites and it will offer as many redeployment opportunities to nearby sites as possible. Pictured: The Glasgow Parkhead site which will close

The company has warned the total number of impacted sites cannot be confirmed until the restructuring process is complete. Pictured: The Bedford site which will close

Cineworld's restructuring plan will now go before the court, and if approved, the process is set to go into effect in September.

The chain said it decided to axe the six locations as they were 'commercially unviable', in an attempt to return the business to profitability.

Its plans will also try to reduce rental costs with landlords in the UK.

Cineworld claims market rents for cinemas have reduced over the last few years, meaning some of its rents now cost more than the market rate.

Landlords on marginal and loss making cinemas are being asked to reset the rent to the market level, according to the company.

It is not known how many of Cineworld's sites have asked their landlords to reduce the rent, but Sky News previously reported the number as 50.

A Cineworld spokesperson said: 'We are implementing a Restructuring Plan that will provide our company with a strong platform to return our business to profitability, attract further investment from the Group, and ensure a sustainable long-term future for Cineworld in the UK.'

Cineworld's restructuring plan will now go before the court, and if approved, the process is set to go into effect in September. Pictured: The Hinckley site which will close

The chain said it decided to axe the six locations as they were 'commercially unviable', in an attempt to return the business to profitability. Pictured: The Loughborough site which will close

While the restructuring plan is ongoing, Cineworld's sites will continue to operate as normal. Pictured: The Yate site which will close

Cineworld is being advised by AlixPartners. Pictured: The Swindon, Regent Circus, site which will close

While the restructuring plan is ongoing, Cineworld's sites will continue to operate as normal. The plan will not affect the Cineworld business outside of the UK.

The company is being advised by AlixPartners.

But despite Cineworld confirming the six sites to close, other cinema operators could step in to save the day and take them over.

Tim Richards, chief executive of cinema chain Vue, said previously he would 'absolutely' look to take over sites from rival operators.

He said: 'They would need to be qualitatively complimentary with our circuit but I think weve already demonstrated over the last 20 years that M&A and purchasing cinemas is part of our DNA.'

The recent announcement comes as many customers blamed the cinema chain's decline on its prices, claiming a family trip to the cinema has become too expensive.

Tim Richards, chief executive of cinema chain Vue, said he would 'absolutely' look to take over sites from rival operators

Cineworld customers have said the chain has priced them out of trips to the movies

After the news of the closures broke on social media on Friday, a number of cinema-goers took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their views.

How much could a family trip to Cineworld cost? Two family tickets to a 4DX showing, which includes two children and two adults: 58.66 Two large popcorns: 11.30 Two large hot dogs: 11.50 Confectionary (pick and mix) for the kids: 6.90 Four large soft drinks: 16.80 Grand total: 105.16 Source: Cineworld and TheatreFoodandFun.com Advertisement

One commenter said: 'With cinemas being so over priced and given that films now take less time before they end up on streams I'm not surprised.

'Does anyone remember orange Wednesdays and Saturday morning pictures for 1.. ah the good old days.'

Earlier this month, Cineworld customers said the chain has priced them out of trips to the movies.

MailOnline calculated a family of four going to see a film in 4DX along with snacks and drinks could now cost as much as an eye-watering 105.

That's for a family of four to see a 4DX screening of Inside Out 2 at Wandsworth in London, buying two large popcorns, two large hot dogs, confectionary for the two children and four large soft drinks.

And that's without splashing out on special 3D glasses - which cost 5 a pair.

However, prices may vary depending on where the Cineworld is located.

Cineworld disputed MailOnline's figures and claimed a Family Special deal would be cheaper, although this would take customer research and would not available for everyone.

A spokeswoman said: 'With the Cineworld Family Ticket, for example, adults pay kids' prices, so it costs just 31.96 (7.99 per person) for a family of four to see a regular 2D screening of Inside Out 2 at Cineworld Wandsworth.

Cineworld has faced problems of people not returning to the cinema post-pandemic and instead increasingly choosing to stay at home and watch new releases on streaming services

A number of people commented online that Cineworld's problem was due to increasing prices

'By upgrading to 4DX with a family ticket, adults still pay kids' prices, and families get the added enjoyment of stimulating effects like water, wind, lightning, bubbles and moving seats.

'Family tickets also come with a discount on food with a Family Special for 19, which includes a regular popcorn, two regular soft drinks, plus two Munchboxes.'

Earlier this month sources told Sky News that the insolvency mechanism employed by Cineworld was expected to be a restructuring plan which would allow it to rework its balance sheet and restructure debts.

Cineworld grew under the leadership of the Greidinger family into a global giant of the film industry, acquiring chains including Regal in the US in 2018 and the British company of the same name four years prior.

However its multibillion-dollar debt mountain led it into crisis, and forced the company into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. in 2022.

Earlier this month sources told Sky News that the insolvency mechanism employed by Cineworld was expected to be a restructuring plan which would allow it to rework its balance sheet and restructure debts

Filing for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy means a company intends to reorganise its debts and assets to have a fresh start, while remaining in business.

Cineworld shares were worth just 0.6p in June last year after it was hit hard by the pandemic. They were changing hands at 300p just five years ago.

It caused it to delist from the London Stock Exchange in August 2023 after Cineworld's UK arm collapsed into administration as its share price continued to fall and fears were raised for its survival.

A deal was struck last year which exchanged several billions of dollars of debt for shares, with a significant sum of fresh cash injected into the company by a group of hedge funds and investors.

But Cineworld is not alone in facing headwinds, with brands such as Picturehouse, Odeon and Empire all also having to close cinemas in the past year.

Picturehouse will close branches at Stratford East, Bromley and Fulham Road in London this summer.

Meanwhile Odeon closed five in June last year, with Empire collapsing into administration a month later - closing six.

A map of the freshly announced Cineworld sites, alongside the Empire, Odeon and Picturehouse cinemas which have closed in the past year. The top right chart shows the number of cinemas has dropped from 879 in 2020 to now only 825

The chief executive of the UK Cinema Association Phil Clapp told MailOnline the operating environment for UK cinema 'undoubtedly remains a challenging one'

Over the past few years, Britain has been falling out of love with the silver screen as Hollywood strikes, rising prices and the popularity of TV streamers have all turned audiences off.

In 2020 there were 879 cinemas in the UK, but it has fallen every year since then and now amounts to only 825, according to the UK Cinema Association.

The chief executive of the UK Cinema Association Phil Clapp previously told MailOnline the operating environment for UK cinema 'undoubtedly remains a challenging one'.

He said: 'Having survived the unique challenges of the pandemic  when many sites were closed or operating under restrictions for many months  the sector has since then needed to navigate both the cost of living crisis and the writers' and actors' strikes of last Autumn.

'The latter in particular has meant that cinemas have had many fewer films to show the public than they would want.'
An easyJet plane bound for London had to turn back to Faro and make a reported emergency landing - hours after a co-pilot for the low cost airline fainted en route to Lisbon.

The aircraft with 161 passengers on board is understood to have hit a bird shortly after take-off yesterday afternoon.

Flight tracking information showed it aborted its journey to London Gatwick and landed again at Faro Airport at 5.40pm local time - 44 minutes after leaving.

The incident is understood to have triggered a 'red code' alert at the Algarve airport with emergency response vehicles being mobilised although the plane landed safely.

Witnesses said on social media flight U28538 had been unable to gain altitude and the engines 'sounded very strange'.

Flight tracking information showed it aborted its journey to London Gatwick and landed again at Faro Airport at 5.40pm local time - 44 minutes after leaving

It reportedly spent 25 minutes burning fuel over the ocean before landing.

A spokesperson for easyJet said in a statement: 'easyJet can confirm that flight EZY8538 from Faro to Lisbon was cancelled after returning to stand due to a birdstrike shortly after take-off.

'The pilot performed a routine landing in line with procedures and passengers disembarked normally in Faro where we have been providing assistance with alternative options as well as hotel accomodation and meals for those who require them.

'Whilst this is outside of our control, we would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank passengers for their understanding.'

The incident happened hours after a co-pilot on an easyJet plane heading from London to Lisbon with 193 passengers on board reportedly fainted and had to be taken to hospital after arrival.

It was not immediately clear what airport the plane had left from, although it is thought to have been London Luton.

Local reports said the pilot landed the aircraft without any problems and his colleague was attended to by paramedics on the runway before being taken to Lisbon's Santa Maria Hospital.

Speaking about the pilot reportedly fainiting, retired Portuguese pilot Jose Correia Guedes said on X: 'Incapacitation cases are a plague of modern times.

'In 37 years of activity of TAP I have known only one case. Today it is a rare week that a plane does not make an emergency landing for this reason.

'What's up? I suspect it's extreme fatigue, the worst thing that can happen to an airline pilot.

'It also serves to remember that the idea of the single pilot cockpit leaves a lot to be desired. This is one of the most stressful professions on the planet.'

A Ryanair plane had to make an emergency landing at Faro Airport last December after the pilot fell ill.

The aircraft was heading from London Stansted to Morocco.

The aircraft with 161 passengers on board is understood to have hit a bird shortly after take-off yesterday afternoon (stock image of an easyJet plane)

The pilot told passengers before landing that he wasn't feeling well and the diversion triggered a 'red alert' at the airport.

A spokesman for Ryanair said at the time: 'This flight from Stansted to Morocco diverted to Faro when one of the pilots became ill.

'The aircraft landed normally, and passengers were transferred to an alternative aircraft operated by another crew before continuing to Morocco.'

Last April a packed easyJet plane heading to Agadir in Morocco from London Gatwick had to divert to Faro.

Local reports at the time said the flight diversion was the result of the pilot suffering an 'indisposition', and led to an identical red alert being activated before the Airbus A320 was landed safely.

EasyJet said in a comment at the time: 'easyJet can confirm that flight EZY6469 from London Gatwick to Agadir on 21 April diverted to Faro due to the First Officer requiring medical assistance.

'The Captain performed a routine landing in accordance with standard operating procedures and the aircraft was met by medical services on arrival in Faro.

'A replacement crew was arranged and passengers have since continued their journey to Agadir. We apologise for any inconvenience experienced due to the diversion and resulting delay.'

'The safety and well-being of its passengers and crew is easyJet's highest priority.'
Sunseekers are set to flock to beaches, parks and beauty spots today, as temperatures are expected to soar to 30C in the midst of Britain's mini-heatwave.

The sizzling conditions mean families up and down the country will be scrambling to find a spot on the beach, soaking up the rays and queuing up for the ice cream van.

Temperatures are expected to reach 30C in the south-east  particularly London and the home counties which will continue into next week.

It comes after a disappointing start to July, where the wet and chilly start has barely materialised into the Great British summer many had pinned their hopes on.

David Hayter, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office said: 'As we go through the weekend, the jet stream will weaken to the west of the UK generating an area of high pressure that will slowly move in across the UK.

'High pressure means the air is sinking from higher in the atmosphere and that brings drier, settled and sunnier weather.

SATURDAY: People enjoy the return of warm July weather as the summer holidays begin on the beach in Weymouth, Dorset

The Met Office predicts temperatures could reach up to 30C today in the south-east

SATURDAY: Racegoers pictured arriving at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire for a big day of horse racing at the QIPCO King George Day

'Temperatures will rise too, becoming widely above average. We could see maxima of 27C in the south and 25C in the northeast by Sunday.

'There's a bit more in the way of patchy cloud in Northern Ireland, south and west Scotland and the northern isles, so temperatures will be lower there.'

Yesterday, Her Majesty Queen Camilla was spotted at Ascot Racecourse, wearing a hat and summer dress.

Hundreds of people packed out Weymouth Beach as they enjoyed family BBQs, a swim in the sea and rides at the funfair.

The good weather will continue into next week, with the Met Office predicting highs of 29C on Monday.

SATURDAY: The south and the south east can expect fewer showers although they may still experience lighter showers during the afternoon. (A packed beach in Weymouth, Dorset on July 27

SATURDAY: Her Majesty Queen Camilla pictured at Ascot Racecourse today with her racing manager, John Warren for the QIPCO King George Day

The hotter spells are thanks to an Iberian plume which is pushing a warm weather front from Europe, where temperatures have been as high as 40C this summer.

The south-eastern areas of the country will experience the hottest weather, but most regions are expected to reap the benefits of the high pressure front.

Looking ahead, Britons can expect a much drier August with the Met Office predicting a 'warmer than average' period from August 7 to August 21.

London and the surrounding areas could see temperatures as high as 31C (89) on August 8.
The family of an Italian student strangled by her boyfriend during lockdown has been left outraged after her killer's life sentence was squashed.

Calabrian nurse Antonio de Pace was handed the life sentence after he strangled 27-year-old Lorena Quaranta to death in their home in Furci Siculo, in the Sicilian province of Messina, in March 2020.

Lorena, who was set to graduate with a degree in medicine that year, had been suffering from a sore throat for a week, which de Pace, now 31, was convinced was a symptom of Covid.

He reportedly wanted to return to his home in Calabria but she wanted him to stay, leading to a vicious fight that ended with him beating and strangling her to death - but his life sentence for the murder was overturned last week.

The decision left her family devastated, with her father, Vincenzo Quaranta, telling local media: 'She had always dreamt of becoming a doctor and she did it. She was months away from graduating and had a bright future ahead of her. He could not handle that.'

Calabrian nurse Antonio de Pace (pictured, right) was handed the life sentence after he strangled 27-year-old Lorena Quaranta (pictured, left) to death in their home

Lorena, who was set to graduate with a degree in medicine that year, met her boyfriend and dated him for three years before moving in with him

The medical student had been suffering from a sore throat for a week, which de Pace was convinced was a symptom of Covid

'Covid has nothing to do with this story. The truth is that he had an inferiority complex,' he added while speaking to reporters with tears in his eyes, alluding ot the fact that his daughter was about to be a doctor while her boyfriend was a nurse.

He said his other daughter, Daniela, also found messages sent by Lorena to her boyfriend, which read: 'You're showing a side of yourself that makes me pity you.

'I don't care if you're a nurse or a doctor. I'd rather say with pride that I'm dating a nurse who acts like a man, rather than a rude doctor.'

Hours after strangling and killing Lorena, de Pace made two failed suicide attempts before handing himself to police.

He even admitted to killing her 'because she gave me coronavirus' - but he was tested negative.

De Pace was sentenced him to life in prison for aggravated murder during the trial two years ago. His lawyers appealed the decision and took the case to Italy's Supreme Court of Cassation, the country's highest court of appeal.

There they claimed that de Pace suffered from a lapse of judgement caused by stress and fear of the virus when he killed his girlfriend of three years.

This is despite a psychiatric consultant finding no signs of psychosis, though they said that de Pace had a personality prone to violence, according to local media.

The Supreme Court overturned de Pace's life sentence last week.

The court gave the following reasoning for its ruling: 'It should be considered whether the trial judges fully looked into whether the specific context  especially the pandemic and its impact on everyone's lives  might explain why the defendant didn't try harder to manage his distress.

Lorena was beaten and strangled to death by de Pace in their home in Furci Siculo, Sicily

'Covid has nothing to do with this story. The truth is that he had an inferiority complex,' Lorena's father said, alluding to the fact that his daughter was about to be a doctor while her boyfriend was a nurse

Hours after strangling and killing Lorena, de Pace made two failed suicide attempts before handing himself to police

There will now be a retrial after de Pace's life sentence was squashed, which could see his prison time be reduced to 24 years, which would mean he could be free in 16 years for good behaviour

'They need to assess if these factors should affect his level of criminal responsibility.'

Daniela Quaranta, 27, told Italian outlet AgrigentoNotizie: 'We are outraged, we didn't expect it. We are experiencing a completely absurd situation. You don't kill your girlfriend because you are stressed because of Covid.

'It risks sending a devastating message to all women, that is, you can kill and avoid life imprisonment if you are stressed.'

There will now be a retrial after de Pace's life sentence was squashed, which could see his prison time be reduced to 24 years, which would mean he could be free in 16 years for good behaviour.

The Supreme Court's decision has also caused outrage among the public in Italy, with politicians slamming the ruling.

The Democratic Party deputy Michela Di Biase wrote on Facebook that she was 'left speechless', adding: 'The pandemic has been widely ignored for its effects on the mental health of girls and boys but is seen as a mitigator for femicide.

'The news of the decision of the judges of Cassation that annulled the life sentence of Lorena Quaranta's murderer is terrible.'

Another politician, Elisabetta Lancillotta, who is part of the ruling Brothers of Italy party of Giorgia Meloni, said: 'Covid cannot and should not be used as a mitigating factor, especially in cases of femicide.'
More than 50 Labour MPs are demanding Sir Keir Starmer not give in to NIMBYs and deliver 'revolutionary' reforms of the planning system.

The Labour Growth Group has written to the PM urging him to 'back the builders and not the blockers' and fulfil the party's vow to deliver 1.5million new homes.

They called on the Government to make 'tough choices' and warned a 'failure to act will not be forgiven by the public'.

It comes as Deputy PM Angela Rayner prepares to unveil an overhaul of planning rules before MPs head away from Westminster on their summer recess on Tuesday.

Ms Rayner confirmed Labour's reforms are set to include rebranding some green belt land as 'grey belt', which is deemed to be poor quality, for building houses.

Labour's overhaul of existing rules is set to be revealed in an update to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) - a 78-page document that sets out planning policies for England and how these should be applied.

More than 50 Labour MPs are demanding Sir Keir Starmer not give in to NIMBYs and deliver 'revolutionary' reforms of the planning system

The Labour Growth Group has written to the PM urging him to 'back the builders and not the blockers' and fulfil the party's vow to deliver 1.5million new homes

It comes as Deputy PM Angela Rayner prepares to unveil an overhaul of planning rules before MPs head away from Westminster on their summer recess on Tuesday

Ms Rayner and Sir Keir are under pressure to deliver 'sweeping' reforms to the planning system by the 54-strong Labour Growth Group

In an article for the Observer, Ms Rayner said that 'delivering social and affordable houses at scale' is her 'number one priority'.

She added the planning system should be 'a launchpad' rather than a 'millstone' dragging down the housing market.

Her reforms will include bringing back mandatory housing targets that were scrapped by the previous Government and introducing 'golden rules' to ensure development works for local people and protects nature.

Ms Rayner said the Government was 'committed to preserving the green belt', but added: 'We need to move away from this broken system.

'That's why we're committed to taking a more strategic approach, prioritising poor-quality grey-belt land for building.'

These are likely to be areas that are old car parks or wastelands, as well as some green spaces with 'little intrinsic beauty or character'.

Ms Rayner and Sir Keir are under pressure to deliver 'sweeping' reforms to the planning system by the 54-strong Labour Growth Group.

Their letter to the PM, sent on Saturday, read: 'We are writing to you to make clear that it's in the national interest to start delivering on our manifesto promise, including 1.5million more homes across this parliament at the earliest opportunity.

'A failure to act will not be forgiven by the public. Britain has a housing crisis and a huge infrastructure deficit - without strong and immediate action, this will only worsen.

'But we know this will mean tough choices. It will mean backing the builders, and not the blockers.

'It will mean delivering infrastructure and public services alongside new homes to unlock economic opportunities, and prioritising grey belt development.

'And it will mean difficult conversations in our own communities about how, not whether we deliver our targets.'

One member of the group, Dover and Deal MP Mike Tapp, told the Mirror: 'Revolutionary planning reform is crucial to creating homes and the infrastructure and public services we need to deliver our growth mission.

'I'm determined that we will deliver a new generation of council housing and develop communities with care and attention to the services they deserve.

'More housing and more infrastructure is at the heart of the ticket we were elected on.'

Tory leader Rishi Sunak recently lashed out at Labour's bid to overhaul the planning system as he warned against denying local people a say on new developments.

The ex-PM said the Government's plans will 'damage public consent for more housing in the long-term'.

Responding to Labour's legislative plans, as set out in the King's Speech, Mr Sunak told the House of Commons: 'We all wish to see more homes built and the planning process speeded up.

'But I would say a system that does not allow local people to have a say will damage public consent for more housing in the long term.'
A man in his 20s has been stabbed to death during an alleged fight in a park that left two others injured.

Officers were called to reports of a heated altercation in Plashet Park, East Ham, at 7.38pm on Saturday, where they found a young man with stab wounds.

Despite the best efforts of officers and paramedic staff, the man tragically died at the scene. A murder probe is now under way.

Detectives believe they know the identity of the victim, whom they understand to be 20-years-old. Enquiries are ongoing to identify and inform his family.

Two teenage males were also rushed to hospital, one with stab injuries and the other having sustained head injuries, neither of which are life-threatening.

Emergency vehicles outside Plashet Park in east London on Satuday evening

Forensics teams were seen gathering evidence at Plashet Park today

A police tent erected in Plashet Park, where a young man was stabbed to death on Saturday night

Superintendent Dion Brown one of the senior officers responsible for policing Newham, said: 'I know this tragic and violent loss of life will cause a good deal of upset among the local community.

'I share their sadness and their concern, and I send my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the young man who was killed.

'A murder investigation has been launched and continues at pace this morning, with skilled detectives supported by local officers and specialists from across the Met. This investigation will be exceptionally thorough and forensic in its nature.

'I urge any witnesses or anyone who has information to share what they know with police.

Police at the scene in Plaistow, east London, on Sunday. A murder probe has been launched

Police scoured the scene for vital clues after a young man was stabbed to death just after 7.30pm on Saturday

'We are determined to work with the local community to establish what happened and to bring to justice whoever was responsible for this senseless and brutal act of violence.

'Local people will see additional officers working in the area today and in the coming days. If you have any concerns, please do speak with them. They are there to support you and your community.'

There has been no arrest at this early stage. Anyone with information or footage, or any witnesses yet to speak with police, are asked to call 101, quoting reference 6541/27jul. To remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers.
A dying woman was among 34 people rescued from an overcrowded migrant boat in the English Channel today - before it continued its voyage to Britain.

The tragedy unfolded after desperate passengers on the inflatable dinghy called emergency services at around 5am this morning.

There were around 75 aboard the 'very crowded' migrant boat off the coast of Calais with around half of the boat

'Rescuers saw an unconscious woman on board,' said a spokesman for the French emergency services. 'She was rapidly taken off and given first aid treatment, but she died on her way to hospital.'

The woman - who has not been identified - was the seventh person to have died in such circumstances in July alone.

File photo of migrants crossing the Channel

File photo of Border Force attending a small boat incident in the Channel

An emergency source said: 'She was nowhere near the water, but succumbed to being crushed by the amount of people around her.

'Migrants are drowning in the water, but the new phenomenon of people dying inside the boats is becoming very serious indeed.'

The Maritime Prefecture said the boat requested assistance off the coast of Calais.

The patrol boat Armoise, of the Maritime Gendarmerie, and French Customs Coast Guard boat Kermorvan attended the scene at around 5.30am.

'It was during the transfer of those who wanted to get off the boat that the rescue services noticed that there was an unconscious person on board,' said a spokesman.

The victim was airlifted to hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer, but 'she was unfortunately declared dead'.

The spokesman added: 'Several people still on board the boat refused assistance.

'Given the risks of falling overboard or injury to people in the event of forced intervention, the decision was made to let the other people on this boat continue on their journey to England'.

The year to date has been the busiest for crossings so far, with 14,759 migrants arriving between January 1 and July 16 - the most recent date for which figures are available. This compares to 14,622 in 2022, the second busiest year

The dinghy was in the sea off the northern French port of Calais when it was reported overnight to the regional surveillance and rescue centre (CROSS).

The centre dispatched a police vessel and a border guard patrol boat to the area at around 5:30 am after 'some of the people aboard called for help'.

Today's death marks the sixth asylum seeker to have died in the Channel between July 12 and 19 in three separate boat disasters.

On July 12, four migrants drowned overnight after being carried on a packed boat of 67 migrants off the coast of Boulonge sur Mer, also in northern France.

Those who died were not wearing lifejackets when they died which sparked a police investigation into the people smugglers who were charging around 1,000 per person.

Instead of life jackets, each was given a poorly inflated inner tube to hang on to in case of difficulty.

French cops wearing riot gear pictured watching on as the migrants launched into the Channel on their overpacked inflatable boat on July 11, 2024

Days later on July 19, a female migrant died after the overcrowded vessel she was on deflated and sank.

She was reportedly of Sudanese origin and was among 86 people who set off from a beach near Calais.

The latest death today means that 23 people have died this year alone while trying to reach the coast of England to claim asylum.

A source who works closely with the Border Force previously said that weather is a 'major factor' in the number of people crossing the Channel each day.

Dr Peter William Walsh, Senior Researcher at the Migration Observatory, added: 'There definitely seems to be a seasonal factor, with the second half the year typically having more arrivals than the first half.

'The weather is calmer with warmer temperatures and less swell, but even the causes of this seasonal effect are not totally clear.'

Last year, there were 67,337 asylum applications to the UK, and 29,437 of them came from people who arrived in small boats.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has scrapped a scheme to deport migrants arriving in Britain to Rwanda.

Instead, he is trying to work with other countries to prevent people making the journeys in the first place.

Sir Keith has announced an 84m package of aid funding for African and Middle Eastern countries to tackle migration 'at source'.
Residents have been left furious after fly-tippers dumped a mountain of rubbish in an alleyway just days after it was deep cleaned.

An astonishing nine tonnes of waste including, food scraps and mattresses were left down the street in Middlesbrough.

Locals were horrified to find the passage between Errol Street and Abingdon Road completely blocked by the numerous piles of litter.

The fly-tippers also struck just nine days after the path was deep-cleaned.

Kelly Grey, 40, who has lived in the area for five years, said: 'The fly-tippers come at all hours of the day and night. They're so brazen.

 Slide me  The alleyway between between Errol Street and Abingdon Road before and after fly tippers struck. A shocking nine tonnes of rubbish was dumped down the ginnel just nine days after it was deep cleaned

The litter dumped down the street included dirty mattresses, unwanted toys and food scraps

The fly tippers have left residents furious. One woman said: 'The rubbish attracts rats and with the warm weather the smell is unbearable. 'You can't sit out of open your windows, it's horrible'

'They just use the alleyways as a dumping ground. It's vile to walk out your door to see rubbish piled up.

'When the alley was cleaned it was great but it barely lasted a week. It's soul-destroying.'

Another woman said: 'The rubbish attracts rats and with the warm weather the smell is unbearable.

'You can't sit out of open your windows, it's horrible.'

Six workers from the council's environmental services team spent hours clearing the latest mess at the taxpayers' expense.

In the past year Middlesbrough Council has received 5,500 complaints about fly-tipping across the city.

Residents are now demanding the council take action to crackdown on litter louts.

Since the start of the year 44 people have been fined up to 800 for environmental crime-related offences including fly-tipping.

Councillor Janet Thompson, the council's Executive member for Community Safety, said: 'This is beyond a joke, and those responsible should be ashamed of themselves.

'Fly-tipping is selfish, needless and inconsiderate and it's an outrage that law-abiding residents should have to put up with this sort of behaviour.

'It's also an insult to our hard-working operatives who tackle incidents like this day in, day out - we will go after these people and we will prosecute them.

'By working together we can hold them to account, and reclaim our streets for the vast majority who care for their neighbourhoods.'
A grieving farmer got home from his father's funeral to find heartless thieves had swooped on his fields and stolen 300 of his sheep.

Neil Fell suspects his 300-acre farm near the village of Brancepeth, County Durham, was targeted by the criminals because they knew he would be out at the family funeral.

The cruel gang stole a flock of 120 Welsh mountain ewes and 180 lambs, worth about 18,000, and Neil says they will now be butchered and their meat sold on the black market.

He was compensated by his insurer but said that if he had been able to rear the lambs to sell at market he could have made almost double that, estimating his total loss at around 35,000.

The theft is the latest example of a rising trend involving organised criminal gangs stealing livestock, with figures showing 2.7m worth of cattle, sheep and pigs were stolen last year - a four-year high.

A grieving farmer got home from his father's funeral to find heartless thieves had swooped on his fields and stolen 300 of his sheep (stock image)

Neil Fell suspects his 300-acre farm near the village of Brancepeth (stock photo), County Durham, was targeted by the gang because they knew he would be out at the family funeral

Neil said: 'Whoever took them knew the family would be away at the funeral.

'Livestock theft has a major impact on a farmer. That is my profit for the year gone, so we will be at a loss this year.

'I have a wife and two children to support. It has had a big financial impact and a big mental impact with the stress, I have to admit that, because you can't pay that bill you used to be able to pay.'

A neighbour had seen a lorry in Neil's field that day but assumed it was someone legitimately moving the flock.

The figures showing this year's cost of livestock theft to farmers will be published in The National Farmers' Union (NFU) annual rural crime report on August 1.

The insurer is funding the first national livestock theft prevention officer at the National Rural Crime Unit.

Rural crime is believed to largely be down to organised crime gangs deliberately targeting agricultural businesses (file picture)

It is feared that slaughterhouses could be turning a blind eye to the trade in illicit meat when it is sold on the black market (stock picture)

The theft near Brancepeth (pictured in 2022) is the latest example of a rising trend of organised criminal gangs stealing livestock as it reached a four-year high last year, with 2.7 million worth of cattle, sheep and pigs stolen

On social media, Jacquie Pennington said: 'This makes me so angry. Poor farming family and who knows what possible cruelty the sheep have endured.

'And to think they waited until everyone was at his father's funeral. Despicable.'

Robert Storey said: 'There just seems to be a tide of criminality sweeping this country. How on earth can you steal a flock of sheep and get away with it?'

Meanwhile a farmer from Devon has described the scene when he uncovered a brutal and barbaric attack on his herd of sheep.

The farmer, who keeps the animals on land near Exeter, does not want to be named for fear of reprisal attacks by the gang.

He and his wife discovered six of their sheep had been killed when they went to carry out a routine check on the flock at around 9pm on Monday, July 22.

The animals' carcasses had been stolen but their heads had been cut off and left behind.

One of the sheep killed had a lamb which is just six weeks old and is now missing.

Meanwhile a farmer from Devon discovered six of their sheep (two pictured) had been killed when they went to carry out a routine check on the flock at around 9pm on Monday, July 22

The animals' carcasses had been stolen but their heads had been cut off and left behind. Pictured: One of the dead sheep

He said: 'I just stood there, staring at it, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Obviously we've seen dead sheep before, we've seen what foxes can do or dog attacks but they ripped the animal apart.

'Then my partner found a sheep's head just thrown into the scrub on the opposite side of the field. It was then the penny dropped that the animal had been slaughtered.

'You could see the bloody trail where they had dragged the carcasses to the gateway and removed them from the field.

'They must have either shot the sheep or used some sort of weapon, possibly a crossbow to take the sheep down, because it would have been extremely difficult to catch these sheep in a field that size in order to do this.

'We have a hard enough life as it is and the cost of farming in general is putting a lot of pressure on people and we simply do not need the worry of checking your livestock to find somebody to basically help themselves and not only that but brutally murder your animals and then stolen them.

Police say black market-traded meat will be of poor quality and could carry health risks

'These people are not only carrying around knives but are obviously capable of butchering an animal, but they're also armed with the means to take these animals down.

'Obviously we're horrified and stunned that this kind of thing is going on and also quite worried about what would happen if these people were disturbed whilst they are carrying out what they do because in order to get these animals out of the field, we think that probably was at least two, three, possibly four of them.

He warned the sheep are not safe for human consumption because of medical treatment they were receiving.

PC Clarke Orchard, of the Rural Affairs Team at Devon and Cornwall Police said: 'We understand that this incident will be concerning for people living in rural communities and urge farmers in the area to be extra vigilant over coming weeks.

The figures showing this years cost of livestock theft to farmers will be published in NFU Mutual's annual rural crime report on August 1 (stock image)

'We're working closely with the farmer to investigate this devastating incident and are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in and around Exeter on Monday evening to please contact us on Crimestoppers or on 101, quoting crime reference 50240182871.

Hannah Binns, NFU Mutual rural affairs specialist, said: 'Livestock theft itself is not a new phenomenon but in recent years has become a highly organised crime, often involving 50 or more sheep being taken in one raid.

'These incidents can have a devastating impact on farming businesses, such as disrupting breeding lines and the stress of having to source and purchase new livestock. Livestock theft can also cause a huge amount of worry to farmers and their families about the welfare of stolen farm animals.'

In the past decade livestock insurers have seen a marked increase in claims of more than a dozen sheep being taken in one go. They say about 15 years ago those kinds of numbers would be a rarity but now they are regularly getting reports of 50 to 100 sheep being taken.

Rustlers are getting more skilled and organised, quickly loading sheep onto trailers and lorries late at night with the help of sheepdogs, which have also been stolen.

Rustlers are getting more skilled and organised, quickly loading sheep onto trailers and lorries late at night with the help of sheepdogs, which have also been stolen (stock image)

There has also been a rise in the illegal butchery of animals in fields.

Rather than having to move and hide the animals until they or their meat can be sold, thieves sometimes prefer to kill them where they are, butcher the carcasses and leave the remains.

Farm animals worth 3 million were stolen from farms in 2019. The figure decreased by 25 per cent to an estimated 2.3 million during 2020, during the pandemic and its months of lockdowns and travel restrictions.

Since then the cost of livestock theft has steadily risen, from 2.4 million in 2021 to 2.7 million in 2022. Less than one per cent of sheep rustling incidents end with a conviction.

Sheep-rustling leads to the animals or meat being sold on the black market.

The animals are often slaughtered in unregulated and unhygienic abattoirs that turn a blind eye to the lack of correct paperwork.

Black market meat can pose health risks as the sheep may be unfit for human consumption at the time they are stolen - because they can be on medication and not yet out of the 'meat withdrawal period', which is the time between the last dose of veterinary medicine and the slaughter of the animal.

To deter thieves, farmers are advised to vary the times of day they feed and check up on their stock, consider relocating stock to fields away from roads or housing them indoors if possible, and ensure stock are clearly marked and records are up to date.
Police on the Costa Blanca have arrested a British bodybuilder accused of knocking out and 'nearly killing' two American soldiers during an unprovoked attack outside a restaurant.

The 32-year-old fugitive was held on a European Arrest Warrant issued by authorities in Germany for a crime of 'attempted homicide', according to detectives in Spain.

Police said the alleged crime took place on June 2 outside a restaurant, when the suspect, described as a 'martial arts expert', was with another two people.

The unnamed Brit was arrested at Alicante Airport and is now facing extradition.

A spokesman for Spain's National Police in Alicante said: 'National Police officers have held a British man at Alicante Airport on a European Arrest Warrant.

'The warrant had been issued by German authorities for a crime of attempted homicide which carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years on conviction.

'The fugitive was located and arrested in less than 20 days, as the order to capture him was activated on July 5.

'He was arrested by officers carrying out passenger control duties at the airport.'

(File image of Alicante coastline) Police on the Costa Blanca have arrested a British bodybuilder accused of knocking out and 'nearly killing' two American soldiers during an unprovoked attack outside a restaurant

The police force added: 'The arrested man, who practiced martial arts and did body-building on a regular basis, managed to knock out the two soldiers with barely any effort given his extraordinary physical condition.

'He also displayed a high level of violence.

'When his alleged victims were on the ground, he didn't let up in his hostile attitude towards them.

'He continued hitting them hard while they were on the floor, in parts of their body including their heads, before fleeing the scene with his two companions when he discovered witnesses had called police.

'The two soldiers were seriously injured and at one point their lives were deemed to be at risk.

'The 32-year-old suspect has been handed over to the Audiencia Nacional court in Madrid which deals with extraditions.'

It was not immediately clear today if the Brit has agreed to be sent back to Germany or has indicated he will fight efforts to extradite him.

His current whereabouts is unknown.

Police could not be reached today for more details.

The place where the June 2 incident occurred has not yet been made public.
Volunteers have gathered to search the north shore of Massachusetts for the remains of murdered five-year-old Harmony Montgomery.

Her killer father, Adam Montgomery, 34, was sentenced to 45 years to life in prison for the 2019 slaying of the little girl in New Hampshire.

He punched Harmony to death for soiling herself and has refused to reveal where he left her body.

Crystal Sorey, Harmony's mother, organized the Saturday search of Rumney Marsh Reservation where investigators believe Montgomery traveled in March 2020.

'That's the acceptance I've had to come to terms with in my grief, just accepting the fact that he's never going to do the right thing for her,' Sorey told WCVB.

Harmony Montgomery (pictured), 5, was murdered by her father who refuses to reveal where her remains are

Volunteers gathered to search the north shore of Massachusetts for her body on Saturday

'I've had a lot of dreams and this area has been in my dreams.'

Although Harmony's remains were not found on Saturday, officials said they are focused on the route of a U-Haul Montgomery rented in March 2020.

They have been able to ping the vehicle's movements between Manchester and the Tobin Bridge in Boston using toll data.

'Adam Montgomery drove 133 miles in the U-Haul truck. After accounting for 3.2 miles of back-and-forth travel with the rental, he covered approximately 106 miles on his route, including traveling through the Tobin Bridge tolls,' said New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati.

'He traveled northbound, southbound, and then northbound again through those tolls before returning to Manchester. This left him with about 26 miles of driving between the Econo Lodge in Manchester and the Tobin Bridge.

'Harmony's remains are likely somewhere along this route.'

Her killer father, Adam Montgomery (pictured), 34, was sentenced to 45 years to life in prison for the 2019 slaying

Crystal Sorey, Harmony's mother, organized the Saturday search of Rumney Marsh Reservation where investigators believe Montgomery traveled in March 2020

Montgomery was convicted in February for Harmony's murder, as well as witness tampering, falsifying physical evidence and abuse of a corpse.

Prosecutors gave the killer one last chance to reveal where Harmony's remains are in exchange for the state recommending a lesser sentence, but were met with silence from Montgomery's attorneys.

He was sentenced to 45 years to life in prison for the five-year-old's brutal murder, and he is serving a minimum sentence of 32 1/2 years in prison on unrelated gun charges.

Police believe that Harmony was killed nearly two years before she was reported missing in 2021.

A judge declared Harmony legally dead in March at the request of her mother.

Montgomery had custody Harmony. Her mother, who was no longer in a relationship with him, said the last time she saw Harmony was during a video call in April 2019.

Police believe that Harmony was killed nearly two years before she was reported missing in 2021

A judge declared Harmony legally dead in March at the request of her mother

She eventually went to police, who announced they were looking for the missing child on New Year's Eve 2021. Montgomery and his wife told police that he had taken his daughter to live with Sorey in Massachusetts.

Harmony's stepmother, Kayla Montgomery, was released on parole in May after serving an 18-month sentence for perjury.

She testified that her husband killed Harmony on December 7, 2019, while the family lived in their car.

Kayla Montgomery said he was driving to a fast food restaurant when he turned around and repeatedly punched Harmony in the face and head because he was angry that she was having bathroom accidents in the car.

She said he then hid the body in the trunk of a car, in a ceiling vent of a homeless shelter and in the walk-in freezer at his workplace before disposing of it in March 2020.
Former TV host Andrew O'Keefe has been arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of drugs just weeks after he was accused of driving with a suspended licence.

Officers from the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command stopped the 52-year-old at about 11.45am on Sunday where he was found behind the wheel of a Mercedes sedan on Cranbrook Road in Sydney's affluent suburb of Bellevue Hill.

He was then arrested and allegedly returned a positive roadside drug test.

Police allege O'Keefe had threatened a man at an address on Longworth Ave in the neighbouring suburb of Point Piper 'a short time' before he was stopped by officers.

The former Deal or No Deal host was then taken to Waverley Police Station where he is assisting police with inquiries.

He has yet to be charged and police will continue with their inquiries.

Sunday's arrest comes after O'Keefe was issued a Court Attendance Notice for the offence of drive while suspended on June 20, following a vehicle stop in Bellevue Hill.

Former TV host Andrew O'Keefe has been arrested for driving under the influence of drugs just weeks after he was caught allegedly driving with a suspended licence

He has yet to be charged and police will continue with their inquiries

In January, he was also convicted on a domestic violence charge dating back to September 2021, when he kicked and spat at a woman.

He was found guilty of common assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of possessing a prohibited drug and contravening an apprehended violence order.

But he avoided jail time and was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order and three 18-month community corrections order for the domestic violence offences.
Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for a Pennsylvania couple accused of starving and beating their 12-year-old daughter to death in a 'yearslong pattern of extensive torture and abuse.'

Malinda Hoagland weighed just 50 pounds and had 'numerous injuries all over her body,' when she died within hours of being admitted to the Paoli Hospital Trauma Unit in May this year.

Father Rendell Hoagland, 52, and stepmother Cindy Warren, 45, were charged with first degree murder after investigators found videos in their West Caln home revealing their 'systematic method of terrorizing, manipulating, and dehumanizing Malinda'.

Warren has already served time for child abuse after her two-year-old stepdaughter was beaten to death by a former partner in 2000, and Chester County District Attorney Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe said that only the ultimate penalty would deliver justice for Malinda.

'I can stand here before you and say that we intend to pursue the death penalty in this case,' he told a press conference.

Malinda was found after Hoagland called 911 claiming his daughter hit a tree while riding her bicycle and lost consciousness

Father Rendell Hoagland and stepmother Cindy Warren are each charged with first, second and third-degree murder, and involuntary servitude

Malinda was found 'barely alive' by police on May 4 after her Hoagland called 911, claiming she had crashed her bicycle into a tree.

Medics at the hospital were shocked by her condition, which included heavy bruising, half a dozen broken bones and liver damage.

An autopsy discovered more than 75 individually identifiable 'bruises, contusions, ulcers, and pressure sores', on her body, and concluded that her death was caused by 'starvation and multiple blunt force injuries'.

DailyMail.com reviewed the couple's social media and previously revealed that Malinda disappeared from her Hoagland's Facebook in early January, while the couple continued posting images of Warren's nine-year-old Gavin, who police say was not abused.

In the last images he posted of his daughter, she looks gaunt as she shows off what appear to be Christmas gifts. In one image, her hand appears bruised.

Investigators claim the couple scrambled to delete videos and text messages in the hours before her death.

But they still managed to recover 'hundreds of videos and still images on the defendants' cellphones and Blink Security Cameras,' after securing a search warrant.

They reportedly show Hoagland and Warren cuffing Malinda's ankles to furniture, forcing her to sleep chained on the floor with no pillow or blankets, and telling her not to expect breakfast, lunch or dinner.

The obese couple would allegedly force the little girl to do 'endless amounts' of strenuous exercises while shackled as punishment for 'perceived slights'.

Those 'slights' included stealing food, not smiling during school sessions over Zoom, or wetting herself while cuffed to furniture.

In the last images Hoagland posted, Malinda looks gaunt as she shows off what appear to be Christmas gifts. In one image, her hand appears bruised

Hoagland used to often post about his daughter, but completely stopped in January

They would watch her over the video surveillance system and bark out commands and reprimands through the speaker system while the girl was chained and alone in the basement.

Malinda had attended North Brandywine Middle School until December 2023 when she was withdrawn by her parents and enrolled in solely online lessons, and she would remain chained underneath her desk out of view of the camera.

Warren previously served time in prison after cutting a deal with prosecutors that saw her testify against her ex-husband McKinley Warren Jr. for the murder of his two-year-old daughter Jessica Bock.

Jessica died in 2000 in eerily similar circumstances to Malinda - after the Warrens took her to the hospital and claimed she had fallen out of a parked car and hit her head, as reported by the Pocono Record.

The toddler was killed after Warren refused to change her diaper because 'she had painted her nails.' Instead, Warren called McKinley, who had been drinking at a bar, to come home and change the toddler's diaper, which is when he fatally injured Jessica.

In her 2009 deal with prosecutors, Warren pleaded guilty to allowing her ex-husband to beat their then three-year-old son Isaiah. She was sentenced to three to seven years in prison.

Warren was not charged in Jessica's murder, but Capt. William Parrish said that she was also partly to blame for Jessica's death.

'At any time, she could have identified her husband as the one who caused her stepdaughter's death and abused her son, but she refused to do so,' Parrish said at the time.

Warren pleaded guilty in 2009 to allowing her ex-husband to beat their then three-year-old son Isaiah, and was sentenced to three to seven years in prison. She's pictured the same year

Police said Warren was partly to blame for the 2000 death her stepdaughter Jessica, two, at the hands of her former partner McKinley Warren Jr

'Instead, she lied with her husband about how Jessica got hurt and left it to a neighbor to report Isaiah's abuse.

'Whenever neighbors complained about her and her husband being drunk, loud and boisterous and we responded to their home, she would be the one who remained loud and disorderly while her husband calmed down, so she would be the one taken away.'

Warren's ex-husband McKinley Warren Jr. is serving 25 to 50 years for abusing Isaiah and for Jessica's murder.

Police said the Warrens' son Isaiah looked 'like a prizefighter who had been through a title bout' when they found him in January 2007 after a neighbor called authorities.

Isaiah's three older full siblings had been placed in foster care soon after their birth due to the investigation into Jessica's 2000 death, but McKinley was not charged until 2007, when Isaiah was found by authorities and his wife agreed to testify against him.

Malinda's former classmates at North Brandywine Middle School honored her memory by decorating her locker as news of her death emerged.

Coatesville Area School District superintendent Catherine Van Vooren issued a statement saying school officials had previously spoken up about signs of abuse shown by Malinda.

'Twelve-year-old Malinda Hoagland was enrolled in our school district from spring 2022 through December 2023 when her family withdrew her from North Brandywine Middle School and enrolled her in another cyber charter school,' she wrote.

'Our staff diligently reported concerns about her welfare to the state agency that receives and manages concerns. Shortly thereafter, she was withdrawn from our schools.

'Her younger brother remained a student at King's Highway. He is now in protective custody and is expected to be relocated to another county and school district.

'This news shakes our entire school community, and we are deeply saddened and upset by the horrific details of the abuse this child suffered.

The couple were arrested on May 6 and are currently being held at Chester County Prison without bail.

They face other charges including second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and involuntary servitude.

Hoagland almost exclusively posted images of son Gavin on Facebook, and only once shared an image of Malinda - in December of 2020

The last images he shared of Malinda was posted on January 5, as she appeared to be opening Christmas presents with Gavin

The home where Malinda was allegedly tortured for months is pictured above

'This incredibly resilient young girl, her body could not take it anymore. She began to shut down, early morning hours of May 4. And the defendants denied her medical care,' Barrena-Sarobe said.

Information from the Coroner's Office and medical experts demonstrates a yearslong pattern of extensive torture and abuse.

'Moreover, text messages and hundreds of videos show that the defendants engaged in a calculated and systematic method of terrorizing, manipulating, and dehumanizing Malinda.

'We will get justice for Malinda.'
Labour's plan to charge VAT on private school fees could bring in less than half the amount previously estimated, an analysis has shown.

Prior to the general election, Sir Keir Starmer vowed to end tax breaks for private schools in order to fund a series of manifesto pledges.

This included the recruitment of 6,500 extra teachers in the state sector, among other measures such as providing 3,000 new nurseries.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies previously estimated that removing tax exemptions from private schools would raise about 1.6billion a year in extra tax revenue.

But, according to the Sunday Times, research by HMRC in January showed - in the most extreme case - the policy would bring in far less.

Labour's plan to charge VAT on private school fees could bring in less than half the amount previously estimated, an analysis has shown (file pic)

Prior to the general election, Sir Keir Starmer vowed to end tax breaks for private schools in order to fund a series of manifesto pledges

It reported that officials modelled three scenarios taking into account how much would be raised if Labour's plan led to more pupils moving to state schools.

Data from the Independent Schools Council's 2023 census found there were 554,316 pupils at private schools in the UK, representing about 5.9 per cent of all pupils.

Under their worst-case scenario, HMRC planned for 17 per cent of private pupils, about 94,000, moving to state schools.

This would see the policy of removing tax exemptions for private schools raise just 650million in extra revenue in 2025-26 because of the added cost of funding children in the state system.

In a second scenario, HMRC calculated that if 11 per cent of pupils moved to state education, about 60,000, the policy would raise 900million.

A 5 per cent shift of privately educated pupils to the state sector, about 28,000 pupils, would raise 1.15 billion.

The newspaper reported the research was requested by the previous Tory government, but was based on data provided by the Independent Schools Council and the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Diarmid Mackenzie, chairman of governors at Sands School in Ashburton, Devon, and also a member of the Independent Schools Association, said: 'It's clear that there's very little understanding of how much revenue the policy is going to raise, what it's going to cost, and the harms that it is going to cause.

'It's vital that we get an independent report from the Office for Budget Responsibility indicating how much this policy is going to raise, and what additional costs it is likely to incur - considering both the costs of pupils returning to state schools, and the impact of school closures on local economies.'
A staggering number of U.S. voters think that Vice President Kamala Harris was at least partially involved in covering-up the extent of President Joe Biden's mental decline.

Biden, 81, ended his reelection bid last weekend amid a flurry of calls for him to step aside after a disastrous debate performance and ensuing weeks of flubs and missteps from which he could not recover.

Harris immediately stepped in as his replacement and took over Biden's campaign. Two days later, the VP earned enough delegates to become the Democrat's presumed 2024 nominee.

But a whopping 92 percent of registered voters in a new YouGov/Times of London poll say that Harris was behind the efforts to conceal Biden's failing cognitive fitness and physical wellbeing as his staff maintained to press and the public that the president was fit for a second term.

More than half of U.S. voters think that Vice President Kamala Harris is at least partially to blame for covering-up President Joe Biden's declining mental and physical health

The survey of 1,170 voters taken July 22 and 23 asked whether they believed there was an effort to shield Biden's mental health from the public and who was responsible for the cover-up.

Fifty-four percent of respondents said there was a cover-up and 30 percent said they don't believe there was one. Sixteen percent aren't sure.

The switch-up in the 2024 election has left many with questions over whether there was a plot to keep Biden's cognitive health under wraps and who plotted to keep secret his declining health.

And 30 percent of those surveyed think that Biden should step down before the end of his term and let Harris take over now.

Of those who do believe there was a cover-up, a resounding 68 percent think that Biden's No. 2 was 'a great deal' involved in concealing his true fitness. Seven percent said Harris was 'a little' to blame, while 17 percent feel she was 'somewhat' responsible.

And only a measly four percent of respondents don't think Harris was involved at all.

Harris became the Democratic Party's presumed 2024 presidential nominee last week after she took over Biden's campaign

Americans think that Biden's family, however, is the most to blame for keeping his declining mental and physical health a secret from the public.

A combined 96 percent of registered voters who think there was a cover-up put the onus on the president's family, including First Lady Jill Biden.

Eighty-eight percent blame news and media outlets and a combined 92 percent say it's the Democrats in Congress who were also involved in keeping Biden's fitness a secret.
Aussies can now retroactively change the gender on their birth certificate in one state - even before gender-change surgery - and hundreds have already done it.

Nearly 250 Queenslanders, including 11 children, have applied to legally change the gender on their birth certificate after changes to the relevant law, the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2023, kicked in on June 24.

These changes removed the requirement for people to undergo sexual reassignment surgery before formally registering a change of gender.

The law also allows for the gender of a child under the age of 16 to be changed through a parental application or by going through the Children's Court.

A birth certificate is a legal document giving legal and official recognition to the person's identified gender in Queensland.

One month after the updated law came into action 247 applications had been filed regarding the changing of genders and 142 have been completed so far.

Two-thirds of the completed applications regarded male-to-female changes, another quarter female-to-male, and less than 10 per cent were to another gender term.

Under these new laws two same-sex parents or just the term 'parent' can also be listed on a birth certificate for a child - less than 10 applications have been filed for this so far.

Children under 16 can now change their gender on their birth certificate in Queensland

Emily Wells, 61, who lives in Tennant Creek, was one of the first to apply to change their birth certificate.

'It's really hard to explain the euphoria. To me, it's corrected something that was done wrong 60 years ago,' Ms Wells told the Courier Mail.

Ms Wells, who has been trying to officially change her gender since 2004, received her amended birth certificate on July 5.

She said she was in discussion with state government for seven years before she was able to hand in her application.

'When I got the certificate, it finally meant that I have that last piece of legal document that confirms who I am,' she said.

'I was part of the campaign, and you had to be open and out there  but the reason why I did it and why I've pushed for it is for future generations because it's going to help so many people, particularly younger trans people.'

Emily Wells, 61, who lives in Tennant Creek, was one of the first to apply to change their birth certificate after Queensland updated its laws on June 24

Ms Wells predicted that there would be thousands of applications in due time.

The chief executive of Equality Australia, Anna Brown, said Queensland was one of the later states to get rid of 'cruel and outdated' legal barriers to identification

'The fact that hundreds of people have already applied to change their birth certificate to reflect who they really are shows how important this is to some people and how long they have waited,' Mr Brown told the publication.
A firebrand Muslim clerk eyed up an island on the border of the United States and Canada to purchase and turn into an Islamic state.

In a video to his followers, Sheikh Yasser al-Habib, 45, an extremist scholar who already runs military-style training camps, revealed he is in advanced talks to buy an island off the west coast of Scotland.

His group plans to build its own school, hospital and mosque on the island, where it intends to practice sharia law.

Al-Habib - who claimed asylum in Britain 20 years ago after fleeing his native Kuwait - told his followers during their property search they considered an 'island located on the border between the United States and Canada.'

However, they were unable to purchase it because they could not afford its $8 million price tag and there was competition to buy the island from a Canadian charity.

Firebrand Muslim clerk Sheikh Yasser al-Habib (pictured), 45, revealed he considered an island on the U.S.-Canada border to turn into his own Islamic state

It is not clear where the exact location of the island al-Habib considered, but controversial figure said they were interested in making Canada their base because the country is 'generally welcoming' for immigration.

Al-Habib, who preaches to millions online from his 'global headquarters' in the picturesque village of Fulmer, in South Buckinghamshire, England, has now set his sights on the uninhabited Scottish island of Torsa.

Torsa, which is one of the Slate Islands, is just over a mile long and has one farmhouse. It is accessible only by private boat from Luing  itself reached via a ferry from the island of Seil, which in turn connects to the mainland via a bridge  and has not been permanently inhabited for more than 50 years.

Sources said that two representatives of al-Habib's group have visited the island and filmed it as they were shown around.

Sarah Zaaimi, a deputy director for communications at the American think tank Atlantic Council, who has researched al-Habib, said: 'They will have their own army, their own justice system, they will manage their own schools and hospitals, and people from around the world will be able to migrate to this homeland.

Al-Habib is an extremist scholar who already runs military-style training camps and is now in advanced talks to buy an island off the west coast of Scotland

A video encouraging al-Habib's supporters to donate to their cause showed a man filming from the Scottish island of Torsa (pictured)

'It does challenge the notion of sovereignty. It's puzzling to me how the UK authorities are allowing such a discourse. You are fundraising for the creation of a sovereign country on the margins of another country.'

Encouraging supporters to donate, al-Habib said Torsa will become an Islamic 'homeland' which they will create to prepare for the coming of their messiah, known as Mahdi.

Al-Habib has already raised more than $3 million of their $3.5 million goal to purchase the land.

In one three-minute video, al-Habib said: 'If you want to live free under the banner of the imam [Shia leader], in a special homeland where you feel everything in it reminds you of the awaited Mahdi, everything is the Shia homelandsupport this project.'

In the same video, another man, who is filming from Torsa, said: 'Here, my brothers, God willing, we want to build a large mosque, a school and a hawza [Shia seminary]. We want this place to be a homeland to the Shias and the believers.'

The footage switches to images of al-Habib's 'army', called Al-Shurta Al-Khamis, training and doing drills on the grounds of his mosque in Fulmer.

His group plans to build its own school, hospital and mosque on the island of Torsa (pictured), where it intends to practice Sharia law

Al-Habib has repeatedly come to the attention of the authorities since his arrival in the UK in 2004, and the government has tried to shut down his TV channel without success.

In a video broadcast after the attacks in Israel on October 7 last year, al-Habib said: 'Who among us does not enjoy retaliation of the Zionist enemy? We were all buoyed by this news.' He did, however, criticize Hamas for desecrating bodies and raping women.

In June 2022, a film called The Lady Of Heaven, written by al-Habib, was pulled from Cineworld cinemas, and some branches of Vue, after hundreds protested against the film.

Protesters accused it of blasphemy as it depicted the Prophet himself, which Islam forbids. The cinema chains stopped showing the film as they feared for the safety of their staff, but critics accused Cineworld and Vue of 'self-censorship.'
A British man has been found dead near his family holiday home in Portugal.

Police had been searching for the 28-year-old since Friday after relatives raised the alarm and said they had been unable to contact him.

The search in the area around the village of Saboia near the town of Odemira just above the Algarve in Portugal's Alentejo region was called off yesterday following the grim discovery.

Police had been joined by firefighters and used drones and sniffer dogs in the hunt.

Officials have so far been unable to confirm exactly where the unnamed Brit's body was found.

Police were searching in the area around the village of Saboia (pictured) near the town of Odemira after a 29-year-old British man was reported missing on Friday (stock image)

Police had been searching for the 28-year-old since Friday after relatives raised the alarm and said they had been unable to contact him

But the search is understood to have focused on the area around the rural property where the dead man was spending time before being expanded to dense woodland close to the banks of the Mira River.

The results of the autopsy are unlikely to be publicly released but police sources said today the death was not believed to be crime-related.

Local reports said the British man, who is understood to have travelled to the holiday home every year, had unspecified 'health problems.'

Village residents said he was not well-known in the area.

Although the police search only began on Friday, he is thought to have been reported missing two days earlier.

Earlier this month a 48-year-old British man named only as Steven Michael B was found dead more than a week after Spanish mountain rescue police were mobilised to help look for him near the northern Spanish village of Las Salas.

Portugal's Alentejo region where the police had focused their search efforts before the grim discovery of the man's body (stock image)

The 48-year-old vanished on July 11 after a row with his wife and was found on July 21 in the village church bell tower.

Well-placed sources said ahead of an autopsy they weren't looking for anyone else in connection with keen mountaineer Steven's death.

Last month a missing British hiker was found dead in the Spanish Pyrenees.

Police and other emergency services had been searching for the 70-year-old Londoner after he disappeared on June 24.

On June 27 it emerged he had been found dead close to the Aspe Peak, a mountain in the western Pyrenees of Huesca on the western side of the Aragon Valley.

The 8,678ft peak towers over the Spanish ski resort of Candanchu and the Somport pass on the border with France.

The three Greim officers who found the unnamed hiker's body informed a police helicopter which was in the area so he could be transferred to a nearby mountain refuge and handed over to funeral parlour workers.

The dead man is understood to have been walking between the Lizara and Candanchu mountain refuges.

Jay Slater (pictured), 19, disappeared on June 17 near the Tenerife village of Masca and his body was found nearly a month later. He is believed to have fallen in mountains after becoming disorientated and suffered fatal injuries including head wounds

The Civil Guard in Huesca had received a message from the UK's Interpol office in Manchester giving them the coordinates of an SOS wristband the hiker was wearing.

Footage released by the Civil Guard at the time showed the operation to rescue the tragic Brit's body.

Apprentice bricklayer Jay Slater, 19, disappeared on June 17 near the Tenerife village of Masca and his body was found nearly a month later. He is believed to have fallen in mountains after becoming disorientated and suffered fatal injuries including head wounds.

Trainee barrister Ben Ross, 26, went missing in Majorca for 12 days in Majorca before turning up 'dehydrated and exhausted' at the British Consulate in Palma on Monday.

His worried mum Felix Robinson had flown to the island to look for him before their emotional reunion.
A woman's abduction at a Gold Coast bus stop has sparked a major police operation.

Witnesses saw a woman being forced into a ute on Highfield Drive in Merrimac at 4.30pm on Sunday.

Multiple police units, including Polair, searched for the ute which was found abandoned in a Bunnings car park in Burleigh.

The woman escaped the situation and sought help in McDonald's while two men fled the scene, the Goal Coast Bulletin reports.

The incident took place near All Saints Anglican School.

One parent wrote on X that the school was locked down.

'Just had to lock down my kid's school due to the manhunt in Burleigh Waters,' the mother wrote.

The woman is understood to be uninjured and recovering from her ordeal.

Police responded to reports of a woman being abducted in the Gold Coast on Sunday in a ute (pictured) which was found abandoned in a Bunnings car park in Burleigh

The incident took place near All Saints Anglican School and one parent wrote on X that the school was locked down

Witnesses saw the woman being forced into the ute on Highfield Drive in Merrimac (pictured). The woman escaped the and sought help in McDonald's while two men fled the scene

A Queensland Police spokesperson said officers were investigating the incident.

'Investigations are ongoing into an incident in Merrimac this evening,' the spokesperson told the publication.

'Police have located the vehicle and have spoken with the parties involved.

'There is no threat to public safety.'
A man has been arrested and charged with arson after a building housing a heritage-listed pub went up in flames on Saturday morning.

The fire hit the Oxford Hotel complex in North Adelaide, with emergency services called to the O'Connell Street address about 7am with smoke and flames coming out of the building.

Fire crews extinguished the blaze and no-one was injured in the incident, the police said on Sunday, but the flames caused significant damage to the building.

Fire Cause Investigators and SAPOL eastern district detectives attended the scene and treated the fire as suspicious.

It is understood the fire damaged the accommodation behind the pub and the bar itself was not damaged.

Following investigations, detectives arrested a 37-year-old man at 5.30pm the same day.

The police have charged him with arson and he has not applied for bail.

He is expected to appear at Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.

A man has been arrested and charged with arson after a fire hit the heritage-listed Oxford Hotel complex in North Adelaide on Saturday morning
Kamala Harris' popularity made a massive jump in the week since she stepped up and became Democrat's presumed 2024 nominee.

The vice president's favorability sits at 43 percent  an eight point surge since last weekend, according to ABC News/Ipsos polling.

The poll released a week ago revealed that 35 percent view Harris favorability and 46 percent see her in a unfavorable light.

Biden announced last Sunday, July 20, that he was ending his reelection bid after weeks of pressure from within his party to step aside. He immediately endorsed his VP to take over.

Harris last week earned enough delegates to become the de facto nominee and is campaigning with much of her boss's old team and campaign infrastructure.

Kamala Harris saw an eight-point surge in favorability in the week since becoming the de facto Democratic presidential nominee

But some voters, like those who spoke with DailyMail.com in North Carolina, are worried that Harris might not be able to clinch a win in November.

'For most of the people I know, we were a little anxious when the announcement first came out,' Charlotte-area voter LaKesha Womack, 46, admitted. 'Combining black and woman into one person, it was like how is the country going to react?'

'I felt pretty confident that people would vote for President Biden, even if they didn't like it, just because I think a lot of people knew what was at stake,' the black North Carolina voter said. 'But, you know, just understanding the racial undertones in the country, I think I'm a little  and the sexism that exists in this country. I think I'm a little anxious, but I'm definitely hopeful.'

Harris hit the campaign trail hard in the week since Biden stepped down with stops in several different states and has taken over some ceremonial presidential duties while Biden recovered from his third bout of COVID-19.

'The electorate is energized. Democrats are ready to go,' Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in an appearance on ABC This Week on Sunday.

'Our candidate is the energizer bunny,' the contender for Harris' vice presidential candidate added. 'She's been everywhere all the time over the last several days. And we're excited about that  to get to see her in the battleground states and all over the country.'

The most important jump in support comes from independent voters, who are vastly important to clinching a victory in November.

Now 44 percent of independents have a favorable view of Harris compared to just 28 percent who felt that way just a week prior. Her unfavorability dropped from 47 percent to 40 percent.

Donald Trump's favorability rating, meanwhile, dropped slightly from 40 percent to 36 percent in the week following the attempted assassination attempt against him.

Among independents, the former president also saw a drop from 35 percent to 27 percent.

The new survey suggests that there is more enthusiasm for the vice president's candidacy compared to Trump  48 percent to 39 percent.

Harris is likely to face-off with Trump in November as no other Democrats are being floated currently to challenge the vice president for the spot with just three weeks until the Democratic National Convention.

Fifty-two percent of those surveyed think Harris should be the nominee, according to the poll. And 86 percent of Democrats want to see her leading their ticket.

A separate poll also released on Sunday from YouGov/Times of London reveals that 30 percent of voters think Biden should step down now and turn over the rest of his term to Harris.

It also found a staggering number of U.S. voters  92 percent  think Harris was at least partially involved in covering-up the extent of President Biden 's mental decline.

The survey of 1,170 voters taken July 22 and 23 asked whether they believed there was an effort to shield Biden's mental health from the public and who was responsible for the cover-up.

Fifty-four percent of respondents said there was a cover-up and 30 percent said they don't believe there was one. Sixteen percent aren't sure.

The switch-up in the 2024 election has left many with questions over whether there was a plot to keep Biden's cognitive health under wraps and who plotted to keep secret his declining health.
A political 'witch hunt' is behind the attempt to crush 'teen nights' at a Long Beach Island resort and heading for court after the bar owner began a voter drive among his young patrons, he claims.

The weekly summer parties have been held at the Marlin Restaurant and Bar on New Jersey's Long Beach Island since 1989.

But councilors refused to renew its license in June after the town's police chief said teens queuing for the venue were now 'out of control'.

Bar owner Michael Battista is a former commissioner and mayor of the beach town and claims his successors are violating his young customers' rights to assemble and rights to free speech.

'The taxpayers should be outraged at the money the borough is going to spend defending a bad decision to ban teen night,' he said.

DJ Erin Constantine entertaining guests at the Marlin Restaurant teen night in Beach Haven

Beach Haven Police Chief said the teenagers in the queues were now 'out of control'

Beach Haven Police Chief James Markoski told councilors that his department did not have the resources to police the town as well as the queue where teens fight, damage property and 'think it's a joke' when police intervene.

'I'm not against teen night, it had its place, it's just right now it's out of control,' he said.

'It's a public safety issue.'

Councilors voted 3-2 not to extend the license and Batista slammed a 'witch hunt' and 'selective enforcement', pointing to non-licensed venues that 'have crowds of teenagers present on weekend nights, and patrons, as well as bar patrons, spilling out into the sidewalk'.

He also claimed that councilor Colleen Lambert had cast the deciding vote because he had voted against her serving as mayor in January last year.

'If there was such a problem, why didn't this come up in the off-season when we had time to discuss it and hopefully work things out?' he said.

'Now they spring this up on me right before the summer season.'

'I'm not surprised,' Lambert told sandpaper.net.

'The truth is, as I stated publicly on several occasions, I never thought teen nights were a good idea, but only supported them because our police department did.

'The minute our chief said he no longer thought they benefited the town, I agreed, and so, obviously, did two other council members.'

Battista launched a voter education scheme earlier this year requiring teens in the queue to click on a QR code taking them to a petition where they would be asked to vote in November's presidential election.

Handouts with more information on how to vote were distributed inside the bar.

Its teen nights previously name the news in August 2021 when they were suspected to be the source of at least 20 cases of COVID-19.

But an announcement of its closure on the bar's Instagram page brought protests from teens who said they had travelled from as far as Turkey and Russia to attend, and warnings that the move would backfire.

'Some people think its not a good idea to have all of us in one spot, but its safe and its a good place to have fun and talk to people,' said Sophia Im, 17.

'Its no different than people going to the beach and hanging out.'

'Its very social and youll definitely make new friends,' added Kayla Clinton, 16.

The venue has hosted its teen nights since 1989 but has now opened them to all ages

Some teenage fans of the club said they had come from as far as Turkey and Russia to attend

'If it were taken away, I think it would restrict all of the teens from meeting new people, and teen night helps us get out of doing the same routine every day of just going to the beach, going shopping.'

Ocean County Superior Court will be asked to rule on Battista's lawsuit after a New Jersey federal court judge sent it back for adjudication.

In the meantime, Battista has opened his teen nights to clients of all ages in a bid to get around the ban.

'The borough's actions are a violation of several articles in the Constitution of the United States,' he said.

'Those are the right to assemble, right to free speech and the rights of non-discrimination.

'It is a safe, supervised event where underage kids can enjoy socializing with their friends, get to meet new friends and enjoy a summer of their dreams.'
A Santorini councillor has told residents to stay at home as a record number of tourists descended on the Greek island.

Councillor Panos Kavallaris urged residents in a since-deleted Facebook post to stay at home and avoid the masses of tourists authorities expected to arrive on the island during the peak holiday season over the last few days.

'Another difficult day for our city and island is ahead with the arrival of 17,000 visitors from cruise ships. We ask for your attention: limit your movements as much as possible,' Kavallaris said, but the post quickly caused outrage among locals.

Residents criticised the councillor's request, with one commenting on social media: '[He] officially asks locals to lock themselves at home, so that tourists can wander around free. Marvelous.'

LIFO, a popular Greek newspaper, said that while Kavallaris' announcement was made 'with the best intentions', it was clear that the situation in Santorini in regards to the amount of tourists coming to the island was getting out of control.

Shocking images from the picturesque island this week show masses of tourists queuing on narrow walkways along white buildings with the famous sea-blue domes for the best holiday shots.

Shocking images from the picturesque island this week show masses of tourists queuing on narrow walkways along white buildings with the famous sea-blue domes for the best holiday shots.

Hundreds of tourists perch on the steep hills in Santorini that watch and photograph the famed sunset on July 25, 2024

Tourists leave after viewing Santorini's famed sunset from the Castle of Oia, on Santorini, Greece, earlier this week

Hundreds of tourists regularly gather at the village of Oia, Santorini, to watch the sunset, like above on July 20

Tourists wait for the sunset in the village of Oia on the Greek island of Santorini on July 20, 2024

The queue to reach the viewing spot in the clifftop village of Oia can now take more than 20 minutes.

Santorini is a key stopover of the Greek cruise experience. But with parts of the island nearing saturation, officials are considering restrictions.

Of the record 32.7 million people who visited Greece last year, around 3.4 million, or one in 10, went to the island of just 15,500 residents.

'We need to set limits if we don't want to sink under overtourism,' Santorini mayor Nikos Zorzos said.

'There must not be a single extra bed... whether in the large hotels or Airbnb rentals.'

As the sun set behind the horizon in Oia, thousands raised their phones to the sky to capture the moment, followed by scattered applause.

For canny entrepreneurs, the Cycladic island's famous sunset can be a cash cow.

One company advertised more than 50 'flying dresses', which have long flowing trains, for up to 370 euros (312), on posters around Oia for anyone who wishes to 'feel like a Greek goddess' or spruce up selfies.

But elsewhere in Oia's narrow streets, residents have put up signs urging visitors to respect their home.

'RESPECT... It's your holiday... but it's our home,' read a purple sign from the Save Oia group.

Another local described Santorini as the 'Hawaii of Europe', with a third adding on social media: 'I'm so glad I'm not on the island right now.'

Shaped by a volcanic eruption 3,600 years ago, Santorini's landscape is 'unique', the mayor said, and 'should not be harmed by new infrastructure'.

Around a fifth of the island is currently occupied by buildings.

As the sun set behind the horizon in Oia (pictured above on July 19), thousands raised their phones to the sky to capture the moment, followed by scattered applause

Scores of tourists disembark from a boat at the port of the Greek island of Santorini on July 20, 2024

Tourists take pictures of donkeys being guided by a local man, in the village of Oia, on Santorini, Greece, July 25, 2024

Tourists walk through a street of the village of Fira on the Greek island of Santorini on July 19, 2024

Of the record 32.7 million people who visited Greece last year, around 3.4 million, or one in 10, went to the island of just 15,500 residents (pictured: tourists in Santorini on July 20, 2024)

At the edge of the cliff, a myriad of swimming pools and jacuzzis highlight Santorini is also a pricey destination.

In 2023, 800 cruise ships brought some 1.3 million passengers, according to the Hellenic Ports Association.

Cruisecritic, a Tripadvisor company, says that up to seven cruise ships can dock simultaneously on the island, which means that they could bring over 14,000 passengers if at full capacity.

Cruise ships 'do a lot of harm to the island', said Chantal Metakides, a Belgian resident of Santorini for 26 years.

'When there are eight or nine ships pumping out smoke, you can see the layer of pollution in the caldera,' she said.

In June, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis floated the possibility of capping cruise ship arrivals to Greece's most popular islands.

'I think we'll do it next year,' he told Bloomberg, noting that Santorini and tourist magnet Mykonos 'are clearly suffering'.

'There are people spending a lot of money to be on Santorini and they don't want the island to be swamped,' said the pro-business conservative leader, who was re-elected to a second four-year term last year.

In an interview, Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni echoed this sentiment and said: 'We must set quotas because it's impossible for an island such as Santorini... to have five cruise ships arriving at the same time.'

Local officials have set a limit of 8,000 cruise boat passengers per day from next year. But not all local operators agree.

Antonis Pagonis, head of Santorini's hoteliers association, believes better visitor flow management is part of the solution.

'It is not possible to have (on) a Monday, for example, 20 to 25,000 guests from the cruise ships, and the next day zero,' he said.

Thousands of tourists walk through the narrow alleyways in Santorini every single day, like above on July 20

Santorini is a key stopover of the Greek cruise experience. But with parts of the island nearing saturation, officials are considering restrictions (pictured: tourists watching the famed sunset in Santorini)

Tourists queue as they wait to get the cable car from the old port of Fira to the village of Fira on the Greek island of Santorini on July 20, 2024

Tourists walk through a narrow street in the village of Fira on the Greek island of Santorini at sunset on July 19, 2024

Local officials have set a limit of 8,000 cruise boat passengers per day from next year

Like other popular tourist destinations, the Cycladic island perched on a volcano is approaching over-saturation, and now wants to restrict the number of cruise ship

Pagonis also argued that most of the congestion only affects parts of the island like the capital, Fira.

In the south of the island, the volcanic sand beaches are less crowded, even though it is high season in July.

The modern tourism industry has also changed visitor behaviour.

'I listened (to) people making a FaceTime call with the family, saying "I'm in Turkey",' smiled tourist guide Kostas Sakavaras.

'They think that the church over there is a mosque because yesterday they were in Turkey.'

The veteran guide said the average tourist coming to the island has changed.

'Instagram has defined the way people choose the places to visit,' he said, explaining everybody wants the perfect Instagram photo to confirm their expectations.
Three Palestinian terror suspects were reportedly detained crossing over the southern border into the United States as agents warn they do not have the resources to fully vet migrants.

Sources told The New York Post that border agents detained three Palestinian migrants who illegally crossed the southern border earlier this month.

One migrant was said to have 'salacious photos' on their phone including a picture of a masked man holding an AK-47 rifle.

Border Patrol agents told The Post they do not have the tools to fully vet migrants and people with connections to terrorist organizations are slipping through the cracks.

'I wanted to get into Border Patrol and protect from terrorists. And it's like, well, I probably let terrorists in the country,' said one border agent.

Three Palestinian terror suspects were reportedly detained in the San Diego sector crossing (pictured) over the southern border into the United States

Hamas's deadly raids on southern Israel on October 7 (pictured) have stoked fears that fighters from anti-Israel armed groups may try to attack the United States

'Knowing who these guys are, we have, like, no access to anything international. Like, we really don't and it kind of sucks.'

Three Palestinian migrants and one Turkish migrant are reportedly part of a group that turned themselves in to agents at the San Diego sector and were found to have possible ties to terrorist organizations.

It is unknown which organizations they are affiliated with, but border agents in the San Diego sector have been warned to be on the lookout for individuals with ties to Palestinian terrorist groups.

A bulletin from the San Diego Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office urged guards to be on the lookout for members of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Hamas's deadly raids on southern Israel on October 7 have stoked fears that fighters from anti-Israel armed groups may try to attack the Jewish state's main global backer  the US.

Border agents in the San Diego sector have been warned to be on the lookout for individuals with ties to Palestinian terrorist groups such as Hamas (pictured)

'Individuals inspired by, or reacting to, the current Israel-Hamas conflict may attempt travel to or from the area of hostilities in the Middle East via circuitous transit across the Southwest border,' said the memo.

The one-pager urges CBP guards to be on the lookout for 'fighters motivated by ideology' from the Middle East who are passing through Mexico into the US.

It features the logos sometimes worn by members of Hamas, which controls Gaza, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese militia.

They should focus on single, military-age men and look out for the patches, weapons, or camouflage gear.

Guards should ask them about their plans to return to the Middle East, whether they have military training, or any associations they have with Israel or Palestinian areas.
Infuriated parents have filed a lawsuit against a Texas superintendent for allegedly changing their children's grades.

Monica Johnson and Brandolyn Jones have taken matters into their own hands after claiming that the Marlin Independent School District Superintendent, Dr. Darryl Henson unfairly altered their children's grades.

Johnson, the mother of Me'kia Mouling, who graduated from Marlin High School in 2023 and now attends Texas A&M University, said Henson's change caused her daughter to be tied for valedictorian.

Meanwhile, Jones, the mother of Praiyer and Addai Jones, said their grades were not only changed, but one of her children's long-time teachers was suddenly replaced with a deceased man.

Jones has pulled her youngest out of the school because of the alleged dishonest behavior, but Johnson's son still attends Marlin High School. She makes sure to keep a watchful eye on him because of Henson.

Two mothers, Monica Johnson and Brandolyn Jones, have sued Marlin Independent School District Superintendent, Dr. Darryl Henson over unfairly altered their children's grades

Although Johnson's daughter graduated from Marlin High School (pictured) in 2023, he son still attends, but she keeps a watchful eye on him because of Henson

'He's still retaliating because we're suing him, its harassment. So, every day Im terrified of what he is going to do,' Johnson told KKXV.

'I check weekly just so I can keep up with it  I dont feel like I should have to do that.'

Johnson explained that when her daughter Me'kia attended the controversial high school, Henson modified her grades just before graduation.

'Henson recalculated grades and it moved her to No. 3,' her mother said.

The angry mother said the embattled superintendent eventually changed her daughter's grades back, but at that point, she and another student were tied for valedictorian.

Jones- whose oldest son, Praiyer, now attends the University of Louisiana in Lafayette- has decided to take her youngest, Addai, out of the school district because of the alleged deception at the hands of the superintendent.

She claims Addai's science teacher not only changed, but his grade dropped exponentially.

Brandlyn Jones, the mother of two sons, Praiyer and Addai Jones, said their grades were not only changed, but one of her children's long-time teachers was suddenly replaced with a deceased man

'And his science grade changed from a B average to 20s,' she said.

'Even more shocking, his real teacher that he had throughout the entire year had been changed to a man who was dead.'

Even though neither of her kids attend schools in the district anymore, Jones still wants Henson to pay for his actions.

'I want justice for Addai Jones and Praiyer Jones. I want my son's grades restored,' Jones said.

Johnson, whose son still attends Marlin High School, said that his 2024 class ranking has drastically dropped from 13th place to 24th.

'I feel like he's still retaliating against me because I am in the process of suing,' she told the outlet.

'And not only is he retaliating, but now I feel like it's harassment because my son still does go to school here.'

Both mother's filed a lawsuit against Henson at the beginning of the year and documented multiple claims, including first amendment retaliation.

The furious mother's are suing for damages upwards of $1million.

Monica Johnson said her daughter's grades were changed by Henson, leading her to be tied for valedictorian with another student

DailyMail.com contacted Dr. Henson for comment.

This is not the first time the Texas school district has been in the hot seat, after Henson announced in 2023 that the Marlin High School graduation ceremony had to be postponed.

In a letter sent to parents and families, Henson said most seniors did not make the cut due to low grades and attendance records.

District officials then postponed the ceremony to June in order to give students the time to catch up and hopefully check the boxes needed to obtain their diplomas.

'As a school district, we really want to make sure we're making the best decision in the interest of all children,' Henson previously told KCEN News.

The postponement of the major ceremony comes after the district had already announced a four-day school week aimed at increasing attendance.

In 2020, Marlin ISD lost their official accreditation from Texas after the district received an 'F' grade for accountability in 2019.
A British man has been rushed to hospital with serious injuries after being stabbed in a Tenerife tourist resort.

The 22-year-old was knifed early this morning in Playa de las Americas on the south of the island.

Emergency responders said he had suffered a stab wound to his stomach.

Police have launched an investigation. It was not immediately clear this afternoon if any arrests have been made.

A British man has been rushed to hospital after being stabbed in Tenerife early this morning

The 22-year-old was attacked on Avenida Antonio Dominguez Alfonso in Playa de Las Americas just before 6.30am

The victim, who was admitted to an intensive care unit at a hospital in the Tenerife capital Santa Cruz, is thought to have been on holiday on the island although there has not yet been any official confirmation.

A spokesman for an emergency response co-ordination centre said: 'A British man aged 22 has been taken to the Our Lady of Candelaria University Hospital.

'He had a serious stomach stab wound when he was assisted at the scene.

The victim was admitted to an intensive care unit at the Tenerife capital Santa Cruz

The British man was rushed to the Our Lady of Candelaria University Hospital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (file photo)

'We received a 999 call just before 6.30am this morning requesting assistance for an injured man in a street called Avenida Antonio Dominguez Alfonso in the municipality of Arona.

'The corresponding emergency response was activated. Police are investigating.'

The probe is being conducted by officers from the National Police force in Tenerife.
A man has been arrested today after a fatal house fire in east London killed a man in his 70s in east London yesterday.

Police were called to reports of a fire at a property on Oval Road North in Dagenham at 5.40pm on Saturday.

The man's body was found by paramedics and firefighters after forcing entry inside the house. Police are still working to inform his next of kin.

Officers are treating the blaze as suspicious and have murder detectives leading the police investigation.

Police have not revealed which offence the suspect is accused of but he remains in custody.

A man has been arrested today after a fatal house fire in east London killed a man in his 70s in east London yesterday

Police were called to reports of a fire at a property on Oval Road North in Dagenham at 5.40pm on Saturday

The man's body was found by paramedics and firefighters after forcing entry inside the house. Police are still working to inform his next of kin

Officers are treating the blaze as suspicious and have murder detectives leading the police investigation

A spokesperson from the Metropolitan Police said: 'A police investigation has been launched following a fatal fire in Dagenham.

'The fire is believed to be suspicious, and as such the Mets investigation is led by homicide detectives working alongside colleagues from London Fire Brigade.

'Police were called to Oval Road North, Dagenham at around 17.40hrs on Saturday, 27 July to reports of a house fire.

'Officers attended along with London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service.

'After firefighters forced entry to a property, the body of a man, aged in his 70s, was found. Enquiries are ongoing to notify his next of kin.

'A post-mortem examination will commence on 29 July at Queens Hospital Mortuary.

'The cause of the fire is under investigation but is being treated as suspicious. Enquiries are ongoing to establish whether the fire in Oval Road North may be linked to any other incidents.

'A male has been arrested in connection with the investigation. He has been taken into police custody where he remains.

'Anyone with information or any witnesses are asked to call police on 101, quoting reference 5619/27Jul. To remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers.'
Britain is set to bask in a glorious summer heatwave next week, with temperatures set to soar above 30C in parts of the country.

Forecasters predict that the mercury will hit 29C tomorrow before climbing to 32C on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The upturn in the weather saw Brits flock to beaches and beauty spots today as they soaked up the sizzling heat.

The feelgood factor may, however, be dampened by thundery showers which are expected to sweep across southern parts of the UK towards the middle of the week.

Forecasters said much of southern England will see sunshine and temperatures in the high-20s tomorrow, before peaking in the low-30s later on in the week.

BRIGHTON: Thousands of people flooded the beach in Brighton today as they soaked up the summer sun

SOMERSET: People go for a dip at the Warleigh Weir on the River Avon in Bath

WIMBLEDON: People relaxing in the sunshine this afternoon on Wimbledon Common

SUSSEX: Beachgoers enjoying the hot weather at Birling Gap in East Sussex

DORSET: Tourists make their way down to the beach at Durdle Door in Dorset

The UK's maximum temperature forecast for the next week (Source: Met Office)

There will be hazier sunshine across northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland in the first half of the week, but temperatures will still be in the low-20s.

It comes after families up and down the country spent Sunday scrambling to find a spot on the beach and queuing up for the ice cream van.

Yesterday, wild swimmers and kayakers flocked to the River Avon in Bath, Somerset, in their dozens - including one man who took his dog for a walk in the shallow waters of Warleigh Weir.

Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: 'In England and Wales there will be plenty of blue skies to start the day, with a little bit more hazy sunshine over Northern Ireland and Scotland.

'A weak weather front will start to move in across the Western Isles, giving some outbreaks of rain, with perhaps an afternoon shower just starting to develop across parts of North Wales into Northern England.

'But this will be few and far between. There will be plenty of sunshine for most.'

The Met Office said it was expected that some parts of the UK may reach 'heatwave criteria' during the first half of the week.

Heatwave criteria is when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold which varies by county.

Today, sunseekers packed out St James' Park, London, relaxing during the mini-heatwave, while beachgoers in East Sussex cooled off by taking a dip in the sea.

Holidaymakers gathered in their droves at Brighton Beach and Durdle Door in Dorset today, carrying coolers and umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun's rays.

It comes after a disappointing start to July, where the wet and chilly start has barely materialised into the Great British summer many had pinned their hopes on.

Car parks were full around Durdle Door as people flocked to the beach today

Crowds enjoy the hot weather at Weymouth Beach

People cool off at Warleigh Weir on the River Avon in Bath

People relaxing in the sunshine in St James' Park

A runner takes to the country lanes in Oxfordshire as the UK experiences a mini-heatwave

Cyclists out along the country lanes in the sunshine in Binfield Heath, Oxfordshire

A man enjoying a wave at Warleigh Weir on the River Avon in Bath, Somerset

Crowds of people pack out Weymouth beach as they enjoy the hot weather

The Met Office predicts temperatures could reach up to 30C today in the south-east

Opium poppies carpet the fields on a sunny afternoon in the Oxfordshire countryside

From Tuesday onwards it will turn breezy and cloudy in the north with a few showers expected.

And in the south, hazy sunny spells and thunderstorms are expected as it remains relatively humid into the latter end of the week.

Yesterday, Her Majesty Queen Camilla was spotted at Ascot Racecourse, wearing a hat and summer dress.

Hundreds of people packed out Weymouth Beach as they enjoyed family BBQs, a swim in the sea and rides at the funfair.

The good weather will continue into next week, with the Met Office predicting highs of 29C on Monday.

People at Warleigh Weir on the River Avon in Bath, Somerset

A man cools off with his dog at Warleigh Weir on the River Avon in Bath, Somerset

Rowers train during warm summer weather on the River Thames at Isleworth in London

The hotter spells are thanks to an Iberian plume which is pushing a warm weather front from Europe, where temperatures have been as high as 40C this summer.

The south-eastern areas of the country will experience the hottest weather, but most regions are expected to reap the benefits of the high pressure front.

Looking ahead, Britons can expect a much drier August with the Met Office predicting a 'warmer than average' period from August 7 to August 21.

London and the surrounding areas could see temperatures as high as 31C (89) on August 8.

Last week, Tom Morgan, meteorologist at the Met Office, said the hot weather was due to the fact that 'days are longer at this time of year, we're only one month past the summer solstice and when it's a sunny day, temperatures build because the land retains more heat than it loses by night'.

Mr Morgan said: 'Even with no change in wind direction, we're not drawing up weather from the south but it's more to do with the fact that the sun is heating the ground during the day, creating a net increase in heat because the nights are shorter than days. The net balance of solar radiation increases.

'Although there's no plume of hot air from the south initially in this warm spell, by around Wednesday next week we could start to tap into some more humid air from France, so it could start to feel more humid.

'Temperatures will be above average, but if you do live in the South East we could see it turn hot and heatwave criteria could be met in some parts of the UK.'
President Joe Biden announced he was ending his reelection campaign a week after meeting in Delaware with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

But the New York Democrat won't say if he privately urged the president to step aside.

Reports emerged earlier this month that Schumer, 73, was joining the lengthy list of Democrats pressuring Biden to drop out, but he has not confirmed whether this is true and kept up the act during an interview on Sunday.

CBS Face the Nation host Robert Costa pressed the senator and said it was important to know for 'history's sake' whether he had such talks with the President.

'I'm not going to get into the specifics,' Schumer shot back when asked for a second time if he told Biden, 81, it was time to step aside.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is remaining mum on whether he privately urged President Joe Biden to end his reelection bid

He went on: 'President Biden will walk away from the presidency with his head held high because of all the great things he's done, and because he put America first. He always has.'

Around 40 Democratic lawmakers publicly called for Biden to stop running for a second term before he ended his bid last weekend. They joined strategists and other lawmakers who said it was time to bow out after his debate against Donald Trump in June.

This included top ally and Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).

Initially, Schumer dodged the question on if he was among those to press Biden out and instead discussed the President's three-and-a-half years in office.

'Senator, on July 13th, you went to Delaware to meet with President Biden. It was a private discussion, and I know you like to keep your discussions with the president private,' Costa said on Sunday morning. 'But that, for history, was a very momentous meeting in the sense that you were the Senate Democratic leader, the majority leader, meeting with the president to discuss the presidential race.'

'For history for the record, did you in any way suggest to the president that he should leave the presidential race on July 13th?' Costa questioned.

Schumer met with Biden just eight days before the president dropped out of the race

Schumer responded by evading the question, saying: 'Well, first, let's look at President Biden's record. He's had one of the most amazing presidencies we've had in decades, passing so many good things.'

'The infrastructure bill, the IRA bill, getting the price of prescription drugs down for the first time, going against the NRA successfully, helping our veterans with burn pits,' he listed. 'So he's had an amazingly successful record and he's always done what's right for America and I respect him.'

'I respect his patriotism. I respect the amazing things we worked together on many much them,' Schumer concluded.
Tributes have poured in for Irish novelist Edna O'Brien after her agent announced her death aged 93.

The statement said: 'Our thoughts are with her family and friends, in particular her sons Marcus and Carlo. The family has requested privacy at this time.'

O'Brien's career saw her face controversy over her books' daring themes, the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Caine starring in movies based on her novels and answering the very first question on BBC's Question Time in 1979.

Paying tribute to the author, publishing house Faber said she was 'one of the greatest writers of our age'.

'She revolutionised Irish literature, capturing the lives of women and the complexities of the human condition in prose that was luminous and spare, and which had a profound influence on so many writers who followed her.

Tributes have poured in for Irish novelist Edna O'Brien after her agent announced her death aged 93

She found literary stardom and notoriety since her first novel, The Country Girls, was published in 1960

Actors Michael Caine and Elizabeth Taylor in a scene from the 1972 film X, Y and Zee, based on O'Brien's book

Paying tribute to the author, publishing house Faber said she was 'one of the greatest writers of our age'

'A defiant and courageous spirit, Edna constantly strove to break new artistic ground, to write truthfully, from a place of deep feeling. The vitality of her prose was a mirror of her zest for life: she was the very best company, kind, generous, mischievous, brave.

'Edna was a dear friend to us all, and we will miss her dreadfully. It is Faber's huge privilege to publish her, and her bold and brilliant body of work lives on.'

Irish President Michael D Higgins described O'Brien as 'one of the outstanding writers of modern times'.

'Edna was a fearless teller of truths, a superb writer possessed of the moral courage to confront Irish society with realities long ignored and suppressed,' he said.

'Through that deeply insightful work, rich in humanity, Edna O'Brien was one of the first writers to provide a true voice to the experiences of women in Ireland in their different generations and played an important role in transforming the status of women across Irish society.

'While the beauty of her work was immediately recognised abroad, it is important to remember the hostile reaction it provoked among those who wished for the lived experience of women to remain far from the world of Irish literature, with her books shamefully banned upon their early publication.'

O'Brien was born in Ireland in 1930 on a farm in County Clare to her parents Lena and Michael.

She found literary stardom and notoriety since her first novel, The Country Girls, was published in 1960.

O'Brien was born in Ireland in 1930 on a farm in County Clare to her parents Lena and Michael

O'Brien pictured in 2016 on stage at the Letters Live event in London

It was a book that changed the nature of Irish fiction and scandalised Ireland in the 60s because of the frank portrayal of the character's sex lives and the female body.

It was banned, burned and it mortified her own mother. After her mother's death, O'Brien found her copy of the book with all the offending words inked out.

The local postmistress told her father that she deserved to 'be kicked naked through the town' and in her village O'Brien said people would draw back behind a window curtain if she went up the street - as if she was a Jezebel.

The scandal it caused made other Irish writers of the day extremely envious, as 'to be banned was a hot ticket to fame and recognition'.

Her career as a writer began when she moved to London but she drew most of her material from her formative years in Ireland.

After the reaction to her first novel, O'Brien said she was glad not to be living in Ireland. She believed that exile and separation were both very good and very essential for her to have the inner strength to write her following novels.

O'Brien on The Magic Box talk show in 1967

In a flurry of creativity, O'Brien wrote The Country Girls in just three weeks

O'Brien pictured with Queen Camilla, Antonia Fraser and Judy Dench in 2021

Before leaving Ireland, O'Brien had worked in a chemist's shop in Dublin and contributed short nature pieces to Irish newspapers. In London she found work with a publishing company, reading novels and writing book reports.

It was on the strength of those book reports that her boss Iain Hamilton and Blanche Knopf, of American publishing giant Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., commissioned her to write a novel, paying her 25 each.

In a flurry of creativity, O'Brien wrote The Country Girls in just three weeks.

Her husband, Ernest Gebler, was also a writer and though he had already achieved literary success in the US, he was jealous of his young wife's abilities.

He appeared at breakfast in their London home one morning holding a manuscript copy of the novel, The Country Girls, in his hand.

'You can write,' he said. 'And I will never forgive you.'

O'Brien's career as a writer soon eclipsed his. Gebler later claimed that he was the writer of her early books in a mentoring capacity. It was a strain that broke the family up.

Their marriage was unhappy and the divorce was messy involving a bitter custody battle over the children, which O'Brien eventually won.

O'Brien had left the marriage 'in a big hurry' taking the boys with her.

However, she agreed to Gebler's request that his sons should come to stay with him. When she dropped them off, they ran inside and he said: 'Thank you, Edna, you have just legally deserted them.'

In the courtroom fight to get her sons back, extracts from her fourth novel August Is A Wicked Month were used as evidence against her to disparage her character.

Edna O'Brien was born in Catholic Ireland in 1930 on a farm in Tuamgraney, County Clare, the youngest child of Michael O'Brien and Lena Cleary.

She was a quiet child but very observant and was always inclined to write on little scraps of paper torn out of her copybook.

From 1941 to 1946 she went to a school run by the Sisters of Mercy in Galway which she once described as: 'No education, a rich chaotic education.'

As a young woman, O'Brien moved to Dublin and worked as a trainee chemist. It was there, aged 22, that she met Ernest Gebler in a bar on Henry Street through a mutual friend.

Sir Ian Mckellen and O'Brien pictured together at the 1992 Olivier Awards

Ed Victor and O'Brien pictured together in 2010 celebrating the 40th anniversary of the founding of the agency at the Saatchi Gallery

O'Brien and John McGahern at The South Bank Show Awards in London in 2006

He was an author, intellect, 16 years her senior and he had been married before. When she first went to his house, in Lake Park, County Wicklow, O'Brien described it as like being in a story. 'There was a first wife, rooms full of her clothes, oil paintings, a coffee pot. I had never seen a coffee pot before.'

O'Brien fell for him quickly, meeting in December and eloping with him as the daffodils were coming out in March.

'Had there been time for a courtship,' she said, 'I might have seen some of the qualities that later came to the fore.'

They married in 1954 and had two sons, Carlo and Sasha. The couple moved to London and lived in suburbia in Wimbledon before their marriage ended in 1964.

In the years after her divorce, as a glamorous and successful author in the mid-60s, O'Brien threw parties in her house every Saturday night, attended by the likes of Judy Garland, Paul McCartney, and Princess Margaret.

'How I came to know all the people who came to the parties to this day baffles me,' she said in a 2012 interview.

'I was mad for life. I thought mistakenly that parties were the ticket to life.'

In the years after her divorce, as a glamorous and successful author in the mid-60s, O'Brien threw parties in her house every Saturday night, attended by the likes of Judy Garland, Paul McCartney, and Princess Margaret

In 2018, she was appointed a Dame of the British Empire for her services to literature

O'Brien pictured at an authors party with (left to right) Iris Murdoch, John Le Carre and Richard Chopping

Her career as a writer began when she moved to London but she drew most of her material from her formative years in Ireland

O'Brien had many friends and a few 'flames', including an affair with an unnamed British politician, though she never married again.

She was a patient of RD Laing, the Scottish psychiatrist, in the 70s and asked to undergo an LSD trip under his guidance. She described the LSD trip as 'disturbing beyond words' saying: 'It deepened my already dark self and it deepened my writing.'

Through all her years of parties as a cosmopolitan socialite, she was always writing.

'Hope eternal' was what she called her habit of carrying sheets of paper and a pen on her in case inspiration struck.

Although it was the opposition to her early books that somewhat defined Edna O'Brien's career, it is the longevity of her career, spanning over six decades, that gives it its permanence.

In September 1979, she appeared on the first episode of the BBC topical debate programme Question Time, joining the panel of guests including Labour MP Michael Foot, Conservative politician Teddy Taylor and the Archbishop of Liverpool Derek Worlock.

It was at a time when The Troubles plagued Ireland. IRA attacks were rife and tensions were high. The late Queen's cousin, Lord Louis Mountbatten, was killed in County Sligo when an IRA bomb was placed on his fishing boat, one month before O'Brien appeared on Question Time.

O'Brien answered the first ever question on the show, asked by audience member and teacher Ms Charlton, 'To what extent do you consider the forthcoming visit of the Pope to Ireland will help towards peace and reconciliation? Would a visit to Ulster have been of any value?'

To which O'Brien replied: 'Well, I think it high time that Ireland had a miracle. I believe there was one at Knock a hundred years ago, so there might be a repetition.

'I think the Pope's visit is very good, certainly as a gesture and as a journey and I think if he were to go to the north of Ireland it would be a tremendous strength to the people there, both Catholic and Protestant. I think they would be impressed by it.

'I don't think, however, that anything could happen in the two days that he is there but I would hope that if he went it might enjoin the British government, whose concern it chiefly is, to start and try and do something about the terrible situation in the north of Ireland.

'I have great admiration for the Pope, I am not an ardent Catholic but at the same time I am thrilled he is making that journey and I wish he will go to Ulster.'

In her late 80's, she travelled to Nigeria for several weeks to research her 2019 novel, Girl, that was based on the horrors experienced by schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram.

It was an arduous trip with dangers and uncertainties, for which she prepared for by smuggling 15,000 into the country in her sleeves and her underwear.

The one book, however, that O'Brien swore she would never write was her memoirs. She felt it was too naked, or naked making. Her agent managed to convince her otherwise and Country Girl was published in 2012.

It took her three years to write and she said it brought her a lot of pain and anger, having to relive certain times in her life.

In 2018, she was appointed a Dame of the British Empire for her services to literature - which, as a republican sympathiser, she received some criticism back home for. One Irish Times writer claimed that O'Brien had been 'seduced by this empty honour'.

Her response? Crafted by her agency said: 'The honour is for her services to literature and her belief is that literature transcends politics and borders.'

Edna O'Brien was praised as one of the world's greatest living writers but her ultimate purpose as a writer was simple.

It was what caused her so much scandal in the beginning and ostracised her in her own country. In a 2019 interview, she said: 'I want to go out as someone who kept to the truth. I can't bear phoneys. I want integrity.'
An 'aggressive' woman who already owes 16,000 to the courts has racked up another fine after spitting on a female police officer while being told to get changed into new trousers in custody.

Toni Dickinson, from Newcastle, was arrested on New Year's Eve last year for assaulting an emergency worker.

The 31-year-old was taken into custody, but when officers asked her to remove clothing which was a potential health risk, she became aggressive.

A number of staff members then attempted to calm Dickinson down as she became increasingly 'animated'. It was at this point that Dickinson spat directly into the face of an officer.

This week, Dickinson, appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court facing a charge of assaulting an emergency worker. She pleaded guilty to the offence, which was committed on December 31, last year.

Toni Dickinson pictured leaving Newcastle Magistrates' Court, where she pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker

Jonathan Stirland, prosecuting, said: 'The defendant found herself in custody in relation to other matters. She was put in a cell and there was a requirement to essentially remove some clothing that was a ligature risk.

'Staff were trying to remove her personal trousers to put custody trousers on. This caused her to become upset and animated.

'A number of people attempted to deal with her.'

One of those attempting to help was a female police officer, who attempted to shut the cell door.

Mr Stirland continued: 'The defendant was seen to approach the officer and spit directly into the officer's face. It landed in her right eye. She then closed the cell door and wiped her face.'

In a victim statement read out to the court, the officer said the incident was 'completely disgusting behaviour'.

The court heard Dickinson had 28 previous convictions for 36 offence, but had not been before the courts since 2021.

Alanna Wesencraft, defending, said Dickinson's trousers were being removed as they had a draw-string.

She said: 'She was trouser-less in the cell and on CCTV the defendant can be seen gesturing towards the officer and stepping away from the cell.

Newcastle Magistrates' Court (pictured) heard that Dickinson already owes 16,000 in outstanding court fees, which is currently being taken out of her benefits

'She spat in [the officer's] direction, but not directly at her. When the offence occurred, she accepts she had relapsed into drug misuse.

She is genuinely upset and mortified and incredibly disappointed in herself, she is aware she must be held accountable.'

The court heard that Dickinson already owes 16,000 in outstanding court fees, which is currently being taken out of her benefits.

Dickinson was fined 200 and ordered to pay 100 compensation to the officer.
Joanna Cherry is wrong about almost everything.

Wrong about independence, wrong about Trident. Wrong about a Peoples Vote, wrong about the Internal Market Act. Wrong about Israel, wrong about Catalonia.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Yet I read the news that she is stepping back from frontline politics with disappointment if not surprise. Cherry was defeated in the election, swept away in Labours landslide along with 38 other SNP seats.

Assessing the lessons of that result, she has reflected on how intra-party tensions contributed to it.

Former MP Joanna Cherry has raised concerns about the 'culture of hate' within the SNP

Writing in a separatist newspaper, she decried a culture of hate inside the SNP towards those who dare to disagree and urged the party to examine its internal culture and the poison that has been allowed to spread.

Female MPs bear the brunt of social media vitriol and Cherry was no exception. The difference is that much of it came from her own side: from people within the SNP and pro-independence politics more broadly.

Some of it was vile, frighteningly so. One man was convicted for sending her threatening messages.

If she had known the abuse and harassment she would face, she says she would never have stood to be an MP.

Cherry was a thorn in the side of the SNP hierarchy over independence strategy and Alex Salmond, but lets not be coy about the driver of most of the bile sent her way.

Cherry is a feminist lesbian and a critic of gender identity ideology, which she considers harmful to women and gay and bisexual people.

She tried to warn her party against embracing the doctrine of self-identification, which holds that a man is a woman if he believes himself to be one, and argued for the law to continue protecting sex-based rights, including women-only spaces.

If she was ever hateful in expressing her concerns, I never heard it. Nor did I detect intemperance or prejudice or alarmism in her statements.

She struck me as an emphatic but thoughtful voice making compelling interventions from the perspective of a left-of-centre woman who has spent her life studying and practising the law. She was outspoken. Of course she was. Someone had to be.

But her thoroughly mainstream opinions were met not with the tolerance and pluralism essential to free and open debate but with contumely, contempt and ostracism. She says the party failed to support her.

She was sacked from the Westminster front bench and the rules on MPs contesting Holyrood seats were changed just in time to hobble her bid for the Edinburgh Central candidacy in 2020.

A black mark was very publicly placed against Cherry and this set the tone for her treatment.

That treatment was meted out to a figure whom other parties would have gladly welcomed to their ranks.

Highly regarded advocate, distinguished in government and private practice, a Kings Counsel no less.

A natural parliamentarian who brought Downing Street to heel at the Supreme Court.

When Jacob Rees-Mogg protested Cherrys sacking and called her one of the most intelligent and careful scrutinisers of government, not just on her partys benches but in this House, I could only concur.

I have more respect for Cherry than for some politicians with whom I agree on most issues.

Politicians whom I know to have grave reservations about their partys position on gender but who keep their heads down for an easy life.

The older I get the more I tire of arid tribalism.

Cherry believes in biological reality, freedom of expression, and Scottish independence. Two out of three aint bad.

Its true that I am a fellow gender atheist but that is not the primary reason I regret Cherrys withdrawal from active politics.

I feel the same way about Stewart McDonald, who lost his Glasgow South seat on July 4, and he is as ardent a supporter of trans self-identification as they come.

Much more importantly, though, he is like Cherry a person of substance prepared to tell his party some hard truths.

His analysis is that a culture of unseriousness has come to take hold in the SNP and Cherrys diagnosis is much the same, if more brutally worded.

If the SNP cannot govern themselves or the country well then they cannot expect people to trust them to deliver an independent Scotland, she says.

What the party needs is an infusion of fresh talent that brings with it experience from all walks of life rather than more time-served professional politicians.

Nicola Sturgeon has faced fierce criticism from Ms Cherry over the way she ran the SNP

And while she wont stand for Holyrood unless the party addresses the culture of bully and harassment, her rating of the partys chances at the next Scottish Parliament election is bracing: Eternal opposition is not for me, and opposition is where the SNP are heading at present.

The party came to power in 2007 because it projected an air of credibility.

It looked like a government in waiting. Seventeen years later, were still waiting.

The root of the problem is Nicola Sturgeon. Hardly an original conclusion from me but I was arguing against her personality cult long before it was fashionable and what was true then remains true now.

She was an electoral juggernaut, taking the SNP to unprecedented victories at the ballot box, but while she consolidated power and political capital she failed to use them wisely.

The Sturgeon years are a tale of potential squandered, of idolatry over ideas, of poses over policies. Two decades in office and precious little to show for it.

Where the SNP government has been transformative it has been so for the worse: in education performance, in health outcomes, in drugs deaths.

Sturgeon not only trashed her partys credibility on governance, she put it in the worst possible position with her reckless constitutional strategy.

By ramping up the rhetoric on indyref2 without a viable plan to deliver it, Sturgeon hardened Unionism within the Labour and Tory parties in a way that will make it harder to secure a Section 30 order in the future.

She did so much to bang on about independence and so little to bring it closer.

There is probably nothing the SNP can do at this point. In all likelihood, and unless Labour fouls up something rotten, the election is already lost.

Matters are out of the Scottish Governments hands. Theres no money, no big ideas, and no appetite for reform. Just a big clock tick-tick-ticking down to polling day.

The defeat will be generational and the rebuild agonising. SNP politics is losing people like Joanna Cherry, but just as ominous is the calibre of many in the next generation.

Too many MSPs and party office-holders have advanced because of their loyalty to former leaders and their willingness to recite the latest mantras.

They lack strategic intelligence, tactical skill, and a familiarity with that fringe element in Scottish politics known as the voters.

They lack the ability to speak to or for the nation and there is scarcely a worse predicament for a nationalist party to be in.

They lack credibility and so does their party.
Have YOU been the victim of a romance scam?

A 69-year-old widower thought he'd found love again after the death of his wife but was instead swindled out of 85,000 in a cruel romance scam.

Former aid worker Rodrick Lodge lost his life savings and was left homeless after he fell in love with a Kenyan woman who went by the name 'Anita'.

He sent her large sums through money transfer service M-Pesa Kenya so they could build a house together and also to cover medical bills, tuition fees and other costs.

Anita even sent Mr Lodge fake updates on the construction of their non-existent four-bedroom house with the 69-year-old only realising he had been conned when he landed in Nairobi to meet his would-be bride, but no one greeted him at the airport.

The 69-year-old from Guildford, Surrey, says he no longer can access his pension and is temporarily staying in a Travelodge courtesy of the local council.

Have YOU been the victim of a romance scam? Email: olivia.christie@mailonline.co.uk

Former aid worker Rodrick Lodge lost his life savings and was left homeless after he fell in love with a Kenyan woman who went by the name 'Anita'

Mr Lodge, a former aid worker, pictured with his late wife of 25 years Pauline

Mr Lodge, who has worked as a humanitarian aid worker in Africa, was introduced to Anita through a woman named Mary that he met while working in Nairobi in 2020.

He told told the Mirror: 'I've known her [Mary] since 2020 and I thought she was a friend.

'Last summer Mary told me she had a friend, Anita, who lived in Karen, a suburb of Nairobi. She put me in touch with her.

'We started exchanging messages on Viber. She told me she was MD of a beauty company and had 30 employees.'

Mr Lodge said that Anita would send him pictures of the house she was having built in Voi, which is around 200 miles from Nairobi, and a number of intimate photos.

The 69-year-old had lost his wife of 25 years, Pauline, one year before he started talking to Anita.

He said that all his interactions with Anita had been over message and he never spoke to her directly.

Mr Lodge then flew out to Nairobi to meet Anita in December but instead of meeting him at the airport, she claimed to be 300 miles away in Mombasa.

The widower said she continued asking for money and made persistent excuses as to why she could not meet up with him.

Mr Lodge said he realises now that he has been a 'fool' and that Anita was 'always putting things off'.

The 69-year-old only realised he had been conned when he landed in Nairobi to meet his would-be bride, but no one greeted him at the airport (file photo)

He flew out to meet Anita in December but she said she was 300 miles away (file photo)

He added that he doubts that Anita 'even exists' and has no idea who he has been talking to.

Mr Lodge's accounts have been frozen as he has gone overdrawn and now can't access his pension.

Friends have helped the 69-year-old recover 600 and he has enlisted the services of Richardson Hartley Law in an attempt to recover his funds.

Martin Richardson, a partner at the firm, said that Mr Lodge's bank had agreed to a voluntary code to protect vulnerable individuals from fraud.

He said in a statement: 'When these large sums of money were being transferred we would have expected, in accordance with that voluntary code, the bank to have made pretty stringent enquiries as to why the monies were suddenly being moved in such large sums.

'If those obligations had been followed we think this scam could have been either stopped completely or stopped a lot earlier.'
A Boston-bound United Airlines flight was diverted on Sunday after both passengers and crew began vomiting due to a passenger-involved biohazard incident that forced an emergency landing in the nation's capital.

United Airlines flight 2477 departed from Houston at 9:39 a.m. CT on Sunday destined for Boston, but was forced to reroute when a customer became sick, the airline told DailyMail.com.

The plane, a Boeing 737-800, was diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport, landing at 1:36 p.m. ET, according to FlightAware.

'Especially with this kind of being a biohazard, I think we need to get this plane on the ground ASAP,' a pilot on board said to air traffic control in audio shared on X.

Despite the on board drama, known of the 155 passengers or six crew members required medical assistance after the plane landed in Dulles.

The plane was diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport and is set to continue its journey to Boston Logan (pictured) at 3:40 p.m. ET Sunday

'The crew is vomiting and passengers all around are asking for masks, etc.

'I talked to the crew and it sounds like it's quite bad back there.'

'The aircraft is currently undergoing a deep clean and we are working to get customers on their way to Boston soon,' United said.

Flight tracking shows the aircraft is set to leave Dulles and continue its journey to Boston at 3:40 p.m. ET.

A biohazard event is generally classified as exposure to a biological substance such as feces, vomit or blood, that could harm a person's health.

In September 2023, a dramatic biohazard incident forced a Delta Airbus A350 en route from Atlanta to Barcelona was forced to turn back after a passenger suffered an horrific bout of diarrhea.

The outbreak prompted a five-hour clean-up operation, with carpets being torn up and vanilla scented disinfectant being deployed.

One disturbed passenger took to social media, saying that her partner reported that the offending excrement had been dribbling down the aisle.

The woman, known as Dee W on X, said: 'My partner was on that flight! It was pretty bad. It was dribbled down the aisle, smelled horrible.

Sunday's incident not the first incident to occur on the route this year.

In March, the United Airlines flight 2477, veered off the runway when the pilot failed to slow down enough.

That incident forced the evacuation of the 161 passengers and six crew members.

The summer of bizarre incidents on board flights amid the vacation season shows no signs of letting up.

On July 9, a passenger bit a chunk of fabric out of a United Airlines flight attendant's shirt and told an 'old lady' she should 'go back to Russia' during a mid-fight meltdown.

The woman was on United Airlines Flight 762 from Miami to Newark but barely made it off the runway before she became unruly over a petty toilet squabble.

Video recorded by another traveler began after the crew restrained her wrists with zip-ties and she was wrestling with three of them.

Suddenly she bit one of their shoulders, tearing off a piece of fabric and letting it float to the floor in front of the shocked plane.

'Stop touching me... let go of me, I'm a f**king girl, are you trying to kill me?' she shouted afterwards.

The video cuts to the woman, now with her hands zip-tied behind her back and standing in the aisle, yelling at everyone not to fly United.

On July 9, a passenger bit a chunk of fabric out of a United Airlines flight attendant's shirt

Everyone on the plane clapped when she was kicked off after the flight diverted to Orlando and the woman was marched out of the airport by police

'These people have an attitude problem and they don't f**king do their jobs. They're handcuffing me. Why are you handcuffing me?' she yelled.

'Why b***h? Why the f**k are you handcuffing me? Why, why, why?'

A passenger told her to stop yelling and she told her 'go back to Russia, old lady', then let out a steady stream of expletives and told her 'I'll f**king kill you, b***h'.

Audio from the plane caught the woman yelling: 'You're a disgrace, piece of s**t, I wish I could f**king spit on you right now.'

'Don't do that, don't do that,' a male flight attendant warned her. 'You are insulting everyone on this aircraft.'

Everyone on the plane clapped when she was kicked off after the flight diverted to Orlando and was delayed three-and-a-half hours.

In April, a United Airlines flight was forced to divert after a dog pooped in the first class aisle.

The messy incident was captured by Reddit user gig_wizard, who said they were on the five-hour Flight 422 from Houston to Seattle on Friday, April 7, when the incident occurred.

'Dog had messy accident in the aisle right in first class,' the passenger wrote alongside the photo.

A United Airlines flight was forced to divert after a dog relieved himself in the aisle of the plane - right outside the first class bathroom, a spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Mail

The Reddit user said the flight was diverted to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, where the ground crew spent over two hours trying to clean the carpet with paper towels, noting the smell made them ill.

'Gate agents kept yelling at passengers and the cabin crew,' they continued.

'The smell never quite went away.'

The multi-hour cleaning effect was ultimately unsuccessful, after the first class toilet was declared unusable.

'The dog mess was apparently unresolved in there,' the passenger wrote. 'Food went bad while on the ground so very few snacks left.'

In an email to DailyMail.com, United Airlines confirmed that the incident had occurred but declined to share any other details.
Thousands of Scots are attending A&E departments to get dental treatment amid claims the service is on the brink of collapse.

Some desperate people calling NHS 24 with teeth and gum problems are now being directed straight to hospitals that are already stretched to breaking point.

New figures show that between April 2021 and last month, a total of 11,783 callers to the non-emergency hotline were told to attend A&E to have their dental pain dealt with.

The statistics - obtained under Freedom of Information - come amid a crisis in Scotlands dentists surgeries, with patients often struggling to even get an appointment.

Meanwhile, in A&E, tens of thousands are waiting for more than four hours to be seen with health boards telling Scots to stay away unless they have a life-threatening condition.

Patients in Scotland are struggling to get dental appointments, forcing them to turn to A&E departments

Last night, Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: These damning figures lay bare the scale of the crisis engulfing dentistry in Scotland and the pressure it is putting on our wider NHS.

Under the SNP, far too many people are struggling to access basic dental care and problems are left to reach crisis point.

Dentistry in Scotland has become a two-tier system.

NHS dentistry is on the brink of collapse, and we need an urgent plan to save it.

We must fix the broken funding model, and ensure people can get the dental treatment they need before resorting to A&E.

Callers to NHS 24 are given an option to be connected to the Scottish Emergency Dental Service [SEDS].

Between April 2021 and June 2024, SEDS was chosen 372,640 times.

While most callers were advised to visit a dentist for their pain, 8,765 were told to seek treatment at A&E within the hour.

A further 3,018 who dialled 111 complaining of dental or oral pain but didnt choose to speak to SEDS were also directed to hospital.

In addition to that total of 11,783 sent to A&E, another 365 were advised to visit their local Minor Injuries Unit.

Scotland is facing a shortage of dentists, partly because training courses were disrupted by the pandemic, but also due to a rising population.

Since 2018, the number working in high street surgeries offering NHS treatment has plummeted 9 per cent from 3,061 to 2,800.

More than four in five have closed their doors to new patients, and a similar proportion say they are planning to give more priority to private work.

The British Dental Association insisted people should never be sent to A&E for routine care and only if they are suffering a life-threatening condition.

David McColl, chair of its Scottish Dental Practice Committee, said: Access problems have long put pressure on other parts of the NHS.

The Scottish Government rolled out reforms last year to try and make [NHS dentistry] more sustainable.

Time will tell if theyve delivered results, but certainly practices across Scotland are still struggling to recruit and retain staff.

Every vacancy will potentially translate into thousands of patients unable to access care.

The Scottish Lib Dems recently led a Holyrood debate on the crisis.

The partys leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: The SNP have left NHS dentistry to rot and people are in pain.

In Fife, there isnt a single NHS dentist currently open to new patients.

Many are now resorting to drastic options, from DIY dentistry with tools purchased on Amazon to travelling back to war-torn Ukraine for treatment.

These figures show that getting a grip on the crisis would have benefits across our hard-pressed healthcare system.

We have set out plans that would end dental deserts and bring back local NHS dentists.

They would see ministers prioritise workforce planning and boost the number of dentists taking on NHS patients. Scottish Conservative deputy health spokesperson Tess White added: This is yet another example of the SNPs appalling mismanagement of Scotlands NHS.

They have decimated the NHS dentistry service, leaving patients without treatment or forced to go private.

Now the burden is being passed onto overwhelmed A&E staff who are not best-placed to deal with these issues and are under immense pressure due to years of SNP inaction.

Scotland's A&E departments are already plagued by long waiting times and staffing problems

The last two years have also seen Scotlands A&E crisis swelling.

In May, despite NHS bosses in many areas warning the public to stay away unless it is a life-and-death emergency, the total number of attendees rose to 143,645 - the highest figure since the pandemic.

But 29 per cent of them had to hold on for at least four hours to be seen.

An NHS 24 spokesman said: SEDS delivers advice and support on dental health and dental services to the people of Scotland during the out-of-hours period.

Patients who contact SEDS through NHS 24s 111 service are assessed by dental nurses, who then advise on the most appropriate dental care pathway.

Between 2 and 4 per cent of all dental calls fall into the Emergency Category, and in some situations it may be deemed necessary to directly refer a patient to A&E.

This can include severe cases of dental abscess, haemorrhage, or facial trauma.

Since April 2021, 3.2 per cent of callers contacting SEDS have been advised to attend A&E, which is within the expected rate of patients falling within the Emergency Category.
Holyrood's parties have offered to cooperate on improving security after the death threat against Russell Findlay.

The Scottish Conservative leadership hopeful revealed in Saturdays Scottish Daily Mail he was warned by police of a fresh underworld plot to murder him.

The former journalist, who was injured in a previous gangland attack, was informed shortly before launching his leadership bid a week ago.

The threat may be linked to a failed hit at Mr Findlays home in 2015, when hired hitman William Burns threw acid in his face in front of his 10-year-old daughter.

Mr Findlay overpowered his attacker and Burns was sentenced to ten years in jail.

Tory MSP Russell Findlay was recently informed by Police Scotland of a plot to murder him

However the thug has a parole hearing this week and could be free within days.

Mr Findlay, 51, a West Scotland MSP since 2021, has said he will not be cowed by bullies.

He received support yesterday from other parties and potential leadership rivals.

Labour business manager Martin Whitfield MSP said: The unacceptable threats made to Mr Findlay serve only to underline the importance of safeguarding public representatives.

Every party should be prepared to put politics aside and co-operate with the parliament to ensure we have the best possible procedures in place to keep politicians safe.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: Threats must always be treated with the utmost seriousness and the protections offered to elected representatives kept under constant review.

An SNP spokesman added: The SNP is willing to work with the parliamentary authorities, the police and other political parties to ensure that all MPs, MSPs and Councillors are free to carry out their duties without fear or concern for their safety.

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser, who is likely to run for the leadership, said it was horrendous that someone in public life faced such threats and expressed solidarity with Mr Findlay.

He told the Mail: Sadly Russells experience is not unique.

'Many colleagues have faced similar threats.

'The police have been very supportive in such cases, and the Parliament as an institution has been proactive in offering additional security advice, and financial support for personal and office interventions, such as attack alarms.

MSP Graham Simpson, who is also considering a leadership challenge, added: I was extremely concerned to read that police told Russell there was a death threat against him.. I hope hes getting all the help he can get both from the police and from the parliament.

Holyrood last had a major review of its security after the fatal stabbing of Southend Conservative MP Sir David Amess in 2021.

More than 250 GPS panic alarms were issued to MSPs and staff and 108 local offices checked by police, who also offered all 129 MSPs home security surveys.

A trial service monitoring the social media abuse of 38 MSPs, which reported 460 comments to the police in 10 months, was made permanent at a cost of 125,000 a year.
The owner of a tiny Scots island is refusing to sell it to a firebrand cleric with plans to turn it into an Islamic homeland.

Sheikh Yasser al-Habib, 45, is currently raising funds to buy Torsa, off the west coast of Scotland.

Al-Habib wants to build a school, hospital and mosque on the island, where it also intends to practise Sharia law, The Mail on Sunday revealed.

But the plans have been met with furious opposition from locals, and the owner is now understood to be unwilling to sell the land to Al-Habib.

The cleric had plans to encourage Muslims from all over the worlds to come and live in what he has described as their new homeland, and to await the coming of their Messiah or Mahdi.

Sheikh Yasser al-Habib, 45, planned to buy a remote Scottish island and turn it into an Islamic homeland

Torsa is located in the remote Scottish Highlands

Al-Habib and his followers are in advanced talks to buy the remote isle of Torsa, off the west coast of Scotland

Al-Habib's 'army' in training in Fulmer, Buckinghamshire

At present the island is uninhabited except for a three bedroom farmhouse which doubles as holiday accommodation.

Al-Habib has been accused of stirring up sectarian hatred in Britain and in the Arab world between Shias and rival Sunni Muslims since his arrival here in 2004.

It is understood that the owner has not agreed to the sale and it unlikely to be sold to any party who is a bad fit with the local community.

However, estate agents Savills said the island was still on the market.

Alastair Redman, councillor for the Kintyre and Islands ward, said people on neighbouring islands and on the mainland, were appalled by Al-Habibs proposals for Torsa.

He said: The proposal for setting up a sectarian religious outpost on a rural Scottish island is immoral.

The fact that he wants to involve an idyllic setting in prejudiced preaching is simply unacceptable.

There is no place for that, we should all be able to get on.

Al-Habib performing ritual bloodletting named Tatbir in a Hertfordshire car park

Mr Redman, an independent councillor, urged the Home Office to be on alert for any such plans in future, adding: All that people like him do is stir up division and prejudice. It doesnt matter who is doing it. We dont want any of that here.

Retired science teacher Alastair Fleming, who lives on the neighbouring island of Luing, said any plans Al-Habib may have had would have been hampered by Torsas remote location.

He believes any proposals for a mosque, school and hospital would have been objected to by residents at the planning stage.

Mr Fleming, 85, who is a member of the Scottish Islands Federation, added: It is not an easy island to set up a community on and I am perplexed as to why he has chosen Torsa.

The only way you can access it is by ferry and it is not big enough to cater for a large number of people.

Even if he did buy the island I do not think he would be able to carry out the works he is proposing.

There would be far too many objections.

Another local woman added: Im not sure the WI are going to stand for this. Of course wed welcome just about anyone, but this doesnt seem appropriate at all.

On the market for north of 1.5million, the picturesque island has not been sold for 85 years and has not been permanently inhabited since the 1960s.

A spokesman for Savills, the company handling the sale of Torsa, said: Scottish private islands rarely come to the market and as such attract high levels of interest. Torsa, surrounded by beautiful west coast scenery and sheltered sailing waters, continues to receive interest from all over the world and remains available.

Al-Habib, who is based in Fulmer, South Buckinghamshire, has been fundraising to buy Torsa through his controversial satellite channel Fadak TV.

Fadak has received repeated warnings from the regulator Ofcom, about its hate filled broadcasts.

The cleric, who preaches only in Arabic, has amassed a huge following among Britains 400,000 Shias and millions more across the world.

Torsa, which is in the Inner Hebrides, is just over a mile long.

Military training run by the extremist scholar which appears to be in the car park of a mosque in Fulmer, Buckinghamshire

Military training run by the extremist scholar appearing to take place in a car park of a mosque in Fulmer, Buckinghamshire

Al-Habib wanted to buy the island of Torsa, off the West Coast of Scotland

It is only accessible only by private boat from Luing and lies around 20 miles from the town of Oban on the mainland.

Two representatives of al-Habib visited Torsa last August and filmed it as they were shown around.

Al-Habib has said on Fadak TV that Torsa, which comes with two smaller adjoining islets, is an irreplaceable opportunity.

He claimed asylum in Britain 20 years ago after fleeing his native Kuwait - where he spent nearly three months in jail for insulting the Sunni faith.

Sarah Zaaimi, a deputy director for communications at the American think tank Atlantic Council, who has researched al-Habib, said: They will have their own army, their own justice system, they will manage their own schools and hospitals, and people from around the world will be able to migrate to this homeland.

Its puzzling to me how the UK authorities are allowing such a discourse.

Al-Habib has repeatedly come to the attention of the authorities since his arrival in the UK in 2004, and MPs have tried to shut down his TV channel without success.

Khalid Mahmood, the former Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, said: This man has constantly attacked people of the Sunni faith with Fadak TV, which should not be allowed.
4 terrorists die in military op in NW Pak

Islamabad, July 28 (UNI) Pakistan's security forces have killed four terrorists in an operation in Tank district of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military has reported.

A statement released late Saturday by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan Army, said the security forces conducted a joint intelligence-based operation on the reported presence of terrorists.

According to the ISPR, the operation led to an intense fire exchange, in which the four terrorists were killed, who were involved in heinous activities in the South Asian country.
Kemi Badenoch threw her hat into the ring for the Tory leadership last night with a promise to trigger a 'renewal for capitalism'.

The former Business Secretary said it had become a 'dirty word' in recent years and that reclaiming it was crucial if the Tories are to bounce back at the next election.

She said the party needed to 'renew' itself by 'starting from first principles' and pledged that it will start speaking 'the truth again' on everything from controlling immigration to reforming public services.

She becomes the sixth MP to throw their hat in the ring, after Dame Priti Patel, James Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat, Robert Jenrick and Mel Stride.

Former home secretary Suella Braverman had been tipped to run, but last night confirmed she will not launch her own bid. The deadline for entering is 2.30pm on Monday.

Kemi Badenoch (pictured) threw her hat into the ring for the Tory leadership with a promise to trigger a 'renewal for capitalism'

The former Business Secretary said capitalism has become a 'dirty word' in recent years and that reclaiming it was crucial if the Tories are to bounce back at the next election

Former home secretary James Cleverly and ex-security minister Tom Tugendhat have already joined the contest

Ex-immigration minister Robert Jenrick and former work and pensions secretary Mel Stride are also bidding for the Tory crown

Writing in the Times, Ms Badenoch said: 'If I have the privilege to serve, we will speak the truth again.

'That is why today my campaign is launching with an explicit focus on renewing our party for 2030 - the first full year we can be back in Government and the first year of a new decade.

'We will renew by starting from first principles: we can't control immigration until we re-confirm our belief in the nation state and the sovereign duty it has, above all else, to serve its own citizens.

'Our public services will never fully recover from the pandemic until we remember that government should do some things well, not everything badly.

'At the foundation of our renewal, and indeed the reassembly of the conservative family, is a confident set of principles about how our economy should work, and for whom it should work.

'The wealth of our nation is built upon our historic ability to capture the ingenuity and industry of our people, and the willingness of many to trade risk for reward.

Priti Patel, the former home secretary, became the fifth Conservative MP to enter the leadership contest

'It's become a dirty word, but our renewal must also mean a renewal for capitalism.'

However, her campaign is expected to be rocked by claims of 'bullying' behaviour by her and alleged impropriety committed by one of her aides.

The Guardian is said to have conducted the potentially damning investigation, expected to be published in the coming weeks.

'It's going to be a rocky start for her campaign,' a Tory source said.

Ms Badenoch's team say the Guardian investigation is the product of a disgruntled former special adviser she dismissed.

Her team has also claimed that dirty tricks are at play in the leadership contest after a 'dirty dossier' of online comments she made nearly 20 years ago was published.

Ms Badenoch has said it was 'both amusing/alarming the extraordinary lengths people will go to to play dirty tricks' and said the public were put off politics by 'petty' and 'puerile' methods.

She entered the fray after Dame Priti vowed to put 'unity before personal vendetta'.

Standing on a platform of 'unite to win', she urged colleagues not to descend into 'a soap opera of finger-pointing and self-indulgence' in the wake of the landslide General Election defeat.

All contenders need a proposer, seconder and eight other backers to stand.

MPs will narrow the field down to four who will make their case at the Tories' annual party conference from September 29 to October 2.

The final two will be put to a vote of party members in an online ballot that will close on October 31, with the result on November 2.

MPs expect Mr Tugendhat to be the most popular among the Parliamentary party.

However, a poll for the grassroots Conservative Post website last week found that Ms Braverman was the most popular among party members, followed by Ms Badenoch.
The Government has faced another barrage of criticism over its move to shelve laws to protect free speech on university campuses.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced last week she would halt the implementation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act while the Government considered its future.

Labour has claimed the legislation was 'not fit for purpose' and argued Jewish students would potentially be left at risk.

But critics have been left outraged by the move, arguing academics and guest speakers who were due to be protected by the legislation have been hung out to dry in the face of increased hostility on campus.

Criminology professor Jo Phoenix said by removing the legislation the Government was ignoring universities' failures to tackle bullying and harassment.

Earlier this year an employment tribunal ruled the Open University had failed to protect Prof Phoenix from a campaign of harassment by other academics after she raised concerns about self-identification by trans people.

The Government has faced criticism over its decision to drop a law designed to protect freedom of speech on campuses. Pictured: A trans protest at the Oxford Union

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (pictured) said the legislation passed by the previous Conservative government would 'expose students to harm' on campus

Prof Phoenix, who now works at the University of Reading, said: 'I speak from direct experience, I think I get the award for one of the most harassed gender critical academics.

'For me this started in 2019 as a guest speaker at Essex University - I was cancelled on the grounds that I was a transphobe.

'My event was cancelled on the day I was due to give a talk because students were threatening to protest.

'Under the new Act that was shelved I would have had recourse to make a complaint against the university - that is a big loss.

'The Government keep calling it a culture war and every time I see that a part of me dies.

'It is not a culture war. Universities have a problem with bullying and harassment of people who do not agree with particular political views.'

Gavin Williamson who, as then education secretary introduced the bill to the House of Commons in 2021, said: 'We have seen the ability of both students and academics to speak freely in universities over the last three decades diminished more and more.

'The free speech legislation was there to redress the ever increasing restrictions on peoples freedom to speak.

A student at a trans protest at the Oxford Union holds a placard reading 'trans joy is resistance'

'It's deeply disturbing that the Labour government doesn't feel that free speech is worth fighting for or defending.

'I fear that because of their actions we will see universities increasingly becoming an echo chamber of a certain set of views which will be the only ones accepted and not the diversity and richness of debate that we need to see within our great British universities.'

Labour has stuck firmly to its position, with Government sources pointing out the announcement has been welcomed by the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

On Friday Ms Phillipson said: 'This legislation could expose students to harm and appalling hate speech on campuses.

'That is why I have quickly ordered this legislation to be stopped so that we can take a view on next steps and protect everyone's best interests, working closely with a refocussed Office for Students.'

Higher education institutions will still have a legal duty to uphold freedom of speech under existing legislation.

When the new powers were introduced, the Tories said it would allow speakers to express views as long as they did not cross a threshold into hate speech or incitement of violence.

Toby Young of the Free Speech Union said: 'This is an act of vandalism by the Government. This was a very carefully crafted Act designed to address the free speech crisis in our universities that commanded cross-party support.

Pro-Palestine students demonstrate against 'genocide' with placards reading 'What debate?'

Oxford University students hold a banner reading 'trans women are real women' at a trans protest

'Clearly, the Labour Party is determined to reignite a culture war issue that had been settled by the last Government.'

Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at charity Sex Matters, said shelving the legislation 'will have a chilling effect not just on academics but on students and speakers whose views aren't popular on campus'.

She continued: 'As I know personally, people who speak up for women's rights and against gender ideology are routinely harassed and threatened.

'I have experienced students shouting to make my words inaudible while I'm speaking, and putting pressure on university administrators to disinvite me - sometimes successfully.

'Despite claiming to care about freedom of speech, the Government removed much-needed protections from people who insist on speaking unfashionable truth - in my case, that there are two sexes and that recognising that fact matters for women's rights.'

The Department for Education was contacted for comment.
After patrolling the same crossing for a staggering 55 years, not only is lollipop lady Irene Reid old enough to remember the grandparents of today's pupils when they were little, but she actually escorted many of them to school.

Indeed there are several families where three generations can all say Mrs Reid helped them cross the road outside Longridge C of E Primary School in Lancashire.

Now 84, and believed to be Britain's longest-serving lollipop lady, the great grandmother of ten has no plans to retire.

And she continues to remember the names of all the children she's helped over the past half-century.

Among locals who remember when she first began patrolling Berry Lane in 1969 - often sporting a fashionable and traffic-stopping pair of red hot pants - are George Mayne, 64, and his wife Pamela, 65.

Irene Reid, 84, is believed to be Britain's longest-serving lollipop lady

Mrs Reid pictured celebrating the birth of her daughter Cheryl in 1982

Mrs Reid with her daughter Angela (right), her grand daughter Cheryl Thornton (left) and her son Brody

Their daughters Rachel and Hannah both went on to be guided to and from school by Mrs Reid - and today, both entrust their children to the pillar of the local community which she has become.

'She has been here day after day in all weathers,' said grandmother Mrs Mayne.

'When she is not outside the school, people miss her.'

Her husband added: 'She is a stalwart of the community and just the sort of smiley, lovely person children need to start their day.'

Daughter Rachel Stringer, 40, remembers her kindness as a child, and her sons, Joshua, 12, and Noah, 8, have also relied on her throughout their years at the school.

'She made sure children got home safe and they would hang around her if their parents hadn't turned up to pick them up,' she said.

'She is just a warm human being that everyone trusts.'

The Maynes' other daughter, Hannah Pickup, 34, has two daughters, Phoebe, 9, and Freya, 7, who now cross every school day with Mrs Reid - just like their mother and grandmother.

Mrs Reid has helped three generations of the same family across the road to get to Longridge Primary School. (left to right) Grandparents George and Pamela Mayne, Daughter Rachel Stringer with her sons Joshua, 12, and Noah, 8, and her daughter Hannah Pickup (blue top) with her daughters Phoebe, 9, and Freya, 7

Mrs Reid remembers the names of all the children she's helped over the past half-century

There are several families where three generations can all say Mrs Reid helped them cross the road outside Longridge C of E Primary School in Lancashire

'She has always been kind to every child and we all in turn love her for what she has done for us.'

Grandmother Karen Dewhurst, 59, remembers as a little girl first meeting the 'lollipop lady'.

Her daughter Susan was helped across the same road by Mrs Reid - and now at the age of 33 it is the turn of her children Toby, 10, and Evie, 6.

'On my first day she learnt my name and she has never forgotten it even all these years later,' said Mrs Dewhurst.

Her daughter added: 'I don't know how she remembers everyone's name but she does.

'That is really important to children and that's why Mrs Reid is so important to us.'

Mrs Reid first began patrolling Berry Lane in 1969 and has made many friends since

Mrs Reid pictured in 1982, 40 years into her role, after receiving the MBE she was awarded for services to road safety

Mrs Reid receiving an MBE from the late Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace in 1982

Along the years, Mrs Reid's status as a fixture of the Ribble Valley market town - she jokes that she is as permanent as the lamp-posts on Berry Lane - has earned her a string of accolades.

These range from the MBE she was awarded a mere 40 years into her role for services to road safety to a more recent appearance on Blankety Blank.

But none is as treasured as the cap badge she was awarded by the local fire crew.

'A fire engine came up the road, and I was ushering the children out of the way thinking 'Blimey, something's up',' she recalls.

But it was only when it stopped outside school that she realised they were making her a special presentation - and of course all the faces were very familiar to her.

'I'd helped every one of them across the road when they were kids,' Mrs Reid added.

'It means everything to me, more than the MBE.'
Google's Autocomplete function provides no further results about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, leading conservatives to accuse the web giant of election tampering.

The tech giant has been accused by conservatives of interfering in elections dating back to 2008, with the Hunter Biden laptop story suppression in 2020 leading many on the right irate.

Now, those who enter the terms 'the assassination attempt of' into the system, the attempt on the life of Donald Trump just two weeks ago doesn't show up via Autocomplete.

Roger Marshall, a Republican Senator from Kansas, announced Sunday night that he's launching an Congressional inquiry into the company.

The news also reached Donald Trump Jr. who issued a blistering statement on X regarding the omission.

Google 's Autocomplete function provides no further results about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, leading conservatives to accuse the web giant of election tampering

He wrote: 'Big Tech is trying to interfere in the election AGAIN to help Kamala Harris. We all know this is intentional election interference from Google. Truly despicable.'

Texas Republican Congressman Chip Roy posted his own attempt with the caption: 'Can verify'.

'Why are you censoring the ass*ss*nat*on attempt of DJT??' asked the popular LibsofTikTok account.

The screenshot below their posts shows a user searching the words 'assassination attempt on' and then lists several names of people who were shot at decades ago as part of its auto-complete feature.

Some of the non-Trump names were Ronald Reagan, Bob Marley, Vladimir Lenin, Gerald Ford and William Seward.

A DailyMail.com search of the phrase 'the assassination attempt of' Sunday evening produced Reagan and Archduke Franz Ferdinand but not Trump.

When DailyMail.com enters the assassination of Ronald Reagan or John F. Kennedy, several other options come up via Autocomplete, which Google uses to allow people to find information more easily.

When we searched the 1981 attempt on the life of President Reagan, Autocomplete suggested the date, the location and the legislation that was enacted in response to the shooting came up via autocomplete.

Trump was shot at during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, miraculously surviving.

Were working on improvements to ensure our systems are more up to date,' a Google spokesperson told the New York Post in a statement.

'Of course, Autocomplete is just a tool to help people save time, and they can still search for anything they want to. Following this terrible act, people turned to Google to find high quality information we connected them with helpful results, and will continue to do so, they added.

The news reached Donald Trump Jr . who issued a blistering statement on X regarding the omission

They claimed that no 'manual action' had been used to create these auto-completes and there are 'protections' against suggestions that are aligned with political violence.

Marshall, a Republican who sits on the Senate Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, announced he wants further answers in a post on social media Sunday.

He asked: 'Why is @Google suppressing the search about the Trump assassination attempt? These are all screenshots from this morning. Has there been a dramatic increase in Truman biographers in the last two weeks?'

'Ill be making an official inquiry into @google this week - I look forward to their response.'

In March, a Media Research Center study not only cited 16 incidents of Google election interference but also claimed that Google's new AI tool Gemini 'won't answer negative questions' about Joe Biden.

'MRC researchers have found 41 times where Google interfered in elections over the last 16 years,' MRC Free Speech America vice president Dan Schneider and editor Gabriela Pariseau wrote in the report's summary.

'From the mouths of Google executives, the tech giant let slip what was never meant to be made public: That Google uses its 'great strength and resources and reach' to advance its leftist values,' the authors added.

Google has strongly denied the claims in the report, calling them 'baseless, inaccurate complaints that have been debunked by third parties' including 'many that failed in the courts'.

The report cited research by AllSides researcher Dr Robert Epstein, who found that 'Google's results and get-out-the-vote reminders favored Democrats and shifted the 2020 election results by at least 6 million votes.'

Dr Epstein added that the American corporation's search algorithm 'likely shifted at least 2.6 million votes to Hillary Clinton' in 2016.

'Google's outsized influence on information technology, the body politic and American elections became evident in 2008,' the authors summarized.

Google has been accused by conservatives of interfering in elections dating back to 2008 , with the Hunter Biden laptop story suppression in 2020 leading many on the right irate. Pictured: Google CEO Sundar Pichai

Roger Marshall, a Republican who sits on the Senate Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, announced he wants further answers in a post on social media Sunday

'After failing to prevent then-candidate for president Donald Trump from being inaugurated following the 2016 election, Google has since made clear to any discerning observer that it has been  and will continue  interfering in America's elections.'

'Its impact has surged dramatically, making it evermore harmful to democracy,' they added.

'In every case, Google harmed the candidates  regardless of party  who threatened its left-wing candidate of choice.'

MRC Free Speech America, a division of the conservative Media Research Center, also blasted Google's AI service Gemini, for allegedly 'refusing to answer questions damaging' to Biden.

It said the engine also appeared to favor left-leaning Democrat candidates. This included Barack Obama over John McCain in 2008, and Obama over Mitt Romney in 2012.

The site is also accused of using its algorithm to exclude autofill results that were potentially damaging to Hillary Clinton in 2016, and 'not doing the same for then-candidates Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders'.

Google condemned the report as inaccurate.

'There is absolutely nothing new here - just a recycled list of baseless, inaccurate complaints that have been debunked by third parties and many that failed in the courts,' the search engine said.

'Politicians on the left have a long history of making similar claims too.

'We have a clear business incentive to keep everyone using our products, so we have no desire to make them biased or inaccurate and have safeguards in place to ensure this.

'Numerous conservatives have been particularly successful in using our platforms to spread their message to a wide audience.'

Google said third parties including the Economist, Stanford and Ahrefs conducted similar studies and 'found no evidence to support claims of political bias'.

'Our algorithms look at features and qualities of sites, not individual pages and never political ideology,' a Google spokesperson said.
British entrepreneur Mike Lynch has said he feared he would die in jail before being cleared of fraud relating to the multi-billion dollar sale of his software firm.

Once dubbed Britains Bill Gates, Dr Lynch was acquitted last month of charges related to the 9billion sale of his software company to a US technology giant.

The 59-year-old had been extradited to the United States to face trial and had been facing up to 25 years in prison.

In his first interview since being acquitted of all charges, the father of two told The Times medical issues meant he felt it would have been difficult to survive prison.

Id had to say goodbye to everything and everyone, because I didnt know if Id ever be coming back, he added.

If this had gone the wrong way, it would have been the end of my life as I have known it in any sense, he said.

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch has said he feared he would die in jail before being acquitted of fraud claims relating to the sale of his software firm

Dr Lynch, 59, had been extradited to the United States to face trial and had been facing up to 25 years in prison

He said he spent 13 months under house arrest in San Francisco awaiting trial.

Although police agreed to meet him around the corner from his Chelsea home, once he was at Heathrow airport he was restrained by US marshals for his extradition flight.

He was accused of deliberately overstating the value of Autonomy, which he founded in Cambridge in 1996, before it was acquired by Hewlett Packard.

A jury in San Francisco acquitted him on all 15 charges - one count of conspiracy, and 14 counts of wire fraud, each connected to specific transactions or communications.

His team had always denied any wrongdoing, arguing that HP had not completed its due diligence sufficiently and failed to understand what it was purchasing.

Dr Lynch lambasted the extradition treaty between the UK and US which has been dubbed as one-sided. Under the rules, it is far easier for the US to extradite British citizens than it is for Britain to extradite Americans.

Dr Lynch said he spent almost 13 months under house arrest in San Francisco while awaiting trial

It has to be wrong that a US prosecutor has more power over a British citizen living in England that the UK police do, he said.

The system can sweep individuals away. Critics of the extradition treaty, signed in the wake of the 9/11 attacks with the apparent intention of snaring terrorists and other serious criminals, say it has instead disproportionately affected British white collar suspects.

Tory former shadow home secretary David Davis has backed calls for an overhaul.

The dad also tearfully opened up about his very strange adjustment to being back in the UK after the ordeal.

He told the newspaper: I stood on Piccadilly Circus the other day, which has the most enormous permanent traffic jam, and Im just thinking, This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

Dr Lynch previously served on a science group that advised the prime minister and was awarded an OBE for services to enterprise in 2006.
International model Jed Texas has been accused of duping his Australian girlfriend out of $150,000 while behind bars in an Indonesian prison.

Texas, 34, real name Jed Texas Higgins, was released from notorious Kerobokan Prison on March 26 after spending three-and-a-half years banged-up abroad.

But he allegedly continued to pretend he was in the Bali jail in a series of messages to his Aussie lover, Nadine Caller, long after he was deported to the UK.

Ms Caller kept sending Texas money weeks after his release as he continued to feed her lies about needing cash to bribe corrupt officials to secure an earlier jail release.

In a string of Instagram messages, Texas told Ms Caller in April he needed more money to pay for 'remissions' to jail officials who would supposedly slash months off his jail sentence.

Texas claimed to be set a September 26 release date - but was actually already back on UK soil.

Indonesian authorities confirmed to Daily Mail Australia this week Texas was deported back to England a day after his release in March, and was pictured at the airport as he was escorted out the country.

'We have deported him through I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in 27 March 2024 night on Qatar Airways enroute Denpasar London via Doha,' officials stated.

Nadine Caller and Jed Texas in happier times

Jed Texas poses with gifts supplied by his supposed girlfriend Nadine Caller

'Based on Indonesian regulation, Jed has been blacklisted to enter Indonesia for at least six months, and could be extended.'

Ms Caller, who met Texas in 2018 on Tinder, claimed she had long suspected her boyfriend had been duping her while behind bars.

She provided Daily Mail Australia with multiple receipts detailing large transfers of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to accounts she was told belonged to prison staff who had to be bribed.

The Melbourne woman estimated she had transferred up to $150,000 in total to secure her lover's safekeeping and early release.

She also lavished gifts on him while behind bars, providing phones and paying guards to allow her to participate in unauthorised conjugal visits inside the notorious prison.

'As a scammer does, they love bomb you and I am out 150K for remission payments to get him out earlier,' Ms Caller told Daily Mail Australia.

'It sounds like bulls*** but I have everything stored on my phone.'

Texas (centre) is seen with Indonesian officials as he was deported out of Bali on March 27

Texas's mugshot after his arrest in Bali

Texas with Indonesian officials on his last day in Bali before he was deported to the UK

Ms Caller compared her ordeal with the Netflix program 'The Tinder Swindler', which tells the story of a scammer who posed as a wealthy, jet-setting diamond mogul to woo women online before conning them out of millions of dollars.

'It's pretty much the same thing, but from prison,' she said.

'He was asking me for more money to get him out of prison, so I've paid money to get him early remission to get out.'

Ms Caller suspects she is not the only woman Texas has used to obtain so-called remission payments, with another woman contacting her recently to warn her he had been released from jail.

'She's said he's trying to dupe her. It's always older women with money,' she said. 'She told me he'd been lying to me and that she'd seen recent pictures of him holidaying with his mum.'

Ms Caller said while she previously believed the money she transferred had all gone to corrupt officials, she now suspected Texas had access to the accounts.

'100 percent I think he is doing this. And I think 100 percent there are others like me out there,' Ms Caller said.

However, she also experienced first hand corruption within the Bali jail system.

'I sat in an office with one of these (officials) who took my money in front of me and then I had sex in the prison. It was like $2000 Australian,' she said.

Texas and Nadine Caller had met on Tinder in 2018

Texas and Nadine Caller

Ms Caller claimed Texas would extract more money from her with claims he was sick and needed to pay to go to hospital.

'When I started pulling back and told him I didn't believe him, that's when he stopped texting me,' she said.

'As much as I want to believe people, I'm smart enough to know when they're scamming me.'

Texas has since blocked Ms Caller on Instagram and has refused to answer her questions. He did not respond to further questions from Daily Mail Australia.

Text messages seen by Daily Mail Australia show Texas claiming to have received time-off his sentence by becoming a Muslim.

'My gut was telling me he was a liar, but I wanted to believe it,' Ms Caller said. 'And that's what he preys on.'

Texas claimed to be in jail while back in the UK

Message shows Texas asking for more cash to bribe guards, while free from jail

Nadine Caller claimed she was 'love bombed' by Texas

Fund transfers performed by Nadine Caller for Texas

Ms Caller said she had gone so far as to take her own children into the prison to visit Texas.

'I feel like such an idiot ... But I have to take a stand. I have to. This is not my first rodeo. If I don't do this I'm dead. Women like me cannot take this anymore,' she said.

'He told me he loved me, can't wait to see me. It was all a lie ... I'm so sad for him in so many ways.'

Texas was discovered by talent scouts as a teenager in North London when he was a street punk, and shot to fame after he modelled in gay magazine Attitude.

He was immediately scouted by the famous model agency Elite Management and sent on assignments in New York, Stockholm and Marrakesh.

His rapid rise to stardom saw him party with fashion legend Kate Moss and splashed across the cover for Mens Health magazine.

He went on to work for fashion luminaries including Tom Ford, Burberry and Versace while he walked international catwalks for fashion weeks in Milan, Paris and New York and appeared in highbrow fashion spreads for Vogue and GQ magazines.

In Australia he was listed with top Australian model agent Chic Management in Sydneys trendy suburb of Woollahra and modelled for Myer.

Jed Texas had been a top model before his arrest

Jed Texas was deported back to the UK

During a raid on his villa in April 2020, Indonesian Police claimed they found the drugs hidden in nine plastic bags.

According to police, Texas admitted that he bought the marijuana for $60 from an unknown man in the Kuta region of the holiday island during lockdown.

Indonesia is infamous for its brutal drugs laws.

The Australian ringleaders of the Bali Nine heroin smuggling ring, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in 2015 despite being model prisoners since their arrest in 2005.

Texas admitted his guilt and via video link from jail, he told Denpasar District Court his actions had left him 'in pain and shrouded with shame'.

Police claim that during the raid, which was triggered by a tip-off, Texas fled from his bedroom into the bathroom and attempted to flush the drugs down the toilet.

Texas told the court that he treated his anxiety and mental illness by smoking weed and was drug dependent.

'I couldnt go home (during the pandemic) so I bought a lot of marijuana to relieve my anxiety,' he said then.

The model was also slapped with a fine of about $109,000.

'I admit that my using marijuana in Indonesia is against the law,' Texas told the court.

'I am very sorry. I knew it was illegal, but I didnt think the sentence would be so high like this. I use it to treat psychological disorders

'This case has left me with constant pain and shame. My family was affected too. I never thought at all about breaking the law when I vacationed in Bali.'
The love child of former King Albert II of Belgium wore a statement outfit earlier this month when she attended celebrations for her country's National Day.

Princess Delphine wore a dazzling pink and red suit emblazoned with the word 'love' across the back, three years after she was officially named as the former monarch's daughter.

The 55-year-old artist, formerly known as Delphine Boel, is thought to be the result of an 18-year affair between Albert, now 90, and Belgian aristocrat Sybille de Selys Longchamps, 82, that began in the 1960s.

But Princess Delphine is by no means the only living royal love child.

As we outline below, Captain Mark Phillips fathered a child with a New Zealand art teacher while still married to Princess Anne.

And Prince Albert of Monaco fathered three children before he married Princess Charlene in 2011.

Princess Delphine of Belgium

Princess Delphine, 55, love child of former King Albert II of Belgium wore a statement outfit earlier this month when she attended National Day celebrations

Princess Delphine wore a dazzling pink and red suit emblazoned with the word 'love' across the back, three years after she was officially named as the former monarch's daughter

The former King Albert II of Belgium, who abdicated in 2013 after 20 years on the throne, had been been in regular contact with Delphine throughout her childhood, but began to distance himself when she turned 16.

She only found out that he was actually her father a year later, at the age of 17.

The princes had previously assumed her mother's husband, Jonkheer Jacques Boel, was her father.

After her successful legal case in 2020, Delphine now has the right to bear the royal name de Saxe-Cobourg and is formally recognised as a member of the Belgian royal family.

She has since met her half-siblings, King Philippe, Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent.

Speaking to Tatler last year, Delphine said her father's rejection when she was young still hurts, but added she doesn't blame him and holds no ill-will towards him.

She argued that royal life is 'isolating' and believed her father had been badly advised at the time. However, she said: 'You don't just have a child and kick it.'

Formerly known as Delphine Boel, the artist is pictured (middle) with her half brother (front right) King Philippe of Belgium

Captain Mark Phillips and his daughter

Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips are known for having a close bond, but the pair have a half-sibling who they have reportedly never met.

Princess Anne's former husband, Captain Mark Phillips, has a less-known daughter - Felicity Tonkin, 38.

She was allegedly conceived after Phillips had a one-night stand with New Zealand art teacher Heather Tonkin in 1984 - while still married to the Princess Royal.

When she fell pregnant, Mark allegedly told her to have an abortion, but Heather kept the baby, and she was told her father was dead.

Princess Anne's former husband, Captain Mark Phillips, has another daughter - 38-year-old Felicity Tonkin, pictured

It was only when Felicity was eight, and conducting a school project on her family history, that her mother told her the truth.

She showed her a biography of Phillips written by newsreader Angela Rippon.

Phillips paid Heather 6,000 a year - described as 'equestrian consultancy' on his accounts - until Felicity was of school age, when the payments reportedly became erratic.

This prompted Heather to engage lawyers, and finally, to speak out in public.

In 1991 a DNA test proved that the former British Army captain was Felicity's father and a led to a reported settlement of 350,000.

Felicity, who like Zara has a love for horses, is now a specialist equine vet. She is married to accomplished polo player Tristan Wade.

Captain Mark Phillips pictured with Princess Anne on the Buckingham Palace balcony on their wedding day in 1973

It was only when she was completing a school project that Felicity Tonkin learned her father is Captain Mark Phillips. Above: Felicity on her 18th birthday in 2003

Monaco love children

Prince Albert of Monaco has 9-year-old twins Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques with his wife of 17 years, former Olympian Princess Charlene.

But the 66-year-old prince's past dalliances have resulted in two other children - who it's believed he didn't formally acknowledge until after DNA tests had been completed.

Alexandre Grimaldi, 20, was born in 2003 following his mother's, Nicole Coste, relationship with Prince Albert, two years before he went on to date Charlene.

The flight attendant turned fashion designer had been with Albert for five years and had even made public appearances with her royal love.

However, Alexandre was only publicly recognised in May 2005 when Nicole revealed in a tell-all interview to Paris Match that her son was Albert's.

She also said he had been actively involved in his son's life from the start.

Prince Albert of Monaco (right) with Nicole Coste (left) and son Alexandre Grimaldi

Alexandre Grimaldi, was born in 2003 following his mother's, Nicole Coste (left), relationship with Prince Albert, two years before he went on to date Charlene

The following year, the monarch had another love child crop up - Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, who was born in 1992.

She was confirmed to be the daughter of Albert in May 2006 following a DNA test and is the result of a holiday affair with her American estate agent mother, Tamara Rotolo.

Jazmin, 32, only met her father when she was 11 years old after her mother took her to California.

Talking about meeting her father for the first time, Jazmin said back in 2015: 'I wanted that moment to connect with my father, to get to know him, and to have him get to know me.'

'Not having had that figure around, I missed that. It's wonderful that it happened when it did, and we've been enjoying a great relationship ever since.'

Albert pictured with his other love child, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi (left) in 2018

The Monaco prince pictured with his two other children, Jazmin and Alexandre

A secret Spanish daughter

Former Spanish King Juan Carlos, 86, allegedly has a secret daughter called Alejandra.

According to a book written by two investigative journalists that was published last year, she was born either at the end of the 1970s or start of the 1980s.

She is said to be married with a child and has never talked up her royal credentials despite learning the truth about her real father years ago, the book claims.

Former King Juan Carlos pictured with his son King Felipe VI of Spain, who Juan allegedly had to try and ensure did not 'fall in love' with his secret daughter

Juan Carlos is rumoured to have tried to ensure his eldest child Filipe, the current King of Spain, did not 'fall in love' with his secret daughter without knowing they were related when they were younger.

He then allegedly told Palace officials after the two became adults.

Her existence is said to be confirmed by an ex-lover of the former King, a long-standing friend and one of her ex-boyfriends.

However, Juan Carlos has denied claims that he is Alejandra's father.
The royals are known for their impeccable fashion sense, seamlessly blending tradition with contemporary style.

While their wardrobes often feature high-end pieces, their favourite outfits are hitting the sale with discounts as high as 65 per cent off.

You can get your hands on Kate Middleton's iconic Self Portrait dress that she wore to the Party at the Palace in 2022 at a hefty 120 discount.

And whether you have had your eye on Princess Beatrice's elegant floral Zimmermann dress, Pippa Middleton's vibrant green outfit by Me & Em, or the Duchess of Edinburgh's sophisticated Strathberry shoulder bag, there are many more royal bargains on offer.

Here's your guide to shopping the royal's fashion in the sales and adding some regal elegance to your wardrobe.

Catherine, Princess of Wales

Dazzling at the Party at the Palace in 2022, the Princess of Wales wore a recycled Self Portrait midi dress with a boucle bodice and chiffon pleated skirt

Dazzling at the Party at the Palace in 2022, the Princess of Wales wore a recycled Self Portrait midi dress with a boucle bodice and chiffon pleated skirt.

The popular design, which has been spotted in many royal wardrobes, is now available with a 30 per cent discount.

It was 400 but is now a steal at 280.

This Self Portrait Cream Tailored Boucle and Chiffon Midi Dress was 400, but is now 280

Zara Tindall

Zara Tindall turned heads in a striking 570 Rebecca Vallance striped dress at Magic Millions' polo and showjumping event in Australia earlier this year.

Championing her love of stripes, the monochrome frock cinched her in at the waist for a flattering silhouette.

The good news is that it is now available at half the price, making it a perfect opportunity to buy into Zara's distinctive style.

In January, Zara arrived at the Magic Millions polo and showjumping event in Australia looking stunning in this Rebecca Vallance striped dress

Zara's Rebecca Vallance Katerina Midi Dress was 570 and is now 285

Princess Beatrice

On day four of Royal Ascot this year, Princess Beatrice turned heads in a 1950s-style Emilia Wickstead dress that perfectly encapsulated her elegant yet contemporary style.

The dress, with its delicate detailing and refined silhouette, was originally priced at 2,995 but is now available for 1,200 - 60 per cent discount.

Princess Beatrice stole the show at Ascot in this green floral Emilia Wickstead creation

This Emilia Wickstead Floral Dress, Was 2995, Now 1200, 60% off

And Princess Beatrice's standout floral Zimmermann dress, which has also been seen on Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, has since been discounted by 25 per cent following its regal outings.

Feminine and flowing, the cinched jewelled waist adds a flattering touch.

Beatrice wore the outfit on day two of Royal Ascot. She attended with her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

This Zimmermann dress was also a stand out dress at Ascot for Princess Beatrice

This Zimmermann Floral Midi Dress was 1,350 but is now 1,015, a discount of 25 per cent

Pippa Middleton

Pippa Middleton, known for her chic and accessible style, wowed the crowd at the Party at the Palace in a vibrant green dress by royal-favourite brand Me & Em.

This striking dress is now available at a 25 per cent discount, making it a must-have for anyone looking to infuse their wardrobe with a pop of colour and royal sophistication.

Pippa looked radiant in this Me & Em dress during the Platinum Party at the Palace in June 2022

Pippa's a vibrant green dress by royal-favourite brand Me & Em was 1,350 but is now 1,015

Princess Eugenie

Princess Eugenie stepped out at Royal Ascot this year with an elegant woven Anya Hindmarch clutch.

This stylish piece, which is also favoured by her sister Princess Beatrice, is now available at half price, making this royal-approved clutch an affordable option.

Princess Eugenie holding her Anya Hindmarch clutch under her arm at Ascot 2024

The Anya Hindmarch Maud Plaited Tassel Clutch was 750 and is now 350

Duchess of Edinburgh

The Duchess of Edinburgh has frequently been spotted with her beloved Strathberry shoulder bag and was recently seen carrying it at Royal Ascot.

Perfectly complementing her chic Suzannah ensemble, the versatile accessory is now available with a 35 per cent discount.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh celebrated her wedding anniversary at Ascot and was holding this white Strathberry handbag which matched her outfit

Strathberry Crescent Shoulder Bag was 575 and is now 373.75, meaning customers are getting a 35 per cent discount

Sophie previously stunned at the National Service of Thanksgiving in 2022 in a soft shimmering Suzannah frock.

This dazzling dress, which is accented with elegant bell sleeves and feminine bow detailing at the back is now available with a remarkable 65 per cent discount.

Sophie looked stunning at the National Service of Thanksgiving in 2022 in a metallic Suzannah frock

Sophie's Suzannah Alessia Dress, was 2,590 and is now 895, a 65 per cent discount

Lady Louise Windsor

One of Lady Louise's most memorable looks was a Suzannah silk floral dress which she wore not only to the King's Coronation but also to Trooping the Colour this year.

This delicately printed dress is now available with a 30 per cent discount, making it the perfect summer addition to your wardrobe.

One of Lady Louise's most memorable looks was a Suzannah silk floral dress which she wore not only to the King's Coronation but also to Trooping the Colour this year

Suzannah Floral Silk Dress, was 1,290 and is now 905, 30 per cent off

At the Platinum Jubilee Serve of Thanksgiving in 2022, the young royal chose this ethereal Ghost dress.

This elegant and understated piece is also available at a 30 per cent discount so you can channel her effortless elegance.

At the National Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen's reign in 2022, Louise wowed in this beautiful dress from Ghost
Stargazers will be treated to a meteor shower tomorrow as the Delta Aquariids light up the night sky.

The display is expected to peak in the early hours of Tuesday with up to 25 shooting stars an hour streaking across the sky.

The Delta Aquariids mark the start of the summer meteor season in the Northern Hemisphere.

Like with most meteor showers, the Delta Aquariids get their name from the constellation in the night sky that they appear to radiate from - the constellation of Aquarius near the bright star Delta Aquarii.

Between midnight and dawn offers skygazers the best chance to spot the shooting stars, especially if they look above the southern horizon.

The Delta Aquariids meteor shower will peak on Tuesday  providing the UK with a light show of up to 25 'shooting stars' every hour. Pictured: a meteor from the Delta Aquariids shower streaks across the night sky above the Canary Island back in 2014

The display is expected to peak in the early hours of Tuesday with up to 25 shooting stars an hour streaking across the sky (file image)

The recurring shower, which takes its name in part from how it appears to come from the constellation of Aquarius (depicted above), can be seen from July 12 to August 23 each year

The meteors will be visible to the naked eye, in an area of clear dark sky with little to no light pollution.

With this year's shower taking place a few days before a New Moon, conditions are fairly good.

There is still some uncertainty among experts regarding the comet responsible for producing the Delta Aquariid meteor shower.

But most recently a comet called Comet 96P/Machholz has been identified as the likely source.

As ice from the comet gets heated by the Sun small bits of rock and dust get loose, forming the trail of debris that produce the meteor shower.

The comet was discovered by Donald Machholz in 1986, and has an estimated diameter of four miles (6.4 kilometres) and takes just over five years to complete one orbit around the Sun.

The meteors will be visible to the naked eye in the UK, in an area of clear dark sky with little to no light pollution

A photograph of the southern Delta Aquariids from Sydney, Australia from July 2022

According to astronomers, the way to spot them is to lie on your back and look halfway between the horizon and directly above, and 45 degrees from Aquarius. Pictured: the location of Delta Aquarii, the third brightest star in Aquarius, relative to the Pegasus constellation
SHOPPING  Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this Mail Best article are selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, DailyMail.com will earn an affiliate commission. Click here for more information.

Peachy clean!

Summertime means the sun is on full blast, bringing the heat for what feels like endless hours. And with the heat comes some not-so-fun side effects ... sweating and body odor paranoia. If you are like me, then you know how intense the fear of smelling bad can be, which is where Curie comes in.

Curie is the viral Shark Tank brand that has turned the personal care market upside down. Their mission is to create clean, all-natural deodorants that actually work, and with over 3,000 5-star reviews, it is safe to say they have done it. Curie offers a wide range of products and scents, including their best-selling Deodorant & Body Spray. The innovative brand is pushing the boundaries once again with its newest limited edition launch, the Peach Soleil Deodorant Stick ($14).

Peach Soleil Deodorant Stick Channel a sunny farmer's market with Shark Tank backed brand Curie's latest scent: Peach! Straight out of a citrus dream this scent feels like summertime and the best part is it actually works. Free from all toxic ingredients you can confidently stop odor all day long. Shop

Inspired by the energy of summertime, the Peach Soleil Deodorant Stick channels the spirit of a sunny farmers market. Packed with nose-tingling scents, including ripe peach, fresh flowers, melon, and sparkling citrus. The new scent is an online exclusive, and fans of the brand have been anxiously awaiting its arrival. One user said:  Love the smell and how it controls my sweat and odor. I recommend it 100%.

Small enough to go anywhere you are the Curie Deodorant Stick is perfect for beach days.

There is a lot of skepticism around natural deodorant, and its effectiveness, but let us be the first to say that Curie works better than any natural deodorant we have tried. One loyal user said:  This is the first deodorant I have been able to wear in about seven years that doesnt make me stink. It is amazing stuff.

The Peach Soleil Deodorant Stick is aluminum-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, and non-toxic. Its scent is composed of natural ingredients, including soothing cocoa butter, and users find it lasts for 10+ hours.

Whether you are hitting the gym or just hitting the streets, you need a good deodorant at your side. Curies Peach Soleil Deodorant Stick is the limited-time scent of our dreams, but most importantly, it gets the job done.

One major bonus is that it is compact and can fit perfectly inside your purse or backpack for easy reapplying throughout the day as needed. Users take their Curie everywhere, with one saying:  It is good for on the go, and if you just need a midday pick me up, its compact and fits right on your purse!

Enjoy citrus, peach, and floral scents all day long with 10+ hours of odor coverage.

Unlock all-day freshness in one swipe this summer with Curies all-new Peach Soleil Deodorant Stick that smells like walking through a fresh fruit market. No matter where you are going or what type of skin you have, this is the all-natural body odor answer you have been seeking, but make sure to order before it sells out!
Tokyo/New Delhi, July 28 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Tokyo and said Gandhijis message that solutions do not come from a battlefield and that no era should be an era of war is timeless, especially in the current times geopolitical conflict and tensions.

Addressing the gathering at the unveiling of the bust of Gandhiji at Freedom Plaza in Edogawa, the EAM said ..the timeless messages of Gandhiji. I would say today, at a time when we are seeing so much conflict in the world, so much tension, so much polarization, so much bloodshed, it's very important that Gandhiji's message was that solutions do not come from a battlefield, that no era should be an era of war. And that message applies today as much as it did 80 years ago.

Terming Gandhiji as the original prophet of sustainable growth, the EAM said, in terms of sustainability, of climate friendliness, of green growth, green policies. Gandhiji was the original prophet of sustainable growth. He was the greatest advocate of how to live in harmony with nature. So the message of Gandhiji, that it is not just something for governments to do, but for everybody to do in their personal life, that is something which again we pass on. And of course, Gandhiji was an advocate of inclusiveness and that is what we are seeing in India and across the world today.

He said "the achievements of Mahatma Gandhi have far outlived his own times, with the passage of time they have got more and more importance.

The Indian Embassy posted on X:

Honble External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar @DrSJaishankar arrives in Japan for a two-day visit and is received by the Ambassador @AmbSibiGeorge.

Unveiling of bust of Mahatma Gandhi by Honble External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar @DrSJaishankar at Freedom Plaza in Edogawa, Tokyo.

The EAM flew down to Tokyo from Vientiane, Laos, where he attended several ASEAN-related meetings and bilateral meetings with counterparts.

In Tokyo, the EAM will attend the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting tomorrow.

He is set to hold a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken later today.

UNI RN
There's no denying that the Hamptons has long been the place to be seen come summer, with many New York City residents opting to flee the stifling heat of Manhattan and flock to the South Fork of Long Island every single year.

Locations such as Sag Harbor, Montauk, and Bridgehampton are hugely popular, with many celebrities choosing to purchase property there, including Jennifer Lopez, who was recently seen enjoying a bike ride near her lavish Long Island mansion.

However, with celebrity esteem comes celebrity prices and it was recently revealed that the Hamptons rental market is so hot that seven-digit asks for three-month stays are now the norm, with many people claiming the vacation spot doesn't live up to the hype for the average person.

It's been reported that visitors to the Hamptons usually spend between $98 and $426 per day on average for one person, and $195 to $852 for two people, so it's certainly not a summer vacation that comes cheap.

Perhaps that explains why holiday-goers are now switching things up and exploring the North Fork instead, in particular the beautiful village of Greenport, which has been nicknamed The Hamptons' 'quirky younger cousin' thanks to it's more laidback and casual vibe - and slightly cheaper prices.

The Hamptons has long been a popular summer vacation spot for many New Yorkers thanks to its beautiful beaches

The Hamptons rental market is so hot that 7-digit asks for three-month stays are now the norm

Popular spots such as Surf Lodge in Montauk have now become very overcrowded due to the popularity of the Hamptons

Getting to the Hamptons often takes a lot longer during the summer weekends due to crazy traffic jams

Less than a three hour drive from New York City, Greenport is rich in history and was even named one of the prettiest towns in the USA by Forbes, so it's really no surprise that it's popularity has grown in recent years.

Surrounding areas include Southold, Mattituck and Cutchogue, and the region - which has long been known as Long Island's Wine Country - has become somewhat of a hotspot thanks to its 60 plus vineyards, multiple breweries and distilleries, as well as private fly fishing ranches.

Greenport, in particular, is a quaint location with charming streets full of antique shops, cute boutiques and an impressive independent art scene.

The Main Road and Front Street is brimming with several fantastic restaurants, where diners are guaranteed to enjoy some of the best seafood Long Island has to offer, yet it all feels very understated and far from the razzle and dazzle of the Hamptons.

Another selling point is that holidaymakers can mix things up a bit and take a daytrip to Shelter Island, which is just a 15-minute ferry ride away.

Nestled between the North and South Forks - but technically classified as part of the North Fork region - Shelter Island is known for its natural beauty, hiking, biking, birdwatching and some of the most breathtaking kayaking in Suffolk County.

When it comes to Greenport, holiday-goers will want to know where to stay in the picturesque location - and whether you want to be by a beach or closer to the hustle and bustle of it all, there's two fantastic options either side of the village.

Sound View Greenport is a four-star hotel nestled on 14 acres of private waterfront land along the pristine Long Island Sound and has everything guests need to enjoy a relaxing vacation.

Holidaymakers are flocking to the North Fork of Long Island instead, in particular the village of Greenport

The quirky Long Island village is full of cute boutiques, antique shops and restaurants

Perhaps holidaymakers prefer Greenport due to it's more laidback and casual vibe

Greenport was previously named one of the prettiest towns in the USA by Forbes

Not only does the property offer beach-facing deluxe rooms with shared decks and direct access to the hotel's private beach, there's also several luxury suites on offer, including a two-bedroom option and an extra special hot tub suite which offers a private deck with a cedar hot tub.

Guests certainly don't have to stray far to enjoy delicious food and drink at Sound View either as the hotel's' local seafood restaurant, The Halyard, celebrates the regions produce and brings it right to your plate  direct from foragers and farmers, growers and fishermen.

The current dinner menu includes array of seafood dishes such as fluke ceviche, striped bass crudo, Halyard crab cakes, and lobster saffron bucatini. There's also delicious main courses such as poached cod, summer cavatelli, and the chefs choice steak cut.

Guests can enjoy their meal whilst marveling at the stunning sunset thanks to the restaurant's huge glass windows, and when it's time for a cocktail, the iconic Piano Bar is literally just next door and serves up all the classics as well as live music from local musicians every Tuesday evening.

In the warmer months, guests can enjoy their craft cocktail or a local brew outdoors at the Low Tide Bar which is situated on Sound Views private beach - which is also definitely the best spot to catch a sunset on the North Fork.

For visitors who wish to be closer to the shops of Greenport, The Harbor Front Inn is a seaside-inspired hotel which embodies the spirit of maritime heritage and is just a six-minute walk from the train station.

The three-star property offers spacious rooms and various junior suites with balcony views, as well as a waterfront, heated pool which overlooks the Peconic Bay, where guests can watch ferries and sailboats coast along the horizon.

Perhaps the best thing about The Harbor Front Inn is it's proximity to an array of homegrown restaurants, art galleries, and craft boutiques.

Sound View Greenport is a four-star hotel nestled on 14 acres of private waterfront land

The stunning property offers deluxe beach-facing rooms and various suites

The most incredible sunsets can be seen from Sound View Greenport, which also has a huge outdoor pool

The Harbor Front Inn is also home to luxury rooms and suites and is just a six-minute walk away from Greenport station

Just a three-minute walk away is a stunning seafood restaurant called Anker, which is a building modeled after a multi-level sailboat and overlooks Greenport Harbor.

The current seasonal menu includes plates such as clam chowder, grilled fish collars, Montauk red shrimp, and the classic fish and chips. Diners can also tuck into a hay-smoked whole chicken and North Fork lobster bake.

Another great local restaurant is called First and South and is just five minute walk away from The Harbor Front Inn, and also serves up unforgettable seafood such as honey and tangerine salmon and lemon pepper shrimp.

There's also themed nights at First and South, including a tropical Tiki night every Thursday and tap takeover events on a Monday which are a beer-lover's dream because guests get to indulge in some of the finest brews from the restaurant's favorite breweries.

But the restaurant options don't stop there as Claudio's is somewhat of an institution in Greenport, and recently underwent a makeover - whilst still retaining it's original charm and laidback vibes.

There's plenty of outdoor space for dockside dining and the restaurant's nostalgic menus feature local produce and everything from under the sea.

Highlights at Claudio's include block party-style lobster bakes, dock and dine, a supper club yacht series, and live music with surprise performances.

Holidaymakers who are a fan of oysters though, should look no further than Little Creek Oysters, which is known as the North Fork's premier tasting market for the popular delicacy.

Little Creek Oysters is located in an iconic Bait & Tackle building on the waterfront in the heart of historic Greenport

The cute hotspot is known as the North Fork's premier oyster tasting market

Macari Vineyards is a short drive away from Greenport and is located in Mattituck

Claudio's is another popular restaurant in Greenport with plenty of outdoor space for dockside dining

Owned by Ian and Rosalie Wile, this gem of a spot is located in an iconic Bait & Tackle building on the waterfront and is open Wednesday through Sunday and is full of nothing but good vibes and an everchanging menu.

As well as the opportunity to shuck your own oysters, customers can enjoy Shuckers Club Happy Hour as well as tuna tostadas and a $5 hotdog menu.

And for those who may want to explore a bit more of the North Fork, Ian and Rosalie also own the super cute Sunshine Shack at Orient Beach, which is a short drive away from Greenport and offers tasty lobster rolls and cocktails right on the sand.

Another option for visitors who want to explore farther afield is Macari Vineyards in Mattituck, which is also a short picturesque drive away from Greenport.

Their tasting room sits on the edge of a nearly 500-acre vineyard and farm and they offer a variety of guided tasting experiences for small and large groups, each led by a Macari Wine Educator.

As well as seasonal tasting sessions, which cost $40 per person, Macari also offer their Barrel Cellar Experience as well as a private rose tasting suite lunch with food prepared by Chef Lauren Lombardi.

With plenty of good wine on offer and some of the most delicious seafood you'll ever taste on the East Coast, it's not hard to see why the North Fork is becoming more and more popular with travelers - and Greenport is certainly at the top of the list.
With their soaring crime rates, choked up highways and exorbitant prices, it can feel like some Golden State cities are losing their shine.

But in San Luis Obispo, the California dream is still alive and well.

So it is perhaps no wonder that it has now been named one of America's best cities to visit by CNN.

The idyllic spot is known for its wineries, quaint city center and stunning natural beauty.

A drive-in movie theater and family run restaurants all ensure it retains a distinctly 20th century feel.

San Luis Obispo has been named among the top cities in the US to visit

The laidback pace of living has given rise to the nickname SLO, with locals enjoying a more sedate lifestyle than in other big cities.

However, SLO's vibrant arts scene and several new developments also give it a contemporary edge.

Downtown is routinely packed with locals sampling the independent cafes, boutique stores and art galleries.

Quirky features such as Bubblegum Alley, a 70ft walled stretch which is lined with chewed pieced of gum, are found throughout the city.

Meanwhile a weekly farmers market offering wares from more than 100 vendors never fails to draw a crowd.

But it is not just residents reaping the benefits of this charming town.

'Here, you can indulge in everything from wine trails to hiking trails without a crush of humanity,' the CNN guide states.

The laidback pace of living has given rise to the nickname SLO, with locals enjoying a more sedate lifestyle than in other big cities

SLO is famed for its wineries, quaint city center and stunning natural beauty

'The stunning natural environment, with the Pacific nearby, is the cherry on top.'

SLO was founded in 1772 by the Spanish as a mission town. The settlers also began the area's rich winemaking population.

By the 19th century, the town had become home to a population of Chinese laborers who build roads and railways.

Only a few buildings from the historic Chinatown remain, including the Ah Louis Sotre which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year.

The store was opened by Chinese-American Ah Louis and was home to his family. Its Victorian Italianate construction make it an eye catching landmark in the city.

A stone's throw away is another slice of history in the form of the Milestone Mo-Tel, reputedly the first ever motel.

SLO was founded in 1772 by the Spanish as a mission town. The settlers began the area's rich winemaking population

A weekly farmers' market offers wares from more than 100 vendors

The owners chose SLO for its location, since it is half way between LA and San Francisco.

All this and much more can be learned at History Center of San Luis Obispo. Culture vultures might also want to stop into the SLOMA, the city's modern art gallery.

Today SLO has a population of 48,000, following an influx of people during the pandemic.

Many are drawn to the small town feel which provides all the benefits of a big city.

SLO is located close to other urban centers such as Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, Arroyo Grande, and Paso Robles.

It is also home to California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), with its students helping to bring another sense of community.

The city's proximity to stunning hiking trails make it a huge hit with tourists looking to escape outdoors

Downtown is routinely packed with locals sampling the independent cafes, boutique stores and art galleries

The city beat the likes of New York and Washington D.C. to make the top ten best tourist destinations in the US.

Coming in ahead of SLO at number one was Richmond, Virginia, followed by Providence in Rhode island, Tacoma in Washington and Portland in Maine.

The judges looked for cities which offer personality and a host of attractions without the crush of elbow-to-elbow crowds.
Americans probably think their country is perfectly normal.

But expat vlogger Kalyn Franke, from Florida, has some news for them  because after she moved to the UK she realised that there are lots of things about the U.S that are kind of weird.

In a video for her Girl Gone London YouTube channel she reveals seven things about America that shed change having lived in the UK.

The list includes bathroom plumbing, food, and fences that make the States look like a prison.

She told MailOnline that they are ranked in order of importance  scroll down to see if you agree with her suggestions for improving her home country.

Expat vlogger Kalyn Franke, from Florida, after she moved to the UK, realised that there are lots of things about the U.S that are kind of weird

BILLBOARD ADVERTS FOR DIVORCE LAWYERS

Kalyn says: 'This doesn't seem like a weird concept when you're in America, but like many things, you don't realise they're strange until you leave.

'I would say that probably for society as a whole, advertising cheap divorces is not really the way to go.

'I mean, you're arguing with your spouse driving along the highway and you see a sign for $90 divorces with a phone number - do we need to tempt people like that?'

AMERICAN SHOWER TAPS

Kalyn says: I literally cannot figure out what to do with American shower taps half the time. You can never figure out which way to turn it. You can never figure out if youre supposed to pull on something or if youre supposed to push on something. Theres no standardisation.

AMERICAN DOMESTIC AIRLINE PRICES

Kalyn points out that flying domestically in the U.S is often more expensive than flying internationally

Kalyn says: It is often cheaper to fly internationally from America, to fly from America to the UK, than to fly to certain places within the U.S.

'Im not saying we dont have cheap deals but its still much more expensive to travel domestically on airlines in America than you might expect.

BATHROOM STALLS

Mind the gap: Kalyn is not a fan of American public toilets

Kalyn says: The gap in between the floor and the door and also the sides of the doors is insane.

OREOS

Kalyn says: We dont really do single-sleeve Oreos like they do in the UK. She explains that in America, Oreos tend to be sold in packs of three. I love that for how many Oreos it gives me  however, Im thinking a single sleeve of Oreos needs to be an option in America,' she says. 'Its easier to transport and an American pack just looks greedy.

CHAIN-LINK FENCES

America's abundance of chain-link fencing makes the country 'look like a prison'

Kalyn says: We have a lot of ugly fences in the U.S. Its cheap, I guess, and America is often built on cheap and we have fewer existing structures from the past and were always building and changing and whatever but a chain-link fence just doesnt look good  it looks scary. And not pretty. It makes it look like youre in a prison.

READY MEALS

Kalyn says: U.S ready meals are not as good as UK ready meals, which you think would not be the case because you would think that Americans like convenience and therefore frozen meals, but the food is not as good. The UK ready meals are way better.

Kalyn remarked to MailOnline Travel that this list entry was a huge surprise.

She added: The quality of UK ready meals surprised me the most, as actually, compared to America, you don't necessarily think of the UK as being a nation that is that keen on quickly prepared/takeaway-style ready meals, but it's good that the food quality in the UK (which is better than America) has carried over to the ready-meal sector.

Are there any UK ready-meal brands that impress her?

She said: I usually get my ready meals from supermarket own brands, and find that these are really good usually. M&S do some great ready meals that I like.

For more from Kalyn visit www.youtube.com/@GirlGoneLondoofficial and girlgonelondon.com. To see the original YouTube post click here.
Where do you want to go? asks the pilot as we walk to the plane.

Oh, erm could we go to Oxford and back? I ask. Yeah, no problem, comes the reply.

This is no ordinary flight. For starters, it seems I get to decide where were flying to. But also - because Ill be at the controls. Despite never having flown a plane before.

Theres no cause for alarm at the Civil Aviation Authority, though - Im having my first-ever flying lesson and my pilot instructor, James, will be doing the tricky bits. Like the landing. And the take off.

The venue for the lesson is Turweston Aerodrome in Northamptonshire  just south of Silverstone Circuit - with James one of the flight instructors from the Turweston Flying Club.

Ted Thornhill has a flying lesson with the Turweston Flying Club, which is based at Turweston Aerodrome in Northamptonshire

Ted flies the plane for a large part of the one-hour lesson

It follows a lesson I had in a British Airways Boeing 777 flight simulator with training captain Al Bridger. He remarked that I handled the plane well with all-important small movements on the control column  and that perhaps I should have a real lesson one day.

After relaying this to my dear mother  she surprised me with the Turweston Aerodrome one-hour experience as a birthday present.

The plane Ill be in here is a wee bit smaller and slower than the mighty Boeing 777  a 23ft-long Piper Warrior II, which has room for two aviators plus a couple in the back and can hit over 100mph if you put your foot down.

The hardest bit of the lesson comes at the very beginning  climbing inside.

Ted's flight takes place in a refurbed Piper Warrior II aircraft

The hardest part of the lesson? 'Climbing inside,' says Ted

Ted flies over Silverstone Circuit (above, bottom left) on his way to Oxford and back

No air bridges here. I have to carefully step on the wing, while avoiding the flap, and then lower myself inside.

Once the doors are shut, its like a greenhouse, so James opens a little window to the side and gets us underway, reassuring me that the cockpit will cool down once were flying, with air coming up through the fuselage.

Off we trundle along a strip of grass by the runway. Once were at the end, we pause for pre-flight checks.

James revs up the engine to 2,000rpm with the brakes on and checks that key parts of the instrumentation and electrics are working and that we have enough fuel.

Buckingham from above. Ted reveals that he flew at between 2,000 and 2,500ft

Pictured above is Brackley, where Ted went to school in the 80s, and which now lies beside the HS2 line (visible in the foreground)

Once hes satisfied the plane is airworthy, were given immediate clearance to take off (Heathrow, this aint) and were in the air within seconds.

And what an absolute thrill. This is about as raw a flying experience in an aircraft as its possible to get. No autopilot or cabin service or heads-up displays. Just me, James and a wonderful flying machine that sounds like a bus you could probably land at a school fete.

Within minutes, James lets me take the controls  and my are they sensitive.

Ted writes: 'As well as the sensitivity of the controls, Im also struck by how much the plane moves around  it never, for a single moment, stops bobbing up and down and moving left and right'

It takes the Warrior II around 30 minutes to reach Oxford (above) from Turweston Aerodrome (with time added on for a Buckingham fly-past)

I realise just how vital small movements on the control column are now Im flying for real  how Im only ever one small hand movement away from an unwanted aerobatics display.

At first, Im simultaneously tense and in a state of exhilaration  enjoying every moment and also quite keen not to crash the plane.

As well as the sensitivity of the controls, Im also struck by how much the plane moves around  it never, for a single moment, stops bobbing up and down and moving left and right, which is a tad unsettling. But being in control dampens the nerves. After 15 minutes or so I relax into the role and enjoy gazing upon the very green and pleasant Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire countryside from a height of between 2,000 and 2,500ft.

The flight has a tinge of nostalgia to it, because after flying over Silverstone Circuit and Buckingham, where the aforementioned Mother Thornhill dwells, and noting the scar on the landscape made by the HS2 works, we vaguely buzz Brackley, where I went to school in the 1980s.

At speeds of around 90 to 100mph, we reach Oxford in 30 minutes or so and bank left to return, with the dreaming spires of the city clearly visible to the right.

'The flight is over all too soon,' writes Ted, 'with James landing the plane smoothly despite a crosswind'

The Warrior II is quite old, but has seen various engine refurbs and is equipped with present-day GPS and radio systems, bolted onto the instrumentation panel

Ted is all smiles back on the ground. He says: '[The lesson] is as raw a flying experience in an aircraft as its possible to get'

In both directions James, an aircraft mechanic whos training to be an airline pilot, lets me perform turns and keep the plane flying straight and level, which isnt easy  constant control-column adjustments are needed to keep the nose pointing at the horizon and away from my mum's house and my old school.

The Warrior II is quite old, but has seen various engine refurbs and is equipped with present-day GPS and radio systems, bolted onto the instrumentation panel.

James, meanwhile, has a flight map displayed on a smartphone thats strapped to his left thigh.

Our own eyes must also help with navigation. Were constantly scanning the airspace for other aircraft, with James explaining that we can talk to passing planes if need be to ascertain their intentions.

The flight is over all too soon, with James landing the plane smoothly despite a crosswind.

I feel as giddy as a schoolboy. And already know what I want for Christmas

For more information on flying lessons with Turweston Flying Club visit -turwestonflyingclub.org.uk.
Alison Hammond made a surprise appearance at Camp Bestival Dorset to support son Aidan for his debut festival gig on Saturday.

The TV personality, 49, appeared in high spirits as she supported Aiden, 19, while he entertained the crowds in the festival's Bollywood tent.

Aiden took to the stage with a one hour set of dancing beats, while his proud mother Alison watched on and partied with festival goers.

But it wasn't long until Alison joined her son, who she shares with her with ex husband Noureddine Boufaied, behind the decks and was spotted with a microphone in hand.

'He'll be DJ'ing in the legendary Bollywood tent on Saturday night and is rumoured to have a 'special surprise guest' joining him too....' the festival teased at the time.

ITV presenter Alison Hammond made a surprise appearance at Camp Bestival Dorset to support son Aidan for his debut festival set on Saturday

The TV personality, 49, appeared in top spirits as she got into the festival spirits to support Aiden, 19, entertain the crowds in the festival's Bollywood tent

Enjoying the sun and vibes, Alison also took to her Instagram to share an array of snaps partying away in some groovy outfits.

Alison was also seen greeting seas of adoring fans as many gather around the star to catch a glimpse of the day-time TV star.

Also seen at the family festival was Paloma Faith.

The popstar, 43, gave an intimate talk and book signing on her new book MILF: Motherhood, Identity, Love and F**kery.

Her book signing came ahead of her headline set on Camp Bestival's iconic Castle Stage.

The book is a unique take on motherhood and how it correlates to what it means to be a woman in this fierce, funny and passionate volume.

Aiden first announced the news of his debut gig earlier this year as he shared a snap of him behind the decks and wrote: 'I AM PLAYING AT MY FIRST EVER FESTIVAL @campbestival.

'I will be playing on Saturday 27th of July in the Bollywood tent from 7-8pm so if you like house music get your tickets and come see me play big thanks to @campbestival.'

Aiden was on set with one hour of dancing beats and while his proud mother Alison watched on and partied with festival goers

But it wasn't long until she joined her only child, whom shares with her with ex husband Noureddine Boufaied, behind the decks as she was soon spotted on stage with a microphone in hand

'He'll be DJ'ing in the legendary Bollywood tent on Saturday night and is rumoured to have a 'special surprise guest' joining him too....' the festival teased at the time

Enjoying the sun and vibes, Alison also took to her Instagram to share an array of snaps partying away in some groovy outfits

Alison was also seen greeting seas of adoring fans as many gather around the star to catch a glimpse of the day-time TV star

Aidan has a keen passion for music, after his mum proudly watched on as her son took to the DJ decks at a gig last November.

She shared a video of Aidan having the time of his life as he danced energetically while playing a remix of That's the Way (I Like It).

And Alison was every inch the proud mother as she stood beside the DJ decks and filmed as Aidan performed at an event.

Alongside the video, she gushed: 'Love my Son ! That little smile to the camera gets me every time.'

It seems Aidan is keen to pursue a career in music, not a million miles from his mother's successful career in television.

Alison's supportive appearance at the teen's debut comes just weeks after she shared clips of Aidan struggling to speak shortly after undergoing the surgery.

Sitting in his hospital bed, Aidan spoke to his mother who was filming him, saying: 'I got my tonsils out, feeling good.

Slurring his words slightly, he added: 'Don't know what all the fuss is about really, it's fine, it's fine.'

Also seen at the family festival was Paloma Faith. The popstar, 43, gave an intimate talk and book signing on her new book MILF: Motherhood, Identity, Love and F**kery

Her book signing came ahead of her headline set on Camp Bestival's iconic Castle Stage.

Alison Hammond's son Aidan joked he was 'high as a kite' following surgery to have his tonsils removed as he came from the anaesthetic on Instagram on Thursday

The TV presenter, 49, and her son, 19, both shared a hilarious video of Aidan slurring his words shortly after undergoing the surgery

Sitting in his hospital bed, Aidan spoke to his mother who was filming him, saying: 'I got my tonsils out, feeling good'

Alison could then be heard saying: 'Have a lick of ice-cream,' before Aidan replied: 'I'm not allowed, shh.'

Aidan captioned the video, Aidan wrote: 'Aidan 1 - tonsils 0 and Me high as a [kite]'.

This Morning star Alison commented on the post with: 'My poor baby'.

Several of the star's friends also reacted to the clip including Amy Childs who wrote: So funny. Get well soon Aidan xx'.

Fellow This Morning regular Josie Gibson responded with a series of laughing emojis while Vanessa Feltz added: 'Oh poor fellow. Wish him better very soon xx'.

Frankie Bridge said the clip was 'amazing' while Good Morning Britain's Alex Beresford wrote: 'Yup 2 weeks of pain and a show with at least 10 seasons. Not sure Poldark is :aidanhammond555 thing but it got me through'.

Aidan captioned the video, Aidan wrote: 'Aidan 1 - tonsils 0 and Me high as a [kite]'
Acting legend Tom Selleck stepped out for a workout on the streets of California as he marked the end of his longtime TV cop drama Blue Bloods.

The bearded 79-year-old sported an all-black ensemble as he headed to the gym last week in Thousand Oaks, the first time he was seen out and about since the show wrapped it's final episode in June.

Selleck is said to have relocated back to his California ranch with wife Jillie after 14-years of commuting to and from the East Coast to film the show, which was suddenly halted by CBS bosses at the end of last year.

As he whipped himself back into shape, Selleck wore high-waisted shorts, a black T-shirt and Brooks running shoes - with his trademark bushy mustache coupled with a a silver beard he has been growing for months.

Actor Tom Selleck, 79, sported an all-black ensemble as he stepped out in Thousand Oaks, California for a workout last week

Selleck's appearance at the gym was the first time he had been spotted out and about since his long-running TV cop show Blue Bloods finished filming

Selleck made no secret over his disappointment with Blue Bloods coming to an end, and after show bosses announced last year that it would stop filming, he said he hoped they would 'come to their senses.'

Although filming on the show has wrapped, fans can still expect to see the actor for the conclusion of its 14th and final season in October.

And while Tom may be happy to have more time to hit the gym now he is back on the West Coast, he said back in January that he had 'learned to love' his busy schedule.

'Sometimes the hours are a little harder because I'm older, but so what?' he told TV Insider. 'I want to work as long as they'll have me.'

Selleck, who was previously best known as Magnum PI as well as a stint on Friends, won legions of fans with his turn as Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods, a fictional NYPD commissioner.

As he whipped himself back into shape at the gym last week, Selleck wore high-waisted shorts, a black T-shirt and Brooks running shoes

Tom's trademark bushy mustache is now complemented by a gray beard

The actor said earlier this year that he plans to continue working despite his advanced age. 'Sometimes the hours are a little harder because I'm older, but so what?' he said

Selleck has come a long way from his most famous role a Magnum PI

He has starred alongside Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan and Will Estes since September 2010, and said when the show was axed that fans were sure to react with fury at the decision.

'CBS will find an awful lot of people aren't ready to say goodbye to it,' he said at the time.

'The show's more popular than ever, and I think [numbers] will increase with the interest this year. We're certainly not out of ideas.'

When filming wrapped, a source said Tom was set to enjoy downtime on his 65-acre California ranch that he shares with wife Jillie Mack, 66.

'He wants to relax on his ranch, walk around his property, spend time with his wife and family, and travel a bit,' a source told Closer magazine in January.

'Tom and Jillie can just sit at home, cook, go for a long walk and be very content. He adores Jillie and trusts her to schedule activities or travel plans.

'He's looking forward to having more free time to spend with her.'

Selleck made no secret of his disappointment that Blue Bloods was ending after 14 seasons, bringing time on his role as fictional NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan

Although he said showrunners would come to regret axing his show, Tom is said to be excited to spend more time with wife Jillie Mack, 66

A source previously said Tom is looking forward to spending his twilight years on his Ventura, California ranch with his wife and daughter

However, Tom revealed in May that the fallout from the end of Blue Bloods could end up costing him his twilight years on the ranch.

Despite a career spanning decades in Hollywood  including a reported $200,000-per-episode Blue Bloods deal  he told CBS Sunday Morning that he was in jeopardy of falling behind on bills after the show was axed.

'You know, hopefully I keep working enough to hold on to the place,' Selleck said, to which CBS correspondent Tracy Smith responded, 'Seriously, that's an issue? If you stopped working?'

Selleck said, 'That's always an issue  if I stopped working, yeah. Am I set for life? Yeah, but maybe not on a 63-acre ranch!'

The source added to Closer magazine that as Tom moves towards retirement, he is more enamored than ever with both his wife and daughter Hannah, 35, an accomplished horse rider.

The source said: 'Tom's very close to Hannah and very proud of her competitive horse jumping career.

'He hopes Hannah finds love and has children, but he's not the type of dad to push it.'
Jessie Wynter and Will Young have revealed they are ready to start a family together as they opened up about taking their relationship to the next level.

The couple began their whirlwind romance after pairing up on the ITV dating show Love Island in January 2023 - and have been inseparable ever since.

Jessie and Will have been living at his family's 700 acre farm near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire and have revealed they are 'currently building a home' on Will's family farm.

Jessie, 27, has now revealed that she has 'ticked off' her travel plans and is now open to having children with boyfriend Will, 24.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Jessie said: 'I told Will, I'm not having a baby until I've travelled, I've got a house and I feel complete.

Jessie Wynter and Will Young have revealed they are ready to start a family together as they opened up about taking their relationship to the next level

The couple began their whirlwind romance after pairing up on the ITV dating show Love Island in January 2023 - and have been inseparable ever since

'So, do you know what he did the next week? Let's go travel Italy for a month and that's what we did. So, you know, all of them things are now ticked off, we've done everything now.'

Will added: 'We can have a baby and get married and we're currently building a home on the farm at the moment.

'We've already got two donkeys, five alpacas, three goats, two pigs and 10 baby lambs we're starting our family.'

Despite not being engaged, the happy couple also revealed their future wedding plans as they hope to tie the knot in Jessie's native country Australia followed by a second wedding in the UK.

Jessie detailed: ''We're obviously not engaged but we want to get married in Australia, it's happening in Tasmania with my close family.

Will said: 'We're having an intimate wedding in Tasmania and then we're having an influencer party. So Tasmania is like closest friends that we've had since we've been together and the second one will be a UK party wedding.'

'Weddings can be stressful and I was like, we wanna have a really small intimate wedding in Tasmania where we don't have to worry about getting the photos we can just enjoy it', Jessie explained.

Will added: 'I just want to make Jessie the happiest guy.'

Jessie and Will have been living at his family's 700 acre farm near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire and have revealed they are 'currently building a home' on Will's family farm

Jessie, 27, has now revealed that she has 'ticked off' her travel plans and is now open to having children with boyfriend Will, 24

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Jessie said: 'I told Will, I'm not having a baby until I've travelled. The next week he was like let's go travel Italy and that's what we did. So, you know, all of them things are now ticked off, we've done everything now'

Will added: 'We can have a baby and get married and we're currently building a home on the farm at the moment'

The couple have previously sparked engagement rumours on a number of occasions since leaving the Love Island South African villa.

It comes after Jessie and Will kept their followers up-to-date as they spent the last month travelling Italy.

The pair gave a glimpse into their sun-soaked getaway as they visited Venice, Rome, Florence and the Amalfi Coast.

Earlier this year, Jessie opened up about how Will keeps tricking her with pretend engagements on the Jimmy and Nath show over in Australia.

She said: 'I know he keeps tricking me. He's planning all these romantic dates and like literally, you should have seen what he did in the Maldives it was so so romantic.

'And then he just gets down on one knee, no ring though he just joked about it!'

Teasing, Will added: 'Little does Jessie know I've proposed loads, she's just taking it as a joke.'

Host Nath then said: 'Well we need to tell you the real reason that you guys are in here because Will's decided to do it now.

'He's getting down on one knee he's doing it here.'

Laughing Jessie continued: 'Oh you're encouraging this behaviour! It's the air ring. It's true it's happened.'

Despite not being engaged, the happy couple also revealed their future wedding plans as they hope to tie the knot in Jessie's native country Australia followed by a second wedding in the UK

Jessie detailed: 'We're obviously not engaged but we want to get married in Australia, it's happening in Tasmania with my close family'

Will said: 'We're having an intimate wedding in Tasmania and then we're having an influencer UK wedding party. I just want to make Jessie the happiest guy'

'It's happened it only took an Aussie radio show,' added Nath.

It comes after Jessie heartbreakingly partly blamed herself after she was rushed to hospital when her drink was spiked while on holiday in the United States last year.

Jessie, who appeared on series two of Love Island Australia in 2019 and season nine of Love Island in the UK in 2023, was on vacation with boyfriend Will in Chicago when the incident happened.

She was rushed to hospital at the time and was one of a number of girls who needed medical treatment after the same substance was found in their system.

Reality star Jessie has now said she felt 'somewhat' responsible following the terrifying incident.

She said: 'Last year while I was on holiday I had my drink spiked and I was actually very fortunate, I got safely to hospital, my boyfriend was there to help me and so were other members of the public.

'However, what terrified me most was that I did share this experience on social media as it came as such a shock to myself and when I shared it on social media I discovered that this is actually happening to so many people so often, people of all ages, and they were all in the same boat as myself where they didn't know what to do.

It comes after Jessie heartbreakingly partly blamed herself after she was rushed to hospital when her drink was spiked while on holiday in the United States last year

She was rushed to hospital at the time and was one of a number of girls who needed medical treatment after the same substance was found in their system

When asked what she thinks it is that motivates people to spike drinks, Jessie replied: 'Honestly I have no idea, I think this is a huge mystery. For me, when I got spiked, I almost felt like I was a part of a freak accident or I was somewhat myself to blame in this situation.

'However, these people are going out motivated to do this and the reason for their motivation, I honestly don't even want to know.

'I was lucky enough that I didn't have to face the repercussions of their further actions but this is a huge issue and other people are ending up in far worse situations than I did.'

Jessie detailed the 'scary' incident on Instagram a day after sharing that she'd been hospitalised.
Bachelor star Keira Maguire has detailed all the wild procedures she has undergone to maintain her age-defying visage.

The reality-star-turned-influencer looks more than a decade younger than her 38 years, and appears to have aged backwards since her first foray into reality TV back in 2016.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday at a brunch to celebrate the launch of Naked Sundays new BeautyScreen Peptide Foundation Tint, Keira detailed the litany of cosmetic procedure she's had to shave years off her face.

From fractional lasers, Botox to minor filler treatments and salmon sperm injections, Keira has been into laser and injectables since she was in her 20s.

'From a young age I had really bad acne scarring, so I'd get a lot of fractional lasers. Unintentionally, I fell into going to the clinic and getting a lot of facials,' she said.

'Actually, though, some of them took away from the natural collagen. So then I would find myself trying to get other facials to fix the other treatments that I've had.

'I've had a lot of different hardcore lasers, like resurfacing lasers.'

During fractional laser treatments, a device with a laser beam divided into thousands of microscopic treatment zones is used on the face to help sun-damage and ageing skin.

Bachelor star Keira Maguire has detailed all the wild procedures she has undergone to maintain her age-defying visage. The reality-star-turned-influencer looks more than a decade younger than her 38 years (right), and appears to have aged backwards since her first foray into reality TV back in 2016 (left)

However, Keira said those treatments were just the beginning, as she was introduced to her first filler treatment when she was 25, and then later Botox at 30.

'I got fillers in my lips when I was quite young because one of my ex boyfriend's mum got it for my birthday. She was like let's go get lip filler for my 25th birthday,' she said with a laugh.

'But I never got Botox until I was 30. The first time I got Botox was just before I went on the Bachelor [in 2016] and they did my jaw.

'So I do look a bit different, but that's because that slims your face. So a lot of people say, "She's had so much work done." But I'm like no it's just lasers and Botox.'

Keira has also had Profhilo, a 'bioremodelling' injectable, and Rejuran, a salmon sperm facial which is also an injectable

Keira went on to say she doesn't use as much filler as her followers think, saying she only got the injections done once in her lips and lower cheeks.

She explained earlier this year she had an RF fractional laser treatment done, three times within a 12 week period, and it 'melted the collagen' in her cheeks.

'If you over laser someone, you can melt the fat in their face and the collagen... I had to get filler in the lower cheeks of my face [to fix it],' she explained.

Keira has also had Profhilo, a 'bioremodelling' injectable, and Rejuran, a salmon sperm facial which is also an injectable.

'I had [the Rejuran] done three weeks ago. We did under the eyes. I definitely think the salmon sperm facial is the best thing I've ever had,' she said.

'I've had Profhilo. I don't like it. Rejuran is 100% the best thing on the market... I think it will replace filler.'

Keira has been very open about the procedures she receives, often posting about them on her Instagram page, but she often receives backlash over her appearance.

She said most critics complain she has 'too much filler' in her cheeks, despite her insistence that her plump features are natural.

Keira was glowing as she attended the the launch of Naked Sundays new BeautyScreen Peptide Foundation Tint in Sydney on Wednesday

Keira joined Adrian Grenier and Naked Sundays founder Samantha Brett for the biggest product launch in the beauty line's history

'I try not to put filler in my face. I just don't think you can reverse it... I don't believe in getting it. I've just never needed it,' she said.

'I just say [to critics]... I don't have filler in my face and if I did I would tell you. You can tell when someone has filler in their face. You can feel it.'

Keira rose to fame on Richie Strahan's season of The Bachelor in 2016, before appearing on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and Bachelor in Paradise in 2017 where she met Jarrod Woodgate.

Love Island's Cassidy McGill and fellow Bachelor star Bella Varelis were also in attendance

The couple had an on-again-off-again relationship for about two years, before the couple split for good in late 2019.

Keira told Daily Mail Australia the pair no longer on speaking terms and Woodgate blocked her on Instagram.

Currently single, she moved back to her homestate of Brisbane after finding the dating scene in Melbourne boring.

Keira has 126,000 Instagram followers, and regularly uses the social media app to promote brands and products.

The brunette beauty was in attendance at the the launch of Naked Sundays new BeautyScreen Peptide Foundation Tint in Sydney on Wednesday.

Entourage star Adrian Grenier was the guest of honour at a brunch to help Naked Sundays' founder Samantha celebrate the biggest product launch in the beauty line's history.

The tint already appears to be a runaway success with a a 160K waitlist prior to its launch.
Australian influencers have been flocking en masse to Turkey in recent years for cheap and fast plastic surgery.

Now locals from the country have been left furious as more and more of their top surgeons turn away from their public health system in favour of the Aussie dollar.

With thousands travelling to Europe every year for cheap procedures, some locals say they 'feel like second class citizens', the Outspoken podcast recently reported.

'Each year it's predicted that 15,000 Australians go overseas for the purpose of medical tourism,' hosts Amy, Sophie and Kate Taeuber said.

They went on to say that Turkey has 'become a hot spot' for hair transplants, liposuction, breast implants and porcelain veneers among influencers Down Under.

More recently, online personalities like Skye Wheatley have booked themselves in for a procedure called the fox eye face lift.

With 'billions' of Australian dollars flooding into the country through medical tourism channels, some clinics have also started to put together 'travel packages'.

Many now offer all expenses paid trips to Turkey for those willing to fork out a few thousand for cheap cosmetic surgery in the country.

Australian influencers have been flocking en masse to Turkey in recent years for cheap and fast plastic surgery. Pictured: Skye Wheatley

'The sad thing is, all of this medical tourism is having a negative impact on the locals,' the Taeuber sisters said.

'Many of them say they feel like second class citizens in their own country... because a lot of doctors are choosing to turn their backs on the hospitals in favour of opening up their own private clinics.'

Additionally, the Voices in Bioethics scientific journal advised as recently as 2022 that medical tourism in Turkey may be leading to 'health care inequalities between foreigners and Turkish citizens'.

'Due to expanded demand for services, medical tourism has led Turkey to develop its healthcare system and expand the number of people who can become physicians,' the publication said.

'Yet, more must be done to prevent fraud, ensure fair prices that Turkish locals can afford, and help public hospitals maintain some of the tourism market shares.'

Now locals from the country have been left furious as more and more of their top surgeons turn away from their public health system in favour of the Aussie dollar. Pictured: Stock photo

The Australian government largely advises extreme caution when considering medical tourism due to the high level of health risks associated with the practice.

Some of those risks include infection and disfigurement due to lower quality surgical skills and practices, as well as fewer regulations for medical environments.

There is also generally a lack of discussion before and after the operation surrounding best practices for recovery, and whether the procedure is necessary in the first place.

It comes as influencer Skye Wheatley, 30, who won I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! this year, shared her plastic surgery demands earlier this month while revealing her plans to travel to Turkey for a 'fox eye' lift.

The social media star, who shot to fame on Big Brother in 2014, revealed in an Instagram video that she will be heading overseas to get the controversial cosmetic procedure done.

Influencer Skye Wheatley, 30, who won I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! this year, shared her plastic surgery demands earlier this month while revealing her plans to travel to Turkey for a 'fox eye' lift

Skye also revealed her plans to have liposuction on her inner thighs and arms but admitted she's worried it will look unnatural.

'I am going to Turkey. I am getting the fox eye lift. It is pretty much a half face lift. The surgery itself is not very invasive,' she said.

'I want the smallest little lift, I don't want to look crazy, I don't want my eyebrows to be any higher than they are. I just want a little bit of a lift when my face is relaxed.'

Skye said she has 'wanted this for a very long time' and is having the procedure done by the same doctor her friend used.

'I know a few people who have had it and they look amazing,' she continued.

'At lot of people watching this don't know much about surgeries and will think I'm going to look older, that's fine but I'm still doing it.'

The fox eye lift, also known as the fox eye thread lift, raises the edges of the brows using a soft PDO (polydioxanone) thread, aiming to recreate the look of the surgical fox eye lift without the need for an operation.
Angelina Jolie once hired a hitman to plan her own murder as she battled suicidal thoughts in the past.

The Oscar-winning actress, 49, who is still embroiled in a divorce battle with Brad Pitt, 60, first revealed back in 2001 that she spoke to an assassin during a 'rather bleak' time in her life aged 22.

She told IMDB: 'This is going to sound insane but there was a time I was going to hire somebody to kill me.'

She said she would rather have been murdered than take her own life as the death would have been easier for her loved ones to deal with.

Opening up further in a 2003 The Face interview she said of locating a hitman: 'Theyre not that hard to find in New York. As insane as it sounds, I think a lot of people consider suicide when theyre young.

Angelina Jolie once hired a hitman to plan her own murder as she battled suicidal thoughts aged 22 (pictured 1997 aged 22)

The Oscar-winning actress, 49, who is still embroiled in a divorce battle with Brad Pitt , 60, first revealed back in 2001 that she spoke to an assassin during a 'rather bleak' time in her life aged 22 - pictured last month

'I was very aware that so many people around me, like my mother, would feel as though they didnt give enough or do enough, if Id taken my own life. So my solution to that was if someone else had taken my life  like in a robbery  then it would be murder and it wouldnt be that anyone would feel theyd let me down.

Jolie said she planned to 'take out cash over a certain amount of time, so there wasnt a big chunk in my bank account' to the killer.

However the hitman had a surprising response, with Jolie saying: 'He was a decent enough person and asked if I could think about it and call him again in two months. Something changed in my life and I figured Id stick it out.

In 2011 Jolie alluded to a dark past as she told 60 Minutes: 'I went through heavier, darker times and I survived them. I didn't die young, so Im very lucky. There are other artists and people who didnt survive certain things.

'I think people can imagine that I did the most dangerous and I did the worst,' she said at the time.

'For many reasons I shouldnt be here. You think of those too many times where you came close to too many dangerous things, too many chances taken too far.'

Talking about her younger years in a conversation with Time, Jolie said motherhood to her six children had enabled her to grow as a person.

She said: 'I was not a very stable youth. In fact, I never thought I could be anyones mom. I remember the decision to become a parent. It wasnt hard to love. What was hard was knowing that from now on I needed to be the one to make sure everything was OK.

She told IMDB: 'This is going to sound insane but there was a time I was going to hire somebody to kill me.' She said she would rather have been murdered than take her own life as the death would have been easier for her loved ones to deal with' - pictured 1998

However the hitman had a surprising response, with Jolie saying: ' He was a decent enough person and asked if I could think about it and call him again in two months' - pictured 1998

The star is now one of Hollywood's most iconic actresses, winning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar aged 25 for her role in 1999 film, Girl, Interrupted.

Talking to The Times in November 2021, she said: "I've had a very blessed life, but I've had my own challenges. I've had PTSD.

"You often feel that feeling of being broken and wondering what you're capable of, and being concerned you're not able to be enough to protect and care for those you love.'

Pitt and Jolie began dating publicly shortly after he and his then-wife Jennifer Aniston announced their divorce in 2005.

The Mr. And Mrs. Smith costars remained unmarried for years despite having multiple adopted and biological children together, but they got engaged in 2012 and finally tied the knot in 2014.

However, it was only around two years later when the Maleficent actress filed for divorce in 2016. She and Pitt were declared legally single in 2019.

Pitt is now dating Ines de Ramon, 35.

This comes amid recent claims that Pitt and Jolie's divorce - which has now dragged on for eight years - is still ongoing as neither of the stars can 'let it go.

A source told People 'their disagreements took over' in the relationship, adding that things 'turned nasty and it was not a good situation for anyone.'

'All the bitterness is partly why the divorce has dragged on for so many years. Neither will let it go. Youd think they would be over it and just settle.'

The star is now a mom of six - she parents Maddox, 22, Pax, 20, Zahara, 19, Shiloh 18, and Knox and Vivienne, 16

A separate insider said: 'Both of them were having issues with each other. The differences added up over time. It's really sad for the children, but also the parents. Divorce, especially one so high-profile, can be challenging for the whole family.

'They both care. They both care about the children.'

The couple's eldest child Shiloh Jolie is moving ahead with her petition to legally drop the actor's surname - taking out a newspaper ad in The LA Times.

Shiloh, who hired and paid for her own lawyer when she filed to drop the Pitt name on her 18th birthday in May, filed to change her name from Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt to Shiloh Nouvel Jolie, per the newspaper notice obtained by TMZ.

The ad is a standard step before the court will approve a name change.

Pitt has been involved in an ongoing divorce battle for years, seemingly stemming from a 2016 incident on a plane in which Jolie accused Pitt of assaulting her; the family seen in 2011

The notice also states anyone who has objections to the petition should show up in court later this month.

A source close to the matter told Dailymail.com last month: Shiloh hired her own lawyer and paid for it herself, so Angie doesnt know and cant speak for it.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-4357
Turkish Airlines flight makes emergency landing at JFK after pilot dies mid-flight 09 Oct 2024 | 10:18 PM Istanbul, Oct 9 (UNI) A Turkish Airlines passenger plane was forced to make an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York around 6 a.m. local time (1000GMT) on Wednesday after a pilot died mid-flight on a route from Seattle to Istanbul. see more..

Kuwait F-18 fighter jet crashes during training mission, pilot killed 09 Oct 2024 | 8:49 PM Kuwait City, Oct 9 (UNI) A Kuwaiti Air Force F-18 fighter jet crashed and its pilot was killed "while conducting a training flight mission in the north of the country," the Kuwaiti Defense Ministry announced Wednesday. see more..

Hezbollah fires rockets into N Israel, killing 2 09 Oct 2024 | 7:24 PM Jerusalem, Oct 9 (UNI) A rocket fired by Hezbollah fighters from Lebanon killed two Israeli civilians - a woman and a man - in northern Israel on Wednesday, Israeli authorities said. see more..

Japan PM dissolves lower house, vows to gain public trust 09 Oct 2024 | 6:56 PM Tokyo, Oct 9 (UNI) The lower house of Japan's parliament was officially dissolved on Wednesday, setting the stage for the general election as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba seeks to secure his party's lower house majority and gain public trust. see more..
Strictly Come Dancing's Gorka Marquez praised the show for helping him build a family as the show battles a growing crisis of bullying and abuse claims.

The professional dancer, 33, who is a father of two, shares two children, Mia, four, and Thiago, 11 months, with former Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson, 39.

Gorka and Gemma, who have been engaged since 2021, first met in 2017 when she was partnered with his co-star pal Aljaz Skorjanec.

Despite both being on the show, the pair only got close with one another after the competition.

While Strictly has been in turmoil following Amanda Abbington's bombshell interviews this week, Gorka called the show 'the best on earth'.

Strictly Come Dancing's Gorka Marquez praised the show for helping him build a family as the scandal-hit show continued to battle abuse claims (pictured in 2022)

The professional dancer, who is a father of two, shares two children, Mia, 4, and Thiago, 11 months, with Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson

He told the Daily Star: 'Strictly has changed my life, if you look back and go back nine years ago, I came here to the UK for the first time to do Strictly, after never been here before, and now look at me now, I have a family, a partner, two children all because of Strictly.

'The romance between us didn't start until we did the tour, as on the show we only used to hang out first as a group and in rehearsals.

'But then we were on tour after the Strictly, we had more time and would say "let's go for a coffee" or "I'm going to the gym, can I come with you?" so then we ended up spending a lot of time together, we were like travelling every day to different cities.'

Gorka's comments come just days after Amanda claimed that Giovanni was trying to block the release of up to 50 hours of 'toxic' footage' following her bullying complaint to the BBC.

In an emotionally charged interview, the actress, 50, compared the dance show to 'the trenches' telling Channel 4 News that BBC producers had been left 'horrified' by clips that also allegedly exhibited 'humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature'.

The Sherlock star sensationally quit the dance competition last year citing 'personal reasons' before reports surfaced that she had demanded footage of her rehearsals after the experience with the show and her dance partner left her with PTSD.

Giovanni, who has strongly denied any threatening or abusive behaviour, stepped down from the show, with the BBC later launching a probe over claims of off-camera misconduct made by Amanda as well as other celebrities.

Gorka and Gemma, who have been engaged since 2021, first met in 2017 when she was partnered with his co-star pal Aljaz Skorjanec (pictured)

Gorka's praise come just days after Strictly was plunged into further crisis after Amanda Abbington's bombshell claims against Giovanni Pernice

Yet in a dramatic twist in the Strictly saga, the actress claimed Giovanni tried to stop her legal team from accessing the video 'evidence' after producers were forced to put cameras in the dance studio after Amanda raised concerns.

'There's 50 hours of footage that's being blocked. You know, 50 hours is a lot of footage, and a lot of time spent in a room that was toxic,' she told presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

'It's out there. There is evidence out there of what happened in that room and I'm not the one who's blocking it. I've said anyone can watch it, but he (Giovanni) doesn't want anyone to see it, which is quite telling if he's got nothing to hide.'

A spokesperson for Giovanni told MailOnline: 'We would urge people to wait for the review's conclusion and not to pay heed to these very serious and defamatory allegations that have no evidence in support of them.'

The actress said that cameras were installed into her and Giovanni's rehearsal studio after she raised concerns after the first week of practice with producers wanting to review the footage each week to assess what was 'going on' between the pair.

Giovanni had claimed he had asked for the cameras, which Amanda says is untrue.

'So in the first week, I raised my concerns to the producers,' the actress explained, as she fought back tears.

'Giovanni said that he asked for the cameras, he didn't ask for the cameras, I know that he didn't ask for the cameras, because the producers came to me and said, 'we're going to put in cameras so we can view the footage at the end of the week and make an assessment and see what's going on'.

In an emotionally charged interview, the actress, 50, compared the dance show to 'the trenches' telling Channel 4 News that BBC producers had been left 'horrified' by clips

Channel 4 presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who interview Amanda, also starred on the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing

Amanda and Krishnan Guru-Murthy pictured following her interview

'And then every Friday, after the next sort of five weeks, I would get the producer saying, on the Friday, 'we just watched the footage back, we are shocked and horrified, we're so sorry'.

'That was to my face on the Friday when we would go in and do the camera rehearsal.'

Throughout the interview, Krishnan, who also starred on the 2023 series, asked whether it was correct that Amanda had experienced 'humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature', with the actress holding back tears as she nodded in agreement.

'Yeah. I mean, you know, one of the many things,' she said, clarifying it was not harassment.

Ever since the claims first emerged Giovanni has denied all of the allegations, claiming to have provided a dossier of evidence to the Beeb investigators and 'remains fully confident in clearing his name'.

Disputing Amanda's claims once again following the interview, a spokesperson for the Italian dancer said: 'The BBC has shared the allegations they have been able to substantiate with us.

Fellow Italian dancer Graziano Di Prima was suspended from the programme after he was accused of kicking and spitting at former Love Island star Zara McDermott (pictured)

Addressing his exit from the show, a 'devastated' Di Prima wrote on Instagram: 'I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly'

'They do not resemble Amanda's latest allegations, given to Channel 4, in any shape or form. Giovanni refutes any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour.'

The bombshell interview comes as the flagship BBC One show continues to be rocked by a string of allegations, which saw Giovanni as well as professional dancer Graziano Di Prima step down.

Giovanni was accused of bullying by Amanda as well as two other, unnamed contestants.

Graziano was axed from the show last week after allegations emerged that he kicked, hit and spat at reality TV star Zasra McDermott during rehearsals last year.

In response to Amanda's latest interview, a spokesperson for the BBC said: 'Anyone involved in a complaint has a right to confidentiality and fair process and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further on individuals.'

'As we have said before, we would urge people not to indulge in speculation. More generally, the BBC and BBC Studios takes duty of care extremely seriously.

'Our processes on Strictly Come Dancing are updated every year, they are kept under constant review and last week we announced additional steps to further strengthen welfare and support on the show.

The BBC continued: 'The BBC and BBC Studios takes duty of care extremely seriouslylast week we announced additional steps to further strengthen welfare and support on the show.'
Doctor Who producer Russell T Davies has said 'no decision' has been made yet for the line-up of series three.

Appearing at Comic Con in San Diego alongside Ncuti Gatwa, 31, and Millie Gibson, the screenwriter spoke about what was in store for the science fiction show.

Russell, 62, admitted decisions about who would star in series three haven't been made yet as they are still in the middle of filming the second season.

The screenwriter said: 'We've shot season two, but that's only halfway through. We've got all those months of post to come. It's a long way off, so no decisions yet.'

Ncuti said playing the Doctor is 'surreal' and when the host joked he had signed up for the next 10 seasons, he replied: 'Of course!'.

Doctor Who producer Russell T Davies has said 'no decision' has been made yet for the line-up of series three

Appearing at Comic Con in San Diego alongside Ncuti Gatwa, 31, and Millie Gibson, the screenwriter spoke about what was in store for the science fiction show

'I am still growing into the Doctor but season two was lovely. It felt like the suit was fully fitted. I was finding my feet in season one and having the time of my life but season two felt like a chance to flex the muscles properly,' he said, according to The Mirror.

Asides from filming the second series, Ncuti will star in a West End production of The Importance of Being Earnest later this year.

Meanwhile, Millie, 20, who plays Ruby Sunday, will reportedly only make a fleeting appearance in the next series - despite joining Ncuti and Russell at Comic Con.

She will be replaced by Varada Sethu, 32, who has been pictured filming with Ncuti.

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies previously confirmed that Millie's character had simply been put on hold for now but she would return to the show before long.

He explained: 'This is a pause. I genuinely felt Ruby's story paused there. She couldn't get all that information about her family, all that emotional overload, and run off in the TARDIS. It pauses there. She's coming back.'

In the meantime Millie has been pursing other ventures as she stars in the new reimagining of The Forsyte Saga.

It comes after the show's future was questioned, despite filming for the fifteenth series already starting, after the fourteenth failed to attract viewers and resulted in 'underwhelming' ratings.

Appearing at Comic Con in San Diego alongside producer Russell T Davies and Millie Gibson on Thursday, the actor, 31, kept coy about whether he will continue in the role

Meanwhile, Millie, 20, who plays Ruby Sunday, will reportedly only make a fleeting appearance in the next series. She will be replaced by Varada Sethu, 32

An ambitious deal with Disney - rumoured to be worth $100million - meant each episode is aired on BBC iPlayer at midnight on Fridays to appease US viewers before being broadcast on its traditional Saturday teatime slot on terrestrial television.

It meant a slump in viewers overall despite the BBC contract with the American media giant intended to revitalise the show with lavish special effects and Davies, 61, stated the deal would finally put the show, 'Up there with your Star Wars, your Marvel stuff'.

Instead, the final episode attracted only 2.02million viewers - a sharp drop from Jodie Whittaker's final outing as the first female Doctor, which was watched by 3.7million in real time.

A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Overnight ratings no longer provide an accurate picture of all those who watch drama in an on demand world, this season of Doctor Who premiered on iPlayer nearly 24 hours before broadcast, and episode one has already been viewed by over 6 million viewers and continues to grow.'

'Doctor Who remains one of the most watched programmes on iPlayer and is the BBC's top drama for under 35's this year making it one of the biggest programmes for the demographic across all streamers and broadcasters'.
Advertisement

Sarah Michelle Gellar, Quinta Brunson, and Rebecca Ferguson led the stars arriving to Variety's Comic-Con studio in San Diego on Saturday.

The 47-year-old Buffy the Vampire Slayer sensation  whose husband is Freddie Prinze Jr.  turned heads in a strapless black jumpsuit.

She added two chunky clear bangles and large, horseshoe-shaped statement earrings.

The mother-of-two pulled her blonde tresses into a tousled ponytail and swiped a shade of red lipstick on her pout.

Meanwhile, 34-year-old Quinta looked ultra feminine in a gray dress with a bow at the bust while Rebecca, 40, wore a fashion-forward khaki pantsuit.

Sarah Michelle Gellar, Quinta Brunson, and Rebecca Ferguson led the stars arriving to Variety's Comic-Con studio in San Diego on Saturday

She added two chunky clear bangles and large, horseshoe-shaped statement earrings

The mom-of-two flaunted an almond-shaped nude manicure

Sarah's sleek look was punctuated with a pair of pointy-toe, red platform heels.

The Scooby Doo star flaunted an almond-shaped nude manicure as she posed for photos on the red carpet.

She was joined by her Dexter: Original Sin co-stars Molly Brown, Christian Slater, and Patrick Gibson.

Molly, who plays a younger version of the character Debra Morgan in the Showtime series, was clad in a pale green patterned jacket and shorts.

Her thick, shoulder-length brunette hair was styled in a center part as it fell around her face.

The ensemble was rounded out with metallic silver Mary Jane shoes with a block heels. She paired them with white socks.

The young entertainer wore a palette of peach-toned makeup, which was dusted on her eyelids, cheeks, and mouth.

Longtime actor Christian was spiffy in olive green trousers and a cream-colored shirt.

Molly Brown looked great in a pale green patterned jacket and shorts

Sarah was joined by her Dexter: Original Sin co-stars Molly Brown, Christian Slater, and Patrick Gibson

L-R Christian, Molly, Sarah, and Patrick

Inside the event, Quinta posed up with her Abbott Elementary co-stars William Stanford Davis, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, and Chris Perfetti.

She wore her brown locks in a neat top knot bun styled with face-framing baby hair.

The Philadelphia native wore ultra-large hoop earrings with her chic and flirty look.

The star's face was fully made up in brown tones that complemented her clear complexion.

Brunson finished her outfit with matching open-toe platform heels.

Brunson wore her brown locks in a neat top knot bun styled with face-framing baby hair. She finished her outfit with matching open-toe platform heels

Quinta posed up with her Abbott Elementary co-stars William Stanford Davis, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, and Chris Perfetti

Minnie Driver looked incredible as she posed up a storm at the event

She modeled a chic ankle-length white one-shoulder dress that showed off her slim figure

She was joined at the convention by her Batman: Caped Crusader co-stars Jamie Chung and Hamish Linklater

Rapper and actor Common showed his sense of fashion in a checkered denim coord

Actor Steve Zahn made a stylish appearance in beige pants and a silvery gray shirt

Hugh Howey and Graham Yost attended as well

Rapper and actor Common was also present on Saturday, showing his sense of fashion in a checkered denim coord.

The longtime music artist, who is dating Jennifer Hudson, added green and white sneakers.

He sported his signature bald style and his full, dark beard was neatly trimmed.

Writer Hugh Howey and screenwriter Graham Yost attended as well.

Actor Steve Zahn made a stylish appearance in beige pants and a silvery gray shirt.
Chris Pratt is proud of his pregnant wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger.

The Guardians of the Galaxy star, 45  who recently admitted he asked his wife to appear alongside him on screen  took to Instagram to praise Katherine, 34, during a children's party on Saturday.

He snapped a photo of his wife of five years rocking stylish pink gingham overalls that highlighted her growing baby bump.

The daughter of Hollywood icon Arnold Schwarzenegger paired the look with a white T-shirt and layered gold jewelry while flashing a gentle smile.

'Greatest party planner in history!' the Jurassic World actor penned in the caption.

Chris Pratt took to Instagram to praise his pregnant wife Katherine Schwarzenegger during a children's party on Saturday

The mother-of-two's highlighted locks were let loose and slightly curled as they cascaded over her shoulders.

She appeared to be standing in a pink decorated back yard complete with a bouncy castle and balloons.

Chris added an adorable snap of their two daughters, Lyla Maria, 3, and Eloise Christina, 2, playing with farm animals in a pen.

The Onward voice actor and his wife are currently expecting their third child together.

The little one's due date and gender have yet to be revealed.

The post was a hit with the actor's 45.6million followers, racking up over 64.3k likes and hundreds of fans flooding the comments with support.

'I didn't even realize you had another little one on the way! So happy for you guys! My favorite couple in Hollywood,' one fan penned.

'Congratulations on expecting!! Very exciting!' another follower chimed in.

The Garfield voice actor and Schwarzenegger met through church in 2018 and started dating after her mother set them up.

They said 'I do' on June 8, 2019 in a lavish wedding ceremony at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California, after just a year of dating.

The couple went on to welcome their first born on August 6, 2020 and their second on May 21, 2022.

Chris added an adorable snap of his two daughters, Lyla Maria, 3, and Eloise Christina, 2, playing with farm animals

The Onward voice actor and his wife are currently expecting their third child together. The little one's due date and gender have yet to be revealed; seen in 2024

The Garfield voice actor and Schwarzenegger met through church in 2018 and started dating after her mother set them up; Katherine, Lyla and Eloise seen in 2024

The couple went on to welcome their first born on August 6, 2020 and their second on May 21, 2022; Katherine, Lyla and Eloise seen in 2024

They said 'I do' on June 8, 2019 in a lavish wedding ceremony at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California, after just a year of dating; seen in 2023

Chris and Anna Faris were married from 2009 until they split in 2018; Anna, Jack and Chris seen in 2017

Pratt also shares his son Jack, 11, with his ex-wife, Scary Movie star, Anna Faris.

He and the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatball voice actress were married from 2009 until they called it quits in 2018.

In early 2020, he founded his own production company, Indivisible Productions, which released its first project, The Terminal List, featuring Pratt in 2022.
While looking back fondly on her time on Friends, Aisha Tyler recalled the 'sweet' thing the late Matthew Perry told her after taping her first episode.

Rewind to 2003, Tyler was doing stand-up comedy and had seen her career in television take off as host of Talk Soup and the reality-dating series The 5th Wheel, when she landed the role of Dr. Charlie Wheeler, the love interest for Ross (David Schwimmer) and Joey (Matt LeBlanc).

After finishing her first episode on the show, she and the others were waiting backstage, where she was going to take her first bow in front of the live audience when Perry casually shared some words of encouragement to her.

'Right before I went out at the end of my first taping, Matthew Perry leaned in and said, "Get ready for your life to change,"' which is something she will forever cherish, during an appearance on the And That's What You REALLY Missed podcast.

It's a tradition of sorts for the actors of a sitcom that's recorded in front of a studio audience to come back out after the final scene to take a bow as a show of thanks and respect.

While looking back fondly on her time on Friends, Aisha Tyler recalled the 'sweet' thing the late Matthew Perry told her after taping her first episode; seen in 2004

'Right before I went out at the end of my first taping, Matthew Perry leaned in and said, "Get ready for your life to change,"' which is something she will forever cherish, during an appearance on the And That's What You REALLY Missed podcast

That little remark by her late co-star ended up having a huge impact on Tyler's confidence and psyche moving forward with her Hollywood career.

'It was just such a sweet, generous thing to say,' Tyler, 53, said. 'It wasn't like, "Uh-oh." He was like, "This is exciting. It's gonna be exciting for you." And I never forgot that moment because it really did change my life.'

Mind you, she had little acting experience at the time leading to her audition reading with Schwimmer, and was actually taking acting lessons at the time in 2003.

'By the time I auditioned for Friends, I had seen every episode of Friends  like every single one,' she admitted during the podcast, as reported by People. 'Which didn't make me confident. It just made me know, well, I know how to tell a Friends joke. But like, am I gonna do it well?'

By being observant while on the Friends set, Tyler was able to soak in all the different acting techniques, nuances and overall creativity.

'I learned how to tell a joke perfectly just by watching 'Perry' work,' she confessed during the conversation, which appears to have worked considering the outcome.

Tyler maintains she's still reaping the benefits of the things she learned from her Friends audition, a reading with Schwimmer.

That little remark by her late co-star ended up having a huge impact on Tyler's confidence and psyche moving forward with her Hollywood career; seen in February

'It was just such a sweet, generous thing to say,' Tyler, 53, said. 'It wasn't like, "Uh-oh." He was like, "This is exciting. It's gonna be exciting for you." And I never forgot that moment because it really did change my life'; seen in 2004

She has since gone on to star in such TV series as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2004-2005), 24 (2005), Ghost Whisperer (2005-2006), Archer (2009-2023), XIII: The Series (2011-2012), Criminal Minds (2015-2020, 2022-present), as well as serving as co-host of the daytime talk show The Talk (2011-2017), as well as a number of films.

Perry, who suffered from severe addictions to drugs and alcohol during his lifetime, was found unresponsive in his hot tub at his los Angeles home, and was pronounced dead in the late afternoon of October 28.

The official cause of death was attributed to 'acute effects of ketamine', which is used by doctors to deal with depression and pain management, with buprenorphine, drowning, and coronary artery disease as contributing causes.

The original plan was for Tyler to appear in four episodes of Friends in the role of Charlie, but ultimately she starred in nine, in season nine and 10, making her the first Black person to have a recurring role on the legendary comedy.

In 2003, Tyler landed the role of Dr. Charlie Wheeler, the love interest for Ross (David Schwimmer) and Joey (Matt LeBlanc)

Tyler had little acting experience at the time leading to her audition reading with Schwimmer, and was actually taking acting lessons at the time in 2003

Perry was just 54 when he tragically passed away at his home in Los Angeles in October 2023, which was two decades after they first met during her auditions process.

Tyler, a San Francisco native, went on to describe the late actor as having 'a gentleness and generosity of spirit that was unparalleled.'

Friends premiere in September 1994, and went on to become one of the most successful sitcoms by the end of its 10-season run in May 2004.
Kourtney Kardashian looked chic as ever while posing at a Sprouts grocery store during a photoshoot for her brand Lemme.

The Kardashians star, 45  who recently revealed her 'light-bulb moment' from therapy  took to Instagram to promote her wellness brand on Saturday.

She modeled an elegant faux leopard fur coat and a pair of bright red gloves that elevated the ensemble.

Her brunette locks were swept back in a half-up half-down style as her layers fell out to frame her face.

'Don't cry over spilled milk,' she captioned the snaps, which featured her next to bottles of spilled milk on the floor.

Kourtney Kardashian, 45, took to Instagram to promote her wellness brand Lemme during a jaw dropping photo shoot at a Sprouts grocery on Saturday

'Don't cry over spilled milk,' she captioned the snaps, which featured her next to bottles of spilled milk on the floor

Kourtney rocked black stiletto heels and stockings that paired with her dark aviator sunglasses.

In the vintage-looking snaps, the Los Angeles native pushed a grocery cart around the supermarket filled with her Lemme brand supplements.

She added a image of herself striking a pose while carrying a grocery basket in the freezer section of the store.

The mother-of-four added various images of a spilled jug of milk  which she references in the caption of the post  as an idiom signifying there is no use in worrying over past events that cannot be changed.

In other snaps, we see the reality star taking her cart filled with her supplements and fruits to her car.

She founded the successful luxury supplement company back in September of 2022, telling People at the time she feels 'really passionate about the ingredients and the combinations.'

According to the Lemme site, the supplements are 'Gummies that give you life, literally. Lemme is a new vitamin and supplement line developed by Kourtney Kardashian to become a divine, feel good part of your everyday life.'

It offers a variety of products that claim to enhance metabolism, mood, energy, sleep, beauty and health.

She modeled an elegant faux leopard fur coat and a pair of bright red gloves that elevated the ensemble

Kourtney rocked black stiletto heels and stockings that paired with her dark aviator sunglasses

In the vintage-looking snaps, the Los Angeles native pushed a grocery cart around the supermarket filled with her Lemme brand supplements

In other snaps, we see the reality star taking her cart filled with her supplements and fruits to her car

She founded the successful luxury supplement company back in September of 2022

The mother-of-four added various images of a spilled jug of milk, as an idiom signifying there is no use in worrying over past events that cannot be changed

'Years of seeking the perfect supplement led me to create my own health solution,' the Poosh founder penned on the site.

Products range from $25 for Organic Wildcrafted Irish Sea Moss Liquid to $90 for bundles of three supplement bottles.

Lemme also now offers merchandise such as trucker hats, sweatpants, track suits, hoodies and gift cards.
On Saturday HBO released a new trailer for The Penguin, the upcoming eight-episode DC series based on the villainous Batman character.

Starring 48-year-old Colin Farrell, the show will premiere on Thursday, September 19 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT and will also be available to stream on Max.

The Penguin follows the events that take place after 2022's The Batman, which starred Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz.

The plot sees Oswald Cobblepot, better known as The Penguin, attempt to take hold of Gotham's world of crime.

The latest teaser shows opens with the main character slow dancing with his mother, who reminds him he promised her 'a beautiful life.'

On Saturday HBO released a new trailer for The Penguin, the upcoming eight-episode DC series based on the villainous Batman character

Starring 48-year-old Colin Farrell, the show will premiere on Thursday, September 19 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT and will also be available to stream on Max

He assures her, 'I'm working on it, Ma,' before stating in a voiceover that 'the world isn't set up for the honest man to succeed.'

Oz then reiterates, 'That aint the way the world works,' as viewers are shown a gruesome scene of him stabbing someone.

In another shot featuring the villain in a one-on-one conversation with a young male, he says, 'Americas a hustle.'

Colin appeared at Comic-Con in San Diego this weekend  where the new trailer was unveiled  via a virtual call from Macau, China, where he's filming a new movie.

The visualizer introduces the prospect of a 'gang war' as Oz relays his strategy to 'burn down an empire from the inside out.'

'Trust me, its just the beginning,' he later says forebodingly.

Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo, and Deirdre OConnell also appear in the series.

James Madio, Theo Rossi, Scott Cohen, Clancy Brown, Carmen Ejogo, and Michael Zegen round out the cast.

The plot sees Oswald Cobblepot, better known as The Penguin, attempt to take hold of Gotham's world of crime

The latest teaser shows opens with the main character slow dancing with his mother, who reminds him he promised her 'a beautiful life'

During Saturday's panel discussion, The Batman director Matt Reeves explained the Penguin as 'a power vacuum in Gotham,' per Deadline.

He described him as a figure who is 'totally underestimated but has this fire inside of him.'

Reeves also revealed that disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was part of the inspiration for Penguin's look.

Colin pulled off a remarkable transformation for the role, appearing unrecognizable throughout the production.

Colin appeared at Comic-Con in San Diego this weekend - where the new trailer was unveiled -via a virtual call from Macau, China, where he's filming a new movie

Farrell transformed his face and body with extensive special FX makeup and prosthetics to play the iconic Batman villain

Reeves also confirmed on Saturday that Farrell will return for his next Batman film, which begins shooting in 2025.

'The lore of this world held such an attraction for me,' Farrell said at Comic-Con, explaining that he viewed his character as a person with 'violence and pain etched on [his] face.'

Throughout the show, viewers will examine The Penguin's 'life and how broken it is,' delving into 'his depth of ambition and greed, and the consequences of events from Ozs childhood.'

Despite being 'a disaster,' Farrell said The Penguin was a 'tasty character' to explore.
Made in Bondi reportedly features a cast that is hardly from the iconic beachside suburb.

According to Seven, the upcoming reality TV series 'follows the real lives and loves of young Sydney socialites living in the affluent Eastern Suburbs and the most famous beach in the world  Bondi.'

However, it appears that most of the cast members aren't actually from Bondi, or even Sydney.

'Producers tried hard to get actual Bondi locals with a profile on board, but they didn't have much luck,' a source disclosed told The Sunday Telegraph.

Instead, the cast includes: Bella Salerno, 23, who spent much of her childhood in Europe, Molly Paradice, 23, from Scone in country NSW and Isabella Cicero, 31, a content creator from Perth.

Pippa Hanan, 22, from Paddington, publicist Billy Daniels, 32, who moved from Perth to Paddington and model Lachlan McLean, 27, from Sydney's northern beaches also appear in the series.

Jewellery designer Emma Pillemer, 22, is believed to be the only cast member genuinely raised in Bondi.

On set sources also claim that the majority of the filming took place in Brighton Le Sands, approximately 30 minutes from Bondi Beach.

Despite its name, Made in Bondi features a cast that is hardly from the iconic beachside suburb, and the series wasn't even filmed there

'They're clearly not targeting an Australian audience,' one insider remarked. 'This show is aimed at the international market, who won't know the difference.'

Participants were also reportedly paid as little as $240 for a day on set.

In stark contrast, the Real Housewives of Sydney cast have contracts worth between $30,000 and $50,000.

According to Seven, the upcoming reality TV series 'follows the real lives and loves of young Sydney socialites living in the affluent Eastern Suburbs and the most famous beach in the world  Bondi.' Pictured: Emma Pillemer

Producers initially aimed high, trying to recruit model Montana Cox, fashion designer Sophie Coote, pilates instructor Bernadette Fahey, and socialites Andy El-Bayeh and his wife Harriet Williams.

When these efforts didn't pan out, they had to settle for a mix of influencers and socialites from various parts of Australia and beyond.

With a title suggesting local glamour and beachside living, Made in Bondi might just surprise viewers with its unexpected cast and filming locations.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven for comment.
Celeste Barber is known for her skits and amusing Instagram posts lampooning celebrities.

But the Australian comedian has moved into the beauty space by launching her own affordable makeup brand, Booie Beauty.

Since launching, it has been a hit, with some items already sold out on the brand's website.

Among the offerings are the Where The Hell Is My? Nourished Lip Stick in three colours for $28 each.

Also on sale is the Bam! Bam! Bam! Lip, Cheek and Eye Tint in two shades for just $22.

There is also the popular You're Welcome Mascara Tubular Mascara for $31, which has sold out.

Celeste has a strong track record when it comes to slinging cosmetics.

In 2021, she sent makeup lovers racing to buy a beauty tool she insisted was the best she's ever tried.

Celeste Barber (pictured) has moved into the beauty space by launching her own affordable makeup brand, Booie Beauty

Celeste was at the time the face of Australian cosmetics lines MCoBeauty, and plugged her favourite products - including a mascara from the brand.

'Honestly, I'm the last person who should be giving beauty advice, so I won't,' she said at the time.

'All I'll say is I'm absolutely obsessed with the products. The XtendLash tubular mascara is the best I've ever tried.'

The $28 mascara, which promises to maximise length, curl and volume without flaking or smudging, is a budget-friendly imitation of Kevyn Aucoin's The Volume Mascara, a cult favourite that costs $53 at cosmetics stores like Sephora.

Among the offerings are the Where The Hell Is My? Nourished Lip Stick in three colours for $28 each

Also on sale is the Bam! Bam! Bam! Lip, Cheek and Eye Tint in two shades for just $22

There is also the popular You're Welcome Mascara Tubular Mascara for $31, which has sold out

Some have noted the similarity between Booie Beauty's You're Welcome Mascara Tubular Mascara and the MCoBeauty XtendLash tubular mascara that Celeste previously promoted.

However MCoBeauty founder Shelley Sullivan is not phased and wishes Celeste all the best.

'More power to Celeste. I'm always here to support other women in business,' the beauty mogul told the Herald Sun.

The brand is known for its range of affordably priced dupes of high-end products including the $45 Kevyn Aucoin mascara and Tarte Cosmetics' $42 Shape Tape Concealer.
Lauren Brant and her AFL legend husband Barry Hall have welcomed their fourth child together.

The couple shared the good news in an Instagram post on Sunday, documenting the home birth.

A series of images showed Lauren seated in an inflatable pool of water, cuddling her newborn.

Barry joined her in the water at one stage, hugging her as she cradled the baby in her lap.

'CLAY,' Lauren began the caption, revealing the little boy's classic name.

'Our son was born 20.7.24 at 8.33pm into our loving arms at home. It was magic,' she continued.

'We are all in the most beautiful bubble of love and are being held and supported by our incredible community. We look forward to sharing our home-birthing story with you,' the performer concluded.

The announcement was soon inundated with scores of well-wishers.

Lauren Brant and her AFL legend husband Barry Hall (both pictured) have welcomed their fourth child together. The couple shared the good news in an Instagram post on Sunday, documenting the home birth. Both pictured

'So beautiful. Congratulations,' wrote morel Simone Holtznagel.

'Congratulations!!!! He is so perfect,' added Bachelor in Paradise star Tara Pavlovic.

'Omg you finally did it!! You got a dark-haired baby! Def worth trying a 4th time for!!' wrote radio host Emily Jade O'Keeffe.

'I love him, he's so freaking cute! His brothers are going to be smitten. Sending you and Barry all the love and baby smells xx,' she continued.

'Congratulations beautiful family,' wrote SAS Australia star and TV presenter Riana Crehan.

A series of images showed Lauren seated in an inflatable pool of water, cuddling her newborn

Barry joined her in the water at one stage, hugging her as she cradled the baby in her lap

The couple had a bottle of water on hand to remain hydrated

'CLAY,' Lauren began the caption, revealing the little boy's classic name

The couple made the announcement that they were expecting a baby earlier this year.

Lauren, 34, shared a gallery of precious photos to Instagram In January capturing Barry, 46, and their three sons cheekily pointing at her growing baby bump.

The children's entertainer captioned the snaps with some exciting words.

'Our year is about to get a whole lot more colourful,' she began.

'Baby Hall number four arriving July. We are so excited to share this news with you all.'

Many of Lauren's celebrity friends quickly took to the comment section to offer their congratulations.

'Our son was born 20.7.24 at 8.33pm into our loving arms at home. It was magic,' she continued

'We are all in the most beautiful bubble of love and are being held and supported by our incredible community. We look forward to sharing our home-birthing story with you,' the performer concluded

The announcement was soon inundated with scores of well-wishers

'Omg!!! Congratulations,' wrote Simone Holtznagel and Kyly Clarke added: 'Biggest congrats family'.

The couple are already proud parents to three sons, Miller, six, Houston, four, and Samson, two.

In June 2021, the couple confirmed they secretly married that February and were expecting their third child during an emotional interview on A Current Affair.

They took to Instagram in February, 2023 to share their euphoria at reaching their two-year anniversary.

The pair announced that they were expecting a baby in January. The couple are already proud parents to three sons, Miller, six, Houston, four, and Samson, two. All pictured

In June 2021, the couple confirmed they secretly married during an emotional interview on A Current Affair

Lauren posted a sweet picture of herself with husband Barry holding up their marriage certificate.

'Two years, the most romantic elopement fuelled by LOVE and LIFE. Words can't describe. I love you Barry,' her post read.

The couple secretly tied the knot so that her terminally ill sister-in-law Sandra could attend the wedding. Sandra was married to Lauren's brother.

She tragically died just two weeks later, after her second battle with stage-four bowel cancer.
by Gary Borjesson

I invite you to explore with me what hospitality is, and why its an essential and cosmic principle of all life, but especially human life. The heart of hospitality is to provide the occasion for getting to know anyone or anything. I assume here that getting to know is useful and good, and hope that seeing hospitality in a fresh philosophical light will inspire and encourage more (much needed) hospitality.

Hospitalitys main features are writ large here, in our meeting. You are my host, and I the guest receiving your hospitality in the form of your precious attention. In return, I am singing for my supper. This hoped for reciprocity and mutual benefit is a feature of hospitality. I say, hoped for but not guaranteed, because getting to know something involves us in whats unfamiliar, and to that extent unpredictable. In our case, even if you know me, you dont know the story Im about to tell, or how youre going to feel about it. Depending on whether you like my song, you may kick me out of your mind before I come to the end; or you may hear me out and find (so we both hope!) that your hospitality is repaid by what Ive offered.

Now is a good time to revisit hospitality. Its brave and welcoming spirit offers a remedy to the forces of polarization, tribalism, and xenophobia that make our time feel so inhospitable. Its part of any treatment plan that addresses what Ill call our individual and collective autoimmune disorders, in which parts of the same person or psyche or family or country or planet turn against each otherto their mutual detriment. Sadly, our time is not exceptional. In the face of whats unfamiliar, our first survival instinct is to fear, flee, freeze, or fighteven when what were facing is an unfamiliar part of ourselves. In psychoanalytic terms, we fear, hate, rage, deny, split, and project.

True hospitality requires courage because facing our fears and opening ourselves to whats unfamiliar is risky. For, not only is there no guarantee how meetings between strangers will go, theres no denying it may go badly. Macbeth welcomed the king as a guest in his home, and then killed him in his sleep. Menelaus welcomed Paris as his guest, only to have Paris make off with his wife, Helen. These abuses of hospitality were catastrophic for all parties. Even in our little meeting, theres the risk youll feel youve wasted your time, or I my song.

Because so much is at stake, its no wonder hospitality features prominently in our stories. Among other things, these stories are a way that the custom of hospitality preserves and extends itself. For example, nearly all cultures tell stories about the god who comes in disguise to test a persons hospitality and character. In the Mahabharata, for instance, the god of Justice appears to the hero Yudhisthira disguised as a dog. (Friends of dogs will be heartened to hear that in refusing to abandon his dog at the gates of heaven, Yudhisthira passed the final test!) Among Arabs theres a saying, A guest is a guest of God. In other words, to show hospitality honors the divine. The unspoken corollary is that violating hospitality brings down the wrath of gods and humansspectacularly in the case of Paris, whose theft led to the Trojan war and the end of a civilization.

At the risk of imposing on your hospitalitybut with the hope of charming and inspiring youI want to suggest just how cosmic the principle of hospitality is. Then Ill circle back to our human predicament, and to a poignant story from early in my teaching career that will introduce the view offered by philosophy and, specifically, by Socrates.

Imagine hospitality as a fractal, that is, as a similar structure that emerges at different scales. You can then see its structure in how evolution and adaptation depend on interacting with difference and novelty; in how the immune system entertains strangers to distinguish friend from foe; in the unspoken rules of a dinner party; in the nuances of diplomacywhether on a first date or in peace negations between countries. Wherever it emerges, hospitality wildly increases the odds that well find nonzero-sum gamesways to interact for mutual benefit. And interact we must, for every creature literally gets its living by playing host to its environment. So, if we can overcome our fear, we might meet a lasting friend or the love of our life. If we can brave the difficult conversations, we may reach a deeper understanding with our partners, in business or life or love. Even if we discover that we need to separate, hospitality increases the odds that we part amicably.

Now back to our individual and collective autoimmune disorders, and why hospitality is part of any treatment plan. We appear to be stuck in a vicious inflammatory cycle that goes like this: anxious and threatened, we avoid getting to know. Turning away from hospitality means we dont develop our stress tolerance for facing whats unfamiliar, even when doing so would benefit us. This in turn leaves us more brittle and fragile, less tolerant and resilient. Being weaker makes us still more fearful and reactive. Thus our inflamed and inflammatory social and political lives. Our current malady owes in large part to transformative communications technologies that weve yet to harness, and that often exploit our survival instincts, much as fast-food purveyors do. The algorithms driving social media are tuned to our baser instincts, stirring fear and anxiety because these best capture and hold our attention. As Jonathan Haidt and others recognize, collectively we need to insist they be tuned to a higher frequency, one that encourages connection, collaboration, and flourishing. In other words, hospitality.

The tragedy of autoimmune disorders is that allies get mistaken for enemies. Symptoms in the individual include anxiety, depression, and suicidality; in the body politic, they include retreating into identities and tribes. Safely in our silos, its easier to otherto fear, mock, demonize, ghost, and cancel what we havent gotten to know.

Platos Socrates offers timeless insight into this timeless problem. By way of introduction, heres my story. My first job after graduate school was as a philosophy professor at a university in Arkansas. The majority of students were raised as Southern Baptists. One day a student asked to be excused from the weeks of my introduction to philosophy course when wed be reading Plato and Aristotle. She was afraid these pagan philosophers would threaten her faith, and she wanted my support for avoiding hospitality. Her request surprised me. In a bid for time, I said Id consider it and talk to her after the next class.

The significance of the uncomfortable exchange that followed will be more clear if we look first at how Socrates sees it. For ironically, Socrates faced from his own community the same accusation that my student had, in effect, lodged against him. Athens accused Socrates of corrupting the youngs faith in its beliefs, customs, and laws by introducing them to strange ideas and arguments. Thus, what Socrates saw as engines for evolving thought, the Athenians and my student saw as a threat to their way of life. In short, they accused him of being a disruptive guest.

Platos genius is to show us that Socrates recognizes all this. In the Apology, he opens his defense at court by invoking the sacred principle of guest hospitality. Knowing that his jurors take this seriously, he asks them to treat him as if he were a foreigner (the Greek word is xenos),

foreign to the manner of speech here. So just as, if I really did happen to be a foreigner, you would surely sympathize with me if I spoke in the dialect and way in which I was raised, so also I do beg this of you now.leave aside the manner of my speechand instead consider whether the things I say are just or not.

Socrates reminds Athens that a good host entertains their guests story with an open mind. But notice how sly, radical, and threatening (if also promising) this story is! For keep in mind that its not the job of courts to do what Socrates asks, and judge whether something is just; their job is only to decide whether a law has been violated. But if they follow Socrates jury instructions, theyll be accepting that reason and philosophynot the customary laws of Athensshould be the judge of whats just, and therefore lawful. Martin Luther King made a similar argument in his Letter from Birmingham Jail. King contrasted divine justice with racist human law, drawing attention to the fact that human authority is questionable.

My student didnt want to question authority. When we talked again, I told her I couldnt honor her request without failing her as a teacher, since my job was to introduce her to philosophy. I said I respected her concern, and that in any case I could not force her to read Plato and Aristotle. She briefly lit up, asking whether this meant her grade wouldnt be affected if she didnt do the work. I replied that choosing not to do the work didnt mean she avoided consequences. Unfortunately, my irritation had spoiled my attempt at a playful reply, and she left our meeting even less hospitably inclined.

I wish I had found a more hospitable way to address her fear. For she was right, an encounter with philosophy might change her lifeand not necessarily for the better. Would she be better off if, like the young men corrupted by Socrates, she changed in ways that risked having her family and community say to her, Youre a stranger to us now. For her and Athens, philosophy appears to be like Paris, the guest who makes off with what is theirsthe customs and beliefs that unite them and keep the children from straying from the fold. And what does philosophy offer in return? Nothing.

Why nothing? Because philosophy, like guest hospitality, isnt about telling others what to think. Thats why Socrates famously proclaimed his ignorance: because recognizing we might not know is a condition for getting to know. No one looks for their keys if they think they know where they are.

If youre still with me, I hope you see now why hospitality is a way of being, the practice of which helps contain our baser instincts, thereby reducing inflammation and increasing occasions to interact, learn, grow, and become our better and wiser selvesindividually and collectively. The problem with where Athens and my student are coming from is that while they know what they stand to lose by being hospitable, they dont know what they stand to gain. Socrates, however, knows both sides. In the Crito, a dialogue set in his prison cell after hes been found guilty, Socrates personifies Athens. Speaking in the voice of its laws, he persuades his old friend Crito that their view, and punishment, of Socrates is just.

But this just proves his point. For it is Socrates philosophic hospitality that enables him to discover both sides of the matter. This in turn puts him in a better position to judge than those who havent ventured beyond the cave of their familiar. Thats the pitch, anyway, of hospitality and philosophyand of psychotherapy, to which Ill turn in next months column for 3QD. Thank you for your hospitality. I hope we meet again.

***

Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.
Renee Zellweger looked every inch the clueless camper as she filmed school trip scenes for Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy in the Lake District on Sunday.

The actress, 55, who plays the titular character was joined by PE teacher rumoured love and interest Mr Walker (Chiwetel Ejiofor) on the trip.

In the new film, Bridget enjoys a fling with teacher Mr Walker, as played by 12 Years A Slave actor Chiwetel, 47, as well as reviving her on-off relationship with Hugh Grant's Daniel Cleaver.

She will also embark on a love affair with a much younger man named Rockstar, played by One Day star Leo Woodall, 27, in the film.

She had a classic Bridget Jones moment while filming as she crossed a bridge in Keswick tripping and then falling.

Renee Zellweger looked every inch the clueless camper as she filmed school trip scenes for Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy in the Lake District on Sunday

The actress, 55, who plays the titular character was joined by PE teacher rumoured love and interest Mr Walker (Chiwetel Ejiofor) on the trip

Renee was seen dressed in camping gear with a sun hat and wax jacket and denim dungarees as she carried a mat on her back in a backpack.

Chiwetel was seen leading a group of children around before chatting to Renee in the middle of a remote field.

The movie is based on the novel of the same name as Bridget battles motherhood alone following the tragic death of Mark, who was played in the previous films by Colin Firth, 63.

Renee and Leo were spotted filming together on May 18 in hilarious scenes as Bridget got stuck up a tree in Hampstead Heath.

Rockstar, who works as a park warden, seemingly comes to her rescue dressed in an all green uniform.

One onlooker said: 'Leo and Renee looked like they were having a great time. There were lots of giggles, they seemed to get on really well.'

Bridget Jones filming comes on the heels of sheer delight from fans after the announcement of the beloved character's return to the big screen.

Renee first appeared as Bridget in 2001's Bridget Jones' Diary and returned in 2004's Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and 2016's Bridget Jones' Baby.

In the new film, Bridget enjoys a fling with teacher Mr Walker, as played by 12 Years A Slave actor Chiwetel, 47, as well as reviving her on-off relationship with Hugh Grant's Daniel Cleaver

She had a classic Bridget Jones moment while filming as she crossed a bridge tripping and then falling

Renee was seen dressed in camping gear with a sun hat and wax jacket and denim dungarees as she carried a mat on her back in a backpack

Chiwetel was seen leading a group of children around before chatting to Renee in the middle of a remote field

She will also embark on a love affair with a much younger man named Rockstar, played by One Day star Leo Woodall , 27, in the film

The movie is based on the novel of the same name as Bridget battles motherhood alone following the tragic death of Mark, who was played in the previous films by Colin Firth, 63

Renee and Leo were spotted filming together on May 18 in hilarious scenes as Bridget got stuck up a tree in Hampstead Heath

Bridget Jones filming comes on the heels of sheer delight from fans after the announcement of the beloved character's return to the big screen

Renee first appeared as Bridget in 2001's Bridget Jones' Diary and returned in 2004's Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and 2016's Bridget Jones' Baby

The movie was officially confirmed earlier this year, with Renee and Hugh Grant's comebacks made official

The fourth movie in the franchise - based on the books by Helen Fielding - will be released by Universal film on US platform Peacock on Valentine's Day 2025

Emma Thompson - who played Doctor Rawlings in the last film, is also back, with Chiwetel Ejiofor and White Lotus star Leo also set to star

Renee has been busy since she arrived in London to reprise her role as the singleton for the fourth, and probably final, time

She spent four days filming at ITV's studios in White City, West London, where programmes such as This Morning and Loose Women are made

The movie was officially confirmed earlier this year, with Renee and Hugh Grant's comebacks made official - after his love rat character Daniel Cleaver's death was falsified in 2016's third instalment.

The fourth movie in the franchise - based on the books by Helen Fielding - will be released by Universal film on US platform Peacock on Valentine's Day 2025 while internationally, the flick will be released in cinemas.

Emma Thompson - who played Doctor Rawlings in the last film, is also back, with Chiwetel Ejiofor and White Lotus star Leo also set to star.

Renee has been busy since she arrived in London to reprise her role as the singleton for the fourth, and probably final, time.

She spent four days filming at ITV's studios in White City, West London, where programmes such as This Morning and Loose Women are made.

There she met presenters from both shows, including Cat Deeley who was said to have been 'super excited' at seeing her.

Many studio staff were 'overcome with excitement' and desperate to get selfies with the Hollywood star when they realised that the movie was being filmed at their workplace.

Scenes were recorded on the set used by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly for their now defunct show Saturday Night Takeaway, while audience members from Loose Women were also asked to stay for filming of some scenes.

They chatted as they filmed scenes in the field

She led a group of children for the trip

She had all the gear and no idea

She fell over on the bridge

The group of school

They looked like they were getting on like a house on fire

They reportedly enjoy a romance in the film

She looked out of her depth as she led the children

She took a tumble on the bridge

They chatted away in the field as she took snaps of him

He led another group of kids

She was being as chaotic as usual on the trip

She wore all the camping gear

She led the kids across the bridge

They had just got off the school bus

She chatted to some of the crew

And one of the kids on the trip

She was seen looking after a group of children

They filmed her falling over the bridge

She sported sturdy walking bots

They all departed the bus

And headed out into the wilderness

She sadly took a tumble in front of the kids

He beamed away while filming

She was seen looking out for the kids

They headed to the Lake District to film

She was at one with nature

But struggled with the bridge

There was a huge cast of children filming

She larked about on the bridge

They are filming the fourth film

Fans are delighted there will be another instalment

She tripped over on the bridge

They chatted away in a field

They were keen to capture the trip

She helped a child down from the bridge

They walked across the fields

She snapped pictures of him on the trip

They were joined by the film crew

She had a rest in the field

She crouched down in the long grass

She gave a thumbs up

They were flirting away in the field

The views were stunning

She took a tumble on the bridge

She dressed appropriately for the weather

She doted on one of the school girls

She beamed away

They were filming new scenes for the movie

She is taking on the role of a single mother

The fourth film will see her begin to date again

She carried her camping gear with her

They were in the Lake District to film

The crew were capturing all the takes

She wore denim dungarees

They trekked around the lakes

She helped one girl who seemed upset

One source at ITV said: 'It was chaos, imagine having Bridget come to your work. It was literally a dream come true.

'The place was absolutely buzzing. Word got round so fast, Cat was so excited.'

Bridget's creator Helen Fielding has also been spotted at the filming as she prepares to say goodbye to the much-loved character. The film is due out on Valentine's Day next year.

It was revealed last month that Bridget's obsession with losing weight will be 'played down' in the film amid fears they might be a bad influence.
Friends of gospel group The Nelons share heartbreaking message on Sunday following the families death during a tragic plane crash.

The group is formed of Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark, and Kelly's daughters Amber Nelon Kistler and Autumn Nelon Streetman.

Kelly, Jason and Amber were amongst those killed in the accident, with Amber's husband Nathan Kistler, and three friends also dead.

They were travelling to the Gaither Homecoming Alaskan Cruise when the plane crashed over a remote area of northeastern Wyoming. There were no survivors.

Now, friends and coworkers of the family are publicly grieving their deaths.

Friends of gospel group The Nelons share heartbreaking message on Sunday following the families death during a tragic plane crash (L-R Kelly Nelon Clark, Jason Clark, and Kelly's daughters Autumn Nelon Streetman and Amber Nelon Kistler, pictured)

Kelly, Jason and Amber were amongst those killed in the accident, with Amber's husband Nathan Kistler, and three friends also dead

Now, friend Mark Lowry, who was set to perform alongside The Nelons on the seven-day cruise, said: 'Our hearts are heavy with the news of the tragic passing of our dear friends' pictured 2018

Mark Lowry told The U.S. Sun: 'Our hearts are heavy with the news of the tragic passing of our dear friends'.

Mark was set to perform alongside The Nelons on the seven-day cruise from Seattle, Washington, to Alaska.

He said: 'We have created so many precious memories over the decades that I will hold dear, so many good times and so much laughter.

'Our only comfort is knowing that they have seen our Savior face to face, and we'll join in singing with them again one day soon.'

Meanwhile Autumn, who wasn't on the plane released a statement on Saturday to announce the sad news.

She wrote: 'As many of you have heard by now, my father and mother, Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, along with my sister, Amber, and brother-in-law, Nathan, as well as our dear friends Melodi Hodges, Larry, and Melissa Haynie, were involved in a tragic plane crash on Friday.

'Thank you for the prayers that have been extended already to me, my husband, Jamie, and our soon-to-be-born baby boy, as well as Jason's parents, Dan and Linda Clark. We appreciate your continued prayers, love, and support as we navigate the coming days.'

A statement from Gaither Management Group added: 'One of the best loved Gospel music families in America, The Nelons were involved in a tragic, fatal plane crash on Friday afternoon on their way to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska.

Mark added: 'We have created so many precious memories over the decades that I will hold dear, so many good times and so much laughter' (pictured in 2018)

They were travelling to the Gaither Homecoming Cruise when the plane crashed over a remote area of northeastern Wyoming . There were no survivors

'Killed in the crash were Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, Amber and Nathan Kistler and their assistant, Melodi Hodges, along with the pilot, Larry Haynie and his wife, Melissa. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident.

'Autumn, Jason and Kelly's youngest daughter, and her husband, Jamie Streetman were not on the plane and arrived safely into Seattle and were notified of the accident.

'They were brought to the hotel where artists were gathered with Bill and Gloria Gaither to pray, sing and embrace them in their grief, pledging to support them in whatever needs arise.

'Autumn and Jamie will return home for now to Kelly's brother, Todd Nelon and his wife, Rhonda, to begin the hard tasks that lie ahead. Please keep them, the Kistler family, the Haynie family and the family of Melodi Hodges in your prayers.'

The Campbell County Sheriff's Office reports the crash happened at around 1PM on Friday, July 26, just north of Gillett.
Strictly viewers have praised Laura Whitmore for her courage while others have questioned why she didn't come forward sooner - after she confirmed she's spoke to the BBC about Giovanni Pernice's 'inappropriate' behaviour.

The TV presenter, 39, who was partnered with the Italian dancer, 33, on the show in 2016, has claimed she initially raised concerns to the BBC six years ago.

Although she hasn't made a formal complaint, Laura hopes to get 'just an acceptance' of what happened to her in the rehearsals room as she posed on her Instagram on Saturday.

Laura admitted she has discussed with six former Strictly stars about their time on the show and took their information to the BBC.

Her new statement shared to her Story has been met with mixed reaction - some saying she was brave to make her comments while other wondered why she hasn't said anything until now.

Strictly viewers have praised Laura Whitmore for her courage while others have questioned why she didn't come forward sooner - after she confirmed she's spoke to the BBC about Giovanni Pernice 's 'inappropriate' behaviour

The TV presenter, 39, who was partnered with the Italian dancer, 33, on the show in 2016, has claimed she initially raised concerns to the BBC six years ago

One said: 'Waiting for the 'why didn't she come forward sooner?' And 'another woman ruining this man's career' brigade.

'People who have been abused often don't come forward straight away. He ruined his own career. Respect to Laura Whitmore.'

Others wrote: 'Brave of @thewhitmore to speak out with all the victim blaming and threats.',

'The scandal goes on, and such things have been happening, I guess, for years and years of the show. It is time the show was pulled',

'Well it's good that others, like Laura Whitmore are finding the courage to speak out then, isn't it?',

'I believe Laura Whitmore & Amanda Abbington #Strictly.',

'Kudos to #LauraWhitmore for saying her #StrictlyComeDancing truth. She raised a complaint in 2016 and the #BBC was still using the same dancer years later - how is that right?'

However others questioned: '#Laurawhitmore has come out to have her say. Laura, best if u wait till the investigation is completed before u say anything. Now I think it's a witchhunt against #giovannipernice #StrictlyComeDancing.',

'Smells fishy. Can't recall her being public before now. Very odd.',

Although she hasn't made a formal complaint, Laura hopes to get 'just an acceptance' of what happened to her in the rehearsals room as she posed on her Instagram on Saturday

Her new statement shared to her Story has been met with mixed reaction - some saying she was brave to make her comments while other wondered why she hasn't said anything until now

However others questioned: '#Laurawhitmore has come out to have her say. Laura, best if u wait till the investigation is completed before u say anything'

In an Instagram post, Laura wrote: 'I initially raised concerns back in 2016. I thought my experience was specific to me but I've since learned I was wrong'

Laura admitted that she has discussed with six former Strictly stars about their time on the show and took their information to the BBC

'Aaah, the old 'inappropriate behaviour' without actually stating any actual occurrences.'

In an Instagram post, Laura wrote: 'I was trying not to comment on recent press speculation until the BBC review is complete but feel there is a lot of misinformation in the press and I want to help and show support by setting the record straight.

'I was asked to speak to the BBC along with six people that I know of (who deserve anonymity as they don't want to be dragged through the press), about inappropriate behaviour they experienced similar to mine with the same individual.

'I initially raised concerns back in 2016. I thought my experience was specific to me but I've since learned I was wrong.

'The aim of this is to show a pattern of behaviour that I believe needs to stop. My evidence is to support other people's experience. It's a shame it takes this for someone to be heard.

'I am not looking for anything just an acceptance that what happened to me in the rehearsal rooms during my time on BBC Strictly was wrong and that it won't happen to anyone else again.

'Because I have not made an official complaint, and am providing evidence of my experience to support the investigation, not all the communication will be passed on to all parties involved.

'Misinformation is being put into the press so I want to set the record straight. Victim blaming must stop or we will never get better.

'I've tried to speak up in the correct way. I know the BBC and all outlets continue to do their best to be better, but for that to happen we must speak up.'

Amanda Abbington - Giovanni's last celebrity partner - quit Strictly last year due to 'personal reasons' before reports she had demanded footage of their rehearsals after the experience in the competition left her with PTSD.

Sources then claimed Amanda, Ranvir Singh and Laura had an 'emotional summit' where they 'compared notes' about their time working with Giovanni on the show - prompting the BBC to launch a probe into his conduct.

In 2018, Laura shared that she didn't enjoy her time on Strictly with Giovanni, leaving the competition in week seven feeling 'broken' and admitting she 'cried every day'.

The Irish presenter wasn't happy about being paired with her close friend Georgia May Foote's ex not long after the pair had split - and felt 'extremely uncomfortable' dancing with him.

Writing for The Huffington Post at the time, Laura said: 'I love dancing  I topped the leaderboard twice  but I was thrown into the middle of a break-up that had nothing to do with me. Once again, I was a 'rumoured love interest'.

'I was placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with  and in the end I felt broken, I cried every day. And I really was broken, both mentally and physically, by the end.'

It comes just days after Strictly was plunged into further crisis on Wednesday after Amanda claimed that Giovanni was trying to block the release of up to 50 hours of 'toxic' footage'.

In an emotionally charged interview, the actress compared the dance show to 'the trenches' telling Channel 4 News that BBC producers had been left 'horrified' by clips that also allegedly exhibited 'humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature'.

'There's 50 hours of footage that's being blocked. You know, 50 hours is a lot of footage, and a lot of time spent in a room that was toxic,' she told presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

'It's out there. There is evidence out there of what happened in that room and I'm not the one who's blocking it. I've said anyone can watch it, but he (Giovanni) doesn't want anyone to see it, which is quite telling if he's got nothing to hide.'

A spokesperson for Giovanni told MailOnline: 'We would urge people to wait for the review's conclusion and not to pay heed to these very serious and defamatory allegations that have no evidence in support of them.'

The actress said that cameras were installed into her and Giovanni's rehearsal studio after she raised concerns after the first week of practice with producers wanting to review the footage each week to assess what was 'going on' between the pair.

Giovanni had claimed he had asked for the cameras, which Amanda says is untrue.

'So in the first week, I raised my concerns to the producers,' the actress explained, as she fought back tears.

'Giovanni said that he asked for the cameras, he didn't ask for the cameras, I know that he didn't ask for the cameras, because the producers came to me and said, 'we're going to put in cameras so we can view the footage at the end of the week and make an assessment and see what's going on'.

'And then every Friday, after the next sort of five weeks, I would get the producer saying, on the Friday, 'we just watched the footage back, we are shocked and horrified, we're so sorry'.

'That was to my face on the Friday when we would go in and do the camera rehearsal.'

Throughout the interview, Guru-Murthy, who also starred on the 2023 series, asked whether it was correct that Amanda had experienced 'humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature', with the actress holding back tears as she nodded in agreement.

'Yeah. I mean, you know, one of the many things,' she said, clarifying it was not harassment.

Ever since the claims first emerged Giovanni has denied all of the allegations, claiming to have provided a dossier of evidence to the Beeb investigators and 'remains fully confident in clearing his name'.

Disputing Amanda's claims once again following tonight's interview, a spokesperson for the Italian dancer said: 'The BBC has shared the allegations they have been able to substantiate with us.

'They do not resemble Amanda's latest allegations, given to Channel 4, in any shape or form. Giovanni refutes any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour.'

After the fallout, Amanda said she did not hear from any one at the BBC again, claiming: 'I haven't spoken to anyone from the BBC since Strictly.

'No one from the BBC has reached out to me since Strictly, either through me or my lawyer.'

In a message to those in charge of the BBC show that has been running since 2004 she added: 'Just be aware of what's going on and when you know it's going on, nip it in the bud. Don't allow it to continue.'

Amanda went on to claim that she has faced a number of violent threats from both Strictly fans and 'Giovanni fans' who have asked her 'how can you destroy something like Strictly'.

She revealed the extent of the alleged harassment she has received in recent months from trolls, telling Channel 4 that 'It has been brutal and relentless and unforgiving'.

'The aftermath has been something I was not expecting. The death threats and the rape threats not only to myself but to my daughter. The threats of death to my son,' she added.

'When you get one or two of the those you can [shrug it off],' she added. 'But when it's dozens of people saying 'just go kill yourself', 'go die of cancer', 'just kill yourself, your kids will be better off without you as a mother'.

Amanda Abbington (pictured) - Giovanni's last celebrity partner - quit Strictly last year due to 'personal reasons' before reports she had demanded footage of their rehearsals after the experience in the competition left her with PTSD

Sources then claimed Amanda, Ranvir Singh and Laura had an 'emotional summit' where they 'compared notes' about their time working with Giovanni on the show

Fellow Italian dancer Graziano Di Prima was sacked from the programme after he was accused of kicking and spitting at former Love Island star Zara McDermott (pictured together during last year's competition)

Amanda detailed other horrific messages she allegedly received. Others included 'I hope your daughter gets raped, I hope your son is stabbed', 'you don't deserve any good things you have done', 'you're a snowflake, you're stupid, you're an idiot'.

The bombshell interview comes as the flagship BBC One show continues to be rocked by a string of allegations, which saw Giovanni as well as professional dancer Graziano Di Prima step down.

Giovanni was accused of bullying by Amanda as well as two other, unnamed contestants.

Graziano was axed from the show last week after allegations emerged that he kicked, hit and spat at reality TV star Zara McDermott during rehearsals last year.
She is never shy showing off her sensational physique.

And Kimberley Garner was at it again as she slipped into a very skimpy navy bikini to hit the beach in Saint-Tropez on Sunday.

The former Made in Chelsea star, 33, sizzled in the hot French sunshine at Loulou Beach during her holiday.

The revealing swimwear with gold detailing highlighted her gym-honed physique and endless legs as she played bat and ball with a pal.

She wore her blonde tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a radiant and glowing makeup look.

Kimberley Garner flaunted her sensational physique in a very skimpy navy bikini as she hit the beach in Saint-Tropez on Sunday

The revealing swimwear with gold detailing highlighted her gym-honed physique and endless legs as she played bat and ball with a pal

Kimberley showed her mystery ex-boyfriend what he's missing on the beach after recently revealing that she had 'just broken up with someone'.

The star - who is expanding her range to include a line for men - confirmed her relationship status at the screening of The Idea Of You at the Ham Yard Hotel in Soho, London.

She told Eden Confidential: 'I've just broken up with someone. Right decision  and I am in a really good place.'

Kimberley's last known romance began in summer 2023, when it was revealed that she was going out with financier Andreas Anthis.

Kimberley was spotted for the first time with Andreas last July, as they packed on the PDA while walking her dog Sasha in London.

The reality star previously dated her MIC co-star Richard Dinan.

Since finding fame on the show in 2012, Kimberley has made a name for herself as a successful swimsuit brand entrepreneur.

She recently spoke about how the lengths she had to go to in order for her business to be taken seriously.

She wore her blonde tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a radiant and glowing makeup look

The designer told MailOnline: 'I think people sometimes think that Im only the face, but I am responsible for every bit of the business.'

'I was 18 when I started my first company - I came up with an idea, stayed up for days learning how to register the company and teaching myself. It became very successful overnight.'

Kimberley went on: 'However, as I was only 18, no one ever imagined it was mine. I was a young blonde girl with a soft voice.

'So, I pretended to be the Intern! I handled all the meetings, phone calls, and emails for the company.

She finished: 'When it became a success, I put all the revenues into starting Kimberley London.'
Dancing With The Stars Australia judge Sharna Burgess stole the show on Sunday night when she appeared on set wearing a very racy gold dress.

The ballroom dancer, 39, turned heads in the shimmering Alex Perry sequin gown which retails for $1,500.

Stepping out on the dance floor as she was introduced by hosts Dr Chris Brown and Sonya Kruger, Sharna shimmied her way to the judging panel with a wink and wave.

The plunging neckline of the frock left little to the imagination, and the blonde beauty wasn't shy about putting on a leggy display as she flaunted the short hem.

Sporting a full face of glam makeup, Sharna accessorised her raunchy look with a pair of chunky white heels which matched her pearl necklace and bracelet.

It comes after Sharna shared a sweet moment of bonding with her fiance Brian Austin Green earlier this month.

The Australian ballroom dancer told Stellar Magazine that the pair grew closer when they starred together on Dancing With The Stars in 2021.

'We had so much fun dancing and truly, he got to know so much about me, who I am, what I do, what makes me tick and how I work,' Sharna said.

Dancing With The Stars Australia judge Sharna Burgess stole the show on Sunday night when she appeared on set wearing a very racy gold dress. Pictured

'It was such a beautiful insight for him. So we are so grateful to have had that opportunity together.'

Sharna was a professional dancer on the American version of Dancing With The Stars and is now a judge on the Australian series.

'This show gave me a life that I could never have dreamed of,' she added.

'It's given me a platform and a way to express myself that I could never have imagined. It has changed my life completely.'

Sharna and Brian, 51, have been together since 2020 and delight in their blended family.

The American actor is a father of five, sharing Kassius, 21, with ex-wife Vanessa Marcil, 55, and Noah, 11, Bodhi, 10, and Journey, seven, with Megan Fox.

He also shares son Zane, two, with Sharna.

The ballroom dancer, 39, turned heads in the shimmering Alex Perry sequin gown which retails for $1,500

At the end of Sunday night's episode celebrity chef Hayden Quinn was punted from the show. Pictured with dance partner Lily Cornish

At the end of Sunday night's episode celebrity chef Hayden Quinn was punted from the show after losing a dance off to comedian Nikki Osborne.

Hayden, 37, took the loss in his stride and thanked his dance partner Lily Cornish for her guidance.

'It was an amazing night. This whole experience, I've been incredibly fortunate to be standing next to Lily,' he said.

'She's an amazing teacher. She's incredible, powerful. So, big round of applause for her'.

Viewers tuning in were not happy with the result, with many sharing their thoughts on X.

'If the judging is going to be this stupid I'm not watching any more,' one person posted.

'That result was a hot mess,' said another with someone else writing, 'Hayden is out?! That's bulls**t!'
The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics sparked outrage from religious groups over allegations it featured a so-called blasphemous depiction of the Last Supper.

It has also ruffled the feathers of a pair of popular Australian influencers, Chloe Szepanowski and her partner Mitchell Orval.

The pair, who are described as 'Jesus Loving, Spirit Led, Family Centred' on their social media, shared angry posts to Instagram Stories on Saturday.

They compared Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting, Last Supper, to the scene at the Olympics, which featured drag queens and a 'naked' man painted blue.

'Did anyone else see them mocking Jesus at the Olympic Games?' Orval wrote.

'If it made me as angry as I did, let it be a comforting reminder - they wouldn't be doing this unless he is the truth!'

Szepanowski chimed in on her own post: 'Well this is just the absolute worst one yet.

'This year they are mocking God. This is appalling but all the more reason to follow Jesus.'

The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics sparked outrage from religious groups over allegations it featured a so-called blasphemous depiction of the Last Supper. It has also ruffled Australian influencers, Chloe Szepanowski and her partner Mitchell Orval (both pictured)

Despite Chloe and Mitchell's concerns, it's since come to light that the Opening Ceremony was likely referencing a different artwork.

Reverend Benjamin Cremer, based in the US, shared a post on social media which dispelled the allegation that the controversial scene was mocking Leonardo da Vinci's classic painting and therefore Christianity.

The post reads: 'It was a representation of the event called the Feast of Dionysus. Greek God of festivity and feasting and ritual and theatre.

'The Olympics are from Greek culture and tradition. French culture is deeply rooted in feasting and festivity and performing arts.'

According to the theory, the scene depicted in the opening ceremony was based on a painting called Feast of the Gods by Johann Rottenhammer and Jan Bruegel, circa 1602.

The pair, who are described as 'Jesus Loving, Spirit Led, Family Centred' on their social media, shared angry posts to Instagram Stories on Saturday

Szepanowski chimed in: 'Well this is just the absolute worst one yet. This year they are mocking God. This is appalling but all the more reason to follow Jesus'

It's since come to light that the Opening Ceremony was likely referencing a different artwork, Feast of Dionysus, with prominent religious figures pointing out the error online

Another social media post challenged the idea the scene was depicting the Last Supper.

Taylor Driskill Pafford wrote, 'This painting is not specifically Dionysus, but is showing how feasts were often depicted during the Renaissance period with lots of Greek influence.

'It can look like the feast of Dionysus and it can also be reminiscent of the Last Supper.

'That's because during the renaissance, many paintings depicting a feast would have a table with people on one side (and maybe a few on the front ends) and have them seated and standing in differing positions.'

Adding weight to Pafford's argument, her post was shared by a pastor.

The Rev. Cassie Rapko wrote, 'It wasn't the Last Supper, which is housed in Italy, not France. it was the Feast of Dionysus.'
Ex Strictly star Giovanni Pernice gave a thumbs up and looked in good spirits as he stepped out in south London on Sunday to teach one of his dance classes.

It comes after Laura Whitmore confirmed she has spoken to the BBC about Giovanni's 'inappropriate' behaviour on the show.

The TV presenter, 39, who was partnered with the Italian dancer, 33, on the show in 2016, has claimed she initially raised concerns to the BBC six years ago.

But despite the ongoing Strictly drama he appeared in good spirits as he flashed a smile and greeted some of his fans outside the studio.

He cut a casual figure in a white T-shirt, black jogging bottoms and shades and carried a Louis Vuitton backpack.

Ex Strictly star Giovanni Pernice gave a thumbs up and looked in good spirits as he stepped out in south London on Sunday to teach one of his dance classes

It comes after Laura Whitmore confirmed she has spoken to the BBC about Giovanni 's 'inappropriate' behaviour on the show

Although she hasn't made a formal complaint, Laura hopes to get 'just an acceptance' of what happened to her in the rehearsals room.

Laura admitted she has discussed with six former Strictly stars about their time on the show and took their information to the BBC.

On an Instagram post, Laura wrote: 'I was trying not to comment on recent press speculation until the BBC review is complete but feel there is a lot of misinformation in the press and I want to help and show support by setting the record straight.

'I was asked to speak to the BBC along with six people that I know of (who deserve anonymity as they don't want to be dragged through the press), about inappropriate behaviour they experienced similar to mine with the same individual.

'I initially raised concerns back in 2016. I thought my experience was specific to me but I've since learned I was wrong.

'The aim of this is to show a pattern of behaviour that I believe needs to stop. My evidence is to support other people's experience. It's a shame it takes this for someone to be heard.

'I am not looking for anything just an acceptance that what happened to me in the rehearsal rooms during my time on BBC Strictly was wrong and that it won't happen to anyone else again.

'Because I have not made an official complaint, and am providing evidence of my experience to support the investigation, not all the communication will be passed on to all parties involved.

The TV presenter, 39, who was partnered with the Italian dancer, 33, on the show in 2016, has claimed she initially raised concerns to the BBC six years ago

But despite the ongoing Strictly drama he appeared in good spirits as he flashed a smile and greeted some of his fans outside the studio

He cut a casual figure in a white T-shirt, black jogging bottoms and shades and carried a Louis Vuitton backpack

Although she hasn't made a formal complaint, Laura hopes to get 'just an acceptance' of what happened to her in the rehearsals room

Laura admitted she has discussed with six former Strictly stars about their time on the show and took their information to the BBC

Amanda Abbington - Giovanni's last celebrity partner - quit Strictly last year due to 'personal reasons' before reports she had demanded footage of their rehearsals after the experience in the competition left her with PTSD

Sources then claimed Amanda, Ranvir Singh and Laura had an 'emotional summit' where they 'compared notes' about their time working with Giovanni

In 2018, Laura shared that she didn't enjoy her time on Strictly with Giovanni, leaving the competition in week seven feeling 'broken' and admitting she 'cried every day'

'Misinformation is being put into the press so I want to set the record straight. Victim blaming must stop or we will never get better.

'I've tried to speak up in the correct way. I know the BBC and all outlets continue to do their best to be better, but for that to happen we must speak up.'

Amanda Abbington - Giovanni's last celebrity partner - quit Strictly last year due to 'personal reasons' before reports she had demanded footage of their rehearsals after the experience in the competition left her with PTSD.

Sources then claimed Amanda, Ranvir Singh and Laura had an 'emotional summit' where they 'compared notes' about their time working with Giovanni on the show - prompting the BBC to launch a probe into his conduct.

In 2018, Laura shared that she didn't enjoy her time on Strictly with Giovanni, leaving the competition in week seven feeling 'broken' and admitting she 'cried every day'.

The Irish presenter wasn't happy about being paired with her close friend Georgia May Foote's ex not long after the pair had split - and felt 'extremely uncomfortable' dancing with him.

Writing for The Huffington Post at the time, Laura said: 'I love dancing  I topped the leaderboard twice  but I was thrown into the middle of a break-up that had nothing to do with me. Once again, I was a "rumoured love interest".

'I was placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with  and in the end I felt broken, I cried every day. And I really was broken, both mentally and physically, by the end.'

It comes just days after Strictly was plunged into further crisis on Wednesday after Amanda claimed that Giovanni was trying to block the release of up to 50 hours of 'toxic' footage'.

In an emotionally charged interview, the actress compared the dance show to 'the trenches' telling Channel 4 News that BBC producers had been left 'horrified' by clips that also allegedly exhibited 'humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature'.

'There's 50 hours of footage that's being blocked. You know, 50 hours is a lot of footage, and a lot of time spent in a room that was toxic,' she told presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

'It's out there. There is evidence out there of what happened in that room and I'm not the one who's blocking it. I've said anyone can watch it, but he (Giovanni) doesn't want anyone to see it, which is quite telling if he's got nothing to hide.'

A spokesperson for Giovanni told MailOnline: 'We would urge people to wait for the review's conclusion and not to pay heed to these very serious and defamatory allegations that have no evidence in support of them.'

The actress said that cameras were installed into her and Giovanni's rehearsal studio after she raised concerns after the first week of practice with producers wanting to review the footage each week to assess what was 'going on' between the pair.

Giovanni had claimed he had asked for the cameras, which Amanda says is untrue.

'So in the first week, I raised my concerns to the producers,' the actress explained, as she fought back tears.

'Giovanni said that he asked for the cameras, he didn't ask for the cameras, I know that he didn't ask for the cameras, because the producers came to me and said, 'we're going to put in cameras so we can view the footage at the end of the week and make an assessment and see what's going on'.

'And then every Friday, after the next sort of five weeks, I would get the producer saying, on the Friday, 'we just watched the footage back, we are shocked and horrified, we're so sorry'.

'That was to my face on the Friday when we would go in and do the camera rehearsal.'

Throughout the interview, Guru-Murthy, who also starred on the 2023 series, asked whether it was correct that Amanda had experienced 'humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature', with the actress holding back tears as she nodded in agreement.

'Yeah. I mean, you know, one of the many things,' she said, clarifying it was not harassment.

Ever since the claims first emerged Giovanni has denied all of the allegations, claiming to have provided a dossier of evidence to the Beeb investigators and 'remains fully confident in clearing his name'.

Disputing Amanda's claims once again following tonight's interview, a spokesperson for the Italian dancer said: 'The BBC has shared the allegations they have been able to substantiate with us.

'They do not resemble Amanda's latest allegations, given to Channel 4, in any shape or form. Giovanni refutes any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour.'

After the fallout, Amanda said she did not hear from any one at the BBC again, claiming: 'I haven't spoken to anyone from the BBC since Strictly.

'No one from the BBC has reached out to me since Strictly, either through me or my lawyer.'

In a message to those in charge of the BBC show that has been running since 2004 she added: 'Just be aware of what's going on and when you know it's going on, nip it in the bud. Don't allow it to continue.'

Amanda went on to claim that she has faced a number of violent threats from both Strictly fans and 'Giovanni fans' who have asked her 'how can you destroy something like Strictly'.

She revealed the extent of the alleged harassment she has received in recent months from trolls, telling Channel 4 that 'It has been brutal and relentless and unforgiving'.

'The aftermath has been something I was not expecting. The death threats and the rape threats not only to myself but to my daughter. The threats of death to my son,' she added.

'When you get one or two of the those you can [shrug it off],' she added. 'But when it's dozens of people saying 'just go kill yourself', 'go die of cancer', 'just kill yourself, your kids will be better off without you as a mother'.

Laura and Giovanni are seen during their time on the show together

Laura's statement on the matter is seen

The pair are seen during rehearsals

Amanda detailed other horrific messages she allegedly received. Others included 'I hope your daughter gets raped, I hope your son is stabbed', 'you don't deserve any good things you have done', 'you're a snowflake, you're stupid, you're an idiot'.

The bombshell interview comes as the flagship BBC One show continues to be rocked by a string of allegations, which saw Giovanni as well as professional dancer Graziano Di Prima step down.

Giovanni was accused of bullying by Amanda as well as two other, unnamed contestants.

Graziano was axed from the show last week after allegations emerged that he kicked, hit and spat at reality TV star Zasra McDermott during rehearsals last year.
Sharon Stone exuded elegance and style on Saturday night, as she cosied up to her son Laird Vonne on the way home from dinner in Rome.

The actress, 66, looked nothing short of radiant in flowing chiffon dress in a yellow and orange paisley pattern.

Sharon beamed as she hid her eyes behind a pair of oversized and pink tinted glasses, while carrying a bunch of red roses.

She boosted her height with a pair of woven wedges, while her youngest son, 18, sweetly helped her walk the cobbled streets by linking their arms.

Laird looked in high spirits as he and his famous mum left the Dal Bolognese restaurant and headed to their waiting car.

Sharon Stone exuded elegance and style on Saturday night, as she cosied up to her son Laird Vonne on the way home from dinner in Rome

The actress, 66, looked nothing short of radiant in flowing chiffon dress in a yellow and orange paisley pattern as she hid her eyes behind a pair of oversized and pink tinted glasses

She boosted her height with a pair of woven wedges, while her youngest son, 18, sweetly helped her walk the cobbled streets by linking their arms

The teen - who recently celebrated graduating from high school in May - looked smart in a white shirt and matching trousers.

Sharon adopted Laird back in May of 2005, saying at the time: 'I have been trying to adopt a second child for years, with general fits and starts.'

She added 'So I didnt totally, totally believe it until he was in my arms.'

The Basic Instinct star also is the proud mother of adopted sons Roan, 24, and Quinn, 17.

She adopted Roan with her then-husband Phil Bronstein, but the couple divorced after six years of marriage in 2004 when he was four years old.

In 2018, Sharon opened up about what it was like raising her three sons as a single mum.

She told People: 'When you decide to take on this big adventure of being a single parent, you dont know what its going to be like.

'You think, how am I ever going to do this all? Its just a lot. Even with the help that were so blessed to be able to have, your hairs still going down the drain in the shower. Its just a lot.'

But despite the difficulties, the movie star gushed that it was all worth it, saying: 'This is a very good period of my life right now  my life is happy.'

Sharon adopted Laird back in May of 2005, and is also the proud mother of adopted sons Roan, 24, and Quinn, 17 (Quinn, Roan and Laird pictured in 2017)

In 2018, Sharon opened up about what it was like raising her three sons as a single mum and recently declared that she doesn't regret prioritising her children over her career or fame

In October, Sharon added that she doesn't regret prioritising her children over her career or fame.

She said: Im grateful that I chose motherhood and that I didnt prioritise Hollywood, because they certainly didnt prioritise me.'

Sharon has been open and honest about the various tragedies she's endured throughout her life, before and after becoming a mother, which included multiple miscarriages due to an autoimmune disease and endometriosis.

She previously got candid about miscarriages, saying: 'We, as females don't have a forum to discuss the profundity of this loss. I lost nine children by miscarriage.

'It is no small thing, physically nor emotionally yet we are made to feel it is something to bear alone and secretly with some kind of sense of failure.'

Her outing in Italy comes just days after she revealed her 'unsettling' career-long fear of being shot dead by a fan, following a chat she had with Sylvester Stallone.

Her outing in Italy comes just days after she revealed her 'unsettling' career-long fear of being shot dead by a fan, following a chat she had with Sylvester Stallone (pictured in 2006)

Her fears grew from the trauma of her breakout role as Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct in 1992, which turned her into an overnight celebrity (pictured in film with Michael Douglas)

Her fears grew from the trauma of her breakout role as Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct in 1992, which turned her into an overnight celebrity.

Speaking at a Cannes charity gala according to The Sun, Sharon said: 'What Sly said to me is that suddenly you are walking down the street, everyone is doing this [reaching into their pocket] and you don't know if they are going for the pen or the gun.

'That's what becomes so unsettling, because everybody is doing that, but you don't know why.

'You feel constantly in this unsettled place that you always have to figure it out and you have to fix it and be ready.'
Another day another bikini for Jessica Alba, who continued to enjoy her luxurious family vacation on the Grecian isle of Mykonos on Saturday.

The 43-year-old Honest Company founder flaunted her bikini body in a pink string triangle top and matching bottoms while taking a refreshing dip on a private beach at the edge of the blue Aegean.

Jessica eagerly took advantage of the Santa Marina resort's soft sandy beach, which is a rarity among the numerous pebble beaches in the Greek islands.

Alba paired her sexy swimwear with a matching pink-patterned sarong while she relaxed on the shore.

The Pomona-born mother-of-three accessorized with tortoiseshell Tory Burch sunglasses and large hoop earrings for her fun in the sun.

Another day another bikini for Jessica Alba, who continued to enjoy her luxurious family vacation on the Grecian isle of Mykonos on Saturday

The 43-year-old Honest Company founder flaunted her bikini body in a pink string triangle top and matching bottoms while taking a refreshing dip on a private beach at the edge of the blue Aegean

Jessica had a gal pal take pictures of her as she relaxed in the shallows.

At one point, Alba sweetly embraced her eldest child - daughter Honor Marie Warren - who's significantly taller than her 5ft8in famous mother.

The Trigger Warning producer-star's 16-year-old mini-me wore a striped bikini top with leopard-print bottoms.

Also wearing a mismatched bikini was Jessica's flame-haired daughter Haven Garner Warren, who will celebrate her 13th birthday on August 13.

Alba was also joined at the family-owned five-star property by her six-year-old son Hayes Alba Warren, who grabbed her leg as she watched an iPad.

The Kamala Harris supporter is also inseparable from her best friend Kelly Sawyer Patricof, who's the co-CEO of the non-profit Baby2Baby on which she's a board member.

Jessica and Kelly - who frequently wear matching Halloween costumes - sunned themselves on orange towels while watching the mega yachts cruise off the coast.

Alba then scooched her butt down so she could stick her legs in the lapping waves and enjoy the views of Ornos Bay, where patrons are largely shielded from the almighty Cycladic winds.

Jessica eagerly took advantage of the Santa Marina resort's soft sandy beach, which is a rarity among the numerous pebble beaches in the Greek islands

Alba paired her sexy swimwear with a matching pink-patterned sarong while she relaxed on the shore

The Pomona-born mother-of-three accessorized with tortoiseshell Tory Burch sunglasses and large hoop earrings for her fun in the sun

Jessica had a gal pal take pictures of her as she relaxed in the shallows

At one point, Alba sweetly embraced her eldest child - daughter Honor Marie Warren - who's significantly taller than her 5ft8in famous mother

The Trigger Warning producer-star's 16-year-old mini-me wore a striped bikini top with leopard-print bottoms

Also wearing a mismatched bikini was Jessica's flame-haired daughter Haven Garner Warren, who will celebrate her 13th birthday on August 13

Alba was also joined at the family-owned five-star property by her six-year-old son Hayes Alba Warren, who grabbed her leg as she watched an iPad

The Kamala Harris supporter is also inseparable from her best friend Kelly Sawyer Patricof (2-L), who's the co-CEO of the non-profit Baby2Baby on which she's a board member

Jessica and Kelly - who frequently wear matching Halloween costumes - sunned themselves on orange towels while watching the mega yachts cruise off the coast

Alba then scooched her butt down so she could stick her legs in the lapping waves and enjoy the views of Ornos Bay, where patrons are largely shielded from the almighty Cycladic winds

Missing from the beach was the StoryBots guest star's husband of 16 years - Cash Warren - who co-founded his sock and underwear company Pair of Thieves with Alan Stuart and David Ehrenberg in 2014.

The married couple originally met in 2004 on the Canadian set of Fantastic Four, which starred Jessica and was produced by her 45-year-old hubbie.

The wealthy family-of-five share a $10M seven-bedroom home in Beverly Hills' Oak Pass estate.

Last Friday, Alba discussed the benefits of therapy for mental health in her new Marie Claire Mexico cover story.

'It helped me give my feelings a stage to be and exist without them consuming me completely,' the Mexican-American mompreneur explained.

Missing from the beach was the StoryBots guest star's husband of 16 years - Cash Warren (L, pictured May 23) - who co-founded his sock and underwear company Pair of Thieves with Alan Stuart and David Ehrenberg in 2014

Last Friday, Alba discussed the benefits of therapy for mental health in her new Marie Claire Mexico cover story: 'It helped me give my feelings a stage to be and exist without them consuming me completely'

The Mexican-American mompreneur and The Cool Mom Co. founder Lizzy Mathis (L, pictured November 15) have been hard at work executive producing and co-hosting the second season of Honest Renovations, which will premiere later this year on the Roku Channel

'I have discovered that the strongest people are those who allow themselves to openly show their emotions and be vulnerable.'

Jessica and The Cool Mom Co. founder Lizzy Mathis have been hard at work executive producing and co-hosting the second season of Honest Renovations, which will premiere later this year on the Roku Channel.

'I think we're going to be more efficient with our time,' Alba told Yahoo! News Canada last year

'We think we know where we can make the biggest impacts and where to flex. So I think that's going to be exciting to do.'
Kym Marsh packed on the PDA with new toyboy boyfriend Samuel Thomas as they arrived at Manchester train station on Sunday.

The former Coronation Street star, 48, was seen out and about with the actor, 29, for the first time since announcing their romance.

They were spotted kissing as they arrived at the station ahead of their 101 Dalmatians shows at The Palace Theatre.

Kym cut a summery figure in a black floral minidress which boasted a plunging V-neckline and short sleeves.

She kept comfortable in a pair of white trainers and shielded from the sun behind a pair of sunglasses.

Kym Marsh packed on the PDA with new toyboy boyfriend Samuel Thomas as they arrived at Manchester train station on Sunday

The former Coronation Street star, 48, was seen out and about with the actor, 29, for the first time since announcing their romance

Meanwhile Samuel donned a blue checked shirt with jeans and trainers as he pulled a large suitcase and carried a backpack.

The pair seemed in high spirits as they stepped out together for the first time as they explored the city.

Kym is currently playing Cruella de Vil in the UK & Ireland tour of 101 Dalmatians The Musical, alongside her boyfriend Samuel, who stars as Tom Dearly.

It comes days after Kym was forced to defend herself for revealing she is dating Samuel who is the same age as her son.

At 29, Samuel - who she refers to as 'the most amazing man ever' - is the same age as her eldest child, David Cunliffe.

Kym's friends are reportedly worried that her new romance with a younger man could all end in heartache if it 'fizzles out'.

The soap star has the support of her pals who are apparently 'happy' she has found someone, but they are said to have concerns that she could end up hurt.

The actress is a parent to son David, 29, and daughter Emilie, 27, from a former relationship with builder David Cunliffe.

Kym cut a summery figure in a black minidress as she stepped out ahead of their 101 Dalmatians shows at The Palace Theatre

Kym is currently playing Cruella de Vil in the UK & Ireland tour of 101 Dalmatians The Musical, alongside her new boyfriend Samuel, 29, who stars as Tom Dearly

It comes days after Kym was forced to defend herself for revealing she is dating Samuel who is the same age as her son

At 29, Thomas - who she refers to as 'the most amazing man ever' - is the same age as her eldest child, David Cunliffe

The couple, who met in a Lancashire pub, separated in 1999, shortly before Kym found fame as a contestant on TV talent show Popstars, where she would become a member of short-lived pop group Hear'Say.

Two years later Kym was making an appearance on Top Of The Pops when she crossed paths with actor Jack Ryder, a household name at the time thanks to his role as Jamie Mitchell in EastEnders.

They married at St. Albans parish church, Hertford, in August 2002 and subsequently sold the pictures to OK! magazine for a reported 300,000.

But seven years later it was all over, with Ryder filing for divorce on the grounds of adultery following her apparent fling with second-husband-in-waiting Jamie Lomas

Friends initially feared Kym had rushed into her relationship with Lomas, who she started dating just four months after separating from Ryder.

The pair met on a train as they made their way to the 2007 TV Quick Awards, but casual chat soon turned into romance with the pair going public in 2008 - a year before her divorce.

They had been together for less than two months when Kym fell pregnant with their first child, but tragedy struck when their son Archie Jay died moments after being born 18-weeks premature on February 11.

The couple had happier news when they welcomed daughter Polly in March 2011.

They exchanged vows in September 2012 but were divorced by 2014, with Kym reportedly stunned by Lomas' decision to break it off.

She remarried for a third time to Scott Ratcliff back in 2021.

The pair split 13 months following their wedding when Kym filed for divorce citing unreasonable behaviour.

She was previously married to Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas from 2012 to 2014 and they have just one child together, Polly, 13
You are here: China

Typhoon Gaemi's remnants have brought intense rainfall to many parts of China, prompting evacuations, train suspensions and rising water levels in major reservoirs.

As of 5 p.m. Saturday, more than 30,000 residents in northeastern China's Liaoning Province had been safely relocated.

The provincial flood control and drought relief department said that heavy rainfall from Gaemi, this year's third typhoon, has caused water levels to rise in 13 rivers and 50 reservoirs across the province.

The province has organized inspections and patrols along the dikes to prepare for potential flooding and to reduce disaster risks.

Local authorities said the capital city of Shenyang is expected to experience heavy rainfall from Sunday to Tuesday, advising residents to avoid outdoor activities unless necessary.

As a precautionary measure, hundreds of chemical enterprises and mining companies across the province had suspended operations and relocated employees and nearby residents as of 7:00 a.m. on Saturday.

On Saturday, China Railway Shenyang Bureau Group Co., Ltd. said that 39 trains would be suspended from Saturday to Thursday to ensure passenger safety. Sections of some railway lines have suffered damages and hazards, due to continuous rainfall over the past few days.

In response to the upcoming continuous rainfall, local railway authorities have deployed over 20 repair teams and dispatched large machinery, such as loaders and excavators, to reinforce the railways and enhance their flood resistance capacity.

In central China's Hunan Province, intense rains lashed Chenzhou City, forcing the evacuation of more than 5,700 people as of Saturday afternoon.

The average rainfall across the city was 116 mm from 8 a.m. Friday to 4 p.m. Saturday, with some townships breaking historical rainfall records. In Zixing City and Rucheng County, some areas experienced disruptions in power and communications, affecting 20,000 residents.

Hunan raised its emergency flood response level on Saturday night, as forecasts indicated that the impact of Typhoon Gaemi on the province was expected to intensify.

On Saturday afternoon, east China's Shandong Province issued six weather-related alerts in response to the typhoon, warning residents of heavy rain, strong gales, geological disasters and flash floods.

Although Gaemi is moving inland and northward, the coastal provinces are still battling heavy rain and strong winds.

More than 115,000 people had been relocated to safe places in Guangdong Province by Saturday noon. Additionally, a tornado struck Xiangshan Village in Chaozhou City on Friday evening.

In eastern Fujian Province, 11 rivers have exceeded their warning levels, according to the provincial water resources department.

According to the provincial flood control office, as of 6 p.m. on Friday, Typhoon Gaemi had affected 766,900 residents in Fujian, with 304,200 evacuated from hazardous areas.

As of 7 a.m. on Saturday, around 57,000 rescue personnel had participated in emergency rescue and disaster recovery efforts, said the office, adding that damaged infrastructure, such as power and telecommunication systems, has been repaired, and the telecommunication network is now operating smoothly.

Torrential rain during the peak flood season, from late July to early August, has triggered flash flooding in many parts of China.

The National Meteorological Center renewed an orange alert for rainstorms on Saturday.
Blue star Simon Webbe and wife Ayshen have discussed the fertility troubles and heartbreaking miscarriages they endured ahead of welcoming 'miracle' daughter Riya Diamond last month.

Simon, 46, explained that they underwent numerous unsuccessful rounds of IVF which Ayshen, 44, said left her 'physically and mentally broken'.

The couple are already parents to daughter Cyan, three, and revealed one doctor 'brutally' suggested they 'give up' hopes of welcoming a second child.

Ayshen told OK!: 'The last doctor I spoke to  and I'm only going by the last one  he actually brutally told me to my face 'Give up. You're too old. The eggs won't take. Go home and enjoy your one child. You're wasting your time. No one is going to help you over the age of 40. Cut your losses' I was shaking'.

The couple then gave up trying only to discover three weeks later that they had fallen pregnant naturally.

Blue star Simon Webbe, 46, and wife Ayshen, 44, have discussed the fertility troubles and heartbreaking miscarriages they endured ahead of welcoming 'miracle' daughter last month

Simon explained that they underwent numerous unsuccessful rounds of IVF which Ayshen said left her 'physically and mentally broken' (pictured with daughter Cyan)

The couple are already parents to daughter Cyan, three, and revealed one doctor 'brutally' suggested they 'give up' hopes of welcoming a second

The tot was born on June 27, with Simon telling the publication: 'The name Riya actually means "dream" in Turkish and thats exactly what she is'.

Before going on to say: 'I had a neighbour tell me the other day that Ayshen and I were an inspiration to her. She's had several miscarriages, and hearing our story made her believe it could still happen for her. And that is a really beautiful thing.'

Announcing the news in March on Instagram in a post sponsored by Clearblue pregnancy tests, the couple shared a video showing old footage of Ayshen in hospital during her tragic miscarriages as well as a new clip celebrating their baby news with Cyan.

They captioned the post: 'Miracles do happen, and were living proof. With the help of Clearblue, were happy to announce that our family is expanding!'.

The post continued: 'After enduring heartbreaking losses and navigating the challenges of IVF, were overjoyed to share that were expecting our second child together!

'This journey hasnt been easy, but every struggle has led us to this moment of pure happiness  by some miracle, we were actually able to conceive naturally!

'Our little miracle, due in July 2024, is already filling our hearts with love and hope.

'Cyan is absolutely over the moon with this news, and we couldnt be more grateful for this blessing. Heres to new beginnings and the incredible journey ahead as a family.'

Ayshen said: 'The last doctor I spoke to  and I'm only going by the last one  he actually brutally told me to my face 'Give up. You're too old'

The couple welcomed the tot on June 27, with Simon telling the publication: 'The name Riya actually means "dream" in Turkish and thats exactly what she is'

The joyous news follows a lengthy journey to expand their family.

In an Instagram post to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week last year, the couple candidly revealed they had experienced a third miscarriage.

The pair welcomed their daughter Cyan in April 2021 following two devastating miscarriages and a failed round of IVF.

Writing for Tommys in October, the couple gave an update on their hopes to add to their family, explaining: 'It's not been easy but we are still on this journey and trying to stay positive.'

Speaking about their daughter, Simon said: 'She's everything I dreamt of and more. We felt truly blessed and so lucky to have this beautiful healthy baby.'

He explained though that since Cyan's birth they've also had another miscarriage and an unsuccessful frozen embryo transfer.

Simon reveals that both he and Ayshen struggled with their mental health after the losses: 'All I wanted was to get my wife through it, I didn't really have the time to grieve myself,' Simon wrote.

The pop star said he wanted to speak out to help others, in particular other dads and partners going through a loss, telling them: 'Please don't go through it alone and in silence.'

'Sometimes it's about admitting what you cannot do. You can't fix it but you can be there and listen. Find a way to cope with your own emotions, whether that's a beer with a mate or a walk.'

They announced the news in March on Instagram in a post sponsored by Clearblue pregnancy tests

The couple shared video showing old footage of Ayshen in hospital during her tragic miscarriages

They captioned the post: 'Miracles do happen, and were living proof. With the help of Clearblue, were happy to announce that our family is expanding!'

Ayshen has previously praised Simon for his support after a difficult pregnancy and birth with Cyan.

The couple's daughter was delivered early by caesarean section, after doctors discovered she had developed fetal growth restriction.

At 37 weeks, doctors discovered the child's legs had stopped growing and concluded they needed to deliver her early by caesarean section.

'I was so worried and emotional,' Ayshen told Hello! as she recounted her experience.

'But when I thought, 'I can't do this', Simon, who'd nursed me for months when I was suffering from extreme morning sickness, was a calming influence and support.

'With his reassurance and patience, he showed me that together we could get through anything.'

Simon is also a father to 26-year-old daughter Alanah from a previous relationship with shop assistant Nicola Jones.

If you have been affected by this story, you can seek advice at www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk or www.tommys.org or by calling 01924 200 799
Just 24 hours before he learns the outcome of the BBC's bullying investigation, Giovanni Pernice was all smiles yesterday  apparently confident his name will be cleared.

Pictured leaving his morning dance class, he gave a thumbs-up to photographers.

Today the Sicilian will discover the result of the corporation's internal investigation into allegations that he bullied former dance partner Amanda Abbington, 52.

It comes after TV presenter Laura Whitmore confirmed over the weekend that she has spoken to the BBC about 'inappropriate' behaviour by an individual on the show.

Ms Whitmore, 39, who was partnered with Mr Pernice in the 2016 series of Strictly, said she initially raised concerns to the BBC six years ago.

Just 24 hours before he learns the outcome of the BBC 's bullying investigation, Giovanni Pernice was all smiles yesterday (pictured)  apparently confident his name will be cleared

I'm A Celeb and ITV bosses is said to be ready to swoop in to sign the dancer if he is cleared of the allegations

It is said that ITV bosses know how popular Mr Pernice is with viewers and think he would be a huge ratings winner

Sources have claimed that Ms Whitmore and Ms Abbington had an 'emotional summit' earlier this year with fellow Strictly alumna Ranvir Singh, 46, where they 'compared notes' about their time working with Mr Pernice, 33.

The dancer has always denied all of the allegations, claiming to have provided a dossier of evidence to Beeb investigators, and is said to be 'fully confident' that they will find in his favour.

ITV is said to be ready to swoop in to sign the dancer if he is cleared of the allegations. He quit Strictly in April, after nine years, following the BBC's decision to launch its inquiry.

It is said that ITV bosses know how popular Mr Pernice is with viewers and think he would be a huge ratings winner.

One programme he is expected to star in is I'm A Celeb later this year, which is on at the same time as Strictly, and could net him in the region of 100,000.

Bosses, who are thrilled at the possibility of snatching Mr Pernice away from their rivals, also want to give him other shows and documentaries which would mean he would be one of 'their own'.

A source at ITV said: 'As long as those at the top are satisfied that Giovanni isn't a bully and didn't behave inappropriately during Strictly, they will be signing him up. They are very aware of how much Strictly viewers will miss him, he's a true fans' favourite, so they hope he will draw in big audiences.

'Just imagine him on I'm A Celeb, he would be a favourite to win and they know he would be very good value in the jungle.

Today the Sicilian will discover the result of the corporation's internal investigation into allegations that he bullied former dance partner Amanda Abbington , 52 (pictured together)

It comes after TV presenter Laura Whitmore confirmed over the weekend that she has spoken to the BBC about 'inappropriate' behaviour by an individual on the show

The pair are seen during rehearsals

Sources then claimed Amanda, Ranvir Singh and Laura had an 'emotional summit' where they 'compared notes' about their time working with Giovanni on the show

Fellow Italian dancer Graziano Di Prima was sacked from the programme after he was accused of kicking and spitting at former Love Island star Zara McDermott (pictured together during last year's competition)

'He would bring a huge fan base with him. He appeals to people of all ages which is a godsend for any broadcaster.'

The Beeb, meanwhile, has axed his adventure show with Strictly judge Anton du Beke.

Mr Pernice has vowed to never go back to Strictly, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.

He may even take legal action against the BBC.

A source close to Mr Pernice said: 'Gio is looking forward to getting his career going again.

'His Strictly one may have come to an end but that doesn't mean it's over for him.

'There are some very exciting things in the pipeline.

'He is really popular and there is a huge appetite for him elsewhere. He will never go back to Strictly, too much has happened.'

Giovanni is convinced he has presented evidence that proves he is far from the 'cruel, abusive and mean' man the Sherlock star Amanda claims he is.

Mr Pernice handed investigators a 28-minute long audio of Ms Abbington and him in conversation which his team proves he was instead hugely supportive.

During the clip, she told Mr Pernice that if she was him she 'would have thrown me out of the window by now' in an apparent acknowledgement that she could be difficult.

She also admitted she 'self sabotages' and repeatedly referred to how he supported her as she struggled with the show.

Ms Abbington even described herself as a 'nightmare' during the time they danced together from August until October last year.

The Mail On Sunday also reveals Mr Pernice handed the corporation lengthy screenshots of WhatsApp messages between himself and Ms Abbington where she would gush at how helpful he had been, how much she liked him and also makes apologies to him.

Sources close to the situation say that Mr Pernice now expects to be cleared of bullying her after the three-month investigation, with the BBC announcing its findings to both parties on Monday. The Corporation is also expected to release an 'anodyne' statement.

Giovanni is convinced he has presented evidence that proves he is far from the 'cruel, abusive and mean' man the Sherlock star Amanda claims he is

Sources close to the situation say that Mr Pernice now expects to be cleared of bullying Ms Abbington (pictured) after the three-month investigation

The investigation has been a frustrating one for the BBC, particularly as Ms Abbington has spoken out several times in the last week in advance of the end of the probe.

Last week she said that there was an incident of a 'humiliating sexual nature' in an interview with Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who took part in the same series of Strictly.

She also said she received dozens of death and rape threats each day after she complained to the BBC that Mr Pernice had been bullying her.

This newspaper can reveal that Mr Pernice's former dance partners were invited in by the BBC to explain their own experiences of working with him.

Meanwhile, members of the Strictly crew were also interviewed. It is understood none reported that they had either experienced or witnessed Mr Pernice, 33, behave badly.

The scandal unfolded at the turn of the year after Ms Abbington told The Sun that she had suffered from PTSD as a result of appearing on Strictly. She also reportedly asked to see rehearsal footage so she could pass it onto her lawyers.

The BBC refused her request. In April, it launched a formal investigation into her claims that Mr Pernice had bullied during their training sessions.

Mr Pernice's spokesman said that he was not made aware of the sexual allegations until Channel 4 approached his lawyers at Schillings to offer a right to reply just hours before the interview was aired on Wednesday. He vehemently denies the claims.

Previously, Ms Abbington had claimed Mr Pernice stamped on her foot, leaving her with a bruised toe. She has given no other details.

Last Sunday she told The Sun: 'I found Giovanni's behaviour unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean. I couldn't sit back and let him do that to other people.' She offered no further details.

Last week in an interview with Channel 4 News, a tearful Ms Abbington said an incident of a 'humiliating sexual nature' took place

Mr Pernice (pictured with Ms Abbington in rehearsals) handed investigators at the BBC a 28-minute long audio of the pair in conversation which his team believes proves that far from bullying her, he was instead hugely supportive

Meanwhile, the fallout at the BBC is said to be 'serious.' Bosses are already under scrutiny over why the investigation took three months, during which time significant damage was done to Strictly, often referred to as the jewel in the Corporation's crown.

But insiders have hit back by saying that it was because the inquiry went on for so long that Strictly staff were able to raise professional dancer Graziano Di Prima hitting and kicking his former partner Zara McDermott. Investigators fired him within 48 hours, citing misconduct.

Despite the outcome of the inquiry into Mr Pernice being expected tomorrow, sources at the BBC say there could be more to come.

During her interview with Mr Guru-Murthy, Ms Abbington said she wanted to be remunerated for loss of earnings following her appearance on the show and the claims she was bullied.

But they also face potential action from Mr Pernice, who is unhappy that he was paired with Ms Abbington without them doing any psychological tests on her.

Yesterday, a spokesman for Ms Abbington said: 'These details don't alter anything: as Amanda has repeatedly made clear, she did her best to make things work.

'This included being open with Giovanni about her own shortcomings as a dancer and her awareness that this must have been difficult for him.

'For these comments to now be presented as some form of an excuse for the bullying that Amanda experienced is as unacceptable as the behaviour itself.'
She is in Paris after performing at the Olympic opening ceremony by the banks of the Seine on Friday night.

And newly engaged Lady Gaga was spotted amongst the crowd as she watched the evening sessions of the swimming competition on Sunday.

At the event, the pop superstar, 38, was heard referring to her longtime boyfriend, tech entrepreneur Michael Polansky, 46, as 'my fiance' in a TikTok video shared by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.

She oozed glamour in a white team USA jacket as she showed her support for her home team.

Lady Gaga added a pop of colour with a bold red lip and rocked some reflective statement sunglasses while sat poolside.

Newly engaged Lady Gaga was spotted amongst the crowd watching intently as the evening sessions of the swimming competition took place on Sunday

The pop superstar, 38, was heard referring to her longtime boyfriend, tech entrepreneur Michael Polansky, 46, as 'my fiance' in a TikTok video shared by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (pictured in February 2020)

Gaga oozed glamour at the sporting event in a white team USA jacket as she showed her support for her home team

The popstar scraped her blonde hair back from a centre parting into a low ponytail as she cheered on Nic Fink, who won silver in the men's 100 metres breaststroke.

The sighting comes hours after she was spotted at the women's gymnastics with Tom Cruise, after the A-list pair shared a friendly hug.

Lady Gaga performed at the Olympic Opening Ceremony on Friday night but it has now been revealed it was pre-recorded due to 'safety reasons'.

She sang Mon Truc En Plumes on a set of stairs along the Seine River in Paris - but Maud le Pladec, the choreographer of all Olympics and Paralympics opening ceremonies, has now revealed that the performance was actually pre-recorded.

Speaking to Variety, Maud explained: 'Unfortunately, it was the only [performance] that, for safety reasons, we had to pre-record late in the afternoon, once we knew for sure that it was going to rain.

'We had minute-by-minute updates, we had never watched the weather forecast so closely in our lives.

'We assessed that it was going to be too dangerous for performers, even with a few drops of rain. [Gaga] wanted to do it absolutely so we preferred to pre-record it rather than cancel it.'

Maud explained that the performance wouldn't have worked in the bad weather.

She said: 'The soil would have been slippery. She was wearing heels, very near the water, there were stairs  We had to be extremely cautious.'

Gaga took to social media after her performance, revealing that she relished the opportunity.

It comes after it was revealed Lady Gaga pre-recorded her performance at the Olympic Opening Ceremony due to 'safety reasons'

The Bad Romance hitmaker, 38, performed a rendition of Mon Truc En Plumes' on a set of stairs along the Seine River and took to social media afterwards to pay tribute to the country

The House of Gucci star took to social media post to reveal how 'so completely grateful' she was to have performed at the opening of the Olympics and that she had studied French choreography for the performance

Maud le Pladec, the choreographer of all Olympics and Paralympics opening ceremonies, has now revealed that the performance was actually pre-recorded

Speaking to Variety, Maud explained that due to the rain the performance had to be pre-record late in the afternoon, for safety reasons

She wrote on Instagram: 'I feel so completely grateful to have been asked to open the Paris @Olympics 2024 this year.

'I am also humbled to be asked by the Olympics organising committee to sing such a special French songa song to honour the French people and their tremendous history of art, music, and theatre.

'This song was sung by Zizi Jeanmaire, born in Paris a French ballerina, she famously sang 'Mon Truc en Plumes' in 1961.

'The title means 'My Thing with Feathers.' And this is not the first time we've crossed paths. Zizi starred in Cole Porter's musical 'Anything Goes' which was my first jazz release. (sic)'

Earlier in the day, Gaga shared a friendly hug with Tom Cruise. as they both arrived to watch the women's gymnastics.

Tom looked pleased to see her as they chatted away and looked smart in a white T-shirt and dark jeans.

Earlier in the day on Sunday Gaga shared a friendly hug with Tom Cruise as they both arrived to watch the women's gymnastics

The pop superstar, 38, and the Top Gun actor, 62, looked delighted to see each other as they embraced in the crowds

It comes after Lady Gaga fans went wild saying she was 'just like them' after she was spotted stepping out to buy a takeaway sandwich in Paris on Saturday.

She was keen to make the most of the city's culinary delights - stopping off to to order a sandwich herself - despite her superstar status.

The star was seen looking typically chic in an all-black ensemble while sporting dark shades and flawless makeup - as she was joined by two burly bodyguards.

Lady Gaga - who said back in 2011 that she 'loved ham and cheese sandwiches from Paris' - was seen chatting away making her order before sharing a laugh and joke with one of the waiters who took her card payment.

She was then seen being escorted out by her two security men as fans who spotted her took snaps and videos.

The star was then whisked away in a waiting car as she carried her takeaway sandwich all wrapped up for her in her hand.

As she made her way to the stands, Gaga wore black leggings, a casual navy blue USA jumper and huge pointed platform boots

Her fans were absolutely delighted to see her as they posed for snaps with her in the background in the stands

She added dark shades to her look and wore her medium-length blonde tresses pinned back in a chic pony tail

Her fans went wild over the clip as they said on X: 'I just love that Lady Gaga is so well protected that she can buy sandwiches normally, as the rest of us. Good stuff!',

'Gaga probably tried to order the sandwiches in French she's so extra like that!',

'imagine your enjoying your lunch at a restaurant and lady gaga steps out to order sandwiches to go for her and her boyfriend.',

'she is living her best life I'm so happy for her.', 'she's just like me!', 'where was she and what did she order?!.' 'Gaga said in 2011,  I love Paris, ham and cheese sandwiches , and now we're in 2024 and we saw her ordering a  sandwich jambon fromage  in Paris again!'
Advertisement

Tobey Maguire is living his best life in the South of France.

The Spider-Man star, 49, was spotted on a yacht off the coast of St. Tropez with a much younger, bikini-clad beauty.

The Santa Monica native was shirtless and showing off his 'farmer's tan' while walking around the vessel in a pair of black swim shorts.

His companion was at ease in a tiny black bikini that showed off her tan and a black ball cap with gold writing spelling out 'Established' along with gold palm embroidery on the bill of the cap.

Although the woman's face was obscured by her hat, she looks like model Lily Chee, 20, who the Pleasantville star was spotted with at Michael Rubin's star-studded 4th of July party.

Tobey Maguire appears to be living his best life in the South of France. He was spotted on a yacht off the coast of St. Tropez with a much younger, bikini-clad beauty

The Spider-Man star's companion showed off her incredible figure in a skimpy bikini

Tobey was previously married to jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer, 47, from 2007 to 2017.

The two have cultivated a strong friendship following the end of their marriage, and they co-parent their two teenagers daughter Ruby, 17, and son Otis, 15.

After Tobey was spotted with Lily at Michael Rubin's party, Jennifer denied that the two were dating in a social media comment.

After someone asked 'Why is your ex husband banging someone 3 years older than your daughter?' she replied that she doesn't 'usually respond to such nonsense,' though she made an exception this time.

'He was kindly helping a friend to her car,' she claimed. 'Being a good guy.

'And now he has [been] blasted online for dating someone he is not. But thank you for your rude comments. I hope it made you feel better today. Wishing you love and light,' she added.

However, she later deleted the comment, leading to speculation that her ex-husband was romancing Chee, who is 29 years his junior.

Last week, the Seabiscuit actor was also seen grabbing lunch in the French Riviera, where he chatted up a pretty brunette at an adjacent table.

The Santa Monica native was shirtless and showing off his 'farmer's tan' while walking around the vessel in a pair of black swim shorts

Although the woman's face was obscured by her hat, she looks like model Lily Chee, 20, who the Pleasantville star was spotted with at Michael Rubin 's star-studded 4th of July party

Tobey was married to jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer, 47, from 2007 to 2017

The two have cultivated a strong friendship following the end of their marriage, and they co-parent their two teenagers daughter Ruby, 17, and son Otis, 15

After Tobey was spotted with Lily at Michael Rubin's party, Jennifer denied that the two were dating in a social media comment

After someone asked 'Why is your ex husband banging someone 3 years older than your daughter?' she replied that she doesn't 'usually respond to such nonsense,' though she made an exception this time

'He was kindly helping a friend to her car,' she claimed. 'Being a good guy. 'And now he has [been] blasted online for dating someone he is not. But thank you for your rude comments. I hope it made you feel better today. Wishing you love and light,' she added

Neither Maguire or Chee have publicly addressed the speculation of a summer romance in the days since they were pictured with one another.

Earlier this month, an insider told Us Weekly that Maguire and Chee 'aren't seriously dating but have been hanging out.'

Maguire and Chee were reportedly introduced through nightclub impresario Richie Akiva 'and mutual friends,' the insider told the outlet, adding that the relationship is 'nothing serious' at this time.

'They were together all night hanging out, having fun and went to an after party with a big crew,' the source told the outlet.
Khloe Kardashian threw her son Tatum Thompson a lavish, dinosaur-themed 'Two-a-saurus' party in honor of his second birthday on Sunday.

The 40-year-old Kardashians producer-star - who boasts 384.9M social media followers - Instastoried a video of the curly-haired toddler attempting to break a dinosaur egg-shaped pinata.

However, little Tatum misunderstood and cutely attempted to 'mop' the grassy lawn with his green stick rather than destroy the dino egg.

'Oh yes, clean the floor!' Khloe cheered.

'My little cleaner! My little cleaner! Tay, Tay, Tay, Tay!'

Khloe Kardashian threw her son Tatum Thompson a lavish, dinosaur-themed 'Two-a-saurus' party in honor of his second birthday on Sunday

The 40-year-old Kardashians producer-star - who boasts 384.9M social media followers - Instastoried a video of the curly-haired toddler attempting to break a dinosaur egg-shaped pinata

Kardashian - whose 'biological age' is 28 - slipped her slim 5ft10in figure into a white eyelet mini-dress for the Jurassic Park-inspired festivities.

The divorced mother-of-two enlisted party planner Mindy Weiss to transform the backyard and pool area of her $17M Hidden Hills mansion with life-size dino statues and palm-shaped pool floats.

Mindy hired the balloon styling company Wild Child to create imaginative displays and she hired Creative Amme to create the custom dino signs placed all over the tropical-looking property.

Weiss hired the Cake Gourmet Sugar Service to cater the dino-themed treats and the three-tiered birthday cake.

Mindy hired Chef Khristianne U and her team for the second consecutive year to cater the nachos, French fries, chow mein, tacos, guacamole, dino-shaped fruit, and dino-shaped chicken nuggets.

Weiss hired Little Artist Party founder Arsineh Hoonanian to plan the children's watercolor painting of dinosaur illustrations as well as other fun crafting experiences.

Mindy showcased a Stoney Clover Lane display of custom keychains and patches as well as a 'Slime Scents' fragrance booth.

Khloe Instastoried a video of herself filming sibling Kim Kardashian, wearing a red carpet-worthy golden gown, alongside her six-year-old daughter Chicago West.

However, little Tatum misunderstood and cutely attempted to 'mop' the grassy lawn with his green stick rather than destroy the dino egg

Khloe cheered: 'Oh yes, clean the floor! My little cleaner! My little cleaner! Tay, Tay, Tay, Tay!'

Kardashian - whose 'biological age' is 28 - slipped her slim 5ft10in figure into a white eyelet mini-dress for the Jurassic Park-inspired festivities

The divorced mother-of-two enlisted party planner Mindy Weiss to transform the backyard and pool area of her $17M Hidden Hills mansion with life-size dino statues and palm-shaped pool floats

Mindy hired the balloon styling company Wild Child to create imaginative displays and she hired Creative Amme to create the custom dino signs placed all over the tropical-looking property

Weiss hired the Cake Gourmet Sugar Service to cater the dino-themed treats and the three-tiered birthday cake

Mindy hired Chef Khristianne U and her team for the second consecutive year to cater the nachos, French fries, chow mein, tacos, guacamole, dino-shaped fruit, and dino-shaped chicken nuggets

Weiss hired Little Artist Party founder Arsineh Hoonanian to plan the children's watercolor painting of dinosaur illustrations as well as other fun crafting experiences

'Wowee! The golden globe is here, ladies and gentlemen!' Kardashian loudly announced as her 43-year-old sister blushed.

'You are the party! I love this!'

Aside from her BFFs Malika & Khadijah Haqq, the Good American co-founder was thrilled by the presence of her momager, 'the legend Kris Jenner.'

'Look how amazing and chic this woman is! You better work, Mom!' Khloe gushed.

The 68-year-old grandmother-of-14 shared an Instagram slideshow dedicated to her 'amazing little grandson' on Sunday.

'You are such a beautiful boy filled with wonder, joy, amazement, curiosity, and so much love!' Kris wrote.

'You are the sweetest, most special little love bug and every day fill me with such happiness and the best energy to start my days. I am so blessed God chose me to be your grandma and I love you beyond measure! Lovey. P.S. You are Rob to the T!'

Later on Sunday, Khloe shared a sweet post to Instagram to more formally celebrate Tatum's birthday with her followers.

In one cute photo, he wore what looked like a dinosaur-covered pajama top while sitting on his beaming mother's lap.

'How are you two years old already?!' she gushed in her lengthy caption. 'The expression, the days are long, but the years are short could not be any truer. I feel like we have had a lifetime together yet You are only two years old.

'I know we were destined to be together,' she continued. 'I know we have had many moments together before we ever met. The comfort I find in your eyes confirms weve known one another before.

Khloe Instastoried a video of herself filming sibling Kim Kardashian, wearing a red carpet-worthy golden gown, alongside her six-year-old daughter Chicago West

As her 43-year-old sister blushed, Kardashian loudly announced: 'Wowee! The golden globe is here, ladies and gentlemen! You are the party! I love this!'

Aside from her BFFs Malika & Khadijah Haqq, the Good American co-founder was thrilled by the presence of her momager, 'the legend Kris Jenner'

The 68-year-old grandmother-of-14 shared an Instagram slideshow dedicated to her 'amazing little grandson' on Sunday

Later on Sunday, Khloe shared a sweet post to Instagram to more formally celebrate Tatum's birthday with her followers. He wore dinosaur pajamas in one cute photo

'How are you two years old already?!' she gushed in her lengthy caption. 'The expression, the days are long, but the years are short could not be any truer'

'I know we were destined to be together,' she continued. 'I know we have had many moments together before we ever met. The comfort I find in your eyes confirms weve known one another before'

In addition to adorable photos of Khloe and Tatum bonding, his older sister True Thompson also got in on the fun

'You light up every single room. Theres no denying that Everyone smiles when they look at you! Especially True ... she is so proud to call you hers, as am I,' Khloe added

'My precious son, I know you were mine in another lifetime,' Khloe added.

'I know this because of the way you look at me. The way we giggle when we stare at one another. The bond you have with your sister. The relationships you have with everyone in our family that was here before you,' she wrote. 'Its as if You knew us all before. The insight you already have. The knowledge you possess. The way you know how to love. The way you communicate!! And you are only two years.

'I am so proud to be your mommy. So proud of the love and laughter we have in our house. So proud of your beautiful, gentle, polite, intelligent, loving, infectious spirit,' Khloe continued. 'You light up every single room. Theres no denying that Everyone smiles when they look at you! Especially True ... she is so proud to call you hers, as am I.

'Happy birthday my sweet handsome boy! You are loved tremendously by this incredible tribe of ours!' Khloe concluded, adding, 'Always and forever, Mommy loves you.'

Only one of Kardashian's videos included her babydaddy Tristan Thompson in the background.

The Calabasas socialite and the 33-year-old Cleveland Cavaliers center amicably co-parent Tatum and their six-year-old daughter True Thompson, and they still reportedly have two more frozen embryos (a boy and a girl) in the bank, so to speak.

Many forget that Tristan's babymama #1 Jordan Craig was five months pregnant with his seven-year-old son Prince Oliver when he started dating Khloe back in 2016.

Thompson went on to put Kardashian through numerous cheating scandals, including secretly fathering two-year-old son Theo with his babymama #3 Maralee Nichols.

Only one of Khloe's videos included her babydaddy Tristan Thompson in the background

Kardashian and the 33-year-old Cleveland Cavaliers center (L, pictured in 2022) amicably co-parent Tatum and their six-year-old daughter True Thompson, and they still reportedly have two more frozen embryos (a boy and a girl) in the bank, so to speak

Many forget that Tristan's babymama #1 Jordan Craig (R, pictured May 12) was five months pregnant with his seven-year-old son Prince Oliver (L) when he started dating the Calabasas socialite

Thompson went on to put Khloe through numerous cheating scandals, including secretly fathering two-year-old son Theo (R, pictured August 6) with his babymama #3 Maralee Nichols (L)

Last Thursday, Hulu renewed Kardashian and her famous family's reality show The Kardashians for 20 more episodes, which will likely mean season six and season seven are in the works

Last March, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered the philandering baller to pay Maralee $57,916 in back child support after missing four months of payments.

And last October, Jordan filed a declaration claiming Tristan owed her $224K after making 'either partial payments or missing child support payments altogether' since November 2022.

Last Thursday, Hulu renewed Khloe and her famous family's reality show The Kardashians for 20 more episodes, which will likely mean season six and season seven are in the works.

On February 19, showrunner Danielle King's Keeping Up with the Kardashians spin-off won reality show of the year at the People's Choice Awards after winning the best docu-reality series trophy at the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards.
Veteran weatherman Paul Burt has lashed out at Channel Seven in an awkward final on-air segment after he was axed by the network.

The Queensland presenter was recently cut by Seven after almost three decades in the industry as part of a cost-cutting bloodbath.

He presented his final weather segment on Saturday and took aim at the network during his sign off.

'If I'd had the opportunity I wouldn't have wanted to go this way. It's what happens when you get sacked,' he said at the end of the 6pm news.

The bulletin then awkwardly cut to a montage of Paul presenting segments over the years.

Burt told The Australian he was given just '55 seconds to say my goodbyes'.

He has worked for Ten, Nine and Seven during his lengthy media career.

It comes after veteran Channel Seven presenter Sharyn Ghidella was also axed from the network earlier this month, after almost four decades in the news industry.

Veteran weatherman Paul Burt has lashed out at Channel Seven in an awkward final on-air segment after he was sacked by the network. He presented his final weather segment on Saturday and took aim at the failing network during his sign off

Ghidella, 58, the face of Seven News in Queensland since 2007, confirmed the news in a fiery Facebook post.

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.

'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.

'A long list of talented, loyal and dedicated employees have been shown the door, in what seems to have been an interminable process of pulling the Band-Aid off slowly when it comes to removing what has been deemed excess stock.

'These people are some of the best content creators in the business. They are good people and it's been heartbreaking to watch.'

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 at 6.57pm tonight, and 'Astro Tash' start an astrology report next week.

It comes after veteran Channel Seven presenter Sharyn Ghidella (pictured) was also axed from the network earlier this month, after almost four decades in the news industry

'I'm also not one to have my evening news served up with humour and horoscopes either, so, to be honest, it is time to go,' Ghidella sniped.

'As I'm known to say, the caravan moves on. There is certainly plenty of talent left in the building and I wish them nothing but the best moving forward.'

She ended her take-no-prisoners post by thanking the many friends she had made throughout her long career with the network.

'A sincere thank you to everyone who has made this possible, so far, including past employers like the Stokes, Packer and Gleeson families and the news directors, executive producers and station managers who saw fit to give a kid from Babinda [in rural Queensland] a go. I owe you so much.

'Then there are the viewers... You will never know how much your kindness and support means. What a privilege it is to be welcomed into your homes to present you the news of the day,' she added.

Melbourne crime reporter Cameron Baud (pictured) was recently let go by the Network

There has been a cost-cutting bloodbath at Seven as the network's news division comes under new management.

Three major names to go at the network recently include veterans Robert Ovadia, Andrew Frampton and seasoned Melbourne crime reporter Cameron Baud, who is known among friends as the 'Harvester of Sorrow' due to his grim news beat.

On the Sydney front, Ovadia - perhaps the most high profile of all the figures axed up until Ghidella's - has announced he will take Seven to the Fair Work Commission for unfair dismissal.

Daily Mail Australia revealed Ovadia allegedly sent a series of strange, doctored images to a young female reporter before he was dumped.
Paris Hilton was every inch a doting mother on Sunday.

The Simple Life star, 32  who recently called herself the 'It Girl' blueprint  took to Instagram to share an adorable video of herself spending time with her youngest, Phoenix, one.

She and her son could be seen laying in a swaying hammock while enjoying a sweet cuddle under the summer sun.

The New York native wore a yellow string bikini and sunset print shorts complete with palm tress and an ocean pattern.

'Baby Ps First Word Sanasa Iconic. l am so obsessed and in love with my little angel baby, hes my best friend. And Im so excited to give him and his sister London the most beautiful and magical life ever! Love my #CutesieCrew #SlivingMom #sanasa,' she penned in the caption.

Paris Hilton took to Instagram to share an adorable video of herself spending time with her youngest, Phoenix, one

The multihyphenate accessorized with a pair of neon green sunglasses and a Chanel hair wrap.

Her baby boy giggled and said 'Sanasa' with his mother while rocking a T-shirt and swim trunks.

The mother-son duo appeared to be in good spirits as they enjoyed their day off on a yacht.

The entrepreneur shares her son and daughter, London, with Carter Reum, 43, whom she began dating in 2019.

She and the businessman got engaged in February of 2021, and tied the knot that November.

Hilton revealed that she and her husband had welcomed Phoenix via surrogate in January of last year.

The socialite's eldest child has since been featured in numerous photos and videos shared on her various social media accounts.

The reality television figure and her husband went on to welcome London, who was also delivered via surrogate, last November.

Hilton's eldest son became the subject of attention late last year, when numerous Instagram users began leaving messages on her posts to ridicule the size of his head.

She and her son lay in a swaying hammock while enjoying a sweet cuddle under the summer sun

The New York native wore a busty yellow string bikini and sunset print shorts complete with palm tress and an ocean

The entrepreneur shares her son and daughter, London, with Carter Reum, 43, whom she began dating in 2019; Paris and Carter seen in 2023

Hilton revealed that she and her husband had welcomed Phoenix via surrogate in January of last year; Paris, London, and Phoenix seen in 2024

She and the businessman got engaged in February of 2021, and tied the knot that November; Paris, London, Phoenix and Carter seen in 2024

The entrepreneur spoke to People last November and told the media outlet that her 'mama bear instincts' began to surface after reading various comments concerning her son.

The model lashed out against the users who had made remarks about Phoenix, and described the individuals who did so as 'cruel' and 'miserable.'

'I couldn't believe that they could be mean and vicious about a little innocent baby,' she added.
Mortgage costs are finally falling - meaning homebuyers waiting on the sidelines are getting ready to pounce.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage dropped last week to a four-month low, a welcome decline in borrowing costs for prospective homebuyers grappling with the challenge of record-high home prices and a dearth of properties on the market.

Despite that welcome news, a new report shows how it can pay to be flexible on location this summer.

Experts have revealed where is best to buy and where to avoid making a purchase you might regret.

Property gurus at Zillow, Insurance.com and Missouri Economic Research and Information Center have combined factors such as value, insurance costs, cost-of-living, weather and supply to compile the ultimate guide to where to buy across America in the coming months.

5 Best States To Buy Property

Maryland

The average home sale price in Maryland is $421,000

According to the latest data that average home sale price in Maryland is $421,000 slightly below the national average of $513,00.

'Even during the global financial crisis, property prices didn't fall significantly, and there were fewer foreclosures,' Kateryna Odarchenko from Long & Foster Real Estate explained.

The proximity of Washington D.C. is also luring in wealthy home buyers taking advantage of increased flexible working arrangements in search of more affordable housing with more space.

'Washington, D.C., has its own set of problems, leading many people to choose to live in Virginia or Maryland instead,' Odarchenko added.

In addition, Greenbelt, 30 miles from Baltimore, has plans for a new FBI headquarters, with around 7,000 jobs.

Texas

The average cost of insuring $400,000 of home value in Texas is $4,643 a year

Texas made the list of the most desirable property hotspots to buy into this summer largely because of its lower than average cost of living.

'Texas continues to be a strong market for property buyers due to its robust economic growth, business-friendly environment and relatively affordable cost of living,' housing market expert Dennis Shirshikov explained.

'Cities like Austin and Dallas offer a blend of high-tech job opportunities and attractive living conditions' he added.

The Lone Star State does have one major drawback however, which is the high cost of home insurance.

The average cost of insuring $400,000 of home value is $4,643 a year, this compares with $2,131 in Maryland.

Nevada

'Las Vegas provides opportunities for cash flow through rentals and appreciation,' one expert argues

'I would recommend looking at states with strong job growth and net migration, like Nevada,' expert property investor Daniel Cabrera said of the state.

'Home values have consistently risen' in Nevada Cabrera explained, advocating the state as a specific target for property investment.

'Las Vegas provides opportunities for cash flow through rentals and appreciation' he explained.

The average home price is now $440,000 and insurance remains low too, at an average of $1,853 per annum for $400,000 of coverage.

Arizona

The average property price in Arizona currently sits at $434,000

Arizona is seeing increased interest form out-of-state home buyers looking for more affordable housing than states such as nearby California.

The average property price is similar to Nevada, currently sitting at $434,000.

However, home insurance premiums are significantly higher, standing at an average of $3,063 a year for $400,000 of coverage.

North Carolina

North Carolina's hot property market has been recommended by experts this summer

North Carolina is rated as a hotspot for prospective buyers due to its relative affordability, average house prices in the state are $335,000.

However the state is increasingly battered by environmental damages including hurricanes and coastal erosion.

'North Carolina, especially areas like Raleigh and Charlotte, offers a balanced mix of affordability, economic growth and quality of life,' Shirshikov said.

3 Worst States To Buy Property

California

'California continues to pose challenges for property buyers due to exorbitant prices and high cost of living,' according to one property expert

Whilst home insurance is relatively low, $1,772 annually on average, the overall cost of living is sky high in the Golden State.

Property prices in particular are far above the national average, standing at $786,000.

'California continues to pose challenges for property buyers due to exorbitant prices and high cost of living,' Shirshikov said.

'Additionally, the state's stringent regulations and high taxes further complicate property investment.'

Florida

Florida suffers from frequent natural disasters such as tornadoes

While home prices in Florida are more affordable than California and the cost of living is lower the experts have deemed it undesirable for prospective buyers this summer.

'Though I do not hold a license in this state, I consider Florida to be one of the least attractive states for property purchase right now,' Odarchenko explained.

Adding: 'During the COVID-19 period, there was an oversupply of property, and the demand has dropped.'

New York

'New York is another challenging market,' Shirshikov said of the Empire State.

'The ongoing shift towards remote work has led to a softening of demand for high-priced urban living.

'Manhattan, for instance, has seen a decline in residential real estate prices, and high property taxes combined with a high cost of living make it a less attractive option for many buyers' he explained.

Like California average home prices in New York are significantly higher than the national average, sitting at $742,000.
Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on Saturday said that this years budget is an important step towards building a new India, and is dedicated to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chaudhary, who was in Gorakhpur on Saturday, in a post on X in Hindi, said, Addressed the media friends in a specially organized press conference on Budget-2024 in Gorakhpur. This budget is an important step towards building a new India. It is dedicated to the vision of Honble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji and building a new India.

Speaking with reporters at the Circuit House, Chaudhary emphasized that this years budget has been crafted by keeping the interests of the citizens in mind.

GST has been reduced, and significant relief has been provided in the tax slabs, he said. The 2024-25 budget aims to transform India into a developed nation by 2047, focusing on four key areas: women, the poor, farmers, and youth.

This budget is entirely dedicated to employment and business. It is designed to boost GDP growth and create job opportunities, while also further developing the education sector. This years budget is inclusive of all regions and sections of society, he said.

On the comparison between Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Chaudhary criticized the opposition for not highlighting the positive aspects.

The overall budget has been increased, including the Railway Budget. The opposition should acknowledge these improvements, he said.

He assured that Uttar Pradesh has received a significant budget allocation when analysed department-wise.

The Union minister reiterated that the budget has been increased across various sectors, including agriculture, education, and the military, reinforcing the governments commitment to comprehensive development.

Seven-time MP Pankaj Chaudhary, who took oath as minister of state for the second time in the new BJP-led NDA government, started his political career as a corporator of the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation in Uttar Pradesh. Pankaj Chaudhary currently represents Maharajganj constituency in the Lok Sabha.
Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) has reported 15.8 per cent decline in consolidated profit at Rs 184.05 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.

The company had logged a profit of Rs 218.70 crore in the year-ago period, GMDC said in a filing.

However, income during April-June FY25 increased to Rs 877.90 crore from Rs 826.77 crore in the year-ago period.

The total lignite production during the quarter increased to 22.96 lakh tonne from 18.27 lakh tonne in the year-ago period. Revenue from thermal projects increased to Rs 28 crore as against Rs 17 crore in March quarter FY24.

Revenue from wind projects rose 67 per cent to Rs 40 crore in Q1FY25 compared to Rs 24 crore in Q4FY24.

In a statement, GMDC Managing Director Roopwant Singh said April-June proved to be a pivotal quarter for the company whose strategic initiatives paid off with a remarkable revenue from operations.

GMDC is the countrys second-largest lignite-producing company and the top merchant seller of lignite.
Pepsico India Holdings consolidated revenue from operations during April-December 2023 was at Rs 5,954.16 crore and profit was Rs 217.26 crore, according to financial data accessed by business intelligence platform Tofler.

Total income, which also includes other income, was at Rs 6,094.70 crore in the nine-month period.

The company has changed its financial year from April-March to January-December, hence it has come out with three quarters results of 2023. It follows the calendar year as financial year from January 2024.

During the nine months, its revenue from sales in the domestic market was at Rs 5,533.63 crore. Exports contributed Rs 266.19 crore to the total revenue of the company, which is not a publicly listed entity.

Revenue from the snacks business in which it operates with brands including Kurkure, Lays, Doritos and Quaker was at Rs 4,763.29 crore.

Pepsico Indias revenue from the beverages business in which it operates with fizz-based drinks and juices with brands such as Pepsico, 7up, slice, Tropicana, and Gatorade was at Rs 1,036.53 crore for the nine months.

Advertising promotional expenses in April-December 2023 were at Rs 694.52 crore.

On the results, a PepsiCo India Spokesperson said: In this 9-month period compared to the earlier 12-month period, PepsiCo India delivered resilient topline performance amid a challenging external environment.

Demand for our brands remained robust backed by strong marketing campaigns, marketplace execution, and consistent focus on end-to-end productivity.

We remain committed to our growth in India and continue to invest behind our brands and marketplace infrastructure to build scale while maintaining margins in what will remain a high-demand market for many years.

For financial year 2022-23, which was of 12 months, PepsiCo Indias revenue from operations was at Rs 8,203.19 crore and its total profit was at Rs 267.43 crore. Total income was Rs 8,302.34 crore.

Earlier this month, during an investors call, PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta said India is a high demand market, where it is investing to scale up the infrastructure.

The company is investing in the brands to build up scale to capture the growth opportunity, he had said.

We continue to see a lot of growth in many parts of the AMESA( Africa, Middle East & South Asia) region, in particular India is a big growth space for us and its an investment area for sure, Laguarta had said.

In the second quarter (April-June) of 2024, its global parent company PepsiCo logged double-digit growth in beverages volume and convenience foods unit volume in the Indian market.

For the first quarter(January-March), the New York-headquartered multinational reported a high single-digit growth in its beverage unit volume and a a double-digit growth in convenient foods business in the Indian market.

PepsiCo entered India in 1989 and has grown to become one of the largest MNCs engaged in the business of manufacture and trading of aerated and non-aerated beverage products, juice and juice-based drinks and packed food products.
The lack of public commemoration for the 1,171 soldiers killed in action during Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka highlights a troubling apathy

Indias future path to greatness shall be marked with supreme sacrifices by its warriors who if confined to the dustbin of state apathy, as reflected by the Government disinclination towards public commemoration of supreme sacrifice by 1171 Indian soldiers KIA during Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka, may adversely impact the national will during inevitable future military confrontations.To recall Operation Pawan, the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) operation in Sri Lanka, was the largest joint services military operation conducted by India, in the 1971 War. It led to the establishment of Headquarters IPKF, a Corps-size tri-service organisation with nearly 100,000 troops from the three services under its command. Had the proposed Maritime Theatre Command been in existence, Operation Pawan would have come under its ambit.

The intensity of this 32-month-long politico-military peace keeping operation, undertaken from 29th of July 1987 to 24th of March 1990, is best gauged from the gallantry awards won and casualties suffered by this force. 1172 Indian soldiers were Killed In Action (KIA), and more than 3500 soldiers suffered grievous injuries. The IPKF was awarded 1 Param Vir Chakra, 6 Maha Vir Chakras, 98 Vir Chakras and scores of other gallantry awards.The ghost of the political failure to see through to the end of its first geopolitical foray in near abroad continues to impact Indian policy establishment even in the present times.

As of now, against the backdrop of a sustained Chinese presence in Sri Lanka, India is struggling to adopt a coherent strategy to deal with the continued intransigence by the Sri Lanka Government to implement the political solution of devolution to the Tamils enshrined in the Indian Sri Lanka Agreement (ISLA) of 29th of July 1987. India is bound to invite hostility from the dominant geopolitical forces in its neighbourhood.

This will mandate it to be prepared for Out-of-area military operations to secure its economic and geopolitical interests. Indias future path to greatness therefore shall be marked with supreme sacrifices by its warriors who if confined to the dustbin of state apathy, as reflected by the Government disinclination towards public commemoration of supreme sacrifice by 1171 Indian soldiers KIA in Sri Lanka, may adversely impact the national will during the inevitable future military confrontations. The Government is very vocal in pronouncing its nationalist credentials but sluggish in putting money into building deterrent capabilities.

Last week's defence budget was a green signal for China to race even further ahead under the illusion there will be no war. Still, policy pronouncements are not enough unless backed by a revitalised and reorganised military competent to safeguard its economic interests, all aspirational talk is mere rhetoric. Building National War Memorials is one thing; honouring the fallen braves appropriately is quite another matter regardless of the outcome because victory or defeat on the battlefield is never complete unless it is surrendered as in 1971.

This is where the IPKF comes into the picture because it was not permitted to complete its military mission. Its contribution to the preservation of Sri Lankas territorial integrity is fully acknowledged; in Colombo especially. New Delhi must honour its sacrifices on 29 July as a tribute to the valour of the fallen brave. The political parameters of the ISLA had been achieved by the IPKF by December 1988. The ethnic Sri Lanka Tamil predominant Northern and Eastern Provinces were amalgamated into a unitary Northeastern Province, general elections to the North East Provincial Council were successfully conducted, with a duly elected EPRLF-led government sworn in. Had the IPKF stay been extended to tame the LTTE, the military mission could have created conditions for implementing a political solution short of Elam.

This would have secured national interest, but the new Indian government should not have endorsed the new Sri Lankan governments demand to withdraw IPKF from the island in August 1989. Ascribing the failure of ISLA to IPKF, which was just a corollary to ISLA, is unfair. The failures lay in the diplomatic and government policy, which the establishment wishes to cover up by laying the blame at the doorstep of its military.

The ISLA had weak foundations. The contingency of Sri Lanka and LTTE reneging on the ISLA was not thought through. The withdrawal of IPKF left India without decisive influence to oversee the implementation of the promised political package by Sri Lanka to remove the discriminatory state practices against its ethnic Tamil minority, impacting Indian policy towards Sri Lanka even in the present.

The provision of weapons and allied support by R&AW to the LTTE even when militarily engaged against IPKF, and the availability of physical infrastructure support to LTTE in Tamil Nadu, was against national interests. Similar primacy to political interests can be sensed by the refusal of the Indian state to commemorate KIA of Operation Pawan. There is angst against the injustice of the government and the armed forces not officially commemorating the IPKF operations at the NWM as is done for the 1971 and Kargil wars. Graves of some of the Indian soldiers killed during Operation Pawan are still in Sri Lanka. It is hard to understand the dichotomy of the Indian leadership, both political and military, paying public tributes at the IPKF war memorial in Colombo, in the heart of Sri Lanka, but failing to honour those KIA during Operation Pawan, at the NWM at New Delhi. The IPKF war veterans are ever hopeful that the Govt will realise the injustice and consent to a befitting annual national homage to 1171 of its Bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice during Operation Pawan.

(The writer won Sena Medal is an Operation Pawan veteran; he is strategic thinker, and author; views are personal)
The rapid advancements in generative AI are revolutionising the workplace, reshaping job roles, and redefining the future of work

Automation has been at the core of human evolution since the beginning of time. Humans have always sought out ways to make their jobs faster and easier. From physical labour to mechanized tools and now artificial intelligence, the unprecedented rate at which this sector has evolved has been transformative. With every upgrade, the next set of expectations is demanded immediately. This leads us to the conclusion that the future of work is NOT in the future; It is NOW!

This continuous evolution is significantly impacting the workplace, redefining the nature of work, the role of workers, and the environment in which they operate. As we navigate this transformation, HR and business leaders must understand the implications of AI on the future of work.As I reflect on the developments in the field of AI and its impact on the future of work, I see the following 6 implications that every HR and Business leader must know:

Job Transformation Over Displacement: There is a widespread concern that AI will lead to massive job losses. However, historical precedents show that technological advancements tend to transform rather than displace jobs. AI is no different. It will change how we work, introducing new methods and enhancing collaboration between humans and machines. According to a report by SHRM and The Burning Glass Institute on Generative Artificial Intelligence and the Workforce, the impact of Gen AI will be less about automation and more about augmenting workers productivity and effectiveness. According to a Global Report by Thomson Reuters, 77% of professionals believe AI will significantly impact their work within the next five years.

The War for Talent Will Be Fought on Newer Terrains: The traditional paradigms of skills and talent acquisition are evolving rapidly. Organizations must look beyond conventional talent pools to find the right candidates.

Competitive Edge through Generative AI: A growing number of organizations are already incorporating generative AI into their HR processes, and many are exploring its potential in other functions.

organizations have already introduced the use of Generative AI in their HR processes, and many organizations are exploring possible uses.

Human Creativity: The Ultimate Differentiator As generative AI becomes more accessible, human creativity and ingenuity will become even more valuable. While AI can process data and provide insights, it is human attributes such as creativity, empathy, and strategic thinking that will set organizations apart. The ability to connect disparate ideas and develop innovative solutions beyond AI's capabilities will be crucial. Human ingenuity will be the key differentiator in a world where AI is a common tool.

The case for Reverse Augmentation

AI's potential is best realized when combined with human intelligence (HI). This synergy enables more effective and differentiated applications of AI, resulting in higher return on investments. By leveraging the strengths of both AI and HI, organizations can achieve superior outcomes and drive innovation. Investing in Leadership Development: As generative AI enhances operational efficiencies, the focus on developing leadership talent will become increasingly important. Leadership development will require targeted investments to ensure they are equipped to navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing environment. Organizations must prioritize investments in both technology and human capability development to remain competitive.

Organizations must stay agile, continuously adapting to the changes brought about by AI. The foresight to navigate these changes will be the key to sustaining growth and achieving long-term success.

(The writer is CEO SHRM India, APAPC and MENA; views are personal)
Over 3,000 tons of untreated solid waste per day in Delhi may lead to a public health emergency, the Supreme Court said on Friday while voicing concern over poor implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules in the national capital.

The apex court, which slammed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) over the sorry state of affairs, observed that the national capital generates over 11,000 tons of solid waste per day, while the daily capacity of processing plants made available by the corporation was only 8,073 tons.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih noted that as per MCDs affidavit, there is no possibility of creating treatment facilities even till 2027 to deal with 11,000 tons of solid waste generated daily.

Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, assisting the top court as an amicus curiae in the matter related to solid waste management, told the bench that this may lead to public health emergency as there are data, both in Indian and foreign journals, that people are dying because of pollution in the country.

We are worried about this. In the capital city, this is the state of affairs of the 2016 rules where we are generating untreated solid waste of above 3,000 tons per day, and with every day, it will increase, the bench said.

We dont see light at the end of the tunnel as going by the affidavit (of MCD) and assuming that the timelines mentioned therein are abided by, there is no possibility of creating (additional treatment) facilities in Delhi even till 2027 which will have capacity to deal with 11,000 tons of solid waste every day, it said.

The bench said no guess work was required to say that generation of solid waste will multiply many times by that time.

We agree with the amicus curiae that this will lead to public health emergency, it said, adding, This is a sorry state of affairs when it comes to implementation of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, in the capital city.

The bench directed the secretary of the Union environment ministry to convene a meeting of officials of the MCD and the Delhi government for working out an immediate solution to the issue. It asked the secretary to submit a report about immediate measures which can be taken for ensuring that non-compliance with the 2016 rules does not create a serious emergency in Delhi.

It also referred to a separate affidavit filed on behalf of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The bench noted it has been stated that the MCD has approached the Delhi government to delegate financial power to the corporation to approve the rates and agency contracts beyond Rs 5 crore relating to solid waste management projects.

It directed the Delhi government to immediately consider the July 10 proposal, which is limited to solid waste management projects, and take appropriate decision within three weeks. The court also dealt with the issue of solid waste management in Gurugram, Faridabad and Greater Noida, and said the situation there was equally worse.

The bench noted that total generation of solid waste in Gurugram was 1,200 tons per day but the daily processing capacity was 254 ton only. In Faridabad, the total generation of solid waste was 1,000 tons daily, while the processing capacity was limited to 400 tons per day.
Nirmala College at Muvattupuzha (established in 1953) in Kerala finds itself in the middle of a new controversy as hundreds of Muslim students in the institution are on a warpath with the college management.

On Friday, students under the leadership of SFI (the students wing of the CPI-M) and Muslim League gheraoed the college principal Father Jestin K Kuriakose, for almost two hours demanding special classrooms/auditoriums for offering namaz.

This is a new development in the history of the 71-year-old college, which was established by the Catholic Church to make higher education accessible to students belonging to the States high ranges.

We were taken aback by the action of the students picketing the principal or gheraoing the teachers or management. Till now the Muslim students were making use of the mosques in the neighbourhood for offering Friday prayers. What made them demand for special classrooms or auditoriums remains a mystery, Kuriakose told The Pioneer on Sunday.

The demand made by the students has been put up before the college management. To set apart exclusive prayer auditoriums for students believing in different sects is not an easy task. Though ours is a Christian minority institution, we follow the directives issued by the university and Government, said a senior official of the management.

Though the church is keen on resolving the issue amicably, the recent developments in the State have to be seen as factors that made the students resorting to extreme measures.

The CPI (M)-led Kerala Government has recently appointed a senior IAS officer as the de facto foreign secretary of the State to communicate and coordinate with Governments in Europe, USA, Australia and Africa. Sources in Government Secretariat said the move has turned out to be a treatment worse than the disease as the External Affairs is an area that comes under the exclusive domain of the Centre.

Another demand that has been overlooked by the media in the State is the creation of separate district of Muvattupuzha and the bifurcation of the State itself as Kerala and Malabar. The change in Keralas religious demography and the emergence of Muvattupuzha as a hotbed of religious extremism are seen as the factors contributing to the change in the attitude of the people. Christian Association and Alliance for Social action (CASA) has condemned the students picketing the principal of the college over an issue which has nothing to do with academics.

We have heard about people who disrupt normal life and traffic by forcibly occupying public places under the pretext of religious congregation and namaz.

Colleges and schools should not be made part of their plans to carve out separate country, said Kevin Peter, founder, CASA in a statement released on Sunday. He pointed out that there are three big mosques in the vicinity of the college and the students are advised to make use of the facility. College and school timings in the State are so planned that the Islamic students could offer prayers every day without causing any inconvenience to others, said Kevin.

Big time political parties like the CPI (M) and the Congress are yet to react to the unrest among the student community. What is at stake is principal Fr Kuriakoses unique selling proposition to the students: Welcome to Nirmala for an inspiring journey to the future.
Under the guidance of Prof. (Dr.) Ajai Singh, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhopal an awareness camp on organ donation camp was organized on Saturday at Sagar Public School.

The event was a significant part of the Government of India's Organ Transplant Month initiative, aimed at raising awareness and providing vital information about organ transplantation. The camp featured detailed sessions by the Department of Anesthesia, Urology Department, and Cardiac Surgery of AIIMS Bhopal.

Experts from these departments shared comprehensive insights into various aspects of organ transplants, educating students on the importance and procedures involved in organ donation.

Students participated enthusiastically in various quiz competitions organized during the camp, demonstrating their keen interest and eagerness to learn about organ transplantation. The event also aimed to inspire students to become advocates for organ donation within their communities.

Prof. (Dr.) Ajai Singh emphasized the profound impact of organ donation, stating, "Organ donation not only gives life to one person but also brings hope and life to an entire family." He highlighted the importance of such events in fostering a culture of organ donation and transplantation in the country.

As part of AIIMS Bhopal's ongoing public awareness campaign, students were encouraged to motivate their families, neighbors, and relatives to join the cause of organ donation. They were also guided to take a pledge for organ transplantation by visiting the Government of India's dedicated website.

This camp is one of the many initiatives by AIIMS Bhopal to promote organ transplantation awareness and encourage active participation in the organ donation movement. By organizing such impactful events, AIIMS Bhopal continues to play a pivotal role in advancing organ donation awareness and contributing to the health and well-being of the community.
15205 candidates appear for 5994 ETT Cadre posts

Chandigarh: A total 15,205 candidates appeared in an exam on Sunday held for 5994 posts of ETT Cadre. Spokesperson said that a total of 19,832 candidates had applied for these ETT posts. During the examination, two suspected candidates were caught for impersonation, and the Police action has been initiated against them, said the spokesperson. A total of 56 centers in Mohali and Chandigarh had been set up for this exam.

PU conducts entrance test for MBA

Chandigarh: Panjab University, Chandigarh, on Sunday conducted the entrance test for admission to MBA course - 2024 from 10 am to 12 noon. Two centres were created for this test at Panjab University Campus, Chandigarh, wherein 90.66 percent (495 out of 546) candidates appeared. Observers were sent to the centres for routine checking and smooth conduct of the test, which was conducted satisfactorily and no untoward incident.

BJP eliminating permanent Govt jobs thro privatization, Skill Corporation: Hooda

Hisar: Haryanas former Chief Minister and the Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Sunday alleged that the BJP-led State Government is eliminating permanent government jobs through privatization and the Skill Corporation. Along with this, the education system is being handed over to private hands by closing government schools, he alleged. Reservation of SC-OBC will automatically end if government jobs and government educational institutions are abolished, alleged Hooda, while speaking at a function organized on the birth anniversary of Guru Daksha Prajapati Maharaj Ji in Hisar.

Union Budget-2024 dedicated to poor, youth, women, farmers, middle class: Minister

Sirsa: Haryana Health and Civil Aviation Minister Kamal Gupta on Sunday said that the Union Budget 2024 is dedicated to the poor, youth, women, farmers, and the middle class and will bring revolutionary changes in their lives. Provisions have also been made in this budget for the development of infrastructure, health facilities and creation of employment opportunities in Haryana, he said while talking to the journalists. The Minister stated that the government has made a commendable decision by providing tax exemptions for the middle-income group. Now, incomes up to Rs 7.75 lakh will be completely tax-free which will significantly benefit salaried employees, small shopkeepers, and homemakers running their own businesses, he added.

HSSC to soon complete recruitment process for 50k posts

Chandigarh: Haryana Staff Selection Commission chairman Himmat Singh on Sunday said that the Commission is utilizing IT (information technology) extensively to facilitate candidates and to ensure fairness and transparency in all government recruitment processes. The recruitment process for approximately 50,000 posts will be completed soon, he said, adding that on July 27, results for 7,416 TGT posts were announced, and as soon as the government informs the Commission about the vacancies in various departments, advertisements for the recruitment process for these positions will be published accordingly. With the use of IT, candidates will be required to apply online.

Experts express concern over rising trend of digital addiction among youngsters

Panchkula: Mental health experts on Sunday expressed their concern over growing digital addiction, especially among youngsters, which was impacting their mental health. The thoughts were shared at the Continuing Medical Education (CME) program themed Shaping Future Mental Health in Rural India: Bridging the Rural Urban Divide at Hotel Bela Vista. The one-day event hosted by The Society of Rural Mental Health (SRMH) brought together professionals from across the country to discuss critical issues impacting the field of mental health. Over 115 delegates from Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab attended the conference.
A district-level coordination committee meeting was held under the chairmanship of District Magistrate cum Deputy Commissioner Ananya Mittal at the Collectorate Auditorium, Jamshedpur. The meeting focused on reviewing the latest progress and achievements of welfare schemes across all departments and emphasized the importance of mutual coordination to expedite development work. During the meeting, progress reports from the block administration regarding the implementation of schemes in their respective areas were reviewed. All concerned officials were instructed to ensure that schemes are completed with transparency, adherence to provisions, and within the stipulated timeframes.

In the review of the Abua Awas Yojana, officials were directed to release the second installment to beneficiaries who have been geo-tagged after receiving the first installment. Concerns were raised over the construction delay of around 200 houses in Potka and Chakulia, and the block administration was instructed to commence construction immediately. The progress of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin and Ambedkar Awas Yojana was reviewed. Directions were given to release the first installment to beneficiaries of PM Janman to kick-start the projects.

Regarding MGNREGA, instructions were issued to increase man-days creation by implementing 5-6 schemes in each village. The Birsa Harit Gram initiative was given a deadline of August 5 to complete 100% pit digging, and blocks were urged to expedite the construction of Birsa irrigation wells. For the Poto Ho Playground scheme, officials were directed to secure 100% approval against the target, level Gram Panchayat grounds, and utilize school grounds under the scheme.

In the Savitribai Phule Kishori Samridhi Yojana, instructions were given to submit applications by matching school/college data with the voter list, aiming to distribute the scheme amount to beneficiaries by August 15. It was directed that all applied Anganwadi centers should be electrified within 20 days. CDPOs were instructed to submit applications for non-electrified centers promptly, and COs were tasked with checking and allotting land for Anganwadi and health sub-centers.

The review of the Sarvajan Pension Yojana addressed data on failed payments due to bank account errors, urging beneficiaries to update Aadhaar seeding and KYC with their banks. Information was gathered on the infrastructure of Panchayat buildings, and the Panchayat Gyan Kendra (Library) was directed to be inaugurated between August 1-5 in the presence of public representatives.

In the review of agriculture and animal husbandry schemes, departmental officials and BDOs were instructed to open ESCROW bank accounts for animal husbandry scheme beneficiaries and identify land for a 100 MT warehouse under the Cooperative Department's scheme. Instructions were given to expedite food grain distribution, update stock registers, and enforce strict checks on monthly physical inspection registers. Actions were directed against ration shopkeepers distributing less ration and slow progress in lifting and distributing gram dal.

A list of schools without electricity was requested from the Education Department. It was noted that Aadhaar cards for about 300 children were pending due to the lack of birth certificates, and coordination with school principals was directed to resolve this issue. COs were directed to provide land for health sub-center construction, ensure availability of anti-snake bite medicines in all CHCs, and inspect malnutrition treatment centers. Applications for the Chief Minister's Health Assistance Scheme were to be maximized.
Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU) successfully hosted the National Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Deep Fake, and Regulatory Mechanism for AI jointly organised with Law Commission of India on July 27, 2024, at PDPM IIITDM campus.

The conference was inaugurated in the gracious presence of Chief Guest, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Acting Chief Justice of High Court of MP while delivering the keynote address shared extensive experience and insight into the judicial implications of artificial intelligence set a profound tone for the conference. Honble Justice Sachdeva highlighted how India hasnt brushed the tip of the iceberg when it comes to regulation or identifying the implications of AI on the society and different stakeholders especially judiciary. He highlighted various issues that the laws arent equipped to tackle and adjudicate upon. He also stated that judges and legal field isnt ready for AI.

Earlier in the event, Prof Manoj Kumar Sinha, the Vice Chancellor of DNLU welcomed the dignitaries, guests and students. He stated how there has been lack of expertise while dealing with AI. He also stated that BCI wants Law Schools to introduce new subjects in line with National Education Policy to integration with technology and collaborate with all stakeholders in legal field.

Reeta Vasishta, ILS, Member Secretary Law Commission of India also addressed the gathering, appreciating the judiciary for integrating AI in their judicial system for translating documents into regional languages, National Judicial Data Grid of SC with help of IT Ministry and probable questions such as whether it can influence human decision making, potential biases and challenges, and whether AI can replace human judgment.

The event featured a series of sessions covering a range of topics related to artificial intelligence, deep fakes, and the necessary regulatory frameworks. Prominent sessions included AI in context of Deep Fake featuring eminent panelists such as Prof Anand Paliwal, Prof Raka Arya, Part-Time Member, LCI, Prof Pritee Khanna, Professor IN-charge IIITDM and Gargi Chakrabarti, Associate Professor DNLU and session on Legal Challenges and Indias approach towards regulating AI & Future featuring renowned panelists as Prof DP Verma, Member LCI, Anoop Nair, Senior Advocate, High Court of M.P., Prof Aparajita Ojha, Professor IIITDM, Ashit Srivastava, Assistant Professor of Law DNLU.

The conference concluded in auspicious presence of Honble Justice Vishal Dhagat, Judge, High Court of M.P. While delivering the valedictory address his Lordships closing remarks encapsulated the discussions and insights gathered throughout the day, providing a forward-looking perspective on the integration of AI in various sectors while maintaining ethical standards highlighting AI has intelligence but not wisdom and we should keep creativity to ourselves & manual work to AI.

During the valedictory session, the welcome address was delivered by Prof Bhartendu K. Singh, Director of IIITDM, stating that as a technology, design and manufacturing institute IITDM has been dealing with AI almost every day and perspectives from legal field through this conference will be helpful while appreciating the interdisciplinary aspect of the conference followed by addresses from Honble Justice K.T. Sankaran, Member of the Law Commission of India, who highlighted the effects of technology on society by taking us down a memory lane & how right to privacy has been in debate with newer technology..

The sessions were moderated by Manwendra Kumar Tiwari, Associate Professor of Law and Shashank Pathak, Assistant Professor of Law. Praveen Tripathi, Associate Professor of Law & Dean of Student Welfare and Prof Shailesh N. Hadli, Registrar DNLU delivered the vote of thanks.
BJP's State General Secretary and MLA Bhagwandas Sabnani expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, State Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and BJP's State President and Khajuraho MP Vishnudutt Sharma for the approval of the new rail service between Bhopal-Rewa in a press conference held at the BJP State Office on Sunday.

He said that the people of Vindhya region have been demanding this rail service for a long time. On November 13 last year, Vindhya Ekta Parishad had demanded this rail service from Union Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnav in the Deepawali Milan Samaroh and he has given approval on July 25. This makes it clear how serious and sensitive the leadership and government of the BJP are about the problems of the people.

BJP's State General Secretary and MLA Shri Bhagwandas Sabnani said that a large number of people from the Vindhya region live in the capital Bhopal. About 50 thousand people live in the South-West Assembly constituency of Bhopal, while their number in Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency is more than 4 lakh.

At present, only Rewanchal Express is the direct rail service available between Bhopal and Rewa, in which it takes two months to get reservation. In such a situation, the demand for another rail service other than Rewanchal Express has been going on for a long time.

During the assembly elections, on November 13, Vindhya Ekta Parishad officials Sunil Pandey, Vandana Dwivedi and councilor RK Singh Baghel had demanded this rail service from Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav present in the Deepawali Milan program, then Ashwini Vaishnav had assured that if you make Bhagwandas Sabnani an MLA, we will try to start a new rail service. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav ji called on July 25 and told that he has approved this rail service.

He said that getting the approval of the rail service in such a short time shows how promptly the BJP leadership and the government work to solve the problems of the people.State General Secretary and MLA Shri Bhagwandas Sabnani read out the letter written by Union Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnav regarding the approval of the rail service and congratulated the people of Vindhya region on his behalf on the approval of the new rail service.
A 22-year-old Manu Bhaker, resident of Goria in Jhajjar district, on Sunday created history by becoming the first Indian woman shooter to claim an Olympic medal by snaring a bronze in the 10m air pistol event of the Paris Olympics Games. Bhaker fought hard to get the bronze with a score of 221.7, outsmarted by two Korean opponents  Kim Yeji (241.3) and Jin Ye Oh (243.2).

The triumph has opened the countrys account in the Paris Games and also ended a 12-year wait for its much-hyped shooters. The last time India won shooting medals at the Olympics was in 2012 London edition where rapid-fire pistol shooter Vijay Kumar and 10m air rifle marksman Gagan Narang clinched silver and bronze respectively. Narang is the chef de mission of the Paris contingent right now.

A Panjab University student Bhaker, who was competing in her second Olympics after drawing a blank in the previous edition, said, After Tokyo, I was very disappointed and it took me a very long time to overcome that. Frankly speaking, I really can't explain how good I am feeling todayI was fighting with all the energy I have. Really grateful that I could win the bronze. I read Bhagwat Gita and always tried to do what I am supposed to do, leaving everything else to god. We can't fight destiny.

Bhakers shooting story began in early 2016 when she took up the sport on her father Ramkishen Bhakers insistence at Universal Senior Secondary School in Goria, Jhajjar. In just one year, the Class XI girl became the national champion in all three categories  youth, junior and women  of the 10m air pistol event. Just eight years after taking up the sport, the 2020 Arjuna awardee has an Olympics bronze.

CM Hails Bhaker for Winning Bronze

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday extended his heartfelt congratulations to Manu Bhaker for her outstanding achievement in securing a bronze medal in the 10-meter air pistol event at the Paris Olympics-2024. Saini, in his message, lauded Bhaker for her remarkable performance and historical achievement, which has brought immense pride to both Haryana and the entire nation.

Praising her dedication, hard work, and perseverance that led to this prestigious accomplishment on the global stage, Saini said: Bhakers success is a testament to her extraordinary talent and relentless effort. She has not only made Haryana proud but also set an inspiring example for aspiring athletes across the countryWe are confident that our players will continue to excel and bring more laurels to the state and the country.

Also congratulating all the athletes from Haryana participating in the ongoing Paris Olympics, the Chief Minister expressed his optimism that these athletes will continue to perform exceptionally well and secure more medals for India. Our government has implemented numerous initiatives and policies to support and nurture the sporting talent in Haryana. We are dedicated to providing our athletes with the best facilities, training, and support to help them achieve their full potential, he added.
To promote sustainable agriculture, the Himachal Pradesh Government on Sunday announced that it will procure chemical-free wheat and maize from farmers at a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 40 and Rs 30 per kg, respectively. This initiative offers the highest procurement prices in the country for these crops.

A government spokesperson highlighted that the Rajiv Gandhi Natural Farming Startup scheme, introduced in the Budget with an allocation of Rs 50 crore, aimed at significantly boosting the farmers incomes. The schemes first phase seeks to involve around 36,000 farmers in natural farming, encouraging 10 farmers from each panchayat to adopt chemical-free practices.

Currently, 178,643 farming and horticultural families have transitioned to natural farming. The governments goal is to connect 9.61 lakh families with natural farming practices. During the 2023-2024 period, Rs 1,275.31 lakh was spent under the scheme, benefiting 37,087 farmers and converting 13,176 hectares to natural farming.

To support these efforts, 10 markets have been designated for selling natural farming products, with ongoing infrastructure development. To ensure transparency between farmers and consumers, over 76,000 farmers have been registered for natural farming, and 74,283 have been issued certificates.

Additionally, the State Government is providing up to Rs 10,000 for the establishment of natural farming resource centers in each village, further supporting the transition to sustainable agricultural practices  underscoring the states commitment to fostering an environmentally-friendly and economically-beneficial farming sector.
Bilkhiria police arrested a man who raped his 12-year-old step daughter, victim was alone in the house, when the accused committed the crime.

The police registered a case against the accused father in this case and took him into custody.

According to the police, the 12-year-old girl lives with her mother and her stepfather. Her father has died. On July 4, the girl was alone in her house, when her father forcefully caught her and raped her.

Not only this, he also threatened to kill her if she told anyone. The girl, who was scared of her stepfather, hid this matter from her mother for a long time. Later, when she started having stomach pain, she told the whole thing to her mother and reached the police station and registered a case.
Bhopal Utsav Mela Samiti distributed school bags and other educational material to 250 students at Government Middle School Brizisia on Thursday.

On this occasion, the committee members said that they will provide full support to the students for education. They also gave information about the committee's ongoing work in the interest of the society.

The committee has promised to provide free rides and other programs to school children in the fair organized in Bhopal every year. The program was addressed by Block Academic Coordinator Upendra Kaushal, Sunil Jain, Ajay Sogani, Kamal Jain, Chandrashekhar Soni of the committee.

They congratulated the children and said that they should acquire a good education and bring glory to their school.
In the 112th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Pilibhits Bagh Mitra Programme on the occasion of World Tiger Day on Sunday.

This initiative, launched in 2019 under the guidance of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, aims to significantly reduce human-wildlife conflict in the area, which was rampant previously.

In October, 2023, Chief Minister Yogi introduced the Bagh Mitra app in Pilibhit. Over 120 individuals, including many young people, elderly citizens and four women, are part of the Bagh Mitra network. They use a WhatsApp group to report sightings of tigers or other wildlife, enabling the Forest department to promptly respond and ensure public safety by tracking the animals locations.

Manish Singh, the Divisional Forest Officer of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, said, Pilibhit used to experience frequent incidents of human-wildlife conflict. To address this issue, the Bagh Mitra programme was launched in 2019 under the guidance of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, aiming to reduce these conflicts effectively. The programme has been quite successful, and in October 2023, Chief Minister Yogi introduced the Bagh Mitra app during his visit to Pilibhit.

The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, established in 2014, initially had 24 tigers. Conservation and promotion programmes were implemented following state government directives, significantly increasing the tiger population.

Notably, 70 per cent of the worlds tigers are found in India, with Uttar Pradesh making a valuable contribution. A tiger census conducted in Pilibhit in 2022 revealed that the tiger population had tripled over eight years, with 72 tigers now residing in the reserve.

These positive results reflect the governments dedicated efforts in wildlife conservation and bring hope for the future of tiger population management.

Divisional Forest Officer Manish Singh explained that the Bagh Mitra programme is a modern and efficient initiative. A WhatsApp group of 120 volunteers from nearby villages, including four women, has been established. To become a Bagh Mitra, volunteers must be over 18 years old. The Forest department trained five villagers from remote areas near the forest to be Bagh Mitra.

Singh stated that if a tiger or any other animal is spotted outside the forest, the Bagh Mitras are instructed to notify the WhatsApp group and the department by phone immediately.

This prompt communication allows the departments officers and staff to respond quickly and deploy a team. Volunteers can also use the Bagh Mitra app to update the group with photos of the animal, helping the department accurately identify the species and determine its location relative to the forest.

A monitoring team is dispatched to ensure public safety if a tiger is near agricultural areas. This programme helps keep the community informed and protected.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Bagh Mitra Programme during Sundays Mann Ki Baat address, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his gratitude on his official social media account X, stating that the prime ministers special mention of the Bagh Mitra Programme in Pilibhit district will inspire new enthusiasm and energy among all participants.

Chief Minister Yogi also reaffirmed the governments commitment to tiger conservation and promotion under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership.
Absconding murder accused who killed his girlfriend's roommate in Bengaluru, Karnataka, was arrested by Bengaluru police from Raisen on Friday night.

The accused Abhishek Ghoshi is a resident of Begumganj in Raisen district.

He murdered the girl on July 23. The accused entered a girls' hostel in Bengaluru and stabbed the girl to death. The girl hailed from Bihar, CCTV footage of the incident has also surfaced, in which the accused is seen continuously attacking the girl. The accused suspected that his relationship with his girlfriend had been ruined because of the girl.

Abhishek came to Bhopal after killing the girl in Bengaluru. Bengaluru police reached Bhopal while tracing the location. From here the accused reached Begumganj in Raisen district. The police arrested him from Begumganj and brought him to Bhopal and from here they took him to Bengaluru.

The victim, 24-year-old Kriti Kumari was a resident of Bihar

used to work as a sales marketing officer in a private mobile company in Bengaluru. She lived in a PG hostel in Koramangala area. An unknown youth who came to the hostel on Tuesday night brutally murdered her. After the incident, the accused fled from Bengaluru to Bhopal. The entire incident has been recorded in the CCTV camera installed in the hostel.

This incident occurred at 11 pm on July 23. In the CCTV footage, the accused was seen stabbing the girl.

South East Division Bengaluru DCP Sara Fatima said that the accused Abhishek has done BSc graduation while living in Bhopal. He used to visit Bengaluru. He had a close relationship with the deceased's friend. The accused has been produced in the court and taken on 10-day remand.

In the CCTV footage, the accused is seen entering the hostel. He reaches in front of the girl's room and knocks on the door. After some time, as soon as the gate opens, he pulls Kriti out into the corridor. Then a scuffle begins between the two. The accused grabs the woman by the throat and attacks her neck repeatedly.

The accused also attacks her stomach and face. Leaving her bleeding, he runs away. Hearing the noise, other girls open the door and look outside, then go into the room. Kriti also pleads to another woman standing far away to save her, but due to fear she is unable to muster courage.

After the attack, Kriti sits down covered in blood. She also screams for help. The mates of the PG hostel slowly open the door of their room, but no one can muster courage to help. They are also seen trying to make a phone call.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday said that eligible beneficiaries, who have been deprived so far, will soon receive plots from the state government. To avail of these plots, eligible beneficiaries must apply through the upcoming portal, which the State Government will launch shortly.

The new portal aimed at streamlining the application process, ensuring that all eligible individuals can easily apply and receive their plots, said the Chief Minister, during the felicitation ceremony organized under the auspices of the Valmiki Sabha and Maharishi Valmiki Ashram Society.

Earlier, the Chief Minister, along with MP Naveen Jindal, Haryana Minister of State for Urban Local Bodies Subhash Sudha, and former minister Krishna Bedi, laid the foundation stone for Valmiki Dharamshala. Following this event, the Chief Minister participated in prayers at the Maharishi Valmiki temple and paid his respects to Lord Maharishi Valmiki.

In his address, Saini took a dig at the opposition, accusing previous governments of undermining the countrys culture and traditions over six decades. In contrast, he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for initiatives such as the Kartarpur corridor to Pakistan, the redevelopment of Kedarnath and Ujjain shrines, the restoration of the Somnath temple, the construction of Shri Hemkund Sahib, and the completion of the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, all aimed at preserving India's cultural heritage.

He highlighted PM Modi's commitment to realizing the dreams of Lord Maharishi Valmiki and naming the Ayodhya airport after him, as well as the historic removal of Article 370, fulfilling a vision held by Bharat Ratna Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar.

Regarding achievements in Haryana, the Chief Minister cited significant projects including the rail elevated track in Kurukshetra, the Ismailabad-Jaipur expressway, and the establishment of the country's first Sri Krishna Ayush University in Fatupur village. He also mentioned the recent allocation of a substantial budget for the university's development. Additionally, he listed infrastructure developments like the Kendriya Vidyalaya in Mathana, railway underpasses and overbridges, and the expansion of highways from Shahabad to Saha and Ismailabad to Shahabad. The government's efforts to provide government jobs without kharchi-parchi and pension benefits to 232,000 elderly citizens were also emphasized.

During the event, MP Naveen Jindal expressed his longstanding relationship with the Valmiki community spanning over three decades, attributing their support to his parliamentary success. Minister of State for Urban Local Bodies Subhash Sudha said that he has been associated with the people of the Valmiki community for years. Therefore, he is fully aware of each and every problem and demand of this community. Every possible help is given to this community from time to time, he added.
The government's scheme which develops the society and builds a better society should be welcomed. PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme is also such an ambitious scheme which is necessary in the interest of the society.

This was said by senior journalist and political analyst Shri Girija Shankar in a dialogue program organized by the Bhopal chapter of the Public Relations Society of India.

While presiding over the program, he said about the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme that there has always been talk of development, but if work is done which brings prosperity in the life of the society and the individual, then that is called true development.

Girija Shankar said that we have tried to exploit the natural resources. We are also seeing many adverse effects of climate change. While discussing about the old Town and Country Planning of Bhopal, he said that earlier it was ordered at the government level that four fruit trees must be planted before construction, but now it has ended.

If people are made aware, then a better society can be built by using natural resources in a restrained and balanced manner. The outline of the dialogue program organized at 9 Masala located at local Bhopal Haat was given by Manoj Dwivedi, President of PRSI Bhopal, in the form of a welcome speech. In the program, the main speaker Saurabh Srivastava, Deputy Chief General Manager (NCE) Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitran Company Limited Bhopal and Om Prakash Mehra, Solar Energy Expert expressed their views.

Deputy Chief General Manager Saurabh Srivastava discussed in detail the work being done by the Energy Department regarding the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme and the delivery of this scheme to the consumers. He told that now solar power plants have been installed at many places in Bhopal and consumers are getting benefited from it. He also told that the Central Government is also providing subsidy of Rs 30 thousand per 1 kilowatt, Rs 60 thousand per 2 kilowatt and Rs 78 thousand per 3 kilowatt or more to the consumers on installing solar power plants.

The other speaker of the program, solar energy expert Om Prakash Mehra gave information about installing solar power plants at people's places and its maintenance and guarantee warranty. In the end, a question-answer session was also held in which DGM NCE Shri Shankar Agarwal resolved the queries of the people. At the end of the program, Secretary of PRSI Bhopal Chapter Shri Pankaj Mishra expressed his gratitude to everyone. A large number of public relations personnel, journalists and others participated in the program.
In a significant breakthrough, Counter Intelligence Amritsar has seized over Rs 1.07 crore in drug money and apprehended two operatives linked to foreign-based drug kingpins Gurjant Singh alias Bholu and Kinderbir Singh alias Sunny Dyal.

The state Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, announcing the development on Sunday, said that the arrested individuals, identified as Dilbag Singh from Lohka village and Kamaldeep Singh from Patti in Tarn Taran, were caught with a money counting machine, two mobile phones, and a Maruti Swift car.

The arrests followed intelligence inputs indicating that Bholu and Dyal were running an organized crime syndicate involved in drug trafficking and illegal weapons distribution. They had instructed their operatives to collect drug money and send it via the hawala route.

DGP Yadav detailed that the Counter Intelligence team arrested the duo from a rented accommodation on Fatehgarh Churian road in Amritsar. Preliminary investigations revealed that Dilbag and Kamaldeep were in constant contact with Bholu and Dyal through encrypted social media platforms and were planning to send the seized money using the hawala route.

Both Gurjant Bholu and Sunny Dyal have multiple criminal cases against them. Further investigations are underway to uncover more links in the drug trafficking network.

A case, dated July 27, 2024, has been registered under various sections of the NDPS Act, the Arms Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act at the Police Station State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Amritsar. The arrested individuals will be produced in court to seek police remand for further interrogation.
St Mary's Convent Sr. Sec. School, Tulsi Nagar celebrated Parents Day with great zeal and enthusiasm in the school campus here on Saturday. It is a unique tradition of the school celebrated every year in the last week of July. On this joyful occasion, a festive atmosphere was created by adorning the walls with colourful charts.

The parents were escorted to the venue by the school cabinet accompanied by the beats of the school band. The cultural event that followed was packed with vibrant and captivating dances, incredibly mellifluous musical performances, an eye opener skit and a heartwarming poem recitation that left the parents overwhelmed with emotions. Rev father Maria Stephen, the dean of the Bhopal deanery graced the occasion as the chief guest.

The other special guests included Parents Teacher Association Ex officio Sanjay Shrivastava, Vice president Akhilesh Jain, Secretary Mrs Lipika Chakravarty, Executive members Bhavna Thakur, Tribhuvan Sharma, Pankaj Kumar Goyal and parent representatives of all classes.

The chief guest in his address, emphasised the importance of a harmonious parent child relationship. The Ex officio and the secretary expressed their deep sense of appreciation for the school and the Teachers for inculcating love and gratitude for parents and elders and other family values in the students. The principal Rev Sr Maria Jagtap and the vice principal Anu Johnson expressed their sincere appreciation to all the parents who dignified the occasion with their presence. The celebration was a memorable experience.
BJP State President and Khajuraho MP Vishnudutt Sharma on Sunday listened to the "Mann Ki Baat" program of Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the officials of the booth committee at Sahu Samaj Dharamshala located at booth number 109 of Ward No. 35, Barkhedi Mandal, Bhopal.

After the Mann Ki Baat program, BJP State President and MP Vishnudutt Sharma said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi brings the voice of the common man in front of the country through the Mann Ki Baat program.

The Prime Minister mentioned the changes in the lives of women through the women self-help groups of Haryana. The Bharatiya Janata Party is continuously working for the empowerment of women power.

Sharma said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has mentioned the Maheshwari saree of Madhya Pradesh along with the handloom of Haryana in the "Mann Ki Baat" program today. The BJP government is promoting local products, due to which local products are getting recognition in the country and the world.

The BJP government is working to give pride to local products on the lines of 'Mera Utpadan-Mera Gaurav'. The Prime Minister has also mentioned village industry. Today the market of village industry has become one and a half lakh crore, which is 400 percent more than before.

The BJP State President said that today the Prime Minister has appealed to the youth to stay away from drugs. For this, 1933 toll free number has also been issued, by calling on this number, the youth can get advice to avoid drugs as well as give suggestions. He appealed to the youth of Madhya Pradesh and said that youth are the future of the country, they should stay away from drug addiction. He said that the Prime Minister gave an example of Ranthambore and told how people stopped deforestation to save tigers. I am an MP from Khajuraho Lok Sabha constituency, where there are many tigers in Panna Tiger Reserve. I also appeal to the people of Madhya Pradesh to become tiger friendly, because Madhya Pradesh is a tiger state. We have to protect the forests to save tigers and conserve them.

In Indore, a record of planting 11 lakh saplings in a single day was made yesterday with the joint efforts of Madhya Pradesh government and BJP workers. The Prime Minister has also mentioned this today. Under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign, BJP workers are planting saplings across the state. I appeal to those workers who have not planted saplings in this campaign to also plant saplings.

Sharma said that the Prime Minister has also mentioned the 'Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan' in the Mann Ki Baat program. I appeal to the people of Madhya Pradesh and BJP workers to work to make this campaign historic. On 15 August Independence Day, the common people and BJP workers should participate in the Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan and hoist the tricolor in their respective homes and upload its selfie on various social media platforms.

Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan will work to further increase the spirit of the country. On this occasion, District President Sumit Pachauri, Mandal President Hemant Jogi, Mandal Vice President Vikas Jogi, former Councilor Dinesh Yadav, BJYM District Minister Ajay Sahu, Mandal Minister Pawan Yadav, Booth No. 109 President Prakash Aheliya along with Booth Committee officials and a large number of party workers were present.
As part of its ongoing effort to introduce the younger generation of Uttar Pradesh to Indias glorious history, the Yogi Adityanath government will organise centenary celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Kakori Train Action starting from August 9.

The event will be celebrated throughout the year with various activities across the state in honour of the revolutionaries.

On August 9, a special event featuring various competitions, will be held in schools, colleges and universities at Kakori and Shahjahanpur and in Lucknow. The district administration will also honour the families of freedom fighters on the occasion.

At the same time, the Forest department will establish Shaheed Smriti Vatika in every district in memory of the martyrs of Kakori. On this occasion, preparations for Shaheed Smriti Yatra by 100 cyclists are also proposed.

Furthermore, the Kakori Literature Festival will take place, featuring an exhibition of books related to Kakori freedom fighters, the freedom movement, and the Kakori train action. Historians and experts will hold interactive sessions in schools and colleges.

The events will also feature theatrical performances, book releases and seminars related to the Kakori incident, organised by university history departments. Digital versions of the books will also be released.

Additionally, poetry and story writing competitions related to the Kakori incident, open mic events in schools, and quiz competitions based on the lives of revolutionaries will also take place.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Kakori Train Action, the Yogi government has instructed the Forest department to establish Shaheed Smriti Vatika in every district. Additionally, the State Lalit Kala Academy and the Education department will organise on-the-spot painting and camp events at freedom struggle sites and martyr memorials.

There will be painting, mural and clay modelling competitions in universities, colleges and schools. Other activities will include folk drama competitions, theatrical performances on events related to martyr sites and memorials, and theatre festivals.

The Uttar Pradesh Culture department will organise cultural processions, and cultural programmes filled with patriotism on the birth anniversary and martyrdom day of the martyrs.

Additionally, grand events will take place in Chauri Chaura (Gorakhpur), Ballia, Firozabad, Ayodhya, Mainpuri, Varanasi, Meerut, Prayagraj, Kanpur (Bithoor), Jhansi, Bareilly, Saharanpur and Gonda. Other districts will also host related events.

Under the directives of the Yogi government, district administrations will honour the families of freedom fighters.

To mark the 100th anniversary of the Kakori Train Action, the centenary celebration will be organised with the Culture department as the nodal agency. The event will be coordinated with the cooperation of several departments including Secondary Education, Home, Forest, Basic Education, Higher Education, Tourism and Information and Public Relations. The directorate of culture, in collaboration with the Department of Post , will also issue a postal cover to commemorate the event.
The Yogi Adityanath government is in a mission mode, preparing for the Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj with a commitment to make it a swachh Maha Kumbh.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state government is leaving no stone unturned to make this grand event of Sanatan Dharma, held once every 12 years, both divine and magnificent.

During the Maha Kumbh, lakhs of devotees will gather at the Sangam banks in Prayagraj for a holy dip. In addition to ensuring the safety and health of the devotees, the Yogi government is placing special emphasis on cleanliness throughout the event.

To achieve this, the state government plans to deploy over 10,000 employees dedicated to maintaining sanitation. Around 1,50,000 temporary community and camp toilets and urinals will be installed across the Kumbh Mela area, with over 300 suction trucks and jet spray cleaning systems in use. Cleanliness will be monitored through QR codes for service level checks.

To keep the Kumbh city clean, 120 tipper-hoppers and 40 compactor trucks will be used, all monitored via GPS. Additionally, more than 25,000 liner bag-equipped dustbins will be placed throughout the Mela area, and they will be changed three times daily.

For efficient sanitation management, 10,200 workers will be organised into 850 groups. The Yogi government will also construct a Swachhata Colony for these workers, with their daily wages directly transferred to their bank accounts.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said he will welcome Gulab Chand Kataria, the new governor of the state, and work in coordination with him.

Kataria replaced Banwarilal Purohit as the Governor of Punjab as part of major gubernatorial appointments announced Saturday night.

President Droupadi Murmu has accepted the resignation of Purohit as the Governor of Punjab and the administrator of Chandigarh. Purohit had tendered his resignation in February this year,

Responding to a question on the new incumbent, Mann said that on Sunday morning, he spoke to Kataria, who told him that he would take oath on July 31.

"The president has appointed the new governor. We will welcome the new governor. We will work together," Mann told reporters here after flagging off 58 new ambulances.

The CM said he respected Purohit but was not happy with his visits to the border districts. Purohit tried to create an "atmosphere of conflict," he also said.

Referring to his recent two-day visit to Jalandhar, Mann said the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police could not go with him as they were accompanying the governor to his visits to the border districts.

"How could he run a parallel (government)," Mann said, adding, he had no role in Purohit's resignation.

On Friday, when Purohit was asked why he resigned, he had said, "Maybe I thought that the CM did not like me."

Mann had on Thursday hit out at Purohit over his visits to border areas, saying he should refrain from creating an "atmosphere of conflict" and instead inaugurate a seminar at a university.

Purohit during his visits to the border districts had held meetings with villagers and officials of police and central agencies.

He had on Tuesday visited Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts and Amritsar on Wednesday. It was his seventh such visit as governor.

Purohit and Mann earlier had been at loggerheads over various issues including the summing of Assembly Session and appointments of vice-chancellors of state-run universities.
Gabina VOA is designed to be an infotainment youth radio show broadcasting to Ethiopia and Eritrea in the Amharic language. The show brings varied perspectives on issues concerning young people in the Horn of Africa region. Gabina in the Amharic language is a front-row taxi ride.
This common car rumour has been around for decades with motorists warning of potential fines online, but what is the rule?

Tradie Nathan Swenson was left puzzled when a police officer asked him where his 'H sticker' was. Source: Getty/TikTok

Its a car rumour that's been around for decades, with one young Aussie recently issuing a warning to drivers after a brush with the law over a tiny detail on his gear stick. But is it actually illegal and can you be fined?

Pulled over recently by police for a random breath test, Brisbane carpenter Nathan Swenson was asked by highway patrol why his gear stick was missing an "H-sticker".

I was like, brother, what is an H-sticker? Swenson recounted in a TikTok video.

"And he's like: You know, the sticker that shows you 1-2-3-4-5 on your gear shift knob?

The sticker was missing from the knob but was stuck nearby, within driver vision.

"He sees it and he goes, oh, good man, drive off. Im like" thanks mate."

Swenson was allowed to drive on once he showed the officer where the sticker - which is located under his gear stick - was. Source: TikTok

The interaction prompted Swenson to encourage his viewers to keep your car as legal as you can.

Commenters on the video responded with shock, with one replying: Is that for real? Wow.

Others admitted having been issued a defect notice for the same thing.

Fellow Aussies in online car forums and Reddit discussions also warn a missing sticker could lead to fines or car defects. But what is the actual rule?

So, what are the road rules around 'H-stickers'?

Queensland Police confirmed its no longer an offence in the Sunshine State for the sticker on a manual vehicles gear stick to be missing.

There is no requirement that any sticker be present, clarified a spokesman for Queenslands Transport and Main Roads department.

In fact, the notion a driver can receive a defect notice if the gear stick is missing the label marking the position of the gears, seems largely a myth across most of Australia.

The national standard for road vehicle safety is set out in the Australian Design Rules, the regulations for all new road vehicles manufactured in Australia and imported new or second-hand vehicles.

A federal Department of Transport spokesman said these rules do not mandate that gear shift patterns be marked. However, state and territory regulators did play a vital role in ensuring safety throughout a vehicle's lifespan, as the national design rules do not account for mechanical wear and tear, he said.

This includes any vehicle modifications, unserviceable components that relate to safety-related wear and enforcing any other roadworthiness requirements, the spokesman added.

A missing 'H sticker' will not see you fined in most the country. Source: Getty

Missing sticker may be a problem in Victoria

In Western Australia, a vehicle's roadworthiness is determined against several factors, with safety features being the top priority, a WA transport department spokesman said.

While failing to display the gear markings is not considered enough to "fail" a vehicle inspection, its still recommended to have them there to guide anyone driving the vehicle, as patterns can vary across different cars, he added.

South Australias transport department reported the stickers absence is not considered a defect and the NSW transport department said its unlikely to result in a defect notice, while in Victoria the issue was less clear.

For vehicles to be roadworthy in Victoria, they must feature all mountings, brackets and fastenings necessary to safely drive a vehicle, within manufacturers specifications where available, and free from damage and excessive wear, VicRoads says.

Whether or not a missing "H sticker" falls within those guidelines appears open to police interpretation.

Lack of sticker can pose safety risk: 'Really tragic cases'

However, while the stickers absence might not mean a car is unroadworthy, it still poses a safety risk, Carla Melbourne, legal practice manager at Shine Lawyers Caboolture, told Yahoo News Australia, particularly if a person unfamiliar with the vehicle is trying to move it.

That's where we see incidents where people mistakenly go in the wrong direction, Melbourne said.

There's been some really tragic cases of people driving into stores and childcare centres and all those sorts of things throughout time, where people basically put vehicles into wrong gears, and then pop their foot on the accelerator, and end up going in directions they weren't expecting, causing severe damage to property and persons.

That's the importance behind it, so whatever vehicle you get into, you can easily familiarise yourself with those operations to avoid those sorts of accidents.

Anything that can even make one less accident happen is certainly worthwhile doing.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Detectives say the discovery was made possible thanks to the use of upgraded DNA analysis techniques.

The bone was confirmed to be that of Henry Coleman, who died aged 17, following an accidental drowning on the Central Coast in August 1980. Source: 7News

Australian police have finally cracked the case into who formerly owned a jawbone that mysteriously washed ashore on a popular Aussie beach in mid 2020.

Detectives say after extensive enquiries, and thanks to the use of upgraded "DNA analysis techniques" they were able to determine the jawbone belonged to a teenager who accidentally drowned in 1980  nearly half a century ago.

The remains, though blackened, were in remarkable condition. The jawbone still contained some teeth when it was found in the sand on Umina Beach, near Sydney Avenue on the NSW Central Coast, in June 2020 by a dog walker.

Henry Coleman died of an accidental drowning in 1980, but officers didn't know he was missing part of his jaw. Source: ABC/7News

Case solved after four years, five decades after teen's death

Officers quickly established the remains were human at the time, however, "extensive traditional inquiries" failed to reveal an identity, though it was determined the deceased was male. It wasn't until March 2023 when detectives made a breakthrough using new technology previously unavailable.

It combined new DNA analysis techniques and traditional genealogy to identify suspects and unknown remains using commercial DNA databases. Detectives, scientists, and analysts worked together to exclude two other cases and identified a genetic link to a possible living relative, police said.

"A voluntary sample was given from a relative and following further DNA analysis, the bone was confirmed to be that of Henry Coleman, who died aged 17, following an accidental drowning on the Central Coast in August 1980," NSW Police said in a statement on Sunday.

Henry was laid to rest back in the '80s, though it wasn't known at the time that he was missing part of his jaw.

Police urge public to come to come forward this Missing Persons Week

Detective Inspector Ritchie Sim said the case was an example of the importance of public involvement in solving missing persons cases.

"This investigation showcases the importance of DNA testing in missing person cases," he told media. "Without the amazing, combined work by our detectives, scientists and analysts, we never would have been able to return these remains to their resting place and find answers for Mr Colemans family.

The bone was found by a dog walking in June 2020. Source: 7News

"This investigation has taken four years and we cant be happier with the result with the most rewarding part being, giving the news to Mr Colemans family.

"Your DNA can not and will not be used in any criminal investigation. Missing person investigations are not criminal matters, and your DNA is not stored in any criminal or suspect data base. Your DNA will only be used to hopefully solve these cases and provide answers to your family.

"If you have reported a family member missing to police, and you have the Event number, I urge you to go to your local police station and provide your DNA if you havent done so already. Just like in Mr Colemans case, your relationship with the missing person can be several generations apart," he added.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
This summer has already seen plenty of great musical moments. Weve had the always-brilliant Stendhal Festival, Paul Caseys Glastonbury debut (as well as the excellent warm-up gig in St. Columbs Hall), and lots of new singles from some of our towns finest artists.

Theres still plenty to come though, and this week Im going to be taking a look at some of the upcoming highlights, from gigs to new releases:

Virgins in Bennigans

First up is a gig from the Belfast-based group Virgins, who will be playing Bennigans this Friday night (2nd August), with support from Ferals and Telezura. The group released their album nothing hurts and everything is beautiful in April and this gig will be a part of the supporting tour.

The band, who recently played Stendhal, have been making the rounds for a while now and have shared the stage with some of the best currently on the scene, including CHERYM (whos debut album Take It Or Leave It is available now in Cool Discs), Cora Harkin and TRAMP (more on them later). This gig is sure to be a good one so get your tickets now, while you still can. Doors are at 8 and tickets are 8 each.

Louise DaCosta in Sandinos

Next up is another label party from Louise DaCostas DaCosta Records. This one is on August 17th and, if the last one is anything to go by, is going to be a night of great craic and great music from some brilliant DJs. Its happening in Sandinos with free entry and doors opening at 10pm so make sure you dont miss it.

Lord Janes New Song/Upcoming EP

Now, we move on to new music from the Belfast-based Lord Jane. Fronted by Clodagh May (a familiar name to long time readers), the group formed in 2022 and have so far released two singles, with a third, Harmonia coming this Thursday (1st August). This will be followed by their debut EP Tulips in September. The group have been making waves in recent times, recently opening for Problem Patterns in their recent Nerve Centre gig.

Made up of Sam Foote (guitar), Dylan Norton (drums), Carl Small (bass), Aidan Reynolds (guitar) and, as previously mentioned, Clodagh May (vocals), the bands songs have been described by Hot Press as vibrant and hard hitting and these new releases show no sign of things changing any time soon.

Music Capital

Music Capital has been putting on some brilliant gigs in the past few years, and the next few months will see them bringing more big names to our fine city. August 25th will see TPau, China Crisis and Nik Kershaw playing Ebrington Square for the Back to the 80s festival. Tickets are selling fast so grab yours while you still can.

Moving on a few months, October 4th will see the return of the legendary Mary Coughlan to St. Augustines. Mary, a true icon of Irish music, always puts on a brilliant show, weather its with the full band or just a piano player, and this one promises to be another great night.

Later that month, on Halloween itself, Crash Test Dummies will be playing the Guildhall as part of their tour to mark thirty years of God Shuffled His Feet, the album that gave the world the groups most famous song, Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm. This one is sure to be a sell out so make sure you get in while you still can.

Skipping forward to December, we have a gig that seems to be becoming a tradition, Hothouse Flowers playing the Guildhall after Christmas. Once again, theyll be playing on December 28th (also known as the day Lemmy died for those keeping track) and this time will feature support from Hannah White.

TRAMPs EP

Saving the best for last, we now have one of the most anticipated releases of the year. TRAMP have been making a huge splash for the past few years, going from opening for Parker and General Fiasco to closing out Stendhal. In that time, theyve released three excellent singles (Frankenstein, Snakes and Rabbits, and Postcards From Poland), toured Ireland and the UK, played as System of a Down and Queen in back-to-back Halloweens in Bennigans and won the NI Music Award for BBC Across The Line Artist of the Year. Now, on August 23rd, theyll be releasing their much-anticipated debut EP The Birds.

The EP is sure to be one of the best releases of the year and Ill be writing more about it in the coming weeks so make sure to watch this space.

Now, time for the socials. Virgins can be found on Instagram @bandofvirgins, Louise DaCosta @thelouisedacosta, DaCosta Records @dacostarecords, Lord Jane @lordjanemusic, Music Capital @musiccapital as well as musiccapital.org and, finally, TRAMP are, of course, @thisistramp.
The Blooming Minds Club hosted its first week-long summer camp for young people aged 13-18 years who are currently attending or have attended CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services).

The Blooming Minds Club is a youth led artist supported creative arts hub for young people experiencing mental health difficulties, based at Creative Spark Dundalk, with outreach workshops occurring in Drogheda.

The camp was held at Creative Spark and ran from the 8th to the 12th of July, and featured five artists, each specializing in a different art discipline for each day.

The artists who participated in the camp were Seeking Judy (Textiles), Adrian and Shane (Print and Collage), Omin (Spray Paint and Graffiti), Oscar Diaz (Scratch Embroidery and Lasercut), and Paddy Critchley (Painting). Participants could choose up to three days of activities over the week.

Blooming Minds Club evening workshops will resume in September, running on Wednesdays from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

The first class will be in Animation, hosted by Anthony Corrigan, a freelance character designer and story artist.

It will start on the 4th of September and run for seven weeks.

For more information about the Blooming Minds Club or to register your interest, please contact Grainne via email at grainne@creativespark.ie. There will also be a Blooming Minds Club Exhibition on Thursday, September 19th at Creative Spark Downtown from 4 pm to 7 pm.

This project is funded by the Creative Nurture Fund from Creative Ireland
Freemasonry is often shrouded in mystery, and its members are typically seen as enigmatic figures within society. To coincide with the Dundalk Freemasons cheque presentation of 3000 to the local Womens Aid, the Democrat chatted to long standing member Ken Ramsey to shed some light on the Freemasons presence in Dundalk.

The discussion delved into the Freemasons history, their values, and their charitable endeavours in Dundalk and beyond.

Masons promote free thinking, Ken begins, speaking in the Sherry Room of the Freemasons Hall on Jocelyn Street.

To be a member of the Masonic Order, you do have to believe in a supreme being. Now, youre not asked about any particular Supreme Being. You can be a Muslim, you can be a Jew, you can be whatever, [and thats because] you take oaths. If you take an oath, you have to take an oath on something, he explains.

In Ireland at least, the group are seen as a protestant organisation, but Ken says this is a misconception partially due to the Catholic churchs traditional hostility to Freemasonry revealing that even Daniel OConnell was a member before being forced to leave under threat of not receiving communion from the Bishop of Dublin.

He said that in the past it was often the case that businessmen in Dundalk would keep the fact they were a member hidden for fear of losing business.

Ken Ramsey outside the Freemason's Hall on Jocelyn Street. Pic: Arthur Kinahan

Ken is eager to dispel the idea that it is only Protestants that can be Freemasons and notes that over the years, Freemasonry has become more inclusive, with many Catholic members joining the ranks, reflecting the changing societal attitudes and the Good Friday Agreements influence on openness and reconciliation.

Discussing the Dundalk branches, Ken says, The position here in Ireland is that it would have been predominantly Protestant. But now, were predominantly Catholic. I would say 75% are Catholic.

The Freemasons trace their origins back to the times of Solomons Temple, predating Christ. Ken elaborates, We like to think that we go way back to the building of Solomons Temple, just before Christ. A freemason was a stonemason who was free to travel anywhere for work.

This distinction allowed them to travel freely and find work wherever their skills were needed, unlike serfs or peasants who were tied to their land.

Over time, these skilled craftsmen formed guilds, ensuring their members maintained high standards of craftsmanship and integrity.

Ken explains the importance of these guilds: You had to prove that you were what you were to do your work. From this came the various Masons handshakes to allow Masons to identify each other when searching for work/workers.

As construction projects like cathedrals grew in complexity, the status of masons elevated. Leading citizens began to join these guilds as honorary members, evolving into what is now known as speculative Masonsthose who engage in Freemasonry for its moral and philosophical teachings rather than practical stonemasonry.

Inside the Freemason's Lodge on Jocelyn Street

Freemasonry has a long history in Dundalk, with the earliest lodge Lodge 222 dating back to 1751. The Masonic Lodge on Jocelyn Street was built in 1888 and donated by Malcolm Murray of the Dundalk Distillery. Today three branches still operate in Dundalk.

Becoming a member of the Freemasons is typically facilitated by knowing an existing member who can vouch for the applicant. Ken explains, If you happen to know a guy whos a Mason, you say here whats the craic there?

Read Next: WuXi in Dundalk gets go ahead for 80 metre wind turbine

Once an individuals name is put forward, a vetting process ensures they align with the organisations values.

Membership is open to men over the age of 25, and while it may seem like an old boys club, there is a growing number of younger members eager to embrace the fraternitys ideals.

Ken acknowledges this shift, stating, You can join after 25. Now we have quite a few younger men in there because its become more open. They seem to enjoy it.

The hierarchy within Freemasonry is structured with a grandmaster at the top overseeing the entire organisation within Ireland. Each province has its own provincial grandmaster, who manages the lodges within their jurisdiction.

Ken explains, The grandmaster is the grandmaster of the entire Masonic Order in Ireland, 32 counties. He would be elected for life. Sometimes they die in office, sometimes they say theyve had enough.

Freemason meetings are characterised by elaborate rituals and ceremonies, often rooted in historical practices. These rituals include opening and closing the lodge, which involves prayers and traditional procedures.

Ken elaborates, Our meetings are pretty much run like a lot of other meetings, in so much as that you have a chair, you have secretary of minutes, you have businesses to discuss. Mainly the businesses will be charitable, how to raise money and things like that.

One intriguing aspect Ken mentions is the voting process within the lodge, where members use black or white balls to vote on new applicantsa practice that gave rise to the term black balled.

He explains, Each person has a private vote, and its done with balls actually, black or white. If the vote is clear, the applicant is accepted. If theres even one black ball, the applicant is rejected.

In modern times, Freemasonry is primarily a benevolent institution that collects and distributes funds for various charitable causes, as well as looking after its own members and their extended families in times of hardship.

If a brethren was in any way distressed and there was any way we could help, we would help, Ken explains.

If he became deceased, his wife would be checked on. Theres different grants and different funds that she can apply to.

Because at one stage it becomes means tested, but there is in between, we just give money, for example at Christmas well give a present to the widow, its a card and its a few bob maybe to fill the tank or something like that.

Having previously donated money to SOSAD, this year the Masons have donated 3,000 to Womens aid at an evening held in the Masons Hall on Jocelyn Street last Friday, continuing a tradition of fellowship and charity that goes back over nearly three centuries in Dundalk.
There will be no quick solutions to the issue of brown water in Dundalk according to Uisce Eireann (Irish Water) officials.

However there are hopes that a pilot scheme currently being trialed could eventually provide a long-term solution.

Last Tuesday the Democrat was invited to take a tour of the Cavan Hill Water Treatment plant just outside Knockbridge which supplies water to Dundalk, as well as north and mid Louth.

Discoloured water has become a familiar sight to many in the town in the last few months, with Uisce Eireann citing elevated levels of manganese in the water supply as the main contributing factor.

The Cavan Hill plant takes water from the Fane River, which has seen a threefold increase in manganese levels since August 2021 according to Ben Tuomey, engineer with the company.

While nobody knows for sure, it is believed this is due in part to increased seasonal temperatures, particularly at night, and is a phenomenon being seen right across Northern Ireland and the U.K. also.

The Cavan Hill Water Treatment Plant.

While manganese is naturally occurring in the environment and safe at lower levels, it can prove more dangerous at higher concentrations.

However, Uisce Eireann have stressed that water coming from Cavan Hill has been treated appropriately, is tested regularly and is safe to drink once it runs clear.

Upgrades were carried out at the plant three years ago in an attempt to mitigate the issue with Mr Tuomey saying it has resulted in 60% of the manganese being removed from the water.

A new pilot project has recently begun and is scheduled to be completed in October with hopes it may provide a solution. The pilot will see specialised filters trialled to manage the manganese levels and, if successful, will be implemented on a larger scale over the next two years.

If this is a success, customers can expect to see significant improvement in the second half of 2026 into 2027, Mr Tuomey said.

Read Next: IN PICTURES: Moffett staff enjoy BBQ in Dundalk to celebrate production of 100,000th forklift

However, if the project isnt a success, a larger project will have to be implemented, meaning improvements may not be seen until the end of 2028 into 2029.

In the meantime, flushing will still take place with a new network rehabilitation system being trialled in Dundalk using high velocity water flow to clean the lining of the towns cast iron water mains.

Water Operations Lead for Uisce Eireann, James OHagan, explained that this process will see water circulated through the network a section at a time via fire hydrants using fire hoses which pass through a fine filter chamber vessel.

It is hoped that this will remove sediment and biofilm without discharging water to drains, with the water returned to the system after the cleaning process.

The project will be initially rolled out in Boyle OReilly Terrace, Marian Park, Cluain Enda, Mullacrew and Blackrock.

There will be no magic bullets but we know it is a problem and everyone here as youve seen is working hard to try to fix it, said Sean Corrigan, Communications Technical Lead with the company.

Mr Corrigan said that Uisce Eireann would endeavour to keep locals affected by the issue updated when possible and acknowledged that many locals have been left frustrated.

I know that people will be frustrated when they hear that its not going to be a quick fix.

But were trying to be honest and open with people and to let them know the problems that we face here, and that we are working towards a long-term solution, he concluded.
There were 912 deaths and 1678 births in Louth in 2021 according to the latest Births and Deaths at Local Electoral Areas 2021 report from the CSO.

The stats show that there were 223 deaths in Dundalk Carlingford and 190 in Dundalk South. Meanwhile there were 194 deaths in Ardee, 88 in Drogheda Rural and 217 in Drogheda Urban.

When it comes to births, there were 327 in Dundalk Carlingford and 495 in Dundalk South. Meanwhile there were 266 births in Ardee, 222 in Drogheda Rural and 368 in Drogheda Urban.

Commenting on the Frontier publication national statistics, Sean OConnor, Statistician in the Life Events and Demography Division, said:

"Todays release, which is part of the CSO Frontier Series provides information and evidence on life events (births and deaths) at Local Electoral Area (LEA). It is the second publication in the series which examines life events at a local level. The first of these publications looked at Deaths and Cause of Death at Local Electoral Areas (LEA) 2021.

Care must be taken when interpreting the statistics in this release as Frontier Series releases may use new methods which are under development and/or data sources which may be incomplete. The population utilised to calculate rates and present average age at LEAs for 2021 is taken from the Irish Population Estimates from Administrative Data Sources (IPEADS). IPEADS is an experimental and evolving platform for the development of population estimates.

It must also be emphasised that as an experimental methodology, IPEADS estimates must be interpreted with caution and are not comparable with official CSO population estimates such as Census data.

Read Next: Old Carrick Mill Distillery have teamed up with legendary Dundalk man Steve Staunton to launch a very special whiskey

Looking at the data, of the 34,844 deaths which occurred in 2021, some areas within Dublin City had the highest number of deaths. Clontarf, Dublin City (528), Ballymun-Finglas, Dublin City (502), and Artane-Whitehall, Dublin City (499) were the LEAs with the highest number of deaths occurring in 2021.

In contrast, Leixlip, Co Kildare (65), Ballinamore, Co Leitrim (76), and Granard, Co Longford (80) recorded the lowest.

Similary for births, many of the 60,575 births which occurred in 2021 occurred in and around Dublin. North Inner City, Dublin City (755), Howth-Malahide, Fingal (732), and Swords, Fingal (727) were the LEAs with the highest number of births. Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim (104), Belmullet, Co. Mayo (112), and Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim (117) had the lowest number of births.
The Omagh bomb inquiry must uncover uncomfortable truths to help prevent future disasters, the father of one of the 29 people killed in the blast has said.

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed in the atrocity, described it as the single worst failure of security and intelligence in the history of this state ahead of the inquirys first public hearing this week.

Mr Gallagher and other bereaved families have spent more than two decades campaigning for an inquiry into the dissident republican bomb which devastated the Co Tyrone town on August 15, 1998, killing 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins.

He said the inquiry has been an unbelievably long time coming.

The inquiry will hear opening statements from chair Lord Turnbull and his counsel Paul Greaney KC during a sitting at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh on Tuesday.

Mr Gallagher said it will be the first time since 1998 that all of the bereaved families, including those caught up in the blast from Spain, will come together.

The inquiry, ordered by former Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris last year, is examining alleged security failings that led a High Court judge to conclude the outrage could plausibly have been prevented.

It was ordered in response to a court judgment that directed the Government to establish some form of investigation.

In his 2021 judgment, Mr Justice Horner directly recommended that the UK Government carry out an investigation into alleged security failings in the lead-up to the atrocity.

While having no jurisdiction to order the Irish government to act on the matter, the judge urged authorities there to establish their own probe in light of his findings.

Earlier this month, the Irish Cabinet formally agreed to provide assistance to the inquiry.

Lord Turnbull previously said he was confident the terms of reference would allow him to conduct a thorough and robust investigation.

Mr Gallagher took a judicial review of a previous government decision against a public inquiry into the Omagh bomb.

It ended up 10 years in court challenging the governments decision, then almost a year before the judge made a judgment and then the Secretary of State ordered the inquiry, he told the PA news agency.

I still wake up in the morning and wonder is it true. Im enormously grateful for the Secretary of State granting a public inquiry, I think its hugely important.

This was the single worst failure of security and intelligence in the history of this state, and we had 31 people died and over 250 injured.

I think it is important that what happened in the lead up to and on the day is examined carefully to see what happened. Im sure there were things done well and things that could have been done better.

I feel that thats the least we owe to the victims, to learn those lessons and pass it on so that others will benefit. Hopefully it will not be an explosion, it could be a train crash and plane crash or a chemical spill, but whatever the emergency, we would be in better shape to deal with that.

Commemorative and personal statements are set to be made during inquiry hearings next January.

Mr Gallagher said he expects those to be extremely difficult and painful.

Those will take statistics and turn them into real people. It encompassed everybody from grandmothers and grandfathers to unborn children, and I think that will send a message to people about how important it is that we have answers about what happened in Omagh, he said

It will be extremely difficult and painful for those that decide to share publicly their experience  after the bomb, that was one of the only things that people felt they had left, their privacy. But I think now is the time to go out and put a face to that statistic. It was a real person affected, and their family, friends and wider family circle.